MyDD :: Why the Heck do I Like Obama?

Why the Heck do I Like Obama?

by KansasNate, Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 11:06:02 AM EST

Barack Obama is a "rock star." I'm sure we've all heard the phrase which is fast approaching a level of cliché not known since "soccer moms". A Google search for Obama Rock star returns 371,000 hits. Few news articles go without mention of his "rock star appeal".

As I sat down to write my impression of Obama's popularity with my age group (18-30), the phrase kept popping up. Like a post-election hangover, the word rock star haunted my inquiry into his appeal. As I surveyed my friends, most used it to describe either why people like him or how they feel about him.

Amy, 22 - He's just so... inspirational but at the same time believable. You know I hate politics, and Kerry was such a douche. I'm sure he was smart and that is great and all. But I want someone to make me excited again. Obama rocks.

I informally polled some of my good friends (who are decidedly not political junkies) about their feelings on Obama because I like the guy and I'm not entirely sure why. Chris Bowers' post the other day came close, but I still was uneasy.

Why do I like Obama? Moreover, why do all 13 of the friends I asked say they like Obama?

Brad, 24 - Damn good question. He seems good. Like honestly good. Maybe it's his smile. I don't know, man.

Am I being won over by a smile? Admittedly, it is a great smile and he often uses it to full effect to woo a crowd. But for me, political junkie, a smile? I hope I wouldn't be so easily swayed.

Honesty resonates with me as well. Obama seems honest. My take on this feeling is that his youth makes him seem removed from the "Washington as usual" crowd. He's different, I think.

Thomas, 27 - He nearly moved me to tears when I heard him speak. No politician has ever made me feel that hopeful about the future. Bush has really fucked us over... I guess we need someone to make us feel good again.

Hope.

We hope that a younger generation can change America for the better.

We hope that an African American can someday become President.

We hope that in the future, we can again believe our president's words.

At a very basic level, we hope tomorrow will be better than today. Not only for us, or for America, but for the world.

I like Obama because he makes me feel hopeful. His youth and energy is such a contrast to the lethargic cynicism of politics today. His story is that of America's, with the climactic chapters not yet written.

I still don't know if I like that my political preference is being guided by emotion and feeling. Don't get me wrong, I'm a liberated guy that doesn't have a problem with the concept of emotion. Its effect on my political support just is a bit unsettling.

For me, it comes back to hope. I don't think you can teach it and I don't think you can spin it. From the short survey of my friends, I don't think I am the only one to feel that way.

[note: The names of my friends were changed at their request.]

Tags: Obama, Barack Obama, 2008 (all tags)

Permalink :: 14 Comments :: Post a Comment

Re: Why the Heck do I Like Obama? (none / 0)

Some Facebook statistics for you:

Largest Pro-Obama group: 26,007 members "Barack Obama for President in 2008"

Largest Anti-Obama group: 146 members "Anti - Obama and damn proud of it."

Largest Pro-Hillary group: 701 members "Put Bill back in the White House, vote Hillary Clinton 2008!!!"

Largest Anti-Hillary group: 27,714 members "ANTI Hillary Clinton for president`08"

Want Blue States? ActBlue!
I work for ActBlue.

by KansasNate on Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 11:06:56 AM EST

Re: Why the Heck do I Like Obama? (none / 0)

Bush makes his supporters feel the same way.

by justinh on Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 11:24:21 AM EST

Re: Why the Heck do I Like Obama? (none / 0)

So did Clinton in the early years.

http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!

by yitbos96bb on Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 01:57:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why the Heck do I Like Obama? (none / 0)

and Kennedy.

http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!

by yitbos96bb on Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 01:57:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why the Heck do I Like Obama? (none / 0)

And some unsavory characters of the 20th century. This should not be used as a marker of any serious weight.

Vox Mia -- Adding My Voice to the Chorus

by bedobe on Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 02:56:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Justin, that is so true (none / 0)

I have been trying to capture what kinda creeps me out about Obamarama. That's it exactly.

It's like a crowd at an emo show.

John McCain is dishonest

by dereau on Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 11:40:28 AM EST

Re: Justin, that is so true (none / 0)

It's called the reality of politics. People do not vote for competent stiff bores.

Obama supporters are sometimes accused of being naive about politics. In fact the reverse is true.

Charisma and likeability wins elections. "Experience" (whatever that means" does not.

This is why I think Edwards and Obama are the only viable Democratic candidates. Forget about Hillary.

The history of the left is a history of purists betraying the progressive movement so that they can feel good about their righteous selves.

by Populism2008 on Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 12:02:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Justin, that is so true (none / 0)

"People do not vote for competent stiff bores."

Why do you think that is? And maybe they should.

by justinh on Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 01:13:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Justin, that is so true (3.00 / 1)

Great question, I wonder the same thing... and yes, had they voted for stiff bores in 2000 and 2004, we wouldn't be in the mess we are in.

My guess is that ultimately like many things in life, politics is a popularity contest. The truly charismatic person has a way of making you like or even love yourself and gives off the perception to many that he cares 100% about you. Bush was able to pull it off with certain demographics (and the rich... but they know he DOES care about them)... Clinton was a master at it... Obama has the same ability... That piercing look that makes it feel like they are actually speaking to YOU from the TV... The stiffs just don't have this dynamic.

My other feeling is this.. Given the last 2 presidencys have been all about partisan bickering, etc (granted I blame the GOP for most of it, especially Clinton) I think many are tiring of it, especially the casual fan of politics, who doesn't pay attention until September or October of election year. Whether we as a country can rise above partisanship is debatable... would the nutcases let it happen and can we avoid the distractions to let it happen?
But in the case of the casual voter, it doesn't matter... ultimately, I feel they want someone who will try... I think that Bush was able to convince people he would listen to the Democrats in 2000 is a key reason Bush was able to keep it close enough for Him to steal it from Gore. Now this turned out to be total BS, but with the Dems in charge, I think the thought of a Dem president who is willing to listen to the concerns of those who disagree with him is an appealing one. And even if some of the readers of MYdd don't think its a good reason to vote for someone (and it might not be), people vote for strange reasons... Gays, God, Guns, peopel voting against Gore for being a "liar" or against Kerry for being a "flip flopper" (and Yes I know several casual voters who did vote for Bush for these reasons)

http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!

by yitbos96bb on Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 01:55:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Justin, that is so true (none / 0)

To be fair to HRC, she is an outstanding speaker... I have seen her a few times and was impressed. Still not my fav candidate, but I wouldn't go so far as to say she is a stiff bore... Although next to Bill, I guess most people are.

http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ McCain Sucks!

by yitbos96bb on Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 01:57:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Why the Heck do I Like Obama? (none / 0)

I happened to run into some Iowa folks shortly after the '04 election who tried to explain to me why they voted for Bush despite disagreeing with his Iraq war and many of his policies. They said, "Well, Kerry was just too darn fancy for us". What they meant was, "we just didn't like Kerry".
People like Obama. They really like him. He has that prized ability to connect to something deep within a person's heart and mind.

by grammadot on Mon Dec 18, 2006 at 03:56:25 PM EST

It's Odd. Where's The Beef? (none / 0)

Long time ago, when Col. Senator Gary Hart was running against Walter Mondale in the '84 Democratic primaries, Hart got an Obama-like following.

Mondale used a line in one of the debates that worked pretty well on Hart -- it was a line from a Wendy's commercial that went Where's The Beef?. Because a lot of Hart's support was soft, and people had a hard time explaining just why they liked him.

It's pretty early right now, but I will tell you that people who supported Clinton in late 1991 knew a lot more about him then than people know about Obama now. At some point, someone's going to start asking "Where's The Beef?". And if Obama's going to win, the people who are supporting him need to know the answer.

by Rob Thorne on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 05:11:49 AM EST

Re: Why the Heck do YOU Like Obama? (none / 0)

If you please temporary insanity, that would explain it.

Follow the money

by dkmich on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 06:25:27 AM EST

Re: Why the Heck do YOU Like Obama? (none / 0)

plead - not please.

Follow the money

by dkmich on Tue Dec 19, 2006 at 06:25:50 AM EST
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