My top concerns about Obama

[Truth2Tell]

So I haven't made a decision about who to support yet. I'm an uncommitted delegate to my local LD convention and I hope to continue on to the next round and hopefully all the way to Denver.

I first supported Kucinich and then Edwards. Right now I lean toward Obama. I see a lot of positive in Obama - especially the way he energizes a new generation of Democrats. And I frankly can't stand Hillary. But I'm still on the fence. Obama has not yet closed the deal with me.

I have stayed away from GDP for the last few months because the mud has just been too much. But I figured I'd pop in for a bit and see if any Obama supporters would like to try to close the deal. Below are my top concerns with Obama. Please tell me why, as an anti-war progressive, I should vote for this candidate in light of these things. I'm listening.

My top concerns about Obama (in no particular order)

1. Cozying up to the DLC during his term in the Illinois Senate and during his run for U.S. Senate.

2. Choosing Joe Lieberman as his mentor in the Senate.

3. Doing fund raising events over the last 3 years primarily for the most conservative blue dog members of the Senate rather than for progressives or home-state grass roots groups.

4. Speaking to the CFR and elsewhere about bombing Iran and keeping all options, including the nuclear option, on the table.

5. Choosing Zbigneiw Brzezinski as his top foreign policy adviser, and including Dennis Ross, Samantha Power and a host of other neo-con leaning aids on his foreign policy team.

6. Abandoning and criticizing his fellow Illinois Senator Dick Durbin when Durbin courageously criticized conditions in U.S gulags at Guantanamo Bay on the Senate floor.

7. Refusing to call for full withdrawal from Iraq rather than simply a “reduction” of forces.

8. Voting for corporate sponsored “tort reform,” therefore making it more difficult for people to get redress in the courts for abuses.

9. Voting to reauthorize the Constitution shredding Patriot Act.

10. Promising “The Black Commentator” in 2003 that, if elected to the U.S. Senate, he would introduce bills creating national single-payer health insurance and requiring the U.S. to exit NAFTA; and then failing to do any such thing.

So there it is. Convince me this stuff doesn't matter. And thanks in advance for the substantive and thoughtful responses I'm sure I will get here. :)