Why is Obama top tier?

[penguin7]

OK, I am a complete and total Kucinich supporter.

I really don't have too much against Obama or Clinton. I will probably vote for either of them in the unlikely event that Kucinich does not get the nomination.

But how is it that Obama is top tier? There is not much there in either experience or record. I know that JFK was in a similar situation, but JFK had his father Joe. Joe was a force. There is no Joe with Obama, how did he become top tier?

[Hippo_Tron]

1. John Kerry opened a huge door for him at the 2004 convention, Obama was so impressive that...

The next day everyone was saying, "He'll be the first black President."

[polichick]

6. So true...

He grabbed everyone's attention with that speech and has been a Dem infatuation ever since ~ though imo it remains to be seen whether he's just a dreamy date or someone we'd want for the long haul.

[MADem]

7. I always thought that would have been Julian Bond, but the toot got him.

I'll bet if he could turn back the clock, he would...

[ProgressiveAmPatriot]

48. That same day I was saying I wanted him over Kerry

If this was about years in public office Richardson would win hands down. However, as Obama has argued in the on going spat with Clinton, it is more about judgment. And Obama had the good sense to oppose the Iraq War.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

49. Yep. It was Kerry's idea to have him speak

at the convention in a "starring role" so if there is someone to thank JK is at the top of the list.
As far as experience goes, Obama needs a little bit more for most people to vote for him for Pres.

[TomClash]

2. JFk was in the Congress 12 years before he ran nt

[Justyce]

3. Well, he gives a good speech... and the press really pushes him....

[Dawgs]

5. Many of us are inpsired by him. The 'press is pushing him' is a desperate argument by the haters.

[Colobo]

8. It's one of the memes of other campaigns

[Ediacara]

10. The haters?

So anyone who's not terribly impressed is a desperate hater?

[Colobo]

18. Nah; just people who talk shit about him are.

[Dawgs]

23. I'm not terribly impressed with other candidates. I don't say "it's the press's pushing them."

[Colobo]

4. Star Power and Talent.

[loveangelc]

11. he is kind of like the candidate of hope and change

and I like that b/c, like I've said, a Bush or Clinton will have been President all my life if Hillary wins, please put someone up thats NEW. Plus she's not even inspirational or connectable at all like Bill Clinton was. I just have to be honest with everyone: Im not happy about this Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton order of Presidencies...Im sorry, Im just not pleased.

[journalist3072]

9. He gave one good speech at the 2004 convention and all of a sudden he's presidential material

in the minds of some people.

Pretty sad. I don't think giving one good speech at a convention makes a person presidential material.

But apparently some people do.

[Dawgs]

24. Care to name any?

[LordJFT]

26. nope

Actually it's the fact that some people put principle and conviction before experience

[zulchzulu]

31. The 2004 speech is a bullet point with a list of perhaps 100 reasons why he's great

You're aware of one and think that the only thing is that speech.

If you're a "journalist" as your nick seems to say, you might want to crack a book or do some more research before you make a vapid judgement...

[liberal N proud]

12. The talking heads say so

That's why.
We are stuck with the bull shit put forth by the pundits and the talking heads in the MSM.

[democratsin08]

13. obama is an empty suit

he is harold ford without a brain. i would love to see harold ford running

[Colobo]

16. Bah...

[Grandrose]

19. Pretty harsh.....

I think they both have a brain and doubt Harold Ford would appreciate you too much!:eyes:

[geek tragedy]

58. Someone should tell that poster that

Karl Rove resigned.

[ariesgem]

22. Harold Ford?

:puke:

[Hippo_Tron]

32. I've seen both Obama and Ford in person, Ford has a long way to go before being presidential

Ford is 9 years younger than Obama and has yet to win statewide office. He also doesn't have natural charisma or persuasive ability and he needs to develop those skills. The last debate between him and Corker was painful to watch.

[zulchzulu]

34. How insipid

This is a guy without a brain?

Barack Obama

Education:
JD, Harvard Law School, 1991
BA, Columbia University, 1983
Attended, Occidental College.

Professional Experience:
Attorney
Lecturer.

Political Experience:
Senator, United States Senate, 2005-present
Keynote Speaker, 2004 Democratic National Convention
Senator, Illinois State Senate, 1996-2004.

Publications
"Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance" (1995); "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream" (2006) and "It Takes a Nation: How Strangers Became Family in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina" (2006)

More:

Barack Obama has dedicated his life to public service as a community organizer, civil rights attorney, and leader in the Illinois state Senate. Obama now continues his fight for working families following his recent election to the United States Senate.

Sworn into office January 4, 2005, Senator Obama serves on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, which oversees our nation’s health care, schools, employment, and retirement programs. He is a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, which plays a vital role in shaping American policy around the world, including our policy in Iraq. And Senator Obama serves on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, which is focused on providing our brave veterans with the care and services they deserve. In 2005 and 2006, he served on the Environment and Public Works Committee, which safeguards our environment and provides funding for our highways.

During his eight years in the Illinois state Senate, Obama worked with both Democrats and Republicans to help working families get ahead by creating programs like the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. Obama also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama enlisted the support of law enforcement officials to draft legislation requiring the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases.

Obama is especially proud of being a husband and father of two daughters, Malia, 9 and Sasha, 6. Obama and his wife, Michelle, married in 1992 and live on Chicago’s South Side where they attend Trinity United Church of Christ.

Barack Obama was born on August 4th, 1961, in Hawaii to Barack Obama, Sr. and Ann Dunham. Obama graduated from Columbia University in 1983, and moved to Chicago in 1985 to work for a church-based group seeking to improve living conditions in poor neighborhoods plagued with crime and high unemployment. In 1991, Obama graduated from Harvard Law School where he was the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review.

http://obama.senate.gov/about/

[Capn Sunshine]

52. well well, another DLC shill

Hey, just what this place needs!

[geek tragedy]

57. He has a brain. People who belittle his intelligence, probably not.

Seriously, if you're that much smarter than the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, why are you wasting your time with us?

[jaysunb]

14. 55 million reasons.....

n/t

[smalll]

15. Umm, maybe because he's number 2 in the polls at this point?

Even before he entered the race, he was polling in the top three. He's in the top tier because people support him, simple as that.

[Colobo]

17. Because millions of Americans want change and feel he is the man to bring it

I'm proud of being one of them.

[eweaver155]

20. He has something you are born with

True compassion, true conviction and a true vision to help others without selfishness. Some have that rare quality and that's something you can't teach. You have to have that within your mind and soul. As far as a father Joe figure, he had a mother, father and a family who also helped fire that internal passion that already existed but it's 100% him. he is a true believer in this, not some campaign slogan unlike George Bush. That's why people have a hard time understanding him. He is making sense of the issues as opposed to what americans have been bombarded with for years. Useless sound bites, and meaningless slogans that get you to vote for a candidate but ends up the same way, empty. For example, this "He/she seems like someone I can sit down and have a beer with". What is that shit all about? We are so immune that we don't know any better. If we hear something different we looked confused and question. Example, when Obama stated his foreign policy and said that the real war is in Afghanistan, people acted like he was way off base. In reality americans forgot about Afghanistan, Osama Bin Laden (because Bush/Chaney wanted us to) but he reminded us of that but yet still, people criticized. That why he is top tier. Not old world cyclic experience that has gotten america in a continuous loop but new ways of thinking, changes,ideas and the bottom line, helping the american people and restoring our place in the world. Some are born with certain traits and he has that. Even in this crazy world of politics, he will stay the course. :yourock: :kick:

[illinoisprogressive]

21. 8 years in the state senate is not experience? Actually, the reason why

Is that as the top fundraiser, second place in national polls, first in 2 of 3 early state polls and some one with a substantive record he is.
But, if just experience and record were gages then Biden and dodd would be in the top tier.
It is placement.

[ariesgem]

25. Go to his website and do a little research....

The same goes for any of the candidates. Your comment, "there's not much there in either experience or record" is baseless.

[snowbear]

27. ==== WHAT A NASTY POS THREAD ====

Seriously penguin .................

[Catchawave]

42. Thank you, my thoughts exactly....

:hi:

[iamjoy]

28. Charisma, Being Telegenic

Without those qualities, no candidate can win - no matter their qualifications. Look at John Kerry. Supremely qualified, but couldn't close the deal.

Obama is incredibly charimatic. It does't hurt that he generally talks sensibly showing he's not just some empty suit.

After watching Obama speak at the 2004 Convention, I declared "Edwards/Obama 2012." At the time, I hoped that Edwards would serve two terms as Kerry's VP then run for President with Obama as his running mate. Now I just have to move up my "dream ticket" by four years.

[jefferson_dem]

29. Cause people like him?

:shrug:

[zulchzulu]

30. Well, if you actually did some homework on Obama, you'd see you're uninformed

Obama has 8 years as state senator in Illinois. Add 3.5 years as Senator. That's 11.5 years of legislative experience. Clinton has 7 years.

Look at the poll numbers. Obama is either in first, second or third depending on the poll. Look at contributions. He's leading everyone or is in second.

That's what you call top tier.

Illinois record:
http://thinkonthesethings.wordpress.com/2007/06/13/obamas-voting-record-in-the-illinois-state-senate/

Vote Smart:
http://www.vote-smart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=9490

Contributions:
http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapApp.do?drillLevel=US&stateName=&cand_id=P80003338

[TwilightGardener]

33. What experience do you want him to have, that he's lacking?

A Governorship? Look at the Governor on the Dem side--certainly very well-qualified, but without having a forceful enough personality and leadership qualities to make that experience translate into something bigger, what good is it? More years in the Senate? Two words--Biden and Dodd. Many, many years of doing political battle, writing and voting on legislation, and campaigning, but does that necessarily translate into Presidential material, Presidential vision? I think it clouds that vision, myself. CEO/managerial experience? Well, we have that right now with Jorge Arbusto (along with the Governorship thing)--how's it working out? Look at Mittens--talented businessman, but no convictions, no principles, because a successful CEO will do anything to MAKE MONEY. US Senator, State Senator, Community Organizer, Law Professor--for a guy of 45, that's a fine resume. He's got raw talent, intelligence, charisma, excellent judgment--he's in his prime right now. I want to see what he can do in the Oval Office.

[penguin7]

35. OK, but how did he vault right into the top tier right at the starting line?

[TwilightGardener]

36. He's a star. That may sound simple and shallow, and it may seem like he

"jumped" prematurely to the head of the line, but haven't we all known whiz kids that start off in the mailroom or the factory floor, and 3 years later they're in management?

[penguin7]

45. Wasn't Ronald Reagan a star?

[TwilightGardener]

50. Yep. So was JFK, in my opinion. Those are the type of people who become President.

[Orangepeel]

37. People like him so they gave him money. Money begets money.

and money makes people "top tier".

I'm supporting Edwards, but I don't begrudge Obama his "top tier" status. He's got charisma. There's not always a rational explanation for it, but some people have it and some don't. Obama does.

[fujiyama]

38. The "unlikely event that Kucinich does not get the nomination"

Ummmm...I think you meant the unlikely event Kucinich does get the nomination...?

I just wanted to make sure you weren't delusional to think Kucinich could still get the nomination....

[surfermaw]

39. Don't you know, he make GWB feel just like a fools, when he speaks

The only thing I see wrong with him, is the lack of experience, however remember I am an Edwards supporter, the things that puzzle is the intrest or pretended intrest by republicans in Obama?

[Skittles]

40. I don't get it either

Obama simply does not impress me

[Freddie Stubbs]

41. Charisma

[Dawgs]

43. Well, he was one of only a few that was against the Iraq war from the start.

[elizm]

44. Aw...too bad...guess it just happened when you weren't PAYING ATTENTION!!! nt

[BluegrassDem]

46. Obama has $60 million reasons why he's top tier

n/m

[eweaver155]

47. Obama has Just as much experience as Hillary or Edwards. Hillary does

not have experience, she is going off of Her husband, experience. She has Six years of Senator Experience. Obama has 7 years of State experience and 3 years of Senate experience. Edwards is on a 1 term Senator 4 years. Obama is the one who has made the right decisions when it came to this God Forsaken war. Hillary keeps trying to claim to fame her husband experience. It will not work. She is not Bill. We need someone to make the right decisions the first time. Not when it is convenient.

[last_texas_dem]

51. Because he's polling in 2nd place. nt

[AnotherGreenWorld]

53. He polls well, and he has more money than anyone ever has at this point.

[Hawkowl]

54. Novelty + photogenic

Hey it isn't every day that you get a pretty boy black man running for president. That makes him a celebrity and an underdog. The media loves both. BUT, they love to build the underdog up just to knock him down.

I think Obama is Charlie Brown and the MSM is simply Lucy holding the football.

[rucky]

55. All the "top tier" also happen to be the least experienced.

Experience is not valued.

[Odin2005]

56. He's the new Dean. He's the change candidate. The anti-establishment candidate

As opposed to the Kooch, who, while he's a good congressman, doesn't have a chance in hell of ever being president.

[ISUGRADIA]

59. Obama is from one of the 10 largest states

giving him a good base plus he won by the largest margain in state history for the US Senate race in 2004.

[barack4prez]

60. Leadership is about, among other things,

sincerity. This is as important than any positions on issues or experience. Obama sounds sincere, whether he is or not. That's why Reagan appealed to so many, because he sounded sincere. So did JFK.
Hillary may actually be sincere, but it sounds like everything that comes out of her mouth is scripted. Same for all of them, except Obama.

[bamacrat]

61. Sadly it's because he is a black man that doesn't "scare" the white masses.

I like him but I support Kucinich.

[DaveinMD]

62. he won a Senate seat

coming out of nowhere to beat a self-funder. He gave an amazing speech at the convention and has appeal to new voters and independents alike. He has lots of appeal.

[ShortnFiery]

63. Read the extended article within The WP Magazine, and you will KNOW

"A Series of Fortunate Events."

snip

In the summer of 2002, a little-known Illinois state legislator named Barack Obama thought he saw the political opening he'd been looking for. It was a long shot, a flier -- a race for the U.S. Senate against a sitting Republican. Obama believed he could beat the incumbent, Peter Fitzgerald. The immediate and, in some ways, harder challenge would be getting the Democratic nomination.

/snip

Here's the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/print/washpostmagazine/