Thoughts on Criticisms of Obama for Not Fighting Back Hard Enough

I think Obama does have to hit back, and hit back hard. But, being a recent convert to Obama, I think that there is a feeling of rightness about him, a levity that keeps him above the fray, and that it really is a part of him. Every time he tried to get mean and old-school politics against Hillary Clinton, he had the look of child telling a lie. I have to admit that I thought he wasn't tough enough. That his ill-ease in going on the attack was a weakness. But, he prevailed against Clinton in a way where he didn't have to destroy her career or her reputation. He allowed me to put my Clinton banners away and join the Obama team, really without a hitch (all PUMA's aside).

I have followed this election closely and have seen that it is a different kind of election, particularly Obama's campaign. Obama's beautiful campaign has, for the most part, not been about mass deception and triggering outrage. But, it is passionate, but passion for the principles that America stands for (or ought to stand for). It is a campaign about deconstructing the false outrage, and about believing in the American electorate. Believing that regular Americans are capable of not being fooled, so long as there is a leader out there speaking truth to power. I hope and pray that Obama is that leader. And, if he gets people involved with $5.00 donations, that is absolutely perfect. If he forcefully and respectfully persuades the American electorate that Guilliani and Palin are insulting the very heart and sole of the electorate when they diminish and mock community organizers, he will prevail both morally and in the voting booth. He has work to do, but has begun to chip away, in his unflappable manner and educate the electorate that the Republicans are not just insulting Obama but PTA members, the Catholic Church and many, many other religious groups who organize to serve the poor and underprivileged, . . . like Peace Corps volunteers, your Neighborhood Watch group, MADD, the Polly Klauss foundation, the folks over at American's Most Wanted, Legal Aid Society workers, Megan's Law reformers, Ryan White, the Sierra Club . . . , The list of "community organizers" includes all of us, at some point, hopefully, in our lives. That part, is the better part of us.

So, as a Clinton voter, Obama supporter, I feel completely at peace with my advocacy. That is something new. Not having to be apologetic for the mean-spiritedness of my candidate. I like it. My hope is that Professor Obama will get through to his biggest class, and Father Obama will persuade his parish to look to the better part of themselves, and not buy into the haters, the power-brokers, and the deceivers and reclaim their own power. He really stands for something different.

The internet and Netroots have given him a tool that Gore, Kerry, Dukakis didn’t have: A direct route to his supporters to not give up hope, to not let detractors spoil the realization of their dreams of a better America, a different kind of Washington, and to keep plugging along toward victory one vote at a time. The internet is wonderful this way. It allows the Obama campaign to assure supporters and those thinking of supporting Obama that America is a place where a candidate CAN get elected without taking lobbyist money. We CAN elect a president who owes nothing to big-business and everything to the electorate at large. Obama’s campaign has been very smart, technologically progressive, and future focused. Sooner or later, we all look to the sunrise in America. Don’t sell Obama short, he may just be the Democtratic Party’s Ronald Reagan. Yes we CAN!