Clinton, Obama Link Selma March to Present - washingtonpost.com

Clinton, Obama Link Selma March to Present - washingtonpost.com

This is a great story in the Washington Post today...

Here's a snip - or click on the link (above) to read the ENTIRE story!

In the days leading up to the commemoration of "Bloody Sunday," advisers to Obama and Clinton insisted it would not be a day for politics. But the candidates' mere presence in Alabama signaled the extraordinary importance of black voters in the upcoming Democratic primaries, with recent surveys indicating that Obama is jeopardizing Clinton's lead in the race by gaining among African Americans.

Any pretense that it was not part of the presidential campaign was dropped as the day went on. Supporters carried signs for the two campaigns, former president Clinton joked about the "rainbow coalition" of candidates on the Democratic ballot, and Rep. Artur Davis, the Alabama Democrat who represents Selma, unabashedly introduced Obama in his keynote address at Brown Chapel AME Church as the next president of the United States.

The crowd in and around Obama's appearance was decidedly larger -- his audience included 15 members of Congress, compared with four who went to hear Clinton. Obama, who was 3 years old at the time of the Selma clash, used his keynote address to mark his place in a younger generation of black Americans who do not march in the streets -- but who still, in his words, are required "to fulfill that legacy, to fulfill the obligations and the debt that we owe to those who allowed us to be here today."
(end snip of article)

This weekend I attended a great Meet - n - Greet for Obama supporters in Colorado. It was organized by a member of the Colorado for Obama group - Andrew Nicholas (great job, Andrew!). It was held downtown at the Unitarian Church on 14th and Lafayette. I hadn't been there since my friend Willow's wedding in 1993 or 1994. Wow.

The Meet-n-Greet was well organized and packed with information! I'm bummed that a giant wave of shyness overtook me while at the event and I was unable to find my inner "Obama chattermouth" that errupts from me whenever the subject of Obama or the Presidential race comes up at home. Disappointing really. I hate when I clam up. But it was a rather large group. My son and I showed up late, and I felt intimidated which is really insane because the crowd was really warm and kind and welcoming, and everyone had such intelligent things to say. I learned a lot (amazing that I could find areas of Obama-ism that I haven't thought of myself- LOL!). But I promise at the next rally or event to be more vocal and involved. It was just one of those days.

Right after the downtown meet-n-greet I met up with my husband and daughter who were over at my in-laws house meeting our new cousin! Our cousin David and his partner Ron have adopted a baby girl named Katie who is an amazing, beautiful, sweet, and wonderful 11 month old so full of smiles and love. What a beautiful new family, I'm so happy for them!

While talking to the family I was fielding questions like - Why Obama and not Hillary? (or McCain as my father-in-law kindly bantered with me) You know - that's a very good question. I like Hillary, but I do not feel that she is on the same page as me when it comes to the direction I'd like to see our country go in. She's been in politics for a long long time and while that does have it's positives, it can also be a negative. With it comes the deals and favors owed to others in politics throughout the years. I like the "freshness" of Obama, his lack of time in the game has kept him more in tune with the people and less entwined in the "process". Make sense? Hillary, while a very strong and enigmatic figure herself, has been too much of a middle of the road person, and she's not stood her ground on some issues (such as Iraq) like I would have hoped she would. So am I saying she's not "left" enough for me? Perhaps I am, if we need to label things, then I guess you could say that.

I know people think that being a female I should support Hillary's bid for the White House, and if she does beat Barack in the primary, I certainly will support her. But it's not because she is a woman and I feel a kindred spirit in that fact. I think it's great. More minorities should run! More women! But I will not support a candidate on that basis alone. I need more. A candidates stand on issues is where it's at. Charisma, energy, hope. Yeah, all that helps, but without the platform it's all just fluff.

It was suggested also, that it is "because he's cute" that I'm an early Barack supporter and not a Clintonista. Hmmmm... (Ok, I have to laugh at that -- do people really vote for a candidate or volunteer to pound the pavement because of a candidates cute-meter reading? God, I sure hope not) I don't consider a candidates handsomeness a guage for political savvy. No, I'll admit, Barack's not bad to look at. But that has nothing to do with why I'm supporting Barack Obama. You only have to go back and re-read my political / Barack posts for the last couple of months to see WHY I've decided to back this candidate. And I believe in him with all my heart (not because he's cute).

Enough said on that topic. :) Later!