Life Wonk

A few years ago around this time, I completed my first year of college, at home working at Chicago Public Schools. Labor Day 2004, my family always attends the “African Festival of the Arts”. Usually a day of eating, shopping, looking at African/Carribean Art and more. This was an election year and then Illinois Senator, Barack Obama was running for the United States Senate against Alan Keyes(R?). At this festival, I crossed paths with Senator Obama (D-IL) and my mother admonished me to shake his hand and introduce myself and that was my formal introduction with him and my fascination has since flourished with his ambitious and audacious run for United States President.

Last night CNN aired its first Democratic Presidential Debate moderated by Wolf Blitzer (blah…Anderson Cooper would have been better). Former US Senator John Edwards(D-SC) was making a point about Leadership and the recent vote to pass a bill with out time tables–essentially backing down to the Prez. Wolf took of what of Edwards said and forced him to call out Senator Clinton(D-NY) and Senator Obama(D-IL). This exchange shows Obama’s ability to respond firmly while factual and still remain fair to his opponent.

Watch for your self…

I think Wolf instigated the entire exchange, and it seemed as Obama was a bit snappy with Edwards towards the beginning. (I admit I laughed. I totally understood where he was coming from, but in the context of a blog I can’t say that. In parenthesis I can cause its like I’m talking to you…okay back to the report.) On a serious note, in the state this country is in, we need a tough Democrat in office. One that will be able to shoot from the hip, only with valid arguments and policies. The Democratic Party is perceived to be as weak and peace loving liberals. Usually, John Edwards falls into that category to some. Republicans capitalize on the perception of weakness in the Democratic Party and its no longer the time of being the weak Democrat. Obama through and through is proving his toughness as a Democrat. When he is confronted, he is not afraid to address the issue directly, even if it means calling the person out by name. That is what we need in the Oval Office after 7 Years of lies and deception. We need a to have a President that we can trust that what we are engaging in as a country is valid and “above board”.

I’m not knocking Edwards, but my point is, Democrats as a whole need to ‘Toughen up’ and Obama is ahead of the rest in that category when it comes to addressing tough and hard issues.

Former Senator Edwards… take a look at the tapes before you play next time. You may not get baited into the traps moderators put out. Remember they are pundits, they watch this stuff…..

…yeah… you are 4 years too late Sen. Edwards.

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