On My Switch From Clinton to Obama

Real Clear Politics ^ | May 1st, 2008 | Joe Andrew

[The_Republican]

I have been inspired.

Today I am announcing my support for Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. I am changing my support from Senator Clinton to Senator Obama, and calling for my fellow Democrats across my home State of Indiana, and my fellow super delegates across the nation, to heal the rift in our Party and unite behind Barack Obama.

The hardest decisions in life are not between good and bad or right and wrong, but between two goods or two rights. That is the decision Democrats face today. We have an embarrassment of riches, but as much as we may love our candidates and revel in the political process that has brought Presidential politics to places that have not seen it in a generation, we cannot let our family affair hurt America by helping John McCain.

Here is my message, explained in this lengthy letter that I hope is perceived as a thoughtful analysis of how to save America from four more years of the misguided polices of the past: you can be for someone without being against someone else. You can unite behind a candidate and a vision for America without rejecting another candidate and their vision, because in real life, opposed to party politics, we Democrats are on the same side. The battle should not be amongst ourselves. Rather, we should focus our efforts on those who are truly on the opposite side: those who want to continue the failed policies of the last eight years, rather than bring real change to Washington. Let us come together right now behind an inspiring leader who not only has the audacity to challenge the old divisive politics, but the audacity to make us all hope for a better America.

Unite the Party Now.

[Califreak]

I wouldn’t say we are coming home.

It’s more like we have a really bad case of Obamaphobia.

That’s about the only thing I can say in defense of McCain at this point.

I still don’t know what I’m going to do. If it’s close enough in our state, I suppose I might have to do it, but I don’t have to like it.

I will never believe we are uniting behind Juan.

We are uniting against the other side, but party has nothing to do with it.

We are stuck with the only game in town.

[Califreak]

BTW, Paperdoll, it’s good to see you back!

I kind of went into a funk in January myself!

[Paperdoll]

Thank you, Califreak. After reading your profile, I think I love you! :)

[Califreak]

I always loved you for supporting Duncan Hunter!

[untrained skeptic]

False. Not all superdelegates are elected officials, and even some of those that were elected have since been voted out of office or retired. I suggest you get your facts straight prior to lecturing me again.

That's true. Not ALL of the superdelegates are currently elected officials, some are past elected officials such as former presidents, vice presidents, and former majority and minority leaders in the house and senate. Former DNC chairmen are also superdelegates.

However, the vast majority are currently elected officials.

So 80% of the delegates are selected through the primaries, and most, but not all of the superdelegates are currently elected officials, yet you say the voters have no say in the matter.

You have a strange way of taking small minorities and acting like they are the majority.