Why I don't like Obama in the general election

Much has been said about electability in the general election. I'll skip that part here althought I do agree that Obama is not the most electable Democratic candidate.

But forget that for now.

What really bothers me is that I don't think he "gets it" in terms of what he'll be up against in a general election. The smears, the lies, the election fraud, the media bias, the debate bias, ... I don't think he gets that stuff. I think he thinks he can "take the high road" on all that stuff and "unite the country."

We've seen where the high road has gotten us the last two elections. The only way a Dem can win this time is if they fight back. And there has to be some OFFENSE, not just reacting in a defensive manner.

A democrat can fight back and be more proactive with this stuff, and still act with dignity, honesty, and integrity.

But the candidate has to have a clear understanding that the high road doesn't work anyomre. Those days are gone. At least until we get some election legislation passed.

For now, we need a fighter.

I believe Edwards and Kucinich are the only ones who really understand the nature of what they're up against in a general election to take it on the right way. Edwards, because he's been through it before and he expects it to come again. I think he would have contested the 2004 election if Kerry didn't decide otherwise. I think he will use that team of election lawyers to fight election fraud and take it to the courts if he has to. Kuch, because he just "gets it" on most things and he just understands the nature of the beast.

But Obama worries me the most. In a general election I see him naively trying to ride his smile all the way to the white house on a "message of unity" and "taking the high road" - a losing strategy if we simply consider the past.

They're supposed to be the formiddable machine that nobody can beat. If he can beat them, he can beat Republicans.

There's no reason to not support Obama. Everything anybody comes up with is so easily refuted.

that all the Clintons' fire was directed exclusively at him for many months now--I don't think she paid much attention to Edwards or anyone else. The man knows how to fight and take jabs when he has to, and stay cool and controlled the rest of the time, and just let his opponents shoot themselves in the foot (like kindergarten-gate).

The republicans will throw blatant, overt, racism at him. How will he handle it? They would endlessly smear him with "Obama is a muslim extremist." "Obama is a muslim, Obama is a muslim" is all we would hear day in day out for months on end. how would Obama react? Racist disenfranchisement of black voters would go into high gear and not just in battle ground states but nationwide. How would the Obama camp deal with it?

If he tries to "take the high road" and "stay above the fray" he will be chewed up and spit out. Batting down few remarks from Clinton supporters is nothing compared to what he would have to deal with from the right. The attacks would be viscious, sustained and overtly bigoted.

There is no 'healing' with these people. There is no coming together or 'unity' with republicans. If Obama's supporters believe he will find unity with the right they are in for a huge let down. The republicans will react like rabid animals. What would Obama do then? Try and play 'nicey nice' like Kerry did? Though I do believe that Obama would prevail in the end because the republicans would self destruct, it remains to be seen how he handles a real fight.

Oh, and by the way, "Clinton Machine" is an old Fox News talking point.

And yes there is a Clinton Machine.

That would backfire. They will use dog whistle politics, but I think he's plenty smart enough to deal with it effectively. And it's clear he actually is a hell of a fighter. He fights smart. How he's dealt with the Clintons is a case in point.

no offense, but just because he knows how to fight back against hillary says nothing about the general election.

does hillary do vote caging?
does hillary do push polls?
does hillary have the backing of rush limbaugh and bill orielly?

my point is exactly to refute what you are saying. obama could win the nomination because he knows how to fight against people like hillary, but he could lost the general election because he doesn't know how to fight against people like Karl Rove

She has not only done push polls and nasty campaign brochures, but she's set them up to make them look like they come from other campaigns. Who do you think is push polling about the Orange Bowl? Have you missed Taylor Marsh and others who are pushing out and out lies? Or her attempt to keep Iowa students from voting. They're every bit as vicious as Rove. They tell you that's why you're supposed to elect Hillary, remember.

i don't like hillary at all
I really don't think i could vote for her

but she's no Karl Rove.

But she sure has Rovian types on her campaign.

What 'exactly' don't you like? And while his smile is adorable, his mind is even better. I think Obama is the best! And I'm not worried. I think he has done and will continue to do quite well, thank you.

Basically, I doubt they can keep their more radical elements from engaging in race-based attacks, and I don't know how they're gonna explain that kind of shit to the average non-redneck. It'll be interesting, if nothing else.

If nothing else, this may serve to expose the racist underpinnings of their politics to the independent voter.

If you thought "Barack the Magic Negro" and the "Barack is a black Muslim" were bad, just wait until the yokels who are currently busy hatin' on Hill get around to Obama.

the repuke top of the party tries to enforce, the more trouble the repukes are in.

Anybody who is complaining about all Clinton's republican enemies, while simultaneously running for the democratic nomination has a big wake up call coming.

Independents and moderate republicans are flocking to him. We're doomed.

consider Biden

he doesn't have any of the negatives that republicans always use

defense, defense, terror, terror

won't work against Biden

will work against the others