Voting Day!

Hillary, Obama, Obama, Hillary... which way to go? I'm a dyed-in-the-wool liberal, and these are two good, strong candidates to choose from. Honestly, I'd be content with either one winning, so it's not a bad choice to have to make. (I don't envy the Republicans, they've got a tough choice ahead of them - hmm, crazy old guy, slimy rich guy, or crazy religious guy. Yeah, that's a bunch of winners.)

Anyway, after hours of debate watching and reading and thinking, I've decided to vote for Obama. Here, in no particular order, are the reasons why:

• Baggage - We don't need another dynasty. The "Clinton years" baggage will overshadow her every move.
• Experience - The think she oversells hers and he undersells his. And honestly, there is no experience that adequately prepares you to be the leader of the free world. So it's pretty much all a wash.
• Health Care Policy - I agree with Obama that people would buy health insurance if it were affordable. I don't believe people need to be penalized for not being insured - the bills are penalty enough.
• Iraq war - He didn't fall for it, he didn't vote for it. She did.
  
• Demographic Appeal - He appeals to a very wide cross-section of people - whites, blacks, minorities, young, old, men, women, liberals, moderates, independents. Her appeals seems much more limited. Which brings me to...
• Hillary Hate - The number of people that hate Hillary is astonishing. "Anyone but Hillary" is a very common feeling out there. I haven't heard of anyone that hates Obama, they just don't know much about him.
• McCain - He seems to be the frontrunner on the Republican side, and Obama stands as a sharp, and far more appealing contrast to him, whereas Hillary is much weaker opponent. How is she going to run on the platform of "experience" against that guy? And if she doesn't have that, what does she have?
• I vs. we - Listen to each of them speak. Hillary (and most politicians) is about the "I," how "I" have the experience and "I" will make change happen. Obama is about the "we." How "we" can bring change to the country and "we" can work together toward the common good. They both have a strong vision, but she is alone in hers, and his includes all of us. It's a fundamental difference in thinking, and to me, defines the difference between a good leader and a great one.

Now don't get me wrong, I like Hillary, I think she'll be a strong leader, certainly far better than any of the Republicans. But when it comes right down to it, it's President Obama for me!