Obama brings intelligence, vision, charm and understanding of what a candidate should be to Presidential race

By Daniel Hines
Publisher
www.TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com

Many years go, while working in Public Relations for a large Central Illinois manufacturer, one of my jobs was to arrange visits by candidates for elected office with employees in the plant cafeterias.

It was during one such meeting that I heard a highly popular—and respected—member of the state’s House of Representatives succinctly present who he was and why he believed as he did:

“Why are you a Democrat instead of a Republican,” an employee asked.

“Because I believe that it is the party that tries to do the most good the most of the time for the most of the people,” was the response.

And therein lies the reason that I support Senator Barack Obama for President.

I watched enthralled as the then Senatorial candidate Obama electrified a convention with his keynote speech.  Later, I saw first-hand the depth of the recently elected Senator Obama as he discussed health care issues at FamiliesUSA in Washington, DC. 
But, perhaps most tellingly, it was after the meeting while calling on Congressional staff on the Hill, that a more lasting impression was created of Senator Obama.

While I and the group of seniors I was with were walking towards a Senate office building, in really cold Winter weather, I saw a coatless Senator Obama walking towards us. 

I had the audacity to stop him, introduce myself and tell him that I had published a story on our web site about his visit with and support of veterans wounded in our multiple wars.  I introduced the others in the group—and Senator Obama took the time to stop, talk with us and even engage in conversation.

Clearly, this was a man entirely different from so many other Senators who operate behind the protective screens of staff members.

Since returning to St. Louis, I have watched Senator Obama carefully.  I even suggested to some friends that he was a natural for a spot on a national ticket.

Since he first said that he was considering a run for the Presidency, Senator Obama has had ‘talking heads’ on television—many of whom have never subjected themselves to the rigors of the electoral process, and most of whom have never had an appreciation of the native common sense of the American people outside the Washington, DC Beltway—say that he lacked the experience to be President. 

I would remind them that there was a man from Illinois—not a native, but one who chose the state as the place where he wanted to live, as did Senator Obama—who was rejected repeatedly for public office, who objected to an unpopular war, who served only in the Illinois legislature and one term in the U.S. House of Representatives, but went on to become our greatest President. 

Also, the American people have made it clear that they don’t want, nor need the experience of the highly insulated elected officials who have led us into a war based upon lies, have ignored the restoration of a wonderful American city rich in our heritage as it struggles to recover while corrupt officials of a regime we have propped up with the blood, lives and limbs of our neighbors and friends siphons away hundreds of billions of dollars from funds that could be used to provide universal health care, improved educational opportunities and to restore our nation’s industries to a competitive position. 
It is these ‘experienced’ officials who have turned a blind eye to the drastic environmental impact of global climate change, that have only now begun to talk about energy independence and the use of alternative fuels, and who have either been a part of or watched silently as the most incompetent administration in our history bungled its way through six disastrous years, during which its supporters have left  a legacy as the most corrupt elected leadership since Harding was President.

Also, while one must have the greatest respect for Senator Hillary Rodham-Clinton, and her drive, intelligence and skills, it is time to end the Bush-Clinton-Bush-(Clinton?) (Jeb Bush?) cycle.  We are not Imperial Rome where a right to rule is  based on bloodlines or family relationships.

Rather, it is time to bring to the Presidency intelligence, vision, hope, compassion, and common decency that shall allow the inherent and native intelligence and energy of all the American people to again be have a role in the American experience.

This is an important election for not only America’s seniors but for all Americans.  There are those politicians and their supporters who still want to dismember Social Security and turn to privatization; who believe that while we can afford a disastrous war that has cost us blood and fortune,  we cannot afford health care insurance for our citizens; who claim prosperity exists because they can point to  a rising stock market while ignoring the thousands of hard-working Americans thrown out of jobs because of Third-World wage havens for American companies; who believe that they can throw aside the Constitution to allow a proven incompetent President to conduct war where and when and with whom he pleases; who provide tax cuts for wealthy citizens but watch idly as ‘real’ wages diminish.

It is time to elect men and women who want to govern, not rule. It is time to have someone who will believe in doing his best the most of the time for the most of the people.  Senator Barack Obama is that person.