OPINION & EDITORIAL
Obama: Visionary, not fraudulent
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by Letters to the Editor
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
I was disappointed to read a recent column by Kyle Szarzynski ("Barack Obama: Presidential special interest whore," Sept. 18) that is, at best, disingenuous. I thank The Badger Herald for allowing me to share the truth about Senator Obama's record and vision.
At a time when opposing the war was unpopular, Obama courageously led. He is the only Democratic contender to have done so, and his leadership continues today. Obama's plan to get America out of Iraq is the most detailed in the field. Not only has Obama demonstrated superior judgment and foresight, but he is also committed to ending the war in a responsible way that does not needlessly put troops at risk. This isn't "special interest whoredom." Rather, it is bold, responsible leadership.
Obama understands that America has enemies like al-Qaida and is committed to addressing areas in which terrorists are operating, such as Afghanistan. This battle is certainly no "farce." Obama will first utilize diplomacy, but is rightly unafraid of using force if necessary. There is nothing progressive about ignoring terrorist threats that, if left unanswered, make America less secure.
Szarzynski's claim that Obama shares Cheney's poor position on gay rights is intellectually dishonest and an insult to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Sen. Obama supports the full repeal of the antigay Defense of Marriage Act, unlike Cheney and other top tier candidates. Obama's gay rights record is stellar, which is precisely why he garners the support of LGBT leaders locally and nationally.
Students support Obama due to his superior positions, such as his plan to allow Americans to remain on their parent's healthcare plan up to age 25 if they cannot otherwise obtain benefits. More importantly, students on this campus back Barack because of his commitment to hope and real change.
In closing, I want to address the negativity at the foundation of Szarzynski's piece instead of continuing to refute each distortion. Most Democratic candidates will end the war, protect gay rights and work toward a more progressive America. The question is: Do we want to pursue those goals using the slash and burn tactics used in Szarzynski's column, the same tactics that turn so many young people away? Or should we turn the page on a "can't do, won't do, won't even try" style of politics and instead write our own chapter in the American story?
The choice is clear. Students deserve to be inspired. We hope all students — regardless of whom they support — will be our allies in this regard.
Ami ElShareif (elshareif@wisc.edu) is a junior majoring in political science and legal studies. She is the vice chair of Students for Obama.
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 5:33am):
Ami, I'm very, very proud of you, your courage, your tenacy and your loyalty to the one true candidate that america has had for decades. I share your experience. I too had vowed to never have anything to do with politics until Senator Obama came on the scene.
The 'special-interest whores' are the 'water carriers' and the corrupt media. It is a shame that Kyle Szarzynski has already chosen such a dirty path this early in his life. And I'm mighty glad you pulled the sheep's clothing off him. I'm glad his desperate attempt did not shake your resolve, nor mine, nor that of millions of young people who have become inspired anew to get involved in our country's politics.
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 7:27am):
All these issues suck. Which candidate is going to make me rich?
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 8:40am):
Andy Gordon and Mike Verveer sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes the Alcohol Density Ban, then comes Obama, then comes one motha holla' ...
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 9:24am):
Students support Obama. Students do not Students for Obama (Andy Gordon).
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 9:27am):
Obama wants us out of Iraq, but he wants to invade Pakistan. Forget it! My vote goes to Ron Paul. He is a non-interventionist. That's what we should be doing.
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 11:20am):
He does not want to invade Pakistan. That's just the media feeding you lies.
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 11:25am):
Eli Lewien, crawl back into your hole and don't come back.
-UW Campus
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 12:01pm):
What the hell are "transgender Americans?"
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 12:22pm):
he's an invention.
either by the clinton machine to make hillary appear as a moderate; or in general in order to appeal to the affirmative action generation who make choices simply based on race, skin color and ethnicity, rather than 'content of characters,' much to the dismay of MLK jr.
show your tolerance! show you are open minded and vote for obama (the apostate who's father's islamic past dictates his own and in spite of his allegiance to a racist and seperatist church is viewed by the muslim world as a convert from islam deserving of a beheading)
btw, he's just like bush and the repubs on gay marriage...he's against it, and yet he gets credit as other dems do for absolutely nothing.
have a nice day.
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 1:00pm):
Good response Ami. I realize how out of touch your organization is with reality.
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 1:04pm):
Andy Gordon is in touch with reality.
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 2:09pm):
When will all these starry-eyed students realize that real change has never come solely through elections, and never will. Real change happens from below, in the streets. Instead of wasting all our time, energy and printing space on yet another worthless election, get out and organize for something that can actually make a difference.
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 2:53pm):
Obama's gay rights record is NOT stellar. He still will not support same-sex marriage. I find it hilarious that people who were members of 'A Fair Wisconsin' support Obama or Clinton or Edwards, who will not grant them this one right. Szarynski, even if I disagree with him about almost everything else he said, was absolutely correct when he compared Obama's record on LGBT rights to Cheney's.
And to whoever's voting for Ron Paul, he's about as interventionist as it gets - there's a slew of articles about him (linked from irregulartimes.com, because I can't find another site that links to so many - yes, it's a liberal website, but what it links to is neutral). For goodness's sake, he just introduced a bill to define life as beginning at conception because he's a militant pro-lifer! The man's interventionist all the way to women's ovaries!
In response to 12:01pm, 'transgender Americans' are Americans who are transgender. Welcome to the 21st century. Take a look around, 'cause you're stuck here.
I support Gravel because I'm fucking fed up with everything else the government's throwing at us - I hate the GOP, but I'm beginning to hate most Democrats too, and I'm almost as liberal as they come (except for my positions on illegal drugs and illegal immigration - I'm relatively moderate-conservative about those compared to the rest of this campus)
Ami, take a look at your logic before you write this kind of crap.
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 4:15pm):
I'll only support Gravel if he makes Sharpton his running mate.
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 6:54pm):
Gordon there must be a reason everyone is hating on you all of the time. You're a smart guy, I'll let you figure it out. Is it a massive conspiracy against you, or something you're doing?
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 8:06pm):
Gravel/Paul '08!
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 9:33pm):
Since the day I met em I been lost.
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 11:45pm):
Gravel/Paul '08!
...May God help us.
Anonymous (September 19, 2007 @ 11:59pm):
lol at 6:54pm. pwnage.
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