Why I can’t vote for Obama

Everytime I hear Senator Obama give a speech, I can not help but be inspired by his words. I feel like I am in a different era in which one man’s words can motivate a nation and then, just like that the speech is over and the talking heads on cable news network takeover, analysing every single word and parsing every single sentence and the cold reality of today’s political enviornment sets in. While I cannot but feel inspired by the speech I also cannot vote for him because I don’t think Senator Obama can handle todays politics. The last decade or so has turned the politics of the day on its head and it has become so idealogical that people are not willing to make compromises to work together and do the things that are good for the nation.

My first problem with Senator Obama’s message of bringing people together is how does the Senator expect to work with the Republican party. This is the same Republican party whose members were ready to throw their own members out for supportng the Immigration bill which was supported by George W. Bush himself. This is the same Republican party that refuses to embrace Senator Mccanin because they think he is too liberal. Does the Senator Obama really think he can work across the aisle with this party to bring about a compromise.

All through this campaign the Senator has not shown the nerve to stand up and fight for what he believes in. Everytime somebody has questioned the Senator he has been quickly shut down by his surrogates and has been labelled a racist. This won’t work with the Republicans. For me to even consider voting for Senator Obama, I need to find out first that the Senator can put up a fight. The hardest job for the president is not only to bring people together but also to stand up and fight, when they need to, for the things that they believe in. Can Senator Obama do that? I just don’t feel that.

While I do feel that Senator Clinton is a political oppurtunist sometimes, I know that she can put up a fight. She has enough scars to prove that. I do believe she can stand up and fight for the things she belives in even if it is bare knuckle fight. Same goes for Senator McCain whom I respect for the principled stands he has taken. I don’t agree with a lot of his ideas but atleast I know the Senator will fight for the things he believes in and I do belive that he genuinely loves the country.

So I am still on the sidelines waiting to see if Senator Obama will become a street fighter.