MotherJones Blog: "What Are We Going to Change To?"

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"What Are We Going to Change To?"

In a NYT article about how Indiana's old fashioned voters may be resistant to Obama's charms — "Frankly, we want it to be like it used to be," says some dude — there is a question that you've heard many times before, in some form or another:

"What are we going to change to?" asked Ron O’Bryan, 58, a retired auto worker who said he was still trying to decide which Democrat to vote for in the May 6 primary.

I've mulled this over a lot, particularly because I've heard it frequently from voters at Hillary Clinton rallies. They're usually on board for change, but they don't know what Obama is promising. With H. Clinton, they usually operate under the assumption that it'll be back to the future — a return to the familiar philosophies and policies of B. Clinton.

Now, in some cases they don't know what Obama is promising because they're Clinton supporters and haven't attended Obama rallies or visited his website. That sort of extra work is necessary because Obama's policy positions are overshadowed in the media by his message about "bringing people together" and "the smallness of our politics." Voters want to know what direction a President Obama would take the country, and that message hasn't gotten across.

But as we've said here many times, Obama is very similar to Hillary Clinton on policy. Obama's change is less about policy and more about process — how government runs and how the president acts. Less access for special interests and lobbyists, more transparency, an increased willingness to work across the aisle... if you're reading this blog, this is probably old hat for you by now.

But here's the point I want to make. For many Obama supporters, policy and process both don't matter. The question "What are we going to change to?" is a faulty one because change isn't about a destination. It's about empowerment — the possibility of change itself. The Obama campaign has very masterfully cultivated the feeling that everyday people have the ability to change the country, something voters and potential voters who have tuned out politics probably haven't felt in a long time.

"Yes we can" and "We are the ones we've been waiting for" are manifestations of this. Consider what I wrote after attending a University of Pittsburgh rally for Obama the night before the Pennsylvania primary: "Perhaps the biggest roar of the night came when Senator Bob Casey said, in his introduction of Obama, 'Are you ready to change America?'... In that auditorium, there were 10,000 young people who actually believed they could change America. Afterwards, the crowd was abuzz. No one seemed to care or know what the details of reform were — it was the possibility of change, the power to change, that was intoxicating."

If you are an Indiana voter and you haven't been bitten by the bug, none of this makes any sense to you. And you are left with a question that 10,000 college students at the University of Pittsburgh don't feel needs to be asked.

Comments

As a 74 yr. old white female I know if the PEOPLE have one chance of being involved in the government they will vote for Barack Obama. PEOPLE, we don't want the Clinton- McCain OLD WAYS. Lets go to future not BACKWARD!!!!!Our young people deserve better so lets have the hope and determination to change the way things are done in our government.

Posted by: Zola Daniels on 04/28/08 at 12:59 PM Respond

I think "intoxicating" is the operative word. That's what's wrong with the Obama campaign.
The power of the individual citizen is not his or her ability to follow the pied piper because they like the music.
Change for the sake of change is the election of 2000.

People have to look past their noses this time, to consider their past voting behavior and where that took the country.
Right now, the Democratic party is split in two halves. Will you honor that party if your candidate is not chosen as nominee so that the Democrats in Congress can have a president that they can work with and go forward?

I say this without exclamation points, calmly, mindfully.

Posted by: Kathy Giannini on 04/28/08 at 6:16 PM Respond

MY FELLOW "BITTER", STUPID, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE :-)

If you think like Barack Obama, that WORKING CLASS PEOPLE are just a bunch of "BITTER"!, STUPID, PEASANTS, Cash COWS!, and CANNON FODDER. :-(

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary’s than they had ever been before or since.

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)

Best regards

jacksmith... Working Class :-)

p.s. You Might Be An Idiot! :-)

If you don't know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering...

You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year. :-)

Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. And I could go on, and on...

OBAMA AIDE: "WORKING-CLASS VOTERS NOT KEY FOR DEMOCRATS" :o

DEBATE! DEBATE!! DEBATE!!!...

Posted by: jacksmith on 04/28/08 at 10:25 PM Respond

DEBATE! DEBATE!! DEBATE!!!

It's time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.

Hillary Clinton seemed almost somber at her Pennsylvania victory speech. As if part of her was hoping Obama could have proved he had some chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources.

But it is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.

Hillary Clinton say's that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Mr. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.

Mr. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Mr. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton's have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.

If Mr. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.

Sen. Hillary Clinton: "You know, more people have now voted for me than have voted for my opponent. In fact, I now have more votes than anybody has ever had in a primary contest for a nomination. And it's also clear that we've got nine more important contests to go."

Sincerely

Jacksmith... Working Class :-)

Posted by: jacksmith on 04/28/08 at 10:25 PM Respond

Jacksmith - If you think that Jeff Foxworthy is funny, then you ARE an idiot.

And, no. Republicans are not voting for Obama because they think that he is a weaker candidate. They are voting for Hillary to draw this out as long as possible. This should have been over months ago.

And Hillary was not at Bill's right hand. If she was, then he may not of had his right hand up...well, let's not discuss where his hands were.

Posted by: kirkbrew on 04/29/08 at 6:17 AM Respond

Jack Smith - you are the best!

Posted by: E on 04/29/08 at 6:01 PM Respond

http://departmentoflunch.wordpress.com/2008/04/22/will-the-typical-white-person-fearful-of-black-men-on-the-street-vote-for-obama-anyway/

This ties it all together for me.

You know, if Obama were white, we would all see him for the right-leaning, social and economic conservative Christian he TRULY IS.

Change? My [deleted]!

Posted by: E on 04/29/08 at 6:05 PM Respond