What is it about Obama that makes me want to stop what I'm doing and listen every time I hear his voice? Is it that the sound of his voice, and what he has to say, taps something deep within me that inspires me to pay attention, makes me feel hopeful, fills me with a vision of "what can be," encourages me to become involved? Is it because he writes his own speeches and thus I get a sense of his sincerity and wisdom?

I don't know about others, but I have a very difficult time listening to (or watching) President Bush. I try... I really try to have a open mind and to actually sit through one of his talks but I find I can only take a few minutes before I'm so turned off, I need to leave the room. I don't like that about myself. I don't like the fact that I feel the way I do about the leader of our country. I want to once again be able to be inspired when I listen to the president deliver a State of the Union Address or any other talk. I want to feel a sense of pride in our president that he or she is intelligent, wise, truthful, compassionate and trustworthy. These are some of the things that have been missing for me when I think about the past 8 years of the Bush presidency.

So some of the criteria I've set for myself to determine which candidate I will support is: (1) the person I most enjoy listening to and watching, (2) who instills in me with a sense of trust and (3) who inspires me to be a better person and to contribute in some way to making our world a better place. Hillary, unfortunately, doesn't pass the test. Her talks feel "canned", manipulative, insincere, disingenuous and sometimes vindictive. Her truthfulness has also been called into question on a number of occasions. After these long months of campaigning, I truly don't feel I know the REAL Hillary -- only the Hillary who delivers the speeches that are written for her and delivered like an actor playing a role with the appropriate facial expressions and hand motions. Even though I would desperately love to see a woman in the White House, I do NOT feel in my heart she is the right woman for the job.

When I envision Obama in the White House, I am filled with a happy anticipation that I will once again WANT to listen to what our president has to say, to benefit from his wisdom and to be inspired to do my part, whatever that may be, to contribute to the greatness of this country and the betterment of the world.

Carol Hansen Grey
http://carolhansengrey.com

The following post by Cynda Jones appears on the BarackObama.com community blog and gives an in depth comparison of the Obama-Clinton Record.

Let's take a closer look at who's really qualified and or who's really working for the good of all of us in the Senate. Obama or Clinton. Records of these two candidates should be scrutinized in order to make an informed decision.

Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term - 6yrs. - and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law - 20 - twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years
These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress www.thom.loc.gov, but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.
1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty.

Only five of Clinton's bills are, more substantive.
16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
18. Assist land mine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.

There you have it, the fact's straight from the Senate Record.

Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so
I'll mainly categorize.
During the first - 8 - eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills.
He introduced
233 regarding health care reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others./PAN>

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427.
These inculded:

The Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law,
The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became law,
The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, - became law,
The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee,
and many more.

In all, since entering the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096. An impressive record, for someone who supposedly has no record according to some who would prefer that this comparison not be made public.

I recently received an email from a friend bemoaning the fact the many "feminists" are "drifting in ever-greater numbers away from Clinton" toward Barack. The people quoted in the email don't seem to understand why this is happening and offer shallow reasons (i.e., they are moving toward the "rock star" and the "momentum") as if any woman who doesn't support Hillary's candidacy is not thinking clearly about the consequences.

Personally, I find it interesting that so many of the feminists who support Hillary seem to have blinders on when it comes to considering what her election would actually mean to our country (other than making history by electing the first woman to the White House.). As I've stated in many discussions I've had with people on this topic: I doubt there is anyone who would like to see a woman elected president of the United States more than I do. However I'm not in favor of electing a woman JUST BECAUSE she is a woman.

There are many reasons I don't support Hillary and right at the top of the list is that I truly feel if she is the Democratic nominee it will light a fire under the Republicans and bring them out of the woodwork en-mass to make sure she is not elected (and God forbid we get McCain in the White House!!). And if she happened to actually get elected, we would have another four years of political business as usual EXCEPT there would be MORE polarization than already exists in this country. We will get another four years of attacks much more vicious than those that made Bill Clinton impotent as a president in the last years of his presidency. Instead of "being ready on Day One," she would spend her presidency fending off those who really hate her and what she stands for -- NOT because she is a woman but because she is a Clinton thus diminishing her effectiveness as a president!

Also, there's no denying that if she were elected president we would we get Bill in the package who will once again be rich fodder for the Right Wing attack machine detracting even more from the effectiveness of a Hillary presidency. Also, and probably more important, Bill won't be bound, as the president is, to "play by the rules." We may find that he becomes a loose cannon, using his powerful influence as a past president and now husband of the current president, to wheel and deal with foreign heads of state while not being bound by Congressional oversight (or presidential oversight). As a country, do we want to have to endure a possible marital power struggle in the White House?

I would like to see this country get off of the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton seesaw and head in a new direction that gives voice to the people, strengthens our democracy and unifies our country. I support Obama because he represents a break from the divisive "business as usual" politics we've all been subjected to over the past decade. I truly believe Obama has the ability to steer this country in the direction of unity. Also, he is attracting young voters like no one in recent history has been able to do and we need to engage the youth if we are to save and strengthen our democracy. Obama, himself, is young, energetic, extremely intelligent and doesn't come with years of Washington baggage (that some might mistakenly equate with "experience").

Barack is also, I believe, a true feminist -- he is comfortable around powerful women and I feel he will do more to advance the cause of the women's movement in this country than will Hillary's polarizing energy. He is lighting a fire in the hearts of those of us who have been disillusioned with our political leaders and inspiring us to get involved like no other since JFK. I was a high school student when JFK was running against Nixon and I remember the enthusiasm that we, as young people, felt when he was elected. For the first time since those early years when I initially became aware of the political process, I once again feel that type of political enthusiasm (and yes, HOPE) that our country can once again be put on a track of truth, integrity and transparency (what a concept!).

My first remembrance of hearing Barack Obama was when he delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. After his speech my husband and I looked at each other and exclaimed, "Why isn't HE running? He's the candidate we could wholeheartedly support!" He inspired us like no one has since JFK. My husband and I then read his book, "The Audacity of Hope" and again felt a surge of what I can only explain as an inner knowing that this man could open the door to a "bright promise" of what is possible for our country and for the world.

When it became clear that he was going to run for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2008 I was thrilled to support him. I went to see him when he appeared in San Francisco at a "Women for Obama" event and felt my spirits rise. Like no other candidate in recent memory, he makes me want to be involved in what I feel is a political and social movement that will bring with it a sense of renewal and help to create positive change on many levels -- in our country and in our world.

I've listened to those who have said, "Yeah, but... he's too young, too inexperienced..." I say to them, "Maybe that's JUST what we need! Someone who isn't tied to the "old ways" of doing things. Someone with vision who can bring a new perspective to a world in which we face deep challenges. Someone who can actually bring our country together after years of polarization. Someone who can help heal the racial wounds our country continues to carry. Someone of integrity and transparency who we can trust to tell the truth, even when it may not be what we want to hear. Someone who is intelligent, a deep thinker, and who knows he doesn't know all the answers and is willing to be upfront about that and ask for advice. Someone who is invested in the future and in making the world a safer, saner place for the upcoming generations. Someone who respects and wants to engage the American people in ways we haven't been engaged since JFK.

People who know me and my work with women's empowerment are surprised that I am supporting Barack instead of Hillary. After all, this is our first REAL chance to have a woman serving in the top position of our country. "Why would you pass up the opportunity to get behind that possibility?" There is no one, I believe, who wants to see the United States elect a woman president more than I do! However, I don't want to see just "any" woman get elected just because she happens to have made it to the national arena.

There are many reasons why I am not supporting Hillary. Some I can address specifically and others are more of a gut feeling that are somewhat difficult to explain but just as powerful an influence on my decision. Hillary is definitely intelligent and persuasive and articulate and a good debater. However, she won't admit when she's made a mistake, she is part of the "old guard" politicians, she has refused to say she will not accept money from lobbyists, she is married to a powerful former president and it's really unclear what role he will have in the decision-making should she be elected. In my gut, I don't feel I can trust what she is saying is the truth. I don't feel she operates completely in integrity. I feel she is more interested in HER accomplishments and in being acknowledged for them than in engaging Americans in rising up together to meet the challenges we all face as a nation and as a planet. She has shown time and again throughout this campaign that she still operates under the old political paradigm that I feel will not lead this country in a new direction but keep us mired down in "politics as usual." Lastly, I feel it's time for us as a nation to break the chain of sea-saw politics Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton.

I have watched Barack Obama throughout this campaign and have seen how comfortable he is around powerful women. I personally feel he may do more to uplift the status of women politically and otherwise in this country than Hillary would be able to do. At the Women for Obama event I attended in San Francisco, I witnessed his respect for women and experienced first-hand his ability to inspire the several thousand women who were in attendance. Recently as my husband and I listened to Caroline Kennedy and Ted Kennedy endorse him, and to his acceptance of those endorsements, we were both actually moved to tears.

It is my sincere belief that Barack Obama is who we need to elect to move this country into a new age of inspired leadership!