Is it safe for me to assume then that you have the same issue with people who "blindly" voted against him for the same reason?

 

You know what they say about assume...:bunny:...but yes, democracy is better off when all voters take the time to inform themselves and make rational decisions. Where another issue comes though is that rational to one person is "what is the best situation for me" whereas rational for another is "what is the best situation for my country". It seems like the "me's" are winning out.

In general there are people that some people seem to gravitate to because of their character, while others can dislike that same person because of that very same character, while those same folks can gravitate to others because of their character, while some others don't because of that very same character.

 

We all know when we see or meet someone the vibration that we experience which either gives us a sense that we dig someone or we don't. Sometimes we know instantly, sometimes the jury may be out on it for a while, and sometimes we don't feel too strongly one way or another.

 

With that said, and all politics aside, because that can get into all kinds of hairy topics, my personal knee-jerk reaction to Barack Obama is that he's a mild mannered, peaceful, non-boastful, down to earth, common sense person who genuinely cares about people and tries his best to be as transparent as he can without coming off as superior. I don't find anything fake about him and it's a refreshing change from some other politicians that seem unapproachable or fake in a "politics as usual" sorta way that can make me feel untrusting of them.

 

With Barack, he'd be on my list of individuals that I would gravitate to because I don't feel put off by his character, feel that I could easily identify with him, or chat with him, and feel at ease about it, and probably walk away thinking that he seems like a cool dude that I can relate to.

 

That's just me, and I realize that not everyone might feel the same, as I had earlier described about people with different taste in different people, but must admit I don't completely understand the hate campaign that so many have about him.

 

When so many people hate on a peaceful decent person, it makes me wonder about the haters and what there is that's so loving and attractive about them that would make me want to join their club. In the case of Barack, I can certainly say not much.

 

He's alright in my book and his color doesn't mean anything one way or another to me. He's just a human being.

 

An example of two other politicians that I don't gravitate to because I'm not wild about their character, nor do I find them trustworthy in the way that I would trust Obama, would be Mitt Romney and Herman Cain.

 

Again it would have nothing to do with color... but their character, but I used both as examples to give equal time to show that my gut reactions have nothing to do with color.

Edited January 21, 201412 yr by B-Ball-fan

Seeing as he was the first Black President, yeah, I'd say there are people who "only" liked him because he was black...

 

Similar to NY Gov Al Smith being the first Catholic to run for president and Kennedy being the first Catholic President. In both cases, Catholics overwhelmingly supported both candidates even if they didn't necessary match their views while others opposed them simply due to the Catholicism. Martin Luther King, Sr stated from the pulpit in Atlanta that he could not morally vote for Kennedy since he was a Catholic.

I don't like him because he's a liar and a socialist.

I don't like him because he's a liar and a socialist.

 

You knew that before you voted against him?

Thought this was understood from the beginning of his campaign. Unfortunate but that's the way it goes.

 

I still say Clinton was blacker than Obama. Obama is pretty athletic though.

I've come to the conclusion that Presidents Obama & Bush have a lot in common. I think both come across as very likable people. Seems like I'd enjoy chatting college hoops with the President or baseball history with Bush. I think both men seem like good guys.

 

Both men also suck big-time at being President.

I've come to the conclusion that Presidents Obama & Bush have a lot in common. I think both come across as very likable people. Seems like I'd enjoy chatting college hoops with the President or baseball history with Bush. I think both men seem like good guys.

 

Both men also suck big-time at being President.

 

In a world where most politicians are viewed as slime balls, being a likeable guy is going to get you votes every time, regardless of party affiliations.

What % of voters do you feel voted blindly?

 

Unfortunately I believe a pretty high percentage of voters vote blindly in EACH election. Too often I believe the 30 second half truth/half smear commercials sway voters than any (if any?) actual research into a candidate's views. Unfortunately we can be lazy voters.

 

Another factor that I think leads to someone being elected that really doesn't seem to be related to how well he/she will do the job is the person's likeability, especially when some people can really put on the charm in public when actually, they are really a jerk.

 

Physical appearance is another. There is a judge in Louisville who many attribute her attractive appearance displayed on billboards all over town as leading to her decisive victory years ago. After the 1992 presidential election, analysts reviewing data theorized Clinton's appearance lead to his doing so well with women voters to win the democratic nomination and the presidency. Whether you like Clinton or not, it is hard to grasp why appearance should affect ones vote.

 

On the 2008 election the blind vote % may have been higher since so many people were voting more on the fact that this was the first African American to run, similar to when Catholic Al Smith ran in 1928 and Catholic Kennedy ran in 1960.

In a world where most politicians are viewed as slime balls, being a likeable guy is going to get you votes every time, regardless of party affiliations.

 

Yep.

I've come to the conclusion that Presidents Obama & Bush have a lot in common. I think both come across as very likable people. Seems like I'd enjoy chatting college hoops with the President or baseball history with Bush. I think both men seem like good guys.

 

Both men also suck big-time at being President.

 

Agreed. I think I'd enjoy playing hoops with President Obama, having a beer with President Bush, and spending a night on the town with President Clinton. :idunno:

You knew that before you voted against him?

 

Yeah, I did. I pay attention.

You knew that before you voted against him?

 

I don't want to speak for Iam4theCats but I with throw in my two cents. My vote was more for McCain and less against Obama. In the decade or more leading up to the 2008 election, I had really liked McCain due to his moderate Republican views and the fact that when action had to be taken in legislation, he would often be the first to go across the aisle and see where compromise could be made. However, since 2008, my view of McCain has cooled off due to his views on US involvement in international skirmishes.

 

While I did look at Obama's voting record in the Senate and concluded it did not line up very well with my views, I was still more Pro McCain than anti-Obama.

I don't want to speak for Iam4theCats but I with throw in my two cents. My vote was more for McCain and less against Obama. In the decade or more leading up to the 2008 election, I had really liked McCain due to his moderate Republican views and the fact that when action had to be taken in legislation, he would often be the first to go across the aisle and see where compromise could be made. However, since 2008, my view of McCain has cooled off due to his views on US involvement in international skirmishes.

 

While I did look at Obama's voting record in the Senate and concluded it did not line up very well with my views, I was still more Pro McCain than anti-Obama.

 

Perfectly okay with that.

What % of voters do you feel voted blindly? I hear that all the time. It seems that when people say that, the assume NO one made an educated vote for him. Which is weird. I actually do not know a single person in my own life that voted for him, that did so blindly. You say "some did not vote blindly". What does that mean? That you feel the majority did?

 

That's like me saying people who voted GWB in the second time did so blindly...because I sure as hell can't figure out how anyone made an educated vote for him. But in reality, I know that we looked at the candidate and came to opposite conclusions.

 

33.4% including a son who admittedly for a brief period bought into the "change" Oscar Mayer Bologna(he is now out of the will), several friends who admittedly vote Democrat regardless who/what is running (they are out of the will also) and some good friends who run a civil engineering firm who state that when the Democrats are in office, their business does well. I guess I just don't know the right republicans, but I prefer to stay independent so I can spread my dislike without prejudice. :ohbrother:

Edited January 21, 201412 yr by PurplePride92