The Best Policy

Barack Obama holds political beliefs which mostly do not match up with those of my own.  Very unlikely I would vote for him.  (I never say "never" though.  It all depends upon the circumstances of any given election!)

That being said, however, I find this article about Obama quite refreshing.

Obama stopped by a study hall at Manchester Central High School and answered students' questions about the war in Iraq and his education plan. But when an adult asked about his time as a student, Obama spoke bluntly.

"I will confess to you that I was kind of a goof-off in high school as my mom reminded me," said Obama, an Illinois Democrat who grew up in Hawaii

"You know, I made some bad decisions that I've actually written about. You know, got into drinking. I experimented with drugs," he said. "There was a whole stretch of time that I didn't really apply myself a lot. It wasn't until I got out of high school and went to college that I started realizing, 'Man, I wasted a lot of time.'"

I don't know about everyone else.  When it comes to my own life, however, more than a few errors, misjudgments, and bad behavior can be found.  I try as best to own up to it when necessary.

The notion that our politicians must be humans perfected, without blemishes or missteps, is simply false and harmful.  My hat is off to Obama for "coming clean" about a less than steller performance as a student, and for admitting that his drug and alcohol use was harmful.  Frankly, I find that an admission like this is more powerful in attempting to get younger people away from such activities, than strict admonitions like "It's terribly wrong and destructive; just do not do it."

Obama is not "my guy."  He may not have my vote, nevertheless, he does have my respect.

Comments

[Greg]

I could really get into how I find issue with this post, but at times it just too much to be bothered with. It is interesting how you focused on this, and not the accomplishments he made during his scholastic career. Obama came to Harvard in 1988 after graduating from Columbia University and spending four years as a community organizer in Chicago. While he certainly could have went towards high-paying corporate law firms or the judicial bench, Obama aimed for public-interest law from the outset. It is also interesting to note that that at the end of his first year, Obama was selected to be one of 80 editors on the Law Review, a student-run journal of legal research and opinion. Midway through his second year, Obama was elected president, the top editing job, where he beat out 17 others. Nice to mention, but it is much better to focus on the negative.

In a somewhat hypocritical manner, it is interesting in how Obama's "less than steller performance as a student" is somewhat pale when compared to that of George W Bush. I have read constant stories of former professors speaking about how smart, and bright Obama was as a student. Anyone ever read any of these type stores about Bush?? On the issue of drugs and alcohol, has Bush been as forthright about his mis-spent youth as Obama has? While I love his candidness, I find it so interesting on how you only focus on this (something that can be used as a negative), and nothing on the positive. I am pretty sure if Obama was a Republican, this whole post would of been directed in another manner.

I am curious as to where Obama has come up with some way out policy that you find so offensive that you are unable to support. Other than the one that starts with him being a Democrat. I would love to hear about those without a google search.

[Peg]

Greg - you really need to do some work on your reading comprehension. I was not "focusing" on Obama's faults as a youth. Who did not have some faults at that stage of life???! (Or at any stage, for that matter.)

I was giving him a compliment for his honesty, forthrightness - and demonstration that one can change their patterns of behavior, if they so choose.

I would not have changed a word that I wrote above about Obama if he were a Republican - though it is possible that I might find myself more in align with his positions if he were more conservative.

That being said, there are many Republicans for whom I would not ever vote.

Try to turn off your hate for conservatives and Republicans, and turn on your comprehension of what someone is saying.

All of my post was complimentary for the man. Nothing more; nothing less.