Who should be our next President?
A look at both Clinton and Obama

by Nathan West
Apr 9, 2008  |  Email  |  Print  |  Share  |  RSS

Nathan West Column Stock Art

I've received several requests to discuss my thoughts on the Democratic Presidential nominees, so for this article, I'm going to look at both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

The Positive Points

Let me start out by saying I really and truly feel proud of both of our nominees. They seem to have very optimistic and exciting plans for the future of America. The fact that the citizens of the United States have been so vocal and actively involved this year is proof that we really are dedicated to moving forward in this country. We want to get involved, we want our voices to be heard, and we're pushing for a better country where everyone receives the same basic human rights. Both Clinton and Obama are committed to making healthcare affordable for everyone, instead of a luxury that only some people can get.

How did we get to this place where insurance companies will reject you for coverage if you've been ill in the past? We're human, of course we get ill! Should we only be covered if we're 20 years old and healthy? I firmly believe that both candidates will help improve these conditions.

Both candidates also believe that the GLBT community deserves protection from discrimination and equal rights as domestic partners. Married couples receive numerous tax benefits and civil rights that gay couples do not. Yet we're still expected to pay the same taxes as married heterosexual Americans. It's time for things to be fair across the board.

But I feel the most pressing issue is Iraq. We simply need to get out of there, and both Clinton and Obama intend to make this happen. We are losing thousands of lives and it's time for this blood bath to end. I think that's a topic most of us can agree on.

So I feel united in the fact that both nominees share the common morals and interests that affect many of us. I will be happy if either one of them is elected President, because I think they both will improve America.

The Negative Points

Sometimes we have to step back and not be so wrapped up in the media gossip. If you look at the really big picture here, I think that both candidates will be really good for America. Of course they have flaws. I have them, you have them. If you put us on stage in front of the whole world, it's only natural that our flaws will be magnified.

I don't really see how much it matters if Obama is tied to an outrageous church leader, or if Clinton stretched the truth about being attacked while traveling with Chelsea back in the 1990s. The current President told us there were "weapons of mass destruction" and that's why we're in Iraq to begin with.

So with that being said, I'm not going to pick apart either candidate. I think we're all aware that each person has their shortcomings, and we're unrealistic if we think there will ever be a perfect candidate.

My Advice for Choosing the Next President

I urge you to focus on the positive points of each candidate and support them. They are both very strong candidates and I'm glad neither one of them has dropped out. Each has a very dedicated following of millions of supporters, and neither has won enough delegates yet, so this race isn't over.

Ellen Degeneres recently said on her talk show that the people of America should be heard in their choices, and as long as states are still voting, it's important to give everyone a fair chance.

History has countless examples of the polls taking unexpected turns, so just remain positive and push for your choice. But make sure you are heard, because without action, a thought is just a thought.

Best of luck to both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in 2008!

Do you have a question for Nathan West? All messages are completely confidential and your identity will not be shared with anyone. To ask a question, please write to nwest@outandaboutnewspaper.com.

--------

Editor's Note: The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Out & About Newspaper. The opinions or views expressed are intended for informational purposes only and are not intended to treat or diagnose; nor are they meant to replace the treatment and care that you may be receiving from a licensed physician or mental health professional. Out & About Newspaper nor Nathan West is responsible for the outcome or results of following advice in any given situation. If you have specific concerns or a situation in which you require professional, psychological or medical help, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified specialist. You are completely responsible for your actions and neither O&AN nor Nathan West accepts any liability for any situation in your life past, present or future. By submitting a letter here, you grant O&AN and Nathan West permission to publish it in print, on this site or elsewhere. However, be assured that your letter will only be identified with an anonymous descriptive signature such as "Closeted at Work" or your first name. If you prefer, you may change your name in your letter.


Letter to the Editor  |  Other Articles by this Author


  • Post a Comment
  • Comments

Posted by swuzy  04/11/08 2:31 PM

How can such a person like Hillary Clinton be President? She would have to be dealing and negotiating with multiple foreign leaders, domestic leaders, many different constituencies, all having different agendas. o Would she be agreeing to or promising one thing after she had forgotten prior promises in another direction? o Would she be saying one thing, while working behind the scenes to do something else? o Would she be fabricating fantasies to support her positions when such positions are unfounded and have no popular support? Who can trust her? We had a problem with President Nixon's integrity, working surreptitiously behind the scenes at Watergate. We have a problem with President Bush's character, fantasizing about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and fantasizing about Saddam's support for Al Queda. How could we have taken such huge risks electing Presidents who are so flawed in their underlying integrity and character? I am sad to conclude that Hillary's pattern of ethical lapses reveal a fundamental tragical weakness that simply makes her not electable, no matter how otherwise appealing she may seem to be.

Posted by swuzy  04/11/08 2:29 PM

Hillary's boss on the Nixon impeachment team, Jerry Zeifman, says - oHe fired her and refused to give her a letter of recommendation, "Because she was a liar, .... She was an unethical, dishonest lawyer. She conspired to violate the Constitution, the rules of the House, the rules of the committee and the rules of confidentiality." http://www.jzeifman.com/ oHe "regrets" that he "had not reported her to the appropriate bar associations. .... Eventually, because of a number of her unethical practices I decided that I could not recommend her for any subsequent position of public or private trust." http://www.aim.org/aim-column/hillarys-crocodile-tears-in-connecticut oHe says that Hillary wrote a fraudulent legal brief, and confiscated public documents to hide her deception. .... The brief was so fraudulent and ridiculous, her boss Zeifman believes Hillary would have been disbarred if she had submitted it to a judge. http://www.jzeifman.com/ There are numerous other anecdotes on the web. o http://www.nationalreview.com/york/york061303.asp o http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n3_v47/ai_16709018 o http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/03/hillarys_list_of_lies.html o http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9905EFDC1339F93BA35752C0A960958260&scp=5&sq=william+safire+blizzard+of+lies&st=nyt Sadly, Hillary Clinton does not have a chance against John McCain.

Posted by swuzy  04/11/08 2:24 PM

Why I, Pro-Hillary, Changed. I was very much pro Hillary from the beginning of the campaigns. I still very much like her policy positions, her speeches, her personal enthusiasm, her energy, and very appealing projected cheerful positive personality. Then I realized she is tragically, simply not electable. Her repeated Bosnia whoppers and the subsequent attempts to dismiss questions about it are the tip of the iceberg. 1. Does she really miss-remember? If so, what does that say about the acuteness of her Presidential mental tools? I.e., we are in trouble.2.Does she fantasize and develop an extremely detailed fantasy of the events and then believed her embellished fantasy? If so, what does that say on how we can trust her in forming the foundations of her judgments in the future as a president? I.e., we are in trouble. 3.Does she deliberately and consciously lie and in detail, to further herself? If so, does that show an underlying weakness towards using that type of a crutch in critical pressure situations either to steam roller others or to hide a position or worse? I.e., we are in trouble.See also, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120663639483768965.html?mod=todays_columnists

Posted by PolishBear  04/10/08 1:35 PM

Aw, c'mon Nathan! No one is going to fault you for indicating which of the two Democratic candidates you personally favor! I'm sure you have a preference. As for myself, I'm leaning toward Obama. I especially appreciated is quote in the Advocate: "An area that I'm very interested in is making sure that federal benefits are available to same-sex couples who have a civil union. I think as more states sign civil union bills into law the federal government should be helping to usher in a time when there's full equality in terms of what that means for federal benefits." But regardless of who the Democratic nominee is, I hope all Democrats will support that person. After all, a Presidency is for only four years ... but a Supreme Court appointment is for LIFE.