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Read other letters about this article
Hey thanks for the link! I read the story, which was a nice little piece, but forgot to read the readers' comments.
It's funny, though....the article is as much about the writer as it is about Obama. Most of the details of Obama's rise up the political ladder aren't exactly damning; they just make Obama seem like an ambitious young guy who probably stepped on a few people on his way up. But the author makes it clear that most of them didn't feel like Obama played dirty, they just felt snubbed, and the author mentions that they mostly support Obama now. It is interesting to note that Obama didn't pass much of his legislation without help, but I don't feel that he should be condemned for that (how many successful politicians get legislation enacted from the ground up without outside assistance?).
The details about Obama getting his opponents' signatures disqualified are murky, but I do wonder: If Obama's action here was legal, what was wrong with it? Couldn't his opponents collect 750 signatures in a way that dotted the i's and crossed the t's, and if not, why not? I agree that Obama probably had it easy when the "Deep Space Nine" actress' husband had to release his divorce records, but, hey, that's not Obama's fault (or IS IT? Did somebody force the judge to release those records to make sure Obama could win?! Was it Captain Picard? Conspiracy alert! Conspiracy alert!)
It sounds like Obama's record is a mixed bag that has mostly positive aspects, but some negative ones. I am not surprised. That said, in spite of however Obama got as far as he did, I don't think there's any question he's got an intelligence and political talent all his own.
(in case anybody is wondering, the article is here: http://www.houstonpress.com/2008-02-28/news/barack-obama-screamed-at-me/full#comments)
