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• Wednesday, April 16, 2008 11:16 AM

  one perspective

  There's been much talk about how Obama is going over in rural areas. Coming from the state that has the most rural areas in the nation -- our rural communities cannot be reached by road -- I thought I should give this perspective.

  Obama is really big in Alaska, particularly in the Bush (that's Alaskan for "rural"). It's not a liberal-conservative, Democrat-Republican thing so much as a new-versus-old thing. And yes, the state will probably go for McCain in November, due to its Republican tendencies and respect for military service, but with the exception of wingnuts who are convinced he's a "Moooslem" terrorist, Obama is at least grudgingly liked, even by Rs who won't be voting for him. Why?

  -- He represents generational change. That's something people here dearly want. It's part of the reason a relatively inexperienced Sarah Palin dispatched Frank Murkowski in 2006, and part of the reason why Don Young and even "Uncle Ted" Stevens are in trouble now.

  -- He's represents a break with the past, something Alaskans are desperately craving as we plough through the revelations about a big corruption scandal that has entangled many powerful people, including some in office a long time (ahem, Don, Ted and others, I'm talking about you).

  -- Alaskans have become very leery of dynasties, for good reason (Ted Stevens, Ben Stevens -- need I say more?)

  -- He's not the typical poll- and focus-group tested politician. That may mean some gaffes occasionally (though personally I don't see the "bitter" comment as inaccurate or a gaffe), but that's better than being overly packaged. He's a plain, albeit eloquent, speaker, and doesn't talk down to his listeners (see Sarah Palin reference), which voters find refreshing.

  -- Alaskans are tired of political soap operas, be they at the borough and city assembly levels, the state "Corrupt Bastards" level or the national level. The Clintons did a lot of good things in the past, but they also put us through the wringer over some ridiculous stuff. The Hillary-hate/Clinton-hate thing may be irrational, but it's real, and drama-weary Alaskans want to avoid having the country gripped by it yet again.

  -- Alaskans don't necessarily put a lot of stock in traditional political "experience" anymore. In some ways, too much "experience" is seen as making a politician stale, out of touch and too compromised with special interests, particularly oil interests. Voters here have rejected a lot of political veterans lately in favor of young newcomers.

  -- He's shown an ability to move between cultures, or at least understand the nuances of different cultures, something hugely important to our Native people, who comprise a significant percentage of the population. Spending part of his life overseas is seen as a huge plus here, as is having relatives of various ethnicities and nationalities.

  -- As someone who grew up in Hawaii, he understands what it's like to be not part of the contiguous 48 states. Can't tell you how refreshing that is to Alaskans!

  I'm not saying this is the only way to view the Obama-Clinton contest, or that it is The Correct Way. It's just what's going on around here.

  —upinalaska Read upinalaska's other letters
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