There is one point about about Obama. As president he would have a unique position of dealing with those "enemy" countries. No preconditions? He knows that talk is easy and he's certainly good at it.

...based on race or gender is the very essense of stupidity.

Wow Gary, you really are a sicko. I checked out your other articles too. Your article should be called "It's OK to vote for Obama because he's a black MAN."

Clearly you are blinded and kool-aided to death. To not even mention the word woman once in the article as if it has nothing to do with history or this election is not just disgusting it is pathetic.

No -- you are right -- Obama would not be where he is if he were a white man, OR a white woman or a black woman or any other kind of human...and I wouldn't vote for him if he were the last half black Mesiah with no experience and a bunch of empty promises and rhetoric on the planet...not now and not ever.

No dude -- or should I say "your dudeness" -- it is not OK to vote for Obama because he is a black man -- it is sad and a disgrace to this country and to every man and woman of every color who is a far better candidate for a multitude of reasons.

No -- you are right -- Obama would not be where he is if he were a white man, OR a white woman or a black woman or any other kind of human...and I wouldn't vote for him if he were the last half black Mesiah with no experience and a bunch of empty promises and rhetoric on the planet...not now and not ever.

No dude -- or should I say "your dudeness" -- it is not OK to vote for Obama because he is a black man -- it is sad and a disgrace to this country and to every man and woman of every color who is a far better candidate for a multitude of reasons.

Standing Ovation!

My support for Obama has nothing to do with either race or gender.

But be honest; Hillary Clinton would be where she is were she not Bill Clinton's wife? Do you suppose that women voters would be her bulwark if she were male?

I'm not going to vote for Obama because he is black, and I'm not going to be shamed into voting for Clinton because she is a woman.

I disagree with her mandated health insurance, her support to ban flag burning, and many more things. I'm not crazy about nepotism in politics either.

I've hired women, promoted women and supported women in positions above me much more than the average in my company. I've never been accused of sexism more than I have this year; by women who frankly should know me better than that.

I had hoped going into this political season that America may be going beyond gender and racial politics. One candidate seems to be trying to transcend the labels. The other seems to wallow in it.

I had hoped going into this political season that America may be going beyond gender and racial politics. One candidate seems to be trying to transcend the labels.

Total Crap. What has Obama done except offer empty speeches and plagarize everyone elses ideas from Mrs. Clinton to John Edwards.

Were it not for Rove and his help with Obama's many smear campaigns and a willing press eager to build him up to run against him, he'd still be in the Senate voting "present" on every controversial bill.

Obama's entire life has been self-promotion. Mrs. Clinton's has been hard work and that's why I'm voting for her.

I am in 1000% agreement with Gary about his excellent article about Obama's blackness sealing the deal. In addition I would like to add that someone of such immense tallent who just happens to be both black and white will give us immense standing among the other countries and leaders of those countries.

Question.....How many other country leaders represent a diversity of either color or sex or mixed national background as does Mr. Obama? I would suggest that the majority of countries in the world do and therefor electing Mr. Obama to lead the US in the world, in one fell swoop will do volumes to correct the horrible position that Dubya Bush has put our country and people in, vis a vis international relations. It's time we became of the world if we really want to have any chance of truly leading the world. John H. Higgins cazador@nnex.net

For example, you state:

"{Obama] will turn decisively away from the disastrous militarism ... of the Bush years."

Really? Here's a bullet point from Obama's website issue page on "Foreign Policy":

"Expand the Military: We have learned from Iraq that our military needs more men and women in uniform to reduce the strain on our active force. Obama will increase the size of ground forces, adding 65,000 soldiers to the Army and 27,000 Marines."

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/foreignpolicy/

So, Obama will turn decisively away from 'disastrous militarism' by... expanding the military?

Oh yea. Because, you know, any progressive candidate who proudly lists "expand the military" as part of his agenda is definitely not militaristic.

I just can't believe what a free pass Obama gets on the issues. Yes, he has a good speechwriter. Yes, his marketing is as good as Apple's for Mac OS and the iPod. But that doesn't mean we, as voters, shouldn't scrutinize his platform. He may have voted against the war, but he definitely will not curb our out-of-control military. Neither will Clinton or McCain, but that just speaks to how distraught our primary system is, and why we need more 3rd party voices.

Is Obama the progressive I've been waiting for? Hell no he isn't. Will I vote for him over McCain on Election Day? Yea, sure, but that's not exactly a high standard to beat.

I have an idea: how about Obama actually live up to the image of MLK, Jr. that he loves to project and promote peace, massive cuts to the military, and justice for workers and the economically disenfranchised? Oh, that's right -- because Obama isn't actually a progressive. He's just a mainstream "New Democrat" with a good speechwriter. The thing I am saddened by most is that my young, progressive, urban friends (I'm in my early 20s) all support Obama, for the same reason young, conservative people used to support Bush -- because his "image" was palatable to their tastes. Can we stop looking at "Obama as idea" and start looking at "Obama as President"? Please?!