As opposed to a president who came from a very rich family and went to Yale
and was always kind of sheltered and given everything he wanted."
FUTURE DNC SUBTITLE: Pres. Lincoln at his Madrassa
Posted on 02/10/2007 4:27:18 PM PST by SJackson
She not only is a lifelong Republican, but an anti-big government conservative Republican who campaigned for Robert Dole in 1996. Oh, and one other thing. The mere thought of Hillary Clinton becoming president makes her stomach churn.
As her husband, Robert Stross - also a conservative Republican - puts it, "We don't believe anything Hillary says, and we think she'll do whatever it takes to get elected."
All of which makes the Madison couple's recent decision all the more intriguing: They've joined the Wisconsin chapter of DraftObama.org, a grassroots movement to help the progressive Democratic senator from Illinois win the presidency in 2008. Wann says she even hopes to campaign for Obama after he officially becomes a candidate today.
Why Obama?
All sorts of reasons, said Wann, 40, and Stross, 38, in a recent interview at a Monroe Street coffee shop, just a few blocks from their home.
Foremost, they've heard him speak a number of times and think he's "an incredible orator," Stross says. "And if he does half the things he talks about doing, it will be a wonderful thing."
Adds Wann, "We feel Obama's more in touch with what the true American is really about. As opposed to a president who came from a very rich family and went to Yale and was always kind of sheltered and given everything he wanted.
"I also feel Obama is more patient, and that he really listens to what people say. And I think he'd inspire people, much like (John) Kennedy did."
Most important of all, Wann says, Obama seems sincere about wanting to unite the country. As opposed to Hillary, "who would polarize us even more."
Stross and Wann, who met in Chicago in 1999 and have lived in Madison since their marriage in August 2001, emphasize that they don't agree with all of Obama's positions. For instance, they still have misgivings about his universal health care proposal.
"Having grown up in England, I think universal health care gets a little George Orwellian," Stross says. "It's like, 'Oh, I'm sorry Robert. You're a little too old for a kidney, so we're going to put you on the never-get-one waiting list.' In other words, there are pros and cons to it."
That said, Stross and Wann agree that something must be done to fix the U.S. health care system. They find it disgraceful that there are 46 million Americans without insurance and outlandish that many small businesses can no longer afford to provide health care coverage for their employees.
Stross, who until recently was an independent businessman (he's about to start a management job with a company in the energy field), notes that he and Wann currently have just catastrophic coverage, which costs $400 a month. That means that none of the maternity costs from the recent birth of their son, James, was covered.
"So we're looking at a bill of $12,000," he says.
To be sure, those aren't the only reasons the couple's decided to switch their support to a Democrat.
They believe the Republican Party's been hijacked by the Religious Right and say it's become obsessed with hot button issues like abortion and gay marriage. (The couple are pro-choice and support gay marriage.)
"A true Christian doesn't wear their religion on their sleeve or try to force their views on somebody else. They go about their business quietly," Stross says.
They're outraged by all the lies and distortions the Bush administration used to manipulate public opinion and justify its invasion of Iraq.
And even though there are more women in Congress than ever before, the couple believe the country is still run by an "old boys club" that's been around forever and gets its marching orders from big-money corporate interests.
"It kind of scares me when I look at old pictures of Nixon and there's Cheney sitting right next to him," Wann says. "It's like, whoa! Seems almost incestuous."
Her husband nods.
"I don't know who this Karl Rove guy is - he's not elected to anything, is he?" Stross says with a wry smile. "But apparently he's got his fingers in everything. And, frankly, it's very annoying because this is what all our liberal friends have been saying."
It's true, Stross and Wann acknowledge, that the 45-year-old Obama lacks experience, having served just seven years in the Illinois Senate and two years in Congress. But, they point out, Kennedy lacked experience when he ran for president in 1960 and was even younger (43) than Obama.
Besides, lacking experience today is almost a plus, Wann says. "It means he hasn't been in Congress long enough to be corrupted."
But, realistically, can Obama actually win in 2008?
Yes, Stross and Wann say - especially if blacks embrace his candidacy and vote in large numbers.
The bigger question, they suggest, is whether the Democratic power brokers will allow a free thinker like Obama to get the party's endorsement.
"I really feel like Hillary will get the nomination," Wann says. "And if that happens, it will be truly frightening."
And Stross?
"If Obama wins the nomination, I predict he'll become president."
Pause.
"But it's an awfully big if."
Let's track 'em down. They're seminar.
"an incredible orator,"
Dear God in Heaven. We cannot underestimate this. I have heard from many people that they want to vote for Obama because he is an awesome speaker. I have tried to get them back on issues, but man it is hard. People are so shallow when picking a President sometimes.
The Dem candidates are betting heavily that the Iraqi spiral will reach critical mass by Autumn 08, and as far as I can see, that's a pretty good bet.
When he started making thinly veiled Lincoln comparisons today I got downright PI$$ED.
I've read Lincoln, I've studied Lincoln and believe me Mr Obama YOU"RE NO LINCOLN!
But supports that oily socialist scumbag Obama?? 'Heads' she's a liar, 'tails' she's an idiot.
It HAS TO BE one or the other.
FUTURE DNC SUBTITLE: Pres. Lincoln at his Madrassa
Time will tell, but I think that America is changing right out from under us.
Of course this whole article is a Troll from the very first capital letter to the last period.
These people are from Wisconsin. 'Nough said.
"And even though there are more women in Congress than ever before, the couple believe the country is still run by an "old boys club" that's been around forever and gets its marching orders from big-money corporate interests."
-------
Since announcing his candidacy for the Illinois Senate seat, Obama has raised the astonishing sum of nearly $21 million and has built close relationships with a number of traditional fat-cat donors.
Individual contributors to Obama include some of the best-connected lobbyists in town, including Jeffrey Peck (whose clients include MasterCard, the Business Roundtable, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce) and Rich Tarplin (Chevron, the American Petroleum Institute, and the National Association of Manufacturers).
http://www.harpers.org/sb-a-little-bit-more-on-obama-1161881683.html
New face, same old big-money interests sending marching orders.
Yeah, Rudy Gulianni Card carring member of the "Religious Right"
These people are baked.
Yep -- seminar callers.
No. I'm with you. I breathed a sigh of relief, too, the week he decided to give it a try. Why? I think he could actually govern, even if the Repubs won back the congress. And he loves America as we know it. The two dems currently ahead would love nothing better than to end America as we know it.
Lastly, the conservative movement pretty much sucks eggs right now, and we stand to lose the White House. If we do, the lesser evil, by far, is Richardson. With him in the WH, I would at least not have to find a place to blow chunks every day. W/ either the hildabeest or hussein, I'm afraid I'd toss a lot of cookies in 4 years' time.
So, part of my agreeing with you is wishful thinking. Why don't you enlighten and encourage me some more by providing some of your thinking on the matter?
These two are slathered up with more crap than a Christmas turkey. And if they are "lifelong" Republicans, well then I flew to the moon on an Apollo mission.
This is hilarious. I guess a guy from a very rich family who went to Harvard is different.
Was it algore who dug up the radical nutcase women who collected bottles besides the roads?
He invented all these screwy stories - or worse - actually found some
O'Bomber claimed in his first epic book that his father, Baraka Hussein Obama Sr. grew up in poverty and hunger in a tin shack in Kenya
Truth is O'Bomber Jr.'s daddy really grew up on his wealthy farmer-father's huge plantation in Kenya - and both were tied to the now-banned Mau Mau terrorists
"Can you believe me now?"
"Am I still selling and using cocaine now?"
"I was a Muslim for 31 years but now I'm a Christian centrist!"
"I've really quit smoking so all of those photos of me chain-smoking now are all Photo-Shopped!"
Dude (or Dudette), you've really got to be more conscientious about the barf alerts on these postings. Please.
you obviously haven't read the divorce decree my ex originally wanted me to sign..now THAT was a piece of crap..
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