Students for Barack Obama

In a recent edition of The Daily Princetonian, we came across a column entitled "True Confessions of an Obamaniac." In it, columnist Catherine Rampell '07, a self-professed supporter of Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) 2008 presidential bid, characterizes her affection for the senator as "irrational," a sentiment based tenuously upon his all-too-general message for hope rather than upon substantive policy positions. She compares herself to George W. Bush supporters back in 2000, who similarly could not pinpoint a concrete rationale for their endorsement of a candidate. Considering the near-catastrophic failure that has been the Bush administration, Rampell concludes, it would be wise to reconsider her support for the Senator.

Rampell's point is understandable. Beginning with his speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention, Obama has touched the hearts of millions of Americans through inspirational oratory and the promise of a new kind of politics. It is easy to fall into the trap of blind allegiance. It is our opinion, however, that Obama's message and appeal are borne out of very rational underpinnings.

Obama supporters hearken to his platform of consensus, of focusing more on what unites us as Americans than what divides us. No substance, critics conclude. Letting myself buy into this would be irrational, Rampell might say. But the fact of the matter is, Obama has an impeccable track record of bipartisanship both in his years in the Illinois Legislature and in the U.S. Senate. In a Feb. 8 Washington Post article entitled "Obama Forged Political Mettle in Illinois Capitol," former colleagues of the senator, both Democrat and Republican, extolled his willingness to compromise: ' "What impressed me about him was his ability in working with people of the opposite party," said Mike Lawrence, director of the Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois University. "He had definite ideas about what ought to be contained in a campaign finance reform measure, but he also was willing to recognize that he was probably not going to get everything he wanted." ' As a result, Illinois currently enjoys one of the most successful campaign finance reform programs in the nation.

Obama supporters also speak of values, of Obama's strong conviction in clean government as part of a "new kind of politics." Again, critics chastise such a platform as unrealistic, discounting it as another one of the empty promises made during election cycles. Would one be "irrational" to believe him? Not in the slightest, especially considering the Senator has already begun. In his current bid for the democratic nomination, Senator Obama has pledged not to receive a single penny from special interest groups or political action committees. As student volunteers for the Obama for America campaign, we can attest to his commitment to this endeavor, refusing any sort of donation, however small or at the grassroots level, which would compromise his integrity.

Our hope is that those at Princeton who similarly doubt the rationality of Obama's appeal will take some time to learn more about the senator. We strongly believe that you will not only emerge a more enthusiastic supporter of the senator, but also a better advocate. Mark Jia writes on behalf of the Students for Barack Obama Princeton Chapter including Shelby Gai, Jason Anton '10, and Michelle Thompson '10. He can be reached at mjia@princeton.edu.