I guess I should weigh in on the American election, considering I live in the United States but cannot vote.

My motto in politics is to vote for the policies, not the person. That would certainly apply in the US general election, where I would vote Democrat (in Canada, I vote NDP, though have been tempted by the Marijuana Party). However, in the insanity that is the US Primary, it's important to vote for the Democrat that we think will beat John McCain. I think that is Barack Obama. He has the charisma, without the baggage, to take it to McCain. I think his stance on the war makes him a good contrast. And I think he's caught on to a real movement.

My major criticism of Obama, and this is not unique, is his healthcare plan. My lovely girlfriend has no health insurance in New York, which is absurd. I want her to be covered. Clinton's plan is broader. But I hear that Obama's plan is more likely to pass in Congress. Also, people have said Obama is running to the right but will govern from the left. I like that.

On most other issues I think I'm with Obama. None of the candidates are as progressive domestically as I'd like. But I think Obama is smart, innovative and willing to think outside the box. And he's got young people happy and excited again.

In the class I'm a Teaching Assistant for, about Nationalism, we read a book by Ian Kershaw about Hitler's rise to power. Kershaw attributes Hitler's success to several factors: Germany was in shambles and looking for a savior, the Weimar Republic was villainized, Germany did not have a strong democratic tradition and embraced strong leaders, etc. He also pointed to things specific to Hitler: he delivered a strong message, with firm principles (anti-Semitism, anti-Marxism, support of German military strength, unity, etc), but was very vague on the details of what he was actually going to do. These strong principles, combined with vague details, delivered charismatically, enabled Hitler to rise to the top of the Nazi party, and then to leader all of Germany.

Does this sound familliar? To me and my co-TAs, it sounded a lot like Obama. Of course, I'm not saying Obama is anything like Hitler. Their principles are entirely different; Obama's are good. But Obama has also been accused of being vague on details, of being a charismatic speaker without substance, preaching an empty message of change. His music videos are incredibly catchy, but do they say anything? I don't know. But I'm not sure they have to. If his principles are good, and they are different enough from those of the Republicans (they are), I think he's moving in the right direction. Campaigning is very different than governing. While I fear demagoguery, and don't regard Obama as a saviour, I am trying to be optimistic about his candidacy and throwing my support behind him.