Do you think our country is ready for someone like Obama?

I agree that our country won't be as accepting as we should be. Lets look at the facts: Mitt Romney, a white mormon who has been the leader of a northern state has had to answer questions on his being a mormon. Hillary can't be spoken in the same sentance without "first woman president" Obama is an African-American and everyone lets you know so. The mere fact that these facts are brought up are evidence that the US is not ready. I personally have no problem with any of the 3 scenarios presented. As long as the candidates match my ideals, they get my vote.

Hey, Hockeygal! I'll probably get flamed for this, but I fell off the Obama bandwagon. I loved the speech he gave when he announced his intention to run for president, but I am just too afraid of his muslam/islam background. I just don't know enough to be confident that the US is first on his agenda. Personally, I'd vote for Hillary if ONLY to get Bill back! He's learned so many lessons from his presidency, I think he would influence Hillary to do a lot of good for us! :-)

Of course were're ready for him, do you know where he went to school? He went to college here in the U.S.

Obama is NOT a Muslim! He is a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. My hesitancy with Obama for president is that he doesn't have a lot of experience. He's only two years into his first Senate term. He can say whatever he wants about what he believes or what he would do, but he doesn't have a very long track record to show what kinds of things he would support and vote for.

Personally I can't see why religion has to be a factor. Isn't it seperation of Church and State? Then what does it a matter if he's christian, hindu, pagan, jewish or muslim? It shouldn't. What should matter is if he can do the job or not. I don't see why politics and religion have to mix so much in our country. It shouldn't. It should be about the qualifications of the candidate, their past experiences, what their platform is, and not what their skin color is. Whoever gets in though it won't matter. You'll have at least half the population complaining about it. You'll hear how who ever got in can't do the job, how could anyone vote for them, no one did so it had to be rigged, etc. It's just how it goes with who ever is in the office.

Actually, hockeygal, I personally believe that America is ready for someone like Obama. Infact I think Obama is the perfect person to kinda calm this country right now in the full wake of Iraq. He's smart, charismatic, knows what he's talking about. Even more so, he's refreshingly optimistic for a politician. First, I don't think he's a Muslim, he's a Christian. He even used a Christian song for his Democratic campaign. The whole Muslim thing was something I think was overblown by the media because of his middle name and 'cause his dad was Muslim (yeah big deal, he hasn't seen his dad since he was 2). The truth is that since America is not yet fully color-blind, his biggest challenge is that he's a simply a black man.

Another thought, I think the election might boil down to Gulianni and Clinton, if Gulianni announces his intentions to run. I think Gulianni has a great reputation from his days as Mayor of New York City and I think that would give him a great chance of winning as well.

Unfortunately for him, I think the fact that he is Muslim will prevent him from being President based on the feelings of many people in this country. I think people will be more reluctant to vote for him based on his religion. He is probably a very nice, intelligent and caring person but I think people will end up voting for someone else.

Wouldn't it be cool if Obama and Hilary ran among the main candidates? It's about time. America needs a change.

Obama does not have the experience needed to be president. With that said, Bush has us in such a mess we need someone who can hit the ground running and know what they are doing. Obama needs a few more years before he gets enough experience to do that.

If you seen the press confrence thingys he had when he first announced his presidency. you know he is ready as a president. I like how he composed himself when the protesters came. and how his entire family was with him when he was talking.

why does everybody think he's muslim, he's not and has never been! he was never really concerned with religion until his twenties when he started to get invloved in the united church of christ - !christ! i think it's such a shame that you have people saying they don't trust him because of his muslim backrground, when he has nothing to do with islam

I think that the US is ready for someone else! White, black, man, woman whatever. America needs help and a leader who is about us the people and not about everyone's problems in others countries and such. I understand defending our country and getting the bad guy, but why is it our place to help them with thier government when ours needs just as much help. Then on top of that, our soldiers getting killed over thier government, oh it just burns me up... Back to reality and the topic at hand, America needs a new light and I think that a whole new aspect on the future of this country may lay in the hands of the unthinkable as some may call it. I personally don't care and do think that we are ready for a change, a BIG change and if it means a black person, wonderful, a woman that's even better. And I do think that regardless of thier religion, just as long as they do the job, it should not matter. That is not our buisness. Some things just should not matter when it comes to certain things in life. race, sexuality, religion... How is him being a non-Christian gonna affect our government I mean really. He is not trying to be a preacher. Why should he be downed because of his color? We all bleed the same. Hmmmmmm, maybe I shouold keep these feelings to myself and not post them but I am because for people to see skin and religion as what is gonna make or break our government, then that is bad. What if you could not see the canidates just hear what they have to say? Then have to vote then what would you do? Think about it people!!! I don't want to offend or anything like that but come on... Clinton, "he did not inhale," so what? That is not our buisness, his personal life, yeah it was entertaining but really did it really affect the way he ran this country????

Yes, I absolutely agree with your concern. I have democratic views, and I think Obama is awesome, and I liked his speech. But all my friends told me basically the same thing: americans are too conservative for someone like that... And of coarse, republicans are the strongest party now. I dont think he has a chance (alas).

personally, i would love to have someone like obama as president because i think its time for a change. we need someone who's not the stereotypical white, anglo-saxon, protestant male president. ive really become disgusted with our foreign policy over the past few years, and i think someone like obama could make a huge positive difference in the US and the world. unfortunately, i dont think the rest of the US is ready for such a change. they've been used to seeing this specific image of the president, and i dont think they want to change the status quo yet. i mean, kennedy was the first president that really stepped away from the specific mold because he was catholic as well as young and good-looking. i think the US isn't really ready for a woman either. its really unfortunate and disturbing. hopefully, the US will prove me wrong and elect obama or hilary or someone outside of the stereotypical mold, but i really don't have my hopes high.

He's intelligent, he's articulate, he's charazmatic, but he;s inexperienced. I couldn't see electing a first year senator to the presidency. That wouldn't make sense at all. He would get eaten alive internationally as well as domestically. I personally just can't stand Hillary. I'm holding out for Guilliani.

To tell you the truth, I don't know who he is, but you said that he is a Muslim. I am sure that he won't be selected to the next USA president, because of his religion. USA has suffered from terrorists attacks, not to mantion 11/1. I am sure that just because of it, he won't get voted from people.

I agree with you. America is very conservative and is religious to a fault. Maybe in a few years this country may be ready for a change but I don't see it happening soon. He would be a great President but some may not understand his religious beliefs. Hey if he makes it excellent if not Hillary is great too.

I don't know if he's "it" but I do think most Americans are ready for something different. The majority of the American public is sick of a radically conservative political regime and are just looking for a type of change. There ARE a lot of closeminded people around, but they are definatly in the minority.

I think there may be some confusion. According to this senate speech that Obama gave, he is a Christian. http://obama.senate.gov/speech/060628_call_to_renewal_keynote_address_index.html He professed his Christian faith at the Trinity United Church of Christ on 95th Street in Chicago. I would cut & paste the relevant portion of the article but since I just registered it won't let me.