14 Questions for McCain & Obama

The group at Sciencedebate 2008 put together a set of 14 community-generated questions for McCain and Obama regarding their views on science and technology policy. As an Obama supporter, I'm planning to e-mail the Obama campaign to encourage it to respond publicly to these questions. I hope more people will do the same with their candidate of choice, or with both for those who are undecided.

Video: I'm Voting Republican

Bush vs. McCain - the video challenge

Obama

So, I'm supporting Barack Obama in the Democratic primary. Why? Here are a few reasons:

1. He's an inspiring leader. After eight years of Bushitis, someone who can make people feel good about America and confident in its president is worth a lot. Even Caroline Kennedy says that she thinks Obama has the potential to inspire Americans in the way that her father, JFK, did.
2. Obama is the only candidate, as far as I know, who has a clear, sensible, detailed technology policy. Even many candidates who have used technology effectively in their campaigns have not recognized the significance of changing technology on issues regarding privacy, freedom, and intellectual property. Obama does, so I feel comfortable that he'll give these issues the attention they deserve if he's elected.
3. Several people whose political judgment I respect, including Sen. Ted Kennedy and my boss, Harvard Law School professor John Palfrey, are supporting Obama. So are many of my colleagues at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society, which is a place populated by some of the smartest, most politically aware people I know.
4. Obama is a uniter, not a divider. He has a history of working with people across political parties, religions, races, and viewpoints to enact policies that make sense.

I think that Democrats and, really, the whole country, are fortunate to have such a strong field in the Democratic primary this year. Even if Sen. Clinton or a dark horse candidate wins, I'll feel very good if s/he is elected president. But, given a choice, I'll take Obama.

Back in the saddle

It's good to be blogging again!

As an active Democrat, people have been asking me lately who I'm supporting for next year's presidential nomination. The answer: I don't know. Why? Because it's not even the year of the election yet! I consider my passivity in this regard to be a form of quiet protest against the ever-lengthening campaign season.

The election is nearly a year away. The Democratic National Convention is nine months away. The Massachusetts primary, even if it is successfully moved, is over two months away. The way I see it, I don't need to choose a candidate and start campaigning for him/her until at least January 2, which is after the holidays and still gives me a month to support my candidate.

As for initial thoughts, I like fellow Tufts alum Bill Richardson, who is likely the most qualified candidate in the field. Sadly, though, he doesn't seem to have enough financial support or "buzz" to get the nomination. I also like Obama and Edwards on the surface, but I really need to learn more about their policy ideas and whom they've surrounded themselves with (that's a topic for a future post) before I could pick my favorite. But hey, I have at least another month to decide, right?