In a 2005 post on the liberal weblog Daily Kos, Barack Obama argued that Democrats must not only try to defeat the Republicans, they must work to build trust in government: "The bottom line is that our job is harder than the conservatives' job...whenever we exaggerate or demonize, or oversimplify or overstate our case, we lose. Whenever we dumb down the political debate, we lose. A polarized electorate that is turned off of politics, and easily dismisses both parties because of the nasty, dishonest tone of the debate, works perfectly well for those who seek to chip away at the very idea of government because, in the end, a cynical electorate is a selfish electorate."


Obama's campaign for President is built on the premise that the Democrats must "disagree without being disagreeable" and unite America to solve issues of historic importance. He focuses on his ability to overcome partisan bickering, to work across the aisle, and to produce real results. The idea that someone would be able to unite America and get the government to productively work on important issues sounds idealistic. Understanding that cynicism, Obama stresses that Americans must embrace the 'audacity of hope.' Hope is an irrational belief, a faith in optimism, but hope is also a unifying emotion, one that resonates with people across the globe. By emphasizing that we should all believe in the possibility of a new type of politics, Obama has converted many people, including Republicans, to believe in the possibility of the anti-Bush, a non-ideological leader that respects those who disagree with him and works to find not the Democratic solution, not the Republican solution, but the best solution. Campaigning to replace Bush with a unifying leader, he has struck a chord across the country—as shown by polls, book sales, enormous crowds, and website groups. In this crucial juncture in history, he has the potential to improve how Americans perceive politics, leading to more trust in government and solving some very difficult problems.

All of the Democratic candidates more or less support the same issues and hold similar values. The candidate's Iraq plans, health care plans, energy plans, ethics plans, and education plans differ in details, but they all aim for the same general progressive goals: pulling out of Iraq, introducing universal health care, reducing America’s dependence on oil, battling climate change, strengthening national security, ridding Washington of corruption, and improving our schools. The specific details of the plans aren’t too significant; what matters more is the actual ability of the candidate to create the political will for change. Obama, unlike the most of the other candidates, has a history of working across the aisle and listening to opposing viewpoints, and is stressing a united America within his campaign.

If he was elected, Obama would do a better job of not only passing the necessary legislation by incorporating other peoples points of view, but also persuading the American people that he is acting in their interest. An American president who is elected by saying, ‘we’re all in this together and we all have a stake in each other’ will do a better job of persuading the American people that America is moving in the right direction. Even some of Bush's strongest Republican supporters concede that Bush isn't the best salesman. When Obama gives a speech, he can really connect with the audience. Obama understands the issues, where we agree and disagree, and he has the intelligent policies, along with the charisma and political talent, to persuade the American people.

Obama's broad appeal will improve the long term image of the Democratic party. If Obama’s nomination fails, another Democratic may be able to win the presidency, but the Republican voters would not respect— four out of ten Republicans voted for Obama in his Illinois Senate Race —the other Democratic candidate as president as much Obama.

Here's how Obama answered the question himself:
STEVE KROFT: What qualifies you to be President of the United States?

BARACK OBAMA: Something that I think I bring to bear to this process is the capacity to bring diverse people together around a common goal. And I think more than anything, that's what America needs right now: the ability for us to unite around a common-sense, practical, non-ideological effort to solve some very big problems that we face.
60 Minutes Interview

Please also check out what makes Obama capable of uniting our country: Obama's Experience.

Or look at the Goodbye Speeches from Obama's last day on the Illinois State Senate floor. He is praised by both a Democratic and Republican Colleague.

In case you haven't read it yet, here are some Quotes from the Audacity of Hope

Obama:
Official Website On The Issues
On The Issues.org Coverage


And you should consider others who have endorsed Barack Obama for President




Betsy:
I support Barack Obama because he will get elected. He makes the country feel hope and want to move forward and be a better country. Never before have I talked to so many people that are excited about a candidate for the first time ever. I am from Chicago and I lived there when Barack ran for US Senate. It was amazing to be on the "L" or trains in Chicago those days. To go from the usual quiet train rides where most don't talk to everyone talking about one man, Barack Obama. So many had stories about him. His dedication and commitment and his attempts to make sure all had a fair shake in life. Many times, I would ride in cabs and the news would be on sparking a conversation about Barack. Often with the driver or their family & friends having had some type of experience with Barack. He always had an open door policy and he always listened and tried to help when he could. For all of these reasons and for the fact that Barack Obama inspires me and I know he inspires this country, you should vote for Barack Obama. Check out this video. http://www.dipdive.com