It's easy for the issues in this election to feel somewhat distant, or only important in a rhetorical way. When someone talks about having friends or family in Iraq, it's easy to miss the scope of such feelings, since that burden is shared by so few in our society. Likewise, with issues ranging from abortion to illegal immigration to social security reform... to universal healthcare.

I must confess, I was among those who took a very distant look at a lot of those issues. From when I first become politically conscious, through being a Republican, and until somewhat recently, I was more concerned about the here and now of my own life- and none of those issues impacted me directly.

It's funny how things change.

Obama wants to get our troops home from Iraq...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants affordable healthcare for everyone...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to keep a woman's right to choose as law...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to improve medical care and educational opportunities for our veterans...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to improve our educational system...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to pay our teachers more...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants equal pay for men and women...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to tax the weatlhiest among us and give tax breaks to the middle class...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to create a foreclosure fund for those losing their homes...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to save our environment...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to protect Social Security...McCain doesn't.

Obama supports the GLBT community and their right to Civil Unions that give same-sex couples equal legal rights and privileges as married couples...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to make college more affordable...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to provide all children with Pre-K schooling...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to provide all-children with more positive social activities and funding for new facilities...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to keep our young men, young women and future men and women out of war...McCain doesn't.

Obama wants to end George Bush's hideous term at 8 years...McCain doesn't.

Clear enough?

Is Obama a flip-flopper? Has he been shifting to the right since the end of the primaries?

Let's take a look at Obama's positions on the issues now and then.

Before the end of the Democratic primary process there was much speculation about Barack Obama's support among women. The fact that Obama's support amongst women was weak while he was running against a woman candidate gave many pundits all the excuse they needed to suggest that support would remain weak once the primaries ended. They were obviously wrong, as the current polls show.

Another premise put forward by some pundits is that women vote more with their emotions than on the issues. They are as wrong about this as they are about Obama's weakness with female voters. All that is needed to disprove this claim is to look at women's voting patterns over the years.

Women have always favored the Democratic Party over the GOP. The Democratic Party is also the party with the best record and issues platform when it comes to women's issues. Put those two factors together and it becomes apparent that women have been voting on the issues all along.

More and more I'm realizing the "Change" Obama espouses is also a change in congress. By target new battle ground states like the Alaska post mentions today, he is completely helping his democratic brothers and sisters.

What I was worried about most concerning his presidential bid, was that he was not calculating enough, but I think he knows he can and will affect change with a Blue Senate.

Think of what could be accomplished if this happened. What would we want them to tackle in the first 2 years before the 2010 vote? I think Energy and Iraq (kind of hand in hand in my opinion) should be first. What do you all want to get done? Aren't you excited by all our great candidates! Who do you think Obama will help most?

Cross-posted from OH-16: John Boccieri for U.S. Congress:

The drumbeat about where Ohio State Senator Major John Bocceri lives started in the Democratic Primary Race for the United States House of Representative for Ohio's 16th Congressional District. It was the only plank his Democratic Primary opponent could find to use against him and it didn't stick. The Major won by nearly a 2-1 margin in all four counties of the 16th, Ashland, Medina, Stark and Wayne, in the March 4th Primary.

As if by some stroke of political genius, this drumbeat was supposed to stick through November as the big isssue. And, almost like a Rovellian tantric chant, it seems to keep popping up. John was actually hoping that "the carpetbagger" issue would remain a central theme to the campaign against him. The Major's response to the issue has never changed:

"They are worried about where I lay my head down on the pillow at night, but I'm more worried about where people go to work in the morning."

I wrote 2 Diaries about this issue in the past month... and I've sent the Obama campaign numerous emails since January asking them to explain to me why "Women" didn't warrant a category under the "Issues" section of his campaign website. All "Women" issues were under the "People" section. Personally, I found that completely unacceptable. It bothered me tremendously.

Clearly, my tiny voice was not alone. I'm sure there were thousands of women who felt equally slighted by this.

Today "Women" IS A CATEGORY under the "Issues" pull-down menu on the Obama campaign website. The last time I looked this was NOT the case (perhaps a week ago?), but it has been changed!

I think this is a smart move by Obama as Hillary Clinton's female supporters begin to look more closely at him.

Clearly his campaign staff DID recognize that this was deserving of a redesign and that "Women" warranted a listing under "Issues" (unlike the Obama supporters here who frankly belittled and dismissed my concerns as petty and hair-splitting everytime I raised them).

Good for Obama. It does make me feel better to see these issues proudly, clearly front-and-center... as they should be on ANY Democratic candidate's platform!

Here were my old diaries championing for this issue (and the responses I received) if anyone is interested:

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/5/9/19271 8/5358
Obama and Women's Reproductive Freedom

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/5/19/1884 4/9078
Obama "Buries" NARAL Endorsement

This diary is written in support of HRC's continued efforts to campaign across America, specifically Oregon.  While I am aware of the large lead Obama has, it is not out of the question that the margin can be drastically reduced. It will be a winning strategy for HRC to reduce or eliminate this margin, which O has right now precisely because he hasn't been specific.

Oregon is a wonderful state; most of the "blue" from Oregon comes from the western urban areas of Oregon--from Portland to Eugene.  The central and eastern part of the state is about as red as you can get, with the exception of Indian Tribes who often vote for the democrat.

I have seen Obama's "oregon plan", which as everyone knows made the embarassing mistake of placing the Great Lakes in oregon, and proposing changes that have already been in place in ORegon for several years.  

What Obama misses entirely is the detail of the critically intertwined issues of environment, economic development, treaty rights, salmon, irrigation and hydropower that form the context of reaching out to Oregon.  I think Obama's strategy is to rev up the masses without much subtance.

Because Obama doesn't plan to debate in Oregon, this provides a perfect opportunity to raise some serious questions for him that he won't be able to answer with sound bites or a large rally.  By strategically placing these issues in front of voters, I think the shine will begin to wear off Obama.