snood wrote:Finn -
I've read Obama's books, and I've read his stances on issues, and I think that if I'm being "swayed", its by a hell of a lot more than the "candy of persona". A lot of people don't just like Obama because he looks and talks pretty. You are cautioning people not to be fooled by charisma, but I'd venture that you haven't and won't try to look any deeper into the man, and so insist that we can only perceive his substance after we have blindly installed him in office.
Just out of curiosity, why did you choose to put quotation marks around the word
swayed? Considering that I didn't use the word in the context of anyone (least of all you) being influenced by Obama's charms, it seems an odd choice of punctuation.
In any case...
You're right, I haven't read his autobiography (Is it plural now? Strange for so young and essentially inconsequential a figure), but I tend to be skeptical about the candor of politicians' autobiographies. I have read quite a few articles about him (including interviews) and he seems like an intelligent and sensible person. Unfortunately, he is also very much a Liberal.
Given that you have announced your racial bias for his candidacy, your vehemency about his substance comes up a bit short, but if you find him to be clearly substantial...good for you. I would add "Vote for him," but I know you will if given the chance.
This is what it comes down to: Arguably self-serving autobiographies and charm.
I suppose though that a fan such as yourself has studied his performance as an Illinois state legislator and therein have found the seeds of greatness.