Are you American? VOTE!

Perhaps this video will help inspire you! If you're an American citizen living abroad don't forget to vote in the Global Democratic Primary starting on Tuesday. If you didn't register to vote online, you can still vote in person at voting centers in 33 countries. Click here for the full list. 22 delegates representing Democrats living overseas are at stake, and in this primary, every single delegate counts.

I hope you'll vote for Obama. He can make us proud to be an American once again in ways that I don't think Clinton will be able to do - though I'll take her over McCain any day. Obama's election would prove that despite my country's considerable hypocrisy, the American dream and the values we claim to espouse actually can mean something real.

As many people have pointed out, last week's debate in L.A. showed that Clinton and Obama are extremely close on policy substance. But what they represent as people ends up being quite important in terms of where the United States is headed in the future. Obama represents a generational shift and a new direction for the country, and I really do think he will inspire a new generation to feel that they can make a difference in public affairs to a much greater extent than Clinton can; Clinton represents dynastic politics, back-to-the-90s-with-Bill-back-in-the-white-house, and a much more familiar form of democrat vs. republican partisanship. But don't just take it from me. Andrew Sullivan has an excellent essay on today's Times of London arguing why Obama is the best candidate. On the Huffington Post, Sherman Yellen explains how his family is split down the middle, and why he's voting for Obama despite his strong admiration for Clinton. Dave Winer wrote a couple of great posts last month about how the Clintons have thoroughly turned him off. My former Berkman colleague David Weinberger recently wrote this eloquent endorsement after Edwards dropped out:

I have to look back to being a high school kid handing out leaflets for Bobby Kennedy to find the same sense of hope that Obama inspires in me. In part, I think, it’s the pure youth of the candidate. My generation had its chance and produced Bill Clinton and He Who Needs Forgetting. Time for us to pass on the baton, as quickly as possibly. And, in part it’s the sense of common cause, common enthusiasm, and common hope across this country’s class and race lines. It’s awe-inspiring and oh so best-of-America to be out in streets dappled with so many colors.

Then there’s this: With McCain the likely Republican candidate, it’ll be character vs. character. And in that matchup, Obama is by far the Democrats’ best choice.

Here are the final three paragraphs of the Los Angeles Times' endorsement of Obama, which I hope will convince you if you're still on the fence:

Clinton's return to the White House that she occupied for eight years as first lady would resurrect some of the triumph and argument of that era. Yes, Bill Clinton's presidency was a period of growth and opportunity, and Democrats are justly nostalgic for it. But it also was a time of withering political fire, as the former president's recent comments on the campaign trail reminded the nation. Hillary Clinton's election also would drag into a third decade the post-Reagan political duel between two families, the Bushes and the Clintons. Obama is correct: It is time to turn the page.

An Obama presidency would present, as a distinctly American face, a man of African descent, born in the nation's youngest state, with a childhood spent partly in Asia, among Muslims. No public relations campaign could do more than Obama's mere presence in the White House to defuse anti-American passion around the world, nor could any political experience surpass Obama's life story in preparing a president to understand the American character. His candidacy offers Democrats the best hope of leading America into the future, and gives Californians the opportunity to cast their most exciting and consequential ballot in a generation.

In the language of metaphor, Clinton is an essay, solid and reasoned; Obama is a poem, lyric and filled with possibility. Clinton would be a valuable and competent executive, but Obama matches her in substance and adds something that the nation has been missing far too long -- a sense of aspiration.

If you're in Hong Kong, come vote at Dublin Jack's in Central on Tuesday night from 6-9pm A group of Obama supporters (myself included) will be there. There will be two more opportunities to vote in person: the Flying Pan on Sunday Feb.10 from 4-6pm, and again at Dublin Jack's on Tuesday Feb. 12 from 6-9. More info here.

Comments

[mahathir_fan]

Very dissappointed. I wished your headline had encourage Americans to get out and Run for the Presidency instead of just voting. A lot of people in this world can vote, but not many can run for office.

Americans should consider running for the Presidency, not just sit back and vote.

I would instead endorse RON PAUL since I cannot run for the Presidency myself.

[mahathir_fan]

"No public relations campaign could do more than Obama's mere presence in the White House to defuse anti-American passion around the world,"

LA times is out of touch. Those of us who were initially against the Iraq war have now turned around and are now supporting the war.

Bush has returned Iraq back to the Shia, who together with the brothers in Iran are now set to reunify and form the future Persian Kingdom of Iran and Iraq.

If you think about it, America had basically fought a proxy war for the Iranians. Now the Iranians can claim victory over the Iran-Iraq war.

I dont' think most people will have a problem with US attacking Iran as well. Most of us are awaiting change, awaiting the old empire to set and looking forward for the dawn of a new era. Go ahead, make my day...we see hope in Bush.

[Will Lewis]

"Only an idiot or an intellectual could actually believe that." -Tom Wolfe

And, I'm referring to the comments, not anything Ms. MacKinnon wrote about.

The Atlantic, now free online, had a cover story on Obama a little while back that covers much of the same ground: Goodbye to All That: Why Obama Matters. Go Obama!

[mahathir_fan]

""Only an idiot or an intellectual could actually believe that." -Tom Wolfe

And, I'm referring to the comments, not anything Ms. MacKinnon wrote about."

Including yours?

[william doe]

obama is the one who can rule america very well.he is very very educated. he knows about govorment . he read about govment in the school.obama is our choice.

[william doe]

i am 100persent sure that obama will be the president of america.the world want obama to rule america.people will vote for obama more and more.

[william doe]

if you are against obama. you will fail.why i said this is that.obama is the only way american can move forword and change.

[william doe]

dont be dissapointed.america will wote for obama more and more and obama will win .that is 100persent sure .see you and bye

[william doe]

dont be dissapointed.america will wote for obama more and more and obama will win .that is 100persent sure .see you and bye

[Alex]

If Mc Cain will be your next president, you Americans are really fucked up...