Barack Obama should be president

The residential primary election is almost as important as the actual election for president because it is when the people get to decide which candidate will best represent their party.

I take this election extremely seriously and hope that other young adults also begin to make their political decisions a priority.

I recently decided who I think would best represent the Democratic Party, and I think that candidate is U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. The arguments against Obama are, for the most part, trivial in nature.

There are people that don't want him in office because of his alleged "Muslim" background.

First, Obama is Christian; Church of Christ to be exact. Second, his previous religious affiliation should have no bearing on his role as a politician. Third, just because his name isn't Ron, George or Bill does not make him less qualified.

The only semi-legitimate reason people are concerned about is Obama's lack of experience in Washington. My argument to that would be experience has not always been a proven asset to those in office, hence the current administration.

Also, in my opinion, it is a plus that Obama has not been completely jaded by politics in this country, which is why I believe in his "Politics of Hope."

As only the fifth black senator in America's history, Obama has proven that he has staying power in his community and in Illinois. His platform for his presidential campaign reflects his history of grassroots activism and community work.

The biggest concerns for Americans today are definitely the war in Iraq, education, health care and climate control. Obama makes realistic promises to mediate some of these issues.

Obama is passionate about providing universal healthcare for the 46 million Americans who are uninsured and points out American taxpayers are already paying annually for that population.

Obama is also an opponent of the current policies concerning the war in Iraq. He was against the war from the beginning and is a frontrunner in the race to get the troops home with a phased withdrawal.

While I am personally in favor of a more immediate withdrawal, a consensus amongst the Democratic Party is pivotal to movements to end the war.

Obama also advocates real change in the fight over global warming and criticizes President George W. Bush for merely noting that there is a problem. He is an advocate of actually working toward reducing emissions.

Obama has co-sponsored multiple bills in order to improve education. For example, he co-sponsored the legislation that created Future Teacher Corps Scholarships to provide money for students aiming to become teachers and has also sponsored several bills to increase Pell Grants to help students pay for college.

It is clear that Obama is not only making a difference in his position in the Senate but he is also raising eyebrows in the presidential race.

He was only second to U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton with his fundraising efforts and gains more supporters over the Internet by the second.

I decided to point out why you should consider Obama rather than pointing out why the other candidates should not win. The 2008 election will be different than 2004 in that most voters will not be choosing the lesser of two evils. The Democratic candidates are strong, impressive and ready to win.

The primary election will mark a milestone in history since both of the frontrunners represent minorities that have for the most part taken second place in the political realm. Obama transcends those barriers and makes it clear that he does not want a vote for any other reason than you believing he is the best candidate to reshape the politics of this country.

"If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress." This is what Obama says and I believe that he is the guide to progress in America.

Heather Wyatt is an alumna of the University with a degree in American studies.