Richard Cohen has a too-cute-by-half op-ed in today’s Washington Post.  It starts off with Cohen asking a gotcha-type question to an unnamed “prominent Democrat”–”just tell me one thing that Barack Obama has done that you admire”.  The unnamed Dem mentioned Obama’s 2004 speech.  Cohen himself mentions that Obama opposed the war in Iraq, but brushes this off, saying Obama was only a state senator when he did this, and ignoring the fact that Obama has stuck by this position consistently, including for four years as a U.S. Senate candidate and Senator, during times when it was hardly a slam-dunk to oppose the war. 

But Cohen leaves it at that, suggesting Obama is simply a good speech-maker who has done nothing worthy of admiration, in contrast with John McCain.  Perhaps Cohen should try asking a regular old Obama supporter what he or she admires about this man.  Here are some of the many things I admire about Obama.

• He rose from humble beginnings to graduate from Columbia University and Harvard Law School, where he was the first African-American president of the law review.  This is a real “up by your bootstraps” American success story.
• Obama didn’t just casually oppose the war in Iraq, as Cohen dismissively suggests–he stuck by this position consistently, made it a centerpiece of his campaign and held his ground even when others smeared him as a traitor waving the white flag. 
• Speaking of which, I admire Obama for not stooping to the level of those who have slurred him as a terrorist or suggested he is a traitor willing to lose a war in order to lose an election.  Obama has stayed on the high road, despite enduring an onslaught of attacks, including some that target his wife.  He responds to smear tactics by exposing them for the lies they are, but he does not resort to his own mud-slinging.
• I admire Obama for his commitment to equal rights for all Americans, including gay Americans.  This is hardly an uncontroversial position.  In contrast, McCain opposes legislation that would prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and recently said that he doesn’t “believe” in gay adoption.  McCain’s stance is less than admirable.
• I admire Obama for his wise decision to marry Michelle.  She is an intelligent, accomplished, beautiful woman. 
• I admire Obama because he refuses to play the politics of fear.  This is no small feat post 9/11 America.  McCain and the Republicans try to win elections by playing on our fears.  Obama speaks to our hopes–our desire to end a misbegotten war in Iraq, our desire to rejoin the community of nations, our desire to end the failed policy of tax cuts for the wealthy, and everyone else fends for themself.
• I admire Obama because he is absolutely unflappable.  Show me a time when he lost his temper or lost his cool.  Contrast that with John McCain, whose temper has scared the hell out of people even in his own party.
• And yes, I admire Obama for his speech in 2004, for his speech when he became the nominee, for his speech in race relations, for all of his speeches.  Cohen may dismiss this as just words.  So was the Declaration of Independence, so was Tom Paine’s Common Sense.  Obama’s words have inspired millions.  That too s something worthy of admiration.

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