I really enjoy Creative Commons’ father Lawrence Lessig’s videos. I blogged about one of those on openDemocracy in the past, and I tremendously enjoyed his new addition posted this week, a video explainning his support for Obama vs. Clinton. His argument is based on three criteria. Moral courage and character, integrity and “do”.

As much as I like Hillary and Bill Clinton, I have to admit his argument on moral courage (e.g Bill Clinton doing a U-turn on gay people in the military, Hillary supporting the Iraq War as the NY senator) is spot on, and perhaps the thing that most left to the left democrats fear when casting their vote for Clinton: she sometimes lacks the character to take a strong stance, eyeing instead political interests.

But then again, no one can argue that the Iraq decision was easier to make for Obama back in 2002, when his name was still relatively obscure at the time. Clinton probably eyed the presidential seat back then, and had to naviguate troubled waters while thinking ahead.

Note that I am not defending Bill and Hillary’s dubious choices. I am merely stating the fact that sometimes, very unfortunately, politics means playing a dirty game. Whatever will get you ahead in the pools. Would I want a president thinking in those terms? Not really. Do I think that Obama will cave in and act in a very similar fashion if elected?

You bet.

PS. I guess those Lessig videos (Youtube) show how amazing it would be to have Lessig as a professor. I always wonder, does he actually write those “lecture” and then sit in front of his computer, power-pointing the speech’s strong elements only to then re-read it slowly and synchronising everything? There must be an easier way.

PS 2. That being said, I am still on the fence. Obama? Clinton? Obama? Headache. I am only glad I don’t have to vote.