Harvard professor Larry Tribe
Renowned Constitutional law scholar Mr. Tribe seemed very confident that Senator Obama is the best candidate for the presidency, stating that when Obama was his student at Harvard Law School he already knew that Obama was destined to do great things.
Immediately he emphasized that Obama had gone to Harvard despite others telling him it was a school for rich white boys because he wanted to help people. Mr. Tribe said that though every applicant claims to want to use a Harvard education for the good of the general public and not simply for personal gain, many take the high-salary jobs when they're offered -- but not Obama. And, so, though critics inevitably discuss Obama's
"lack of experience," Obama chose to help the people of Chicago, thus acquiring the best type of experience possible. I was thoroughly convinced -- we need someone who isn't dissociated from the people he or she would be representing as president.
A man who seemed to be a long-time fan of Obama asked about why Obama lately seemed less impassioned and more likely to take the same politically smart stances on issues he used to stand alone on. Mr. Tribe seemed to maneuver around the question, but he said that amongst a field of other candidates, at events like debates, Obama inevitably seems less larger-than-life than he does when speaking by himself. I bought his answer to a certain extent, but still fear Obama choosing what is politically 'smart' over the innovation that made him initially so appealing.
The issue that Obama really seems ahead of the game on is the appointment of Supreme Court Justices. Mr. Tribe made excellent points about Obama himself being a law professor, and, thus, being very knowledgable about any possible candidates for nomination, their past decisions and thereby indicators of what their future decisions might be. Obama simply has more knowledge here than any other candidate.
Overall, Mr. Tribe seemed a very intelligent man, someone of whom most would love to ask questions, on many subjects, not only Obama. That he supports Obama makes me more secure in Obama's abilities.