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Starman · May 4, 2007, 08:51 AM

Do names influence voters?
Would people in the United States feel comfortable with a president called Obama?
Isn't the name too close to the possible mispronounciation of "Obey me?" How much do you feel that names influence the presidential election choices here in the USA?

excon · May 5, 2007, 09:34 AM

Hello Star:

There are a lot of people named John, Bill, Fred and Joe who won't like it. A lot of people don't like things to change. But, they do.

I don't think the name Obama is going to bother most people, certainly not like the name Bush does.

excon

Wangdoodle · May 5, 2007, 08:37 PM

For the uniformed voter I think a name would have some influence. I think some people do make a prejudgment about people by there names. It's unfortunate, but I think it happens.

dgfohio · May 14, 2007, 11:07 AM

Well let's see... Ted Kennedy drove drunk and drown an innocent woman in the back seat of his car. He hired someone to take an exam for him in college, and wasa expelled for doing so... and he keeps getting elected because of his last name. I have two words: Term Limits.

With Term Limits, name will mean less AND more regular people will get elected.

shygrneyzs · May 14, 2007, 02:08 PM

There are some voters who go by name recognition only - do not pay attention to the news or the character, just the familiar name. Or the fact the person was elected six times before so that must he(or she) must be really good. Ha ha ha.. Good at covering their a** most likely.

Term limits would be wonderful. No one would be favored, everyone on the same level(theoretically speaking), and they would be done and out in the max of two terms.

Skell · May 14, 2007, 03:38 PM

If people are silly enough to be influenced and bothered by the name of a candidate then they
Deserve what they get when the wrong guy gets elected.

The only problem with Term Limits from what I can see is that it doesn't give you the chance to kick someone out. I'm not completely familiar with the system in the US but wouldn't the people love the chance to kick Bush out of power, rather than him leave having served his 2 terms with the ability to say he was never ousted from power for his poor leadership?

cal823 · May 19, 2007, 05:26 PM

I dislike the american political system personally, I think it needs reworking.
Even though I'm an Australian, I would support barrack obama, he seems to be a good potential leader who actual believes that change can be made. Id even vote for him if he ran down here in australia, howards getting senile.

Starman · May 19, 2007, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by Skell

If people are silly enough to be influenced and bothered by the name of a candidate then they
deserve what they get when the wrong guy gets elected.

The only problem with Term Limits from what i can see is that it doesnt give you the chance to kick someone out. I'm not completely familiar with the system in the US but wouldnt the people love the chance to kick Bush out of power, rather than him leave having served his 2 terms with the ability to say he was never ousted from power for his poor leadership?

I agree. It's silly and they deserve what they get. I get the impression that Dukakis lost against Bush partially based on the perception of his name. About throwing Bush out, didn't they just have a chance to do this a little while back and they reelected him into office?