Pam, precisely! Many Democrats are questioning Obama's credentials as a Democrat and a progressive - mainly because he doesn't really talk like a Democrat. Sure, he brings up Martin Luther King's name a lot (and MLK is the best Democrat I know of) but just because Obama brings up MLK's name, it doesn't make him a Democrat.

See, I look at his platform, and I listen very closely to Obama's speeches. He talks about admiration for Reagan. He doesn't talk about the many pieces of social justice legislation that Congress has tried to pass in this recent year. Instead he talks in generalities and obscurities. I think his lack of specificity is keeping Democrats and Progressives from trusting him. But as Markos points out, Obama has time yet (before Feb. 5th anyway) to figure out that he's running on a Democratic ticket and he's not going to win the Democratic primary unless he appeals to Democrats!

Someone also asked me what is meant by the word Progressive. So, for that I defer to the Center for American Progress' mission:

We are creating a long-term, progressive vision for America—a vision that policy makers, thought-leaders and activists can use to shape the national debate and pass laws that make a difference.

Mission
As progressives we believe that America should be a country of boundless opportunity—where all people can better themselves through education, hard work, and the freedom to pursue their dreams. We believe this will only be achieved with an open and effective government that champions the common good over narrow self-interest, harnesses the strength of our diversity, and secures the rights and safety of its people.

Real progress will be achieved only through innovative solutions borne of open collaboration.

To realize our vision we must:

Build an opportunity nation where every hard-working person, regardless of background, can realize their dreams through education, decent work and fair play.

Reawaken America's conscience, our sense of shared and personal responsibility, to build healthy, vibrant communities.

Reform government so that it is of, by and for the people: open, effective, and committed to the common good.

Use America's strength to bring the world together, not pull it apart.

This is what Obama has yet to convince Democrats of! It's not too late, Obama.

Nora, I agree wholeheartedly- and, for me, it ties back into Hillary's message: i can't look at his "history" to prove to me he's going to be a progressive even though he isn't talking like one, because his history isn't deep enough for my liking.

While I be proud to vote for Obama if he is the nominee? Absolutely.

Do I think we have a better progressive option? Again, absolutely.

I like this conversation. I am African American. I am progressive. I am Democrat. I am not yet convinced that I should vote for Obama or even Clinton.

I'm getting so tired of the media walking up to black women in South Carolina and asking, "Well you're a black woman, so are you gonna vote for Obama (implying you'd do this for your blackness) or for Clinton (media implying that Clinton has solidarity with your womanness)?"

No one is asking, "Well you're a black woman, which candidate talks most about the issues that are important to you?"

If the latter were the question, I think you'd hear more of these interviewed African Americans say "John Edwards speaks for me."

Why? John Edwards is a champion of the middle class. He spent the last four years building a center for poverty and working with groups all over the U.S. to address poverty. He has studied issues like healthcare, constitutional law, economics.

His leadership would move us to address issues that are most important to me.