A recent post on the Liberal Values blog makes a good case that Obama has gained support from many Libertarians who have peeked under the hood of Ron Paul's platform and found something other than a champion for liberty. I'm probably a good example of this trend. The recent information regarding Ron Paul's racist views may be the last straw for many libertarians and may send them running to the Democrats for safe haven from the Republicans who have largely abandoned liberty, free market economics, and fiscal responsibility.

As a person with many libertarian values, I've seen Obama as a type of "left-leaning libertarian" since I first read his book "The Audacity of Hope". His deep understanding and devotion to constitutional law and his choice to use free market economics as a tool for restoring justice as opposed to massive government programs has always appealed to me. He has stood in opposition to the types of government hand-outs that constitute nothing more than corporate welfare for the defense and energy industries. This side of Obama may not be getting the publicity it deserves during the more emotional and stump-speech oriented primary. It' a big reason he plays well to more educated voters who dare to dig beneath the rhetoric.

If you are an anti-war liberty minded voter who is concerned about fiscal responsibility but may be wary of considering a Democrat, then I urge you to reconsider Obama. Despite his book's title and his tendency to come across as a motivational speaker, Obama is first a foremost an advocate for the constitution. His hope is not based in idealistic charity and goodwill. His hope seems to be based on belief in this nations founding principles of liberty and justice for all.