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FacebookObama goes gloves off, head-on
He discusses how race has flared up in the campaign, a suit over voting on the Strip
Leila Navidi
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama speaks during an interview on Sunday at Doolittle Community Center.
Mon, Jan 14, 2008 (2 a.m.)
Caucus Coverage
- Slideshow: The Obama campaign in Vegas
- Blog: Actor wired in to Obama camp (1-13-07)
- Obama Bio
- Obama on the Issues
- Caucus Guide
In a Sun interview Sunday, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama addressed the suddenly front-and-center issue of race in his fight with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Looking poised and relatively fresh given the grueling schedule of a presidential campaign, the senator from Illinois spoke in his customary manner — cool, measured, deliberate — about urban issues, his appeal to Hispanic voters and a controversial lawsuit about Saturday’s caucus that is pitting some Clinton backers against Obama and the union that endorsed him last week, Culinary Union Local 226.
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- Obama on the Culinary lawsuit
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- Obama on racial overtones
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- Obama on "The Wire's" Omar
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Also, the TV show “The Wire” came up.
Obama, framed by a portrait of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in a Doolittle Community Center classroom, addressed the lawsuit in which a group of Democratic activists, including the state teachers union, is suing the Democratic Party, declaring as unfair the existence of nine at-large caucus sites on the Strip. Those sites are designed to allow shift workers union and nonunion to caucus in case the 11:30 a.m. start time falls during their workday. The plaintiffs say the Strip caucus sites are designed to give an unfair advantage to the Culinary.
Obama addressed the lawsuit head-on: “Look, the caucus structure was agreed to by every major player in the Democratic Party here in Nevada and was negotiated by the major players in the Democratic National Committee. Six days before the caucus is taking place, some of the people who were connected to setting up this very structure are now filing suit, trying to change the rules. It’s hard not to draw the conclusion that people were unhappy about the outcome of the Culinary Union endorsement process and now people are trying to fix it. In the process it is disenfranchising dishwashers and bartenders who work hard and should be able to participate in their democracy.”
Although Obama didn’t mention it, his surrogates, including Culinary Secretary-Treasurer D. Taylor and state Sen. Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, are quick to point out that many of those who would be “disenfranchised” are black or Hispanic.
For black voters especially, the issue of disenfranchisement is not to be trifled with, considering America’s Jim Crow past and the history of willful suppression of the black vote.
Indeed, race has become a sudden and unavoidable fact of the presidential contest as it moves to the first state with a sizable minority population.
In recent weeks, Clinton allies have made a series of awkward and sometimes crass remarks that play to stereotypes about black men.
Billy Shaheen, her then-New Hampshire chairman, speaking about Obama’s admission in his memoir that he used drugs as a teenager, said Obama would have to answer questions about whether he’d sold drugs. Shaheen resigned.
Andrew Cuomo, a Clinton supporter and New York’s attorney general, said about New Hampshire, “You can’t shuck and jive” there.
Robert Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, seemed to imply that while Clinton and her husband, Bill Clinton, were working hard for black people, Obama was off doing drugs. Johnson later released a statement denying that that’s what he meant.
Clinton recently seemed to downplay the role of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
“Dr. King’s dream began to be realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when he was able to get through Congress something that President Kennedy was hopeful to do, the president before had not even tried. But it took a president to get it done.”
This series of events, which the Clinton camp says are discrete and easily explained, carries considerable risk of a backlash for her. Black voters could make up to 20 percent of Democratic caucusgoers in Nevada. White Democrats might react angrily to any impression that the Clinton campaign hascoordinated an effort to use race against Obama.
On the news show “Meet the Press,” Clinton accused the Obama campaign of distorting what she said about King: “Clearly, we know from media reports that the Obama campaign is deliberately distorting this ... It is such an unfair and unwarranted attempt to, you know, misinterpret and mischaracterize what I’ve said.”
Asked by the Sun about the racial tenor of the race, Obama replied: “I am puzzled by it. She made a statement about Dr. King that I think was ill-advised. But I said nothing about it. Suddenly, she is blaming us for distorting her words. I don’t know how I could distort her words since I hadn’t commented on her words since she made the statement. Now you see this ratcheting up of rhetoric coming out of her surrogates. I find it puzzling.”
Asked whether Hispanics, who make up one-quarter of Nevada’s population, would support a black candidate for president, he deflected the question and said they probably know the Clintons better than they know him. He then laid out a list of policy proposals designed to help Hispanics, including immigration changes that would provide a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, school dropout prevention programs and money for college.
“If Latino voters examine my track record, I think they’ll feel enormous confidence that I will be strong advocate on behalf of equal opportunity and fairness.”
If the recent Culinary endorsement is to mean anything, Obama will have to appeal to Hispanics, who make up 40 percent of the union’s membership.
He also discussed his agenda for healthier cities, which includes early childhood education, job creation and drug treatment, all aimed at breaking a cycle of poor people with few opportunities going into the drug trade, which leads to prison, making them almost permanently unemployable.
Michael Kostroff, an actor who was in town to volunteer for Obama and had a chance to meet him, told the Sun that Obama’s favorite TV show is his own: HBO’s “The Wire,” which chronicles Baltimore’s violent drug culture and the police who quixotically try to stop it.
Obama told the Sun his favorite character is Omar, a stick-up artist who steals from drug dealers and then gives the loot to poor people in the neighborhood.
“That’s not an endorsement. He’s not my favorite person, but he’s a fascinating character.”
The Clintons are providing Obama with great experience in that GOP specialty - dirty tricks.
There will always be people who fall for these, and the only way to stop this kind of attack is vote overwhelmingly against it.
It takes time to sift through all the muck being
thrown around in campaigns, but it is our job as citizens to do more than react to news bites.
Here's hoping Nevada has a record turnout for the caucuses.
I hope people truly listen to each candidate and see what each of them has done - and is doing right now. Obama is the real deal.
The Clintons will have a much harder time getting away with things this election cycle, I think. People are sick of these kinds of tactics and want someone who actually has a chance to get things done. That person is Barack Obama.
We have Hillary constantly lying, we have Bob Johnson of BET doing his cr*p and she refuses to dump him like she dumped Shaheen from NH.
Is there any other choice for Democrats than to drive a stake through the vile heart of the Clintons and flush the party of their poison and venom and the poison and venom of their corrupted supporters?
She will destroy the Democratic Party and energize the GOP.
ABC=Anybody but Clinton is national phenomenon for good reason; we all want to retire these vulgar people to the sidelines where they belong.
Let's take the party back to the people where it belongs.
ABC! Amen!
http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_ba...
Look under "Political Career" of Obama. Six years in Illinois congress, 1 paragraph, 2 sentence to describe his great achievements :-)
In the same segment, 2 years in US Senate, 2 paragraph, lot of sentence with no concrete achievements. He sould have mentioned his achievement that Senator can not any longer eat with lobbist, unless they are standing up :-)
It is amazing, what he is getting away with. Republicans and corporate media will not let this guy get away with this once they get him as nominee.
Hussain Obama supporter please list his achievements.
Inspiration- word + work
Rhetoric- words only
Please list HRC's achievements.
Zero, zip, nothing
35 years of nothing.
35 years as the antithesis of Feminism, standing in her husband's shadow and accepting his sexual predation.
Presidential spouse is presidential qualification? Then we should have elected Pat Nixon and Mamie Eisenhower, Lady Bird...
35 years never ran anything
Again, 35 years of nothing. Changed nothing.
8 years of 'the most ethical administration in American history' and she running the entire show and West Wing and selling the soul of the party each and every day.
A fresh face with new ideas always trumps a corrupted entrenched politician who would sell her very soul in her lust for power.
Say anything, do anything does not belong in the White House
Hillary story: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/about/
Hussain Obama's story: http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_ba...
As a Dem it is important for Elite Dem to understand, commoner will decide the election. It will be based on jobs, house payment, health insurance.
Also, it will be a war of attrition with the republicans. Race, gender, drug use, race baiting, achievements, etc. HRC has already taken her hits, Hussain has not experienced the slightest war scars.
People will vote on pocket book issue, soaring words will be beaten back to grounds.
Rhetorics above has no subtance.
Hussain needs to grow more backbone.
Iraq- Right about not going into war, then back tracks starting 2003
Iran- Absent during voting
Illinois legislator- Over 150 absent votes, in order to avoid taking any sides
This is Chief executive election, not preacher selection.
Mr. Obama is obviously perpetuating this notion and it's a sad day for the Democratic Party. To denigrate people who have spent decades dedicated to embettering black lives and championing black causes is disgusting.
If anytime someone criticises his voting record or points out that passing legislation takes experience in washington, they are acussed of racism, I think the backlash against Mr. Obama will be swift and hard. It will not help black people. It is terriby sad.
This coming from the man, who called Clinton the senator from the Punjab, and denegrated her experience as "drinking tea" (sexist).
THIS IS A MUST SEE VIDEO FOR SENIORS!!!!!
Please SHARE THIS VIDEO with your friends, parents, grandparents, and/or SENIOR neighbors/associates.
"Fulfilling a Generation's Promise”----
Real Leadership for
SENIORS
Often labeled "the greatest generation," our senior citizens have seen a lot in their time. Many of them marched for equality beside Martin Luther King Jr., fought for justice with Bobby Kennedy, or answered a timeless call to service under President John F. Kennedy.
But now, many of them need help. They're concerned about Social Security or dealing with the maze of coverage for Medicare Part D. They're paying too much for prescription drugs and coping with rising costs on everything. More than anything, they're worried about the country they're leaving behind to their children and grandchildren.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oq4uoIG-UyI
Clinton- Obama has changing position on Iraq after 2002 opposition.
Obama- Clinton is trying to rewrite history. Where is the denial
Hussain Obama- takes down 2002 speech from his website as he starts to run for US Senate in 2003
Hussain Obama- says he does not know how he would have voted in 2004. Apparently he did it to help Sen. Kerry. Where is the conviction?
Hussain Obama- Votes to fund Iraq war starting 2005. Where is the conviction
Iran resolution- Absent. Where in the strenght and conviction of the chieft executive
Obama- Senator Clinton is rewriting history (but I can not deny her charges)
Elite democrates- wake up to the reality, he is a preacher not a doer
Hussain has no backbone. And no achievement, it is a lethal combination.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oq4uoIG-UyI
Another "speech" from Hussain Obama. Where is the substance?
JFK- War hero, 14 years legislative experience includng 6 year as senator with actual results
Bobby- Long history as legislator, senator, attorney general
MLK- Too many things to write about
Hussain Obama- http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_ba...
Look under "Political Career" of Obama. Six years in Illinois congress, 1 paragraph, 2 sentence to describe his great achievements :-)
In the same segment, 2 years in US Senate, 2 paragraph, lot of sentence with no concrete achievements. He sould have mentioned his achievement that Senator can not any longer eat with lobbist, unless they are standing up :-)
It is amazing, what he is getting away with. Republicans and corporate media will not let this guy get away with this once they get him as nominee.
"slbk"- Obama at least showing some backbone in going after Clinton with false accusations.
Before that he could not stand for anything, fight for anything.
Some progress, still no achievements.
What in the world is wrong with the Clintons? The stream of race-tinged nastiness coming from them and their supporters is unbelievable, and there's so much of it, it has to be deliberate and organized. Here's a name for what they're doing: Swiftbaiting.
There's a name for the psychology of people who were hostages and ended up identifying with their captors: the Stockholm Syndrome. The Clintons are taking an awful lot of lines out of Karl Rove's playbook.
"OBAMA PORTRAIT MUSIC VIDEO" on Youtube - Don't Miss It!
For those of you who still have not heard:
There is a WONDERFUL and INSPIRING music video on Youtube.com entitled "Obama Portrait Music Video by Bjarne O."
You can use the free downloaded high-quality stereo version from the composer's website in DVD form to show at house parties and fundraisers. Even people who knew nothing at all about Obama have been moved: either a thrilling introduction, or further inspiration for those of us who already know and fight for Obama.
The music soundtrack, which incorporates excerpts from the famous 2004 speech, can also be downloaded separately in high-quality.
It is an uplifting and informative campaign tool - so please, SPREAD THE WORD!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mCPwbozpIzM
YES WE CAN
Anne
What troubles me is that in the interview, Obama did not mention that the Strip caucuses are given far more delegates than an average neighborhood caucus would receive.
That's profoundly unfair...no matter who is the receipient of Culinary's endorsement. Of course, there was no publicity about the overweighted voting for the Strip caucuses until it was clear Obama could win them with the Culinary's help.
It's so unfair that I would have gladly been a plaintiff in this lawsuit. I'm just an average voter, yet the value of my vote is diminished by the Strip caucus structure.
Maybe I will go to a caucus on the Strip, rather than the one at my neighborhood school. It would be fun to take a video camera, and make a record of my being turned away because I don't work on the Strip.
Elite democrats like Follitics need to understand, words are not achievements.
Presenting an empty book to the republicans is not the smartest idea.
Claim- Clinton are race baiting
Proof- None.
Now that is Rove playbook. Good thing you are picking it up :-)
Fact: Hussain Obama smoked cracks, did not do anything in Illinois, did not do anything in Washington, does not have a backbone to stand on his Iraq war opposition, voted absent on Iran vote. Disproved any of it
Hussain Obama: Please watch this nice video of another "speech"- don't ask any questions
Denzel: I am a better actor that Hussain, only he writes his own lines, I am not good at that
This is presidential election, we are not electing speech writers
Why everything in America always end up with race? It is so sad.
Some say that the Clintons have done much for the blacks as if the blacks have done less for the Clintons.
The Clintons and the Bush don't own this country. It is time for new people. The time for Clintons is over: they got 8 years.
The time for Bush is over: they got 20 years/12 years.
Let move on.
Since the Clintons left the Whitehouse, the global economy has changed. As an economist I can assure you that America needs a new global image that only Obama can give.
Hillary nomination will not give the democrats the Whitehouse in November. She will unite the republicans as only a Clinton can. She is dividing us already.
The so-called 35 years of experience come with 35 years of dirt, unethical behaviors, shameful memories, and vengeful republicans. If you really think that this country needs all of that, then vote for the Clintons.
We need a new start for a better America. we need a new generation to clean up the mess. And Obama has what it takes to lead America.
The Clintons are providing Obama with great experience in that GOP specialty - dirty tricks.
Indeed. And it's the "seasoned experience" about which they say Obama does not have. THANK GOD I say to that. We finally have a candidate WITH REAL INTEGRITY. And for FACT CHECKS on the TRUTH about Obama which the status quo is trying to distort:
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php
hightlight LEARN, and click on KNOW the FACTS
It looks like the Clinton sleaze machine has sent it's internet operatives out all over the internet to attempt to cover up their lies.
Nevada voters don't fall for the lies of these people. Please vote Barack Obama.
Not only to cover up lies, but to invent them.
It is obvious WHY. Obama stands for the PEOPLE of America. The status quo stands for itself.
FACT: Barack Obama does NOT have to run a mudslinging campaign to make himself look better.
And those who do need to be seriously questioned as to their Ethics and Integrity.
They believe if you post it enough, it becomes true. This is the full blown corrupted Harry Reid Inc operatives--he and they are desperate.
The sleaze of the Clinton's is appalling, what a vile and vulgar couple.
More than half the party hates her, and that tells you she elects a GOP president in November.
ABC=Anybody but Clinton
Fact:
Obama campaign sent out the "Senator from Punjab" document and Obama accepted the responsibility
Obama campaign has sent out the race bating talking points to media
If the citizens of this country TRULY want America BACK and to take it forward towards a FUTURE we can ACTUALLY LOOK FORWARD TO, stand for Barack Obama. CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN and a
Leader WE CAN TRUST.
FACT CHECKS on OBAMA
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php
Highlight Learn and click on KNOW the FACTS
SeedofChange? More like Astroturf. Most of these the anti-Obama posts are from one sad person. Seedy, please take your racist attacks elsewhere. You're using Barack's middle name simply trying to fan anti-arab sentiment. It's pathetic, and the American people will see right through it. Yes, Barack Obama's father was muslim. He is not. Note how many DIFFERENT people are refuting your evil screed.
Cynical,
I'm sorry if the people of Nevada don't like how the Caucus votes are allocated. The fact is, you can't change the rules in the middle of the game. That's like Tom Brady saying he only needs 8 yards for a first down instead of 10. You can argue till you're blue in the face, but you just look silly. If you somehow convince the ref, everyone will see you as a whiny cheater. There's no winning this argument.
This is very simple:
HRC wants to elicit a perceived "race card" response by Obama.
It's got to tell you something that the two most notable endorsements of HRC have been from Karl Rove and Newt Gingrich.
Ya think they might be a little more scared of Obama??? hmmmm LOL
Jazmatician: The battle will be between Democrats and Republicans, not among democrats. Bless your good soul, but "fact" is Hussain Obama has to stand for himself.
Al Gore- most compentent vice president in US history. Turned into a lier that claimed to invent internet
John Kerry- war hero. Turned into a coward
Hussain Obama- empty shell with words. Look at the prospects. Can not stand for his own convictor on Iraq war. Absent from Iran vote.
What does he have other than words.
What I find THE MOST ludicrous about the LIE that Obama is a radical muslim is that just HOW could ANYONE BELIEVE that a radical muslim would be ALLOWED to run for President? It is juvenille, schoolyard behavior and mentality.
Barack Obama is OUR GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY and THEY KNOW IT. Well, I WANT my COUNTRY back and a future that I CAN look forward to - NOT one I dread. The STATUS QUO has GOT to go - it just AIN'T WORKIN - except for them, of course.
OBAMA WINS we ALL WIN.
FACT CHECKS on OBAMA
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php
Highlight Learn and click on KNOW the FACTS
What does OBAMA have other than words? The INTEGRITY to BACK IT UP.
From the FACT CHECK PAGE OF OBAMA
Ending the War in Iraq
Judgment You Can Trust: As a candidate for the United States Senate in 2002, Obama put his political career on the line to oppose going to war in Iraq, and warned of “an occupation of undetermined length, with undetermined costs, and undetermined consequences.” Obama has been a consistent, principled and vocal opponent of the war in Iraq:
In 2003 and 2004, he spoke out against the war on the campaign trail;
In 2005, he called for a phased withdrawal of our troops;
In 2006, he called for a timetable to remove our troops, a political solution within Iraq, and aggressive diplomacy with all of Iraq's neighbors;
In January 2007, he introduced legislation in the Senate to remove all of our combat troops from Iraq by March 2008.
In September 2007, he laid out a detailed plan for how he will end the war as president.
Iran
The Problem: Iran has sought nuclear weapons, supports militias inside Iraq and terror across the region, and its leaders threaten Israel and deny the Holocaust. But Obama believes that we have not exhausted our non-military options in confronting this threat; in many ways, we have yet to try them. That's why Obama stood up to the Bush administration's warnings of war, just like he stood up to the war in Iraq.
Opposed Bush-Cheney Saber Rattling: Obama opposed the Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which says we should use our military presence in Iraq to counter the threat from Iran. Obama believes that it was reckless for Congress to give George Bush any justification to extend the Iraq War or to attack Iran. Obama also introduced a resolution in the Senate declaring that no act of Congress – including Kyl-Lieberman – gives the Bush administration authorization to attack Iran.
Diplomacy: Obama is the only major candidate who supports tough, direct presidential diplomacy with Iran without preconditions. Now is the time to pressure Iran directly to change their troubling behavior. Obama would offer the Iranian regime a choice. If Iran abandons its nuclear program and support for terrorism, we will offer incentives like membership in the World Trade Organization, economic investments, and a move toward normal diplomatic relations. If Iran continues its troubling behavior, we will step up our economic pressure and political isolation. Seeking this kind of comprehensive settlement with Iran is our best way to make progress.
FACT CHECKS on OBAMA
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php
Highlight Learn and click on KNOW the FACTS
seedofchange: one, the spelling is Hussein, not Hussain, you show your ignorance and discourtesy by not spelling it correctly. two, Hussein is Baracks middle name, if he chose to go by his middle name (as some do) fine, but since he doesn't you should show some respect by using his given name. three, your highlighting his middle name is nothing more than playing up to anti-Arab bigotry and you should be ashamed of that. So that is 3 strikes against you and as such you are not worthy of being paid attention to by anyone.
Iran- Obama was absent. He did not have the courage to vote against it
Iraq- He was right in 2002. In 2003, he took down his 2002 speech. 2004, 2005, 2006, he voted for funding while Kucinich and other people of conviction were voting against it
Please state the facts as they are. We are entitled to our opinion, not facts.
Partial Fact: Obama campaign sent out the "Senator from Punjab" document and Obama accepted the responsibility.
More Fact:
A junior Obama campaign staffer sent this to a reporter privately. When this happened (last summer) Obama held a "Come to Jesus" meeting with his staffers to determine who sent it, and let them know in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS it was against his vision for this campaign. Nothing of the sort has come out since. This was not an official campaign document (released without senior staff approval and as "not for attribution"), but it leaked to the Hillary camp and THEY released it.
Here are links with numerous stories for more information:
http://www.blogrunner.com/snapshot/D/0/5...
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/1...
and did you read where Obama said that while Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Matilda Joslyn Gage and Ida Husted Harper did good work moving along womens suffrage it was actually Woodrow Wilson and the men in the house and senate who deserve equal respect for passing the 19th amendment? No, you didn't hear about this, well, it is not surprising since Obama would not be anywhere stupid enough to say it.
Hillary could have made the exact same point if she had used my analogy above and few would have been offended, most people though would find the analogy ridiculous because the woman suffragists do deserve the bulk of the credit and that the passing of the 19th amendment was a long overdue redress. Woodrow Wilson and the men in Congress had simply succumbed to the rightness of the women's cause. The same is true with MLK and LBJ. How is it the Hillary supporters do not see this elemental truth? She made a mistake, admit it and move on and be forgiven.
(Removed by the site staff)
This is very simple:
HRC wants to elicit a perceived "race card" response by Obama.
It's got to tell you something that the two most notable endorsements of HRC have been from Karl Rove and Newt Gingrich.
Ya think they might be a little more scared of Obama??? hmmmm LOL
Clinton is DESPERATELY attempting to pull Obama down into a mudslinging campaign. It's as plain as the nose on your face. She won't do it. It is not within his nature. Obama is a man of high principles and integrity. And yes, the status quo is afraid of Obama because his plan is to change the status quo FOR the PEOPLE.
What did Clinton said that was racist? None. Stating MLK needed a partner in LBJ is not racist. When Obama campaign starts calling it racist then it becomes racist
Calling on Obama about his changing actions on Iraq war is a "fairy tale". President Clinton did not call his candidacy a "fairy tale". So, why is it out there unless someone is insinuating it.
I LOVE BARACK OBAMA!!!!! We desperately need change we can believe in in this country. Hillary and Bill Clinton have reminded me of how dirty and shameful their political games can be. I voted for Bill but I sure as heck won't vote for Hill. Obama '08!
FACT CHECKS on OBAMA
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php
Highlight Learn and click on KNOW the FACTS
PS. Obama is NOT Muslim. And I will repeat what I posted previously.
What I find THE MOST ludicrous about the LIE that Obama is a radical muslim is that just HOW could ANYONE BELIEVE that a radical muslim would be ALLOWED to run for President? It is juvenille, schoolyard behavior and mentality.
Barack Obama is OUR GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY and THEY KNOW IT. Well, I WANT my COUNTRY back and a future that I CAN look forward to - NOT one I dread. The STATUS QUO has GOT to go - it just AIN'T WORKIN - except for them, of course.
OBAMA WINS we ALL WIN.
"lvdream"- This is republican attack.
I am not part of this.
I thought Obama was all about working together and partnership.
Then, why can't we say MLK and LBJ were parters in good deed?
Why can't we say Wilson and faminist movements were partners?
What part of that would be offensive to anyone
Hilary has accepted the most amount of money of any senator in congress. Obama does not accept any money from lobbyists. He raises his cash from the People! Hilary Can't Make all the changes she wants because she has been bought off. Obama is the canidate we need.
"New Yorker", Obama's New Hampshire campaign manager is lobbyist.
Believing in words is good, but fact checking is important as well
Roberta -
I suggest you repost your comment without your address and telephone number attached. I appreciate your interest in open debate, but you're asking for abuse by doing that.
Once you repost, you can request your original post be removed.
At one of the debates Joe Biden was asked a question about accusations that he has made comments that were insulting to African-Americans. Every Democrat on that stage - including Obama and Edwards, leaped to Biden's defense. Look at the situation today. Obama in a not-so-subtle campaign (internal memos) and the jackal Edwards joining in the phony accusations, are fanning the flames of false, terrible accusations against Bill and Hillary Clinton. A bell cannot be un-rung. It is not the Clinton's who have rung that bell, it is an unbelievable display of paranoia on the part of some, diabolical distortion by some, and the regrettable ignorance of history by some, that have created a terrible division in the Democratic Party, and probably in the country at large. Thanks to Donna Brzille, Rep. Clyburn, Jesse Jackson, Jr., pundits and MSM all over the map who even misquote to rachet up the story, and most especially Barack Obama and John Edwards. I am a life-long Democrat, but now I will not vote for anyone but Hillary Clinton in November. I cannot reward anyone who stoops so low as to falsely accuse an innocent person of appealing to racism; it's the same as falsely accusing someone of rape. I am sure there are many African-Americans who say the same about not voting for anyone but Obama. In my opinion the Obama forces, with the help of the jackal Edwards, have insured the election of John McCain as the 44th President of the United States.
Bill and Hillary open their mouths and put their own foot in it. We need change we can believe in with Barack Obama.
Factcheck for Clinton's Statements. Take a look and decide for yourselves.
http://factcheck.barackobama.com/
Obama supporters seem to be obsessed with statements and speeches. They can not deny the fact that Obama took down his 2002 speech from his site as he started to run for US Senate. They can not deny he voted to fund for the war while people of conviction like Kucinich voted "with their conviction"
There is nothing believable about Obama's "inaction". Good thing at least he is doing something now.
How is it that Hillary is the only one on the Michigan ballot; voter disenfranchisement? Hell NO! You get to vote for Clinton.If the lawyers get there way we can get Obama off the Nevada ballot and end this mess.
Here is a good, objective article that addresses many of the Clintons' attacks on Barack:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/91755/page/1
And a surprisingly insightful piece written by a conservative columnist about why Obama's supposed lack of experience doesn't matter as much as the Clintons would have you believe:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/opinio...
It's time to transcend the divisiveness that the Clintons and the status quo of both parties seem content to perpetuate. Obama has a real chance of leading this country in that direction.
God bless the elite democrats good soul.
Believing in corporate media and conservatives like David Brooks is not very good idea. These same people will tear down Obama if he becomes the nominee.
America is devided because there is different philosophy, they are all over the place, and that is our strength. We are not fighting each other with guns.
By the way, what happened to Obama's call to Kenya's political parties for peace?
God bless all good hearted people in America. But this election will be about peoples job, their house, their healthcare and education.
Zero experience and achievement will not cut
His name is not "Hussain". His name is Barack Hussein Obama. Anyone trying to use his middle name to taint his potential as president is very off in their political tactics. You should refer to him by his common name, Barack Obama. If your name were "Seeds Of Change" would we call you "Of"?
Think about it:
If Obama were to play Clinton's game, he could just as easily accuse her of flip-flopping on the Iraq issue: First she voted for authorization (without even having read all of the intelligence on Iraq's WMD, I might add) and continually voted to fund the war, but then all of a sudden she stops voting to fund it and now she wants to pull the troops out before they complete their mission? What a flip flopper!
But of course, he's not saying that because he doesn't resort to cheap tricks that oversimplify and distort his opponents' positions.
Obama flipped and flopped on Iraq
Clinton flipped on Iraq :-) Smart people flip with changing situation. People without backbone flip and flop
Obama was absent for Iran vote
Clinton stood her ground about Iran being a terrorist country
seedofchange, your vitriol for Obama is scary, take a chill pill already. As for Kenya, if you're so interested, see below. My guess is that you don't even know the Kenyan president's name nor the opposition leader's name, so please don't try to call out Barack on this issue. You look kinda silly trying.
From Joe Klein, 1/7/08: One of the more extraordinary stories of the Obama campaign has been playing out behind the scenes over the past week as the candidate has been working on a daily basis to try to calm things down in his father's homeland and his grandmother's home, Kenya, where a contested election has led to riots.
On January 1, two days before the Iowa caucuses, Obama left a message for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. According to Robert Gibbs, Obama's Communications Director, Rice called back "as we were driving from Sioux City to Council Bluffs on January 1. They talked about the situation and Rice asked Obama to tape a Voice of America message calling for calm." Obama taped the message on January 2, after a rally in Davenport, Iowa. He said, in part:
"Despite irregularities in the vote tabulation, now is not the time to throw that strong democracy away. Now is a time for President Kibaki, opposition leader Odinga, and all of Kenya’s leaders to call for calm, to come together, and to start a political process to address peacefully the controversies that divide them. Now is the time for this terrible violence to end.
Kenya’s long democratic journey has at times been difficult. But at critical moments, Kenyans have chosen unity and progress over division and disaster. The way forward is not through violence – it is through democracy, and the rule of law. To all of Kenya’s people, I ask you to renew Kenya’s democratic tradition, and to seek your dreams in peace."
On January 3, the day of the caucuses, he had a conversation with Bishop Desmond Tutu, who had flown to Nairobi to see if he could begin negotiations with the factions. In the days since his Iowa victory, Obama has had near-daily conversations with the U.S. Ambassador in Kenya or with opposition leader Raila Odinga. As of late this afternoon, before his rally in Rochester, N.H., Obama was trying to reach Kenyan President Kibaki.
I haven't been able to talk to Obama directly about this--he is sort of busy right now--but it does seem noteworthy that, in the midst of the most amazing week of his life, Barack Obama has found the time to do a some diplomatic scut-work. I suspect we'll be seeing a lot of this sort of thing if he wins the nomination and is elected President.
Yes, our diversity has great potential to be our strength - that is what Obama's candidacy is all about. Diversity is different than divisiveness, which aims to pit people against each other rather than find common ground. Obama is about inclusiveness, which brings out the best aspects of our diversity and can lead to real progress in the issues that affect our lives. Divisiveness usually leads to an escalation of negativity and distortion, precluding any real progress. Case in point: eight years of George W Bush in the White House.
What did Obama achieved in Kenya?
Nothing. As the article from corporate media point out.
Chilling suits Obama, not commoner like me :-)
Elites and their obsession with Obama is very strange as well.
"billyb": George's slogan / words were "uniting the country" and "compssionate conservative".
Actions matter, words are empty.
If there is no proof of achieving a goal of uniting the country, don't believe in it.
SeedsofChange: While I generally share your skepticism towards the corporate media and generally want to knock some sense into David Brooks' head, it seems that you are content to regurgitate hearsay and the oversimplified, distorted "facts" coming out of Clinton's war room.
Well, if you bothered to read about his actual accomplishments, first as a community activist, then as a state senator, then as a US senator, it would be pretty clear to see that much of his success has been rooted in bringing people together.
Comparing Obama's candidacy to Bush's doesn't hold up, especially when considering the dirty tricks he pulled on McCain after New Hampshire in 2000. Obama has shown himself to be above that kind of campaigning, while the Clintons have gleefully jumped right into it, taking pages out of Rove's playbook.
Obama website :http://www.barackobama.com/learn/meet_barack.php lists his achievements, particularly under "political career". It is almost scary, how empty it is.
If they think there is a laundry list that has been tucked away somewhere, they should at least put a link to that laundry list.
"Seed of Change," you can keep spamming but it doesn't make anyone believe any more of your lies. Clinton is lying about Obama's record on the war. In 2004, while supporting Kerry who voted for the war, he stated that things might have been different if he access to the NIE (which HILLARY DIDN'T READ), but that from his point of view the case for invading Iraq had not been made. He did vote to continue funding once we were in the mess, because what are you going to do, pull support from the troops? Clinton also lied again about his "present" votes in the senate yesterday. Those votes were either part of a broader legislative strategy (i.e. the votes on abortion were coordinated with Planned Parenthood in response to bills the Republicans were planning to use to smear democratic candidates), or they were protest votes for bills he supported in principle but thought were unconstitutional or badly written. Many times he was the only person to not vote "yes." That takes political courage. And I think it's clear to Nevada voters that Clinton is also lying about her little voter-suppression lawsuit.
But if the gloves are really off, then here are some things I can say about Clinton that are 100% true: Monica Lewinsky, Paula Jones, bimbo eruptions, Vince Foster, Travelgate, Whitewater, voted for the Iraq war, voted for the Iran resolution. How about that?
I don't like Barack Hussein Obama one bit.
He is a liar and a fraud.
Barack "I was against the war before I was for it"
He is a disgrace.
Mr. Coolican,
Your sixth paragraph you write of "...America's Jim Crow past...". Would it not be more accurate to write "the Democratic Party's Jim Crow past"?
Republicans spend over 100 million and found nothing on Bill and Hillary other than Bill's indiscretion.
So, what does gloves off mean and what are the facts?
Starting from Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, FDR, JFK, older Bush, all of them had so called indiscretion. So, what is the point in that discussion.
If true, Obama may be good political tactician based his absent votes. How does that make him a exceptional person?
More importantly, what did he achieve out of his political tactics?
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I don't hate Hillary. I actually respect her. But I don't think that she is the right candidate. The republicans will do to her what they did to Kerry. They will say she flip flopped on the war. After all, she did vote for the war, while Obama was opposed to it from the start. (the fact that he voted for more funding to protect our troops who were already there, shows he is a patriot and not that he changed his position).
Moreover, Clinton's political style in the last few months is unfortunatly turning off allot of voters. I think that these voters will go to the republicans.
So let's stand behind Obama, he can really win. And let's thank the clintons for what they have done for us in the past. And let us realize that hillary is not a viable candidate.
Factcheck on Obama present votes. By the way, those "present" votes represent less than 2% out of about 4000 votes during his tenure as a State Senator.
http://www.barackobama.com/factcheck2/20...
Scroll down to the January 08, 2008 entry.
SeedofChicago: You are making racist, xenophobic and purely hyper-conservative Republican statements beyond reason, factual basis, or decorum. You may be seed of Chicago, but you neither learned nor grew there. Be gone you odious befouler of truth.
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Newsweek already took care of the baseless church allegations:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/91424
Dear me. Not only should what happens in Vegas stay in Vegas, but perhaps you bile-laced, hate-filled, myopic, emotionally diseased victims of your own shallow and callous cultureless city should also remain entombed therein, forever. The rest of the country is relieved at how few electoral votes you control and suddenly rethinking the whole Yucca Mountain dealio.
SeedsofChange has morphed into Girly_Girl.
Same hate and ignorance, different name.
Stick to the facts and not the lies.
WoW ! I can not believe i live in a town with so many racists or Ann Coulter clonies...For those of you supporting Barack Obama, keep your head held high. I may disagree with some of his or some of HIllarys Positions, but some of these comments or indicative of why we need change
Annoyed at people who keep calling Barack Obama "Hussein Obama."
Yes, that's his middle name. My middle name is Allan. Hillary Clinton's middle name is Diane. Are we to start calling her Diane Clinton? Maybe it'd help her poll numbers, you never know.
Hate and lies won't win this election. That is why more people are supporting Barack Obama.
Girly_Girl; I read your comments and find myself wondering if, perhaps, mysogyny isn't such a bad thing after all.
Ignore the spin and attempts at division. Barack's vision and specific plans on the pressing issues affecting the country can be found here (Ensure you download, print and share the Blueprint for Change):
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/
"Republican will do what they did to Kerry"- the unknown character to the American.
Every American's know Hillary and the scars she bears. It will be a 51-49 election and those who have won twice before can be trusted more than inexperienced novice
Obama is the empty book for Republicans to write on.
I have nothing to do with the over the top comments
For a lot of us it has become very obvious that these so-called “gaffes” are part of a campaign. Andrew Young, Andrew Cuomo, Billy Shaheen, Robert Johnson and, above all, Bill Clinton, keep coming up with these outbound missles and then the “apologies”, “plank walking” and “denials” start. Repeat the big “lie” often enough and hopefully someone will start to believe it, is the motto, I guess.
Either this is one stupid campaign with a rudderless ship or they’re running a clumsy attempt to inject not only race but a terminal “whine” into this race. John Edwards said it best over the weekend.
Now we’ve got Mark Penn’s firm, Burson-Marsteller, having links all over the place to firms like Blackwater, the tobacco industry and a firm that supplies uniforms to hotels in Las Vegas that won’t let the union organize. The Culinary Union endorse Obama and several Clinton operatives throgh the local NEA affiliate sue to prevent precints in the hotels and casinos that we’re agreed upon months ago by the state Democratic Party and the DNC. See link below to Mark Penn’s firm, Burson Marsteller and Mark Penn himself from sourcewatch.org
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?tit... eller
and Clinton’s campaign guru, Mark Penn, principal in the above firm here.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?tit...
Fairness dictates that I state that the Clinton’s have a right to have anyone on staff that they choose, but they do bear the consequencs of their saffers and friends actions. If I were a Las Vegas union member right now, I’d be looking long and hard at Barack Obama and John Edwards as the prima facie evidence is that Senator Clinton is no friend of labor and possibly the African-American voter as well. Stay tuned
Hillary, you embarrass me! by john nelson
Promoted Monday, 01/14/08 @ 12:30 pm. Published Monday, 01/14/08 @ 12:57 am
Being a baby boomer, just a few years younger than Hillary, I always thought and hoped that our generation would do extraordinary things after the 60's and 70's. I thought we would promote peace and justice; make huge progress on racism and sexism; and leave an everlasting mark on this country that our generation could be proud of.
Now it appears that one of the most important people of my generation; a person who claims to have supported all the ideals listed above, for the last 35 years; only believes in those ideals if they are convenient for her.
I guess, in the case of Hillary Clinton, when push comes to shove; ideals fly out the window if they are not working. In Hillary's case, it appears that the attitude is if we can't win above the fray, we'll settle for victory in the gutter. Whatever works. Apparently we really didn't know Hillary until now. I am so disappointed that one of the leaders of our generation has taken this route, when the going got tough.
Todays comments by Robert Johnson and yesterdays by former Senator Kerrey, about Barrack Obama clearly tell me who the real Hillary is. On the way to her crowning, Senator Obama got in the way (how dare he). Since then Hillary has played the race card, gender card, drug card, MLK-LBJ card, Obama is too liberal card, Obama is too conservative card; and completely twisted his positions on important issues such as abortion and Iraq.
Finally last week she played the tear card, and it worked. I've never seen her cry over our Marines and soldiers getting killed in Iraq, or over people losing their jobs, or over people without healthcare, or anything else. But when it appears she may lose an election she crys. That's because it's all about her. It's always been that way with the Clintons and their do anything, say anything strategy to hold on to and gain power. It's never about us; it's always about them. I for one, am embarrassed that they represent the Baby Boomer generation. Are we really that selfish and spoiled as the Clintons portray us?
All of you talking about qualifications.
What was Bush's qualifications when he was elected?
How many businesses did he have to have bailed out that he was in control of?
Now someone has to bail out the U.S.
Think about it.
Question 1: How exceptionally stupid would the Clintons have to be
to be guilty as charged?
Answer: Unbelievably Exceptionally stupid.
Question 2: If it were indeed possible for the Clintons to believe they could make, and, actually secretly did make 'coded' racist remarks - would we be discussing it?
Answer: No. Obviously not, if it was Secret - we would know nothing about it.
Question 3: Does it Benefit the Clintons to be accused of racism?
Answer: No.
Question 5: Is it possible for reasonable unbiased people to easily perceive Bill or Hillary Clinton's remarks as racist?
Answer: No
Question 4: Who does it Benefit?
Answer: Barack Obama.
Question 5: Since the accusations Benefit Obama just prior to the South
Carolina elections is it reasonable to conclude the accusations are coming from Obama supporters, Obama surrogates, Obama campaign staffers; some or all of the above?
Answer: Yes.
Question 5: Should reasonable responsible voters Allow anyone to drag race or gender into the election debate?
Answer: No. Drop it. End of Story.
Hillary's smear tactics are very disapppointing. It's become clear that she will do whatever it takes to win the nomination. As a Latino who supported the Clintons in the 90s, I cannot support Hillary now.
Let's not forget to discuss bigotry in it's other forms, okay?
1) Why did the Obama campaign play the rap song "99 Problems But the Bitch Ain't One" at his victory party the night he defeated Clinton in the Iowa primary?
2) Why did Obama campaign in South Carolina with an anti-gay homophobe named Donnie McClurkin who thinks that gay people are possessed by demons? Why did Obama never apologize for what was an insult to the LGBT community?
If Obama is going to point an accusing finger at others, and campaign on a platform of change and hope, then why has he surrounded himself with people who have the same old bigoted views?
And one more question: How could Michelle Obama, a Harvard educated woman with 2 young daughters, allow the type of music that degrades women to be anywhere around her or her husband's campaign?
Or are you going to give him a pass on this, too?
elme13, did you get that from Clinton class? Hillary put her foot in her mouth and wants to blame someone else. Just own up to it and clarify. That is all.
It is like farting and then turning around and complaining the bad smell came from someone else.
Admit it, don't blame, then end it already Hillary.
IM A UNION MEMBER,AND IM VOTING FOR HILLARY CLINTON.
Obama campaign has mastered the art of smear from Carl Rove and right wing media.
If you ask them why Clinton's bring up race issue? How does it benefit them? They will not answer the question. They will just repeat same line of lies
South Carolina apparently is Obama's next target and therefore race baiting has started.
Latino's will support Hillary, they will not support an empty suit. Postings claiming people to be Hispanics are another good trick from Obama campaign.
Goodness, Seedofchange, you have been a busy, busy boy (I'm guessing there). By my count, you've been on the keyboard all morning. Sort of like a video game -- they're coming at you from all directions, and you're hitting right back at all of 'em.
Trouble is, you've done a pretty good job of revealing yourself in the process. Republican. Not a great speller. Big on insults, not so big on Deep Thought. The persistent anti-Arab smears are special clues to the way your mind works.
Ever think that you're doing Obama a huge favor by provoking so many of his supporters to write in his defense? I'm not from Nevada, but right now, based only on this blog, I'd say he'll win it in a walk. Sure reads that way.
Take a break for lunch, SOC. You earned it.
Again, what did Hillary say that was racist? Please quote it. MLK and LBJ being parters in a good deed, does not diminish either of them.
MLK will be the shining star in shaping America.
Obama will be the empty suit that he is
"Boy"- that tells the real color of an Obama supporter does it not?
Hate and lies won't win this election. That is why more people are supporting Barack Obama.
Latinos 4 Obama
http://origin.barackobama.com/espanol/
What I see is Barack Obama going out to tell people the message, the issues, the real stuff.
And People is responding, people is showing confidence in themselves and show excitement in participating in politics.
Obama looks great!!
Clinton looks grim, uninspired, angry, and she talks a lot about Obama. She looks concerned about Obama surge.
I am independent an