Obama, Barack

Barack Obama on Iraq- Video clips showing Barack Obama speaking about American intervention in Iraq from the beginning to the present.
Barack Obama: My Plans For 2008- Barack Obama announces exploratory committee.
Russert's McCain interview as lesson for debate moderators-

Now that the presidential debates have been finalized, it might be worthwhile to remind the moderators (Lehrer, Brokaw, Schieffer) that they need to do a little bit more than toss up conservative softballs like Rick Warren. (Indeed, thinking back on the Faith Forum, Warren looked a whole lot more like an overweight softball pitcher, beer in hand, gently leaning forward to underhand those babies McCain's way, than he did like a serious interviewer.)

I thought it might be useful to look back at Tim Russert's series of one-on-one interviews conducted with the candidates in the pre-primary season.
New Obama Hip Hop Vid- A new group Eklectyk Creative Media with Napalm Clique has produced an Obama hiphop video/mashup posted on youtube this week. The video begins with an excerpt from Obama's "A More Perfect Union" speech, and launches into a multimedia collection of the political candidate. It has strong video-editing and lots of creativity behind it. video have truly raised the bar for independent Hip Hop artists. In this production, real Hip Hop is used as a vehicle to inspire youth to vote and become involved in national politics.
This Week With 'The Presumptive Democratic Nominee' Barack Obama, August 10-16, 2008-
obama with rick warren at saddleback church, california ::
"American Prayer"- Dave Stewart, Exclusive Premiere: An Anthem For Change
The song always contained one of my favorite passages from Dr. King, which was hauntingly delivered the night before he was assassinated. King says: "I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!"
There's abit more at the link and the ability to download the song from his site. If change is to come it will take All Of Us, to Succeed!!
Barak Obama, Candidate in Waiting for President of the New World Order- pk At Berlin, recently, Barak Obama (Bilderberg 2008) sang a beautiful song to the US/EU/Nato (= New World Order) alliance. At the same time, he (somewhat gently) warned that Russia would be the key enemy of this New World Order alliance (he didn't use the words "new world order"; but his buddy, Senator Hagel (Bilderberg, several times) did).
The Healing Elements of Obama's Energy Plan-
Barack Obama unveiled his energy plan in Lansing today, the capital of the state of Michigan, primary home of the US auto industry.

There are two elements in particular of Obama's energy plan that deserve special attention for the healing touch they apply: to combat vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and to the ailing US auto industry.

And lord knows they -- and this nation -- need a healing touch.
This Week With 'The Presumptive Democratic Nominee' Barack Obama, July 28-August 2, 2008- obama in cedar rapids, ia ::
Obama is full of stars- Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing
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Obama and the Demons of Racial and Religious Bigotry-
On January 2, 1960, John F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States. A month later—on February 1st, 1960—four African American college students asked to be served in an all-white restaurant at Woolworth’s in Greensboro, North Carolina, an act that gave birth to the Sit-In movement. Those two events had a great impact on me at the time and have since then, but there is no way I could have imagined how they would cast forty-eight year old shadows across the presidential election of 2008.

In my first year of graduate school in a Methodist seminary in Dallas, Texas, the 1960 presidential election was my first opportunity to vote. My social ethics professor, the one who a year later would take me to hear Dr. Martin Luther King at a voter registration rally, was also instrumental in getting me involved in JFK’s campaign in Dallas. When I volunteered to help, I was given a car full of JFK/LBJ signs to give to friends who would put them up in their yards. I didn’t know anybody but students in Dallas and so didn’t do a very good job. But I was committed to the JFK candidacy and embarrassed by the anti-Catholic bigotry all around me.
This Week With 'The Presumptive Democratic Nominee' Barack Obama, July 20-27, 2008- :: barack obama's berlin, germany speech
Obama is BIG NOISE. DAMN RIGHT.....- victory column, berlin, germany ::
Will This Overseas Trip Help Obama? Possibly.- A column by a British editorial writer sparked the impetus for this post. The central premise in this post is a variation upon what he had to say in his column. He was interviewed yesterday on MSNBC and I found myself nodding my head in total agreement with the argument he was advancing. To wit, what has been bandied about recently is the hope that an Obama visit will mend fences with the rest of the world, and clean up American's reputation in the world, a reputation sullied by the excesses of the Bush Administration. Among the left, a major sticking point with the current government in power is how it has abused and misused its power. In Obama, leftists hope to see a resumption of American good standing in the rest of the world. It's a worthy cause to laud, though a more thorough examination might do us well to ponder.
This Week With 'The Presumptive Democratic Nominee' Barack Obama, July 13-19, 2008- obama with president hamid karzai at presidential palace in kabul, afghanistan ::
Fort Hood Town Hall Presidential Forum -
The country's wartime status has riddled this Presidential election year with added questions. That's why several non-profit military groups have come together to try to hold a Presidential town hall meeting at Fort Hood. Sen. Barack Obama is the missing ingredient for a town hall meeting at Fort Hood.
This is a nobrainer for the Obama Campaign, especially as to recent remarks by Senator McCain, and he isn't as great as he and others think as to Town Halls or other formats. The Obama camp have many like Wesley Clark and other knowledgeable Veterans of our Military who have more than just his back, as well as the many running on the same ticket for federal offices.
Note to McCain: Obama can read- Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing
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The Racial Implications of a Barack Obama Presidency- by Mikhail Lyubansky This is heresy I know, since most of the white majority likes to pretend that it’s colorblind, but race needs to be part of the calculus in the November election for all voters. Of course, it was never not going to be part of the equation. And race is certainly part of the explicit discourse for Black voters, as it always is. My point is that it's high time white folks join in the discussion and acknowledge that it matters. Because it does.
This Week With 'The Presumptive Democratic Nominee' Barack Obama, July 7-12, 2008-

obama on capitol hill

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Obama Supporters, ACTION NEEDED- I've come a lot closer to my full support of Obama, I just don't ever make total decisions when elections are months away, I also don't just look at the single person trying to give their resume, I look at how they present themselves, smear and slam are big no no's, and I look at who they bring close to them in their campaigns and try and figure out, if they win, who will they surround themselves with while in office ( and I hit the nail on the head, which I do for a living, as to the bush crowd, not exactly reading the future but seeing a lot of what was to come do so! ), especially as to Federal Representation and the Presidential Office, more towards my Representation on who I would Hire.
"We've been there once. We're not going back."- Watch this awesome clip from Obama's speech in Raleigh, NC yesterday, in which he ties Bush and McCain together and destroys johnny on the economy all at the same time. There are some great quotes in this,
The centerpiece of John McCain's economic plan amounts to a full-throated endorsement of George W. Bush's policies.
It is brilliant how Obama begins this section of the speech. He acknowledges McCain's so called "maverick" image by acknowledging his stances on earmarks and the environment and then he just brushes it aside. The effect is to say he may be a "maverick" on those things but on the things that really matter, like the economy, he is McBush. This is all great but IMO the most effective part of the speech is the line. "We've been there once. We're not going back." It evokes images of a McCain presidency moving in lockstep with Bush policies. Read more to move forward with me.
How To Equalize Prescription Drug Costs- It's been a while since I've seen Obama give a mention to his universal health care plan. Having read through the plan in its entirety on his website, I have to say that I wish it took into account the reality of why medical costs are so outrageously high. I am aware that an in-depth discussion of the details of the plan doesn't make for interesting sound-bytes and doesn't hold the interest of the American public the way patriotism, terrorism, and economic recovery plans do, but for millions of Americans forced to pay unnecessarily high drug costs, this hits U.S. consumers where it hurts the worst, in the pocketbook.
Obama Fiddles While the Constitution Burns- The mainstream media love showmanship more than they love anything except low corporate taxes, so it isn't much of a surprise that the networks and old media outlets like the Washington Post are on exactly the same page as the unprincipled showman Barack Obama. Forget about those "FISA Follies," says the Washington Post. Don't worry about what the Senator Chris Dodd called "abandonment of the rule of law" in a great speech announcing his filibuster of the FISA bill. "Mr. Obama nailed it the other day when he explained his new position -- "that the issue of the phone companies per se is not one that overrides the security interests of the American people," says the Washington Post. And why is Mr. Obama so right about the FISA bill? Because "no one can claim with certainty that his or her communications were monitored," says the Washington Post.
This Week With 'The Presumptive Democratic Nominee' Barack Obama, June 28-July 6, 2008- obama family in butte, montana, july 4, 2008 :: I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. Since, I am late posting "This Week" and just getting back in town, I will let the pictures speak for themselves. A few things first:
Obama's Calculated Pandering- Examining the alarmist headlines on the cable news channels has been amusing, to say the length. All of them amount to some variation of: "Will the Liberal Base Desert Obama?". In a word, no. We're so used to grumbling our way down to the poll, casting our vote for a wholly uninspiring Democratic candidate in November, that if need be we will act in kind this time too. But even so, I'm still under the sway of the Obama glow, even if certain segments of the cynical media have begun to question its love affair with the Illinois senator. As I have maintained before and continue to maintain, politics has some degree of pandering involved and one never truly knows how any candidate will govern until he or she is sworn in and taken office.
A Comedy Oba-marathon- Will Barack Obama parachute into Mile High Stadium to accept the Democratic nomination?
Obama's Modified Positions Make Sense-
Barack Obama has received considerable criticism for changing his positions on public financing (will now not use it in his campaign), and on FISA (supports the bill passed by the House). A few disappointed supporters have said he's therefore no different from John McCain, who changed his position on Bush's tax cuts (McCain now supports them), etc.

I think this misses the point, which is: what counts most is not whether a candidate changes positions, but whether the change is for the better or the worse. Let's look at the candidates and the issues:
Obama Willing to Do What It Takes to Get Elected- Roger Simon's recent article on Politico, entitled "Obama Not Running as Movement", takes a pointed swipe at many of us here in the liberal base of the Democratic Party. Those of us who have bristled at Obama's recent jog to the center would do well to remember that whether we like it or not, this country is still center-right in political orientation. Double standards do exist, particularly in the realm of religious expression, morality, and foreign policy. The Republican party can be excused far more easily than the Democratic party when it comes to perceived inconsistencies on this issues. So a certain degree of political compromise is necessary to win in November.
The "Truth" About Obama's Religion- It isn't every day that even a self-important and formerly fairly good newspaper like the Washington Post announces "the truth" about a contentious issue like Barack Obama's religion, but now we have it from their otherwise undistinguished staff writer Eli Sastrow, who was only recently promoted from reporting on swimming, where his cosmic insight was wasted on stories like Ziegler Sets Meet Mark in 400 Freestyle. Lately the Post has been dispatching the Jimmy Olsen of their national news desk to hotspots like Flag City, Ohio, where he finds a few rubes who are so amazingly stupid that they haven't figured out the truth about Barack Obama!
This Week With 'The Presumptive Democratic Nominee' Barack Obama, June 22-28, 2008- barack and hillary in unity, nh ::
Barack Obama - Patriotism- Obama speaking on patriotism from Independence MO., June 30, 2008.
Barack Obama's Cover on Rolling Stone.- :: Here are excepts from the Rolling Stone article:
This Week With Barack Obama, The Presumptive Democratic Nominee, June 16-21, 2008- cross-posted @ Daily Kos barack and al, detroit, michigan ::
The Democrats' Different Strategy- Al Gore's endorsement last night in Detroit drew a fresh batch of sharp parallels between Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy and played up Gore's environmental credentials. This, in and of itself should come as no surprise to anyone. Prior speeches have seen the Senator from Illinois bill himself as a cross between Abraham Lincoln and JFK, with a smattering of other Democratic superstars thrown in for good measure. In a different candidate, I'd see this as empty chest-pounding, but Obama's earnestness and charisma make this characterization seem plausible.
Obama At AIPAC: Blame It On Hillary Clinton- All us good little Democrats are working night and day to restore party unity, but some prominent progressive websites apparently haven't gotten the message.
This Week With Barack Obama, The Presumptive Democratic Nominee, June 1-7, 2008 - cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama the presumptive nominee with wife, michelle at the xcel energy center in st. paul, mn ::
Obama addresses Campaign Workers- Barack Obama spoke to campaign workers in Chicago after securing the nomination.
Who isn't fired up?- Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing
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Obama needs an Orthopedist. Suggestions?- Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing
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Obama & the Orgasmic Orgy of Approval- Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing
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This Week With Barack Obama, May 25-31, 2008- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama ::
Obama Plays "Gotcha" with RFK Assassination -
As a media gamesman, Barack Obama is obviously good enough for the imbecile media that he plays, and he gets to play it both ways on almost every issue.

During an interview in South Dakota, Hillary Clinton mentioned than Bobby Kennedy was still campaigning when he was assassinated in June 1968, and as soon as the first fragmentary quote hit the internet, Obama's spokesman was pushing the campaign's "shocked" and inflammatory reaction:

Senator Clinton's statement before the Argus Leader editorial board was unfortunate and has no place in this campaign," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.
Sexist Type-Casting by Barack and Michelle Obama-
It's hard to imagine a more macho headline: Obama Warns GOP "Lay Off My Wife."

"But I do want to say this to the GOP. If they think that they're going to try to make Michelle an issue in this campaign, they should be careful. Because that I find unacceptable," he said.

This is after Michelle Obama has already made dozens of solo campaign appearances without Big Strong Barack riding along to "protect" her. The Republicans are attacking Michelle Obama for her remark about the first time she was ever proud of America, which she made at a regular campaign event, and Mr. Obama responded as if one of his children had been attacked for watching Sesame Street.
Michelle Obama Attacker Exposed: Trail of Bigotry Accusations Detailed- In the political arena, there seems to be no shortage of sleaze merchants who happen to have magical regenerative powers. Part of their DNA appears to be a propensity for getting publicly taken to task by those who they work for. It's a win-win situation. The sleaze merchant puts out false and/or irresponsible info then willingly takes the fall as a "loose cannon" while those who they work for get to pretend that they've taken the high road by issuing public condemnations, even calls for the loose cannon's resignation. Of course the lack of name recognition that the loose cannon has makes it easy for them to show up with a repeat performance months later, while the average soundbite consumer's mind doesn't pick up on the fact that they've just watched a re-run. But the most ambitious members of the GOP’s designated fall guy battalion set their sites on breathing the rarified air of the unaccountable celeb shill (see Malkin, Coulter, Rush, et al). I now introduce you to one of the fully bought and paid for hopefuls trying to make that leap; Bill Hobbs, Communications Director for the Tennessee State Republican Party.
Barack Black Eagle's Speech to Crow Nation- Barack was adopted into Crow Nation. Below, Barack is arriving with his "adoptive parents" Hartford and Mary Black Eagle. Obama was given the name of “Awe Kooda bilaxpak Kuuxshish” which means “One who helps people throughout the land.”
This Week With Barack Obama, May 11-17, 2008- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama john edwards endorses barack obama in grand rapids, michigan
* drop-off locations for Oregon mail-in ballots, up until 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 20, 2008. ** if oregonians want to mail in their ballot it should have been postmarked, Friday, May 16, 2008, use the location drop-offs linked above and digg it....thanks ::
Barack Obama's Fake Memoir- If you're an ordinary writer like Margaret B. Jones or James Frey, writing a fake memoir can be a career-ending disaster. Publishers may insist on keeping your fiction off their non-fiction list. They may cancel your book tour. They may unpublish your book. Many bad things can befall you for lying in print, if you're an ordinary human being. But if you're Barack Obama, and you write a fake memoir like Dreams From My Father, the New York Times will make all sorts of excuses for you that they would never make for an ordinary human being like James Frey or Margaret B. Jones, and all you have to do is bury a few disclaimers in a new introduction.
Obama Puts Bush and McCain "On Notice"- cross-posting @ This Week With Barack Obama
Stealing Edwards’ Delegates- Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing
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This is a 'Change' Election, not a 'Throwback' Election.- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama Congratulations to Hillary Clinton and her supporters for the win in West Virginia. Clinton netted 137,410 of the popular vote. Many estimated that West Virginians would vote upwards or over 500,000 to 600,000, but that was not the case. The turnout was lower. Moving on....
Obama and the "Limbaugh Conspiracy"- Otherwise reasonable people who fall under the spell of Barack Obama's mesmerizing TV persona soon learn to dispense with common sense when it conflicts with the pretensions of their new Messiah. The latest example of this silliness is the claim that Rush Limbaugh gave the Indiana primary to Hillary Clinton.
This Week With Barack Obama, May 4-10, 2008- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama barack and michelle in raleigh, nc after winning the north carolina primary ::
Black Block Voting Wins North Carolina for Obama-
Barack Obama won the black vote in North Caralina 91-6%. Hillary Clinton won the white vote 59-36%.

If the black preference for Obama had fallen in the same range as the white preference for Clinton, she would have picked up the difference between 6% and 36%, which would have amounted to 30% of the black vote.

Since African-American voters comprised 33% of the vote in the North Carolina Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton would have received another 30% x 33%, or 10% of the total vote, and Obama would have received 10% less.

Instead of 56-40% in favor of Obama, the vote would have been 50-46% in favor of Clinton, and Hillary Clinton would have won the North Carolina Democratic primary.
So, Who’s Really 'Elite'?- Let’s see ... after graduating from Harvard Law as Law Review Editor, one candidate -- the grandson of a goatherd from Africa [Bloomberg News] -- heads for Chicago’s notoriously poor and ravaged South Side to organize neighborhoods in need of community playgrounds, asbestos cleanup and just plain help after the steel mills had shut down, leaving families with no jobs and not much hope. [L.A. Times]
Where is Obama on the political spectrum?- Where would you put Barack Obama, on the political spectrum? I have my own opinion, but I’d like to get yours, whoever you are—because I keep reading these “mixed signals” statements about him, here and elsewhere. For example, the Daily Kos ran this on Monday, April 28: (continued)
Obama Throws Jeremiah Wright Under the Bus! (Updated)-
Obamabots everywhere have been celebrating Jeremiah Wright as a great American hero and truth-teller for the last 3 months, and now Obama throws Jeremiah Wright under the bus!

Harharharhar!
This Week With Barack Obama, April 20-26, 2008- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong
Hillary’s Favorite Fallacies- Abstract. Any student of logic has to be astonished that the five most important arguments being advanced on behalf of Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination are fallacious. Some of them, such as that, since she prevailed over Obama in certain large states, such as Pennsylvania, Obama would be unable to win those states in the general election, are even being featured on the front page of The New York Times. But that Obama lost to Hillary in the primary does not mean he would lose to John McCain in the general election. The best reasons for Hillary could not pass scrutiny in a freshman course on critical thinking.
This Week With Barack Obama, April 13-19, 2008- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama On Track For Change..... ::
What's Wrong with Rev. Wright?- Abstract. Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, gave a sermon at the school's Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel in Washington on January 15, 2006. It is now being used to drive a wedge between Obama and his followers. Most of his black supporters believe what Wright has had to say, but many of his white supporters do not. The political trap thereby laid can be avoided by separating content from style and standing up for painful truths. Handled properly, this can be an object lesson in Obama's “new politics”. "What's Wrong with Rev. Wright?"
On Investigative Journalism, Or, More Obama Connections Come To Light- Your friendly fake consultant has been digging deep into the world of anonymous sources recently, which is why we were able to recently reveal the truth about Hillary Clinton’s Bosnian sniper story. Today we take that effort further...which is why we are able to bring to light another exclusive peek into the past of a Presidential candidate...only today it’s Barack Obama. We will examine his prior associations and as a result we will be able to draw new conclusions regarding his world view...and as we said about Clinton, you might be shocked...but probably not surprised.
This Week With Barack Obama, April 7-12, 2008- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong
{Late Edition} This Week With Barack Obama, March 31-April 6, 2008- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong
{Late Edition} This Week With Barack Obama, March 23-30, 2008- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong
Obama's Condescending Defense of Jeremiah Wright- The media have been flooded with paternalistic excuses for Jeremiah Wright, and Barack Obama's was the most condescending of all. First, Reverend Wright was Obama's crazy old "uncle," and now he's a dinosaur mired in the tarpit of segregation:
For the men and women of Reverend Wright's generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years.
Poor old guy! He thinks it's still 1951. Don't wake him up!
Right Now in 2008- A new fun viral video takes the Kansas GOP and national republicans to task for some of the failures we are seeing and urges folks to register to vote.
Obama Disenfranchises Florida and Michigan- Early this morning the pro-Obama diary on top of the recommended list at Daily Kos was celebrating the disenfranchisement of Michigan and Florida at the Democratic National Convention. "Delegations from those states should get to attend the convention, but not vote." "Sounds good to me," says the diarist, Hope08.
This Week With Barack Obama, March 16-22, 2008- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama & One Million Strong
Barack and Jamiel-
Somebody killed Jamiel Shaw Jr. with a handgun on March 2, 2008, just like the 4000 other black teenagers killed with handguns every year in the United States. Barack Obama's support for overturning Washington's ban on handguns in Heller v. District of Columbia is one of the most important reasons why I oppose his candidacy for President.
Wright After 9/11- On this Easter Sunday, a reflection: Consequentialism refers to those moral theories which hold that the consequences of a particular action form the basis for any valid moral judgment about that action. Thus, from a consequentialist standpoint, a morally right action is one that produces a good outcome, or consequence.
My problem with Obama’s Speech on Race- Timing is everything, and the timing of Barack Obama’s statement was wrong, profoundly so, even though it’s content was profoundly right. The speech was late in coming, but much better late than never. Obama’s timing was wrong in a political sense but also in the much broader social context of the signature rational for his presidential quest; Obama’s pledge to bring Americans of different walks together as a people.
What is a "Typical" White Person? - I know a lot of white people and would be very hard pressed to define what a "typical" white person is like. What if Hillary had said something like, "Isn't that so typical of black people to make a statement like that" do you think all hell would have broken loose? Of course it would have. Is the media giving Obama a free pass when it comes to making racially insensitive statements?
The Audacity of Unity-
It’s interesting that so few discussions in the media of Obama's Eighteenth of March Speech have focused on its core theme: "how hungry the American people [are] for this message of unity." This story seems significant to me, because for many reasons, Obama is the first presidential candidate who could actually deliver on it.
Hope, Change, and Pissing in the Wind- “Of Obama, Democrats, and the Power Elite” By Patrice Greanville and Jason Miller CHARISMATIC, ARTICULATE, SMOOTH, AND INTELLIGENT, Barrack Obama is the living embodiment of his vague, ethereal, and tantalizing messages of “hope” and “change.” To the millions upon millions of US Americans desperate to purge the naked imperialism and blatant criminality of the Bush administration from the White House, Obama IS hope and change. Yet like many establishment liberals before him, Obama is no cure for the malignant creep toward fascism plaguing our nation. If elected, at best he will merely serve to postpone the inevitable a bit.
Obama Transcended Politics - The speech on race took away any doubt I had about Obama standing up for what is right. As an Edwards supporter I was wary of Obama's fight, not when it comes to Democrats but when it comes to the forces of evil that I believe exists in our Country today. Those forces not only benefit from a racial and class divide in our Country but they profit, profusely. The politically expedient thing to do would be for Obama to leave his Church and to say that he no longer considers Wright to be an ally or a friend. Would that be the right thing to do though? I've heard many say that Obama would do anything to be President and the speech he gave proved to me that is not the case at all. Obama took the high road, something so few politicians do, not in order to win votes but to declare that we cannot dispose of those we vehemently disagree with if we want to make any progress or change. Obama displayed to me what he means by reaching across the aisle, that because we may not like what other people stand for we have to work with them if we are to get anything done. Obama epitomized what he's been saying throughout his campaign in this speech, that we cannot have politics as usual anymore.
The War, Obama, and the Two Daughters of Hope-
This evening I plan to attend a candlelight vigil observing that the U.S. war in Iraq began five years ago today, making this the second longest war in U.S. history, longer than World War II, longer than the Civil War, second only to the Vietnam War. It was not supposed to be; “Shock and Awe” was to insure quick and total victory.
Playing The Race Card And Understanding Who Stacked The Deck- When Barack Obama gave his speech on "A More Perfect Union", the public was treated to something different and almost hypnotic; a Politician who didn't duck the issue, "disown" his pastor for remarks that shocked many Americans, but instead - Senator Obama faced the controversy head-on and attempted to bridge the gap of racial divisiveness that often muddies the waters whenever someone plays the "race card" and responded with a message that resonated with truth and power! Mr. Obama uttered words that are often whispered about or spoke of in the privacy of our homes, black and white; for once, the 600 Lb Gorilla that co-exists in millions of families across this country was acknowledged and for all practical purposes, was laid bare for all of us who have open minds to examine and analyze.
The Black Theology of "God Damn America!"- In his nationally televised speech tonight, Barack Obama tried to convince American voters that when Jeremiah Wright screams "God damn America!" in Trinity United Church of Christ, and the congregation cheers, it's just a holdover of bitterness from the days of Jim Crow, just an isolated outburst of justifiable indignation. But "God damn America!" is a fundamental component of Pastor Wright's world-view, systematically developed in the black power theology of his mentor, Professor James Cone of the Union Theological Seminary.
The Speech and Obama's Political Potential-
I have no idea what the impact of Obama's excellent speech will be, but it gave me new optimism about his political potential--in particular his capacity to appeal the white working class. While political observers sometimes fetishize this group of voters at the expense of other groups, there's no question that blue collar whites are a critical swing group in national elections, one that presents a challenge to Obama.
Obama's Speech On Race-
Here is a link to the text as well.
Hillary needs to super-size her delegate count.- Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing
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This is Going to be a Problem- We should not forget what the republicans were able to do to Kerry in 2004. I think that this is going to be a problem for Obama in the general if he is the nominee. He needs to get on top of this.
This Week With Barack Obama, March 9-15, 2008- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong
A Vice President, Or, A Fake Consultant Advises Obama- Your friendly fake consultant is an equal-opportunity consultative provider, and having recently been called upon to advise Hillary Clinton, I thought I might turn my attention today to helping out Barack Obama. The thing is, should the gentleman be nominated, he’s going to need to choose a running mate…and it might not be as easy as it would seem. For reasons we’ll discuss, the normal crop of candidates might be better left undisturbed…but what if we could bring to the table a running mate who offers an extraordinary understanding of the world’s interconnected economy, a close, personal relationship with many of the world’s leaders—and the kind of negotiating skills that humble even the United States Government? And if all that wasn’t enough…a candidate for whom fundraising most assuredly won’t be a problem. Curious? Follow along, then, and we shall see…
The election is black and white- Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing
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Mississippi Youth Vote Triples- According to CIRCLE's numbers crunched from the exit polling data last night, young voters in Mississippi came out in outstanding numbers proving once again that if you build it, they will come.
This Week With Barack Obama, March 2-8, 2008- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama and One Million Strong
If We Survive The Bush Administration, We Must Insure It Never Happens Again- Yesterday, I finally chose a candidate and have decided to support Barack Obama. Neither Obama nor Clinton are perfect and each has questions that need to be answered, however, Mr. Obama has demonstrated that he can galvanize the country and possibly unite us in a positive manner we haven't witnessed in years - and we're long overdue to come-together and solve our problems and issues in a concerted spirit of healing the country. I do have some questions in regard experience, however, a good President is advised by a Cabinet that is hand-picked and "supposed" to be representative of the foremost experts in their fields. Presidents are sometimes made by the expertise of their advisor's, as there are too many issues for one man to review in-depth himself. I believe the Obama Cabinet will adhere to those standards rather then partisan appointments such as we witnessed in the Bush administration, and now that we have seen first-hand the damage of unbridled partisanship and how it distorts a President's world-view and perception of important events, I believe Obama will choose a cabinet that will represent some of the best talent America has to offer.
"God damn America!"- "God damn America!" This is the money quote for the 2008 elections.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in Ohio shows John McCain leading both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama by identical 46% to 40% margins.
Pastor Wright screamed “God damn America!” and the congregation cheered for “God damn America!” and Obama sat in that same congregation for 20 years and never spoke a word of disapproval until he started running for President.
New School Evangelicals- There was a great story on NPR yesterday that captured my attention. Pew recently released their extensive 35,000 person survey that examines the role of faith in daily lives and in political affiliation. Here is a video that talks about it in an overview.
Hillary Ain’t No Obama- Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing
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Update: Obama's Big Lie About NAFTA- Barack Obama's disciples keep blowing smoke and waving mirrors at the memo written by a Canadian consular official in Chicago, outting Obama's double-speak about NAFTA. But in spite of all the spin and wishful thinking, the memo won't go away. This spin-doctoring comes in various flavors, the crudest of which is a diary on the recommended list with 500 recommendations on Daily Kos, CBC Exonerates Obama.
March 4 Young Voters Smackdown the Vote- Crossposted from Wiretap First, let me just say that I told you McCain would win. And Mike Huckabee conceded with a lovely speech about a pitcher that is always waiting and ready in the event the other pitcher can't make it. Media folks are speculating if this is Huck making a comment about being VP? Or is this a crack about McCain being so old he's nearing death? I think that this was actually a comment about Mike Huckabee's new career in baseball. Last night's primary and caucuses brought another opportunity for us to measure the successes of the youth vote. All of the following are for 17-29 year olds and can be found by combing through the CNN Exit polls.
A Landslide of One- Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing
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There Will Be Bamboozling- There will be bamboozling
Obama's Big Lie About NAFTA- Barack Obama's lead economic advisor says that "Obama's tough talk on the North American Free Trade Agreement is just campaign rhetoric not to be taken seriously." As reported in the New York Times today, Austan Goolsbee, who has been Barack Obama's economic advisor since Obama's Senate campaign in Illinois, told Canadian consular officials in Chicago that "much of the rhetoric that may be perceived to be protectionist is more reflective of political maneuvering than policy."
Jeffrey Dahmer was experienced too!- Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing
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This Week With Barack Obama, February 25-March 1, 2008- cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama & One Million Strong
Obama's Thugs Suppress Discussion on Daily Kos- I've written a couple of diaries that Hillary Clinton's supporters interpreted as more unsympathetic to their candidate than they really were, and some of their comments were harsh, but Ms. Clinton's supporters never tried to shut down discussion by jamming threads with empty comments and even empty titles.
Barack Obama's Irresponsible Bullshit About Gun Control- Here's a quote from VirginiaDem's celebration of Obama's "Reagan-like ability to attract his listeners to his positions," which was recommended by about 500 Kossacks:
"There's a Supreme Court case that's going to be decided fairly soon about what the Second Amendment means. I taught Constitutional Law for 10 years, so I've got my opinion. And my opinion is that the Second Amendment is probably -- it is an individual right and not just a right of the militia."

Diatribune

Obama, Barack