I'm starting to have MAJOR doubts about Obama....RANT

[woolldog]

I'm sorry but Wright is killing Obama's candidacy.

The Bill Moyer's interview was a net positive. He generated some unfortunate soundbytes, but the good outweighed the bad. He came across as reasonable, erudite, and insightful. I think most people watching came away from it understanding why Obama would want this guy as a pastor. The NAACP speech was okay, but he probably regressed, when it came to portraying himself as someone who isn't a "whackadoodle." Most people aren't very bright and aren't going to appreciate his points or they will misread them and take them out of context. So he will just come off as angry ranting preacher making some quasi-racist points.

However, today, I was literally sick to my stomach watching the National Press Club event. Let me make something clear: I think Wright is a brilliant man. And I like him. But this appearance and his performance was all about him and his ginormous ego, with no regard for the political impact he would have on his parishioner. It was very un-Christian and selfish of him. He threw Obama under the bus in so many ways. I'm still stunned.

So now, the election is a complete circus. And it doesn't look like it's going away. He's trying to generate press and publicity to promote his book that's coming out, to make himself richer at the expense of Obama's viability as a candidate. The media and Wright's claque of supporters are, of course, egging him on to play the fool.

You can't blame Hillary for this, or McCain, or the media. The blame is squarely on Wright. And on Obama for not making clear to Wright how damaging this will be and getting him to shut up. If he cares about Obama why would he go on a speaking tour now? Why would he do this to Obama, whom he supposedly cares about?

This won't play well (hell it doesn't play well with ME, and I've donated time and $$) and for the first time I think Clinton has a legitimate argument for the nomination, if she doesn't overplay her hand. I'm not sure Obama is electable anymore. I'm pissed off about this. I'm pissed of at Wright, because he's smarter than this, and he's let his vanity get the best of him. I'm pissed off at Obama for failing as a politician on this issue.

[leftofcool]

1. Wright doesn't give a shit about Obama, this is about money

and him making it.

[stillcool]

53. I think Reverend Wright is right...

to confront the media, rather than allow them to continue to publicly lynch him. After getting bomb threats to his church, which has a membership of over 10,000 people, I think it is necessary for him to defend his church. I don't think he should lay down and take it because one member of his church is a candidate. This issue was never going to go away. Might as well add some truth to the lies, and if the American people can't see the difference between a candidate and a preacher, that is their problem, not his.

[goclark]

118. My thoughts exactly ~ Wright is Right nt

[durrrty libby]

121. You are correct. It's about money. He's writing a book. It's all

about setting up his book tour now

The guy has a massive ego

[jackson_dem]

157. When does it come out?

[mkultra]

2. to bad he is the nominee then

sorry

[MNDemNY]

5. Not yet. Sorry.

[depakid]

54. If that turns out to be the case, odds are that you (and everyone else) will be sorry

come November.

Same would be true of Hillary.

[MNDemNY]

3. the immunity to the flavor-aid is starting to grow.

[blm]

11. The protective layer around BushInc is beginning to grow.

Clinton supporters don't even care as long as its the Clintons leading the protection.

[MNDemNY]

17. You make large assumptions.

I do not support Clinton. So, pull your head out and breath deeply, you'll feel better.

[tabasco]

154. Then you don't support any Democratic candidate

because you constantly bash Obama.

If you hate Dems so much that you can't support one of our candidates, what are you?

[Galway girl]

27. Don't be silly you're walking out at the moment of victory

wright = White noise that's all

[MNDemNY]

31. far from it....unfortunatly.

[movonne]

89. Just hillary supporters are saying that...

[MNDemNY]

92. I'm not a Clinton supporter.

[avrdream]

95. Wrong.

This story is all over the internet. Go ahead, take a glance.

[Mezzo]

152. true.

[GarbagemanLB]

4. calm down. take a break from the news

[PurityOfEssence]

36. Put the whole world on ignore. Go right out and hope up a storm.

Your dreams are more important than ours or out children's.

Besides, it's a blessing in disguise; Obama's a political genius.

If it becomes blatantly apparent that he's unelectable, will you let go, or do we all have to be taught a lesson on principle?

[Schema Thing]

6. Oh give it a break

Obama is not Wright.

Wright is not Obama.

Repeat until understood.

Then you will have caught up to well over half of America.

[MNDemNY]

8. The two are joined in perpetuity.

and there is nothing he can do about that.

[LSparkle]

22. Oh puh-leeze ... were they SEALED in a temple or something?

Ridiculous ...

I'll bet Bill C. has said some things just as offensive as Wright,
if we want to play "Guilt By Association" ...

[MNDemNY]

29. "Not that I am aware of"!

[tridim]

7. Doom, check

Gloom, check.

[JackORoses]

9. as if noone could tell. you have been showing Hillarish tendencies for a while

just like everyone else, you blame Wright's actions on Obama.

thankfully, your 'Major doubts' are overblown.

[woolldog]

66. Are you kidding me?

Hillarish tendencies? I absolutely hate her.

Would you mind posting some of my posts that have Hillarish tendencies? That is absolutely absurd. Why don't you PM me and I'll give you my name and you can look up how much I've donated to Obama.

[movonne]

77. For hating her you sure don't sound like it...flip flop...I dislike hillary

and she will never win...why do you think the media is going after him...Did you listen to Rev. Wrights speech?? and you think he was wrong...I could never say what you did about having doubts about Obama...I think he is what the country needs...I did not see hillary people jumping off the her bus when she was very much in trouble...

[woolldog]

88. I LIKE WRIGHT

I said that in my OP. But he is nonethless KILLING Obama politically. What's so hard to understand about that?

I've never ever said anything remotely pro-Clnton. I've never flip flopped.

[movonne]

96. Only when people don't have a spine...at this point I do not think

I could vote for hillary...I will write in Obama...

[JackORoses]

113. if you are so Pro-Obama, why are you becoming the new tropics_dude?

[woolldog]

109. Still waiting for your PM, JackORoses....

[JoFerret]

147. Strange to say....this is actaully more important

than you and all the rest of us petty partisans.

Bloody shame.

[sandnsea]

10. I just read the transcript

I don't get the outrage. I thought he repeated what he said yesterday. I agree with the hand wringing post, people need to grow a spine.

[woolldog]

49. I have a spine.

I'm not switching my support.

But I'm not going to bury my head in the sand either. This guys continuing presence beyond the bill moyers piece is extremely damaging (probably to both democrats but much more so to Obama).

I didn't see a way that Clinton could get the nomination without stealing it. But I'm not sure I agree with that anymore. She can get it, and legitimately so, if Obama implodes. And Wright if keeps this up, might precipitate that.

[sandnsea]

Is racism a problem in this country?

Have we truly faced the problems of white supremacist thinking? Do we not need more effort in reconciling with those who are different?

[dansolo]

137. I agree with you about Wright, but not about Clinton

I was a little uncomfortable about Wright's line in Bill Moyer's interview where he said that Obama was just being a politician regarding him. The impression that I got, was that Wright seemed to be implying that Obama was being an "uncle Tom". And now, he seems to be egging on the press, with no regard on how it may impact Obama's campaign. It seems like he feels like Obama should have completely defended everything that he said. Rev. Wright may be a brilliant man, and a man of God, but he sure seems to suffering from the deadly sin of pride.

However, Hillary has no legitimate way to get the nomination. Her negatives are still way too high, and the Republicans will have a field day if she became the nominee. She will be a GOTV on steroids for them, and an electoral disaster for us. The superdelegates could decide that she is more electable, but try and tell that to the African American community if Obama has the pledged delegate lead, but gets the nomination taken away from him.

[redqueen]

12. Not convincing at all.

I give it a D-.

[woolldog]

37. If you've read my posts, you'd know I'm very pro-bama

I've donated my time and money to his campaign. And I've never done that with any other campaign (except when I had a personal friend running for office)

I'm not trying to "convince" you or anybody of anything. Just letting off some steam.

[redqueen]

90. Gotcha...

I didn't see either speech... so I'm not sure how I'd have reacted... but I've seen far more "what's the big deal?" types of posts than "this is devastating!" types of posts.

Guess you're just one of those the spin is aimed at. :shrug:

[woolldog]

99. How patronizing.

Haven't watched any of the spin. I saw the NAACP speech and the immediately (positive) spin, by Sanchez, Marti, and O'Brien on CNN yesterday. Stopped watching after that and haven't watched any cable news or analysis today of the speech yesterday or the speech today.

I viewed the clips online.

[redqueen]

100. No no no... I didn't mean you were swayed by spin...

I meant that you came away thinking what he said / did was very bad... and all the M$M pastorbating is aimed at people who already think what he said / did was bad... that's all.

On edit... it's also aimed at those who don't know... who didn't see his appearances or hear his speeches for themselves.

[EFerrari]

13. If that was your take away from this morning

then you missed a rare opportunity to learn something. That's sad.

[TheDoorbellRang]

14. Obama is the only one getting this so-called "vetting"

Just let run thru your mind the unending list of crap that could be pulled out against Hillary, and the Wright drama pales in comparison.
Things are tough. They'll get tougher. We need to stay tough, too. And keep things in perspective.

I don't think anyone here ever thought Obama would just be able to waltz his way to the White House.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

15. The good Rev. is an attention whore and is cashing in on Obama's ticket

[MNDemNY]

I'm looking forward to his book...out in October.

Obama's got a friend in jeezusss.

[leftofcool]

26. LOL! Best post of the day award!

[LSparkle]

16. Wright has given Obama reason to further distance himself ...

Obama can now say that, although he has been loyal to Wright in the past,
some of his more recent activities have caused concern. Obama should very
strongly reassert that HE is the one who is running, NOT WRIGHT. A
candidate SHOULD NOT BE HELD to account for every supporter; he can use
the same lines he did when David Geffen made comments about the Clintons
early in the campaign (and Obama was asked to denounce him/them).

[book_worm]

18. Obama will be fine and we're getting Wright handled now.

[leftofcool]

24. I thought you had him handled already?

He justkeeps popping up and shooting off his mouth. A repuke wet dream

[stillcool]

143. Defending himself..

is "shooting off his mouth"? He should lay down and let the media, and others, kick him like a dog? His church, with it's 10,000 members are getting bomb threats, but he should allow the media to continue to frame he and his church according to selected sound bytes?

[Dreamer Tatum]

161. "Handled?"

What does that mean, handled? In what sense does he need to be "handled?" He's free to speak his mind, isn't he?

[faithfulcitizen]

19. I share many of your feelings & feel sick too, but many Obama supporters will call you concern troll

This isn't about me being a traitor to my own campaign, as it is about being angry that someone (Rev Wright) seems hell bent on taking it down.

[movonne]

86. I think you are very wrong...you don't think this man has a right to

defend himself...the media will play anything against the dems..and if you think the hillary will win the GE... I'm not so sure of that..the right wing media can hardly wait to have her run..hours and hours of scandal...you know suitcases full and it will be non stop...and don't think the Monica thing won't come up...and all the rest of the group of women that he had relations with...and if you read the repugs talking points is that they have a much better chance with hillary..

[woolldog]

98. He did a brilliant job of defending himself on Moyers

but dropped the ball in his last two appearances. He took one step forward, two steps back, imo.

And it's become clear to me that he is consumed by his own vanity now. It's become less about defending himself and more about feeding off of the attention he's getting to benefit himself.

[faithfulcitizen]

156. he has every right to say whatever he wants, but surely he knows he's hurting Obama.

And I never said Hillary will win. What I'm focused on is the primary, and Obama winning.

[displacedtexan]

20. To quote Al Pacino...

"Vanity. My favorite sin."

[cottonseed]

21. I want to be on the right side of history.

Obama will have to do a hell of a lot more for me to stop backing his candidacy. If the powers are able to take Obama down on the basis of who his pastor is, we as a nation will have to live with that shame.

[CatsDogsBabies]

23. People really need to step away from the news

Wright is not running for president. Wright is not a candidate. Obama is a candidate. Obama did just pick up another superdelegate. Obama is not Jeremiah Wright. Obama has never been Jeremiah Wright. Most people know this. I don't watch any MSM coverage of Wright. From what goes on here at DU I can see this has been a wise choice for me.

[hogwyld]

135. Unfortunately, the majority of Americans

DO get their news from the M$M, and they vote based on what they're told.

[berni_mccoy]

25. Handwringer (PIC)

[jenmito]

28. Obama just gained another superdelegate today-AFTER all this Wright stuff.

I think that sends a message that your fears are unfounded.

[MNDemNY]

Some Obama "supers" may be Clinton plants,they endorsed Obama only to pull the old switcheroo .

Those Clintons are sharp. Doubt it if you like, but just watch.

[leftofcool]

43. Almost guaranteed!

[MNDemNY]

56. when the trigger is pulled, the tide will turn BIG.

[jenmito]

57. WOW! Apparently, Denial isn't just a river in Egypt!

:rofl:

[MNDemNY]

60. No, that is the NILE. It's a river.

[ieoeja]

74. But in Chicago we pronounce it, "da Nile". So "denial" *is* a homonym.

And, of course, the Nile really is not *just* a river in Egypt. It traverses several other African countries as well.

;)

[jenmito]

80. I hope that explanation wasn't really necessary...

but when dealing with a Hillary supporter, it's possible. :D

[jenmito]

79. I hope you wake up soon!

:hi:

[cyndensco]

75. Yeah, that is a great strategy

:sarcasm:

Wait months and months, endorse one candidate, and then say "Oops, my bad." I guess politicians, in your opinion, are not concerned with their credibility.

[MNDemNY]

85. Their concerns are far deeper than that.

[zulchzulu]

30. So a former pastor's antics can bring down a candidate...

...even though that candidate has repeatedly said that he doesn't agree with that person all the time?

It's bullshit.

[thereismore]

32. Wright is right. Obama is right. And we have nothing to fear. Stop worrying

about what racists and bigots will think. They will think it anyway.

[rodeodance]

163. at this point it IS about electability for Obama

[Bensthename]

33. Too worried. His poll numbers have not been effected by this,.,

After the 2 week blitz of sound bites, he took a small dip. But the following week he actually was again ahead of Hillary and McCain. Today is small potatoes compared to that,
People are paying attention to the real issues this time.. Swiftboaters left voters bitter over this kind of bs from the last election.

[Innocent Smith]

55. Which specific polls are you talking about?

The CNN one shows Obama losing 11 points in the last couple of weeks - 5 points of Hilary's gain coming since PA:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/28/clinton-obama-dead-even-poll-says/

I can see why Hilary would get a bump out of the positive press from her PA win. Not sure if this recent Wright thing costs Obama or not, but we'll find out over the next couple of weeks.

Wright is a distraction.

[woolldog]

106. The polls obviously haven't factored in Sun and Monday's events

We'll have to wait until Wed (gallup) and Thur (rasmussen) at the earliest to know what effect this has had.

[quantass]

America NEEDS *brutual* honesty for a change....

I just dont get some people. I can understand an individual perhaps in their teens but a grown adult without the common sense. Perhaps its just our different upbringing. Wright has his views and Obama has his own. I personally thought Wright has been making a lot of sense. I dont agree with a few of his views but what i do agree with is the truth. He is portraying those views in an eccentric way but the point is understood. Stop with the denial. PLEASE.

Nahh, Im convinced you are a Hillary supporter or at least someone who always had doubts about who Obama is. Honestly people, you should "listen" to what both men are saying IN FULL before passing judgement. But that's IF you really do want change in the U.S.

It all starts with brutual honesty.

[woolldog]

120. Again, I will extend you the same offer as JackORoses:

PM me and I will give you my name and real email and you can see how much I've donated to Obama.

"Nahh, Im convinced you are a Hillary supporter or at least someone who always had doubts about who Obama is. Honestly people, you should "listen" to what both men are saying IN FULL before passing judgement. But that's IF you really do want change in the U.S.

It all starts with brutual honesty."

[Cali_Democrat]

34. Obama cannot control another man

I thought America ended that after the civil war. It's called slavery and Obama is opposed.

[BeyondGeography]

35. Stay away from cable news for a few days

You'll feel better.

[woolldog]

44. I know. I've been avoiding cable news entirely.

I was just watching clips online w/o the analysis. I can only imagine what's going on on cable news.

[BeyondGeography]

52. You're almost there...no clips either

A grand total of 4 or 5 million people a day watch all the cable news stations combined. That leaves 295 million who don't. Identify with them for a few days...it won't kill you.

[usrbs]

107. It's getting HUGE play on RW radio, according to my friend.

I don't know how important that is when the GOP is so weak now, but it's certainly having an effect.

[Texas Hill Country]

38. k&r

[ClayZ]

39. Don't be bamboozled!

Rev. Wright is a teacher as well as a pastor. He is a scholar.


Don't miss the message!


Rights are Rights. Rev. Wright has the RIGHT to defend himself and his church.

He did not do the wrong, the media has. There is some 'splaning to do.


I have listened to many of his sermons, etc at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TRINITYCHGO


They have a mighty fine website for the church at: http://www.tucc.org/

I have learned so much, I better send a donation to their collection basket. :-)

[VenusRising]

40. This most certainly does NOT

give Clinton a "legitimate" argument for the nomination. No one has changed the primary rules to allow lame excuses and racial politics to override the will of the voters.

Dean said it best: The candidate with the most delegates wins.

[Barack_America]

41. Deep breaths...This is nothing to worry about.

It's all good.

This is part of a larger plan that perhaps we can't appreciate. Wright is being advised by a PR firm friendly with the campaign, after all.

Wright is discussing racism and blackness so that Obama doesn't have to. It's all been transferred to him.

Obama is now free to focus attention on his policies.

There was always going to be turmoil with electing a black man President, but everything's going to be all right.

Keep the faith.

[woolldog]

131. maybe you're right

I'm just going to avoid the news or any cable for the next week or so. The NBA playoffs are in full swing and my team is doing well so....

:hug:

[ProSense]

42. I'm worried about voter disenfranchisement and election fraud because

of late, these are the only ways the Republicans can win.

Obama's `Gigantic' Database May Make Him Party's Power Broker

Christopher Stern Mon Apr 28, 12:01 AM ET

April 28 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama's supporters are giving him more than just record amounts of cash. They also are providing personal information that may make his donor list the most powerful tool in U.S. politics.

Even if the Democratic presidential candidate doesn't succeed in his White House bid, this data will make Obama a power broker in the party for years to come. For the interest groups or Democratic candidates he chooses to sell it to, it would provide a gold mine of information and access to potential donors.

Almost 2 million people have entered personal information on Obama pages on social-networking Web sites such as Facebook, MySpace and his campaign's mybarackobama.com, offering home addresses, phone numbers, their views on specific issues and the names of friends. The data have allowed Obama, 46, to raise more than $200 million, fill sports arenas with supporters across the nation and motivate millions more with custom-tailored messages.

<...>

Obama's success stems from a decision early in his campaign to embrace the concept of social networking, allowing him to leap ahead of his Democratic rival, Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, or the presumptive Republican nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona. For example, Obama now has 790,000 Facebook ``friends,'' compared with 150,000 for Clinton, 60, and 117,000 for McCain, 71.

more

[Life Long Dem]

45. Dear undisclosed, bullshit.

[tishaLA]

46. I've been depressed about it today too

But my feeling is this: candidates win and lose elections, not pastors. This is an unfortunate flare up in the campaign, but the pools invariably fluctuate and then come back to Obama. It is hard when the heat is so great, like right now, but it cools down, too. I think Obama understands this and I think we get to high and low for our own good because we are addicts.

[RiverStone]

47. So your saying Wright can take down an Obama presidency?

And all the promise, change, international good will, and a fired up electorate unlike anything we have seen for a generation would go down with him.

All that could be lost because of one man?

NO!

I will not assume the American people are that stupid.

You realize that many are collaborating with the media whores to derail Obama as he gets inches away from his goal. If it was not Wright, it would be something else.

If Obama is to be our president, he will face slander and threats far worse then Wright or the spin of Wright's words.

I can't fathom one man could bring Obama's promise all down.

So I'll chose to assume Obama will win regardless, because he is destined to be our next GREAT president!

[FrenchieCat]

48. If you are that shaky on your support for Obama, I suggest you start

backing Clinton.

If by the miracle of Media chorus Hillary steals the nomination via their pushed propaganda, then when you give up on her once the media shoots her ass down around October, and you can then start backing McCain.

In doing it this way, you will always be with the candidate that the media has chosen for you. Since this will make you more at ease, I suggest you go with it.

Excuse me if I make this short, I've got some media propaganda and racism to go out and combat. As a Black person, I feel obligated not to succumb to the voices of the cynics. My people have fought the good fights before as the front line soldiers and we will continue to fight.

Oh....and when you go and vote McCain in November (as he will be the comfortable media favorite) let him know that I couldn't vote for him, nor could I vote for the democratic nominee who sold me at the auction block in order to get back into power.

Tell them both that I stayed my ass home with my mouth shut.....cause it appears that in the year 2008, that is where I belong.

and don't forget; be very afraid......

of everything.

[Aloha Spirit]

63. No! Please don't shut up. If there's one thing I haven't heard enough lately

it's people telling black folks they need to learn to shut up.
Every time I hear this, I donate to Obama.

[NorthCarolina]

115. Very well put FrenchieCat n/t

[haymakeragain]

50. Stop being afraid of their lies. get out and do what we knew we would

have to do anyway, that is tell people the truth and combat the corpo-whore media bullshit. Get busy. You post seems a bit suspect, but I'll take you at your word. Get busy confronting their propaganda, not complimenting it.

[anonymous171]

51. Obama should reprimand Wright. Seriously, he has to.

[stillcool]

62. For what?

What is wrong with this man standing up and fighting back? What is wrong with him telling the truth, rather than let the media continue telling lies, and slandering him and his church? What does Senator Obama have to do with this, other than being one member of a Church, that has a membership of over 10,000 people? If people can't separate Senator Obama from his Pastor, that is their problem. Why are people so afraid of the truth?

[anonymous171]

64. Or at least seperate himself from him. The media is using Wright to harm Obama

[stillcool]

71. the media using this ..

is nothing new, and that was not going to change. This had to happen. Let it happen now, rather than further down the road. It is necessary for this man to tell his side of the story, rather than continue to allow the media to misrepresent who he is. He has nothing to be ashamed of and neither does Senator Obama.

[movonne]

103. He can separate himself for Wright, but the media will find another

think to talk about..it is funny that the only scandal that Obama has is this Wright thing...now lets look at hillary scandals...how about mc cain's scandals..this is the way it is and we must stand up for our candidate..he will be the best president...if this media succeeds in tearing him down it will be America's loss...we will probable have a war with Iran and eat up every cent we have. How can we have health care if we are sending all our money to Iraq and Iran wars..

[Binka]

134. I Never Really Cared For You, You Always Seemed Off To Me

Holy fuck you have been here since mid Feb and you have 5000+ posts? Sorry there is no getting around it, THERE IS something off about you. 71 + posts a day for every day in your short stay. Not right. And now these entreaties about Wright? See ya later dude.

[grantcart]

58. feel better?

[woolldog]

142. Yeah.

:hi:

[StevieM]

59. I have no doubts about Sen. Obama--he's not nice. He has run the most hateful campaign of personal

destruction since 1884 when the Republicans accused Democrat Grover Clevland of fathering an illegitimate child.

Steve

[stillcool]

68. "mis-remembering"

December 10, 2007
Third Clinton Volunteer Knew Of Smear E-Mail
A third volunteer for Hillary Clinton's campaign was aware of a propaganda e-mail alleging that Barack Obama is a Muslim who plans on "destroying the U.S. from the inside out. "Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential Candidacy," the email reads. "Please forward to everyone you know. The Muslims have said they Plan on destroying the U.S. from the inside out, what better way to start than at The highest level."

Two Clinton volunteers, Linda Olson and Judy Rose, have already been asked to resign from the campaign for their roles in forwarding the e-mail. The AP reported yesterday that Olson, a volunteer coordinator in Iowa County, sent a version of the e-mail to 11 people, including Ben Young, a regional field director for Chris Dodd's campaign. Young passed it on to the AP.
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2007/12/third_clinton_v.html

Kerrey Apologizes to Obama Over Remark
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4031436
Kerrey's mention of Obama's middle name and his Muslim roots raised eyebrows because they are also used as part of a smear campaign on the Internet that falsely suggests Obama is a Muslim who wants to bring jihad to the United States.
Obama is a Christian.
The Clinton campaign has already fired two volunteer county coordinators in Iowa for forwarding hoax e-mails with the debunked claim. Last week, a national Clinton campaign co-chairman resigned for raising questions about whether Obama's teenage drug use could be used against him, so Kerrey's comments raised questions about whether the Clinton campaign might be using another high-profile surrogate to smear Obama.

Hillary: Sorry for Any Offense Campaign (Bill) Has Caused
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB65wJ6Rcfs

Bill Clinton Asks for a Second Chance
By Liz Halloran
Posted February 11, 2008
The morning after his wife, Hillary, was routed in three state contests by Sen. Barack Obama in their dead-heat battle for the Democratic nomination, former President Bill Clinton made his case for her before a packed Sunday service at one of the largest black churches in Washington, D.C.
But first he offered an apology of sorts for racially tinged comments he made about Obama and his candidacy that have triggered a backlash in the black community and among many other Democrats.

Clinton invoked his "worship of a God of second chances" in pronouncing himself glad to be at the Temple of Praise, which claims nearly 15,000 members. His invocation of second chances echoed comments he made early last week at black churches in California, where he campaigned for his wife before that state's
Super Tuesday primary, which she won.
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-

2008/2008/02/11/bill-clinton-asks-for-a-second-chance.html

Source: Newsday
Posted on Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Barack Obama Accepts Apology From Hillary Clinton
Washington D.C. 12/15/2007 09:17 AM GMT (FINDITT)

Hillary Clinton went straight to Barack Obama with an apology following a staffer's remarks about any skeletons that may be lurking in Obama's closet, pointing out that she had accepted the staffer's resignation over the disparaging remarks. Obama accepted her at her word, according to his campaign staff, and is moving on without letting it interrupt his campaign plans.


Obama is currently leading the polls in Iowa and New Hampshire, the two early primary states often considered key to the process, according to numbers at usaelectionpolls.com, but on a national level Clinton still holds a huge lead. The most recently posted poll results show Obama with 31 percent of the
probable voters in New Hampshire backing him with 29 percent showing support for Clinton.
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=30629&cat=5

Clinton Camp Pushes O-Bomber Links: Ignores
Her Own Radical Ties
By: Justin Rood

ABC News - The Hillary Clinton campaign pushed to reporters today stories about Barack Obama and his ties to former members of a radical domestic terrorist group -- but did not note that as president, Clinton's husband pardoned more than a dozen convicted violent radicals, including a member of the same group mentioned in the Obama stories."Wonder what the Republicans will do with this issue," mused Clinton spokesman Phil Singer in one e-mail to the media, containing a New York Sun article reporting a $200 contribution from William Ayers, a founding member of the 1970s group Weather Underground, to Obama in 2001.
In a separate e-mail, Singer forwarded an article from the Politico newspaper reporting on a 1995 event at a private home that brought Obama together with Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, another member of the radical group.

And in 1999, President Clinton also pardoned 16 violent Puerto Rican nationalists responsible for more than 100 bombings of U.S. political and military installations, after they promised to renounce violence. The attacks reportedly killed six people and wounded dozens more. In justifying the pardons, President Clinton noted none of the men had been convicted of crimes that resulted in death or injuries.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4330128&page=1

Bill Clinton To Apologize At LA Black Churches
Once again, Bill Clinton is ready to repent.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/02/bill-clinton-to-apologize_n_84573.html
On Sunday the former president is scheduled to visit black churches in South Central Los Angeles, where he's expected to offer a mea culpa to those who "dearly loved him" when he was their president, Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.) says. Watson, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who has endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), tells us she'll usher the former president to more than half a dozen churches in
her district where she says he needs to "renew his relationship" with congregants who were turned off by his racially tinged comments in the days leading up to and following the South Carolina primary. (Such as when Clinton compared Sen. Barack Obama's landslide victory to Jesse Jackson's wins in 1984 and 1988.)

http://graphics.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/politics/20080112_nevada_lawsuit.pdf
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/17/a-feisty-bill-

clinton-defends-nevada-lawsuit/
CLINTON ALLIES SUPPRESS THE VOTE IN NEVADA...
On Meet the Press on Sunday, Hillary Clinton said her campaign had nothing to do with a lawsuit--written about by Nation Editor Katrina vanden Heuvel--that threatens to prevent thousands of workers from voting in the Nevada caucus on Saturday.
Back in March, the Nevada Democratic Party agreed to set up caucus locations on the Vegas strip for low-income shift workers, many of them members of the state's influential Culinary Union, who commute long distances to work and wouldn't be able to get home in time to caucus. It was an uncontroversial idea until the Culinary Union endorsed Barack Obama and the Nevada State Education Association, whose top officials support Clinton, sued to shut down the caucus sites.
The Clinton camp played dumb until yesterday, when President Clinton came out in favor of the lawsuit.
Clinton's comments drew a heated response from D. Taylor, the head of Nevada's Culinary Union, on MSNBC's Hardball. "He is in support of disenfranchising thousands upon thousands of workers, not even just our members," Taylor said of Clinton. "The teachers union is just being used here. We understand that This is the Clinton campaign. They tried to disenfranchise students in Iowa. Now they're trying to
disenfranchise people here in Nevada, who are union members and people of color and women."
Rank-and-file members of Nevada's teachers union also come out against the lawsuit filed by their leadership. "We never thought our union and Senator Clinton would put politics ahead of what's right for our students, but that's exactly what they're doing," the letter stated. "As teachers, and proudmDemocrats, we hope they will drop this undemocratic lawsuit and help all Nevadans caucus, no matter which candidate they support."
The lawsuit's opponents make a persuasive point. Creating obstacles to voting is what the GOP does to Democrats, not what Democrats should be doing to other Democrats.

Clinton adviser steps down after drug use comments
Earlier Thursday, Clinton personally apologized to rival Obama for Shaheen's remarks.
Obama accepted her apology, according to David Axelrod, the top political strategist for the Obama campaign.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/12/13/clinton.obama/index.html

January 6, 2008, 5:18 pm
Edwards: No Conscience in Clinton Campaign
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/06/edwards-no-conscience-in-clinton-campaign/
By Julie Bosman
KEENE, N.H. – John Edwards angrily took on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton at two news conferences in a row on Sunday, saying that her campaign “doesn’t seem to have a conscience.”

COMPTON, Calif. (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton and her campaign tried to mend ties to black voters Thursday when a key supporter apologized to her chief rival, Barack Obama, for comments that hinted at Obama's drug use as a teenager. The candidate herself, meanwhile, praised the Rev. Martin Luther King and promised to assist with the rebirth of this troubled, largely black city.

Bob Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, apologized for comments he made at a Clinton campaign rally in South Carolina on Sunday that hinted at Obama's use of drugs as a teenager.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-01-17-

johnson-apology_N.htm?csp=34

Clinton Surrogate Compares Obama Ad to Nazi March
http://news.yahoo.com/s/thenation/20080201/cm_thenation/45278988_1
Fri Feb 1, 2:23 PM ET
The Nation -- On a media conference call organized by the Hillary Clinton campaign today, Clinton surrogate Len Nichols compared an Obama health care ad to Nazis.
----------
Accusing political opponents of Nazism is an outrageous smear. Raising the specter of a Nazi march in response to a health care mailer that evokes the insurance industry is so absurd, it would be hard to take the attack seriously, were it not launched from a high profile national campaign conference call in this crucial stretch of the presidential race. And political observers know, of course, that the Clinton Campaign regularly arranges opportunities for surrogates to launch these kind of smears, which are later followed up with apologies. (See: Bob Johnson, Bill Shaheen, Bob Kerrey, and Francine Torge, to name the most recent offenders.) For his part, Nichols did not immediately return a call requesting further comment.
-------------------------
Len Nichols, Director of New America's Health Policy Program, stated, "For nearly 17 years I have worked tirelessly to reform our nation's struggling health system. Today my passion overwhelmed me. I chose an analogy that was wholly inappropriate. I am deeply sorry for any offense that my unfortunate comments may have caused.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk1k0nUWEQg

[Bensthename]

69. Obama has said the most horrible stuff about Hillary..

Lets talk about what he has said about Hillary.

You go first. Name something OBAMA has said bad about Hillary (I would underline Obama if I could)?

[2rth2pwr]

114. [u] blah blah [/u]

blah blah

[damonm]

76. You must have landed here AFTER 2004...

Because you missed swiftboating, the mugging of Max Cleland, Nixon's "Pink Lady" smears on Helen Gahagan Douglas, Willie Horton, etc.

Either that, or you're just too deep in the Clinton Kool-Aid.

Name me 3 of these horrible things Obama has said about Clinton. I shan't be holding my breath...

[StevieM]

83. Here are three

He has said that she will say or do anything to get elected. He has said that she used race to divide us. And he repeatedly talks about her like she is little more then an extension of her husband with no identity of her own (except the negative ad-ons he gives us).

Steve

[damonm]

124. Quotes, please, with links.

[onefreespiritedchick]

155. Are you serious? n/t

[msallied]

104. WHAT????

The wonders never cease around here.

[haymakeragain]

138. Is that the latest Hillarian blastfax/spam message?

Responding to your marching orders? How fucking pathetic. You won't be able to steal this, so do us all a favor and mail it in.

[BobbyVan]

61. Wright is making Obama look WEAK. Man up, Barack, and tell Jeremiah to shut his mouth.

[SeaLyons]

65. K&R

[livetohike]

67. So the Clinton's argument is" We are electable because

we have gotten rid of our baggage?"

Be careful what you wish for with a Clinton candidacy - their baggage is easily opened.

[smalll]

73. Their baggage ain't on book tour.

Is Linda Tripp on the Times bestseller list right now? Has Monica Lewinsky got a contract with the WB and is all set up to become the next Ricki Lake? Are Norman Hsu and Marc Rich getting in shape for Dancing with the Stars?

I didn't think so.

[livetohike]

117. Well did all those folks die yet???

My point is, they are still out there.

[Ed76638]

70. I enjoyed his performance this morning.

It was fucking hilarious. I think it was wholly apporiate for him to display that level of flamboyance and arrogance to a whore press thats been demonizing him for weeks, and is his intellectual inferior.

[rusty_parts2001]

78. The question is not his right to speak,

but the implications for the candidacy of Obama. He is clearly articulate and forceful, and mostly right, but it is appearing to boomerang in its effect on the constituency Obama needs.

[TexasLady]

72. Please dont think that the ONLY candidate with so called 'problems'

is Obama. Not at ALL. Hey, this thing is just getting started! In the end, no one is going to give a crap about the shit stirring or poo flinging, and the ones that DO werent going to vote for Obama anyway. This is stuff that Repubs like to yank to. Wright will be SO overplayed and overdone, no one will care..what do the people ALWAYS want..new dirt on new people. We bore easily.

You'll feel better tomorrow.

[Toucano]

81. I'm pissed off that America won't let someone tell them the truth.

It makes them uncomfortable.

Everything Wright has said (that I've heard at least) has been true.

That's the real tragedy.

People wonder how a serial liar like Clinton can be a better choice? Because that's what America wants.

[NJSecularist]

82. Good post.

This is one of the reasons why I switched my support to Hillary. Wright is a very big problem for Obama. It doesn't matter what the netroots thinks of him, it matters what ordinary voters in Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina who watch 24/7 news think of him. Don't let the Obamacult demean you for expressing your opinion.. you are 100% correct.

[Hatchling]

84. Although a Hillary supporter, this may be a good thing for Obama

Overload the media, etc with Wright, get it out of the media's system, let Obama continue to politely distance himself from Wright as he has done. All the pro-Obama arguments re: Wright could get aired out and done with and finished the Democratic base which will get him the nomination.

Then Obama just has to woo back the clear thinking Independents and Repugs who were considering voting for him. The others weren't going to vote for him any way and they will cling to their antipathy to Wright.

[Adelante]

87. Fine, change your candidate

No problem.

[burythehatchet]

94. Exactly. The president we get is the president we deserve.

[Cha]

91. You know...you've wrung your hands

over Obama before..you can always tell the ones who don't have confidence in their candidate.

The last one who did this went over to hilary..is that where you're going wooldog?

If so..goodbye. We'll do it without you.

[woolldog]

122. That's not true.

I haven't wrung my hands over Obama before. I have criticized (constructively) some aspects to his campaign I think could be improved, like a fresher stump speech.

[noel711]

93. If you're falling for their shit, they're winning....

It's feeding the monster...

turn off the news, go out, do something...walk your dog,
make shrimp scampi, take a shower, hoe your beans...

This massive feeding frenzy is supposed to make you doubt...


The devil is in the details that is eating away your brain..

Turn off the tv, walk away....

It's not WRight...its the MSM.

[Bigleaf]

97. I see the media is getting to you. Turn off the TV. This is what they want. I hope there are not

many like you who are willing to give up. Listen, Obama does not control Wright. Wright is his own man and is free to do what he wants. My back is up. I feel like I'm backed into a corner. I want to fucking scrap. After the last 7 years of the media fucking us over, the time to fight back is now. Bring it on!

[Doityourself]

101. Don't be hoodwinked, lead astray, run amok...don't buy into the spin.

[Saturday]

102. If it's getting to you it certainly is getting to the general public who vote in the GE. nt

[BlooInBloo]

105. The perfect cover for white folks to claim they support Obama, but then NOT support Obama....

... and white folks breathe a collective sigh of relief - they were worried for a bit that this day would never come, and they might ACTUALLY have to support him.

:rofl:

[woolldog]

126. I'm not white!

Maybe you shouldn't jump a conlcusion like that when you have no clue. (Hint I'm not the guy in the turban).



I've defended Wright, but what he's doing now to Obama is indefensible.

[BlooInBloo]

128. Congratulations.

[woolldog]

129. Maybe you shouldn't assume so much next time.

[BlooInBloo]

133. hahaha! Hush oh-outraged-one.

[Two Americas]

108. asking for your indulgence

I hope you will accept some criticism, woolldog. What I have to say probably applies to others much more than it does to you, but you have been courageous and honest enough to post your thoughts on this and I am going to use your post to make a point. I hope you will give it consideration and not take offense. By the way, I do not like to see people putting each other on "ignore" because I think this is an opportunity for an important and long overdue discussion about race, as shortnfiery (sp?) pointed out this morning.

For months I have watched people promoting the candidacy of Obama with a tremendous amount of zeal, and there have been many attacks on Clinton, on people who support Clinton, and even on people who have reservations about the Obama candidacy, calling them "racists" or suggesting that they are using racism or pandering to racism. That strongly suggests that we have hundreds and hundreds of people who are rallying to the cause of the Obama candidacy as an expression, at least to some extent, of their opposition to racism. That would be a good thing, were it true. But one cannot help but notice the vast discrepancy between the number of people who are quick to make charges of racism against any who are not in full support of this particular candidacy, and the pathetic shortage of voices speaking out against racism in any other context here. When it comes to attacking Clinton, we have all sorts of people talking about racism - a large majority of people here. The exact opposite is the case in any other context.

Another member made the point this morning (poorly, and the OP was attacked because of that) that to reject Reverend Wright is to some extent to reject the Black churches and to reject the experience and contributions of Black America. The poster cited a CNN poll that had 2/3 of the people calling Wright's remarks divisive. That would not surprise me. I think it is quite possible that 2/3 of whites would reject (find uncomfortable, fear) much of what is said from the pulpits in Black churches.

To support the Obama candidacy is to be willing to fight for Reverend Wright, in my opinion, and if in fact Obama supporters are not going to do that, then it is they who are not prepared to tackle the challenges of electing a Black man to the presidency.

I have suspected from the beginning that much of the support for Obama among whites was tokenism - one acceptable individual of color, who does not make whites uncomfortable, is promoted as an expression of the white supporters need to see themselves as personally not racist, to deny and avoid the issue of racism rather than to confront and acknowledge it.

It is many of the Obama supporters who are putting an impossible burden on Obama. Black people in this country carry a higher burden when seeking positions of power than whites. I find no fault with Obama, and I find no fault with Reverend Wright. Having their backs, which is what we need to do, takes a little more than beating up on Clinton supporters and hurling accusations around.

There is going to be resistance to the Obama candidacy from whites. That is the reality. Saying that this should not be the case, or trumpeting that "it is not the case with me," and that "I am a good not-a-racist, and they are all bad" - and then saying "fuck 'em!" to anyone who would vote against Obama and calling them "racists" is all a cowardly avoidance of the issue of racism, marching under the false flag of anti-racism.

If supporting and promoting one Black individual to a position of power were a true litmus test of who is and who is not racist, then we would all have to celebrate and admire the Republicans for promoting the careers of Rice and Clarence Thomas, would we not? How much of a factor in the support of Obama among whites is the same sort of tokenism as the appointments of Rice and Thomas were by the Republicans? When people are zealously supporting Obama, but then quick to abandon Wright, this question must be asked.

Do we take on this resistance - and there is resistance within the white community to the Obama candidacy - with courage and determination? Do we meet it head on and address it and overcome it? If we are not going to do that, then we have no business supporting a Black man for president, let alone attacking other Democrats who do not agree with us and dividing the party, because we are then doing so solely out of a need to make a personal statement about our own self-righteousness at the expense of ignoring political reality and shying away from the real battle.

The question is not whether or not America is ready for a Black president, it is whether or not Democrats are, and even more to the point - whether or not many white supporters of Obama are truly ready for a Black president; prepared to do what it takes to make that happen.

I think that Obama supporters who are not defending Wright - and I do not mean merely claiming to agree with him or saying "I like what he says, but..." or describing it as the "truth" that needs to be shoved in people's faces "those stupid racist morons need to hear the truth for once!" - are not standing with the Black community, and are not really standing with Obama. At the same time, Obama supporters who deny that Wright's association with the campaign is a political challenge, or who say "who cares? It shouldn't be a challenge" or "it isn't a challenge for ME and anyone for whom it is a challenge is a racist!" are placing their own personal feelings and desire to be right about this above political reality.

[woolldog]

127. See my response to Boo in Bloo upthread.

My support for Obama has nothing to do with tokenism or white guilt (since I'm not white). I will not support rev wright when he's throwing Obama under the bus. He should have just shut up and gone away after the Moyers interview. The story was all but dead and now he's revived it.

[Two Americas]

130. thanks

As I said, I didn't think that what I said necessarily applied to you and was using your post to make my point. Thanks for being tolerant of that. I will read your other post.

[cbayer]

110. It took a lot of guts to post this.

I know what a strong supporter you have been and I think that posting whatever concerns you are having is brave. It helps some people look at the issue with a more critical eye and perhaps breeds more thinking on how the problem might be best addressed.

One of the things that is missing here, because of the Obama/Clinton war, is the ability to look critically at the candidates that we support. Anyone who dares to is seen as a traitor or turncoat.

[woolldog]

141. thanks. I appreciate that.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't ahve second, third, and fourth thoughts about posting.

[stevenleser]

111. I don't have any doubts

the reality is, if Obama decides he needs to do so, he can totally blow Hillary and McCain away with the personal issues they have. He can do that at any time. He is trying to win without sinking to doing that. Hillary and McCain both have enough skeletons in their closets to decorate 100 houses at Halloween.

[Hippo_Tron]

112. Wright isn't going away even if he tries to

It's better that he gives the MSM new soundbytes than the ones we've already heard.

[Butch350]

116. THE MSM

Is trying to bust up Baracks supporter base by pushing and exargerating on the rev wright stuff.

I will continue to donate to Baracks Campaign - I am rding this train to the end of the line baby!

[DemsUnited]

119. Wright certainly isn't helping Obama any more than Bill is helping Hill.

But Hillary supporters have not wavered because of her husband's past problems and current campaign blunders, something I respect and admire. Most of those who've switched to Obama have done it because Hillary herself said or did something they just couldn't support.

Barack Obama is the candidate who I feel will take this country in the most positive, productive, and unified direction. I will support him enthusiastically until he personally says or does something to change my mind.

[Mme. Defarge]

145. BRILLIANT!

Wish I had had this insight.

[ginchinchili]

123. If Obama fails at something as basic as this, would you really want him...

tackling the much more difficult and complicated problems our nation currently faces? Obama has been brilliant at turning his lack of experience into as positive, i.e., change, but it would be to our detriment to forget that experience is a very important ingredient to success. It's not everything, but it is very important. That's just a reality. That was my primary argument against Bush in 2000. Even though Bush was governor of Texas, if you looked at the sum total of his experience it did not measure up to presidential standards. I don't believe Obama's does either.

[haymakeragain]

139. He's failed at nothing except being just another typical, vapid, lyin'ass

politician, ala McC and Hillobeans. I know you wish he was a tired old same shit different day political opportunist, but sorry, he's different.

[woolldog]

140. I don't buy Clinton's "experience" argument.

Never have. Never will.

[stillcool]

144. Watch what happens...

[Zynx]

125. This is a media issue, but the unfortunate thing is that there is nothing we can do about it.

Wright is not a substantive issue, but most elections are won or lost on some form of bullshit it seems.

[high density]

132. You forgot the sarcasm smiley

Turn off the TV.

[RememberWellstone]

136. Jekyll and Hyde.

He is going to blow this nomination with or without Obama. The National Press club speech was as imflammatory as it gets.

[dailykoff]

146. Two words:

Huma Abedin. Google it.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

148. $4 a gallon gas will trump Wright

or Ayers or anybody else. People may get irritated or apprehensive about what Wright has said or done. Come November they will be livid at these gas prices. They will not back a BushBuddy.

This issue will die in a month, like every other BS story that has made the rounds (Obama went to a madrassa, remember?)

[crimsonblue]

149. I guess you have serious doubts about McCain then too.

Or does a bigot minister who praised Hurrican Katrina not qualify for you?

[jeffrey_X]

150. Then your doubts are with Wright NOT OBAMA

If you really think this is Obama's fault then you are not an Obama supporter.

[dailykoff]

151. Obama's baggage is nothing, and I mean NOTHING, compared to Hillary's.

And you can take that to the bank.

[onefreespiritedchick]

153. I understand how you feel

but don't give up!

[Eurobabe]

158. Yes you can blame Hillary for this, one of her buds asked Wright to

speak before the Press Corps.

Clinton supporter invited Wright

Obama's campaign has disavowed Wright's media tour, and a correspondent notes an interesting detail:

Wright was invited to the National Press Club by a journalist and minister who supports Clinton.

The Tribune reports that Wright was invited by Barbara Reynolds, a former USA Today editorial board member who has written on personal blog of her support for Clinton.

See here: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/Clinton_supporter_invited_Wright.html#comments

[barack the house]

159. He's only unelectabel if you buy what they are selling really.

[Lady-Damai]

160. I guess someone has jumped ship and joined SS Clinton....

Au revoir!

Please don't come back when Clinton *OBLITERATES* Iran or when the Middle East gets *helpful* friends to start WW3. I wonder who will join the Axis Powers this time around....maybe China or Russia.......

How many countries will stand by Amwerica for another war? :nuke:

[woolldog]

162. Not at all.

I don't like Clinton. If she gets the nom I will probably just stay home.