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Michelle Obama ties black, white women?

CONTENTS:

We surely have had enough of the Bushes and Clintons and I am more than ready for the change that the American people deserve. (More...)
Obama is not begging Clinton for support. (More...)
"We don't invade everybody whose regime we want to change. (More...)
You folks have to consider a key fact. (More...)

We surely have had enough of the Bushes and Clintons and I am more than ready for the change that the American people deserve. It is time for Obama to break away from the King and Queen of the schum of America. I can not fathom Obama choosing Hillary Clinton as his vice Presedint. She and are Bill are Morally corrupt and play on the less educated people of America. For any political leader to show true leadership or for anyone for that matter to show leadership, you must put away your past and anger or whatever it was and try to unite with everyone so that people will know that you are willing to negotiate to a common ground with them. Obama is doing a fine job trying to unite everyone even if the people had talked trash about him. That's why people admire him soo much. He truely is a change whereas (for you clinton supporters) clintons have always been in the white house so we know their strategies. What's so change about that? Another thing, whether republicans deny it or not, countries around the world HATE the U.S. right now (other than isreal which we take as god) and so having someone new instead of clinton would make U.S. fame go up. I've been to other countries around the world, and whether you believe it or not. fact is people are sick and tired of hillary clinton as well as bill for U.S. they want someone new!!! So clinton fans get over the fact that she lost. Those of you who are saying that hillary as vp or no obama. you are all like babies. Do you want another 100 years of Iraq like all other republicans or a sensible pride of U.S. like we once had? THis is the question, not hillary as VP or not. [1] The Democratic Party may be Obama's now but Clinton has more influence than some people realize and could induce more Hillary supporters to come home. He spent his whole second term worrying about his legacy. He doesn't want to go down in history as the man who tore the Democratic Party asunder - permanently. Having Hillary voters stay home instead of voting for McCain helps the Republicans since those voters while they would vote for McCain would otherwise vote a Democratic ticket -- plus a demoralized Democratic base helps McCain win. The Democrats are favored to make significant gains in both the House and Senate, but if this kind of sentiment prevails into November those gains would be sharply curtailed. It's significant too that the number of Hillary voters that said they would vote for Obama has declined 6 points and the number of those who said they would stay home has risen 11 points. It is still very early but this is very good news. I really don't understand why people haven't moved past the "too much baggage" argument that was originated by the GOP. Obama could have gotten far more votes with her on the ticket than he would lose to the Repugs offended by her long ago debunked "baggage." That said, as a Clinton supporter, I can tell you that the anti-DNC rebellion is in its infancy. It's due to a complex set of reasons that I don't care to get into here. In any case, I don't see it improving even with Hillary on the ticket at this point. They've waited too long. I can't imagine an Obama White House with Bubba roamin the halls and two fiercely opinionated women trying to have their own way.[2]

Grow up, country; grow up, media. Hillary Clinton was a commencement speaker at Wellesley College her senior year and made Life magazine. If she couldn't get along with other women, would she have been chosen for this honor? If she couldn't get along with people, would she have been re-elected senator of New York? New Yorkers are a tough crowd who demand the best. Chelsea Clinton would be an invaluable resource to the Obama daughters, showing them the ropes on living in the White House as a child, a unique experience in itself. Chelsea would gain two younger sisters, and they a big sister, mentor, role model and sometime baby sitter.[3]

BUTTE, Mont. -- Putting their money where their mouths are, Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton will appear together three times over two days next week, raising money for each other and further advancing the Democratic cause of unity. Sen. Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, will go to New York Wednesday night to appear with Sen. Clinton, his vanquished foe for the nomination, at two different fundraisers, one to raise money for his campaign, the other to raise funds to retire her campaign debt. The following morning, Obama and Clinton will appear together at a women's breakfast and fundraiser for his campaign.[1] We're gonna be united," Obama said Saturday. Obama has made a push to help the New York senator retire her campaign's massive debt. He asked top contributors in June to help Clinton retire her campaign debt of $22 million, about $12 million of which she loaned to the campaign. Obama and his wife, Michelle, both made the maximum legal donation to Clinton's campaign after it ended. Winning candidates often work to help retire the debts of those they defeated once nomination races end. After the New York events, the two will have appeared together five times since Clinton ended her quest for the nomination in June. Obama announced in June he would not take public funds for his presidential run, making him the first general election candidate to do so since public financing was instituted in the 1970s.[4]

In the latest poll, that number has dropped to 54 percent. In early June, 22 percent of Clinton supporters polled said they would not vote at all if Obama were the party's nominee, now close to a third say they will stay home. In another sign the wounds of the heated primary race have yet to heal, 43 percent of registered Democrats polled still say they would prefer Clinton to be the party's presidential nominee. That number is significantly higher than it was in early June, when 35 percent of Democrats polled said they preferred Clinton to lead the party's presidential ticket. These things always take time to heal," said Bill Schneider, CNN senior political analyst. "I think Clinton's supporters are waiting to see if Sen. Obama will pick her as vice president. That would certainly be very healing to them." How much trouble is this for Obama? Worrisome but not a crisis - yet. Apparently, his efforts to bring some Clintonistas on board his campaign didn't do the trick as far as increasing his support among Hillaryites. They are looking for something more substantial from Obama - the Vice Presidency for Hillary. Obama so doesn't want to have to choose Hillary as his Veep but the situation may get critical in 5 or 6 weeks as the convention closes in and the party is still not united. I am sure the only reason he would take Hillary is if he was convinced he couldn't win the election without her. Even then he might take the chance and choose someone else. There is just too much baggage coming with Hillary - including her husband - that it seems almost suicidal for Obama to take on the gigantic egos and raw ambition of both Clintons. To unite the party, he may be forced into it.[2] Expect more to come. Obama campaign officials believe Mrs. Clinton'''s fund-raisers could raise $50 to $75 million for him in the coming weeks. Some of Mrs. Clinton'''s top money collectors met with Mr. Obama in Washington last month, but that event was billed more as a chance to get to know him and to offer Clinton supporters a sense of closure, as opposed to an official fund-raiser. As he spoke to reporters on a flight from Montana to Missouri today, Mr. Obama said he would also have a face-to-face meeting with former President Bill Clinton as soon as the details can be arranged. It is customary for a presidential candidate to pay a visit to a former president ''' like Bill Clinton did to Jimmy Carter in 1992 ''' upon clinching the nomination.[5] Now Clinton and Obama want to erase our memory banks, like that gizmo in the film "Men in Black." They even color coordinated their outfits to demonstrate how in-sync they have suddenly become. One needn't have been a fly on the wall at their private meetings to conclude some debt relief has been promised to the Hillary campaign in exchange for her support (though she and Bill have made enough money to relieve their own debt, but like true liberals they want others to pay the bill). Speaking of Bill, The London Daily Telegraph reports the former president has told friends that Obama will have to "kiss my a--" to get his support. That he announced his "support" through an aide and not in person doesn't speak well for a unified party.[6] "One really hopes to do it the other way around." Levick added that Clinton had compounded his image problem by publicly avoiding Obama's calls after his wife's concession. The first step Clinton should take to repair his image now, experts said, is to publicly demonstrate sincere support for Obama. "We loved him as president because he always felt our pain," Levick said. "He always thought about us first, and right now what he is doing is thinking about Bill Clinton. He has to put the party and country first." While urging Clinton to quickly and vigorously voice his support for the nominee, the professional spinners cautioned that he should be careful not to steal the spotlight, something the former president was criticized for doing during his wife's campaign. He should limit his involvement in the campaign, they say, to key moments where he can really shine -- a rousing convention address in prime time, perhaps, or a few snazzy fundraising events for select audiences in New York or Los Angeles.[7] Obama, who spoke out against the 2003 invasion before it occurred, has often reminded voters that Hillary Clinton voted to authorize the war. Asked whether he had any concerns or regrets about the fallout from his remark on Iraq, the former president said: "Well, I regret that they were falsely represented by the press, who wants to make it a political story." Clinton said he made clear before the war that United Nations inspectors should complete their search for weapons of mass destruction before any U.S. invasion. He also pointed to remarks that he made in New York the week before the invasion. "I'm for regime change too, but there's more than one way to do it," he said at the time.[8]

For more than a year Barack Obama has been fighting claims from conservatives that he is an irresponsible liberal with extremist friends. Now the Democratic presidential candidate is under fire for the opposite reason - from young Left-wing supporters, angry that he is tacking towards the middle ground. Mr Obama's honeymoon with grassroots Democratic activists ended in a blaze of fury last week as he assumed more moderate positions over terrorism, guns, God and, most dangerous politically, the war in Iraq. His firm stance against his conservative critics and his claim to represent a new kind of politics won him an almost religious following from Democratic activists during the primary campaign, enabling him finally to overcome his rival, Hillary Clinton.[9] Clinton has long been regarded as a masterful retail politician. His streak of negative press began in early January, when Barack Obama's supporters complained of a racial subtext to the ex-president's assertion that Obama's opposition to the Iraq war was the "biggest fairy tale I've ever seen." A few weeks later, he offered a racially charged comparison of the campaigns of the Illinois senator and Jesse Jackson's bids for the White House. Clinton spent much of the rest of the campaign publicly battling with reporters, complaining about the tone of the coverage of his wife and offering comments from which Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign had to back-pedal.[7]

I didn't like it very much for months, because it was just a one-way street. At least it's getting balanced up a bit." In Keene, Claremont and Lebanon, Clinton called his wife the best candidate to address global warming, healthcare, education and the day-to-day economic hardships of the middle class. He also reminisced about New Hampshire's role in reviving his troubled White House candidacy in 1992, when accusations of draft-dodging and an extramarital affair with Gennifer Flowers dogged him in the primary. "Some of you who were around in '92 may remember that this part of New Hampshire saved my proverbial bacon," Clinton told several hundred people at a high school in this town near the Vermont border. The former president's large and enthusiastic crowds attested to his value as his wife's chief surrogate. The criticism sparked by his statement in Iowa last week that he opposed the Iraq war "from the beginning" underscored the risk. Obama, for one, laughed at the remark, saying, "If he did, I don't think most of us heard about it."[8] One prominent blogger, Atrios, branded Mr Obama with a six-letter epithet, while Keith Olberman, the most influential liberal cable news host, condemned the Bill as "fascism". The debate is an important one for Mr Obama's strategists because he will shortly face the biggest hurdle of his campaign, when he visits Iraq. Mr Obama first emerged as a viable candidate through his long-standing opposition to the Iraq war. He has pledged to bring the troops home within 16 months, but on Thursday he vowed to "refine" his position after discussing the situation with commanders on the ground. That provoked claims from Republicans that he has abandoned his 16-month timetable, prompting Mr Obama to clarify his comments. Prof Blendon said his study of polling data showed that Mr Obama could lose the election if he does not stick to his guns on Iraq. He said: "The issue that would get groups of Democrats really upset is if he shifted his position is the war. That was the fundamental thing that differentiated him from Senator Clinton and early on attracted young people." For now he seems to be getting away with it.[9]

Elizabetta, if Obama puts Clinton ON the ticket as VP there are a lot more that would not vote for him for that reason. I think it is foolish for Obama to help Clinton, after the dirty campaign she and Bill ran. She should take her losses as does any other lossing Campaign. Or at least. raise only enough to pay thwe outside debits and leave her with her personnel debits she ran up.When szhe lent her campaign 5 million the first time that should have been her limit, instead she threw in aNOTHER 7.4 MILLION for another loan out her personnel funds.[1] Umm for everyone who says hillary has lost the black vote umm you been listening to reverand al, and jesse jackson too much. I am an african american female voter who voted for Hillary in the primaries and would have no problem voting for her again. I think people need to get off the race thing why is it okay for obama to call someone typically white and not okay for bill and hill to point out that jesse jackson won south carolina ? In a way I hope he doesnt want hillary's help so when he starts messing up they can blame it on Hillary. The man has already been messing up by changing his positions.[1] The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, says the anyone but Hillary crowd, who prefer a blind date as Obama's running mate, simply because that person is not Hillary. Hillary Clinton is the only woman out there who has demonstrated by votes that she has nationwide appeal, and there is no guarantee of chemistry with a blind date veep. To put a less qualified woman on the ticket just because she is not Hillary doesn't make for a good political marriage. It would alienate Clinton's 18 million primary voters, especially women and Hispanics, some of whom would jump to Republican John McCain. Having Obama on the ticket without Clinton also sends the unspoken message that this country is finally prepared to take on racism, but it is OK to put up with sexism a little longer.[3] Dee dee, I agree with you! This is a typical situation in our society - the older, more qualified woman being passed over for younger, less-qualified man based on gender, and then the passed-over woman held responsible for training and making the man look good! As a member of Hillary's generation, I have witnessed this condition repeatedly. Barack Obama is riding along primarily on his charisma, public speaking skills and good looks. Notwithstanding his education and intelligence (there are many men and women in government and society in general who are just as educated and intelligent, and attrative), his history indicates a propensity to slack and slide witness his puny, slacking Congressional record and talk, rather than act, his way through the issues. Hillary Clinton should be the Democratic nominee - she is the most qualified and has proved she can get the votes. The Democratic Party has a chance to make this situation right in Denver. If the Super Delegates fail to come to their senses, I for one will write in Hillary's name on the ballot. Both Obama and McCain are bad for America.[5]

As with virtually every other demographic group except African Americans, who voted overwhelmingly for him, the support for Obama's candidacy among white, working-class women fell along generational lines. Exit polls indicate that the majority of younger blue-collar voters were for him. Older white women went for Hillary, but that doesn't mean they will automatically vote for the Democrat in the fall. They supported Hillary in large part because she did not push too hard against their comfort zone. She looked like them and, often, sounded like them, particularly when she talked about single mothers without health care and waitresses working two and three shifts just to get by. They don't feel respected, and so attacks against Clinton resonated with a lot of them. These are women who take care of their kids, their husbands and their parents and stretch household budgets from thin to translucent. As soon as their breasts start to droop and their tummies poof out, they go from sex objects to invisible. From their perspective, they've worked harder than anybody had the right to expect, and now nobody has any use for them.[10] In this pay-as-you-go system, Obama got a 2-for-1, which means Clinton would have to make a lot of support appearances for him to pay off her debt. Clinton has figured out that, despite how easily Obama makes offers and takes stands, he has to be pushed, step by step, to actually keep his promises and live up to his facile words. The person who asked me if I would perfer to vote for Mcbush(umm can we use his real name McCain how about a little respect that your candidate says he's for) didn't use their name, they never answered my question why is it okay for Obama to call someone typically white? if hillary had said well you know such and such is just a typical black person there would be out rage.[1] I will never vote for Obama for reasons that have nothing to do with my preferred candidate, Clinton. If Clinton had never run, I still wouldn't support a lying, criminal racist, sexist fraud like him. The only reason she endorsed him was because she knuckled under to the DNC. Now Obama has her on a leash, dragging her to all his campaign stops, and sucking the money from her supporters. He's so completely unfit, nothing Clinton can say or do will garner my support. I've lost respect for her over this.[11] This sounds like another Obama flip flop. He claimed he would only collect money off small donors. These meetings with Clintons big DONORS sound like trouble. Or has Obama been bamboozling us all along on this small time donations funding his campaign.[11]

Two of the fundraisers on Wednesday night are aimed at raising money for Obama's Democratic presidential campaign, and one is to try to retire the debt from Clinton's failed effort to win the nomination. On Thursday morning, they appear together at a women's fundraising breakfast for Obama.[4] Despite his widely panned performance on his wife's behalf in the Democratic primary campaign, public relations experts say that if he moves quickly, former President Bill Clinton should be able to avoid any lasting damage to his legacy. "His opportunity to set things right is immediate," said Richard Levick, a crisis management expert at Levick Strategic Communications. "He needs to put this story behind him by Labor Day. That's the time most of America starts really focusing on the presidential race."[7] As for Bill Clinton trying to usurp Obama as president, if Hillary were vice president, please. He has had heart surgery twice not too long ago, has a foundation to run, a presidential library to oversee and a golf game to perfect.[3] The Clinton camp responded with a 2,476-word rebuttal -- but the damage was already done. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released in early June found that 42 percent of Americans disapproved of Bill Clinton, while just 40 percent viewed him positively. Two months after Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy, the same poll had 48 percent viewing him positively and just 35 percent negatively. Clinton's return to partisan politics reminded voters of their least favorite aspects of his presidency. "The basic problem that both the Clintons have is whenever we get too much of them, we remember things we don't like," said crisis management expert Eric Dezenhall. "And the problem Bill had with Hillary's campaign was that he was everywhere, and that's not good."[7]

Bill Clinton's strategy was called "triangulation," navigating to a political "Third Way" to please moderates and undecided voters. This past week, Barack Obama has made some signal policy changes that suggest he might be doing something similar.[12]

IN keeping with his "messiah" image, Barack Obama might have been more at home in Bethlehem, Pa., than in Unity, N.H., when he and his "former" nemesis, Hillary Clinton, opened their new act on the road to mixed reviews. We are supposed to forget everything they said about each other during the primaries. They didn't really mean it; or did they? This is why so many people are cynical about politicians. You never know if they are telling you what you want to hear, or what they hope you'll swallow in spite of evidence to the contrary.[6] One blogger circulated unsubstantiated rumors that Obama gave a speech about the sins of "whitey." Fox News, in on-screen text that was quickly removed, called her a "baby mama," a derogatory term for an unwed mother. The conservative journal National Review wrote a cover story tagging her as "Mrs. Grievance." The reaction, many black feminists complain, has fallen far short of the groundswell of anger from Hillary Clinton supporters who thought their candidate had been treated unfairly during coverage of her ultimately unsuccessful presidential quest. Clinton has been more widely subjected to criticism, to be sure, but she was a candidate and Obama is a candidate's wife.[13]

"Michelle Obama is getting short shrift. from the mainstream white feminists who were screaming and screaming about Hillary Clinton," said Andrea Plaid, a Brooklyn-based blogger who contributes to Michelle Obama Watch. White women bloggers, she said, still have trouble admitting their own prejudices. "There's still a sense of silence," she said. "People are shuffling their feet."[13] "I felt like my very feminism was being questioned." Similar to her husband espousing a new kind of political accommodation in Washington, Michelle Obama has tried to move beyond the sex-race divisions by appealing to both camps. Barack Obama's campaign has tapped into that, turning her into an emissary to women. She has kicked off "Women for Obama" campaigns and hosted round-table talks with women across the country. That appeals to women like Brittany Gwynn, 19, a University of Maryland student who embraces Obama's ability to be a strong woman and also a loving wife. "I'm in college hoping to go to law school, and sometimes I feel like the men in my life. are intimidated by my accomplishment," she wrote in an e-mail. Obama, she said, has shown that it is possible to balance her goals with the needs of her family. "She is a woman who is a force in her own right but also one who doesn't feel the need to be in the center of attention," Gwynn wrote. "I see her as a role model to women in my generation." That has been true for many younger fans who have created Facebook groups and online fan sites lauding the potential first lady for her style and substance.[13] Let's ask the right question. Those of us who come from these homes, these neighborhoods, have always known what pollsters are finding out: Blue-collar women are not a monolithic group. They proved this in the primary election and will likely demonstrate it again in November. Whether this is good news or bad for Barack Obama depends on whether he can convince a lot of older white women living paycheck to paycheck that he's the guy who understands why they're so scared -- and is the one who can do something about it.[10]

Late Saturday afternoon, McCain's campaign responded to Obama's comments. In a statement, campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said, "We are all absolutely committed to ending this war, but on Thursday Barack Obama's words indicated that he also shared John McCain's commitment to securing the peace beforehand. What's really puzzling is that Barack Obama still doesn't understand that his words matter." In North Dakota on Thursday, Obama denied that he's shying away from his proposed 16-month phased withdrawal of all combat troops from Iraq, calling it "pure speculation" and adding that his "position has not changed."[4] "Indeed, the facts have changed because of the success of the surge that John McCain advocated for years and Barack Obama opposed in a position that put politics ahead of country." While he didn't specifically refer to the Iraq flap later Saturday, Obama touched on how he could be a better candidate.[4]

"I wasn't saying anything that I hadn't said before. That I didn't say a year ago. Or when I was a U.S. senator. If you look at our position, it's been very consistent. The notion that we have to get out carefully has been a consistent position," he said. "The belief that we have a national security interest in making sure Iraq is secure, I've been saying consistently," he added. Noting "the worst-case scenarios and the parade of horribles that has been trotted out by John McCain and others about genocide if we left," he said he has always reserved "the right to protect people from genocide." "So a lot of these statements that I've made have been entirely consistent," Obama added.[4]

'''Premium''' tables for ten can also be purchased for $5,000; '''preferred''' tables for $2,500. Those seeking to be identified as table hosts are expected to raise or write checks of $23,000, $10,000, $5,000, or $2,500. The fund-raisers will be their first events together since their highly choreographed appearance in Unity, N.H., on June 27, and the first time that Mrs. Clinton will officially begin working to fill Mr. Obama'''s coffers for his showdown with Senator John McCain, the presumed Republican nominee.[5] The problem with the Clintons is that we all know what they truly think of Senator Obama. Just only few weeks ago they were saying '''he'''s not presidential material, he'''ll not win, he'''s playing the race card, he'''s inexperienced, he'''ll not be ready on day one, he'''s not patriotic, he used and sold drugs, McCain is more experienced, etc, etc,''' So, do they believe we are still the same fools that will drink their kool-aid without blinking.[5] Folks, folks'''you need to get out and get some fresh air. '''Nevertheless, the fears of Obama supporters that their candidate lies eternally vulnerable to GOP smears exist only in their fevered imaginations. The evidence of dirty Republican tricks has been utterly absent this campaign season.''' Conveniently, Senator Obama was able to play upon your fevered imaginations to change course on public financing, and breaking his word to sit down and '''aggressively pursue''' an agreement with the McCain campaign on public financing (which was only one of several changes in Senator Obama'''s core-value positions).[5] THAT'''S where the fault lies. I do agree with you, however, that Senator Obama will need all the help he can get, especially when it comes to steering his campaign. Right now, he's going around in circles like a ship without a rudder.[5]

After the very strong challenges she made to Obama's lack of readiness to be president based her sound and consistent assessment of his lack of experience, and after repeated saying that she would never quit, cave in, she then does a 180 and not only quits, she then becomes the lap dog for the man she said was not ready to assume the Office of the President on day one, the man to pick up the phone in the White House in the event of a national crisis. In combination with her 180 spin on Obama, and with Obama's series of 180 degree turns and other sharp moves away from what he passionate hat campaigned about, it looks like they could make a great Olympic figure skating pairs team with all sorts of double and triple axels, salchows, lutz's and toe loops. They could be the next Ekaterina Gordeeva & Sergei Grinkov combo political team. "The American people are tired of liars and people who pretend to be something they're not." "I am more determined than ever to carry on this campaign until everyone has had a chance to make their voices heard." Celebrating her win in West Virginia, May 13, 2008.[5] I so hoped that one month after the end of the primary season that I would be happily supporting Barack Obama, letting go of the idea of Hillary as our next president. I cannot say that this is true. I hoped that my doubts about his integrity, experience, identity were all just a part of loving my candidate.[5]

We can argue til the cows come home about which of them is the stronger candidate but that's moot now. He is the presumptive nominee. It behooves no one to blame Mrs. Clinton's loss on "sexism." Did you ever hear Margaret Thatcher blame sexism for setbacks ? To me it's a setback for feminists when Clinton herself whined about sexism. She lost because she had no plan after February 5. From speaking to voters, it was her lack of self awareness, and her inability to be self-critical and to admit when she was wrong, that played a big part in turning people away from here and towards Obama. I can't tell you how many voters in Pennsylvania during the primay told me they weren't voting for Obama because they were racist. It's time for Democrats to all get on the same page and move forward.[5] I will answer the question even though mine was never answered. I am not voting for McCain but my heart is not really in it to vote for Obama, I may due it out of shear desperation at the us state of affairs, but shouldnt we have better alternative then I will vote for him because he's note him? or i will vote for him cause wouldnt it be cool to have a black president(even though he's not really just black cause you know he's gotta a white mama). I am tired of the DNC picking its candidates on looks and other trivial crap. Its nice that they are now saying oh there was sexism during the primaries even michelle was singing that tune on the view, would have been nice had they said something during the primaries. I think that Obama should distance himself from the Clintons and run on his own principals.[1] I tried to think of Hilary and Obama on the same ticket as coming together and being uniting, but it seems to me that the result of that forced marriage would be an increase in friction, not a reduction. I don't think there is any way that Obama can win this election, but I'm afraid that John McCain will be just way too nice to win. "There is just too much baggage coming with Hillary - including her husband - that it seems almost suicidal for Obama to take on the gigantic egos and raw ambition of both Clintons." Raw ambition of both Clintons? What about the raw ambition of Obama? Why would it be suicidal considering Hillary has endorsed Obama and things seem to be going well on the fundraising front. Hillary as v.p.?Not going to happen.To quote Bill "It would always be a threesome and not the good kind."[2]

"I think new bridges are being built, and I'm excited about that," said McCauley, 32, of Austin, Texas, who noted the response to the new blog has been exponentially greater from feminist bloggers around the country. Her experience reflects what some hope will become a trend--that interest in ensuring fair coverage of Michelle Obama will bring together black and white feminists who have often had different goals and visions for the feminist movement.[13] Anyone who looks into Michelle Obama's background and writing will know that she's a radical left wing who is just recently proud of this country, even though she reaped all the benefits.Michelle and her husband are bad news for this country.[13] The 3-year-old site has a mostly African-American audience. She launched a new Michelle Obama Watch blog in June to monitor and critique media coverage of the potential first lady, and since then, feminists of all colors have been linking and commenting.[13]

Obama is not begging Clinton for support. She is the one who's asking him for help to retire her irresponsible debt. If you Clinton supporters think she is all of that why have you failed to retire her debt as we speak? Hate a rabbit all you want, but at some point you gotta admit that it has long ears than most animals of it size., i.e. GET OVER Clinton, admit that she lost and bested,and get on big O Band wagon. Other wise go hang yourselves. [1] There's a lot of hurt feelings all the way around. Hillarys supporters claim they won't support Obama and I'm hearing AA's will never support Hillary if/when she chose to run again. This needs to stop. all the anger and hatred in this democratic party.[13] Rick Moran The Democratic race for president may have ended a month ago but there are clear signs among the rank and file that all is not well with former Hillary Clinton supporters.[2] N ow that Hillary Clinton is out of the presidential race, the hand-wringing has begun about what will happen to all those working-class women who supported her.[10]

As recently as late February, Hillary Clinton told "The 700 Club," ". there is a certain phenomenon associated with (Obama's) candidacy. dangerously oversimplifies the complexity of the problems we face, the challenge of navigating our country through some difficult, uncharted waters."[6]

Miri,Why don't you crawl back under the rock you just come from,your comments are not even your own ideas, you mimic the Obama supporters you see on TV. Obama can not even come close to H.R. Clintons', intellect, solutions and policies, all of his policies are stolen from H.R. Clintons Policy and Solutions Proposals.[11] The Primary was and is all about delegates, Senator Obama was ahead on all counts: Delegates, Superdelegates, States won, popular votes. I know Hilliary insisted she had won the popular vote, problem is she was leaving the millions of voters from the caucus states out of her equation.[1] A Dec. 17, 2007, press release from Obama's Senate office read: "Senator Obama unequivocally opposes giving retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies and has cosponsored Senator Dodd's efforts to remove that provision from the FISA bill. Granting such immunity undermines the constitutional protections Americans trust the Congress to protect. Senator Obama supports a filibuster of this bill, and strongly urges others to do the same." Six months later, he supports immunity for the companies that spied on Americans.[12]

Any of BhO's agendas will surely be fillabustered in the Senate, and nothing can and will be done. Do you think he has the kind of skills or ability like Bill Clinton to pass an economic package with a 51-49 vote in the senate? Clinton brought about 8 years of unprecedented prosperity and peace in this country.[11] If you are an "average" american, you were better off by a Clinton, but you are not by a Bush who proclaimed had no affair. HRC stood her own ground and firm and would have won for sure in November. BhO deceived his supporters, and took no responsibilities for what he did. When responsibility comes, he chickens out. He made a speech protesting the war - what would you expect in an anti-war rally - when it had no real responsibility. He supported staying in Iraq after he came to being in the Senate, every single time when a vote takes place because he did not want to bear the phony title not supporting troops which would have not been beneficial for his political agenda. What's wrong with giving some tax benefit? It may not meant much to you, but it could mean more to the economy by reducing costs for transporting food into your grocery stores, clothing into your department stores. Talk to a trucker to see what they thing about gas tax holiday. What policy does BhO have for Energy in the long term? He first opposes nuclear energy, and then, maybe he supports it. He proposes to build zero, nor more precisely, he has not proposed anything, to build nuclear power plants.[11] How disgusting is it that after trashing Sen Clinton for a year on all sorts of racist and sexist grounds, NObama is no desperately going around, begging Clinton and her supporters to come home. Even his flip flopping on a whole host of issues is less unsightly, compared to his Clinton begging. PLEASE God, convince her to run as VP. Then we could have it all, charisma, experience and two sharp minds.[1]

On MSNBC's "Hardball," Sen. Clinton mocked Obama for arguing that, "living in a foreign country at the age of 10 prepares one to face big, complex, international challenges the next president will face." Obama also ridiculed Sen. Clinton's claims to experience, saying they amount to "osmosis, as a consequence of having been first lady."[6] Prof Robert Blendon, director of the Harvard University's Opinion Research Programme, said: "The candidate needs to hold the enthusiasm of a large block of activist voters. What would keep thousands of college students from not working for him? His announcing that he would stay in Iraq for five more years - that would do it." Mr Obama announced last week that as president he would expand George Bush's programme to grant public money to community projects run by religious groups. Arianna Huffington, the doyenne of liberal bloggers, immediately pronounced his move to the middle to be "Realstupidpolitik" and wrote: "Moving to the middle is for losers."[9] Money is not enough to win; especially since Obama the candidate seems so much weaker since winning the primary. Obama needs to focus on the economy and make a serious effort to appear consistent on the issues; sooner or later the flip-flop charges are going to derail his campaign.[5]

Presumably unhappy with the media's coverage of his earlier statements on Iraq -- and after the Republican National Committee issued attack e-mails asserting he's "reversed" his position -- Obama called a second news conference later Thursday to reiterate that he is not changing his stance. Obama placed some of the blame for the confusion Thursday on the McCain camp, arguing they "primed the pump with the press to suggest that somehow we were changing our policy when we hadn't." The McCain campaign responded after the second news conference with a statement accusing Obama of reversing his position on Iraq.[4] There is the positive connotation, but also the negative. In their attempt to quote the perfect voice for this new generation that would chose Mrs Obama they had to differentiate. They did so by calling her a force in her own right, but also one that doesn't seek attention (as in not like Hillary). It surprises me because this type of statement is also the bear minimum an anti-female person would agree to. sure she's a force and as long as she's not looking for attention we're fine with it.[13] I'm tired of waiting for Obama to pick Hillary for VP.I don't know what is taking him so long to pick the most logical choice to bring the party together.If he doesn't pick Hillary then it will feel to me like a slap in the face to women.If it happens that he doesn't pick Hillary,he can just bring it on then because I and lots and lots of other women will not turn the other cheek and vote for him in November.[13] I wonder is it too late for the Superdelegates who supported Obama to change their votes for Hillary. They pledge their support, but they are not required to vote for him. What he revealed in the past several weeks have been enough to give many pause (see yesterday editorial).[5] Many of us Obama supporters are disappointed because we see the same changes in our candidate that you do. Those of us who voted in the primary on issues and not charisma are disappointed. Please don't let jerks like Davis influence your support for Obama or your questioning of him. Every movement has it's looney kool aid drinkers and he's just today's loudest.[11]

Sure sexism is involved. Ofcourse those backing the Obamas will believe Mrs. O has more sexism geared towards her (I think it's more like racism) because saying that Hillary really had it hard would only acknowledge the part the Obama grass-roots movement (email chains) played in the sexism. starting with I want to see a woman president but just not her. her ego. her cleavage. her cackle. her crying.her pant suits.her husband.[13] We can't let the republicans have another 4-8 years. What a biG mess they have created due to greed like the robber barrons of old. This is going to take a long time to clean up after these thieves have had 8 years to build thier wealth at the middle classes expense. Do you think the cost of gas affects them not really most of them have thier private coop jets, They could care less as long as they can fly to thier homes all over the U.S. Hillary lost yes many do believe she was the best candidate but the best person does not always win.[5] Remember that Hillary is STILL a candidate for the nomination. Her campaign was suspended and she still has almost 2000 committed delegates. Regardless of what the Superdelegates have said, it is only when the voting is done from the floor that they have truly committed their support to any individual. PUMA pacs are growing in numbers and their members cross all the party lines and demographics.[5]

"One of the things I've always tried to do is learn from mistakes and get better, and I think we've run an awfully good campaign and I think if I hadn't been a pretty good candidate, I wouldn't be standing here. That doesn't mean I can't get better, that my answers can't be crisper, that I can't be more precise," he said. In a speech before the African Methodist Episcopal Church convention in St. Louis, Obama launched a lighthearted -- and possibly pre-emptive -- strike at reporters when he talked about government working with religious organizations. "Now I've talked about faith-based groups and individual responsibility for years," he said.[4] As the presidential campaign unfolds, feminist supporters see the lack of attention toward Michelle Obama by some prominent feminists as an example of a fractured movement.[13] Meagan Fredette, a Chicagoan who writes for Michelle Obama Watch, is hopeful. She's excited by the variety of people who visit the site, seeing comments from men, women, liberals and conservatives. What impresses her most, though, is the number of women's Web sites that have been keeping up with her work.[13] Michelle Obama is a strong woman who speaks her mind and that's why the Repuglicans want to twist her words and make her into something she isn't. They don't like strong women, they like women like Substance-abuse Barbie who stands there looking like a wax museum statue.[13]

Michelle Obama herself is at the root of her own problems with her misguided and ill-advised comments, some off the cuff, some obviously planned. She is not content to the wife of the candidate; she obviously wants to be center stage and, as such, puts herself into the political spotlight. Absent her own self-inflicted foot-in-mouth problems, she would be viewed as what she is, an accomplished professional woman and mother. In the end, because of her actions and speeches, her problems originate with her, not anyone else.[13] Michelle Obama is a breath of fresh air. Coming from a middle class family she knows all our struggles. These biased, prejudiced idiots are not even worth our attention. I love the saying "It is better to be thought a fool than speak out and remove all doubts".[13]

If you place all of the candicates in a bag and shake. A vote for Obama will indicate, that you are tired of the old guard and Americans need someone that will look after them.[1] In case you so-called educated, rich, elitist Obama supporters still do not get it, it is not whining if we do not support nor vote for your phony political Jesus.[11] The group's profile reads: "Senator Obama -- we are a proud group of your supporters who believe in your call for hope and a new kind of politics.[12] Blaming the media for confusion over his Iraq policy, Senator Barack Obama says was surprised by "how finely calibrated every single word was measured."[5] Barack Obama made it as part of the cool black, but you will also find comments defending strong black women.[13] Ok for one thing, give me an example of Barack Obama being sexist to Hillary During the primaries!!!chances are you cant or ive never seen it(and i was looking).Now the media on the other hand, oh yeah they were sexist to Hillary on a daily basis, but they were also bringing up racial issues as well.[1]

Obama did not steal the nomination. He followed the rules that everyone agreed to and won. He was very nice in giving away delegates that he won, and generous to help Hillary with her debt. If one is emotionally healthy, they should be able to evaluate the situation, then move on.[11]

By stark contrast, Clinton is a fiscal conservative who opposes a massive increase in government spending. During 1993-2000, the Clinton administration (in which Ms. Clinton served as chief adviser to her husband) reformed the executive branch and reduced the government payroll by more than 300,000 civilian employees. That is just one of many differences between Obama and Clinton. These differences are irreconcilable. The operatives in the Democratic party demand that we -- the American voter -- ignore these differences.[1] Public relations experts are quick to note that Clinton is a master of reinvention. He emerged from the Monica Lewinsky scandal more popular than the congressional Republicans who had sought to impeach him. He left the White House in a pardon-related controversy only to take on an elder statesman's role, founding a philanthropic foundation and working on disaster relief missions with former President George H.W. Bush. "Unfortunately, in this past primary election cycle he went from statesman to politician," Levick said.[7] It has taken a mere 8 years to send this nations foreign policy, job growth, future financial security,, economy and housing markets, environmental concerns & overall standard of living into the toilet under Republican stewardship (or lack thereof). How can anybody even consider passing them the torch for another term of blatent incompetance? Obama will do well as president beacuse we have hit bottom under Bush and there is nowhere to go but up from here.[5] Perhaps by then, Iraq will be cleaned up, Iran will be cleaned out, OPEC will be gone and the housing and credit crises will be over. I think the job facing the president today is far to tough for Obama with his current limited experience and know how.[5]

"We don't invade everybody whose regime we want to change. There's more than one way to do this, but if that passes and he actually disarms, then we have to be willing to take it, and then work for regime change by supporting the opposition to Saddam Hussein within and outside Iraq, and doing other things." Clinton's comment on Iraq last week came in the middle of his remarks criticizing tax cuts for wealthy Americans like himself. [8] Bill Clinton received negative attention for his actions on the campaign trail in 2008.[7] On Obama's own campaign Web site, bloggers are voicing strident opposition to Obama's FISA position. At the time of this writing, an online group on Obama's site had more than 10,000 members and was growing fast.[12] Who ever wins is stepping into a total mess and will not be capable of anymore then getting things going down the right road, but will not get credit for it. There will be fewer Republicans and more Democrats so Mclackofbrains can't screw things up any worse then they already are, and Obama still needs to learn about the real politics.[1] Of the 1.7 million donors to Obama's supporters, 50% have contributed 200 dollars or less. Many of those are feeling the pinch of raising gas prices at the pump, raising food and rent prices.[5] McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has raised about $100 million as of the end of May and is expected to take public financing.[4] A voter who deliberately stays home on election day is acting like a spoiled child. All who do should be prepared to button their lip and sit on their hands for four years. I still don't buy that they will stay home or vote for McCain.[2] I am gonna be real here, for all of my highschool years I went to a mostly white highschool and, most of the kids who werent calling me racists names were just the white kids who thought it was cool to call themsleves names in an effort to look look cool. Its not right for any race to generalize another race, there is no typical white person and there is no typcial black person and rev al and jesse no more speak for me than newt gengrich, and rush limbaugh speak for the majority of white people.[1] The economic stress also is stoking other problems that were always there -- particularly drug and alcohol addiction and domestic violence. Pollsters say those issues are coming up more often in focus groups with working-class women. More husbands are hitting the kids and beating their wives, and the way many of these husbands resolve their anger is to walk away -- for good. They take their paychecks with them. "That's not something you find out with exit polling," one pollster said. "That's what you find out when you put a group of women in a room and tell them you really want to hear what's happening in their lives." For older white working-class women who are married, that talk often turns to the emasculation of the men they love. These are families who were raised with traditional notions of what it means to be a man, and we saw the impact of this upbringing all across Ohio in the 2006 race. Over and over, men who used to work in factories that are now closed spoke, often with choked voices, about how they had failed as husbands and as providers because of lost jobs and reduced wages. Bitterly, they described how their wives, and sometimes their grown children, had to get jobs so the family could survive. When spoken to separately, the wives were just as emotional -- not for themselves but for the men they loved. Women often dabbed their eyes and touched the shoulders of other wives who described the heartbreak of watching their husbands crumble. When it comes to jobs and trade, many of these women wouldn't care if the next president was bright orange with purple hair if he could bring back the light in their husbands' eyes.[10]

African-American women, however, sometimes chose instead to link issues of race and gender, lobbying for better quality of life for families and the poor. Author Alice Walker coined the term "womanism" to describe the movement, according to her daughter, feminist scholar Rebecca Walker. These tensions bubbled to the surface during the Democratic primary campaign, when some black feminists felt as though they were again being asked to pick which factor might influence their vote--sex or race.[13] White women, on the other hand, saw the move as a slap in the face. "Why Sambo before sister?" they asked, according to Griffin, raising a specter of racism into the campaign for women's rights.[13]

I was hoping one step forward. Forgetting that it was Clinton who was in that role before: being educated, successful, First Lady, fawning over her husband's 'electability', dicing 'evil' Republicans, and forgoing baking cookies in attempts to raise women's issues.[13] Our economy is shot. Barack should do it himself and leave the Clintons to their own devices. Well none of the Candidates are showing that they are qualified for the position. If this were a real job in the world then the HR department would place another add to find some one that can do the job. Why should the American public lower their standards of expectation because the controlling parties are not interested in the well being of America.[1] Hillary is going beyond the call of duty to help him, but that won't convince many of us who don't drink kool-aid and who see through the smoke to what is truly there an arrogant, inexperienced candidate who is riding on rock star appeal and claims of change that he can't keep (and isn't keeping as he has now gone into general election mode).[5] Yeah, right. Obamacons will rush to McCain or stay home if they don't get the VP they want. Hopefully they are not all this stupid but on the other hand they are ignorant enough to support a candidate who has not demonstrated a solid position on one single important issue facing our country.[1] Lots of us our here are professionals, have 2 or more kids in daycare and know all about the juggling one has to do to be a Mom. There are also lots out here that have to attemp to do it without enough money to put enough food on the table and be glad for garage sale clothes for their kids. I do not think she needs to attempt to be the rold model for Moterhood as most are not in her income bracket and are already making do as best they can. Her husband is the one that can possible make a difference in lives. He must have HRC on his VP ticket to win this election.[13]

Although, I disagree on the formulation of that sentiment by Gwyn. Otherwise, if anything stood out outside of the formulation it was the idea of her being considered a new role model on old terms (granted taking away race for a second.) Oh and this dynamic of racism and sexism is something you find often on sites who shamelessly back Barack and Michelle and follow black entertainment like Bossip.[13] The government safety net is so important to you in a profoundly personal way." Women with families know that rising gas prices mean higher grocery bills, too, and when a third or more of their income already goes to feeding the family, that's a whole new level of pain.[10]

You folks have to consider a key fact. Large donors tend to give money because they want something in return. Those people have been "loyal" to the Clintons because of favors. [5]

REFERENCES

1. Obama and Clinton, Together Again | The Trail | washingtonpost.com
2. American Thinker Blog: Dems Find Unity Elusive
3. Obama-Clinton ticket gives a chance to stop racism, sexism - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
4. Obama says he's 'been very consistent' on Iraq - CNN.com
5. Obama and Clinton to Work Hard for the Money - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog
6. Cal Thomas: Unity does not make a real union - Pasadena Star-News
7. Bill Clinton's challenge: Back to statesman - Lisa Lerer - Politico.com
8. Clinton says his Iraq war remarks were misconstrued -- VAGazette.com
9. Barack Obama's shift on Iraq draws fire from the Left - Telegraph
10. For a lot of these women, Obama is a challenge. They may be comfortable with his policy agenda, but he is one odd duck in their pond. Much of that has to do with age. Theirs, not his. Which means its really about race. - OregonLive.com
11. Political Radar: Obama and Clinton Will Raise Funds Together Next Week in NYC
12. Goodman: It's not the man : Columnists : Boulder Daily Camera
13. The Swamp: Michelle Obama ties black, white women?

Target: Barack Obama . Strategy: What Day Is It?

CONTENTS:

Obama has defied long odds and beat a Democratic political machine that seemed impossible to overcome. (More...)
Michigan was one of just three states, and the only Midwest state, whose economies contracted (Michigan's by 1.2 percent) in 2007. (More...)
I think a "flip-flopper" image is extremely damaging no matter what the general circumstances. (More...)
Well, I don't know exactly how much we can infer about the candidates' character from their gambling behavior, but I guess it is kind of telling. (More...)
In a way, McCain may have less to lose because the public already sees him as unpredictable. (More...)
As we have seen during the campaign, how he has run his campaign and even in this article, Obama is methodical, practical and has shown brilliant judgment, exactly what we need in a president. (More...)
McCain is doing that, too, with television ads calling himself "the American president Americans have been waiting for." (More...)
Yes we can win, when you have all the tools you need, right staff and right words at the right time. (More...)
A recent AP-Yahoo News poll found that 15 percent of Americans call themselves moderates and don't solidly support a candidate. (More...)
King said harnessing leftover excitement from the caucuses seemed like a good strategy for the state's Democrats. (More...)
Voters aren't always logical. (More...)
Polls have come to dominate the media's horse race coverage of political campaigns. (More...)

Obama has defied long odds and beat a Democratic political machine that seemed impossible to overcome. He did it by inspiring not only his fellow Democrats but also people who felt they had no voice in today's political environment. Former President Bill Clinton has not exactly painted himself in glory these past few months. He once noted that if a debate is simply on issues, Democrats win every time. On the issues that are most important to this country; the economy, health care, the mortgage crisis and the endless war in Iraq, Barack Obama offers solutions to these problems while John McCain continues to beat the Bush drum of figure it out on your own. McCain secured the nomination for his party months ago and has avoided a lot of the scrutiny that has been thrust upon Obama in recent months. With the general election here, people are going to be reminded that, despite McCain's attempts to distance himself from Bush, he's sided with Bush nearly 95% of the time. [1] Millin said the Obama and Clinton campaigns have handed over the names of hundreds of volunteers and caucus participants to the state party. He hopes that at least some of the people will be interested in extending their political involvement _ by volunteering for a Democratic legislative candidate, for example. "We have names, addresses, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses of people that are specifically drawn in as a result of their interest in the presidential race," Millin said. Democrats are hoping increased interest helps chip away at the built-in advantage of Republicans in Wyoming, where registered GOP voters outnumber their Democratic counterparts 2-to-1. Jan Larimer, Republican Party committeewoman from Wyoming and a vice chairman of the Republican National Committee, said she's confident GOP voters will turn out this fall, even though the party's presumptive presidential candidate, John McCain, didn't perform well in the state party's caucuses. "He wasn't the first choice, but I do believe they will rally around McCain because I believe he's the closest to the values of Wyoming citizens," Larimer said. "I think we have a very strong slate of candidates and they are running on a very strong platform of less government, lower taxes, more individual freedoms and security." Millin said he's been trying to improve the Democrats' chances by enhancing the quality of the party's candidates. "We really went out and tried to recruit quality people to run for office," he said.[2] There is a fine line between admirable tenacity and delusional denial, and Clinton tiptoed across it. Obama's choice of a running mate will be the first important decision he makes with the whole country watching, so it will be a momentous act of self-definition. If he chooses her, it will be an act of self-diminishment, especially now that some of her acolytes are aggressively suggesting that some unwritten rule of American politics stipulates that anyone who finishes a strong second in the nomination contest is entitled to second place on the ticket. Behind the idea that Obama should run in harness with Clinton is this wobbly theory: Because the Republican Party is in such bad odor, if you unify the Democratic Party, that will suffice to win the election, and she is a necessary and sufficient catalyst of unity. She is neither. She would be a potent unifier of John McCain's party, thereby setting the stage for exactly what the nation does not need, another angry campaign of mere mobilization rather than persuasion. Surely she, the most polarizing Democrat, is not the only Democrat who can help Obama appeal to the voters who rejected him in Kentucky and West Virginia. As his running mate, she would nullify his narrative.[3]

The last Democrat to win Montana was Bill Clinton in 1992." There's no doubt Obama is showing Montana the love - his campaign says the Democratic candidate will celebrate the Fourth of July with his family in Butte. Notwithstanding national polls showing McCain trailing Obama by relatively narrow margins, and notwithstanding Obama's challenges branding himself as a true-blue patriot, it's been apparent for some time that the Republican campaign has lacked sizzle. This much was confirmed with a modest campaign shakeup earlier this week, designed to add some oommph to McCain's message. If he's down in Montana before the Fourth of July, it's a bad, bad early sign. It may be just a snapshot, but it's a snapshot that (again) shows folks in a diehard red state aren't terribly excited with their guy in 2008. The good news for McCain is that he's doing well in places like Missouri, which Republicans won under George W. Bush, and holding his own in Pennsylvania and Michigan, which Democrats carried in 2004.[4] Media have long gotten Obama's position on public financing wrong. "Obama has pledged to take public financing for the general election if he is the Democratic nominee and his Republican opponent will do the same," the Washington Post reported last year (8/22/07). Similar misapprehensions were expressed in the Toronto Star (3/4/07), New York Times (4/5/07), Orlando Sentinel (4/10/07) and Philadelphia Inquirer (4/17/07), among others. Obama justified his decision in a video posted on his website, expressing concern about a system which "as it exists today is broken" and "opponents who have become masters at gaming this broken system." He referred to his belief that during the presidential race, John McCain will benefit from 527s ' independent organizations that run negative ad campaigns, such as the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, who launched a smear campaign against Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004. It was a justification most mainstream media dismissed. A Washington Post ( 6/20/08 ) editorial (which did recognize that Obama's "earlier pledge" was "to 'aggressively pursue' an agreement with the Republican nominee to accept public financing") scorned Obama's "effort to cloak his broken promise in the smug mantle of selfless dedication to the public good."[5] Al Gore's problem back in 2000 wasn't hanging chads in Florida or a stacked Supreme Court. It was his decision not to embrace the Clinton Machine. Revved up and ready in January this year after months leading the polls and, despite stalling on the start line in Iowa in the early contest that propelled Obama, Clinton seemed ready to run him down. With the tactical lessons learnt through two earlier presidential campaigns alongside husband Bill, it seemed certain this formidable experience would be enough to leave Obama in her dust. He is now the presumptive Democratic nominee. By prevailing over Clinton, Obama has demonstrated incredible political toughness, and exposed some personal flaws, both of which will remain throughout in the main contest with Republican opponent John McCain.[6]

John McCain's never done any of that. I certainly honor his service But he hasn't held executive responsibility." Maybe Clark is still bitter about his pick in the Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton, not coming away with the nomination because he certainly did Barack Obama no favors. The Democrat nominee was right to immediately denounce his comments. Democrats will get nowhere belittling McCain's military experience, which included 5 years as a POW in Vietnam, where he was tortured and suffered injuries that to this day prevent him from raising his arms above his head.[7]

I think Obama gets more of the bad from the media, but also more of the good. In any event, this underscores one of the points I had made before : John McCain is not seen as having the higher ground on the flip-flops issue in the same way that George W. Bush was. Nor is it clear that being labeled as a flip-flopper is necessarily some kind of death-knell for Obama (or McCain for that matter): both candidates were regarded favorably in this poll overall. That's not to say there isn't any danger on this point to Barack Obama. I think his flip-flop numbers will go up some, and I think that might harm his approval numbers by a point or two. On balance, however, I tend to side with Noam Schieber : John Kerry's problem wasn't that people saw him as a flip-flopper, it's that people saw him as sort of a poseur. With Mitt Romney, the flip-flop label really stuck in the primaries -- partly because Romney has changed his positioning on a lot of issues (there's a fascinating argument that Romney could have won the primaries if he'd run as a competent, moderate reformer) -- but also because people just don't like the guy. Another difference with John Kerry is that he committed a gaffe that compounded his reputation for flip-flopping: namely, by saying the words "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it".[8] Barack Obama stands a better chance of holding Kerry's 19 states and the District of Columbia, and finding 19 more votes, than John McCain does of holding all 31 of Bush's states. Obama might capture the 2004 red states New Mexico (five electoral votes), Nevada (five) and Colorado (nine) -- George W. Bush won them by a combined 127,011 votes -- giving him 270. McCain, who in his 10-year campaign for the presidency has lingered in New Hampshire long enough to vote as a resident, might turn it red, gaining four votes.[9]

The embrace of key elements of the Republican agenda and jettisoning of positions that he advanced during his Change you can believe in primary campaign have become a daily routine, as the Democratic Party's presumptive presidential candidate Barack Obama carries out a dizzying turn to the right. In speeches and press appearances on Wednesday and Thursday, Obama continued to identify his campaign with support for American militarism, while backing away from his primary-campaign pledge to withdraw U.S. combat forces from Iraq based on a definite timetable. Appearing Wednesday in Colorado Springs, Obama delivered a speech on national service, which hailed the U.S. military and vowed to swell its ranks. While proposing the expansion of Americorps, the Peace Corps and other civilian entities, Obama made it clear that the main service to which he intended to call young Americans was the military. He began by invoking the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington and lamenting the failure of the Bush administration to issue a call to service and a call for shared sacrifice. There is no challenge greater than the defense of our nation and our values, he continued, praising the actions of U.S. troops fighting a resurgent Taliban and persevering in the deserts and cities of Iraq.[10] Last week Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama held their first joint campaign rally, in a town called Unity, in a field outside the Unity Elementary School. They went there together to pledge, yes, unity. It closed a chapter in the biggest story of the U.S. presidential election campaign so far, as it heads into a couple of quiet months and the coming summer heat. There were three stories intertwined, namely the country's first real African-American contender for the presidency; its first real female contender; and the surprising disaster the combination of their campaigns could spell for the Democratic Party. The Democrats had everything going for them: an unpopular Republican incumbent in the White House, two wars they could blame him for not finishing and economic problems that play to their reputation as care-givers to the common man.[11] It will be a red-state Fourth of July for Barack Obama, who hopes to find votes as well as fireworks in places that blue-state Democrats often bypass in presidential elections. During the long holiday weekend, Obama is making an All-American swing from picnics to parades in reliably Republican corners of the country, states such as North Dakota and Montana. Both have voted Republican for the White House by hefty margins for almost four decades. Neither state offers many electoral votes ''' three apiece ''' but appearances there give Obama the opportunity to argue that he can appeal to voters of all stripes. "It may have been Woody Allen who said 90 percent of success is showing up," Obama told a small but enthusiastic crowd of donors at a fundraiser Wednesday in Colorado Springs, the conservative heart of conservative Colorado.[12]

David Paul Kuhn, author of "The Neglected Voter: White Men and the Democratic Dilemma" points out that moral issues cannot easily be separated from economic ones. Poor people fret more about family breakdown because they see more of it than rich people do and its consequences, for them, are worse. In a time of economic insecurity, it is rational for people to turn to things they can rely on, such as faith and patriotism, and unwise for Democrats to scorn them for it. Mr Obama's comment that people in small towns "cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them" because they are "bitter" will be the keystone of Republican attacks, predicts Mr Kuhn. Mr Kuhn thinks the Democrats' failure to take white men seriously is the main reason they keep losing presidential elections.[13]

"And government should stop at your fence." If the Democrats paid more attention to "Bubba" (the white male rural voter), they could get a lock on the presidency for 30 years, predicts Mr Saunders, with the hyperbole common to his trade. The first step is showing up: "If you live in Kentucky or West Virginia and you read in the local paper about a candidate who isn't coming 'cause he thinks you won't vote for him, you won't vote for him." Mr Obama seems to understand this, and is striving manfully to make it up to Bubba. He has reversed his old view that the gun ban in Washington, DC, (which the Supreme Court struck down last week) was constitutional. He stresses that big cities and rural areas can have different gun laws, saying that "what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne". He gave a rousing speech about patriotism on June 30th, including an anecdote about sitting on his grandfather's shoulders watching American astronauts come to shore in Hawaii. The next day, he gave a speech in Ohio about faith. He has his work cut out. The " people " section on his website divides Americans into 17 categories: Latinos, women, First Americans, environmentalists, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people, Americans with disabilities, Asian-Americans and Pacific islanders and so on.[13] Comment: Nah, his appeal to the conservatives was to become democrats for a day so they could knock Hillary Clinton out of the race and face a weaker candidate in a year when they should have had no chance at all of taking the white house. As for what he really stands for, who knows. He copied Hillary Clinton's platform because he knew she would beat him on the issues if he didn't. He's claimed credit for other people's work on legislation that has popular support, and there isn't anyone who can identify any issue he has been passionate about, unlike McCain, who has been passionate about reforming Congress for years, fighting against earmarks and making the whole process more transparent than ever before. Obama has played the system, requesting earmarks not only for his political and financial supporters, but even for the Hospital that employs his wife Michelle and gave her a huge raise.[12] There is increased energy in obtaining financial resources for the upcoming election in November and working toward obtaining significant endorsements that could help pave the way to the White House. The campaign topic attracting most of the attention is who Obama and McCain will select as their vice-presidential running mates. Since defeating Sen. Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination, there has been heavy speculation that Obama will select Clinton, his former rival, based on the message of "unity" within the party. Nothing definite regarding this 'dream team' combination has been formally announced. In the meantime, several other names have emerged amid speculation that they too could help Obama win the presidency. At first, party sources claimed that the primary election contained too much criticism of Obama by Clinton and vice-versa, and many feared that this past heated competition would not allow them to ever work together again. In recent weeks both Obama and Clinton have buried the hatchet and have shown a strong allegiance to each other, but most of all to the party, and appear to have settled their differences both political and personal. That was a key factor in once again unifying the party.[14]

Obama is no better than McCain. He does not have a single major policy position that differs significantly from the left wing of Democratic politics. He is somehow attempting to '''unite from the left''' and for all of his supposed bipartisanship, that has not been shown in the substance of his campaign. It'''s unclear how Republicans are supposed to agree with such huge spending increases. Obama'''s rhetoric on trade and the war has put off many moderates who don'''t see the easy solutions (protectionism and a quick withdrawal) that he seems to see. Senator Hillary Clinton, in the latter stages of the primary, seemed far more likely to challenge Democratic orthodoxy than Obama, who was really running as the outsider/reformer candidate.[15] "I really don't know." Such tepid responses suggest a mounting problem for McCain as he battles likely Democratic nominee Barack Obama. More than any major-party candidate in modern times, McCain is relying on low-key question-and-answer sessions, rather than boisterous rallies and set speeches, as the linchpin of his campaign. "It's never been done before, so no one knows if it will work," said Todd Harris, a Republican strategist who served as spokesman for McCain's unsuccessful 2000 presidential bid.[16] We have been declared dead many times. Later in the interview, the Republican candidate reiterated what he has been saying for weeks, claiming that he is most comfortable campaigning from behind. McCain's sentiment comes in response to the fact that his opponent, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, has led recent support polls throughout the last few weeks and the difference between the two has slightly increased in percentage points over the past week.[17]

The (presidential) choice is very stark, my district is a district I believe will be for John McCain over Barack Obama. With a higher profile candidate like Addabbo fighting to make the seat democratic, Maltese said he felt some real relief in the knowledge that the top of the ticket in 2008 would be a strong candidate who is attractive to independent minded voters.[18] In response to their newfound citizenship, supporters of presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain were awaiting their arrival on a street corner near the location of their swearing-in ceremony. The new citizens were congratulated by a large group of supporters representing both presidential nominees. They were then handed voter registration forms and persuaded by each group about which presidential hopeful would be the most ideal candidate in the upcoming general-election.[19]

Imagine that! After the intense bitterness of Bush-Gore and Bush-Kerry, we could look forward to an election season of serious debate over the direction of the United States, instead of dreading an endless series of attack advertisements come late October. What we have seen emerging from the candidates, as the campaign heats up, has been nothing like what the media wants them to be. Both candidates have been markedly conventional in their policy positions and attacks on each other. John McCain talks almost exclusively about national security and the '''experience''' card, knowing that'''s the only area where he has a big advantage over Obama. The Democratic nominee, for his part, has become markedly less positive in the weeks since wrapping up the nomination (and in what seems like his worst fundraising month). It is true that Election Day is still four months away.[15] Under Federal Elections Commission (FEC) regulations, the Post reported, a candidate who uses the promise of public funds as collateral is legally bound to stay within the public financing system. On February 25, the Democratic National Committee filed an FEC complaint against McCain, charging him with violating spending limits ( Politico, 2/24/08 ; Media Matters, 6/26/08 ]] 6/26/08 )--a move that attracted minimal media interest. This is a big deal. It's a big deal. He has completely reversed himself and gone back not on his word to me, but the commitment that he made to the American people. That's disturbing. While most mainstream media have paid little attention to McCain's turn-around on public financing in the primaries, more coverage has been given to his "flip-flops" on offshore oil drilling and Bush's tax cuts. While Obama's campaign finance decision was pronounced "emblematic of his uncanny ability to renege on promises, brush off transgressions as if they were unimportant, and prevaricate with an ease that inspires marvel" ( USNews.com, 6/20/08 ), McCain's "flip-flops" are frequently explained away, or even viewed as evidence of his moral character.[5] In a contest incorporating two other candidates, Obama is first with 46 per cent, followed by McCain with 43 per cent, independent candidate Ralph Nader with six per cent, and Libertarian nominee Bob Barr with three per cent. Obama discussed his views on the economy, saying, "The American people are paying the price for the failed economic policies of the past eight years, and we can't afford four more years of more of the same. That is the essential issue of this campaign, because Senator McCain has fully embraced the Bush economic agenda.[20]

McCain, according to statements made, will continue on the same course Bush has etched out. McCain has stated that he believes the U.S. will be in Iraq for many more years and is not planning troop withdrawals within the immediate future. One sad but unavoidable truth, and mostly left unmentioned, is the ferocious anger and hatred shown by white supremacist hate groups spouting racist venom against Obama because of his African American heritage. Neo-Nazi skinheads and the standard racist hate group, the KKK, are inciting fear among those less informed about the American political system about the possibility of having an African American as president of the United States. At this point in the history of our country, I had hoped we were beyond this behavior and understand the meaning of our Constitution that all men and women were created equal, thus nullifying the ethnicity of political candidates as the one important criteria for success.[14] Selecting Jeb Bush as McCain's running mate amounts to political suicide. Another contender who has met with McCain is his former rival, Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Romney is known as a steady and bright conservative leader possessing years of political experience with keen insight given his business and legal background that can only be considered as advantageous to McCain and the Republican Party. In this year's presidential election the American public will be casting their votes for "firsts." For one, the Democrats are, for the first time in this country's history, poised to elect an African American as president and possibly a woman vice president.[14]

The Journal, whose editorial board has generally reflected the views within the right-wing sections of the Republican Party that dominate the Bush administration, pointed to Obama's continuous warnings against McCain's victory resulting in George Bush's third term. Maybe he's worried that someone will notice that he's the candidate running for it, the editorial affirmed. It went on to note Obama's announcement two weeks ago that he will vote for legislation legalizing the Bush administration's sweeping domestic wiretapping program, while granting retroactive immunity to the telecom companies that helped it carry out this unlawful spying operation. It pointed to the pullback from campaign promises of a timetable for withdrawing U.S. combat troops from Iraq. It cited his embrace of government funding for faith-based social programs, as well as a series of calculated statements on so-called hot button issues of the political right, ranging from guns to the death penalty. Another demagogic appeal that the Obama campaign has jettisoned is the previous pretense that he opposed NAFTA and sympathized with the protectionist outlook of the trade union bureaucracy.[10] Thompson's remarks followed an introductory speech by Right to Life president Wanda Franz. Franz did not share Thompson's sharp tone, but she had a similar message. "There are no ideal candidates for political office," she said, alluding in part to reservations about the presumptive Republican nominee that exist in the anti-abortion-rights community. She added, with the Supreme Court hanging in the balance this November, the cost of not voting would be too high: "Nonvoters allow the pro-abortionists to win and the pro-abortion candidate says, 'Thank you.'" The audience also heard brief, videotaped comments from President Bush, who thanked Right to Life for its work, particularly during the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court Justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito. It was Thompson's speech, however, that made the greatest impact on the audience. "I thought he was wonderful," said Julie Schmit-Albin, executive director of Nebraska Right to Life. Describing herself as a "single-issue, pro-life voter," she said she had no reservations about voting for McCain this fall. Anti-abortion-rights voters may not have rallied to the Arizona senator in the primaries, but Schmit-Albin is confident they will turn out for him in the general election. "I think when they weigh what's at stake, it's a no-brainer."[21] The four-term Arizona senator is trying to distance himself from the unpopular President Bush and, seemingly, the Republican Party itself. He emphasizes bipartisanship — and his record of reaching across the aisle to work with Democrats — while talking up two subjects that resonate strongly with voters of all stripes. Those are efforts to curb global warming and the need to free the country from its dependence on foreign oil. He's also emphasizing some of his policies that appeal to independents and moderates. Speaking to Hispanic leaders last week, McCain focused largely on comprehensive immigration reform, pledging to make a broad overhaul of the immigration system his "top priority." He wants a temporary worker program and an eventual path to citizenship for millions of illegal immigrants; he mentioned secure borders largely in passing and rejected the enforcement-only approach the far right advocates. His television advertisements don't mention that he's a Republican. Two of his commercials emphasize fighting global warming and achieving energy security.[22] Many Clinton supporters believe that Obama should put Clinton on the ticket. While there are arguments both for and against putting Clinton on the ticket, the fact of the matter remains that over the past 18 months she has built an ardent following around her nomination. Obama must be very careful not to disenfranchise those supporters, especially in light of his troubles wooing white working-class voters. Though it would reflect weakness on Obama's part if he were to put Clinton on his ticket under a cloud of pressure, a future announcement of a unity ticket when people least expect it may be exactly what the Democrats need to unite the party. Having clinched the nomination, Obama has now been sharpening his attack knives on McCain and his policies. From now until November he will be blasting McCain's ties-whether real or imagined-to Bush's failed policies both here at home and the middle east.[23]

The attempt to use the Obama campaign to delude broad layers of the population seeking change enjoys the active and crucial support of most of what passes for the American left. They seek to cover up or apologize for the right-wing trajectory of the Democrats. Some put forward the cynical argument that Obama is merely doing what it takes to get elected - the American people, they would argue, are backward and right-wing. Others maintain that he is reacting to pressure from the establishment and must be pushed back on course through pressure from the left. Typical of this second school is the left liberal journalist Arianna Huffington, who posted on her web site advice to Obama, warning him that tacking to the center is a losing strategy. She called upon him to appeal to the 82 million people who did not vote in 2004. Obama is now running on his real program, that of a corrupt and reactionary big business politician. He will leave it to figures like Huffington, the Nation, and others on the so-called left to continue promoting illusions in his candidacy, while he makes his pitch to his key constituencies, the financial aristocracy and the forces of the state. The Democrats have no interest in coming into office with a mandate for fundamental change, because they have no desire or intention of carrying out such transformations. Obama's latest campaign swing is aimed in no small part at creating a new and decidedly conservative base for politics that will in key respects represent continuity with those of the Bush administration.[10] Would not be a concern if we democrats has gone with the duly elected by the people candidate. Instead we decided that we could risk appeasing the African Americans and the youth, since there is no way the democrats could lose in this political climate. Even with the Country in such a republican hate mood and in such a state of decay, Obama is having problems convincing the people. It should be a done deal for the democrats by now.[24] The country is in such a bad way that even the WORST democratic candidate of them all, stands a chance. It is times like these that give radical dictators the foot in to turn the country into a socialist state. People won't vote republican this year- no matter what- that leaves the democrat.poor alternative that he is.[24]

Led Zeppelin''s recent reunion concert in London exemplified a tiresome phenomenon: geezer rock groups catering to baby boomer nostalgia. Speaking of the boomers'' inexhaustible fascination with themselves, Bill Clinton has transformed his wife''s campaign into his narcissism tour. As The New York Times dryly described a New Hampshire appearance the day after her Iowa rejection: ''He talked about his administration, his foundation work and some about his wife.'' She, the afterthought, arrived in New Hampshire spoiling for a fight but missing the point. Mountaineering on molehills, she said Obama has changed some positions. People inebriated by ''hope'' for ''change'' are not smitten about issues, concerning which the differences between him and her must be measured by ideological micrometers. Voters are attracted to him as iron filings are to a magnet. Mind hardly enters into this response to his nimbus of novelty, and it is impossible to reason people out of affiliations they have not been reasoned into. Georgia''s primary was March 3, a month later than this year''s Feb. 5, 22-state cymbal-crash event. Jay Cost, a University of Chicago doctoral candidate, notes that although Clinton did indeed lose seven of the first nine contests, he lost to four different competitors: Tom Harkin, Bob Kerrey, Paul Tsongas and Jerry Brown. That limp down memory lane underscores how much time has flown since the Clintons were fresh faces. Iowa''s results created what Sen. Clinton had hoped to delay for many weeks: a binary choice, her against one rival. Now she, like her rival, must show her steel.[25] America is still full of hatred. This country needs change but many are afraid of change. It is so sad how alot of the people that agree with this letter hide behind the net to say how they fell but would never voice it aloud!!! But more importantly those individuals who agree with this man but would not say the words ever! True everyone is entitled to his/her opinion but this letter just seems stupid and hateful. If someone doesn't want Sen. Obama for President because of his stand on certain issues that is understandable but merely because of factors that are beyond his control like the color of his skin and his last name is crazy. I have lived in houma my whole life and somehow my parents have sheltered me from the racism and hatered in this town, but the older i get the more i see it. I often wonder if both Sen. Obama and Clinton were both white men would this election be so blown up. The answer is NO! Sure people would still disagree but the hatered wouldn't be this great.[26] I'm still not getting all the hype about Bill and why people think Obama needs him. He was a good president but that was then and this is now. First of all I think his attitude the last few weeks speak for itself, he is still bitter because he wants to get back in the white house. If you ask me I would mend fences with the clintons but keep them as far away from the white house as possible, they are not trustworthy.[24] Now that Barack Obama is the PN (Presumptive Nominee), his biggest task, aside from soothing the bruised ego and feelings of a certain ex-president, is to choose his running mate. He has his advisory committee to come up with a long list, and a short list, and he is getting advice from almost everywhere. The nearly 18 million people who voted for Hillary Rodham Clinton think she would be an excellent choice, and, she'd probably accept that role. Obama should ignore that clarion call, because it would bring not only Hillary, but her still-ticked off husband Bill, into the White House through the back door. Bill has shown that he won't be bossed, and Hillary still thinks she'd make the better president. No, Barack, keep those potential problems away from your front door.[27]

I agree scire, that Obama's positive qualities and bold, even revolutionary campaign structure are now taken for granted. I think the press still needs to catch up to where the people are and move past their 2000/2004 comfort zone. The old paradigms are cracking up (even if Chait is scared of the flip flopper thing, I think you've comforted him with this post). McCain had so many of these qualities too in 2000 - of course in a different way entirely. Blackton said he should have run as a conservative Democrat, which makes sense but then where would he get his money? I guess he had no choice, given who funds his campaign and who his base is.[8] It has been no secret that McCain has been attacking Obama recently over the fact that he claims the Democratic candidate is someone who will not keep his word and will easily fluctuate. During the interview McCain clearly showed that he is a candidate who will fluctuate on previous statements. The Republican nominee stated, 'I'm sure he's trustworthy. After providing that statement, he slightly backtracked by mentioning how Obama has fluctuated about his methods of financing his presidential campaign. Interestingly enough, the Republican presidential hopeful gave a statement during a speech on Saturday that completely contradicts his first statement about his opponent.[28] Although imagine that EVEN in a can't lose election year for democrats, Obama is struggling to gain an edge. In a can't win election year for Republicans, McCain is holding his own. That is what happens when you install the least qualified, inexperience, do-nothing democratic candidate by playing the race card.[24] Four years ago, the split was 40-38. Young voters 18-29 are leading the Democratic resurgence and, amazingly, may outnumber seniors at the polls this November. That party ID split has huge implications. Even though John McCain wins big among Republicans and holds a 46-35 advantage among independents, he still trails in national polls because of the huge numbers of new Democrats.[29] The survey by pollster Don McDonough of 1,200 voters, which yields a relatively small 2.75-point margin of error, shows Obama at 47 percent and Republican John McCain at 39 percent. two polls conducted earlier in June - but after Obama cinched his party's nomination - showed him ahead by between 15 and 18 points. What is interesting is that all of these polls have McCain at between 35 and 40 percent of the Washington electorate.[30] According to the latest poll conducted by Gallup, Obama currently holds an astounding 30 percent lead in support over Republican presidential nominee John McCain. A trend that was indicated in the survey was that young Hispanic-American voters showed a strong tendency to support Obama, while older Hispanic-American voters appeared to lean more towards his Republican counterpart. Jeffrey M. Jones, a spokesman for Gallup, provided his analysis about the latest poll results.[31]

Now the youth vote becomes a contest between Obama and Senator John McCain. Obama said to a group of young potential voters, "Young people are voting at rates we have not seen in the history of this country. It's your generation that can imagine not just the world as it is, but the world as it could be."[32]

More Americans, by a 52-40 percent edge, see Obama'''s views on most issues as '''about right''' compared to McCain'''s. Here'''s a big question: In a '''change''' election, does McCain represent enough of it? About 38 percent of voters said McCain would lead the country in a new direction compared to 57 percent who concluded that he would lead in the same direction as Bush. That'''s a concern.[29] McCain, who likely will be relying on 84.1 million taxpayer dollars, cannot afford to compete in California. In 2004, Bush won it with 1,961,166 votes (56 percent) but in this year's primary, where turnout was below what it will be in November, Obama (875,683) and Clinton (652,824) received 1,528,507, slightly more than Kerry received in the 2004 general election.[9]

John McCain also was handily defeated in Pembroke by our dashing former Governor, Mitt Romney. The maverick 2000 presidential campaign of John McCain should have catapulted him into a role of leader in the senate. He returned to the senate in 2000 with as much clout as any senator in years. He had a momentum behind him that is similar to the movement that accompanies Clinton's return to the Senate now. Instead of taking that opportunity to build bipartisan coalitions and make change, he chose to fall in line with his party to better his chances of succeeding George W. Bush. Instead of spearheading change, he blamed Congress's inaction even though his party was in the majority for six of the past eight years. That plan may ultimately work for him. What it has not done is move the country in the direction he claimed it so badly needed in 2000.[1] John McCain and Barack Obama have been accused of flip-flops recently. There is a significant difference: McCain changed his position on drilling off our coasts in order to make a difference in our dependence on foreign oil and as an extra safeguard for our nation. Obama changed his stance and rejected public funding for his presidential campaign to benefit himself.[5] Allies of Sen. John McCain have found new loopholes in the campaign-finance law he helped write ''' and they're using them to reel in huge contributions to help him compete with Sen. Barack Obama. Much for deviousness and inability to create a decent law that doesn't have loopholes - he's incompetent in a lot of ways.[33] Barack Obama, on the other hand, is young and charismatic. He has a true vision for America, while John McCain still wants to put us in a defensive position against the world politically. Obama is much more proactive in his beliefs about foreign policy, but if we want more war and more lives lost in this endless battle, then McCain offers the same as we are living in today.[34]

"Tell Your Mama/Vote For Obama" the bumper stickers and T-shirts read. These artifacts are being promoted by school age kids who are too young to vote as they try to influence their parents to cast their ballots for the Democratic senator from Illinois. College students also are petitioning their parents to support Barack Obama. Some parents have changed their preferences and even left the Republican Party, at the behest of their children, to vote for Obama. There are several reasons, observers say, why students are able to prevail on their parents to back a candidate. Compared to other generations, parents have become less authoritarian and more like their children's peers. Parents want to be friends of their offspring and parent-child discussions are more like talks between equals rather than a laying down of rules.[32] In the spirit of July 4th we asked members of the Pembroke Democratic and Republican Town Committees to tell us why their candidate should be the choice this fall. Now that the primary season has ended and the general election is upon us, it's important that we chose the candidate best suited to move the country in the right direction and that candidate is Barack Obama.[1]

The democrats would not have to worry at all this election year if the DNC had not chosen and installed as the nominee the least qqualified, totally inexperience, do-nothing, big boaster, radical, racist and basically unelectable (In any other year when the Country was willing to consider a republican) nominee. Obama is much further behind at this point than he should be as a democrat running in a year where EVERYone hates the current Republican admin and is eager to change reins over to the DEMS. He was not elected by the people- he was forced in as the nominee by Oprah, Caroline, Maria, Ted, Michael Moore, the media, Pelosi, Dean, Reid and the superdelegates. Shame on the democratic party ofr abandoning its principles and ideals and fixing an election.[24]

Over the past two weeks, Obama also has voiced positions that conflict with the left wing of the Democratic Party. Last week, he quoted President Reagan, saying "we have to trust but verify" after Bush lifted trade sanctions against North Korea and moved to t

Michelle Obama ties black, white women?

Target: Barack Obama . Strategy: What Day Is It?

Destroying Hillary Clinton

Obama Leaving Primary Battle with Bill Clinton Behind

Obama -Clinton contest revealed limits of racism, sexism

Stop the press: Barack Obama has a hair cut

Unity an imperative for Obama and Clinton

In call for unity, Clinton, Obama talk up their common cause

Clinton Seeks Help for Obama From Some of Her Top Fundraisers

The GOP made Obama do it

Bill Clinton finally backs Obama for presidency

Obama , in Southwest, sets sights on women voters

Michelle Obama ties black, white women?

Target: Barack Obama . Strategy: What Day Is It?