Political Punch

besides the obvious hypocrisy, i'm actually enraged by the manner in which obama's minions threatened not only the donors but also the EMPLOYEES of the group doing ads for his opponent. such intimidation and bullying, i expect, will be emblematic of obama's tactics. i wonder if his union backers like the idea of employees being threatened for their work on ads if the ads are against obama rather than for him.

I think the bloom is off the rose and Nader's entry will prevent him from distancing himself from these special interests.

Wish for the change you hope you can believe in. If we have a President who is a little black; it will make us get past racism, our slave past and the Jim Crow era. If we elect a man with a Muslim name; all the Muslim countries will become trustful of us and we can continue to destroy the atmosphere with affordable oil. If we elect a man even though we really don't know anything about him; we will show the world that style does mean more than knowledge and experience. If we elect a man because Oprah told us to; we prove that we are duped by celebrity. If we elect a man because he is good at reading speeches someone wrote, we prove America's reputation around the world as leaders in entertainment, because a good show means more than good work.

He is a brilliant politican who knows how to package himself and his message. And most importantly, he knows how to use the Celebraties-political-industrial machine to sell himself, the "product."

This is a very interesting article: "Barack Obama Inc.: the birth of a washington machine".

It does not really matter at this stage of the campaign. Even, if Obama kills somebody tomorrow, heis supporters will still be voting for him. They are addicted to the message of "hope" and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

The media is perpetrating this message and shoving his candidacy down the throat of the young people who will worship or adore a rock star-like person like Obama.
Frankly, I don't think they will ever snap out of it.

We Hope we are all united starting 2009
We Hope that we all have healthcare starting 2009
We hope that we all have our jobs starting 2009
We Hope there are no wars ..........2009
We Hope that there is world peace.........2009
We Hope we all get to keep our homes in the mortgage crisis .. 2009
We Hope that energy costs will go away .... 2009

Because, Obama will be "president" and there will be no despair anymore

If a person seems to good to be true Beware. Who and what has he offered for support in his bid to run this country. just a wild guess EVERTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I find it funny that each of the Lib Candidates are receiving money from non-Americans, Hilary from china and Obama Hussein from a man convicted in France that is a Billionaire Iraqi Muslim. where is the press on this.

Obama is a liar, a racist and a Anti-American.

What is he hiding that he does not talk to the national press.

He is not the "CHANGE we are waiting for". It has been obvious from the start for me.

"almost $200,000 to pay the salaries of members of SEIU local 1199 to volunteer on behalf of the lanky Illinoisan"....hmmm

hey, PAY the volunteers!

So what else is new? Obama has been doing this consistently, feeding the comment that will get support no matter how he has to change or what he has to say to get it. The only difference now is that it's starting to get more press or reported. He's a car salesman, a snake charmer who has swindled his way into a presidencial election and still people don't care. God bless American now more than ever - because we need it.

The contradiction is pure Obamaism.

He's self-centered. The world revolves around him. It's all about him. It's the way it's always been.

Therefore, it's no surprise.

The SEIU can support him all they want but me, I support Hillary. So I'm hopping on the interstate tomorrow morning and driving to Texas for her campaign. From Los Angeles. By myself. Ok fine, my cat is coming with me but only because I couldn't find a sitter...

So Obama can take his warchest and win this election with all his corporate followings (I mean, let's get real - his supporters are officially a corporation. It's called "Yes I Can Corp." But my commitment is special. And I'm proud to support Hillary when the whole world is telling me not to. Why do they tell me not to? Read Hannah Arendt - Eichmann in Jerusalem - she explains it better than I can.

What kind of curvy logic is causing people to compare 527s to unions. A union is not a 527, and unions are free to advertise. Sen. Obama has no control over how unions spend their money any more than Sen. Clinton does. Lumping unions in with 527s is completely disingenuous.

Explan something to me,why is everyone
APOLOGISING for saying HUSSEIN? That is
the name his MUSLIM father gave him
which is HUSSEIN OBAMA,am I right or
wrong? Louis Farrakhan the great MUSLIM
leader thinks I'm right.So whats the
problem?

Pat we all know politics is never pure, but it was Obama his self that made this a issue now he is doing the same thing, he was crying foul to the media he just could not understand this outside money thing, but maybe the sky opened and he got wisdom because he is very comfortable now is he not?

If Hillary had done this it would of been the talking point of the day, some of you would be calling for her neck, burn her at the stake, what a liar she is, she would of been a disgrace to hoodwink the public with this kind of double speak.

Now that the shoe is on Obama;s foot see how civil the discussion is, see how well some of you understand mistake can be made, and how forgiving and hopeful you all are that he will learn, its really amazing how understanding some of you are when Obama is caught in his own deception, its just a pity that some of you don't be that kind to other candidates.

SJ, I don't think you really hear what we disappointed Obama supporters are saying. You seem to have assumed that we take literally every word this man says. Politics is never pure, never! Of course, Obama is going to say one thing and do another in the course of his campaign and presidency. Do I think he'll do less of this than others? Yes. Do I think he has demonstrated an ability to own up to his inconsistencies and mistakes? Yes. The bottom line is that he is by far the best, most human, candidate for the job.

That's right Georgia. Let's light a match on the whole Democratic Party while we're at it. Let's have a brokered convention and while we are at it maybe a few riots in the streets. You just can't accept the inevitable.

Some of you Obama fans seems to have missed the point. Jake never mentioned it was illegal what he was alluding to is the fact that Obama had a issue with this with Edwards and MCCain but he sure does not seem to have a problem with it when millions are going to be spent to boost his run.

Seems to me some of you are so caught up with the wave that it is ok for Obama to say one thing today then do something different tomorrow. Has it ever occurred to you that he may just do the same thing if he wins, and all the promises he made on the campaign trail, all the fancy speeches he gave about hope and change may in the end just be nothing more but hot wind.

Words used to fool a gullible people willing to go with a catch phrase rather than dealing with the issues. Words to make you vote for him and once he gets what he wants he has no time to even think about what he promised all of you.

If he can flip flop now, do you really feel if he becomes President he wont do the same thing, he is clearly showing us he can and he has not won as yet so who will stop him then if he does?

I, too, am an Obama supporter who is disappointed to hear this. But then, I expected that he could never live up to the hype. My support for him continues, knowing that he is human, and a (cringe) politician. I do want to hear him discuss -- with the transparency I still believe is unique to him -- this series of events, and what it is the union is expecting in return. Politics is necessarily a filthy business, but transparency can at least allow us all to know the who and the why.

Leeann, I agree with you, and it is refreshing that some Obama supporters do recognize that he has double-talked on outside payers for advertising.

The debate probably will not be long enough to cover all the damage done on other issues in this divisive campaign. I hope the voters in the upcoming primary look for many sources to make up their minds. CNN, MSNBE, and FOX are not reliable sources. We seem to be the soundbites generation. That is part of the reason Bush was "elected".

I remain a strong Hillary supporter, and believe she should fight until the Convention. By that time, maybe more people will start paying more attention to the double-talk. In addition, there will be more time to scrutinize Obama's record and background before the Democrats make a final decision.

For just once - show me the details of your programs b4 you ask for my vote. Why does the media not do this. A pro/con sheet says it all when making decisions!!!

Don't look for Obama to carry Ohio and Texas. The republicans who have been pushing their supporters to cross party lines and vote against Hillary are now telling them to do the opposite. (Rush this morning) The republicans talk shows and bloggers along with help from the press have been doing everyting they can to drive Hillary out of the race. Unfortunately they have done their job too well as the latest polls are showing Obama beating McCain soundly. Look for the tide to turn against Obama in the Media as they follow the the republican pied pipers.

Well I do hope the media calls him out on this because they cant get it more obvious than this, that he does not stick to his word, if they don't I would lose all faith in the media as being fair and balanced.

Am happy to see if posted on here, but this issue should very well be a talking point on prime time too, just as everything that the Clinton's have said on done ...so over to you media houses time to get talking!!!

It's a lot of money to be throwing after a candidate it would be interesting to know what they want in return, they sure as hell not doing all this for nothing in return.

georgia, I agree with much of what you said. I think Barack Obama can get away with what he does, because he has the overwhelming support of the media, especially the cable news channels. They don't really push him for the truth concerning some of the issues you've raised. They allow him to spin his way out of things in a soundbite. But with Hillary, they will spend an entire day or week criticizing her and her campaign. I can't wait to watch the debate tonight being held in Ohio. I hope Hillary will push him to fully explain his position on every issue. because I don't think the moderators will. And of course, she should explain her own plans in detail so any misrepresentation by Barack can be corrected. And she should bypass the commentators that want to limit her time and yet let him ramble on and on trying his best to waste time. Or does he ramble because he really doesn't know the issues? Probably both.

Union members and retirees should be asking their leadership how the almost 2 million dollars will benefit them. Will it help them pay their own health care costs? It's clear that the leadership is in this for the promise of access.

Maybe they think that Obama, like his friend Deval Patrick will go the casino route as a way of raising revenue - and provide more service sector jobs through an industry that provides neither "hope" nor "change".

Maybe someone needs to look at the promises Patrick may have made to this union in Massachusetts to secure this endorsement for Obama.

Criticize Obama's positions all you want, but PLEASE stop comparing him to George Bush. He has more intelligence and common sense in his little finger than W has in his whole body.

Put me down as another Obama supporter who is disappointed by this (and the waffling on public financing). Disappointed but not disaffected. I still think he is the superior candidate, and that he has the best chance to get this country back on track. I also think he has a better chance than Hillary of beating McCain.

America is in trouble if he becomes the Democratic nominee. As many argue, Hillary has made mistakes but she moves forward a wiser more experienced candidate. What do people really know about THIS MAN ????? Then again, what did we know about Bush when he moved into office? Likable. Popular.

Politics, politics, that is all that has been going on- time to discuss the issues, in detail.

Today, as it stands, Obama is set to take the nomination, which says something in and of itself

Flip Flopper,

Yes, my dear, you sound like a very ardent supported...Indeed.

As a retired, life member of the Teamsters, I am not in favor of labor organizations giving financial support to political candidates of any suasion.

In my opinion, the best option would be public funding of political campaigns so that no monied interest, corporate or labor, could exert undue financial influence.

The political funds unions use are, by law, separate from member's dues, but the members who contribute to the political funds are not given a voice in how the money is spent or for whom.

The union bosses decide, which may or may not be in the best interest of the membership.

Mark Twain once said, "If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed."

This article shows that Jake Tapper can rise above the fray and provide balanced coverage of political issues, for which I am grateful.

Votetheissues:

Yes, us Obama supporters really DO NOT COUNT unless we earn the respect of Hillary or her supporters. Too bad our votes do.

Caveat emptor.

Any Obama supporter who is objective enough to state that Obama is flipping and this is disappointing has gained my respect. Wish the rose colored glasses of most of the other Obama supporters would come off so that we as a nation vote in the best candidate through objective evaluation. This choice is so very important to all of us "middle guys" trying to provide for our families.

I will keep saying it: Obama talks out of both sides of his mouth. He squirms in the debates, not being prepared on the issues, then echoing what Hillary, Edwards, and others say by tweaking what they say to look like his own original stance. He criticizes Hillary's health care plan for mandates, while his plan has mandates for healthcare for children; he goes on the campaign trail saying his plan is for universal health care that will allow union workers to have the same health care plan as Congress; he ignores his own statements pro-NAFTA, while he ignores Hillary's statements on correcting the problems with NAFTA; he copies plans Hillary published three months earlier on Gulf Coast Recover et al, and he blames Clinton for putting out a picture of him dressed in Muslim dress which his own documentary published. He can have it both ways. He is a moving target, much like Romney was. If you say something one day, you can camouflage it the next day with soundbites. He can ignore McCain's earlier question of forgoing outside groups paying for their outside ads, while he is getting ready to do just that.

He himself played the race card to ignite outrage and get the African-American votes. Now he is acting innocent again while he drums up sympathy for the internet look at his Muslim heritage. Does he think we all live in a vacuum and do not recognize his double talk?

What in God's name made anyone think, even remotely, that big time politics was any different for Obama or anyone else? Words mean crap but actions always put beef on the bone.

I see absolutely no contradiction here: politicians always criticize groups and organizations when they support and/or help the OTHER candidates in the race, but those same politicians always seem to get amnesia and/or laryngitis when they're supported by those same groups or organizations. Sen. Obama is no different, unfortunately.

Either Senator Clinton made someone really mad or Senator Obama made someone really happy to get that kind of money to flow in a primary.

Obama will say or do what he needs to do to win. Not unlike almost all politicians. But Obama already took to task Edwards for this and implied he was above it. But whatever you do, don't ask Obama about the switcheroo because if you do that's just "old politics". The torch has been passed to he who brings "Change you can believe in". Yeah, right.

Freddie,

How would you suggest he "attack" people so earnestly supporting him?

I'm an obama supporter but I am beginning to see he is a flipper. I guess he flip/flops to the side that suites him...

sad...obama

WHAT I THINK IS THAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS ALREADY RULED THAT THE 1ST AMENDMENT IS THE 1ST AMENDMENT AND THE GROUPS CANNOT BE STOPPED OR INTERFERED WITH AND IT WOULD BE RATHER CRAZY TO RAIL AGAINST YOURSELF.

IF YOU LOOKING FOR THE CRAZY CANDIDATE MS. CLINTON IS ON HER WAY OVER.

Obama is a two faced hypocrite.

Obama = politician; Obama = business as usual. This guy has pulled off the act of the century (so far). Zelig would be proud.

I guess everyone loves a winner.If you get an endorsement form a union, you also have to accept their support. With what the Clintons are doing to derail the primaries Obama needs all the help he can muster. More votes for Obama. New politics brings new support and the unions trust Obama.Let the truth be told.

I think Obama is being consistent in being 'inconsistent'. He has flip-flopped and stolen policies and words from others so many times that he is definitiely consistent there.

As an Obama supporter, I can say I find this inconsistency disappointing. I think using union support for on-the-ground organizing would be consistent with Obama's background, but attacking this form of support before he has it and then using it without condemning it is not new politics in any way.