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Obama Concedes Racial Dimension to 'Dollar Bill' Comments; Says McCain Campaign Not Racist, But Cynical
August 02, 2008 11:29 AM
In Cape Canaveral, Fla., this morning, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., blasted off against the attacks coming from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
"This is the same thing that was done four years ago or eight years ago," Obama said, per ABC News' Sunlen Miller. "You guys are all familiar with this … we have seen this movie before."
Obama said, “The one thing we know about the team that John McCain's assembled -- because it's a carryover from some of the folks that worked on Bush campaigns and some of the Republican campaigns in the past -- is that they're very good at negative campaigns. They're not so good at governing. And that's why if you think about this week, what they've been good at is distraction. You've got statistics saying we've lost another 50,000 jobs. That Florida's in recession for the first time in a decade and a half. And what was being talked about were Paris and Britney."
But Obama also admitted that, despite what Obama senior adviser Robert Gibbs told reporters, there was a racial dimension to his Missouri remarks in which he said McCain and the Republicans would make an issue of the fact that he doesn't look like presidents who have been on the dollar bills.
"I don’t think it’s accurate to say that my comments have nothing to do with race," Obama said. "Here's what I was saying and I think this should be undisputed: That I don’t come out of central casting, when it comes to presidential races. For a whole range of reasons. I’m young, I’m new to the national scene, my name is Barack Obama, I am African American, I was born in Hawaii, I spent time in Indonesia. I do not have the typical biography of a presidential candidate. What that means is that I’m sort of unfamiliar and people are still trying to get a fix on who I am, where I come from, what my values are and so forth in a way that might not be true if I seemed more familiar."
"And so what I think has been an approach [of] the McCain campaign is to say, 'He’s risky,'" Obama continued. "To try to divert focus from the fact that they don’t have any new ideas when it comes to fixing the economy or dealing with health care or dealing with education. … Let me be clear: In no way do I think that John McCain’s campaign was being racist; I think they’re cynical. And I think they want to distract people from talking about the real issues. And so it’s of a piece with the Britney/Paris ad or the most recent Web site, or the allegation that somehow I wouldn’t go visit the troops unless I had reporters with me, which every reporter who was on the trip knows is absolutely not true."
John McCain’s camp responded to Obama’s remarks that the presumptive Republican nominee was running a "cynical" campaign for highlighting Barack Obama’s worldwide celebrity status.
"We're glad the Obama campaign retracted Barack Obama’s accusation because it was absolutely false, and we’re moving on," said Tucker Bounds, spokesman for John McCain 2008, in a statement. "The only 'cynical' candidate in this election is Barack Obama, who has opposed every element of John McCain's comprehensive energy plan that includes additional oil drilling, affordable nuclear energy and gas tax relief for hardworking families."
Obama said he didn't think there was a perception that he's arrogant or presumptuous, though his Republican opponents are pushing it, most recently in the McCain campaign's "The One" Web video, in which they paint him as a false messiah.
"It's not really clear exactly what it's based on," Obama said. "If I was presumptuous or taking this for granted, I wouldn't be working this hard this week.
"I'm beat," he said, laughing.
- jpt
The statement from the John McCain 2008 campaign was added after the initial post today.
August 2, 2008 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (231)
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It is the better for many World Wide powerful people, politics diplomats, industrials, and to them public, from many countries, to make notice that past in the 80’s the north American, expresident, he declare that is going to make a legally demand at many of his governmental co working people, it because them openly said at, the American expresident commanding, the American governmental people, them denied to follow with the American expresident commanding in about that the American expresident 1985, he say that he is going to pay the biggest, fortune the American government ever pay before to the legally owner of those money and business places around the world, to the son from the death mr Howard Hughes, to his son under name ludovicci Hughes, his legally son, and with and legal will testament rode in the country hall from the Santa Monica California city, under the many lawyer people and witness people, past in the 1961, the ex American expresident he said that doesn’t want to thief people to stay with mr Hughes money in them hand it may be criminal, many of the American government people, them said at the American expresident 1985, some countries them want to be with the American government people, them want to avoid to pay the American expresident he say it may be that many of the governmental persons, them want to be at plus to spend a fight at the American expresident 1985’s in the most the treasure department woman, she say that she is going to make team with foreigner countries, and with some of the general American people to fight at those decisions, it is absolute illegal for the treasure department to talk with general people, that woman she wan to fight by herself at the American expresident plus to the family and countries at the son from mr Hughes.-
Posted by: anonymous | Oct 2, 2008 10:56:02 PM
---Posted by hype bites "This man is either a pathological liar, who believes his own manipulation of reality, or he is really, really mental ill"---
SO true my friend! I TOTALLY agree - his dysfunction starts becoming apparent when people don't follow the pied piper the way he wants us all too and instead calls him out on his mind-games - according to him he's not presumptuous, it's us who are the problem because we don't listen, we're getting 'duped' by some grand GOP force of persuasion, we're cynical, we're not good with nuance, etc, etc . . .
I mean like, it's not good enough for him that we say we're voting for him, we've all got to accept that he's the second coming?!? Creepy!
Posted by: SamTheCat | Aug 24, 2008 11:13:03 PM
Search for:
McCain DID put Obama face on a US bill
The jedreport dot com has the info and so does the huffingtonpost.
I would provide a link but URLs seem not to be permitted. Or this fact is not permitted? So what Obama said about McCain suggesting that you should be afraid because "I don't look like those guys on the dollar bill"s was what McCain LITERALLY DID in HIS AD! God Bless and Please Make an informed decision when you vote!
Posted by: grahamvpoor | Aug 7, 2008 8:57:46 PM
forget race all we need to do is look atthe facts. the fact is Obama has less experience,his record shows he follows the left wing on every issue his voting record is there to prove this . McCain has proven over the years that he is his own man ,check the voting record,he will stand up against his party when he thinks its wrong he always puts his nation first. He is a man of great courage no one can say he isn't. As far as his age , looks like he got aleast another 20 years of good judgement and focus ,just look at his mom. Obama is a nice young man he just needs to grow more and learn .he is not ready for the Job ,especially at this time in history
Posted by: george searing | Aug 6, 2008 9:01:13 AM
"I don’t come out of central casting, when it comes to presidential races." Right, and McCain does?!? Because a 71 year old cancer survivor who can't raise his hands above his shoulders is obviously right out of central casting. Try again, Barry. You got away with making Clinton's fairy tale comment about race when it wasn't. Not this time.
Posted by: Clark | Aug 4, 2008 11:12:16 PM
Look we can argue all day about race. Sorry, it is a factor. Obama has used it to his advantage. But now I hope that all those people who voted for him in the primaries actually take the time to find out who they are voted for. Sure he's charismatic and people seem to follow him. But I can get that at church. I need to know that the person running this country is feared and not LOVED by others across the ocean. I could care less about what others think. I need somebody that is clear and precise in his policies. I need a candidate that can make a decision and stick to it. I don't need someone who is so liberal in his views that he will raise taxes and be a total detriment to the economy. If you actually READ anything other than the BLOGS about the issues then you will know what the economists are saying and it's not good. But sadly enough this is more of a popularity contest than it is a Presidential election. The media made that abundantly clear since the beginning. Grill the heck out of Hillary on the issues but hey did you see Obama play basketball - look how he is with the younger generation. Sure I would love to see history in the making too but just not at my own expense. People wake up - he didn't get this far just being a normal person. He is financially backed and supported by a family that wants the Presidency back. Quit being so wrapped up in change. Change is going to happen whoever wins. So if Obama should win and when the economy is in more of a rut than it is now then I can at least keep my head up and say I voted for McCain while I am living under the bridge.
Posted by: Still Worried | Aug 4, 2008 3:46:01 PM
"We're glad the Obama campaign retracted Barack Obama’s accusation because it was absolutely false, and we’re moving on," said Tucker Bounds,
What is the point of publishing the above quote? You are pushing the Republican line through violent presumtion.
Are you doing this consciously, or were you pwnd by Rove?
Posted by: Mike | Aug 4, 2008 12:45:56 PM
He wishes he will be on the $ bill,right?
Posted by: catleya | Aug 4, 2008 1:30:26 AM
McCain's short list . . .
CNN reports, "He's jewish, he's white" Mitt Romney, "He's white, he looks presidential."
Humm . . . is race not on the menu?
Posted by: rocknaspen | Aug 3, 2008 10:21:59 PM
bho has gotten his celebrity from speaking to hope, and change and a new way of politics. i have yet to figure out how that translates...
hope is a feeling, not an action.
i have no idea what his change is suppose to be...through out the primary he has said he and hillary were the same on policies(until he flipped on all of them once she suspended her campaign)so that is not new...
newpolitics? seems like the same game.
the words sound great, but there is nothing there...think it is called lip service.
Posted by: tr | Aug 3, 2008 10:19:23 PM
Question: Would it be considered racist if 90% of European Americans (Whites) voted for McCain?
Question: Would it be considered racist if 90% of African Americans (Blacks) voted for Obama?
Question: Do you think Obama, representing portions of Chicago where most violent crime occurs, should have done more to abate the rate of homicides in Chicago, during his years in Springfield as an Illinois State Senator, from 1997 to 2004? The number of homicides in Chicago, 1997 - 2004, were: 1997 (759), 1998 (704), 1999 (641), 2000 (628), 2001 (666), 2002 (647) 2003 (598), 2004 (448): Total (5,091 murders, the vast majority, Blacks killing other Blacks).
Question: Do you believe it is proper to disparage those who supported you, helped you, spoke for you, and frequently gave to your cause? Did not the Clinton do all of these things for Barack Obama? Yet,Sen Obama, his campaign and his followers attached the sinister label, "Racist," to President Clinton. A label that stains and wrenches. Cavalierly was the racist label attached; then supported, then broadcasted to the world, even cheered. And, for what reason, to win? And those who stained and who cheered and who spread the ugly mischaracterization, well they must be happy; after all, they won. And, the man who was stained with the "Racist" label; well, he and his daughter are in Africa doing all they can to save African children, African mothers, African fathers, and African grandparents from the big disease with the little name. Yet, while facing sick African babies, having been up and about for nearly twenty straight hours, he had responded to a question regarding whether or not he is a racist.
Question: What is your opinion of Dr. Faust? And, for what will you sell your soul?
Posted by: Percy | Aug 3, 2008 10:18:07 PM
Obama "The biggest enemy I think we have in this whole process ... it's not just terrorists, it's not just Hezbollah, it's not just Hamas -- it's also cynicism".
======================================
OMG!!!!!!!!!! Right....cynicism ranks right up there with terrorist. How can he be the Democratic nominee????? HOW!
Posted by: James | Aug 3, 2008 10:07:25 PM
Cynical? Obama calls McCain cynical? That is rich.
Posted by: Bea | Aug 3, 2008 10:03:06 PM
Sylvia Johnsen,
I agree with you on the eh's and uh's in Obama's speeches, but McCain uses cue cards in every speech even when he has a teleprompter.
He's sooo far behind Obama in his speech giving abilities it's scary.
Jealousy will get Republicans nowhere. Obama is a better speaker, he can motivate and he can lead. McCain can make attack ads and he's so smart that he attacks one of his richest fans/voters (the Hiltons).
Oh and I found out why McCain is mad at Obama's "celebrity-hood." McCain wasted years of his life catering to them, but could never achieve the coveted status. Jealousy is a short man's disease. LOL
The sad part is that Obama gets more applause when he walks into a room than McCain gets when he talks about the issues.
McCain's strongest applause usually comes after he mentions Obama! It's a terrible day in Republican-land when your leader has to talk about Obama to get his party motivated. How pathetic!!! HA HA HA ROTFLMAO!
The great part for Obama is he's getting free advertisement at Republican Rallies. Keep talking about Obama...remember when it comes to politicians bad news is bad news, but when it come to celebrities even bad news is good news.
Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Drew | Aug 3, 2008 9:54:44 PM
Did Obama forget he has a lot of former Clinton and Carter people on his campaign.
He is a politician, who thinks he is the NEW candidate. He is the same as the rest...
Posted by: Patti | Aug 3, 2008 7:10:40 PM
More proof that the media is not doing its job. MSM has a shield around McCain!
February 26, 2008 - In the GOP stronghold of Cincinnati, right-wing radio host Bill Cunningham whipped up a crowd of more than 300 supporters by using Barack Obama's middle name often, ripping Hillary Clinton as a first lady and referring to former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright as an "ugly, old woman.
April 8, 2008 - McCain supporter David Bellavia: "You can have your Tiger Woods, we've got John McCain." McCain, who was on stage when Bellavia made the comment, hugged the candidate before taking the podium.
Posted by: Danny | Aug 3, 2008 6:15:27 PM
debraraes, by cynical he means that McCain is promoting the view that real change isn't possible and there is no point participating in the political process.
In other words, making fun of the fact that people have hope for the future. Based on what I've seen of the campaign,I have to agree with Obama here.
It seems that McCain feels that the only way he can win is by convincing people that political participation is pointless.
Posted by: Mike | Aug 3, 2008 5:47:06 PM
OBAMA says McCain not racist but cynical? WHo is he to call anyone cynical, when he claims he is all things to all people? WHat is he angry that McCain is finally talking about the issues?
Posted by: debraraes | Aug 3, 2008 5:33:24 PM
McSame knows he cannot win on the issues, so he's resorting to character assassination of his opponent. He baited Obama with ads designed to imply a racial dimension to the campaign that was not there before. When Obama called him on it, McSame cried 'race card'. King George used similar slimy tactics in '04 since it was the only way he could win with the sheeple who voted for him. "Keep the people in fear of change so you can maintain the status quo". The republican political mantra for far too many years. And look where we are now.....
Posted by: SearamblerOne | Aug 3, 2008 3:51:31 PM
I want McCane to explain to me why he is so serious and urgent about this drilling, and why it can't be done any other time except now before Bush leave office?
Posted by: victor0803 | Aug 3, 2008 3:46:54 PM
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