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Obama in Ohio: "I Fear No Man When I've Got Truth On My Side"

August 05, 2008 4:20 PM

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, faced a raucous crowd here in Berea, Ohio. It started with a young man on one of the press platforms who demanded that all 2,700 people in the room recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Obama, once he made out what the man was saying, complied and led the pledge, thanking the man afterwards, defusing what could have been an ugly scene.

One man in the audience during the town hall asked Obama how he would fight the war of words.

"Our politics has gotten so – ah – nasty – that’s the word I was looking for," said Obama. "But not just nasty, also cynical and manipulative, right? Where we say things that we don’t mean.

"So John McCain says ‘Barack would rather lose the war to win an election’ – he just said something like that," Obama continued. "You know, despite the fact that if we had followed my recommendation not to go into the war in Iraq we would have about an extra trillion dollars to rebuild our economy, we would have been on the path of energy independence,  we would have finished the job in Afghanistan and gone after al Qaeda.

"So I’m happy to have a battle of words because I’ve got facts on my side," he concluded. "I’ve got truth on my side! I fear no man when I’ve got truth on my side!"

The crowd cheered, revival-style.

- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller

August 5, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (108)

User Comments

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Rachel,

Excuse me, I mean presumptive nomination and presumtive nominee.

Posted by: Sue | Aug 6, 2008 4:00:03 AM

Rachel,

As far as I am aware Obama and Bill Clinton have spoken only once since he received the nomination. Where do you see Senator Obama demanding that Bill Clinton speak for him? We are obviously speaking from 2 deep divides on the Democratic fence. I mean I am assuming you are still intending to vote as a Democrat. From what I see from where I sit my arse, they are at a stalemate. The Clintons are thinking Obama has not done enough to help with the debt, and Obama is wondering what kind of an asset President Clinton could possibly be with a chip on his shoulder. We just see things differently.

Posted by: Sue | Aug 6, 2008 3:56:33 AM

Staniam, but Obama now says that an apology and reprations for slavery are not needed(dont want to scare white people. He talks out of both sides of his mouth so much

Posted by: rachel | Aug 6, 2008 3:52:41 AM

Sue its really easy for Obama supporters to claim oh I would have voted for hillary had she won. I don't beleive it one bit!!! There would have been all sorts of alligations beign thrown around. Also if you believe for one mintue that Obama would have not tried to position himself as vp had he lost and came in second place I think you are mistaken. He is a typical politican, he had his lawyers challenge all of alice plamer;s signatures in her bid to get on the state sentate ballot in Illnois, and he had his lawyers blocking a revote effort for florida and michigan. 10-1 he would have had his lawyers fighting for him the 2nd spot on the ballot. Again I say what are the Obama supporters beef you can make everyone love Obama he won and he and his supporters obviously feel he can do it without them. Al gore is the one distanced himself from Bill because of scandel just like McCain wanted to distance himself from Bush, and it cost Al the election well that and a little electin fraud. While you may be sick of the Clinton supporters demanding things from Obama, I am sick of Obama supporters who for months told bill, hillary to shut up now demand they go out and speech highly of Obama.

Posted by: rachel | Aug 6, 2008 3:48:27 AM

"you need to just deal with the fact that Obama cant win without the Clintons and Hillary as VP"

I did not say I am sick of the Clintons -- I am sick of the Clinton supporters. There is a big difference. I guess the worse is the constant threats, like you can't do this without us supporters, etc. Really? You want to take your ball and go home and be damned to the Supreme Court? And to be honest, that PUMA stuff is lame. As for the Clintons themselves, I think the feeling that you supporters are trying to force Obama supporters to try to help pay off her Mark Penn debt is lame. And I think Bill Clinton's refusal to say that Obama is credible says more about Bill Clinton (so many memories that raises of how he treated Al Gore) than it says about Senator Obama. However, if the shoe had been on the other foot, I would have voted for Hillary -- I would not have demanded that Hillary select Barack as her VP because they do not fit each other, they do not suit each other's brand.

Posted by: Sue | Aug 6, 2008 3:31:02 AM

Sue, I am sick to death of most Obama supporters. I mean they constantly bash Hillary, say she's not helping Obama when in fact she has appeared with him more than any of the other democratic nomniees. I dont recall any other number 2 person beign forced to help the winner. I don't get the Obama supporters your guy won and you all think he can win without clinton supporters so why so angry because some clinton supporters don't support him? I bet if Clinton had won all the Obama supporters would still be having fits. Bill doesnt have to help Obama 10 to 1 Obama doesnt even want his help. Hillary will be out to support Obama friday in Nevada(lord knows why he hasn't really tried to help her).

Posted by: rachel | Aug 6, 2008 3:17:14 AM

I am sick to death of Clinton supporters. They should have their voter registration cards taken away for being self-destructive, ruinous idiots that deserve McCain and Karl Rove, and they should have the Republican brand stamped on their foreheads for all to see.

Posted by: Sue | Aug 6, 2008 2:46:52 AM

re: Martin's comments: "
'Obama's far left leaning policies'

such as?

Posted by: Big E | Aug 6, 2008 2:42:50 AM

Senator Obama far left leaning and socialic poliies have definitely hurt the Democratic Party. Many democrats have changed to independent status and are thoroughly disgusted with Obama, the DNC and both domestic and foreign current policies. Many Clinton supporters have not been won over to Obama's side.

Posted by: Martin | Aug 6, 2008 2:34:28 AM

barbara Tate

You are in no position to make demands or suggestions of Demands to the Clintons by the Obama campaign... Obama will lose without Clinton its simple math and you know it hes sinking fast the enthusiasm is still there but like I said in the primaries you dont want a rock star or someone your kid told you to vote for you want someone that can be effective so you will be happy with Hillary as VP and we can win the election its not a time for people in their 40s or whatever to wake up from a stuper and start voting for a candidate that their kids told them that they had to do thats crazy

Posted by: staniam | Aug 6, 2008 2:04:37 AM

I love the comment by one of the responders that Obama has besmirched the good Democratic name. Holy cow! I thought Bill Clinton did that back in the 90's when he had his fling with Monica. And it seems that he is now trying to see to it that Obama loses this election. Well, I can guarantee that if he doesn't get over his mad fit over Hillary losing, she will never get this party's nomination. She will lose even bigger if the Clintons try to sabotage Obama's campaign. The whole party leadership will turn against her big time.

Posted by: barbara tate | Aug 6, 2008 1:57:39 AM

I think not not just anyone can run for president.... you have to have an ego! That being said,Obama has to get over his hardcore supporters crying that he has moved to the center and he should seal the election by pickign Hillary Clinton.... because Like PRESIDENT Clinton said the only qualifications for President are being 35 and a natural born us citizen but running for president or even being VP for 8 yrs doesnt prepare you for the job! Bill Clinton is stil the smartest guy in the room.. lets pick Hillary and get this show over with!

Posted by: staniam | Aug 6, 2008 1:50:42 AM

"Sounds like Obama was on fire today!"
shouts Bill. He was. A smouldering
Kool butt in his pants pocket.......
Air in your tires is great/smoking can
kill you.

Posted by: oddfellow | Aug 6, 2008 1:42:58 AM

That's pretty funny coming from someone who wouldn't know the truth if it smacked him in the face.

Posted by: anne | Aug 6, 2008 1:24:32 AM

Yeah, like the "truth" that Obama sat in Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years and just had no idea where he really stood on things. Barak Obama is a consummate poseur and this is the truth that, God willing, will be fully revealed by election day.

Posted by: Thank God for Karma | Aug 6, 2008 1:22:35 AM

TG:
"Do you think Mccain can be successful in 10 town hall debates"
________________
Yes, I do....

Of course, Obama's sliced them down to three..... the less for him to have remember... but if he plays it fair and square, I think McCain will be terrific.

Posted by: between the ears | Aug 6, 2008 1:14:11 AM

Do you think Mccain can be successful in 10 town hall debates. I'm in doubt even one. Because, with out reading the script it will be hard for him to analyze the current economic situation. regarding war in Iraq. No one can claim to be a winner or a loserat this time. We won that war during Sadam Hussein with in a few days. That was a real victory. After that we stayed there as a peace keeper. We can leave any time with out shame.

Posted by: TG | Aug 6, 2008 12:30:39 AM

It's really amazing that the Republicans like to ally themselves with outright stupidity, willful ignorance in the face of facts that are easy to check. It is no mere coincidence that the supporters of "intelligent design' and the 'creationist museum' are evangelical Republicans.
I wonder if McCain is able to string along multiple sentences with accurate information without sneering and laughing at his own jokes, and, without the trailing Graham & Lieberman to correct him? I also wonder what McCain will say when all the truth is revealed about how the Iraq war really started?
Give me more videos of McCain and Bush hugging and kissing!

Posted by: Big E | Aug 6, 2008 12:06:18 AM

Mr. Obama, who has faced being shot by numerous cameras to show his "courage", was led by a person in the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance - now that's leadership. Clearly Mr. Obama is a self-Truther like other self- serving narcissicists - a worthy successor to Bill Clinton who exceeds even his self-aggrandizement.

Posted by: PAXALLES | Aug 5, 2008 11:45:01 PM

The consequential cost of the Iraq and Afghani War is now estimated at somewhere above 2.4 Trillion Dollars.

And the fact that the war is funded by "emergency appropriations" means that the costs have not yet been factored into the national debt, which Bush has raised from $6 trillion to $10 trillion during his incompetent and corrupt administration.

Posted by: bobdevo | Aug 5, 2008 11:43:25 PM

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