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Obama's Campaigning/Gustav Balancing Act

September 01, 2008 11:09 AM

There is very cleary some awkwardness for the Obama campaign as it tries to ask for votes with a natural disaster about to hit.

We discussed this a bit yesterday, but since then, the difficulties have gotten a bit more obvious.

This morning, for instance, we learned that scrappy running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., has decided not to march in the Pittsburgh Labor Day parade this morning. Instead, he held a press availability in Pittsburgh to talk about Hurricane Gustav.

And last night, before a pumped-up crowd in Battle Creek, Mich., Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., took quite a bit of time to talk to the crowd about what's going on 1,000 miles south.

"Before we start talking about some of the issues, I want to talk to you about how I've been spending the day," Obama said. "I started off at church this morning in Lima -- thank you," he said, mispronouncing the name of the Ohio town (Peru is LEE-ma, Ohio is LIE-ma) as people applauded.

"And we did a little town hall meeting in Toledo, Ohio," Obama continued, "and stopped at Hamilton Lake for some sliders and made our way up here. But in between, while I've been on the bus, I've been on the phone with Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff, talking to folks on the ground who are dealing with what could be a horrendous hurricane along the coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, maybe Alabama. And it appears that after the travesty of Katrina three years ago, some lessons have been learned, and that the federal government is coordinating effectively with state and local governments, making sure that evacuations are taking place and people are on the ground ... ready to provide help and relief to those who may be affected.

"In fact, over the last couple of days, everybody's attention has been focused on this hurricane coming, and whether you're a Democrat, a Republican, or an independent –- doesn’t really matter, because we want to make sure that those areas are safe, and we don't have time for small politics when we are faced with a threat like that," Obama said.

"And so, our thoughts and prayers go out to the families that are having to evacuate -– imagine how difficult and wrenching that must be, if you had just spent the last two years rebuilding your home and you now don't know what's going to happen. But here's a point that I'd like to make, guys, is that that attitude of thinking about our neighbors, about making sure our politics isn't small, making sure our politics is big, making sure that we are thinking about cooperating with one another instead of trying to rip each other down -- that kind of philosophy is what America needs every single day and that's part of the reason that I am running for president for the United Sates of America. And restoring that spirit every single day here in the United States."

His nod having been made to a national need to be free of petty partisan politics during this storm, Obama then proceeded to "rip" Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., over a number of issues, a series of attacks that included Obama saying he's "tired of listening to folks who talk tough and act dumb" on foreign policy.

"John McCain says the economy's made 'great progress' since George Bush took office," Obama said. "He says the fundamentals of the economy are sound. The guy who wrote his economic plan, his chief economic advisor, said you don't really have a problem, you're just suffering a mental recession, and he called you a nation of whiners."

- jpt*

*Andy Fies, Sunlen Miller and Matt Jaffe contributed to this report.

September 1, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (83)

User Comments

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IMO MCCain is the fraud,picking a woman for VP to try and gardner the woman voters Sorry as a women voter it won't work Senator McCain .I respect Palin's right to her choices but I do not want them shoved down my or my family's throats.It is my choice which religion my children are brought up in not a schools.Everyone complains about teenage pregancy but don't want to let them know about birth control LOL doesn't make sense to me!!!

Posted by: maryjane | Sep 1, 2008 7:19:55 PM

Obama is experienced? He's never run a business, a city or a state. He's one of 99 voices. Period.

I find it interesting that Democrats (male, most of the voices) are asking if Palin experienced enough.

They don't seem to see the hypocrisy --

Their inexperienced guy is #1 on the ticket and is qualified.

Republicans less experienced women is the #2 on the ticket and she's not qualified.

Posted by: Peach | Sep 1, 2008 4:24:35 PM

Obama/Biden: Escalating the War on Fathers and Families

The op-ed below was posted on The Intellectual Conservative on Tuesday, August 26, 2008.
Gordon E. Finley, Ph.D.
-----

August 26th, 2008

Obama/Biden: Escalating the War on Fathers and Families

by Gordon E. Finley

What does Barack Obama’s selection of Senator Biden portend for his future appointments and the future of the American family?

Posted by: Gordon E. Finley, Ph.D. | Sep 1, 2008 4:10:30 PM

Obama/Biden: Escalating the War on Fathers and Families

The op-ed below was posted on The Intellectual Conservative on Tuesday, August 26, 2008.
Gordon E. Finley, Ph.D.
-----


August 26th, 2008

Obama/Biden: Escalating the War on Fathers and Families

by Gordon E. Finley

What does Barack Obama’s selection of Senator Biden portend for his future appointments and the future of the American family?

Posted by: Gordon E. Finley, Ph.D. | Sep 1, 2008 4:08:23 PM

every body's talking about this thang called experience they ask? "is he experienced","has he ever been experienced" "well,we know what experience is and he doesn't have it and we can prove it to you" and they begin parroting talking points spoon fed to them by the various right wing babbling head cases who uses their mediums to push divisive agendas that fuel mistrust,hatred and prejudices while becoming multi-millionaires by preying on and exploiting the genuine concerns of much of the public but after listening to their sing along mindless gibberish it becomes obvious to all whose i.q is higher then that of a moron that the vast majority of them are freaking clueless about not only what qualifies as experience but that experience alone isnot a qualifier or an indicator for being president {i.e.YOU KNOW WHO}like my great grand pappy always said "fool em once shame on you"fool em twice and they must be republicans" so to those who pin their votes based on experience i say experience without good judgment is a recipe for disaster{i.e.YOU KNOW WHO&THE LAST EIGHT YRS}

Posted by: brkdckdwg | Sep 1, 2008 2:25:15 PM

Asia2PA,

Granted, he wasn't there at her death, but you shouldn't try to apply your own reasons as to why he wasn't. His mother was not the typical stay at home mom. As a matter of fact, she was quite a successful and accomplished woman:

"In 1992, Obama's mother finally finished her Ph.D. dissertation, which she had worked on, between jobs, for almost two decades. The thesis is 1,000 pages, a meticulous analysis of peasant blacksmithing in Indonesia. The glossary, which she describes as "far from complete," is 24 pages. She dedicated the tome to her mother; to Dewey, her adviser; "and to Barack and Maya, who seldom complained when their mother was in the field."

From what I've read about Obama's feelings for his mother, it's hard to believe, had he known she was dying, that he would not have been there.

Posted by: Lou | Sep 1, 2008 2:11:11 PM

Hey trettion,

At least He CAN say POW. You coward...bet you never served...how dare you stand there and judge a man's service to his Country. He earned the right -you hear me? EARNED the privilege - something I'm sure you know absolutely nothing about...so I'm told if you haven't something true to say about someone, then hush your mouth.

Posted by: Dorothy | Sep 1, 2008 1:53:31 PM

Dragonfly777 asks: what about during Katrina when he was eating Birthday cake with George Bush while people drowned ?.. Where was America then ?

As someone pointed out earlier, McCain did not oversee FEMA...he was not aware of the tragic events or the governments state of unpreparedness to deal with such an emergency. HINDSIGHT IS 20/20...and with McCain in office, we can be assured this would never happen to another American city or state again.

Posted by: Dorothy | Sep 1, 2008 1:49:27 PM

No mention of the fact that Obama called for people to evacuate two days ago yesterday. Even called into some of the local radio stations. He asked his supporters to donate to red cross and for volunteers to help if necessary after the hurricane.

Obama choose not to fly to gulf for a photo op.

Posted by: Mr. Unite Us | Sep 1, 2008 1:33:40 PM

The chauvinistic approach to the primary by the Democrats and the press left such a bitter taste in my mouth,
I'm casting my vote Republican. Obama is inexperienced and is more concerned about being a movie star than a leader. The money spent on his stage performance did not help middle America.
With all the unaccounted bundeled money he raised from the media and God knows who else, he could help alot of families.

Posted by: rmiller | Sep 1, 2008 1:32:59 PM

Asia2PA,

Just wondering where you got the story of Obama not visiting his mother.

Posted by: Lou | Sep 1, 2008 1:14:30 PM

What's very troubling is how Obama didn't bother to visit his own mother as she died of ovarian cancer. Of course he was starting his first campaign for political office so that took precedence.

Posted by: Asia2PA | Sep 1, 2008 1:10:42 PM

d0,

Sorry if I don't buy your argument that McCain is of substance and Obama nothingness.

Just saying so doesn't cut it.

Posted by: Lou | Sep 1, 2008 1:09:00 PM

d0,

I don't recall you asking any questions. I must have missed them, but you can ask them again if you like.

And here's some further reading for you:

Senator Obama introduced the Attacking Viral Influenza Across Nations Act (S. 969), which calls for collaboration and cooperation at the state, national, and international level to ensure preparedness in the event of pandemic influenza. Such preparedness includes the procurement of antivirals, development of effective vaccines, and improvement of the public health infrastructure and medical surge capacity in hospitals.

Senator Obama also worked to push $7.9 billion through the Senate to help the U.S. prepare for the possibility of an avian flu pandemic.

Posted by: Lou | Sep 1, 2008 1:07:18 PM

Lou,

I am not necessarily a McCain supporter and I do not need to defend his record which is strong and full of substance.

I am simply against a God of Nothingness.

Posted by: d0 | Sep 1, 2008 1:07:01 PM

The economy is getting better. But Obama NEEDS the economy to be bad, Obama needs the Iraq war to turn bad, Obama needs the people to suffer, he needs everything to be bad. Without it no one would have given this under unqualified guy the time of day. He is playing on the suffering of others so he can promote himself. We are getting out of Iraq without him, we are making head way in the economy, things are happening in spite of him and without him. He will not bring change..that is truly the sad part and millions will be disappointed. He is a Bush in Democrats clothing. Because he is black, no one will be allowed to challenge him and will be called racist..Biden will continue his sexist antics and the real change of Hillary Clinton will never take place. After Nov Hillary will be cast under the bus..no longer a need for her. It will be a sad day for all Americans should the medicine sideshow take office.

Posted by: dragonfly777 | Sep 1, 2008 1:03:44 PM

McCain told NBC's "Today" show in an interview broadcast yesterday. "This is just one of those moments in history where you have to put America first." Can I vomit now...... A campaign slogan.... Put America first ..... what about during Katrina when he was eating Birthday cake with George Bush while people drowned ?.. Where was America then ?

Posted by: Ron | Sep 1, 2008 1:03:05 PM

d0,

Still waiting for you to post a John McCain bill.

Posted by: Lou | Sep 1, 2008 1:02:33 PM

Hey, Lou,

You haven't answer my six questions. Here's a hint, for all six of them:

amab0

Posted by: d0 | Sep 1, 2008 12:59:43 PM

What is this about a 6 million dollar temple Obama built to himself?

Posted by: Lou | Sep 1, 2008
===

The Temple of Doom on top of Mile High for the ascend of His Phoniness, Zerobameus, God of Nothingness.

Posted by: d0 | Sep 1, 2008 12:56:12 PM

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