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For Obama, It's Now or Never
September 05, 2007 4:24 PM
ABC News' Jonathan Greenberger Reports: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said Wednesday that this may be his last chance at running for president.
Asked if his '08 bid was just a strategic move to position himself for a run in 2012, Obama said he didn't think his wife would allow him to run again if it doesn't work out this time.
"Well, I'm not sure- I don't think my wife's going to let me do this twice. So let me be clear about that," Obama said while campaigning in Iowa.
Obama also sought to answer charges from his Democratic rivals that he is too inexperienced to be president, by pointing to his experience in the Illinois state legislature.
"I've been in elected office longer than John Edwards or Hillary Clinton," said Obama. "I've passed more bills I'm sure than either of them --certainly in the state legislative level."
Obama served eight years in the Illinois state Senate before his 2004 election to the United States Senate. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is in her second term as a United States senator, following eight years she spent in the White House married to former President Bill Clinton. When Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., left the Senate following his 2004 vice presidential run, he had only served one six-year term.
Obama also took aim at Clinton's work on health care, arguing that the "closed" nature of the task force she led undermined the chances for reform.
"What the president can do," said Obama, "is shine the spotlight on the process and mobilize the American people to keep the pressure on. And that's something that didn't happen. And in some ways, in '93 that didn't happen because it was a closed process. And not everybody understood what was taking place, so when the insurance companies and the drug companies starting airing those Harry and Louise ads, you know, nobody really knew what was what. And that's why the American people have to be involved."
Obama's remarks come on the heels of a new ad, "Change," which seeks to position him as the anti-Washington and anti-lobbyist candidate.
September 5, 2007 in Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (160)
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Obama is right. He gives Edwards far too much credit though! Edwards only has about 3 years experience as a senator. He abandoned us here in NC after 3 years when his ego took off, an he began chasing the presidency like it was an ambulance!
Posted by: NC for Me | Sep 5, 2007 8:44:56 PM
Stop Hilary , vote against Hilary is to give a chance to our children and grant-children. Somebody els but not Hilary is to open American's dream to all the citizen.....
Posted by: Bertrand | Sep 5, 2007 8:45:01 PM
Um, Abraham Lincoln didn't have much experience either people...either did George Washington!! check the historical record, which shows that vast prior experience is no guarantee of a successful presidency and limited previous experience does not portend failure.
Posted by: ted | Sep 5, 2007 8:52:20 PM
Hillary is not more experienced than Barak Obama. The media is trying to fool people into thinking Hillary is more experienced than Barak. Quite frankly, Barak is more experience on the legislative side when it comes to passing legislation. Also, even though Hillary served as first lady for eight years this was more of a ceremonial role that she served based upon her husband being elected President. Hillary is not more experienced on foreign affairs that Barak. I believe that their experience in this area is relatively the same.
Hillary needs to allow the media to have access to her records as a first lady to determine what experience she gained in this particular role and provide the public with what if any information they uncover. It is amazing to me that the media has not critically examined Hillary's papers when she served as the First lady. It is my understanding that her campaign does not want to allow the press to have access to these records until after the election is over. The media needs to be given access to these records and the public has the right to know what is contained in these records.
Posted by: Robert | Sep 5, 2007 8:52:29 PM
That does not mean Hillary or Obama will be a good president either though, but that 'experience' cannot necssarily determine either. Personally I pray that Ron Paul will be president
Posted by: ted | Sep 5, 2007 8:53:36 PM
Agreed, Bertrand. The Hillary campaign needs to be smacked down and Obama is my man in '08!
Posted by: Luna | Sep 5, 2007 8:54:26 PM
Bill got a chance but he didn't do anything for Black people,only eat and play music with them, now he need a chance again to correct it. Noway for Hilary , life is like you are write a book, impossible to correct it. Sorry Mrs President we don't need you again...You wife isn't the problem. The problem is 32 years you and Bush is too much for americans people. Do you understand that Mrs President Bill Clinton ??????? You are a liar and you can not change , even , we don't need you service anymore.
Posted by: Bertrand | Sep 5, 2007 8:55:28 PM
Why because Obama will keep funding regimes in Africa? We need smaller government, and a sound fiscal policy. Check out Ron Paul!!
Posted by: ted | Sep 5, 2007 8:56:17 PM
Big deal. All that means is that he's had less real-life experience than the others and he is even less qualified to lead this nation. Let's face it, if he wasn't black he would be laughed off the ballot. That's not a slap against him, it shows the cowardice of the mainstream media.
Posted by: ETF | Sep 5, 2007 8:56:41 PM
First of all, America is not a democracy at all... it's a republic. It's up to the voters to decide who shall be elected to office to make policy, and of course all of that should represent what the people themselves want, but alas, we are a long way from that reality. Candidates are bought & sold with such ease and nonchalance.
I vote every election, and I plan to do so again. To not vote would be to disgrace and belittle all those who have fought for my right to do so. But I refuse to vote for a proclaimed socialist like Hillary Clinton. According to her, she'd like to take any profits made by my business, or anyone else's, and delegate where it goes. Um, sorry honey - at this juncture, you don't have the right to touch my profits.
Posted by: Disdain Lady | Sep 5, 2007 8:57:17 PM
I'd vote for GWB if he COULD run again. GWB is AWESOME!
Posted by: No Doubt | Sep 5, 2007 9:05:43 PM
RIght.. Obama has been a Senator for just a short time. He's been campaigning.. not working. What Experience?
Posted by: Edgar BEavue | Sep 5, 2007 9:06:39 PM
Hilary has a nostalgia , sleeping in same house , noway Ms president we can not allow again. Now is our time , now is our time , time to punish whashington wisdom .No vote for them because of our 4000 young men died, impossible to bring them back again, 3000 wounded. Hilary will drink champagne in White House at the same time families are crying their children. America Shame on you/////shame on you people who will vote for them.They voted for the war and no judgment , no punishment sorry for all americans,,it is nothing t6o be ashame than be american in this situation. America is not difference with africa dictatorship . I am sorry about that but it is true...........really true 32 years same families unbelievable...
Posted by: Bertrand | Sep 5, 2007 9:10:31 PM
Obama strikes me as an empty suit; sound and pretend fury signifying nothing. And he's still the best candidate the Democrats have running. What a sorry state of affairs.
Posted by: PeakListing | Sep 5, 2007 9:21:44 PM
Clinton is saying that Mandela is his friend. The question is why Clinton is bringing help in Africa ? Black americans need help too. Why not help them ? Africa doesn't need your help, if they are poor let them solve their own problems...Don't be Jesus , it is a wrong place for you. Don't show up for nothing, it is media movie . Clinton go to New Orlans and help , go to Harlem and help, go to chicago and bring your help not Africa you are a big liar...sorry
Posted by: Bertrand | Sep 5, 2007 9:22:59 PM
Obi-Wan seems like a very nice man maybe a little too nice. He seems to be willing to placate people for world opinion at the risk of the US. Clinton 2.0 forgets that sleeping with the boss did not mean she was the boss. The reality is that she was never elected to anything until after Clinton 1.0 was out of the Big House.
To Lee Yarborough: Your condescending attitude about people not being able to afford computers is based on such out dated arrogance it is amazing. Some of us are out here with our $500 laptop computers with more horse power than the arrogant idiots that pay $3,000 and don’t know how to use them. The rest of us make our living with them, including affording a 3 bedroom townhouse on the ocean in Miami Beach, some call it South Beach. Intelligence is no reflection on earning power; it is really based on luck and work, more on luck. By discounting a person’s intelligence based on what they make is really dumb.
Posted by: Jeff In Miami | Sep 5, 2007 9:22:59 PM
Having been in office is no measure of your character or qualifications. Ted Kennedy and Barney Frank are just two examples. Extreme left-wing antics notwithstanding, I see no moderation of tone nor any leadership qualities. Obama is like a marionette. God only knows who is pulling the strings. Just listen to his speak extemporaneously. He's usually floundering for the right words to speak which is why he's uttered some pretty remarkable blunders.
Posted by: Schratboy | Sep 5, 2007 9:29:04 PM
Obama 2008! He has the best initiative to bring this country out of the hell we have been through, and he has the most credence as a moral family man! He can do so much for our country, and Hilary will never make it- So the Romney-Giuliani ticket will win and America will continue to go down the drain.
Posted by: Ms. Smith | Sep 5, 2007 9:30:23 PM
Barack Obama will lead this country back to the place of respect that we once enjoyed among the other nations of this world. Get ready to witness some real change. It is about time.
Posted by: eSPO | Sep 5, 2007 9:32:11 PM
I don't like hillary or her husband. Everytime the two of them appear on TV I turn it off. Why would the American people be so stupid and put that womanizer back in the White House. Some black folk are real stupid to vote for her. She will do nothing for them. She is nothing more than an empty wagon, making a lot of noise. I dislike hillary so that if she should win the primary I will not vote. She is a liar as well as her husband. I am still trying to figure out what change she will bring about. Oh, making she is speaking of changing the Oval Office so she can keep an eye on bill.
Posted by: desiree | Sep 5, 2007 9:34:35 PM
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