yeah its critical. If obama somehow LOSES South Carolina, how can he say with a straight face he can beat Clinton on super tuesday?

Well Obama has millions of dollars and all his friends from Hollywood serenading the blacks in South Carolina, interesting is that he in a very subdue way plays the race card very well. Hope this guy lose in South Carolina so they can't get away with winning primaries by playing with people hopes and promises promises. Don't dare to attack him or ask for his record because they will answer back with the race card again.
Obama you should go away and take your personal ambitions to Chicago or Hollywood and become rich!

Article today by Joseph Califano concerning MLK and LBJ hit the nail on the head. Clinton knows her history. For Obama and his staff to misconstrue such a crucial piece of American history to construct a racial issue was denegrating to Obama; he disrespected himself and African-Americans in general. Clinton took for granted that everyone would agree and understand such a obvious statement, knowing how close MLK and LBJ had worked together for civil rights. Never did they dream Obama's camp, nor the public (who know nothing about history, or geography for that matter) would turn such a sacred element of our nation's history into a racial divide. What first looked to be a problem for Clinton has now gone full circle, and reveals Obama to look like the poor sport and sour grapes loser that he is. Leaving Las Vegas like he did also spoke volumes. So did media not reporting his abrupt departure. What in the world would cause him to cut and run so fast, I wonder? Hmmmm..

This is misleading. 51% is not the popular vote. There was no popular vote reported. Think of it this way, one precinct is allotted 10 delegates. 18 people there show up for clinton, 2 for Obama. For that precinct, Clinton would get 9 delegates and Obama would get 1. Whereas another pricinct is alotted 5 delegates. 40 show up for Obama and 10 for Clinton. Thats 4 delegates for Obama but 1 for Clinton. Totals delegates? 10 for Clinton and 5 for Obama but for the popular vote, Obama has 42 where Clinton only has 28.

Hillary won the most delegates, not the popular vote. And that only means what the NDC says it means in April. Historically, the way the delegates are traditionally allotted, it would mean Obama would win. But Hillary is crying again so they want to change the rules for her.

tom,

You are correct. South Carolina is critical. And I think it was a very politically savy move by Clinton to inject race into the election, Obama tried to just let her deal with it, but had a few supporters and one campaign person buck that plan. One thing about Clinton's tactic is this: it probably helps her for the nomination, but it will probably destroy her chances in South Carolina. Obama, however, like he did this morning, needs to pump unity and remove the race issue before Feb. 5th. He also needs to sharpen his message and get his main points into soundbite size messages. Right now his message is good, but too long for the modern soundbite campaign. His willingness to strike back recently gives me hope that he can do what he needs to do to win without betraying the principles of his campaign. We will see.

Tom, everyone will tell you that every precinct was very close. You cannot assume anything. If they had really counted head, yes, I would agree. But if you count delegates,that's not the same as counting every vote.

all you people post here about obama playing the race card, but name one instance that HE responded to Clinton's statement? ONE! The only time he responded he said that the statement was not racist and that folks should not be over critical of the race component of that statement. It goes only to show the political ferver in this country that folks say he is playing the race card. SMH. I guess Clinton would be doing the same thing as she ushers her black supporters left and right since she made those statements. people...wake up...

CNN even ran a story about how Hillary won 1 precinct because they broke a tie between Clinton and Obama by drawing cards. Oh please.

He calls for a re-count in New Hampshire (via surrogates) and now tries to turn a 6-point loss into a question mark. This guy is a whiner and a sore loser. He is failing to make his own case, on its own merits. I wish he'd be a man and take responsibility for his own poor performance.

Even CNN is calling is a delegate count, or a tally. They said many times on CNN as the results came in that its not a popular vote.

People want it to be because they want Hillary to win. But let's not misuse words and mislead people.

Nevada's caucus rules are weird. Fifty one percent of the people who came to the caucuses voted for Clinton, and 45% voted for Obama. Delegates are assigned according to a complicated formula - one that weights rural precincts, and the at-large Strip precincts, heavier than other precincts. Obama won more rural votes, and more counties, and Clinton won more of the at-large Strip caucuses. When all the math is done, Clinton gets 12 delegates and Obama gets 13. None of which matters much, because they can all be shifted to either candidate by a vote at the State convention in April. Of course, as we all remember from 2000, winning delegates - or electoral college votes - can be more important than winning the popular vote. As a 25-year Nevada Democrat, I can assure you that Obama did not have a "poor performance" in Nevada. Every elected official, and every party leader, came out for Clinton early. Obama had no help from the Democratic party in Nevada, and in this state, that makes for tough odds. Whether we supported Clinton or Obama, Nevadans know that what Obama did is an unprecedented performance against the traditional power structure here.

Did you miss it? Michelle Obama first introduced race into the mix about two months ago when she declared that "blacks will wake up and get it"
(refering to the fact that they will get that Obama is like them and they need to vote for him)
That's race baiting.
Second, it was the Obama's people in South Carolina that pushed the five point memo that mis-stated things that the Clintons said and made them sound like they were playing the race card.
For me it has nothing to do with a black and white thing but rather Mr. Obama is only 46 (my age as well) No way is he ready to be Commander in Chief.
Lastly, I do not wnat to be preached to about hoping everyone one will play nice together, they will not...ever.

Hillary Clinton is going to completely change the democratic party. The comments made about MLK may be true, but represented poor judgement. If she beats Obama fair and square, she will get support from the Young and the Blacks. If not, many will vote for McCain, Bloomberg, or not vote. She will need to have these segments of the party to win, and she is using a losing, divisive strategy. Remember what happened after the Clinton's left office. The democrats lost many seats, and the Republicans dominated. That win at all cost approach will break the party.

what I cannot accept is the statement that this movement to Obama is not about color.

For the 8 years of Bill, the black community stood by him and were much more loyal than white folks really.

During this entire Bush nightmare, they have defended Bill's term and said how much better off they were. They stood up and voted for Hill 2 times and helped her win NY bigtime.

Now, in a sudden shift it is not about color but suddenly they leave Clinton and go to Obama. What is it he has done in their lives that materially helped them, in order to substantiate this shift?

Nothing, he hasn't cast a vote in the Senate for months and months.

So, a bunch of republicans skew Iowa, 97 percent white, vote against Hillary and the black community thinks Obama got the white vote cause they love him.

The media plays it up. They fall for it and now we have a total vote by color. But the outside of South Carolina, the black population is about 13 - 15%, of which about 5 - 8% vote.

Obama will win South Carolina, and alienate tons of people who see it as a color thing. And the backlash will be huge. Oprah backed off when she was overwhelmed with negative messages about favoritism due to color and not qualifications.

This is going to be a mess that is going to get worse. No one can point to that sudden vote, or bill, or law, or deed that Obama has accomplished to garner this shift other than color.

:( the republicans are loving it.

ps this CNN program on MLK tonight is AWESOME. Please watch it because it has his own handwriten notes, friends. It was and is incredible.

I don't want people to think that Obama's color precludes him to the high office. It is his short time in office, with no defineable bills or accomplishments in the Senate, that preclude him. He has to at least complete ONE term in office. Who shows up at IBM and says I have little to no upper management experience, but I should be made CEO?

Anyway, if he wins I will support him. I just think Hillary is stronger, has more years of fighting and surviving and thriving. I think she her 2139 votes on the Senate floor and 350 sponsored bills shows she has been there, while others weren't yet in the room.

MLK: Words That Changed A Nation. is on now - check it out! And prepare for tears, its really moving.

Here's why South Carolina is critical: Black constituents need to understand that Obama has a huge 800 pound (invisible)gorilla in the room named Rezko that's not going away. Set for trial next month in Chicago, Obama's poor judgement and past shady dealings with this Chicago sleaze may take him down. His twenty-year membership with Trinity United Christian Church and their Black Values System with its' racial overtones will never pass the litmus test with whites in a general election, either. With their "unashamedly Black" mantra, non-negotiable contract with Africa (not the United States), and the church's 2007 award to Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam racist and hate-monger, no way can he justify that association as a "unifying" quality to the masses. I see how that helped him be elected to Illinois Senate, but it's way too radical for the Democratic base. Folks, this is a no-brainer. Supporters of Obama are voting for another Republican White House. It's just as simple as that. Regroup and come up with a better fit. Obama has too little to offer and way too much baggage - most of it going down in the near future. If you want validation, look past the immediate. To set the stage for greatness, Hillary Clinton paves the way for the RIGHT successor. She will not let down the Democratic Party or her black supporters. No way. Although Bill Clinton is taking the rap for all that ails Obama, there's the rest of the story to be revealed about Obama. Yes, South Carolina is crucial for YOUR future. It is crucial to put Clinton in the White House.

I think Obama will win SC only because of the black vote. They are the majority in SC, that's how Jesse Jackson won SC too. I saw videos of the caucus in NV and when they showed the Obama voters they were 99% black people.

His campaign is pushing the race card. Obama admitted during the NV debate his campaign sent out that 4 page memo to push the race card. He told Timmy it was true. He ran those Spanish radio ads trying to push the race card too Hispanics didn't buy it.

Hillary recieved an endorsement yesterday from Rev. Calvin Butts III. That is a HUGE endorsement. I watched it on tv and Butts said blacks were calling him up and asking how he could support a white over a black. That is the mentality of Obama supporters.

Imagine if someone called an Obama white endorser and said How Can you support a black over a white?

Racism is in this election my friends.

I am fighting the temptation to respond to all of these comments…. but some are TOO ridiculous to ignore. (1) I AGREE that if Senator Clinton becomes president, change WILL follow. She will wear more designer pants suits, get a better haircut and the Congress will be DEADLOCKED – Not a single meaningful bill will be passed. Has everyone forgotten the health care bill? Great idea. America needed it... but the fact that it was attached to Hillary killed it. With her as president, the White House will again become a soap opera scene with former President Clinton in his starring role and Hillary trying to minimize the damage. Detracting her from the issues of the country. Oh, and what will Bills role be? If the recent weeks have been an indication, he plans to have a head seat at every major meeting. My goodness, what would be the role of the vice-president? I guess he could massage Hilliary’s feet. (2) Oprah did not back off. She made her endorsement (after all, she is an American citizen with the right to an opinion). After her endorsement, she went back to her billion-dollar business. She DOES have a life. (3) Senator Obama DID NOT introduce the race issue... the Clinton camp did. And once again, the Clinton camp is slicing and dicing up the constituency...because to them, we are all just a commodity to be won over. It’s women one week, Hispanic people one day and Black people another day…. when will we be viewed as simply Americans. America deserves so much more than that, even if you don't know it.

Just a reality check people. (1) The Obama camp DID NOT initiate the race issue. He and his camp responded. I actually wished they had not even dignified it w/ a response....but that’s politics. (2) Senator Clinton has championed some noble causes… but, I would rather have someone with fewer votes that were right than someone with more votes that were "regrettable". During the New Hampshire primary, Senator Clinton and Edwards both regretted choices they had made. Only Senator Obama had made the right decision AGAIN & AGAIN. Judgment is a gift, not an art. We should pray for a president with good judgment. That said, I vote candidate and not party or color. Americans, yes, even African Ameican are smarter than that. The problem has been that we have been indoctrinated to have one choice. (Of course, we need someone else to tell us who is best for us). Not so….Please feel free to say that Senator Clinton would make a better president from day ONE. I respectfully choose to disagree... and to do so with no feelings of obligation to her, the former president or anyone else who wants to remind America of “How good they've been to Black folks". We all have seasons in our lives....This is a new one and this is a season for a change. A REAL CHANGE.

The recent attack by Hillary and Bill
surrogates on Obama as "playing the race card" is myopic and absurd.It's important for the democrats to show they have another candidate beside the Clintions that beat the Republican.The Clintons are behaving as the Alpha and Omega of the democratic party.They should learn to be an ordinary citizens by quitting the scene for others with honest characters.My concern is if Bill Clinton was able to engage in oral sex at the Oval office during his hectic tenure as president that sent embarrassing shock waves arround the world, I wonder what will happen if he's in the White house as free as air. I guess more sex candals .There will more time to perform more act that would not only embarrass the democratic party and also the United States of America. If She wins the nomination, we would vote republican.