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Obama: Stand Up Against People Peddling Bad Info

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January 14, 2008 6:54 PM

ABC News' David Wright, Andy Fies and Sunlen Miller Report: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.,  held a hastily called press conference in Reno, Nevada on Monday because he was "a little concerned about the tenor the campaign has taken in the last couple of days."

The Democratic presidential candidate made clear that he wants to stay above the fray with the back and forth between the candidates, "I don’t want the campaign in this stage to degenerate into so much tit for tat back and forth that we loose sight why all of us are doing this."

Obama spoke about his Democratic opponents in a favorable light, "And you know I think over the last couple of days you’ve seen a tone on the democratic side of the campaign that is unfortunate and what I want to do is stipulate a couple of things, I think that I may disagree with Sen. Clinton or Sen. Edwards on how to get things on how to get there but we share the same goals, we’re all democrats , we all believe in civil rights, we all believe in equal rights. We all believe that regardless of race or gender that people should have equal opportunities, I think they’re good people, they are patriots and they are running because they think they can lead this country to a better place."

The Senator put out a semi-challenge to other candidates to stand up against people (even supporters/surrogates) that peddling misleading information, "If I hear my own supporters engaging in talk that I think is ungenerous or misleading or in some way is unfair then I will speak out forcefully against them and I hope the other campaigns take the same approach. We’ve got too much at stake at this time in our history to be engaging in this kind of silliness and you know I suspect that other candidates may feel the same way.

Obama, just six days away from the Nevada caucus, still had to field questions from his devastating New Hampshire loss, after most polls had him winning by a wide margin, "that didn't quite work out the way everybody thought, so if I ever put any stock in polls, that ended it."

When asked if the loss in NH was due to the suggestion that perhaps white American and Hispanic America is not ready to elect a black president, Obama dismissed the notion, " I don't' think that's what was going on….as I understand it, basically there was a big shift in undecided's going towards Sen Clinton, particularly among women in the last minute. And keep in mind there was a big gap, a gender gap that cut both ways - I won among men and she won among women -there were more men than women who voted. If it had been a racial issue, there's no reason why that would have been something that was unique to women as opposed to men, so I don't' think that is the case."

January 14, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (31)

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I'm so proud of you, Barack! This is one time the good guy will win. Having the Clintons on stage with their victimization and attacks and lying reminds Democrats of all the things we HATED about the Clinton administration. It's time to turn the page on that psycho-drama!

Posted by: Yvonne | Jan 14, 2008 7:14:43 PM

Thank you Senator Obama!! You are a natural born leader with such class! You are the president that we need right now in this country. A true uniter and not divider.

Good for you!!!!!!!

Posted by: Terry | Jan 14, 2008 7:15:49 PM

This is what good leadership is all about. I'm tired of the naysayers and skeptics. This man is so intelligent and in tune with what needs to happen. It's time for a change and it's time for a chance. Wake up, America!

Posted by: Freddy | Jan 14, 2008 7:17:23 PM

This is the essential Obama. Go Obama!

Posted by: I love America | Jan 14, 2008 7:19:25 PM

this man is class and grace to the bone. THAT's what presidential leadership looks like.

take a few notes, billary.

Posted by: sickofitall | Jan 14, 2008 7:28:32 PM

Go Obama!

Posted by: Erik | Jan 14, 2008 7:40:57 PM

WHAT! It was Obama's people who jumped at the opportunity to cry foul so that he could then rise to the occasion like the cleaver opportunist he is to endeavor to charismatically distance himself from it all. Can you not see devious political stategy at work here. So quick to scream foul when the Clinton's engage in cleavor tactics but so belated when it comes to recognizing them in your own candidate. Let's just all play nice now ya'll so that we can again try to take attention off the need to address his terrible record in Illinois and Washington. Such a smooth talker and you wonder why so many women still back Clinton. Some of us have had enough of the smooth - tell me what I want to hear - sweetstuff that in the end produces little more than self-gratification over anything it afforded anyone else. Records of experience and accomplishment talk - Sweettalk walks. Strike (I've lost count) for the Pied Piper of Chicago.

Posted by: sjbj2322 | Jan 14, 2008 7:43:26 PM

exactly, diane -- but watch it backfire on them! do they really think sound-minded americans, regardless of their color or creed, won't see through that little game? then they tried to play jujitsu and spin in back on obama, like it was ALL HIS FAULT. sorry, charlie. that fish won't bite this time!

Posted by: sickofitall | Jan 14, 2008 7:44:04 PM

sorry, sjbj, but if its "records of experience and accomplishment" you're looking for, mrs. clinton shouldn't be your choice. what has she done but ride her husband's coattails into prominence? as a woman myself, that's more offensive to me than anything they're trying to suggest -- unsuccessfully, i might add -- that obama's camp has done or said.

Posted by: sickofitall | Jan 14, 2008 7:48:03 PM

Well the youtube sight didn't post. Sorry about that. Just wanted others to see the diversity of criticism that's being expressed by those who have problems with his refusal to address serious issues such as his voting record and his amassed list of influential acquaintances. As for sickofitall's comment....clearly you see and hear what you want to but records simply don't substantiate you claims.

Posted by: sjbj2322 | Jan 14, 2008 7:57:34 PM

I continue to hear that the "Obama Campaign" had something to do with this "race" controversy. If you look at every single article, they all refer to "Obama Campaign" without a single reference to anyone in particular. Everything from the "Hillary Campaign" is referenced by a name, particularly, Bill, Hillary, Bob Johnson, Rangel and their other cronies. This entire controversy is created by the "Clinton Campaign" and manifested through the media. Look at every article and you will see the truth. Barack Obama has repeatedly stayed out of the nonsense and in his own words "silliness". Peace! Lets change the world by electing Obama!

Posted by: Delano | Jan 14, 2008 8:13:03 PM

Barack is a CLASS act all the way! He's been gracious throughout this entire campaign! I'm so proud of him. Hillary and Bill WOULD NEVER have the decency to do such a thing! They have no class at all. They've shown their true colors. The world is watching now. So if they keep it up...no one is going to feel sorry for them! This has to STOP! GET TO THE DAMNED ISSUES PLEASE!!! This election is much to important to this country and all of us living within it! Please STOP for the love of God, Bill and Hillary STOP IT! You've done enough damage--most of it to yourselves. You are supposed to be bright people...WHY DON'T YOU GET IT!!!???

Posted by: Shelly | Jan 14, 2008 8:32:49 PM

Iam 61 years old black female that was in the era of segregation when we the
blacks of the south were not allow to
sit in the restaurants to eat/take and
go,only black theaters and on and on in
Charlotte,NC-When President Johnson sign
the 1964 Civil Right Bill into a Law
Martin Luther King Jr was standing
right beside President Johnson and then
the intergration begin.Hillary is not
giving Johnson anything but as every
thing else,congress need to make it a
law and so they did.

Posted by: Cecilia | Jan 14, 2008 8:33:24 PM

LEADERSHIP!!! There it is! Obama 08! Where was Howard Dean??? Why didn't anyone else stand up! GO Senator! You are a winner!

Posted by: Shelly | Jan 14, 2008 8:34:34 PM

it is absolutely ridiculous that this is the story going on, You know why you don't get details from Obama, because the press is printing stories about this claptrap instead of reporting on his positions and the details. He released an economic plan, not one story on it all weekend. I challenge ABC to actually report on the issues instead of inflating non-stories.

Posted by: louis | Jan 14, 2008 8:48:18 PM

I only had to compare Senator Clinton's web site to Senator Obama's in making my decision to vote for Sen. Obama. His site deals only with the issues while Clinton's site dishes the dirt on Sen. Obama. Mud slinging seems to be Clinton's syle while Obama ignores it. Sen. Obama's politics is truly a positive CHANGE from the politics of old.

Posted by: Mila | Jan 14, 2008 9:01:15 PM

The Obama campaign is cleverly trying to create an environment where any criticism of his lack of experience, positions, etc. will be “racist.”

Hmmmm. Let's see. Obama has all of two whopping years of federal experience, most of which he has spent posturing and campaigning for the presidency while on our payroll in Illinos. (Well, that's not so good.) Obama is a leader of the Daley machine out of Chicago, one of the oldest, most corrupt and anti-change political organizations in the history of mankind. (Well, that's certainly counter to his "change" message.) Obama's foreign policy experience consists of watching a History Channel program titled “The Middle East: Friend or Foe.” (Well, that's frightening.)

Yep --- I guess you Obama cheerleaders are right. No one could possibly NOT want this guy in the White House for any other reason than race. Sure, Winnie the Poohbama is qualified to become the world's most powerful leader in this especially challenging times. How tough can it be? LOL

Posted by: Ridley Jones | Jan 14, 2008 9:33:36 PM

The country will ultimately reject the Obama campaign race games. Note to media: the more you try and shove Obama down out throats, the more we will reject him.

Posted by: Jon Jay | Jan 14, 2008 9:38:00 PM

Obama has beaten Hillary on experience and judgment concerning this "race" issue. This is where you see Hillary's "so- called" thirty-something years of experience trail Obama's decade of experience.
It is now apparent that spending numerous years as a player in Washington D.C partisan politics does not make you the candidate for change or judgment. The country, at this time, doesn't need experienced partisan politicians like Hillary. It needs someone who can bring people together. Besides that, just throw that 35 yrs experienced noise out of the window. Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheny had lots of experience and long resumes but they had no clue how to manage the war. Hillary with all her experience entrusted the war in the hands of these two men. George Bush's experience was that we leave Afghanistan where Al-Qaida was hiding and attack Saddam. Saddam is gone and soldiers are still being targeted and killed. So much for a Capitol Hill University degree.
Besides all these, we need a godly man in the white house. VOTE FOR MIKE!!

Posted by: Primetime | Jan 14, 2008 9:51:59 PM

I wrote this 3 day ago now look here he is trying to make nice nice what a surprise.
Obamba plays the race card!! What a suprise!

Obamba has now set off a race riot in the Democratic party. How surprising coming into South Carolina. They have even dragged James Clyburn into the fray after he said he wouldn't. You can bet your bottom dollar after SC he will try to make nice nice saying it never happened. Bring it on! The Republicans will have a field day. Calling the Clintons RACIEST PLEASE!!!!!! Anything to take attention away from the fact he has nothing concrete to talk about.This guy is UNBELIEVABLE. That will be seen by all Americans if he get the Democratic nomination and there will be a Republican in office next year.
I would have expected this from (he who loves his own voice DYSON) but Donna Brazil on CNN yesterday and now Clyburn in today's New York Times. As the story reports Clyburn said he would stay out of it to promote economic support for his state and promote tourism. Well we will watch the element of racism enter into his tourist state. What a legacy what a way to join us together Mr. Obama.
It wasn't two minuets after the polls closed in New Hampshire the Obamba supporters were calling the fact he lost on the Racist Tom Bradley effect. Further more Barack was running around comparing himself to JFK and Martin Luther King Jr. for a week before Hillary said enough is enough> I knew Martin Luther King and You Sir Are Not Him. Not Even Close.

Posted by: Rick B | Jan 14, 2008 10:29:40 PM

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