Mr. Obama: With all due respect sir. You are sounding more condescending as each day passes. You think you're the best there is. Don't you realize Sir, that when the republicans are done voting for you, they will not only no longer work with you on any bipartisan issues. They will do everything in their power to destroy you. If you can't see this coming, you really need to go back to Illinois and get 4-8 more years experience.
Respectfully,
A guy who thinks you're too green and who supports Hillary...

Exactly the problem in American politics at the moment is that everyone is consumed by the fight. Obama at least seems interested in moving beyond that and working hard to provide solutions to peoples problems. I think the Clintons are far too rapped up in the fight to focus on the goals. Whether or not Obama can genuinely end the log jam is up in the air, but at least he wants to try to end the fight.

Jordan Clinton, that is why Hillary has to go back to Arkansas and have 16 years more experience, not as first lady this time, but as Hillary to be ready to be president. Very respectfully.

If he sounds condescending it is because Clinton and McCain are behaving in a childish manner. He does give rousing good speeches, so they attack him on that. They do that because they can't attack him on anything else. The attack that he had no substance doesn't hold because he has had detailed plans on the issues available on his site earlier that either Clinton or McCain. They had to drop the funding issue because he has been open with his funding and both Clinton and McCain have soft money they don't want to have to account for. I think it is time that a candidate, stopped playing the game and called his opponents on their scare tactics.

Unshub. You are giving yourself way to much credit. This is not about me. It is about Mr. Obama gloating over his speech making prowess and ability to bring the whole world together. I stand by my statement. Double negatives and all, as you so eloquently put it.

Oh yes I've seen Hillary's solutions she supported Bush and "HIS" war was THAT a solution? She goes on to say that Sen. Barack Obama only makes promises well yes, he promised that if we take our eyes off Afghanistan and go to war with Iraq it will be a big mistake and he was right then and he is right NOW!

"Sen. Clinton is apparently incapable of taking a clear stand on the war in Iraq, and that alone is enough to disqualify her." Quote from the late Molly Ivins, journalist and columnist, 2006

Sen. Barack Obama For Veterans!

The following is from Barack Obama's website:

As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Obama passed legislation to improve care and slash red tape for our wounded warriors recovering at places like Walter Reed. He passed laws to help homeless veterans and offered an innovative solution to prevent at-risk veterans from falling into homelessness. Obama led a bipartisan effort in the Senate to try to halt the military's unfair practice of discharging service members for having a service-connected psychological injury. He fought for fair treatment of Illinois veterans' claims and forced the VA to conduct an unprecedented outreach campaign to disabled veterans with lower than-average benefits. Obama passed legislation to stop a VA review of closed PTSD cases that could have led to a reduction in veterans' benefits. He passed an amendment to ensure that all service members returning from Iraq are properly screened for traumatic brain injuries. He introduced legislation to direct the VA and Pentagon to fix disjointed records systems and improve outreach to members of the National Guard and Reserves.

Obama has shown that he has both the substance and the legislative prowess to earn him the respect and following that he has received. As for his record:

During the first eight years of Senator Obama's
elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced:

233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and
co-sponsored another 427. These included:
- the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
- The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons
Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
- The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
- The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
- The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee)

Obama's inspiration to people ought not be derided and dismissed by the Clintonites. He has succeeded in getting young people to come out to vote in droves throughout the country. He challenges us not to follow but to lead and take action in our own lives.

No great leader has ever risen without the ability to translate his/her beliefs into powerful oratory that can move people to take action.

If obama is so pure in everything he does, why not debate. I heard rumors that Edwards is coming to Wisconsin this saturday to endorse Hillary! The next debate, I hope Hillary gets the opportunity to call obama on his lies on Hillarys issues and record. Its also time for obama and his supporters to quit the race game, it is only going to make race relations worse.

Diann, with all due respect, I'd rather have a candidate out talking face to face with voters on the issues, than to waste time at a debate. You want to learn more about the candidate's positions, go to their Web sites. Everything is outlined in black and white. The only reason why Clinton wants to debate is to get the free air time. And it's not Obama and his supporters who are playing the race card. In fact, quite the contrary. It's his campaign that is bringing people of age, race and gender together on common ground. All you have to do is go out and talk to people and you get a feel for the energy that Obama has generated.

Ramon , he also almost had teh welfare office shut down in his own district. He has done nothing for his own district. Find me one thing good that he has done for one of the worst areas of IL.

We should feel sorry for Barack. He can't help giving a good speech. He can't help inspiring people. It's too bad, because people have been so turned off by presidential politics for at least the last 20 years. The current generation has grown up watching presidents and their allies use most of their energy to exercise partisan vengeance against their opponents in costly and tedious games of retribution and one-upmanship. Meanwhile this country's economy is floundering, it's moral standing in the world has declined and it's ability to sustain it's way of life has been left in peril.
Obama is the only candidate that seems to appreciate this dysfunctional malaise and seems prepared to do something about it. Oh, and God forbid, he might suggest that government might be transformed from the commodity it has become.

Readers,
The comments here not only are apparently getting off topic but degenerating into personal, seemingly vindictive, face-to-face verbal fights. I do not ask that the various comment persons cease and desist but argue on point and in a civil character. Granted, sometimes personal adrenaline comes to the fore, and I stand side by side with the citizens and will defend their right to argue vehemently. But in the interest of a legitimate rebuttal or debate, with sustainable and verifiable data I ask that everyone think about what they are saying and whether or not their verbosity is causing more harm than good.

Ramon said:

"During the first eight years of Senator Obama's
elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. "

This is hilarious. You are only talking about the Illinois State Assembly.

That is just the minor leagues.

Are you saying that any old State Assembly person now deserves to be President??

Obama is an arrogant rookie.

Right, John, tell me something new. I've heard of the evil Clinton, the witch, Clinton, and everything else in between. That the best your talking points are today? Come on, buddy, you can do better! Put some real hate into your effort.

It takes an intelligent and well educated visionary to give the kind of speech that will move citizens to manifest the vision.

Man is endowed with speech for a good purpose.

Clinton and McCain are childish and envious.

I'm betting on the American people who are awake to dare to enter a bright American future with President Obama.

The Clintons and McCains of America can wake up and come along later.

Barack Obama can't help it: He's just a fine leader.

That is why he has been building his grassroots support coming out of University: The kind of change America badly needs to rekindle the American dream for ALL Americans MUST be initiated at the grassroots level; so that ALL Americans accept their responsibility to change the nation for the good of ALL, and not just for the selfish and self-absorbed and greedy few.

So, "Grim Reaper," who would you have us vote for? The candidates who helped bring about the Iraq War? Now that's was (and still is) some destruction for you.
Remember when Obama's "talk" warned of the consequences?
Vote Obama!

Unshrub: That was not a double negative in the ungrammatical sense. While it does resolve into a positive, that was its intent. It more closely resembles a litote.

Forgive me, sensitive Clinton supporters. Is it condescending to think its silly that Hillary attacks Obama's inspiring speeches with one of her own speeches she hopes inspires more? Because that really is just plain silly. Or its woefully blindly hypocritical. Or worse, she thinks Americans are too dumb to notice how she manipulates? Take your pick but they're all bad choices. This is why some of us think Hillary is a bad choice. All that experience and still she doesn't get it. What a shame.

This is for Sandra. I know that Obama was on the Veterans committee but what did he do for them? I know what Hillary not only sponsored and did for them when the commitee was failing them. Also please look at the state that has the worst veteran benefits. (when you are using google just add Illinois for a help factor.)

Sorry Sandra I meant to say research your facts and you will see that Hillary sponsored the bill Obama just signed off on it.

As far as health care goes, I have a brother who has been trying to find the health program in Illinois for 3 years and can't. He's given up and is going for treatment at a local hospital which allows him to pay what he can.

Obama's health care program in IL is just another boondoggle, if it exists at all.

PJ, actually under Obama's tenure on the VA committe, Illinois went from 47th in VA benefits dispensed to 15th. Look it up.

obama needs to show us change now.

I want to know why he first stated that superdelegates should vote according to their state and then switched and said they need to vote according to whoever has the most pledged delegates.

The answer is he wants them to vote however will best help him win the nomination. His supports talk of clinton stealing the election, but I guess he does not consider it stealing of he wins.....only if she wins.

Why does he be a leader and tell Kennedy and Kerry to come out and state they still support obama but will cast their vote in favor of clinton because she won their state.

He is not the leader he makes himself out to be. It is just the opposite. Do the research people. Don't just drink the Kool-Aid as some have said.

Jordan - how could he not sound condescending, given the lacking quality of attacks against him.

Afraid to debate? Its only been an average of about a debate every 12 days for nine months (did the math yesterday - it was eye opening).

Now the attack is that he gives speeches? Um, well, er, okay, isn't that what candidates do?

Come on. If your candidate won't drop out, at least ramp up the attacks to something that would actually prep Obama a little better for the general election.

THE REZKO CONNECTION :

Two years ago, Obama bought a mansion on the South Side, in the Kenwood neighborhood, from a doctor. On the same day, Rezko's wife, Rita Rezko, bought the vacant lot next door from the same seller. The doctor had listed the properties for sale together. He sold the house to Obama for $300,000 below the asking price. The doctor got his asking price on the lot from Rezko's wife.
Last year, Rita Rezko sold a strip of that vacant lot to Obama for $104,500 -- a deal Obama later apologized for, acknowledging that people might think he got a favor from Rezko. Obama called the episode "boneheaded'' and a "mistake.''

OBAMA AFRAID OF CLINTON FOR A DEBATE IN WISCONSIN.

SENATOR OBAMA THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW YOUR STRENGTH AND ABILITY. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE YOU ARE AHEAD ON DELEGATES AND BACK UP BY THE MEDIA.
WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID FOR? UNLESS YOU ARE HINDING SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T WANT VOTERS TO NOTICE. DEBATE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ELECTION PROCESS SO THE VOTERS WILL BE ABLE TO KNOW THE CAPABILITY OF THE CANDIDATES THEY ARE ELECTING.

God Bless America!!

Jim said, "This is hilarious. You are only talking about the Illinois State Assembly.

That is just the minor leagues.

Are you saying that any old State Assembly person now deserves to be President??"

You mean, like Abraham Lincoln, whose only political experience was four terms in the Illinois House of Representatives, yet turned out to be the best President this country has ever had?

Folks, Isee that in the heat of the moment we should keep cool heads, and let the voice of reason be heard. I think sometimes, politicians act desperately , and I am seeing in one of my favorite politician's camp right now.
Here is what I am seeing. The Clinton ccampaign should stop attacking Obama for the sake of pulling him down. They should tout their own program so that we the voters will assess for ourselves who is better between the two of them. Some of these attacks get so desperate as to be silly, and I am not surprised some of us here think Obama is condescending to Clinton. I think if she wants to attack him she had better raised the real issues not "speeches aand solutions". She is opening herself up for serious criticism in so doing.

Think about it this way. Both are campaigning and all they are doing is talking, right? If she does not appreciate the talents of Obama she should learn to compete against real weaknesses not the speeches attacks. It seems to me that the Clintons have more to be worried about criticism than Obama, at least we do not know yet his scandals if he has any to his name. So they are playing a game that will surely backfire to them.

Another thing: I believe we need a change in Washington DC. I agree with the message of Obama... why? We have had a government in the past 14 four years led by people of dubious characters, and people who did not believe democracy means answering to the electorate..the people. GWB has made serious and impeachable gaffes and the Congress has not had the power to take him up on the issues ..because the Congress is extremely partisan and the y bicker too much. Bill introduced scandal into the oval office and all the republicans failed to impeach him , at least they tried. Again the impeachment failed because of partisan politics. We do not need partisan politics...they divide the people and they divide the government , and society becomes very dysfunctional. So , yes we need change, and the sooner we understand that NEED the better because our society and nation will be worse off for it if we do not call our leaders to account.

Okay, Clinton has plans and counter plans and subplans and old plans and new plans and future plans...Unfortunately, SHE DOES NOT HAVE VISION and without VISION you can not move anyone to follow you or your plan. Just think about her OLD healtcare PLAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How we believe such a liar and even consider to vote:

a Drug user only few year ago.
a corruption only 2 year ago to buy a house under $300,000 and later save another $300,000, those kind of deal even a cave man understand the dirty deal.
Spend $690,000 to buy superdelegates.

Do you confortable give him the nuclear botton, if he said he always push the wrong botton?

But funny thing is he call himself "clean Politic"
He call himself "hope", "change" and "future"

larratta-Clinton smoked marijuana, but "didn't inhale"-right. Getting a deal on a house IS NOT the same thing as involvement in insider trading and misrepresenting that as an investment "windfall" in cattle futures. Hillary was the first First Lady to have been subpoenaed before a Congressional hearing!
He has come forth over his former dealings, and there are still questions about Hillary. Between the two, my choice is for Obama, not Hillary, who operates the same way as Bush and Cheney-no transparency, hiding the truth.

Clinton supporters will say anything

Did anything come of those Congressional hearings? It seems to me that the Republicans threw everything they could at the Clinton's and they still were able to overcome the "swiftboating." That's why the republicans hate them so much. I'll take an experienced candidate (not the one with one year in the senate before he started to run for the Presidency) anyday.

Larratta, he bought an extension to his house for that much as opposed to your assersions! That even a sixty of the piece to extend his land! And yes he called it a bonehead MISTAKE, as opposed to NO MISTAKE from hillary on iraq! Talk about leadership and experience!

CXY3: You fall for the media headlines so easily. "Clinton amps up attacks on Obama" verse "Obama challenges Clinton." It's the old good guy verse bad guy. In reality, Obama and Clinton have been going at each other. That's what politicians do. Read the stories and not just the headlines.

When you have be blessed with gifts, you highlight them. Hillary Clinton is an excellent debater, that is why she wants to debate all the time. Senator Clinton is also skilled in explaining complex and detailed policy data in a way that resonates with less educated people. She should be commended for this. Barack Obama is the most gifted public speaker we have in this country right now because he deftly combines oratory with intellect, substance with idealism, and he recognizes that he is gifted in this. He is not being condescending, he is simply stating the obvious.

Sam Lim already pointed out how worthless "The REZKO CONNECTION" is so bravo to him for telling most of the truth. I would add that the $300,000 was about 15% off the LIST price of the home. Hey maybe there's something to that. I mean a couple who has to move and likely by a home somewhere else would never do something like negotiate and come down off their price to make a sell. Clinton supporters certainly can offer a full load of sharp and detailed criticisms of Obama I've read in the news many times over, but their praise of Clinton's accomplishment seems a little vague. What experience does Clinton really have? You constantly mention 35 years of experience--well let’s take a short trip down the Clinton time line...

Hillary Rodham Clinton 35 years ago would have been 25 years old--She was still in law school until she was 26--Not much change there.

After graduation from Yale in 1974 she moved to AK went to work for Rose law firm, sometimes dubbed "the ultimate establishment law firm," due to its avid representation of large corporations and was eventually made into full partner in 1979---No change there

Until she became first lady in 1992, Hillary Clinton sat on the board of directors of TCBY and Wal-Mart, both clients of her "establishment" law firm---No changes so far

I have to stop there because the corruption, scandal, and political deception are so convoluted and have already been hashed out several times over the years. However, trying to reach a positive note, Hillary Clinton did try to reform the health care system in our country--a worthy and commendable task, but her effort are said to have ultimately ended in failure because of a lack of transparency in the talks. Always private, always backroom. Coincidentally, this is also how our recent energy policy was formed with Resident Bush, Cheney, and the heads of major oil companies which I think still have been kept private.--I'm going to have to say no change there.

But if you Google "CLINTON SCANDALS" you'll find over 308,000 reasons to get to readng and think twice why she should be President.

I know a lot of things have been left out but these truly are the most notable and primary endeavors of her life until she became a U.S. Senator, which I haven't followed closely. All I've seen so far is 35 years of self-service and 18 years of corporate service. She's served the people of New York so well that they've been getting ripped of on health insurance for all her 8 years in office.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said on Wednesday he is conducting an industry- wide probe of health insurers into an alleged scheme to defraud consumers by manipulating reimbursement rates
Cuomo intends to sue Ingenix, its parent, UnitedHealth Group Inc , and three additional subsidiaries.

And she wants to expand this corruption to all of America?

Allen: Crying in front of the camera? It makes your point so clear. I'm sure in your opinion, OBAMA wrote the constitution.

Hey has anybody seen the NBC piece done on Obamas Nuclear bill he sponcored in the US senate. you know the one hes been talking about being one of the great things hes done as a US senater.He said that the weaker bill that finally passed the house was voted on by Hillary but he couldnt get a tougher version passed because the senate is (R) controlled.(This is also featured in a CNN story Obama knocks Clintons lobbyist ties.)Now isnt he the great unifier the one who can get it done get both parties to work together.So much for unifing force he couldnt get it done as a senator hows he going to do it as president. Also quess who is his fourth highest contributor to his fund for President,Exolon the nuclear energy company.He can knock others for thier cororate money but its ok for him..humm

Hey Allen check factcheck.org. And really an entire state voted for a candadate because they cried man you are funny...

Apparently it's a crime to be articulate, forward thinking and confident to many in this debate. If you are offended you can still vote for Hillary or Mccain both who continue to bore and offer more of the same tired policies that are leading america towards third world status ( a nation of only the super rich and super poor )and continuing the go it alone policies that have made even western europeans see us as more of a threat to world security than the terrorists who destroyed the world trade center. Go Barack

Do you guys really want to elect a president whose last name is only one letter different than Osama? I bet someday, somebody will call an American President: President Osama by mistake or by joke. Is this something you ask for?

hey Hillary ,Obama doesn't have to cry to convince people he does it by giving a good speech.you keep crying that the difference.go Obama!

Why do we have to get all riled up here? Both candidates have positives and negatives.

We'd all be bickering about Dodd versus Biden if they were the last two candidates left.

Vote for who you think the best candidate is, but don't get so angry.

Fool Me Once, and all of those out there with similar mindsets:

I am continually amazed that there are truly people in this world using a person's name as their primary voting criteria! This is the best you can come up with? With everything going on in this country and world, you are voting/not voting on the basis of name and words that rhyme with names??? You should be embarrassed for yourself. Did you choose your name? Did it dictate the kind of person you have become in life? Are there any words with negative connotations that rhyme with your name? If so, should we assume that those words describe you? If that is the level you are operating on, I am sure any rational argument will be lost on you. The rest of us, however, will make our decisions based on relevent criteria such as policies, vision, intelligence, judgement and leadership skills.

A president leads through words. Decides through words. Inspires through words. Listens through words. Understands through words. Unites through words. All that hard work Senator Clinton keeps talking about, happens through words. So let's be clear: Barack Obama is the most intelligent, heartfelt, grounded, visionary user of words that we have seen in a long, long time.

Obama reads a good speech, lets vote for his speech writer

CP With all due respect

"I'd rather have a candidate out talking face to face with voters on the issues, than to waste time at a debate. You want to learn more about the candidate's positions, go to their Web sites. Everything is outlined in black and white. The only reason why Clinton wants to debate is to get the free air time. "

The only reason Obama wants to post his positions on the web sites is because it's easier to copy and paste and change the date. It's much harder to talk about something you've copied.

sandra: You noted all of Obama's votes you fforgot the most important one, naming a park bench after whats is name. he said he hit the wrong button 5 times when voting,which of the 5 you listed are they.Don't forget there may be a red button on his desk.

I,D rather wish people would quit acting like obama is such a god in people eyes ,i havent heard a speach that has moved me, he says what he wants to get votes. Due we the american people want to pay the rest of our lives for a younger president that nobody has even known anything about, i think our country will be in worse shape if we get him in there. He cannot compare himself to the other great presidents we had there is no greatness here with him if it had not been for all of oprah winferys money at the beginning i think he would not have gotten any votes
she played us all up with this and now she dropped out the picture why should we go on her words she has gotten rich off the backs of women who have nothing better to do with there time but watch her
, she has never moved me i think that they give certain people to much media and greatness
obama is not our man for the job