- Subliminal Messaging, or Over-Active Imaginations?
- VEEPBEAT: Contenders Off Radar as Obama Travels
- Team Clinton Gearing Up for 2012?
- Rice to Meet with North Korea Next Week
- The Note: Obama Poised for High-Profile Trip
- McCain Touts Surge Success Before Obama's Overseas Trip
- Hearing-Gate Exposed! McCain Has Worse Afghanistan Hearing Record Than Obama
- Bill Clinton Says He's Ready to Campaign for Obama
- Obama Blasts Conservative Attacks Against Wife: 'Debate Me Not Her'
- Biden hits back - More on Obama's Committee
- Obama Hits the Gym, With Multiple Repetitions
- Gore To Issue Clean Energy Challenge
- The Note: Foreign Trip Taking Shape for Obama
- Obama Raises $52 Million in June
- Religious Group Demands McCain Staffer's Ouster
« The Iraq Assessment You Don't Get to See | Main | The Politics of American Idol »
Obama In Spotlight Before Petraeus/Crocker Moment
April 07, 2008 6:50 PM
ABC's Z. Byron Wolf Reports from Capitol Hill:
Everyone is billing the David Petraeus/Ryan Crocker hearings tomorrow as the foreign policy tryout to the American people. But Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is trying to show off his time management skills and chair a quick hearing in the morning too.
So tomorrow morning, while Senators Hillary Clinton (low ranking Armed Services Dem) and John McCain (Ranking Armed Services Republican) are having their moment with Petraeus/Crocker, Sen. Obama will not be resting on his laurels while he waits for his afternoon appointment when the Petraeus/Crocker road show stops at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (where he sits low on the seniority list). Instead, he'll be chairing a subcommittee hearing on several nominations.
In the daybooks it refers innocuously to a "full committee hearing" for nominations, but if you take a look at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee website, it becomes apparent that the nominations all have to do with Obama's Subcommittee on European Affairs.
This is the same committee Obama took over in January 2007 and which Sen. Clinton said Obama should have been using to hold hearings on Afghanistan.
The nominees that will be considered tomorrow include nominations for the Ambassadorships in Finland, Slovenia, Cyprus, Bulgaria and the US permanent representative on the NATO council.
April 7, 2008 in Obama, Barack | Permalink | User Comments (114)
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Is this the same committee Obama never held a hearing with ON ANYTHING.
What an opportunistic ***.
Posted by: Kris | Apr 7, 2008 7:11:35 PM
I guess he's trying to squeeze one in between campaign stops so at the next debate, he can say he did have a meeting while serving on this committee. Never too late to pad your resume...and his does need it.
Posted by: dwc | Apr 7, 2008 7:18:41 PM
Imay and mpwdc, totally disagree with you, let us not try to tire down a champion a winner like Obama.You are talking about Obama like Hill the Bosnian General or McCain the governor of Bagdad. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08
Posted by: BKMC | Apr 7, 2008 7:27:17 PM
########
What are you guys
going to do when
Obama is President?
Where will the hate go?
########
Posted by: two | Apr 7, 2008 7:28:51 PM
I find Obama insufferable. And the Freeman story? The poster is absolutely correct. Hillary would have been crucified (speaking of "God") if she'd said anything like that. Bloggers would shake that story like a bone every chance they had.
And the committee -- isn't that the one Obama has totally ignored? Maybe a reporter could point that out, too.
Posted by: liz | Apr 7, 2008 7:29:32 PM
Imay,liz, WestCoastManager, DCVoter and mpwc, Obama said that we have to lift people up and not to tear them down. Obama will carry out his duties in a very responsible manner better than Hill the Bosnian General and McCain the Governor General of Bagdad. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.
Posted by: BKMC | Apr 7, 2008 7:38:24 PM
The comments from IMAY (or maynot) and his ilk only point out the utter desperation of clintonistas and repugnants. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill. I'm guessing he was trying to be funny!
The issue that needs to be front and center is beating John McCain and ensuring that we don't have 100 years in Iraq and "bombbombbomb, bombbomb Iran" in the White House for the next four years.
Obama 2008 -- Yes, WE CAN!!!
Posted by: Jackt51 | Apr 7, 2008 7:47:10 PM
Jackt51,
You know, you finally have convinced me. We are so desperate because the Obama campaign is miles ahead and need not worry. As a result, I have to say you guys deserve a little nap. You can wake up in time to get another dose of coolaid, which will be available just short of the finish line.
========================================
Obama doesn't need any more help!
Obama is way ahead!
Obama, the Harvard elite, crack-smoking, bonehead and his arrogant supporters have time to enjoy a nap!
========================================
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Apr 7, 2008 7:51:14 PM
For those of you eating yourselves up because obama can't be stopped, I guess that since your chief strategist is now an ex, you would have to formulate another strategy, because every petty falsehood you've thrown his path doesn't not seem to have worked! He usually ends up unscathed!
And for Imay, why not come up with an allegation more serious that could show your age as an adult(if you're one). Your comment above has gone a long way to buttress my belief that obama will end up as the elected president come november. NOBODY has been able to come up with any serious allegations against him. He has nothing to hide.
As for electability, he has shown over and over again that he is more electable than any of his remaining opponents. And American people will go on to support him by voting for him and donating to his campaign! GOD BLESS AMERICA. Thank you!
Posted by: dew5050 | Apr 7, 2008 7:51:34 PM
Dew5050,
Your man Obama is just perfect isn't he? He has no serious flaws. He is a Washington outsider. He takes no federal lobbyist money (only paid help). He doesn't have a relationship with Rezko. He doesn't really have a relationship with Wright. He didn't hold a hearing on Afghanistan. He didn't admit he was a bonehead. He didn't admit cocaine use. He is just the perfect politician, never knew that such existed before.
========================================
Obama is the perfect guy in an empty suit!
========================================
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Apr 7, 2008 7:59:48 PM
Some people will complain about anything Obama does. All of those people post on this web site. God forbid he does the best he can while trying to finish off his (thus far, successful) run for President.
Posted by: glutz78 | Apr 7, 2008 8:05:26 PM
They're starting to sound like little kids! lol unbelievable.
Posted by: LA in Indiana | Apr 7, 2008 8:11:13 PM
OK, there's a lil bitty part of me that thinks it would be a hoot if Obama actually won the presidency to put the right wing of the Republican party in their place. Then, logic takes over, and I think of the absolute nightmare an Obama presidency would be. Still, it's a wee bit fun to think of all the right wingers staying up late in November watching in utter disbelief. CHUCKLE. Hillary 08. If not Hillary, McCain 08. Giggling at the suffering Obama would cause the Republican nut jobs while cringing at the thought of Pastor Wright anywhere near MY (emphasis MY) white house. Gosh, this is fun!
Posted by: Kitty | Apr 7, 2008 8:21:01 PM
Good for him No sense of waiting and doing paper work.
Its called Multi-tasking
Posted by: Lauren | Apr 7, 2008 8:21:39 PM
i can assure you that for the first time i am not voting democrat if obama is the party's nominee. he seems less than a patriot and seems angry at whites. this white, thus, will vote mccain.
Posted by: ron | Apr 7, 2008 8:25:32 PM
The headline should be: After 16 months, Committee chair finally holds a meeting. What a crock! He is using it to pretend like he has been doing something all along.
Posted by: sam | Apr 7, 2008 8:29:50 PM
There's an awful lot of us "if not Hillary then McCain" people out here. This is the reality that doesn't seem to have hit home with a lot of Obama supporters. We'll see, though, won't we?
Posted by: Kitty | Apr 7, 2008 8:30:40 PM
So let me get this right: there is a foreign policy hearing tomorrow in Congress ,but this article is about how Obama will hold other hearings, because he has no role in the foreign policy hearing. That's it? You guys are so blatantly in the tank. How's this: the other candidates are urinating tomorrow but Obama is doing #2...Details at 11....
Posted by: tony | Apr 7, 2008 8:36:48 PM
The real bore is Obama. Unfortunately, he's also a "distraction" from any real foreign policy. The lightweight committee nominations he'll chair tomorrow should be as close to a nomination as he can get. If, however, he does manage to receive the nod after the coming primaries, he will lose handily to McCain. He is a zero, just like the number of sub-committee meetings he's held since January 2007.
Posted by: Emily | Apr 7, 2008 8:37:05 PM
Sure kitty...its hit home. It's quite apparent we have a lot of whining children out here because hillary doesn't know how to run a campaign.
Barack Obama is running for President, NOT his pastor.
Barack Obama is running for President, NOT his pastor.
Barack Obama is running for President, NOT his pastor.
Barack Obama is running for President, NOT his pastor.
Barack Obama is running for President, NOT his pastor.
Barack Obama is running for President, NOT his pastor.
Now for all you special education folks....one more time....
Barack Obama is running for President, NOT his pastor.
Posted by: LA in Indiana | Apr 7, 2008 8:42:49 PM
Obama will be the President and usher in a new era in Washington politics. Both Hillary and mcCain are great candidates. But it's Obama who we need right now. Because he will look at things in a non-conventional way. It must be hard for people who somehow cannot accept this fact. I pray for you. But let me predict. Vote for Obama with your hand this year. Vote for him with your heart in 2012. :-)Peace and God bless America which is making Obama a possibility.
Posted by: Al, San Francisco | Apr 7, 2008 8:44:11 PM
Barrack Obama is just like his pastor-- birds of a feather.
Posted by: Emily | Apr 7, 2008 8:44:54 PM
WestCoastMess...
I feel sorry for you, bud.
All you have left now is bull pucky and personal attacks.
I won't be napping, but you might want to consider it!
Obama 2008 -- Yes, WE CAN!!!
Posted by: Jackt51 | Apr 7, 2008 8:47:43 PM
lol Emily...then maybe you should take a closer look at hillary!
Posted by: LA in Indiana | Apr 7, 2008 8:48:32 PM
Emily - Sorry, Emily, but I think you're wrong on your post. Why? Well, Wright stands for something however wrong. While Obama doesn't stand for or against anything because he has no mind of his own. Whatever Moveon.org tells him to stand for then Obama does.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 7, 2008 8:52:46 PM
I bet obama up all night studying how a committee is held since he has never held one for his committee.
Posted by: toby | Apr 7, 2008 8:58:44 PM
New Yorker, Ann Coulter's assessments are pathetic, she is always on H&C to promote her books written for the right wing. Listen to her interventions you wonde if she has a brain, insted of money in her head. You have to come to term that you have no other choice but to support a winner like Obama, he is a champion, a gerat leader with the right mind and love for America. The world and Anerica are waiting for Obama to lead toward prosprity and greatness. God bless America and God bless Obama. OBAMA08.
Posted by: BKMC | Apr 7, 2008 9:02:29 PM
Fellow Obama supporters, don't get heated up by the blog thugs! They're always out here as part of "Operation Chaos", applying their right wing 'divide and conquer' tactics to the race between Hillary and Barack.
Barack will be the Dem nominee first and (just check the overall Dem registration and turnout records) our next President second. And McCain will look sillier, older and dumber every day in the GE. Obama will dwarf him, he's much easier to beat than the Clinton Power House. Further smear attacks against Obama will only motivate more Americans to send the message of change to Washington.
All will be well! Just keep fighting the honorable fight and let the hate mongers and mud throwers sink away in their own dirt. They will lose, and lose miserably.
Posted by: manda | Apr 7, 2008 9:04:11 PM
Manda, and then, all the Obama voters will lose if your scenerio plays out to the end. Life will be no different the day after he takes office than it was the day before. He's not going to fix all of your problems. It's just a fairy tale.
Posted by: Kitty | Apr 7, 2008 9:06:49 PM
manda - Good luck with the FL and MI in the general. Oh, how many caucuses is Obama expected to win in the general?
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 7, 2008 9:08:55 PM
Todd - What's Obama's stance on Iran nuke problem? On Abortion? On China? On China stealing American jobs? That's an easy start.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 7, 2008 9:10:57 PM
Hillary was wrong to fire Mark Penn!! Consider me in the Obama camp now!
Yes We Can!!!
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 7, 2008 9:11:21 PM
Gee, is he actually going to show up for this? or will he show up at the end again and just jump right in having no idea what was talked about before he showed up? Oh, silly me, it has to do with his political aspirations so it's a for sure thing.
Posted by: alpaig | Apr 7, 2008 9:12:21 PM
Just so you guys know, I'm a closet Obama fan. I just do this because I'm bored.
YES WE CAN!!
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 7, 2008 9:15:40 PM
Oh Gosh, Todd, I guess you missed the part where I mentioned I'm Indepenedent. I chose not to be one of you. lol
Posted by: Kitty | Apr 7, 2008 9:16:16 PM
Obama is so arrogant that it will be fun watching him lose the general election. Rrreeeeeallly fun. :)
Posted by: Jo | Apr 7, 2008 9:18:10 PM
LA in Indiana - I'm not sure. Apparently I seemed to have developed a duel personality since we last exchanged nukes with each other.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 7, 2008 9:21:13 PM
lmao you can turn that into a positive dogsoldier
Posted by: LA in Indiana | Apr 7, 2008 9:22:33 PM
Don't worry, though. I'll still support Obama if he wins the nomination. I'm just venting.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 7, 2008 9:22:33 PM
Todd, I can only define what it means for me to be Independent. For me, it means there are ideals in both parties that I can align myself with. Heck, if you put two "die-hard" Republicans in the same room, the chances that they both think exactly the same are pretty slim. Same is true for Dems. As I said, today I will pull the lever for Hillary, but, since you thanked me, I might change my mind tomorrow. There's a whole lot of "us" out there. "We" will probably decide the election. No matter what, though, I will not pull the lever for Obama.
Posted by: Kitty | Apr 7, 2008 9:26:03 PM
Todd - Didn't Mccainasours die out with the rest of the dinosaurs?
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 7, 2008 9:28:59 PM
We know that the HillLovers (General of Bosnian Snipers Brigade) and McNasty (the Major General, Governor of Bagdad)supporters have started calling themselves BKMC, that is dishonest, but "la lucha continua y la victoria certa". You can call us gays, lesbians, transsexuals, sex workers, asexuals, or heterosexuals, no problem at all with these name callings, because we respect Human Rights. This election is about judgement, leadership and vision for America and the world. Obama is winning that competition and Hill and Mc are losers. The writing is on the wall. God bless America ad God bless Obama. OBAMA08.
Posted by: BKMC | Apr 7, 2008 9:31:18 PM
For those of you clinton lovers/obama haters that are saying that you are not going to vote for obama, if he is the nominee, mark my words, you will vote for him!! Why? When you are faced with a stark choice between the old tradition that has dragged us to this pitiable level and a new lease of life, I'm sure you'll choose the later. So you'll end up voting for him!
Secondly, when you realise that the progressive train may pass you bye, you will be left with no choice than to join it. The fact that majority of Americans are propelling obama to the presidency, going by the fact that has won state after state and also by the incredible amount of money he raises, suggests that even obama's haters will eventually join the band wagon. Nobody likes to be seen as an enemy of progress.
Thirdly, Obama is a man that loves this great country dearly. He has so many good ideas that needs to be implemented for the good of this country of ours. TO obama haters, if you're able to transcend above pride and prejudice and give a little moment to listen to him and his message, believe you me, you'll end up being a believer. I for one, started out as Hillary's supporter, but ended up supporting obama, after taking sometime out to listen to him.
All hands must be on deck towards restoring the greatness of this country. Let us all put aside pride, prejudice, racism, fear mongering and every other vices that have been dragging us down and work towards ensuring a better future for our kids. America is great and I believe we could be greater. GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
Posted by: dew5050 | Apr 7, 2008 9:45:24 PM
So exactly what does Obama hope to achieve by having this meeting tomorrow, meetings that he did not have when he was appointed to do so, so he is going to accomplish something now?
Its really funny that the media seems to be giving Obama credit for having this meeting finally as if its a great accomplishment, since when is mediocrity, and downright slackness at doing your job rewarded with praise?
Seems like some will praise Obama even when he does not do diddly squat, I wonder if this was Hillary that was in charge of the Foreign Relations Committee and only tomorrow going about holding this meeting I really wonder what the headlines would of been like.
Posted by: SJ | Apr 7, 2008 9:45:30 PM
dew, you obviously have no clue about us Independents, man.
Posted by: Kitty | Apr 7, 2008 9:47:47 PM
WOWSA One word - KEEP PENN in your corner Hillary - the one word is - winner. God bless Hillary and all her followers.
Posted by: Bob | Apr 7, 2008 9:50:38 PM
sandy, this is Obama's legacy. Obama in a nutshell.
Posted by: Kitty | Apr 7, 2008 9:53:02 PM
I voted for Clinton in the primary, but will NEVER vote for Obama even if he is the VP candidate. Is that clear. and if Obama is the niminee I will NEVER donate to the DNC.
Posted by: geevil | Apr 7, 2008 9:53:08 PM
If it walks like a duck, looks like a duck its a duck, and I sure not seeing anything but a duck.
Posted by: SJ | Apr 7, 2008 9:56:22 PM
"Let's ban together once again fellow Americans and let this Obama prove himself elsewhere for a while, if he is who he says he is...he will be back. We just don't know him right now!!
Hillary 08..If not Mccain will be just fine!! Both will protect our country!!"
This is the truth!
Posted by: Jkan | Apr 7, 2008 10:03:09 PM
I saw on the news tonight Obama saying he has more experience than Clinton and McCain in foreign policy, he lived in Indonesia, he has family in a suffering African village and he went to Pakistan while he was in college.
Now at what age was Obama living in Indonesia does anyone believe he was dealing with the legal issues and how Indonesia was viewed on the world stage at that tender age? Obama seems to think he was.
As for his suffering family in Africa, yes we all know about his trips there even if the media dont want to print that, and we all know of his association there supporting a man that is accused of genocide.
As for his college days and his trip to Pakistan there is no mention anywhere about this trip in any of his books, this is a new tale so maybe the media can now go and try and verify if that is true just like they do all the time with Hillary, they should now Obama is putting it out there as to why he is a better choice so I do hope we will get some info on this.
Posted by: SJ | Apr 7, 2008 10:05:35 PM
I am still waiting on the Obama supporters to tell me what foreign policy relations Obama gained during the age of 6 to 10 while living in Jakarta, Indonesia.
He must really be the messiah to be sitting at that age in the temples learning foreign policy from the leaders of that country.
Posted by: SJ | Apr 7, 2008 10:12:58 PM
OBAMA for President. Why r people so angry that he will win. For the people who state they will vote REP r crazy, so u want another 4 years of foreclosures , high gasoline prices and so on. Go ahead, and vote for a REP. Your home will be next.
Posted by: Katie | Apr 7, 2008 10:14:12 PM
Todd - 1. Obama is a great at bowling and enjoys himself despite idiots who worry about his score. 2. Obama is branching out to Hockey and already has a hockey stick to beat off Hillary in the upcoming senate hearings. 3. Young Obama put dinosaur into McCainasaurs the republican dinosaur.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 7, 2008 10:14:31 PM
Pitiful... he has an opportunity to take some time to do the job he was assigned to do and he wastes it on nominations? NATO operations is far more pressing and he continues to fail to do his job. Could it be that he has no clue how to? We all know that answer... of course he has no clue... there is no Clinton on the subcommittee for him to parrot! His hearings are an obvious opportunistic campaign ploy while our troops go unaided in their search for Bin Laden. Perhaps people are pegging Obama correctly... he doesnt want to catch Bin Laden anymore than Bush does because that would hurt their supporters in the energy and oil industries.
I look forward to hearing Clinton and McCain question the General. I enjoy watching competent leaders do their job.
Posted by: DCVoter | Apr 7, 2008 10:18:37 PM
Todd:
You and Dogsoldier make a GREAT couple! You can do what McBush will do to us if he gets the WH!!!
Obama 2008 -- Yes, WE CAN!!!
Posted by: Jackt51 | Apr 7, 2008 10:20:54 PM
I see the WASHINGTON POST is now saying that Clinton hospital tale is true, oh my I wonder if the other media houses will follow suit and retract their day long stories.
Posted by: SJ | Apr 7, 2008 10:22:03 PM
The mainstream media is obviously lacking in credibility. Unfortunately, lots of people are duped by them as much as they are duped by Obama on both fronts.
Posted by: DCVoter | Apr 7, 2008 10:24:51 PM
Dogsoldier: Out of curiosity, who are you supporting? I mean, I know you're having fun with sandy and all, but are you a Hillary supporter? Methinks you wouldn't be so insipid as to vote for Obamsta or McBush, right?
Posted by: Emily | Apr 7, 2008 10:30:26 PM
can all the kool aid drinkers answer one question?why would we want to elect someone to potus that had a marxist mentor as a child[uncle frank]sought out marxist professors in collage,looks up to his father who wrote a marxist manafesto for kenya[which is why he was fired by kenatta]sought out and became amember of a black liberation church for twenty years,quite possibly[THIS ONE I STILL AM TRYING TO CONFIRM]took a trip to the pakastan tribal areas in the mid 80's,has ties trough rezko to a very shady middle east banker that was linked to saddam.without calling me names please tell me why i should take a chance with the future of my country with someone who has cosistanly sought out antiamerican cohorts.
Posted by: don tufts | Apr 7, 2008 10:30:26 PM
sandy: If we payed attention to all the profoundly insightful Obama news, we could write a thoughtful thesis about Obama's riveting sub-committee. The thesis would begin like this: What I did on my summer vacation in the Virgin Islands...
Posted by: Emily | Apr 7, 2008 10:38:16 PM
sandy you obviously havent been paying attention for several years if you think Obama has been doing his job. My post had nothing to do with the hearing with the General with regards to Obama. Please try to comprehend better.
Posted by: DCVoter | Apr 7, 2008 10:42:43 PM
Fifty cents endorsed Obama also and they need to wash his mouth out with soap, but say what I could never understand that rap crap maybe Obama does.
Posted by: SJ | Apr 7, 2008 10:42:49 PM
"NO" for Obama. We need to learn alot more about him. He is young, he can run again in 4 or 8 years. By then we should know him better.
Posted by: sophie | Apr 7, 2008 10:43:09 PM
Dogsoldier: Let me ask you something seriously. From what I've read, Hillary is within one percentage point of Obama in the popular vote. She's behind in pledged delegates, but if she wins substantially in the coming primaries (excluding NC), can she maintain the support of the supers? I'm hopeful, but the biased news media presents such a distorted picture...
Posted by: Emily | Apr 7, 2008 10:53:00 PM
First of all for Obama to participate in a democratic function is total hypocrisy.
Obama couldn't get enough of his Marxist professors.
Obama couldn't get enough friendship of William Ayers the Weather Underground terrorist who wishes he could of blown up more of America.
Obama could not get enough of Rezko and his criminal methods refarding cheating the prople of Chicago.
Obama could not get enough of Rev. Wright whose Clack Liberation Theology is based on Communist/Marxist teachings.
Obama can't get enough of anti-american, criminal and Communist/Marxist associations.
Therefore, his JUDGEMENT in any form or fashion involving the direction of this great country IS SUSPECT.
OBAMA IS NOT FIT NOR IS HE WORTHY OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
Posted by: josef Nagy | Apr 7, 2008 10:55:39 PM
Emily - In politics weeks are lifetimes and months are eternities. Bedfellows today are enemies tomorrow so anything is still possible. FL and MI have to be resolved now or later in Denver so we're still in the game all the way to Denver. Then choices HAVE to be made. Stay strong. Never surrender. Your personal choices must see you through this mess even if its McCain in the end.
Posted by: Dogsoldier | Apr 7, 2008 11:00:40 PM
Everyone "liked" George W. Bush so much that he was "elected" to two terms - and look at what we got. This is the year of Obama, the political pop culture icon of the 2008 election. The next presidency will likely be the most difficult in U.S. history, thanks to George W. Bush and his administration, and this is not the time for a popularity contest. First term presidents enter into on-the-job-training the day they take office. There is not really any way to know in advance how a candidate will perform if elected to the presidency, however, in the year 2008, good heart and good intentions will not be enough to begin to tackle our domestic and international problems. The next U.S. President's shoulders will have to carry the weight of the U.S. and the rest of the world. There is one Democratic candidate who has shown time and again to be crush-proof. The more people attempt to push Hillary down the faster she bounces back. She is tenacious - NOT desperate. She is a fighter, which to some is not becoming and hurts her "popularity." We have had many years to learn about her flaws and her mistakes. Obama shares with us only what he wants us to know, and to this point that has not been much. His replies to the tough questions have been vague and incomplete. Voters have a responsibility to educate themselves before they pull the lever or face the touch screen, or at the least, to really think about what Obama is not saying, and how beneficial it has been for him to have had so little time and history in the national arena. All candidates are untested as presidents, but Hillary has the heart to fight for what is right for this country, and she has the proven perseverance that will be needed to face the opposition and adversity that will come with the post-Bush presidency.
Posted by: K. | Apr 7, 2008 11:01:21 PM
LeeLee, many of us (Clinton supporters) have gone underground somewhat for the time being. Underground in the sense that we're not broadcasting this open secret. We've done this out of respect for Senator Clinton who is on record - loyal democrat that she is - calling for her supporters to rally behind the eventual nominee. We're very hopeful that she will prevail - she's by far the better candidate.
But the point of this post is that many observers think that this could be McCain's opportunity to shake those right wing nuts who have been hanging out in the Republican Party - you know, the ones who want to run everyone's lives.
You're probably too young to remember that the republican party used to be pretty mainstream - why, they even have people who are (dare I say it!) - Pro-choice.
We see McCain as that other principled candidate - with centrist positions on many issues. There are many of us that could hang out for awhile among the republicans - 4 years doesn't seem too long - while the DNC figures out where their real constituency is - if the worst happens and Obama is the nominee.
2008 could indeed prove to be a pivotal election for reasons no one ever dreamed of.
So, you can drop the smug, self satisfied posturing. It's the Obama supporters who have no place to go - yeah, yeah, you can stay home. I know. We, on the other hand, seem to have that one additional meaningful option - to support the other principled, experienced candidate - John McCain.
Posted by: s. valenti | Apr 7, 2008 11:03:58 PM
So Obama who has been "too busy running for president" since 2004 to actually do anything in the Senate is finally having a meeting.....
Dang I hope if he actually gets to be president he doesn't start running for re-election in 2009. We could all be in trouble if Obama is too busy running for president to actually be president if he gets a chance.
Posted by: Jackie | Apr 7, 2008 11:05:46 PM
Approximately one week ago, the press reported that Clinton might have to go the Tonya Harding route - I'm afraid if I use the term they did, my message might get "moderated", but here goes. Clinton hasn't used this strategy but the Obama campaign has. She has been repeatedly "kneecapped".
Don't expect Clinton supporters to forget the last 7 - 10 days.
Posted by: s. valenti | Apr 7, 2008 11:10:52 PM
Unfortunately, as was the case with Bush's elections (even though one was stolen), half the country voted based on popularity and had no clue how to elect a qualified candidate. It appears that is happening in the dem race as it did in the rep race. So I guess we can expect the same in the general election campaign... another popularity contest determined by half the voters in the country. When will Americans ever learn that it is important we elect the most qualified and accomplished candidate still in the race?
Emily, you are correct and there is still time and possibilities. No matter what happens in the next 10 contests, the superdelegates (and possibly 76 additional unpledged delegates appointed to help break a tie) will determine who becomes the nominee at the convention after one or more ballots are cast by all delegates. Many people do not understand the nomination process is not about the votes. The voting that all of us who are not delegates do is simply a guideline for those who are delegates. There are always delegates who switch camps at the convention. Usually, it doesnt matter because the nominee is already presumptive (wide margins between candidates). This time it does matter because the race is tight and will likely get tighter I think. In any case, if the delegate difference is 1-2% that means 40-80 delegates changing camps, 76 appointed unpledged delegates, or any of the 300 or so uncommitted superdelegates can tip the nomination either way. Clinton is in the race because she has a right to be and still has a chance to win. Obama's camp is calling for her to step out because they know this fact... they are afraid she will win. Nothing will energize voters more than a solid competition all the way to the convention where the winner and the loser will kill and makeup and unite the party. Obama is afraid is all... and so is the media who hates Clinton.
Posted by: DCVoter | Apr 7, 2008 11:13:38 PM
I'm surprised that Obama has survived through Wright mess. It's a shame that he is even allowed to be in any type of committee,given his anti-American views and associations. He is just big a fake.
Posted by: Nick | Apr 7, 2008 11:16:05 PM
Jackie - let's be sure to note he isnt bothering to conduct the hearing he has failed to do for so long. That is to hold a hearing on NATO operations in Afghanistan (the primary purpose of the EU subcommittee) to ensure the troops have adequate resources to pursue and capture Bin Laden in cooperation with NATO forces. No, he prefers to hold nomination hearings at Bush's request. (Anyone who has been paying attention knows Bush has been presuring Congress to confirm his nominees.) He is a Bush boy and people just dont see it... the ties are very strong. The methods are very much alike (publicly pretending to be something you are not while working behind the scenes doing something totally opposite of what you promise). They are cousins ya know.
Posted by: DCVoter | Apr 7, 2008 11:19:55 PM
By the way, whatever happened to the story about the so-called breaching of the Obama passport records? Remember the indignation, the breaking news? Then, not only did we find out that Clinton's and McCains' records had also been viewed, but, the breaching had been done by a contractor with ties to the Obama campaign.
Remember, it all served to distract the public from the Wright scandal. But that too hasn't really disappeared. I'm thinking that in the privacy of the voting booth, people are just not going to want to take a chance on someone we really can't trust.
It's time to talk about the elephant in the room. Voters - in the privacy of the voting booth - have the opportunity to weigh in for the first time since the scandal broke on whether THEY think Obama can be trusted. The media has tried to "turn the page", let's see if the voters have.
Posted by: s. valenti | Apr 7, 2008 11:20:08 PM
"for the first time in my life I am proud to be an American"......and I want to thank all the players in this Oscar Winning Performance, whom made it possible for this show to go on."
Posted by: stella | Apr 7, 2008 11:30:11 PM
Imay (1st entry), I take issue with your statement: "Electing someone who claims he wants to 'unite' us when we already are united as Americans is creepy". ...Do you really consider our country to be "united" right now? I find that a very odd conclusion. At a time of such bitter division--- on issues such as the Iraq War, domestic surveillance, immigration, abortion, the liberal-vs-conservative culture clash, and even (and especially) rifts opening up within the Democratic Party--- the need to unite this divided country now could not be more relevant or crucial.
Posted by: jf | Apr 8, 2008 12:33:12 AM
Susie: The Obama camp always labels anyone who disagrees with them or their candidate as racist. From what I've read on the NY time, ABC blogs, et al, the Obama camp's principal mechanism is to bully people who don’t agree with them. They use what scant information imbibed from an inadequate arsenal of racial argument to reject any other perspective as “ignorant” or "racist." If Obama supporters could open their minds, even fractionally, to all the data provided that suggests Obama and company are the real racists, they would have learned a better strategy to argue a point other than to subjectively brand everyone as racist, uneducated, or ignorant. By casting aspersions (i.e. calling anyone who doesn't support Obama a racist), you perpetrate the same oppressive techniques used to deny women and other targeted groups a voice for thousands of years. It’s textbook projection. Many Obama supporters are what they accuse other people of being.
Posted by: Emily | Apr 8, 2008 12:46:41 AM
jf - the current division within the democratic voters is based on identity voting perpetuated by the Obama campaign and the RNC machine feeding the mainstream media. This divide and conquer strategy has been used by Republicans and other unsavory political figures throughout history as a tool of oppression, politics, and war. Clinton is the only candidate who has been focusing on the needs of all Americans without pandering to a specific demographic. She knows how to beat the RNC machine because she has been a victim of those same tools. She has 29 years experience fighting and beating them at their game. Obama is simply falling in step when it appears to work to his advantage. If he gets the nom, they will use it to beat him. Remember, he has never had to go up against them and has no clue they are using him. The shift to identity voting has been engineered by Rove in his open letters to Obama on how to beat Clinton since last year. Bill Clinton is absolutely correct when he says going all the way to the convention is a good thing and will be a great tool to unite the party at that time. Let the system work the way it is designed to work. I am a Clinton supporter for many reasons. I am an Independent because I refuse to follow wing-controlled parties. The eagle cannot fly on one wing. We need a centrist/moderate to represent our diverse nation. The RNC knows its only possible way to win is to encourage division among democratic voters and hope to get some support for McCain out of anger. Last year, I said this would happen and it has been. This year, we need to let it play out in spite of the push by the Republicans and Obama to prevent the system from working. See you at the convention!
Posted by: DCVoter | Apr 8, 2008 1:19:50 AM
This is the kind of politics he did in Chicago. He is an expert in this and he fooled a lot of Americans because of charisma. Charisma-Karma, sounds alike ha? Anyway, the republicans are already collecting all these info. They are already hoping that Obama will be the nominee so they can start writing the books for their attacks. I think the Rezko trial is worth watching. That would be more damaging than the pastor story. The media never talked about this.
Posted by: vidiii | Apr 8, 2008 5:53:42 AM
This will be the year that 30million life long democrats will vote republican because thier is no way we will vote for some one like OBama.
Posted by: Bishop | Apr 8, 2008 9:16:40 AM
They are both liars lets face it. Keep going Mark and every belittling remark and putdown to fellow Dems just means more votes for the McCain. Is that what you want? You want to fight, go to Iraq.
Posted by: Lilly | Apr 8, 2008 9:17:54 AM
This left-wing conspiracy is really getting absurd. ABC attempts to make people thing the military supports Obama They find a handful soldiers that support Obama, but even they have no clue what this guy stands for ex



