All these people that are critical and find fault with everything and everybody do not have anything better to do with themselves, are probably couch potatoes. They get up to eat and play on the computer for a while and give their negative views. It would degrade them to give someone a boost of encouragement with kindness. Because they do not how.

This is political pandering at its worst. It is a PR stunt.
I do feel for the people in the flood zone and the damage will run into millions. However, whether Obama is there or not will not make the river rise or fall more quickly. It is a stunt, folks.

Posted by: Mary | Jun 14, 2008 2:16:14 PM
------------------------------
Hey where is FEMA and why aren't they handing out the money like they did in La. As for Obama filling sand bags... let him stay there for a week working 18 to 20 hours a day filling them and I may believe he really cares... He is all wind and photo ops.
-----------------------------
Posted by: mich mike | Jun 14, 2008 3:34:12 PM
----------------------------
His security will devert resources.
Stay out of the way. I am so tired of politicians playing politics.
All he is doing is showing up for a photo op. Enough already.

Posted by: sean | Jun 14, 2008 1:25:13 PM
-------------------------------
Obama -- 5 minutes of PR and not a second more!

Posted by: Thomas | Jun 14, 2008 3:52:18 PM
---------------------------------

I think he honestly wants to help given his roots as a community organizer. It's sad that most of you are so used to seeing politicians doing nothing with and for citizens that you just can't fathom someone in politics genuinely wanting to help.

After thinking about it more I agree that he probably really wants to help and focus our attention on those in need.

WOW he is filling sandbag!!!! Oh my what a feat its beyond anything miraculous that I have ever heard done by man. When is the show this has to be a must see, how can anyone miss this spectacular occasion.

WOW he is filling sandbag!!!! Oh my what a feat its beyond anything miraculous that I have ever heard done by man. When is the show this has to be a must see, how can anyone miss this spectacular occasion.

Posted by: SJ | Jun 14, 2008 5:36:29 PM

At least he's filling sandbags to help americans and not his pockets like corrupt business as usual republicans.

It also doesn't help that McCain and the republicans want to keep our National Guard and billions in cash and resources in Iraq. We need them here in america to help after the devastation of these floods, hurricanes and tornados.

These natural disasters show how stupid it was for Bush use of National Guard to fight in Iraq when they should be here for situations like the floods in Iowa.

I'll bet we won't see Bush or Cheney filling sand bags anywhere or any time.

If Obama goes to Iowa to help, he should be commended and not criticized.

I agree the National Guard should have been immediately dispatched to these areas. Where are they? Can they all be in Iraq?

We're in such a mess!!!

Nothing but a PR stunt... If he stayed and did a 5 or 6-hour shift, maybe then I'd be impressed. But he won't.

"To act in an honorable way":

Which one of these was that:
Ditching Wright
Ditching Rezco
Ditching Pfleger
Ditching Johnson
Ditching the Church
Tossing Grandma under the bus (I have to give him credit for the last one because not even Chuck Colson pulled that one off, though he did think Nixon was worth it)?

This PR stunt will only impress the impressionable. Rational people will see it for what it's worth.

McCain would break his own spine just trying to fill a shovel. Dollars to donuts he'd only attempt it to show up Obama. "Help the flood victims" is the first thing you see on the main page of Obama's site; McCain's site barely even mentions it. I'm sure he hardly knows it's even happening. Gosh, what a comfort he'd be in a time of national crisis! Give me a break.

mc-more-war is just as out of touch with reality as bush is. I remember a few months ago a reporter asked bush what he thought about the possibility that gas would go to $4 a gallon. bush said "I wasn't aware of that. mc-more-war would give us more of the same spending $10,000,000,000 a month in iraq when those funds could be used for people in need in this country. Obama 2008 will be GREAT!!!

Pandering at its worst.

Obama is a Joke!

It all comes down to whether or not you think we should continue the bush policies. If you think the war should continue indefinitely, while we spend $10,000,000,000 a month, and you think that bush has done well with the economy then mc-more-war is your man. If you think that it's time we start to get out of iraq and do some positive things for the average American instead of just the top 5% then vote for Obama.

Obama was there for about twenty minutes mostly shaking hands and then actually filled a couple of bags before his scurity teams hustled him away. He was getting dirty and wet. Just a photo op and PR stunt. No real help.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with this effort and thank you Senator Obama for taking time to support it. In a situation like this, I feel it is inappropriate to crack jokes and spend all your time making negative comments when there is so much at stake.

When he could have done something for poor, uninsured Chicagoans being treated at his wife's hospital being harassed by collection agencies, he did nothing.

How many sandbags? How much of a security detail? How many photographers and media crew?

He's a phony, empty suit who's unelectable.

Why not accept the fact that Barack Obama
really wants to help people. If you know anything at all about him, you know that he really cares about people. You don't have to be poor to care. To whom much is given, much is expected. Senator Obama embraces the concept. He knows that he has benefited immensely and he knows that he has to give back. He will be the next president of the USA and we will all be better for it.

Why not accept the fact that Barack Obama
really wants to help people. If you know anything at all about him, you know that he really cares about people. You don't have to be poor to care. To whom much is given, much is expected. Senator Obama embraces the concept. He knows that he has benefited immensely and he knows that he has to give back. He will be the next president of the USA and we will all be better for it.

Posted by: pat | Jun 14, 2008 9:56:09 PM

They don't want to accept or acknowledge it. In fact they are doing exactly what they intend to do. Which is shilling for Bush/Cheney and McCain by bad mouthing Obama at every chance. Even though they and everyone knows that Bush/Cheney and McCain have ruined our great country with their policies and subversion of the constitution. They know that McCain and the repubulicans have nothing postive to campaign on so like mad dogs they attack, attack and attack.