Barack Obama Elected President!

[EricaKane70]

"Some blacks may stay home if Obama not on ballot

More becoming disenchanted with the Clintons after 'Judas' comment"

This is about the dumbest thing I've ever read, not voting for clinton if she's on the ballot means McCain would win which means our lives will be even worst than it is. I don't see the logic in not voting for clinton. If clinton is on the ballot I'm voting for her, her views are the pretty much the same as obama why wouldn't I vote for her??? They would rather hold a grudge instead of vote for someone that will lead this country in a better direction????

George S. is just the clinton's bitch and they know it and use it against him every chance they get. Also wasn't it him that broke the whole Monica scandal to abc???

I wish people would leave obama alone about Rev. Wright, but I think its not gonna happen. I'm really worried that Wright will speak out tomorrow for some reason, obama should be very worried I mean what better way to stab someone in the back in speaking out just before the Indiana and north carolina primaries.

[Wales2004]

I have friends of different races that aren't going to vote for Hilary Clinton if she's nominated. Only one of them has said he won't vote at all and that's because he refuses to vote for McCain. None of the others have said anything other than they won't vote for her. They don't like what's been done in this campaign and they don't want to just vote for any democrat. It's not about holding a grudge for any of them. I guess they don't feel like choosing between what they see as two evils. A lot is going to depend on how things get handled and it might lead to an increase in Independents next time around.

Maybe GS was trying to make his case as being unbiased today.

They won't but some people will become tired of hearing about it since that's already the case. His recently saying it was a legitimate concern makes it okay to continue. Rev. Wright's appearances last week were previously scheduled and there haven't been any reports on any more scheduled appearances so I don't think he'll pop up again for awhile.

[EricaKane70]

So they would rather have McCain win? I could see them not voting for her if she had different views from obama, but their views for the most part are identical. I guess I just don't understand why anyone would want to give the election away to Bush III.

He tried that several times in different interviews but its still the same.

Just because he has no scheduled appearances doesn't mean nothing, a news channel can easily bring their camera to him or Wright can go to them, particularly faux news since they are continously trying to tear obama down.

[Roman]

And the biggest reason why is because I truly believe pastors and reverends around the country have contacted him and have told him that if he opens his mouth up ONE MORE TIME.........

[EricaKane70]

I really don't think Rev. Wright is the type to give into peer pressure, but I might be wrong.

[Roman]

You might give into it when most every person of God is probably threatening to kick your ass if you keep slamming a Senator they believe in and that they feel you are trying to destroy.

[Roman]

Rangel blasts Blitzer: Brings up Bizarre beliefs of Falwell and Robertson

By: John Amato @ 1:31 PM - PDT

Of course the media never critiques the Republicans over their relationship (should I call it a marriage?) to the extreme religious right in the same fashion as they do all Democratic politicians. There’s an incredibly tough double standard in play here. We’ve tried to get them to do it, but they even ignore McCain’s new relationship with Pastor Hagee for the most part. Should we produce commercials about that? McCain’s Media is going to be a force to reckon with in the fall. And Rangel is a Clinton supporter if any of you are concerned with that fact.

Wolf Blitzer: The criticism of Barack Obama is that what Jeremiah Wright said at the National Press Club, Congressman Rangel, was no different than what he’s been saying for some time, and he should have known that these controversial remarks would be made. Is this explanation that Senator Obama is making good enough for you?

Charles Rangel: It’s disgraceful that he has to make any explanation for anything. The intrusion of the media and Republicans into the sacred relationship that worshipers have with their spiritual leaders I think is going to come back to haunt us. To think that we have to go into the lives and the beliefs of Rabbis and Priests and ministers and Imams is absolutely ridiculous. We’ve got a war on. We’ve got an economy that’s splintered. I think the media should be more responsible and start dealing with those issues. I don’t think many people care what reverend Wright thinks and I don’t see why any candidate should have to explain what ..

Blitzer: But Congressman, even Senator Obama last Sunday said this was a legitimate issue given the nature of — He wants to be President of the United States. If there’s a right wing politician, let’s say a Republican politician that has an extraordinarily close relationship with a pastor who is making outrageous statements has been a member of that church for 20 years. Wouldn’t that be fair game?

Rangel: Of course not. Of course he’s a candidate. He doesn’t want to take all of you on and I’m probably over the hill but the truth is that you guys know that his beliefs have nothing to do with someone that went to the church, and if we’ve got to get into the Jerry Falwell’s and into the Robertson’s and to the number of people who have what appears to other religions to be bizarre beliefs we’ll never get to the issues that Americans were concerned about. I know that every American is more concerned with who is going to be a better Presidential candidate and a better President more than they are on anything that happens in the church that Senator Obama went to.

The Republicans have made it their mission to pander to extremists in religion so with Wolf’s logic why then hasn’t Blitzer ever gone after all the Republicans who are aligned with them? Because of a terrible double standard in the media. McCain’s Media strikes again.

billw made the videos and says: Even though the media is still trying to fixate on Obama’s pastor, there are already plenty of signs Rep Rangel is right. A recent NBC-WSJ poll indicated that voters are much more concerned with McCain’s close ties to the Bush administration and its policies, and the cash-strapped NRCC just spent more than $53,000 running attack ads trying to link Obama and Rev Wright to Don Cazayoux (D-LA), who won in a special election Sat in a solidly Republican district they had held since 1974, with the outgoing Rep. Richard Baker ® having won with more than 70% of the vote in 2004, the last year he had a challenger.

From Crooks & Liars.

[Roman]

FOXNews Sunday host Chris Wallace is shocked (shocked, I tell you!) that the GOP tactic of tying local candidates to Rev. Wright via Barack Obama could possibly be considered race-baiting.

Dean: Chris, the Republicans…for the last 30 years, the Republican (play)book has been to race bait and to use hate and divisiveness. In 2006, the American people said no to that; I think they’re going to say no to that in 2008. It is true that the economy, the war and healthcare are more important to the American people. They are tired of the divisiveness of what the Republicans have done to them. And that’s why the Republicans are in trouble. Deep trouble. Another four years of George Bush is not what we need…

Chris Wallace: Governor, are you suggesting that bringing up Jeremiah Wright is “race-baiting” and hate and divisive?

Howard Dean: Yeah, I am suggesting that kind of stuff. I think when you start bringing up candidates that have nothing to do with the issues…uh when you start bringing up things that have nothing to do with the candidate, nothing to do with the issues, that’s race-baiting. And that’s exactly what it is. Just like Willie Horton was race-baiting so many years ago. I think we’re going to take…we’re going to turn the page on this stuff. I’ll tell you, there’s a lot of difference between the Republicans and the Democrats on issues, but the biggest issue of all is we don’t use this kind of stuff. We never have used this kind of stuff and we’re not going to start now. America is more important than the Republican party and that’s the lesson the voters are about to teach the Republicans.

Let’s see, once again as Bill Moyers points out, what Wright has said is no more outrageous than Hagee, et al., yet Wright’s words have been the subject of a non-stop media barrage and GOP smear ads. Hmm….what could be the difference between those conservative Christian leaders and Jeremiah Wright? You really can’t imagine why that could be considered race-baiting, Chris?

Of course, when you’re on the wrong end of every issue that Americans find important and you’ve got a record of massive scandal and incompetence, the only vestige you have left is appealing to the basest instincts of the American voter.

From Crooks & Liars.

[Roman]

From CBS News:

(CBS) Democrat Barack Obama appears to have rebounded from some of the damage caused by the controversy surrounding his former pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright, according to the latest CBS News/New York Times poll.

On one key measure, Obama has seen a big reversal since his denunciation of Wright’s remarks on Tuesday. He now leads presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in the hypothetical fall contest by eleven points, 51 percent to 40 percent. That compares to a tied match-up in a CBS News/New York Times poll that was released last Wednesday.

Positive assessments of how Obama has handled the situation with Wright are also reflected by a continued lead over fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton in his battle for their party’s nomination. Among Democratic primary voters (those who have voted or plan to vote in a Democratic primary) Obama’s lead over Clinton has increased -- he now leads Clinton by twelve points, 50 percent to 38 percent. That’s up from his eight point lead in the poll released just a few days ago.

However, among all registered voters who identify themselves as Democrats (regardless of whether they have voted or plan to vote in a Democratic primary) Obama and Clinton are virtually tied -- 45 percent for Clinton and 44 percent for Obama. This is similar to the numbers earlier in the week.

The poll also shows good news for both Democrats in a campaign versus McCain in the fall. Just like Obama, Clinton’s lead over McCain has jumped, from 5 to 12 points.

Independents back Obama in a head to head against McCain, but in a Clinton-McCain contest independents support McCain by five points. However, more Democrats say they will vote Clinton in the fall than say they will vote for Obama.

The poll shows that almost eight in ten Democratic primary voters would support either Obama or Clinton against McCain in November. Among Democratic primary voters who support Obama now, 70 percent say they would vote for Clinton in November if she is the Democratic nominee. Among those who support Clinton now, 60 percent say they would vote for Obama if he is the nominee.

This poll was conducted after Obama’s public comments on Tuesday denouncing Wright’s statements, something most voters think he handled well. Democratic primary voters are especially approving.

By a margin of nearly three to one, registered voters who have heard about the situation approve of how Obama has handled it, with 60 percent approving to 23 percent who disapprove. Among Democratic primary voters, the margin is 68 percent to 22 percent.

Just over half of registered voters say Obama has been appropriately critical of his ex-pastor. But one in four voters (and slightly more Republicans) would have liked him to have gone further in his rejection.

However, 47 percent of voters see political motivation as the main reason behind Obama’s decision to renounce his minister. Fewer, 34 percent, think the split came mainly because Obama disagreed with things Wright said.

A large number of voters - three-quarters - say that what Wright has said has not changed their opinion of Obama. However, Wright has caused 24 percent to change their view, with 22 percent saying their view of Obama is less favorable. Republicans are more likely than Democrats or Independents to describe the Wright impact negatively.

Favorable views of Obama have rebounded some in this poll compared to earlier in the week when his ratings had dipped in the days after Wright’s recent speeches. Forty-four percent now say they have a favorable view of Obama, compared to 39 percent on Wednesday and 43 percent back in March. His negative rating is 30 percent now, compared to 34 percent on Wednesday and 24 percent in March.

When voters are asked about their support for Obama as a candidate, the impact of the Wright situation is again negative -- but limited. Seventy-three percent say say it has not changed their likelihood of voting for him, 18 percent say it makes it less likely and six percent say it makes them more likely. As with personal views of Obama, it is Republicans most likely to report a negative impact.

Most voters also say they do not expect Wright’s impact to linger in their own minds. Only about one in ten say this will affect their November vote a lot, with 73 percent saying it will not affect them at all. The impact appears strongest, however, among Republicans, who are least likely to vote for any Democrat.

However, some perceptions of Obama’s qualities have shifted in the last few weeks, and he has lost his edge over Clinton on some past strengths. He is behind both Clinton and McCain on the question of who is tough enough to make the hard decisions a president must. Seven in 10 think both Clinton and McCain are tough enough to make the right decisions a President has to make. Fifty-eight percent say this about Obama.

But more voters, 52 percent, view Obama as the candidate who would unite the country. Slightly fewer now say this about Clinton and McCain is the weakest on this characteristic. Obama has gone down in this measure from February when 67 percent said he would unite the country.

No candidate now has a clear lead when it comes to the candidate who shares the values of most Americans. Sixty percent now say that Obama shares the values of most Americans, but this is down from 64 percent last week, and from 70% a month ago. Four in 10 of those who do not think Obama shares their values say their opinion of Obama has been negatively impacted by the Wright controversy. And most of these voters say Obama distanced himself from Wright for political reasons and not because he really disagreed with his statements.

The poll also asked voters about their opinion of lifting the federal gas tax over the summer, a proposal supported by McCain and Clinton, but not by Obama. Forty-nine percent think lifting the tax is a bad idea, while 45 percent approve of the plan. Most Republicans approve of the idea and most independents disapprove, while Democrats are divided. Americans are also divided on this issue by income: Americans making under $30,000 a year approve of a gas tax “holiday” for the summer, but most Americans making more do not.

The poll also found that many are skeptical of the motives of the public figures that support the idea of a temporary lifting of the federal gasoline tax: seven in 10 think they support the measure mostly to help themselves politically. Even most Americans who approve of the idea think so.

In this poll, Clinton is the candidate most viewed as pandering: Just 34 percent think she says what she believes, while nearly two in three believe she says what people want to hear. For both Obama and McCain, just over half say they say what he believes and four in 10 think they say what voters want to hear.

The debate over the gas tax comes as America’s view of the condition of the national economy reaches new lows. According to the poll, 83 percent think the condition of the national economy is bad - the highest number recorded by the CBS News/New York Times poll since this question was first asked in 1986. Only 16 percent say the economy is even somewhat good, also a record low. The view of the condition of the economy has dropped six points since last week, and it has dropped 22 points since the beginning of the year.

Lastly, the poll found that President Bush’s job approval rating remains at 28 percent, the same as on Wednesday. Mr. Bush’s approval rating has not risen above 30% in over a year.

[DevotedToAMC]

LOL I don't think he would do that either

[Roman]

He won't give in to peer pressure.....

But he will to an ass kicking.

[DevotedToAMC]

I think Wright's ass has been kicked around a little too much

[Roman]

I mean by fellow pastors.

[Wales2004]

Part of it is principle. My friend doesn't like Hilary Clinton for whatever his reasons are and I've never asked nor cared. He was willing to vote for her despite that because he doesn't want McCain elected. But he doesn't like how Hilary Clinton and Bill Clinton have race baited and he finds that whole thing deplorable so he can't in good conscience support her.

I can see your point and you believe that the ultimate goal is to keep McCain out of the White House but there are people who think their issue is greater than that. There are a lot of people who weren't interested in voting before because to them nothing ever changes and now some of those people are involved because they see hope of change. Hilary Clinton doesn't represent that for them. If you've basically lived in the same condition for years despite who is in office then what incentive would you have to care now?

There's an intangible that Barack Obama has that Hilary Clinton does not for some people. The intangible is more important to them than whatever others say he lacks. And it doesn't work in reverse because it's more important to them than the experience and whatever else Hilary Clinton has.

Then he should give into the fact that he's biased. He's got company over there at ABC anyway so it's futile to fight it at this point.

I don't happen to believe his intent was to sabotage Obama. I think he was trying to salvage his work and he got carried away at the press club because he had some of his supporters with him. Maybe some of his friends did talk to him and point out how badly awry it went. IA with you that he doesn't appear to be the type to give in to peer pressure but since I don't think he's a malicious person then I think he is capable of listening to reason and seeing how he stepped out of his element at the press club. You did say he had the Nation of Islam protecting him so maybe they're keeping the media in check as well.

[EricaKane70]

Well according to some news reports rev. wright was upset over obama race speech and thats why he felt like he needed to speak for himself. I do think he mean't to hurt obama, because he said, "obama was just being a politician when he said he didn't agree with him on certain issues,' or maybe he did it unintentionally. It really makes me wonder, this man had 3 appearances where he looked foolish, if he wasn't trying to sabotage him maybe someone needs to go see a doctor.