Obama's pastor's comments.

[Guest]

This just shows you how ugly US politics can get. These remarks look like they were years ago. How many of us have people connected to us in some way who have said or did some really stupid stuff??
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/14/politics/main3940680.shtml

What are they going to dig up next? Some lesson plan that some law school professor had during Barack Obama's days at Harvard Law??

[Guest]

I agree, Tal. I would hate to be responsible for comments that my friends or relatives make.

[Guest]

Tal: You are mistaken. Jeremiah Wright has over a 20-year close mentor relationship with Barack Obama. The hate comments he made are just a few of his long record of this kind of hate the whites speech. Do the research and you will find it. It's public record. I'm not going say more than that. But don't just chalk this up to dirty politics. Do the research and prove them wrong. I don't think you can.


From the Wikipedia article on Jeremiah Wright. "Prior to the YouTube release of Wright's Christmas sermon, Obama claimed that Wright 'is like an old uncle who says things I don't always agree with.' "

I do not buy this attack on Obama through something someone he is associated with said. Many politicians if not all of them have relatives, friends, supporters, and others who have very embarrassing stuff in their closets. This looks like a desperate move on the part of Obama's critics.

[Guest]

From the Wikipedia article on Jeremiah Wright. "Prior to the YouTube release of Wright's Christmas sermon, Obama claimed that Wright 'is like an old uncle who says things I don't always agree with.' "

I do not buy this attack on Obama through something someone he is associated with said. Many politicians if not all of them have relatives, friends, supporters, and others who have very embarrassing stuff in their closets. This looks like a desperate move on the part of Obama's critics.



Sorry, but if you have a crazy uncle (a role with which I can identify), you don't use him as your spiritual leader for 20+ years. You do not go to him every week, you do not take your children to him to listen to his ravings. You're stuck with your uncle. You can change your pastor whenever you like, for instance when the man starts using the pulpit to rage against your country and to instill racism. And these excerpts from the Reverend were not dug up. They're published by the man himself in a "Best Of" album.

The timing is of this stuff is interesting, but only in that it's at least 6 months late. Had the press been doing its job early in the campaign and investigated the man thoroughly, this would have come up long before the first vote, before the Obama money machine gained momentum. People have known about Wright for years, but the media never felt it worthwhile to pursue. Now with his "God Damn America" ravings, they have no choice. Now we see a tie to Michelle Obama's having never been proud of her country until her husband was running for president. The media must address the issue, if only to denigrate the influence of Wright in Obama's life and to somehow offset 20 years of sitting in a pew listening to this venom with George Bush giving a speech at Bob Jone U or McCain being endorsed by an ignorant, prejudiced bible pounder.

But in the short run, it doesn't matter. People will ignore facts and do whatever the heck they want to do anyway.

[Guest]

Muncle is unfortunately correct....people will either forget or ignore the facts. There is no way to expect reality to play a role in anything in our sad permissive, pacifist society.

My issue with Obama's pastor is that he actually assigned him as the spiritual coordinator...full well KNOWING his bent for hate of whites. A real life example of quid quo pro (no matter what) and extremely poor judgment.

Begs the question whether he is capable of rising above the fray for the better good should he be so lucky to get the nomination and actually win the Presidency (which I seriously doubt).

BTK

[Guest]

Begs the question whether he is capable of rising above the fray for the better good should he be so lucky to get the nomination and actually win the Presidency (which I seriously doubt).

BTK


To paraphrase HL Mencken, Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people. Let's face it, as a nation, we're not too bright. And we're apathetic as hell. He's nicely packaged; he likely win.

[Guest]

To paraphrase HL Mencken, Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people. Let's face it, as a nation, we're not too bright. And we're apathetic as hell.

Uncle Muncle - :agree: :agree: :agree:


He's nicely packaged; he likely win.

I'm scared to death and hope your wrong here!! :'(

Your niece, KathieI

[Guest]

Well, much as it pains me, I have to agree with Muncle on this one. I will agree with Sam that I wouldn't like to be accountable for the stupid or inflammatory things someone I am associated with might say, however, in the big picture I find it hard to swallow that Obama just happened to miss those two or so occasions at church when these things were said. I wrote in a previous forum that I thought Obama wasn't ready yet or too naive and this just validates it for me. Barak Obama had a extremely long term relationship with this man, over 20 years and we know he didn't keep his mouth shut for that long. I believe the timing smells of "dirty politics", but that doesn't change the facts. With all of that being said, I am a loyal Dem and I always was going to and still will vote for Hillary. Just my opinion.

[Guest]

Chelsea, there's hope for you yet. Not much, but a little hope. Now if I could get you to drop the "Bush lied. Bush lied" mantra of the lunatic fringe, we could maybe save you. But, as to your noting that the timing smelled of dirty politics, I beg to differ. It's really too late for Hillary. If it were a Clinton machine tactic, it should have been released before Super Tuesday when Obama went nova. As for it being a McCain plant, it's way too early. Remember, we're talking an electorate here that has an attention span of a 5 year old in a ToysRUs. There's no way the great unwashed will remember any of this come November. If the GOP were to do it, they'd try to release it about 25 Sept earliest. I think this is just the media trying to cover the fact that they've been incompetent for over 2 years.

[Guest]

:bow: Uncle Muncle . . .hmmmm . . . well . . . :o . .. I AGREE!!!

Now if we could just work out a health plan.

However, and I say this lovingly, Bush lied, Bush lied, Bush lied>>>> :-* lol

[Guest]

How many TOTV users know politics within the African-American community though? This pastor just seems to be paying attention to the various concerns of his flock. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity_United_Church_of_Christ Barack Obama is one member of that flock but he is no sheep. You would have to be very opinionated and very strong with those opinions to make it through Harvard Law School and then have the fortitude to reject all the various very lucrative offers Mr. Obama must have received from some of the top law firms around the United States.

Think Barack Obama's actions speak louder than the words of some pastor in Chicago who happens to be a friend/mentor of Senator Obama.

I can understand some of the problems Barack Obama's wife has with the United States as well. It is still a different world for many whites as compared with the reality faced by many African Americans.

We have come a very long way but there is still a very long way to go with making Martin Luther King Jr's ideals in his "I Have a Dream" speech realities.

I did vote for Mr. Barack Obama so I am a little biased in my outlook and I have a sister-in-law who is of a shade quite a bit darker than Mr. Barack Obama.

[Guest]

Taltarzac,
Good post.!

[Guest]

Sorry Tal, I can't buy it. It's just rationalization for the racism and victimhood propagated by the Reverend. He refers to the United States of White America and the USAKKK. He claims AIDS is/was a government plot against blacks. And of course, the pièce de résistance of his video, simulating Bill Clinton humping Monica as the crowd cheers. Oh, and by the by, these videos of the good Reverend did not come from some hidden camera. They were collected by the church and are on sale there, I guess as a Best Of album. If this is indicative of the politics within the African American community, as you imply, is it a cause or an effect. I thought religious "leaders" were supposed to, well, lead their congregation on a moral path. I didn't think they were there to pander to their ignorances, weaknesses, and prejudices.

As to Michele Obama, I simply cannot understand how a woman who has had the advantages of education at both Princeton and Harvard cannot find anything about American for which she can be proud. Must be all those years getting a government check since she left private practice.

[Guest]

Wouldn't be nice if we could just wait and hear what Mr. Obama has to say about this issue tomorrow.

This whole post smacks of racisim. Why not wait another day, before we denounce the entire race because of one black racist.

[Guest]

Wouldn't be nice if we could just wait and hear what Mr. Obama has to say about this issue tomorrow.

This whole post smacks of racisim. Why not wait another day, before we denounce the entire race because of one black racist.


Good point fullrob. Would like to get some re-action from Barack Obama about this stuff even though he might be better off just leaving this alone.

My point is that Senator Barack Obama is a man of very strong convictions and that his church probably is not going to sway him all that much in any direction. John F. Kennedy seemed to say the same about the Catholic Church and that Church has a lot of tenets that many Americans would not want stuck into their private lives. Same with Senator John McCain. His church would not seem to have that much influence on him.

"I believe the American people are more concerned with a man's views and abilities than with the church to which he belongs. I believe the founding fathers meant it when they provided in Article VI of the Constitution that there should be no religious test for public office. And I believe that the American people mean to adhere to those principles today." John Fitzgerald Kennedy

[Guest]

Tal: That's all well and good, but maybe we're a little gun shy after the American public has twice voted in a man that say's Jesus speaks directly to him, ergo the Iraq War -- George W. Bush. Asylums are filled to the brim with people saying that Jesus is speaking directly to them. I have an absolute belief in the division of Church and State. What happened for the last 8 years?

[Guest]

Tal: That's all well and good, but maybe we're a little gun shy after the American public has twice voted in a man that say's Jesus speaks directly to him, ergo the Iraq War -- George W. Bush. Asylums are filled to the brim with people saying that Jesus is speaking directly to them. I have an absolute belief in the division of Church and State. What happened for the last 8 years?


How does God speak to Bush, Chelsea24? He speaks to me through the beauty of his creations like the caress of a woman, the waves of the ocean acting on a beach, and many sunsets.

President Bush is a creature of the religious right or so it seems. Hopefully, if McCain gets in he can take us more towards what the US Constitution seems to hold with respect to a wall between Church and State. Obama or Clinton would probably stick to the same tenet of the US Constitution. There is going to be a problem with the current US Supreme Court though as they seem to be now in the camp of the religious right.

[Guest]

I think I'll stick with George Bush's premise of God speaking to directly to him as opposed to Bill Clinton's voices coming to him form under his desk. Who knows where Hillary's or Barack's voices will come from. I'm not trying to start a debate, only adding to the thread.
Cheers from wet Missouri. :bigthumbsup:

[Guest]

Tal: Yes, I believe God is felt and seen everywhere we look. But I don't believe he speaks directly in our ears. Sorry. I can't and won't trust a man with his finger on the little red button that can say "I, uh, was listening to my iPod the other day and Jesus came through and said, 'Go ahead George, push that button'". What's that all about? We might as well have elected The Son of Sam. No! I stand firmly on the division of Church and State. But, I'd love to have been a fly on the wall for this conversation:

What Jesus Might Say
to George W. Bush
by Sanderson Beck
GEORGE W: Dear Lord Jesus, I need your help. Things are not going well. Please listen to me.

JESUS: I always listen to you, George, but until now you have not been listening to me very well.

GEORGE W: I'm sorry, Lord. I try.

JESUS: I thought it was especially disgraceful when you implied that I told you to go to war against the people of Iraq. How could you do that? Do not people call me the Prince of Peace?

GEORGE W: Yes, Lord, you are the Prince of Peace.

JESUS: Did I not teach that we should love our enemies?

GEORGE W: Yes, I remember that now.

JESUS: George, I love you like a son or a brother, but you have strayed very far from my teachings. You have been responsible for much killing - first in Texas with all those executions, and some of them were innocent, - and then in the world with your wars. Why do you help the greedy instead of the needy? Why do you give big tax reductions to the rich while cutting the programs that help the poor? Does not every person in your country and in the world deserve good health care? Remember, when you help the poorest people, you are helping me.

[Guest]

You're absolutely right. Besides, I don't think it was God speaking in Bush's ear...

It was probably Dick Cheney!

As for Obama's statements. I think he needed to come out and deal with this situation, and I think he did an excellent job of doing so.

As an independent voter, I for one have still not made up my mind as to who gets my vote. However, I will not vote for the status quo. The religious zealots from both the right and left have no place in our politics, any more than the white or black racists, who would rather have everyone thinking like they do, because "God spoke to them".

[Guest]

Having just watched Obama's speech, I was impressed. I found it very believable, not just the usual political posturing of most politicians.

[Guest]

Speeches make me nervous. There are the writers, editors, elocution coaches, teleprompter operators and 'advisors' who are all party to the speech. I'm never sure when it's the real thing or one great stage show. Senator Obama is an excellent orator, but so are several other senators, members of the House, and 20% of the Scree Actors Guild. The best orator may not be the most skillful leader.

It takes more than a well-staged speech to get my vote, regardless of which of the three members of the Select 100 is holding the microphone at the moment. A lot more substance of what one plans to do - in detail - with the why's and how's and when would be nice. Otherwise, it's a beauty contest akin to Miss America.

[Guest]

SteveZ, I agree with you 100%. However, history shows us that all good leaders were good orators. All we have to do is look at some of our past presidents that most people think about when it come to leadership and their skill at communicating. Lincoln, Franklin, Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton (conservatives would probably disagree). Now having said this, I would first say that all good orators may not necessarily be a good leader. But we have all seen what happens when the person we put into office can't put two words together with out screwing something up. I won't say who I'm talking about but his initials are GWB.

[Guest]

It is well noted that Obama refused and did not have a speech writer for this and did this speech against the advise of his advisors. I think he did it from the heart and I think he did an excellent job. Now if you like to speak about orators, here's someone who will take us right down the Bush path again . . .

JERUSALEM - Senator John McCain’s trip overseas was supposed to highlight his foreign policy acumen, and his supporters hoped that it would showcase him in a series of statesmanlike meetings with world leaders throughout the Middle East and Europe while the Democratic candidates continued to squabble back home.

But all did not go according to plan on Tuesday in Amman, Jordan, when Mr. McCain, fresh from a visit to Iraq, misidentified some of the main players in the Iraq war.

Mr. McCain said several times in his visit to Jordan — in a news conference and in a radio interview — that he was concerned that Iran was training Al Qaeda in Iraq. The United States believes that Iran, a Shiite country, has been training and financing Shiite extremists in Iraq, but not Al Qaeda, which is a Sunni insurgent group.

I think McCain should have had that straight before he decided to run for President. Just my opinion.

[Guest]

I'd like to see the video tapes of the sermons we HAVEN'T seen yet???
Hope more video is somehow released in the near future.
Perhaps we haven't seen the best yet!!!!

[Guest]

:dontknow: What good would that really do? The pastor is not running for President.

[Guest]

Before we judge too harshly Obama's relationship with his Pastor, think back at how many friends or family members have you forsaken because of a slur or bad joke related to ones race, sex, creed or sexual preference. Its hard to make good friends and its hard to separate from them sometime even when we know it's the right thing to do.

It would be quite another thing, if some video is uncovered that showed Obama using the same inflammatory language ???

[Guest]

I don't judge Senator Obama's relationship with his pastor at all. If I were judged by the comments and/or actions of some of my lifelong friends, they'd probably want to take me to Starke and yank 'Old Sparky' out of the storage shed.

What goes on in someone's house of worship is that person's private business, not something to be dragged out into public scrutiny, no matter how much others may take offense to the language, service content or activity.

If I have any gripe with Senator Obama, it has nothing to do with how he worships the Creator, if he worships at all, where he worships, or who may be his spiritual adviser(s).

Freedom of religion is just that.

Until such time as the clergyman in question is arrested for inciting to riot, or anything like that, the clergyman is simply exercising his First Amendment right of free speech and Senator Obama is exercising his First Amendment right regarding freedom of religion.

We may not like the dialogue that we have been given privilege to hear, but the freedoms granted by the US Constitution cannot be selectively exercised - it's all or nothing. I can't remember ('senior moment!') who said, " I may not like what you said, but I'll defend with my life your right to say it." It's just how I feel.

Other strings get into various election topics, and I'll put my 2-cents worth into those. This one to me is cut-and-dried, and while its easy to get into this matter, it's also dangerous.

[Guest]

I don't judge Senator Obama's relationship with his pastor at all. If I were judged by the comments and/or actions of some of my lifelong friends, they'd probably want to take me to Starke and yank 'Old Sparky' out of the storage shed.



Yeah, if you were running for president and had no track record of accomplishments on which to base your supposed credentials and you stated that these friends had for 20 years been your spiritual guides and you had them on your campaign staff, you should be judged somewhat by their beliefs and actions. And it that led to a trip to Starke and a visit with Ol Sparky, so be it.

[Guest]

Someone asked what will they dig up next about Obama. It could be a real blockbuster, and is only now making the rounds among the conservative commentators. This is the same route that the story re his pastor took before it was picked up by the mainstream media.
Obama supposedly has an ongoing "friendship" with two members of the "Weathermen/Weather Underground", a radical group of domestic terrorists from the 1970s, responsible for bombings, bank robberies and various conspiracies to destroy government facilities. The individuals, William Ahres and Bernadette Dohrn (not sure of the spellings) are now activist professors at a Chicago college. According to the commentators that I have heard, Ahres is defiantly unapologetic regarding his youthful illegalities.
The relationship between Obama and the lefty revolutionaries has not been spelled out in the accounts that I have heard, but if it is personal and substantial, disclosure could be quite embarassing, in my opinion. The republicans would be best served by asking the media to cap this info for the time being & then use it as an "October Surprise" in the event that Obama wins the nomination and runs against McCain.

[Guest]

1rnfl OMG Are you repubs really that nuts! Pleeeaasssee let's all account for our actions in the 70's. I'm from Chicago. I was there during the riots. I knew a couple of weathermen -- it was the 70's for God's sake! Get over it! This is the most ridculious thing I have ever heard. Everyone had some weird friends. Everyone had some revolutionary thing to say. It was the times. It's that simple. And Obama at that time was much younger than I am. Geesh! Grow up. I'm going to guarantee you this will not be an "October Surprise". The next think you'll be saying is that he killed Santa Claus and ate the Easter Bunny! Barack is an adult, speaking to adults. Clearly this is over your head.

[Guest]

Yeah, if you were running for president and had no track record ......., you should be judged somewhat by their beliefs and actions.

You hit the nail on the head - No Track Record !

I'm still not convinced with the "guilt by association" inference. There are few lifelong choirboys/girls out there, and in some respects I would prefer a candidate with some rough-and-tumble experience because the folks they will deal with after an election are no angels either.

In my lifetime I've been considered politically just a little to the right of Genghis Khan. Yet, I went later in life and got a degree from one of the most (if not THE most) left-wing universities in the nation. I followed the advice of a great mentor who said you learn more from people with whom you normally disagree than those who mirror your opinions. I found that to be true for me. So, even though I walk around with an "Antioch U." sweatshirt, to assume I'm an ultra-liberal would be exercising the classic "assume" definition. I have friends who are in that ultra-liberal category who are there for me in a heartbeat if I need help, and our politics actually enhance the friendship because we have learned much from each other over decades.

Senator Obama makes himself open for "by association" examination solely because there is no defined substance to his campaign. "Change" is a great rallying cry, but 'change' to what and in what way? How will this 'change' occur? Is 'change' it strictly a people-swap or issue modification? If issue-modification, then how-when-where?

Until "Change" is quantified, Senator Obama's campaign will be saturated with 'by association' references, simply because there is nothing else....

[Guest]

RE: Obama's Terrorist Friends!!!!

Chelsea24- No need to get insulting or throw a hissy fit- I was just expressing an observation. OK? Even if this is all clearly over my head. I certainly accept your apology.

Maybe I wasn't clear on something- - I'll now elaborate. I wasn't implying that Obama is suspected of doing anything wrong or that he associated with criminals back in the 70's. The matter being bandied around by the conservative commentators is that he has/had a continuing, present day relationship with two of the more notorious members of the weatherman---William Ayers and Bernadette Dohrn.
Your weatherman acquaintances in Chicago were probably like most of them- mindless, but not really harmless kiddie revolutionaries, just exercising their constitutional rights by trashing military recruitment offices and battling the police in the streets. Surely nothing serious, because, after all, Chelsea, it was "just the 70's"
Ayers and Dohrn were a bit more fervent and accomplished. They and their immediate associates plotted and executed bombings, bank robberies and other crimes. Three of their playmates blew themselves while trying to make bombs in NY City. Poor souls! They were federal fugitives for years, were finally surrendered or apprehended, and received appropriate wrist slappings by an "understanding" judge. Ayers reportedly has recently said that his only regret is that he didn't do more bombings.
Chelsea, can you possibly maintain that if the right wingers are successful in linking Obama to Ayers and Dohrn in a substantial, recent or present day relationship, it will not have a devastating effect on his candidacy?
Personally, I doubt if this will happen. From what I have seen in researching this, they have only documented that he may have met with them a few times, years ago, in the 90's. Also, Obama would not be stupid enough to have a relationship like this. Or would he? Don't forget, the thing about his nutty pastor was bouncing around for many months before it was picked up by the mainstream press & just look at what happened. So who knows where this will go? They have lots of time to develop it and are very persistent. It could be interesting!!

[Guest]

Chelsea24- No need to get insulting or throw a hissy fit- I was just expressing an observation. OK? Even if this is all clearly over my head. I certainly accept your apology.



Dominick, I didn't throw a hissy fit. I found it amusing. I wasn't trying to insult you personally, that is how you took it. Consequently I did not and do not apologize.

Yes, I agree with you that the right wingers will pretty much try to link anything,everything and everyone they can to Barack Obama. They're scared to death of him.

This is just the usual smoke and mirrors. A kinda of a "let's target this guy, so everyone doesn't see how incompetent our guy really is" mentality. The Bush administration tried that for years but, it has been validated over and over and over again, you can only fool the American public for so long. The right wingers will throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks. I don't think this will be it. I think their bag of tricks is running out. Their tactics have become extremely transparent and wearisome. Just my opinion. :)

[Guest]

Hang in there Chelsea 24!! There is a silent majority on your side.

[Guest]

. . . . . Yes, I agree with you that the right wingers will pretty much try to link anything,everything and everyone they can to Barack Obama. They're scared to death of him.

This is just the usual smoke and mirrors. A kinda of a "let's target this guy, so everyone doesn't see how incompetent our guy really is" mentality. .. . . . .


As a non-Republican but probably very right of center politically, I don't consider Senator Obama 'scary,' but do consider him hypocritical.

Senator Obama has so far completed just a tad over half his term (his first term) as Senator from Illinois. Considering the learning curve experienced by freshman US Senators, he's only had the real understanding of the job for a couple of years tops. It smacks of never really wanting to represent the Illinois populace, but just using the title as a stepping-stone. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/o000167/ provides a synopsis of his Senate record, to include the fact that he has missed 37% of the legislative votes in the Senate for the current term.

Senator Obama was a State Senator for 8 years. He was a very active legislator in the Illinois Senate, with many of his sponsored bills . The websites http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml and http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html
provide a synopsis of that record. Neither of the site are from what can be described in any context as "right wing."

Senator Obama's experience as a manager or business executive is minuscule, with no record of ever managing anything other than local projects of limited staff numbers and small dollar value. The President of the US is the Chief Executive of an entity (Executive Branch) of approximately 2 million employees (USPS not included), countless contractors, worldwide 'offices' and a myriad of diverse missions, services and products - and my poor intellect believes that anyone who heads such an organization should have SOME managerial/executive experience related to the job (state governors being the closest experientially to presidents).

There seems to be a rush for unquantified 'change' and that is highly understandable. My question is simply how does this gentleman, at this time and experience in his life, demonstrate he is indeed qualified to be Chief Executive with all of the responsibilities the job entails? To apply an old commercial line - Where's the beef?

I've read Senator Obama's record in detail for the eleven years of his political career, including which votes he made and which he missed. I think as a legislator at the state level he demonstrated desire (my opinion of his voting record is immaterial) and willingness to succeed at that level. As a US Senator, his record is very spotty during his half-term, especially with missing over a third of senate calls-to-vote.

Senator Obama's meteoric rise within the Democratic Party seems to be as a 'fresh face' who also speaks well. There really isn't anything else (unless I'm really missing it, and that is quite possible). It's a shame he didn't complete at least one full term as a Senator, and even more of a shame that he didn't take a shot at being the Illinois Governor - as that experience would match a lot better to what the US President must consider on a daily basis.

The same criteria comparison of Senator Obama applies also to Senator Rodham-Clinton and Senator McCain. They stack up differently among the criteria, with none of them being the total package.

"Change" is going to happen, but the US Presidency is a rough place for on-the-job training on all job responsibilities.

[Guest]

As a non-Republican but probably very right of center politically, I don't consider Senator Obama 'scary,' but do consider him hypocritical.

Senator Obama has so far completed just a tad over half his term (his first term) as Senator from Illinois. Considering the learning curve experienced by freshman US Senators, he's only had the real understanding of the job for a couple of years tops. It smacks of never really wanting to represent the Illinois populace, but just using the title as a stepping-stone. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/o000167/ provides a synopsis of his Senate record, to include the fact that he has missed 37% of the legislative votes in the Senate for the current term.

Senator Obama was a State Senator for 8 years. He was a very active legislator in the Illinois Senate, with many of his sponsored bills . The websites http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/politics/main2369157.shtml and http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html
provide a synopsis of that record. Neither of the site are from what can be described in any context as "right wing."

Senator Obama's experience as a manager or business executive is minuscule, with no record of ever managing anything other than local projects of limited staff numbers and small dollar value. The President of the US is the Chief Executive of an entity (Executive Branch) of approximately 2 million employees (USPS not included), countless contractors, worldwide 'offices' and a myriad of diverse missions, services and products - and my poor intellect believes that anyone who heads such an organization should have SOME managerial/executive experience related to the job (state governors being the closest experientially to presidents).

There seems to be a rush for unquantified 'change' and that is highly understandable. My question is simply how does this gentleman, at this time and experience in his life, demonstrate he is indeed qualified to be Chief Executive with all of the responsibilities the job entails? To apply an old commercial line - Where's the beef?

I've read Senator Obama's record in detail for the eleven years of his political career, including which votes he made and which he missed. I think as a legislator at the state level he demonstrated desire (my opinion of his voting record is immaterial) and willingness to succeed at that level. As a US Senator, his record is very spotty during his half-term, especially with missing over a third of senate calls-to-vote.

Senator Obama's meteoric rise within the Democratic Party seems to be as a 'fresh face' who also speaks well. There really isn't anything else (unless I'm really missing it, and that is quite possible). It's a shame he didn't complete at least one full term as a Senator, and even more of a shame that he didn't take a shot at being the Illinois Governor - as that experience would match a lot better to what the US President must consider on a daily basis.

The same criteria comparison of Senator Obama applies also to Senator Rodham-Clinton and Senator McCain. They stack up differently among the criteria, with none of them being the total package.

"Change" is going to happen, but the US Presidency is a rough place for on-the-job training on all job responsibilities.




Do agree that I would like it if Senator Barack Obama were a lot more experienced in politics and governance than he is. Senators Clinton and McCain also though do not seem to have all that much in the way of actual experience in governing even though Hillary Clinton has a lot of it as part of the Billary combination. What scares me about voting for Hillary Clinton is that you are in effect also voting for William Jefferson Clinton by voting for Hillary Clinton. He is not the hands off kind of guy (pun?? intended).

He is very articulate even if he seems to take 500 words to explain what could be more eloquently put into 50.

[Guest]

Chelsea...you said,

OMG Are you repubs really that nuts! Pleeeaasssee let's all account for our actions in the 70's. I'm from Chicago. I was there during the riots. I knew a couple of weathermen -- This is the most ridculious thing I have ever heard.

That is a cold, understatement that puts nothing but political spin on tragic human events that deserve the truth. They had names. Maybe if I put names to those who were ruthlessly gunned down and murdered after stopping a van containing Kathy Boudin and David Gilbert, both Weather Underground members and their accomplices, maybe you will reassess your cavalier dismissal blaming it on the 70's as if it was a frat party gone out of control.

Nyack police officers Sgt. Edward O'Grady and Officer Waverly "Chipper" Brown were shot and killed. Boudin was caught at the scene. This same group of cold blooded killers had just killed Brinks guard Peter Paige during the Brinks bank robbery an hour earlier. William Ahres and Bernadette Dohrn frequently are considered the founders of the Weather Underground.

Obama's connection with them is surfacing but your cheap shot accusation giving "repubs" attribution is a bit premature. The Clinton campaign has been linked to several recent "leaks". They should certainly not be above suspicion.

There was a recent memorial held for the families and victims of that tragic crime. I know with certainty that Obama wasn't there. I know he has been very busy but if he found time to chat with his weathermen friends, he should al least have given their victims equal time, but then, maybe that's just me.

I think the survivors of those victims would find it difficult to accept your justification, "it was the 70's for God's sake! Get over it!" They will never get over it. If it was your husband, son, brother, or father that was gunned down by these ruthless thugs, would you get over it?

[Guest]

There was a recent memorial held for the families and victims of that tragic crime. I know with certainty that Obama wasn't there. I know he has been very busy but if he found time to chat with his weathermen friends, he should al least have given their victims equal time, but then, maybe that's just me.




First, I would never diminish anyone's loss of a loved one. Second, I'm absolutedly not buying this whole Obama weathermen thing. Again, I believe this is just smoke and mirrors. Third, was McCain at this memorial? And last, but not least, I think your response is a "cheap shot" as you put it. When this becomes a big story with hard evidence, which it won't, I will issue an apology. It is my opinion, which I am entitled to, that this Obama/Weathermen tie-in is a bunch of cr@p.