First, Barack Obama, speaking last night in Portsmouth, New Hampshire (per CBS News's Maria Gavrilovic)...
This argument that somehow well, you know, Obama, for whatever reason I keep on defying this notion that somehow the American people are not ready for me. That just is not borne out. And right now among all Democratic nominees or Democratic candidates I do better in a general election match ups than the other candidates. And this argument is being pushed by the way by a candidate who starts off with a 47% disapproval ratings. You know, so, I’m not going to mention names but I mean the notion that a viability or an electability argument is being made by somebody who starts off with almost half the country not being able to vote for (pause and laughter) them doesn’t make sense. (someone in the audience yells, welcome to American) But you know in the end don’t vote your fears, I’m stealing this line from my buddy Deval Patrick who stole a whole bunch of lines from me when he ran for the governorship but it’s the right one, don’t vote your fears, vote your aspirations. Vote what you believe. (applause)
Obama's aides have been making this argument privately for eight months, but it's the first time I've ever heard Obama say it himself. The wrote Clinton campaign response -- and having asked Mark Penn this question many times, I can recite it my heart is that "by the time of the convention, both the Republican and Democratic nominees will be equally as polarizing." History bears that out, but the premise of Obama's campaign is that he would be different. As he told an audience of independent voters in Exeter, New Hampshire today, "there will not be a litmus test in my administration." He meant that his approach to problem solving would be collaborative and he would select experts and policy-makers without regard to policy. In Congress, though, Clinton has plenty of bipartisan credentials on her own.
And Bill Richardson called the New York Times unprompted to accuse Hillary Clinton of flip-flopping on how fast she'd be able to withdraw troops from Iraq.
“Senator Clinton’s comments are a stunning flip-flop — she’s been saying she would keep troops in Iraq for five years, until 2013, and now she comes up with an inconsistent, incredible turnaround,” Mr. Richardson said.
As the Times notes, these are not the comments of a vice presidential wannabe. A Richardson aide points out to me that Richardson is the only candidate on the air now with an Iraq war ad, although he would not say how big the buy was.
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Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHIEST from Wichita, Kansas. his parents divorced, father returned to Kenya, mother married Lolo Soetoro, a RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia. Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta. He takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. He is quick to point out that, "He was once a Muslim, but that he also attended Catholic school." Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that he is no longer Muslim. Obama attended a Wahabi school in Jakarta . Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world. Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking major public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined the United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim background.
Recently free ride for Obama from political press and it feels besieged it has to bat away incessant questions with Obama's significant shifts/ flip flopping on issues such as Patriot Act, Defense of Marriage Act, Fast Track trade authority and benefits for same-sex couples. Given how little experience, campaign doesnt want any focus on his record, clearly raise questions about his electability and serves reminder about how little the public knows about his positions. Illinois chapter of the National Organization for Women, Obama said he would vote to repeal the Patriot Act. In 06 Obama voted for the redrafted version of the Patriot Act that made only minor changes. On Defense of Marriage Act Obama answered No, to the question: "Do you support repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. On Fast Track authority, which requires Congress to vote yes or no and without amendments on pending trade deals, Obama opposes Fast Track authority. Benefits for same-sex couples, Obama said he would need to evaluate the fiscal impact before extending Social Security benefits to same-sex couples. Obama is involved in a suspicious real estate deal with an indicted political fundraiser, Antoin Tony Rezko. Obama also linked to an alleged influence peddling scandal and was nabbed conducting campaign business in his Senate office, a violation of federal law. In addition three political aides on Sen. Barack Obama’s payroll are registered lobbyists for dozens of corporations, including Wal-Mart, British Petroleum and Lockheed Martin, while they received payments from his campaign, according to public documents. The Oprah Winfrey endorsement might have generated a lot of press for Barack Obama, but not a lot of impress, particularly among younger women, a poll released wednesday shows a third said they were less likely to support the Illinois senator because of the Oprah support. Older women, over 65, also showed they were ruffled by Ms. Winfrey stepping "out of her pew," as the daytime diva herself described it. About 17 percent of older women said the endorsement made them less likely to support Mr. Obama.
Posted by Joe | December 21, 2007 7:51 AM