Thomas wrote:George sure has his moments.
And it must be FreeDuck who has changed, for she sure ain't no straight talker like McCain today.
Watch out, FreeDuck, Thomas is just being sneaky.
All politicians acumulate contradictions as time passes - like barnacles on a ship's hull, and the McCain of 2008 has much more opportunity for them than the straight talker of 2000. Obama is relatively free of them, but this is merely a result of his inexperience - no fault there, but no virtue either.
Aha! He got me on that one.
And it appears that Senator Obama agrees with Foxfyre. This is exactly what he has needed to do all along to diffuse the situation he is in:
Quote:WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) - Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday he was outraged by the latest assertion by his former pastor that criticism of his fiery sermons is an attack on the black church.
The presidential candidate is seeking to tamp down the growing fury over Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his incendiary remarks that threaten to undermine his campaign.
"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday," Obama told reporters at a news conference.
After weeks of staying out of the public eye while critics lambasted his sermons, Wright made three public appearances in four days to defend himself. The former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago has been combative, providing colorful commentary and feeding the story Obama had hoped was dying down.
"This is not an attack on Jeremiah Wright," Wright told the Washington media Monday. "It has nothing to do with Senator Obama. It is an attack on the black church launched by people who know nothing about the African-American religious tradition."
Obama told reporters Tuesday that Wright's comments do not accurately portray the perspective of the black church.
MORE HERE
Foxfyre wrote:And it appears that Senator Obama agrees with Foxfyre. This is exactly what he has needed to do all along to diffuse the situation he is in:
Quote:WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) - Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday he was outraged by the latest assertion by his former pastor that criticism of his fiery sermons is an attack on the black church.
The presidential candidate is seeking to tamp down the growing fury over Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his incendiary remarks that threaten to undermine his campaign.
"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday," Obama told reporters at a news conference.
After weeks of staying out of the public eye while critics lambasted his sermons, Wright made three public appearances in four days to defend himself. The former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago has been combative, providing colorful commentary and feeding the story Obama had hoped was dying down.
"This is not an attack on Jeremiah Wright," Wright told the Washington media Monday. "It has nothing to do with Senator Obama. It is an attack on the black church launched by people who know nothing about the African-American religious tradition."
Obama told reporters Tuesday that Wright's comments do not accurately portray the perspective of the black church.
MORE HERE
It's sad that things came to this. Obama tried to do right by the guy, but his hand was forced by Wright's insistence on making an ass out of himself on national tv, again.
There are a lot of pissed off Republican commentators, I must say, who at the moment are insisting that Obama can never distance himself from Wright no matter what he says. They are seeing an opportunity to attack him flying away and it's depressing, I imagine...
Cycloptichorn
Among the avoilaibe participants of presidential election.
I an endure my life with OBAMA.
Not because he is Gandhi, Karl marx, Nelson mandela but because...................................................................................................................................
<waits with bated breath>
I had a flat tire and had to go to the Saturn dealership/ repairshop to have it replaced. Long wait.
They had a waiting room area, pretty nice actually, with TV set to CNN. Hillary was talking when I arrived, then some Obama. No captions. I asked a Saturn person if I could turn 'em on, we fiddled. Voila.
I also was reading magazines. Not totally paying attention.
Then all of the sudden it was this press conference. What? I didn't know that was coming up (did it get much advance notice? did other people know it was coming?) Started watching.
Whoa.
Tense. (Me, watching Obama, who was clearly about as emotional as he gets.)
There were two other people in the area -- I looked at them to see how they were responding. Guy #1 (30-ish, white, frat-boy-ish) half-watched for a bit and then fell asleep. Guy #2 (50-ish, white, beer/bowling guy) was watching. I watched him watching. I couldn't gauge his reaction. He was clearly disdainful -- including occasional smiles/ guffaws -- but I couldn't quite tell what got that reaction out of him. The captions are always way delayed in live stuff like this so I'd see a smile/ guffaw and then study the next stretch of captions to see what was likely to have set him off. Never saw a pattern.
Then the press conference was over, and analysis started. Then they basically re-played the press conference. Guy #1's car was ready and he woke up with a start and dashed off. Guy #2 got up and wandered around a bit. Started noshing on cookies. I read my magazine and kept trying to figure out Guy #2. Finally I couldn't stand it any longer...
"Excuse me..."
"Yeah?"
"I'm curious... and I won't argue with you or anything, just curious... what'd you think about all that?" <gesturing to TV and replay of Obama>
The guy smiled/ guffawed again. Clearly derisive, but couldn't quite get a grip on it. Wound up with "and it's just stupid."
Hmm.
Asked a follow-up question and things became clearer. He said some variation of;
"This guy is running for president, OK? I don't care about his damn pastor [smile/ guffaw]. There's more important stuff to talk about, you know? It's so stupid. Going on and on about Wright... who cares. Stupid."
WHEW!
We had a good talk after that. He was hard to understand -- he was pretty deadpan, and had big ol' sunglasses. I make him sound a bit aggressive, he wasn't, he was friendly to me but annoyed at CNN/ the people who go on and on about Wright.
There was a commercial with a promo for Larry King (?) with Michael Moore. The guy guffawed again and said "I love that guy [Moore], he's hilarious." Of course I had to get in "did you know that Moore endorsed Obama?" and he seemed impressed by that.
Anyway we talked in a general way about how much Bush sucks :-) and then my car was ready. I never got out of him (didn't ask) whether he'd vote for Obama or Hillary -- whether he DID vote for Obama or Hillary. So maybe he's a long-time Obama person. But he seemed to be a prime Hillary demographic, and I was happy that the Wright stuff wasn't bothering him at all.
It will be interesting to see how many Obama supporters and former Wright apologists will now be scrambling to throw the good Reverend under the bus.
looks like whatever needs to be done to secure the nomination.... that's pretty much just washington politics as usual isn't it
This may be old news, but its still interesting,
It seems that Obama's talk doesnt match his actions
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080429/COL05/804290314/-1/columnists
Quote:But how does Obama back up his talk? In 2007, the Obamas earned $4.2 million.
They donated about $240,000. That's 6 percent - well above the national average of 2.2 percent.
But in 2005, he donated 4 percent. And in 2001 and 2002, the Obamas gave less than half of 1 percent. One of his biggest donations in 2006 was to Trinity United Methodist Church - home of the Rev. Jeremiah "God damn America" Wright.
(snip)
Quote:Since 2000, the Clintons earned $109 million and donated $10.2 million - 10 percent
(snip)
Quote:John McCain's wife, Cindy, owns businesses worth more than $100 million, but they file separate tax returns and hers have not been released, so it is impossible to make a direct comparison to Obama and Clinton. On his income of $405,409, he donated $105,467 in 2007.
That's 25 percent of his income. The year before, he gave 26 percent.
Quote:Since 1991, McCain has donated all his Senate pay raises to charity, totaling $450,000; since 1998, he has donated $1.8 million in book royalties.
So the man that talks about helping those in need apparently doesnt follow up his words with action.
so you're a racist huh MM?
Bi-Polar Bear wrote:so you're a racist huh MM?
Where did that come from?
Where did I mention anything about race, or say anything to even imply that?
You are a complete ass to try and draw that inference from anything I have ever posted!!
have a cup of tea MM and get the sarcasm.... you are waaaay too defensive here....
mysteryman wrote:This may be old news, but its still interesting,
It seems that Obama's talk doesnt match his actions
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080429/COL05/804290314/-1/columnists
Quote:But how does Obama back up his talk? In 2007, the Obamas earned $4.2 million.
They donated about $240,000. That's 6 percent - well above the national average of 2.2 percent.
But in 2005, he donated 4 percent. And in 2001 and 2002, the Obamas gave less than half of 1 percent. One of his biggest donations in 2006 was to Trinity United Methodist Church - home of the Rev. Jeremiah "God damn America" Wright.
(snip)
Quote:Since 2000, the Clintons earned $109 million and donated $10.2 million - 10 percent
(snip)
Quote:John McCain's wife, Cindy, owns businesses worth more than $100 million, but they file separate tax returns and hers have not been released, so it is impossible to make a direct comparison to Obama and Clinton. On his income of $405,409, he donated $105,467 in 2007.
That's 25 percent of his income. The year before, he gave 26 percent.
Quote:Since 1991, McCain has donated all his Senate pay raises to charity, totaling $450,000; since 1998, he has donated $1.8 million in book royalties.
So the man that talks about helping those in need apparently doesnt follow up his words with action.
Ehhh, I don't know, he made a LOT less money before (and still makes a lot less than the other two candidates), has two small kids, and just finished paying off his student loans. I know I make pretty good money by some standards, but I don't give 6% or even 1% of my income to charity. We pay debts (student loans, mortgage, business loan) and pay for extra educational programs for our kids. If I were making in the tens of millions, of if my income was totally superfluous because I was married to a millionaire (like McCain) I'd find it very easy to give 10 or 25 percent to charity.
BTW, wasn't there a report that some of the Clintons' donations to charity went to their own foundation?
Quote:BTW, wasn't there a report that some of the Clintons' donations to charity went to their own foundation?
Yes, its in the article I linked to.
Cycloptichorn wrote:It's sad that things came to this. Obama tried to do right by the guy, but his hand was forced by Wright's insistence on making an ass out of himself on national tv, again.
Yup. Just as most of us would do if that loud mouthed, somewhat racist Uncle we all have and love took advantage to boast
his blathering.
I still don't understand why anyone gives a rat's ass what Wright has to say. Most of my life; my sister's politics were the polar opposite of my own... and that affected my love and respect for her not one iota. One of my favorite ladies too, saw politics the opposite as well... and was heavily vested in the Russian Orthodox religion to boot.
Even her near certainty that I would one day burn in hell had little effect on our mutual love and respect. Her preacher was pretty sure America had it all wrong as well. Was I supposed to give a rat's ass? Why?
This is so much silliness. Ever since the "the war" my grandfather hated Asians. So? I don't. But I never denounced him. In fact; I loved him very much. Does this mean I'm a racist, unfit to hold public office? Huh?
OCCOM BILL wrote:This is so much silliness. Ever since the "the war" my grandfather hated Asians. So? I don't. But I never denounced him. In fact; I loved him very much. Does this mean I'm a racist, unfit to hold public office? Huh?
I'm not sure ... was your grandfather your spiritual mentor for 20 years?
OCCOM BILL wrote:Cycloptichorn wrote:It's sad that things came to this. Obama tried to do right by the guy, but his hand was forced by Wright's insistence on making an ass out of himself on national tv, again.
Yup. Just as most of us would do if that loud mouthed, somewhat racist Uncle we all have and love took advantage to boast
his blathering.
I still don't understand why anyone gives a rat's ass what Wright has to say. Most of my life; my sister's politics were the polar opposite of my own... and that affected my love and respect for her not one iota. One of my favorite ladies too, saw politics the opposite as well... and was heavily vested in the Russian Orthodox religion to boot.
Even her near certainty that I would one day burn in hell had little effect on our mutual love and respect. Her preacher was pretty sure America had it all wrong as well. Was I supposed to give a rat's ass? Why?
This is so much silliness. Ever since the "the war" my grandfather hated Asians. So? I don't. But I never denounced him. In fact; I loved him very much. Does this mean I'm a racist, unfit to hold public office? Huh?
Comparing a relative to a pastor is apples to oranges Bill. You don't get to choose your relatives and it reflects your judgement who you choose as a pastor or other religious figure.
If you worshipped satan, yes that would reflect on your ability to hold office. If you were a Hare Krishna, that would reflect on your ability to hold office. If you were a follower of Jim Jones, that would reflect on your ability to hold office.
People care about what Wright has to say because Obama
chose to attend his sermons for 20 years. He is 47 now, that means that since he was 27, he has had one single main religious influence in his life. That reflects Obama's judgement which impacts his ability to be President.
