As I write Mark and Madeleine have hot footed it to a London pub where Democrats Abroad have organised a gathering of young supporters. We’re hoping to come live from the pub later………assuming we have no technical problems!
He’s won the Democratic nomination. But as Barack Obama prepares to make one of the biggest speeches of his political career later today, the whispers have begun over whether he is the right man to take them to the White House. Some people argue that if the Democrats don’t win now when will they, after the mistakes of the Bush administration.
So did they pick the wrong person? Is Obama nothing more than a good orator? Was Hillary the woman who could win this election, with her experience and her husband by her side?
Are the divisions in the party so deep that ardent Hillary supporters will now turn to the Republicans, despite the Clintons backing?
Is Obama the man you believe will be the next President of America? The face of change?
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BBC World Have Your Say 
The democrats will never learn. You need a centerist, preferably from the south, to have ANY chance of winning the southern states, which you NEED, to win the election. It’s like the dems want to lose the election. They have the most liberal senator? The republicans could run a corpse against a liberal and still win. In 2012, hillary will get the nomination, and she’ll lose. The democrats will never learn. Hopefully what will be learned from this, is that a third party needs to be formed, formed of the centerists from both other parties, and leave the lunatics on the extremes in the republican and democrat party, where they can kill each other over gay marriage and mandating single sex bathrooms so that transsexuals don’t get offended.
Well considering that the majority chose Obama… I’m glad to see the DNC didn’t go against that. So did the Democrats chose the right or wrong person? Well, he’s not the best person, but then again neither was Hillary. The people voted, and here is the result.
WHYS questions could be very funny sometimes, why not the did Democrats pick the correct person? The answer to that will be known in the days after November 4, 2008. For now, all we can do speculate.
It really does not matter who Obama would have chosen as his running mate. Had he chosen Hillary it would have driven the rabid Hillary haters by the droves; with anyone else they will nit pick, scrutinize, and lam-blast whoever it is.
I do think that the Democrats picked the wrong person. He is cold and standoffish, and about as far from “working class” as they can get… college students caught up in the liberal trend (that hippie period we all go through in college) may love him, but middle-class, hard-working people, particularly in my depressed state of Ohio, are not going to identify.
And his wife…. don’t get me started on her. She embarrassed herself early in the primaries in Youngstown by telling a high school full of supporters that they might as well not go to college, because it is so expensive, among other things. Great way to bring the American dream to a depressed area! Great way to encourage! This attitude will totally save a failing economy! And easy for you to say when you already have a Harvard education. She is elitist and self-righteous, and I am suspicious.
I wasn’t even a huge Hilary fan, but I can honestly say that this Democrat is very uncomfortable with the idea of voting for him.
@ nelsoni
If you look at the polls, Mccain is ahead now, despite the low approval rating of bush, the bad economy, the iraq war, etc…. Obama, or the democratic candidate should be so far ahead , but isn’t. THAT is why the dems have the wrong candidate. The democrats don’t want to win. Can you whine if you win? So they pick enelectable candidates. But honestly, the country is a mess right now, who would want to be president and take responsibility for fix the mess?
@Nelsoni,
You are absolutely correct. This is all petty speculation.
Steve may be right but it depresses me to think the only way for the Democrats to win would be to nominate a boring, bland, homogenised “American processed cheese” style of politician.
@ Julie P
The question was about Obama, not the VP pick. The BBC is asking is Obama was the wrong choice, and judging by the polls, he is. He’s going to lose the election is an election cycle it seems almost unbelievable that the democrats could lose given the state of the nation. But they managed to pick someone who won’t win.
@Steve,
Whose polls are you looking at? I read polls yesterday that had them in a dead heat, and others with Obama in the lead. Steve, polls, are notorious for being inaccurate. The most famous of this inaccuracy is “Dewey Wins” with Truman holding up the frontpage of a newspaper.
@ Bob
“Democrats to win would be to nominate a boring, bland, homogenised “American processed cheese” style of politician”
Why would that be boring or bland? Being a moderate? If you’re suggesting that if this might have to do something about race, has Australia ever had a black PM? Canada? the UK?
having just listened to an audio version of the best selling Freakonomics, http://books.google.com/books?id=LkQPOSXMUscC, I suspect that Obama stands a lesser chance to be elected than it outright seems.
I also find him to be quite polarizing, and in order to get anything done in this country we need someone more willing to compromise.
@Steve,
During the primaries the Republicans stayed away from the voting booths by the droves because not one of the candidates was liked by their party, not one of the candidates is the right choice for the Republican Party. And from what I am hearing coming out of the Republicans I work with they hold the same view as you do, that the Democrats choose the wrong person, so they are being arrogant that no what they will win. On the other hand, they are saying they do not like McCain and given their views on both candidates they do not plan on voting this November. Obama has just as much at winning the election because of this.
@ Steve, I may agree with you on the polls but November is still months away and poll stats could change. As Brett rightly pointed out, the democrats have made their choice and like I said earlier on, the days after November 4, 2008 will determine whether they made the right choice or not.
The Democrats absolutely want to win and they are hungry to win. They chose the right person. Obama represents a new generation of leadership for the 21st century. As Bill Clinton said of him last night, Obama’s life story is the 21st century embodiment of the American Dream.
America does not want four more years of Bushe’s failed policies, mean unilateralism, tax cuts for the wealthy and more and more Americans slipping into poverty and slipping through the increasingly flimsy social safety net. Obama promises to negotiate before going to war, he promises to tackle the failing health care system, he wants equal pay for women, he will appoint supreme court judges that will uphold women’s right to choose. How can he not be the right person.
It’s time to move on people, whether or not you like Obama. Do you want four more years of Bush??? Really??????
I saw energy, youth, diversity, passion and unity throughout the Democratic Convention proceedings yesterday. Democrates buried the hatchet with respect to the lingering bitterness left from the primaries and they are out to win this. There is no way that McCain and the Grumpy Old Party of old men can compete.
They presented themselves as a party that represents families and family values wihtout talking about it. Obama and his family and the Bidens and their family were there on stage, warm, and genuine. Joe Biden spoke about his mother who was in the audience and talked about the values she instilled in him. This was after being introduced by his son Beau Biden who lovingly talked about the values his father passed on to him. The entire Biden clan was up on stage—children, spouses, grandchildren, etc.
Obama will win. He has an amazing ground game—has registered millions of new voters under the age of 35 in several battle ground states. There is a tidal wave coming and you all are going to miss it for all the sniping and naysaying. Go ahead and be cynical…..Obama keeps suprising and will continue.
I predict a landslide on Nov. 4th. for Obama.
@ Julie P
Dream on. The thought of Obama appointing supreme court justices will get republicans out to vote. They are reliable voters, whereas half the people who are shouting for change will be too hung over or high to even go vote. YOu can’t rely on 18 year old college students to vote. You can rely on older people. Mccain is going to win. Mccain’s dog would beat Obama as well. So Hillary Clinton will have 4 years to moderate her views so she has a chance to win in 2012.
The problem is not Joe Biden but their narcissistic celebrity candidate Obama.
By now Obama should be double digit ahead of McCain. The reality is that McCain is leading.
A liberal San Francisco Democrat who has done nothing, stands for nothing and can only give great speeches is the problem. As an empty suit it didn’t matter who Obama picked.
By the way did you all catch the daggers of hate in Michelle Obama’s eyes for Bill Clinton until Teresa Kerry told her that she was on camera?
@Steve,
Dream on. Arrogance sabotages even the most self righteous.
Obama is the right person-He has a dream to make america heaven for americans and not the american way.Though I beleive that he should have picked ayoung teenage boy as his running mate and not Biden.
I find it shocking that people think Obama is the right candidate. The only reason why Bill Clinton won, besides help from Perot, was that he is a centerist for a democrat. Had he been an extreme leftist, like Obama, he would have lost in a landslide. You NEED to be a centerist to get elected. I’m shocked people think Obama even in theory can win given his politics. I guess you’re going to be really upset on November 5th if you’re expecting him to win.
@ Julie P, There is no need to take pain killers for another person’s headache. Why not just sit down, relax and enjoy the season finale of the soap opera “America Decides 2008”. After the elections, we take it from there. I really don’t see the pointing in getting worked up over variables that can change in the coming months.
Barack Hussein Obama is disingenuous and a phony, on top of that he is deceitful, an empty suit. He is just talking about change, all what he cares is to change his title to President, he does not care about the American people, he will do and say anything to be a President. The DNC convention is all phony and full of hypocrites. The democrats are so dump to pick Obama as their candidate because they are going to lose big, thanks God for this. If they have picked Clinton they might have a chance, but Obama was picked by the media and the liberals since he is one of them. America is a great country and is still is, is not a mess unless the liberals take in charge then there will be a big problem. McCain is going to be the big winner this fall.
@ Abdi a young teenage boy as running mate ? You must be having a laugh.
@ Nanci
How is 4 years of someone who is not George Bush “more of the same”? Becuase he agrees on one issue with him? Bush and Mccain have been rivals, and honestly, Mccain hates Bush, he’s still resentful for losing to him in 2000. They are rivals. I’m sure Obama agrees with Bush on extending AIDs funding. Will Obama be more of the same as well?
“Joe Biden spoke about his mother who was in the audience and talked about the values she instilled in him”
Joe Biden withdrew from a presidential election for plagiarizing a speech. He also lied about his law school ranking. Those are some “values” eh?
@nelsoni,
Polls do change and forecasts and theories have been proven wrong in the past. I have pointed out in other forums that until we vote it’s a guessing game. Polls have been wrong in the past, which means they can be wrong now. Putting faith in polls is like putting faith in shifting sands.
@ Steve
I wasn’t thinking about Obama being black at all. It was more your characterisation of him as part of the “lunatic extreme” and “overly liberal” that I was commenting on.
Only in American could these appellations apply to somebody like Obama. On the world stage he is as moderate and centrist (even right of centre) as they come
Sorry to disappoint you Hiam. Obama was chosen by the people in the primaries and caucuses. He was chosen by millions of new young voters and newly registered African American voters. He was chosen by middle aged white women like myself who are enthusiastic about his message of change.
He wants to engage with the world and use diplomacy instead of weapons, he wants to implement a universal health care system for all Americans., etc. He has very detailed policy proposals on his website and has refered to them in speeches and debates. I think you just have refused to listen. Listen tonight when he makes his acceptance speech.
The democratic party has undergone a renewal with the historical candidacies of both Clinton and Obama. It is now younger, more diverse, more representative of all America, than the republican party. If you watch the RNC convention next week you’ll see a lot of old grumpy white men and a few grumpy white young men and women interspersed. They’ll trot out their token minorities to make the case they’re a party of change but it will be all suit and no trousers.
Obama is going to be the big winner this fall.
@ Bob
Obama is the most liberal senator in the senate. You don’t win national elections being the most liberal senator. He’s going to lose, and lefties the world over will be crying on november 5th, wondering why, likely blaming americans for being racist, when it was Obama being a far leftie for being the reason why he will lose.
Steve, if you are a Republican, then why do you even care who the democrats chose. Obviously you like the policies of George W. Bush. So rejoice that we picked the wrong person in your opinion. However, I think you’re in for a rude shock though as I think most Americans are fed up with the war in Iraq and fed up with the current health care system as it is.
And actually, McCain’s voting record in the Senate shows him agreeing with GWB 90 to 95% of the time. Sounds like same ole same ole to me.
@ Nanci
Obama wasn’t chosen by the people, he was chosen by the democratic party. Even the delegates, many of them weren’t even bound by the votes that the people made. This is the PARTY choosing the candidate, not the people. It’s funny you think this is the people’s doing.
Change, change, change. I suppose bush won by speaking slogans as well.
@ Steve, over the years there is something I have noticed, it’s called the PHD (Pull Him Down) syndrome. The moment some one rises to a place of prominence to contest for a higher office all sort of things surface. People make mistakes in their private or public lives but that does not define who they are. Everyone, has done something that he wants nobody else to know. Let’s focus on issues and stop exhibiting the PHD syndrome.
Uh oh, the RNC convention will be full of white people. Thus they must be racist. I suppose everyone that isn’t in an interracial relationship is racists as well? hahaha..
Even if Obama is a leftist, I believe that many Americans are growing weary of the far-right policies of the current administration. I know I certainly am.
@ Nanci
I’m a registered democrat who voted for Gore and Kerry. The democrats picked another unlectable candidate. I can’t speak out against that? How should I be silenced?
@ Steve
Obama? Far leftie? Maybe the topic should be “why is America so totally out of step with the rest of the world?” rather than about Obama.
However, as much as you are usually well informed, my suspicion is that the real battle will start now and things will be much closer than you believe. Biden, I think will be enough of a scrapper to launch a counter-offensive against the mud-slinging negative politics the Republicans have been using to great effect so far and, on the momentum of the DNC the rest of the party will cover up the cracks (maybe with paper and maybe for real) and present a much more united front.
Yes, the Democrats choose the right nominee. Barack Obama fought a hard campaign against formidable opponents. He fought toe to toe with McCain, Hillary and Bill Clinton. He answered each attack with statesmanlike precision, and a respect and deference that some of his supporters sometimes found to be excessive. After 8 years of a trigger happy cowboy in the White House, YES I want someone who thinks before they speak, YES I want someone who has already captured the worlds imagination, how much easier will it be to be listened to, if you already have captured the audience? YES I want someone who is willing to hear my side, and then either convince me of his, or compromise. YES, I would love to see our president engage in dialogue with EVERYONE. Even in hostage situations, they send in the negotiators, not the rocket grenades. YES I want to see the promise of a better America that began with JFK and got lost in the interim. I dont think Barack is a rock star, I think hes a man who understands the masses, who can inspire ordinary people to do great things. If he had kept his speech in the Pepsi Center, he would have been “preaching to the choir”. He is giving all of us a chance to be a part of an historic anniversay, to celebrate the legacy of MLK and the “possibilities” of a better tomorrow. I dont think for one minute that Barack Obama needs the crowd at mile high, I think he belives that WE THE PEOPLE need it, and I think he is RIGHT ON!. If there had been any way that I could be in Colorado tonight, I would be, but I will settle for CSPAN and a room filled with family. My vote in November is the one thing , the most important thing that I can give them for their future, and it will not cost me a penny. My vote is the free expression of my rights as a citizen of this wonderful country, and I will give it freely to the next best President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.
Being a musician, lots of time conversations with other musicians and fans of music in general ended up on the topic of “Who is the greatest (insert your favorite noise maker here.)” I always tell them that we will never have the pleasure of hearing “the greatest ever”. Those guys are so gifted, driven, and absorbed that they lack the social skills that will result in the rest of the world hearing them.
The same is true of politicians. “The Right Person” for the job will never emerge. The person that understands the scope of the grand chess game won’t have the suave communications skills it takes to get to be president.
I am reminded of Ross Perote. He was all but laughed of the stage when he tried to use charts and graphs in a debate. But if you could just listen to somebody and understand why “drilling will not reduce fuel prices or increase security” for example, then they would make it a 15 min class in high school. However 15 min. is about as much time as 90% of the voters have invested into understanding economics ever.
Of all the people running for president, Obama had spent the least time in politics and the most percentage of his time in academics.
@ Bob
Sorry, you’re wrong
http://nj.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/
He’s the most liberal senator. That makes you LOSE national elections. I’ll ask you, when Obama LOSES in november, will you accuse Americans of being racist?
Barack Obama has inspired people and got them excited and interested in the future of our country. If he can inspire a nation that has been increasingly apathetic over the years, he can certainly run it.
Don’t forget either, for every Hillary supporter that is anti-Obama, there are just as many Obama supporters that would not have voted for Hillary if she won the election. So would we be asking the same question about Hillary then?
The democrats need to unite now and we need to listen to Hillary’s words: No way, no how, NO McCAIN!
hello everyone,
well this is another way to ‘Defame’ Barack Obama before the elections.Please leave the poor guy alone!!!I mean,how much more will he have to hear:from colour to religion,nationality to credibility.Is there anything else left???
I think that he deserves to be the democratic candidate.And he is the ‘Best’choice ever.Now if they lose(which i think they wont),there is no point in blaming Obama.he has done so much for the country(first as a senator and now potentialy as a president).
So I do request people not to make such a fuss over it.
Thankyou
Abhinav:)
Steve, my intention was not to try and silence you. Sorry about implying otherwise. I just strongly disagree with you.
And I didn’t mean to imply that if people don’t vote for Obama that they are racist. I’m just saying that the Democratic Party today is more representative of the diversity of all America than the Republican Party is and that that is to be applauded.
However, I do wonder if you are so concerned about the future of the Democratic party what are you doing besides sunday morning quarterbacking to make sure that the Democrats actually take the Presidency this year.
Have your moan, voice your opinion and move on man.
I thought Obama was a “change” and diplomacy candiate? I just heard his VP say that he will hold Russia accountable and will support Georgia. That would mean war with Russia. I thought Obama was a peacenik hippie who likes to talk? Those words used about Russia would lead to a war with Russia….. Unless he’s just lying.
@ Steve, you sound more like a registered Republican than a Democrat.
@Steve
Really. I always saw you as being a right wing republican. Lol!
I seriously think Obama is a better candidate than Kerry, although I voted for Kerry also. However, I do not think Kerry would have been right for America.
I believe we have made the right choice. It is not about black or white, gay or straight, or even Democrat or Republican. We have been down a road of corruption and the manipulation of laws in our Government in the last eight years. We need a fresh pair of eyes and a fresh perspective. McCain has voted against the American people, and for corporate Ameica for a long time. Being a veteran, you would think that veteran’s causes would be at the top of his list. That is not the case. Unfortunately the Ameican people have fallen victim to a corporate media that has changed the perception of not only how this country is doing, but also changed the public perception of each candidate. It is time for America to put Americans first , get back the sense of community and the respect for each other, and to build a better America for our children and grandchildren.
@ Nanci Hogan
No one knows what Obama wants to do.. All he says is Change…change…change.
Change what & how is the question. You laid YOUR change agents upon his empty message of change. ow..will you ever be disappointed.
I sent Obama some money and said “Here’s a dollar…make change”.
@ Nelsoni
What I would like is for the democrats to actually nominate someone who can actually win an election on a national level. Or perhaps this election loss with start the creation of a viable third party, of centerists, from the other parties, and leave all the whackjobs in the republican and democratic parties.
I quit, wheres Stewart / Colbert 08?
@ Nanci
So long as the democratic (and republican party) is full of self serviing narcissists, I don’t care in the slightest about the political parties. These people are all mentally ill, self absorbed people, that have no issue lying to the public to get the power they feel entitled to.
@Steve
I think an important part of the presidency is who the preseident choses for his cabinent. I am not sure who will make the best president but I am more concerned about who they choose to surround them because as we have seen with W. those choices make a difference.
Good for you Steve—so nice you are in your eirie above it all. Sounds like a bit of the pot calling the kettle black though. You sound a bit smug and self-righteous yourself. Good luck with that. I’m sure you’re over in Calcutta carrying on Mother Theresa’s legacy then?
The only worry about democrats having chosen BO is media outlet such as yours that are in business to promote hate.
Your denial that this is what you do is even more pathetic than the doing. There are so mnay of us that can see right through your filthy intentions. To us you sound and look like nothing but pure evil. Your existence drives me to doubt very much that there is a God regulating anything, since evil people such as you and your organization are so rooted in power.
Can’t we all just get along?
[/hippie]
@ Nanci Hogan
Sounding a bit too elitist….just like Obama.
oboma is the right person to bring to the wolrd new picture about USA. his leadership might bring change to Arab world, Asia and Africa and I support Barak Oboma.
southern, Sudan/ Juba
Is anyone else being jarred or annoyed that each and every speaker at the DNC – presumably scripted all – has mentioned “faith”, “God”, and “prayer”, and closed generally with the ubiquitous “God Bless America”? They’ve all said it, and said it so many times, that it’s been reduced to nothing.
PBS televised the earlier speakers – the other networks didn’t bother – and it was clear that the “crowd” at the DNC didn’t give a fig about who was talking, or what they were saying. The long shots of the speakers showed conventioneers milling around, talking to each other, with the din of their thousand conversations so loud that PBS’ own commentators were confused as to just who was to take the podium next. Truly, hilariously ridiculous behaviour.
I don’t understand how the party aims to win the election with Barack Obama, ostensibly a Chicago big-city candidate, and Joe Biden, a three-decade Delaware big-city candidate who is the Dem mirror image of McCain. So, we have big city/big city, mid-west and east coast covered – a prescription for disaster.
McCain, and whomever he chooses as VP, may as well start choosing their cabinet members.
HAHAHAHAHA! I love it when people call Obama an “extreme leftist.” They’ve clearly no idea what that really means, especially from an international perspective. In Europe, for example, Obama is considered a centrist, similar in a lot of ways to Sarkozy in France, whom Americans shuddered at and called “right wing.” And even then — Obama is a bit conservative compared to Sarkozy.
HAHAHAHAHA! “Extreme leftist”! You all are too much sometimes.
Obama ’08!
The debate is not whether the Democrats pick the right candidate. The question is the US ready to change its shameful track record of the past eight years. Right now, the rest of the world is suffering because of the invasion of Iraq.
I wonder if the US citizens are you so patriotic as to vote in another blood thirsty Republican leadership, who does not care about what the rest of the world think.
Obama is not the problem nor is he the solution to America’s problem and the rest of the world but he could help bring some sanity to a world devoid of ethics, respect for international law, human rights and human security.
If the US citizens don’t elect Democrats, its their choice but such a decision would re-echo the political short- sightedness and the racial tinge in their politics.
Its not only Obama, who is going to rule America but a host of other actors. So its high time McCain and the Republicans stop talking as if they have all the toughness,experience to govern.
Its time for change; the rest of the world as well as the US wants it.
@Dan
How has Obama sounded elistist? How about McCain?
The elections will also be about the US Supreme Court. The next president can appoint 3 new Supreme Court justices. McCain and Obama have very clear views on this issue.
McCain has said that he will appoint conservative judges, but he thinks that such a court will not overturn Roe-Wade. But I don’t think many Americans will buy that.
All Obama has to do is to point to some important 5-4 rulings by the Supreme Court and explain what would have happened if the outcome had been different.
Do Americans want to be stuck with a Supreme Court that, say, declares a fertilized egg to be legally a human being for the next 30 years?
Some of these comments are just silly and founded purely on party lines. YES, a resounding YES Barack Obama is exactly the right candidate at the right time. We have such serious extreme problems in this country and he actually has plans and the accumen to implement these plans.. and will assemble a knockout team to help him in carrying them through. This candidate is not only the best pick for the dems but for the repubs- he’s the best candidate this country has chosen in over 40 years. Why? We have energy issues, we have foreign policy issues, we have poor-people issues, we have economic issues- the middle class is floundering. We’ve had an Administration in place that has spent 8 years eight long years focused on OIL and WAR. Thats it. Our infrastructure in America is insecure, crumbling. We have a war that is WRONG and I say this as a VETERAN of the US Army. Economically, people are losing their homes- THEIR HOMES. We have become dependent to the nth degree on oil from foreign hostile nations- and we’ve created wars in an effort to accumulate more of that oil.. didn’t work so well did it? And it cost thousands of my fellow soldier’s lives. We now have a gentleman who has a vision and concrete plans to wean us off our DEPENDENCE of that foreign oil and implement green energy into the mix. To utilize the resources of our own country, to put people to work from steel mills to building roads, bridges, Amtrak, solar and windmills.. he has an America in mind that gives us a determined prosperous future- the future is what we leave to our children and our grandchildren. Under john mccain our future is not any brighter than our present has been under gw bush.. war, economic downturn, crumbling infrastructure, women’s rights- gone. We have a chance to change the depression that is heading our way and we who are more concerned about our country and it’s future will be stronger and louder than those who’s interest is solely about their pocket book.
… Wait a minute, I thought Obama was a socialist… Is the new word and affiliation of the week elitist? I need to keep up with it all! Whats on the list for next week, so I can get a head start?
@ Angela in Washington
Shall I start with his guns & God rant or perhaps his Rock Star tour of Europe?
@ Tania R Guimaraes
My guess is that you are not in America. What you miss is that while we are all “fighting” we are all having fun and at the end of the day we will all realign on other issues. What you are seeing is how people think and in some cases minds being changed.
Stop the gossip propganda mill. Stop repeating the stupid, non-content related media hype and
LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN HAS TO SAY. WATCH WHAT HE DOES. OBSERVE YOUROWN FEELINGS AND REACTIONS TO WHAT YOU SEE AND HEAR. BE A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN
um Maria, I recall when Sarkozy was running, the lefties in europe were all up in arms, calling him a centerist, how he was going to lock up all muslims and engage in a war against Islam. Now Sarkozy is a “centerist”? to you? I thought he was on the right, according to europeans, as obviously Segolene Royal was to the left.
@ Steve
You’re the one who keeps bringing up racism, not me. Race will be part of it of course but so will many other factors. One major factor might be people who keep hammering away at how “leftie” or “liberal” he is. Another will be all the negative advertising the Republicans are putting out accusing him of not being ready.
However, you now twice missed my point that, outside the USA, Obama’s views are about as “leftie” or “radical” as a cuddly teddy bear. I’m quite serious. Perceptions in the USA are miles out of step with the rest of the world and this is a dangerous trend. Forget a debate about isolating Russia. The USA is isolating itself with its insular and paranoid views.
Absolutely the right person. It is time to move this country forward and return to the values and traditions we were founded on. I laugh at the “extreme leftists”, “elitist”, and claims by people that they don’t know what he wants. Talk about low information. Repeating Republican claims that have no substance in reality. I have thoroughly researched both candidates, their voting records and their platforms. None of those claims are based on reality. Obama is a constitutional law teacher and will bring us back to a respect of the constitution that has been so abused by the present administration. I shudder to think of the implications if McCain can carry forward on his promises to appoint an ultra-conservative judges to the Supreme Court and his promise of more wars. If this happens the civil unrest of the sixties will look like a time of peace and unity.
@ Bob
last time I check, Obama is running to be US president. He is far left in the US. That’s what matters, unless you know something that I don’t, that europeans can vote for him. Obama is FAR left. He’s not extreme leftists, like those who support iraqi insurgents, and other insane berkeley types, but he’s still far left in the US. That’s what matters, as WE vote for him, NOT YOU.
It is not as important whether Obama actually isn’t the “right man” as it is for Republicans to have the electorate think he isn’t. Some honest, and many decidedly less than honest conservatives who continue to whisper aloud about Obama’s “Americanness,” or his alleged lack of experience and foreign policy expertise would none-the-less love to be able to nominate and vote for Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has no significant credentials at all, other than largeness and an German accent. So, this isn’t about Obama, it is about same old “spread the doubt” partisan politics.
g
@ Steve
Of course that’s true. November 5th will see if you’re right. I still predict it’s going to get a lot closer than you think but only time will tell–unless we’re both psychic this is a sterile debate.
However, you keep missing (or perhaps ignoring) my other point. It can’t be healthy that political views in the USA are so far different from the rest of the world. American sees itself as a world leader–but just as you argue that Obama can’t win because his views are out of step with the majority, America can’t be a world leader if it’s out of step with the world.
Democrats did NOT pick the wrong person. He is a wonderful politician and will bring us the change our country so desperately needs. The fact that Hillary gave an excellent speech is just icing on the cake, not a reason to promote this idea that we all have “buyers remorse.” Plus, this PUMA stuff is just ridiculous. Does anyone honestly believe that this hasn’t happened in other elections? OF COURSE there are always a handful of people who are unwilling to rally with their party when their first choice loses. This has just been blown way out of proportion this year thanks to the media (including this story, thanks!) and some sneaky Republicans pretending to be Democrats. Jeesh.
The WHYS question sounded like something out of the McCain camp. As with EVERY election, there are pros and cons for each candidate. The candidates this election are BOTH good and will make for an interesting election and debate. Seriously, how long has it been since we had TWO good candidates? Hasn’t happend in my voting life (I’ve been voting since 1984).
@Dan
McCain has said so many things also. I can understand if you stated that both of them are elitist but not just Obama. McCain is just jealous he is not adored all over the world and country. Most of the republicans don’t want him but since he is the candidate…
@Bob
I agree. All the republicans can do is to drive up fear to try to get people to support McCain.
Also, the race issue will be an important issue in this election. People try to say it is not a big deal but the race relation in the US are huge. Anyone who says it won’t be an issue is living in a dream. Race is not the only issue. If Hillary was the nominee, people would say that sex was an issue. I know just as many people that would not vote for Hillary because she was a woman (who are women) and people who would not vote for Obama because he is black. However, most people are not going to say I won’t vote for him because of his color, they will make up another excuse.
@ Bob in Queensland
Actually we will know November 6th. Republicans vote November 4th Democrats vote November 5th :))
@ Carly
LOL. “Democrats did NOT pick the wrong person. He is a wonderful politician and will bring us the change our country so desperately needs.”
You just contradicted yourself. Wonderful politician? Perhaps if he weren’t a politician at all he’d be the right person. But the seeking approval, just shouts mental illness. Hence is he NOT the right person, just like every other candidate and politician out there.
@ augiegram
“I laugh at the “extreme leftists”, “elitist”, and claims by people that they don’t know what he wants. Talk about low information. Repeating Republican claims that have no substance in reality.”
If that’s the case, care to explain why Kerry lost to GEORGE BUSH? Someone who barely can form a coherent sentence without cue cards?
That’s right, Kerry lost because he was so far to the left he couldn’t appeal to the majority of Americans. That’s why it matters. So on November 6th, you’re going to ask yourself how Obama could have lost. the SAME reason why Kerry lost. He was too far lest. But deny it if it makes you happier.
It was like a car buying:
“I just bought this 2008 Obama sports car with a v-8 400 horsepower engine, 6 gears, and boy is it flashy!!! But I forgot about gas, and my kids don’t fit in the back, and the manual isn’t fun when driving to work in traffic, plus it’s a first gen so there are some problems. I should have bought the 2008 Hillary hybrid sedan. Sturdy, gas efficient, room for my whole family, and it’s been around for a long time.”
Oppps!!! America goofed again with its “fad” Obama, and now I think some people are regretting it.
Also, with Michigan and Florida I think she would have won. I mean, we ARE DEMORCATS right??? What’s democratic about dropping 2 major swing states???
-Anthony, LA, CA
@ Dan
As far as I’m concerned it probably WILL be the 6th…international date line and all that! Try as hard as you like, you’ll always be a day behind! 🙂
@Steve,
Kerry lost for the same reason many candidates do; it’s tough to beat an incumbent. It’s better to go with the devil you know than the devil you don’t know.
Steve,
We had a discussion on nationality and how regions as well as countries define nationality. Are you saying that only people from the southern nationality are fit to be leaders? That would be kind of abstractly racist.
What the democrats never learn is that the republican smear machine seems to have no depth. I have issued a challenge that still hasn’t been answered. I asked anybody to send me an email about McCain that ended up being fill with fictitious fact as those that have been floating around the internet. This is a tactic that seems to work on conservatives leaning people.
The problem is that the once proud Republican party has become the party of the ignorant, paranoid, unquestioning, and unthinking.
It is the party that in spite of the highest cost of living, wage disparity and unemployment, still think that the economy is good. They have become the party that in spite of 10,000 renowned scientists agree that humans are influencing global warming, they deny it. Despite the highest recognition in the world in the Nobel prize awarded the effort to promote the awareness of global warming. The republican party is made up of 10% to 15% of people who think Barack Obama is a Muslim, or at the very least, “wouldn’t want to take the chance.” It is the party that believe, in spite of every renowned (that means they not only have education but have also a history of being right.) economist says it won’t make a difference in gas prices, they still want to drill our way into insecurity. It is the part that thinks we can “fight for peace” and “have sex for virginity.”
The problem is that “the blissful” is the fastest growing sector of our economy.
If Bush can be president a cab driver could be one too.
I love the BBC. You are a life line to North America, but
I agree with nelsoni the question should be “did the democrats pick the right person?”
just fueling this discussion will create lots of fodder for the naysayers to use for McCain.
It is true that until now, centrists won elections. That is what Clinton did after all, and wholeheartedly supported the Friedman-esque policies that gutted the middle class the last 30 yrs in the US and much of the world, Hillary right behind him although I think she knew the difference.
I was schooled by a Dem friend (I am independent) that no democrat has ever won office without a strong militaristic bellicose stance. So, that was molded over Obama the last few months. So, I calmed down knowing fool-well the whole process is a perception sham and image game, which was confirmed to me by a pollster a few weeks ago.
Sure, a lot of people here think force is what is right against Russia, but that is after all a ‘competency bias’ for Americans.
The truth is there is no money to do anything and there are no troops to do anything. So, nothing will happen in that regard. EU should just do it. Except, maybe they can send over Blackwater (hmmm)??? Now that would be interesting to watch.
But don’t under estimate the 37M people in poverty, 47M without healthcare, the many many in foreclosure, 100Ms losing jobs, etc. They did pull away from the mainstream right in 1948 which started a 20 year chain reaction for civil rights.
The deposit and pension guaranty corporations have let be known to NPR yesterday that they spent too much on the IndyMac bailout. This is going to hit average people with $100K and less accounts in their current accounts, and pensions foisted over onto the government as terms in private equity buyout deals for industrial companies. With a tanking dollar, they just may crank themselves back up in business, without any pension obligations!
The one I love the best is the fact that wealthy American ‘patriots’ in mind and mouth (not body nor money) are getting busted for opening accounts in Switzerland, at least the UBS bankers are, but they are probably so good at concealing client identity and taking the fall. I think the penalty is ‘no fly list’.
I love it. Got to make that connection loudly and proudly now to the Americans in poverty and everybody else not too far off. Can BBC start to blast that around quite a bit?
How about more about the movie Stealing America? Love what Greg Palast did with that. It needs more media muscle, which won’t happen with FCC ‘regulated’ corporate media.
Oh, but I know what schadenfreude is and I did live in the UK for a dozen years so have my suspicions of what is really going on here. Believe me, we are not all corporate imperialists but are metaphorically enslaved by them many bills to pay for basic social needs, and their blocked media system. I hope you might understand.
Let’s not forget that Obama has people to write his speeches. He’s more of an actor than anything. Take away his speeches, and put him in an average white body, and HE’S NOTHING!!!
Do the same for Hillary and you still have something there, and thats the difference that should matter!!!
-Anthony, LA, CA
@ Bob in Queensland
If I am a day behind….email me the winning lottery numbers and we can clean up.
@Anthony
I realize you are a Hillary supporter but every democrat wasn’t. People are making a big deal about Hillary. I personally was not fond of her and am glad she did not get the nomination. She is an execellant politician and comes from a good family but I think several Americans wanted something new and different. I respect that both you and Steve state that the democrats need a centralist politician. Maybe people want some changes that are far from the stauts quo.
@ Anthony
Every politician uses script writers. However, I watched several of the debates and Obama performed pretty well “off the cuff” I thought. I’ll be interesting to see him up against McCain assuming the usual debates happen there.
@ Bob in Queensland
Obama off script was TERRIBLE at Saddleback. That night he lost the election.
Hillary is fine but when will people stop focusing on her and focus on the election. If most of the Hillary supporters are going to support McCain, thats fine. People have been focusing on all of the wrong things which is the main reason a democrat won’t be elected to the white house. At least the republicans that don’t think McCain are not saying they will vote for Obama but that they won’t vote. I am so sick of hearing people continously talk about Hillary. Can we focus on electing this candidate and stop focusing on electing Hillary in 2012. Seriously, I have always liked Bill but there is something about Hillary that never sat well with me. If she was the candidate I would focus on her. Democrats should look at the republicans. After it was determined that McCain would be the nominee, people did not complain that he was this or that.
However, since you seem to be a die hard Hillary supporter, have fun! She deserves all of the support, since Obama did not receive as many votes as she did!
@ Angela
I know, but I feel people choose him for the wrong reasons, and people are starting to see that. Also you can have the BEST POTENTIAL NOMINEE EVER, but that doesn’t mean jack if he doesn’t win, and Obama & Biden is starting to lose their luster. You don’t have to listen to me on that subject, just look at the polls for that.
-Anthony, LA, CA
p.s. Obama and Hillary would have been a land slide. Now, ehhhh, I’d say with Biden its a 50/50 shot.
I guess an FCC ‘regulated’ company is mad about this…but what aren’t they telling us about?
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conventions/story?id=5668622&page=1
Aside from the direct question at hand – Did the Dems pick the right candidate, I am happy to hear many say that this election has gotten past the Republican vs. Democrats issue. What we need in America is change from the current direction our republic is heading, right down in the history books next to Rome in my opinion. We are simply tired of the Burger King or McDonalds options.
@ Angela
Last night had Bill Clinton said “The hell with Obama vote for me” there would have be a landslide in November. Bill has substance. Obama is an empty suit.
Biden adds little other than Blue Collar workers but they are not going to be fooled. Even they know it is the top of the ticket that counts.
@ Bob
I’ve watched Obama speak a few times “improve”, and it was HORRIBLE!!! Obama without the speech reminds me of McCain with his speech, truly sad. I’ve seen Clinton “improving it” and she’s still quick, witty, and charismatic (and still sounds intelligent).
-Anthony, LA, CA
P.S. just this topic showing up shows that maybe he was the wrong choice. I really don’t think it would have been the same the other way around.
The Dems picked the best that they had. However, he is wrong on most of the main issues.
His National Health issue is the right issue, but he has not a clear and workable way to change the industry. It would not be worth going to. No one would be happy.
Immigration issue also totally wrong.
Views on Supreme Court dead wrong.
He is a great guy, an inspirational force, but he does not know enough about the world to function in it as a statesman. It would all end up being more of the same. There are no specifics just generalizations. He is a rock star type populous, but he has no clear concept of where to go or how to get the ship of state there.
The oppposition is not all that great either. I hate their National Health Plan also. The immigration problem is also a loser for the Repubs.
Too bad we do not have someone who could do the job.
troop
Obama is creating such a controversy about being chosen as a Democrat presidential candidate because of the propaganda surrounding his origins. The fact that he’s black and lived outside the USA as a child is enough for his opponents to portray him as less American. However, being exposed to the outside at an early age must be seen as a plus contrary to George Bush who prior to his election as president was seriously ignorant about foreign politicians.
In the past decade, the majority of US presidents came to office after serving as governors in their states, for example Roland Reagan, Bill Clinton and George Bush Jr. All of them were seen as inexperienced. But the eras of Regan and Clinton are still seen with favour among the Americans.
So why can’t Obama be a successful president despite his lack of experience in foreign policy? His chosen vice president candidate Joe Biden can be of help to him in these matters.
Any president, to be successful, must have a clear vision of his policy and a strong team to support him. The Democrat camp doesn’t’t lack personalities of great experience in politics. After all, when George W Bush was elected, he was seen just a king and Dick Cheney as the Prime Minister. Later, it was alleged that the White House hawks, mainly Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney were behind the invasion of Iraq.
Obama needs to prove in his campaign that he can be the man in charge and not guided by a team that can make of him just a tool to sign their policies. Hiding racist views of him and using his inexperience as an excuse to attack him isn’t fair politics.
Hello all,
Obama, or Clinton, or anyone else will never win this election. cuz i don’t believe that Bush ( and behind him the republicans) i don’t believe that they did all what they do (war, in Afghanistan and Iraq …etc) just to leave the White House for another. The Republicans want to harvest what they’ve implanted.
so it is not an issue of right or wrong person, but it is A READY MADE STRATEGY.
I don’t believe that Obama or any Democrats will be the next President of the United States.
yours truly,
Zainab from Iraq
Hum, responding to an early comment on Mrs. Obamma’s take on college and attending it:
As someone who went to college, I actually agree with the idea of going to a 4 year university being a waste of money right now. America would be far better served by many people learning trades at 2 year universities than the waste that for many is a 4 year university.
I enjoyed learning, so I enjoyed college, but in the 6 years I spent there… I maybe use 10% of the things that I learned that weren’t directly pertinent to my career. And now have to deal with a massive college debt. As I look back, I would much rather have gone to a 2 year college, learned what I needed as basics, and been trained on the job for the rest… Which is what the majority of jobs do anyways with their new hires, because of the inneffectiveness of 4 year universities. I’d have come away with less debt, and –four extra years– of earning to work off that smaller debt.
@Anthony,
You grossly underestimate how badly Hillary Clinton is hated by the Republican Party. Had she won the nomination or been put on the ticket you would see an even bigger smear campaign than you are seeing now. Republicans would come out in droves to vote for against her. I’m even confident they register a few dead people to vote against her. To date, the Republicans have stayed away from the polls by the droves, believing they are not being represented by their party. I am grateful she is not on the ticket for that reason alone.
@Anthony
If it was the other way around, the Obama supporters would just support Hillary. If Obama wasn’t chosen for the VP. People would not complain as much as the die hard Hillary supporters because they don’t want McCain, even if it was Hillary. So yeah, it would have been different.
@Dan
What does that prove? Since, Clinton is running.
@ Justin
I work in Medical Staff Credentialing, and almost EVERY OTHER COUNTRY has 4 year MD programs, opposed to the fact that here you must attend a 4 year first, then take you’re 4 year for your MD. It’s a waste, and a lot of people go to school in Mexico or Guam first, then move back for their Internship and Residency.
-Anthony, LA, CA
@Anthony
Fine. When will be the time to look at the future, instead if the past and the what ifs. Like the lady who was on the show the other day from Harlem and stated she was forced here from Africa, that was the past and she was forced here it was her ancestors. People should try to look at the future than continue to focus on what could have been. If you don’t support Obama that is fine or if you don’t support McCain but I yhope at some time the media will put the focus on the upcoming election, not the past primary.
I don’t know much about American politics, but here in Jamaica, I think MOST persons are for Obama for obvious reasons. One of our reggae artists even has a song out about Obama!
Anyway, I won’t be able to stay with you today as we are preparing for Hurricane Gustav. We leave work @ 11.
Blessings All
Dev
@ Angela
It proves that Obama hasn’t the gravitas of Bill Clinton. The Democrats hit the heights with Bill and missed the target with Obama.
@ Devra
What are those obvious reasons?
Good look with the hurricane. Hopefully it will miss.
@ Angela
It just happened. People were taken hundreds of years ago from Africa. I’m still gonna complain, and I hope I and others complain so much that this b.s. won’t happen again. I’m gonna vote for Obama just because he’s not McCain (or Nadar).
-Anthony, LA, CA
I think that Barack Obama is the correct choice for the United States and the Democratic party. The question is whether our country is smart enough to elect him and ignore all the rumors the Republican party have created in order to scare the voters into thinking that McCain is a better choice.
Obama is an extremely intelligent guy who wants to surround himself with other smart, experienced people in his cabinet rather than toadying yes men. Since we’ve had the exact opposite for the past eight years, he really is the definition of a change candidate and he’ll be getting my vote in November.
As a scientist, I can’t help but chuckle at todays comments. How people can happily wander around in such a fog is beyond me. The politcal system in US, and the country in general, is in a slow decay mode, not because incompetent candidates are selected; but because of an incompetent electorate. All of you write the candidate selection rules. Your inattentiveness manifests itself in an inconsiderate political atmosphere. Your materialistic life styles payed for on borrowed funds leads to governmental disregard of moneys spent and of values received. You love affair with the TV remote has evolved into robotic murder at distance. And you laziness, prompts you sit reading this, while all about you important tasks remian undone. You guys won’t discover the truth until it bites you in the posterior, and maybe not even then! Now excuse me, I’ve got to go teach some folks how nature works.
g
Steve … becuz he’s black.
Uh oh Devra. Say if someone in Norway wanted Mccain to win because he’s white?
“Hello” – Tap – tap- “Hello” (Done on a phone)
Yes they did pick the right person – so far, if we look at polls, which some do, the race is a statistical dead-heat – on CNN, and they are now right-leaning, corporate sponsors!
I don’t know how to keep this a short reply – but look at the States standings now – Obama has to win a few States to turn them from yellow to blue.
You also have to remember that this election has concentrated on Obama – I welcome the scrutiny that John McCain will get – Obama too much on TV? Yep – the GOP are relying on that. I say get McCain on TV – A LOT! I resist to go into a party political broadcast for Obama.
Read Bill Clinton’s speech last night, read Joe Biden’s speech last night – they are saying that McCain is opposed to the working-class in the US, against the middle-class in the US and for monopolies in the US – all is true.
That is as short as I can get it. But there is tons more to say.
I read the WHYS question differently from how most responders seem to have interpreted it. It’s not about your personal opinion of Obama. The question is whether the Dems have botched another election with their choice of candidate.
The 2004 election was for the Democrats to win. This one, far more so. Two terms of an unpopular president, very low in the approval ratings, who got this country bogged down in a pointless war and would have gone even further if given half a chance. There is no way that a political party would get a third term in the White House, under such circumstances.
And yet, the polls show Obama and McCain in a dead heat. That can only mean one thing: The Dems chose the wrong candidate.
Come to think of it, the Dems have been doing this since 2000. How is it they won’t learn?
Obama will be the latest Mondale or Dukakis or Kerry. The democrats must really get off on losing elections. at the time Carter ran in 1976, he was pretty moderate for a democrat. He only became loonie after her left office. Clinton was a centerist democrat. The others listed at the top were far left, and lost. Obama is even more extreme. That anyone thinks Obama can win this election is mindboggling. I think the democrats need to look at 2012 and finally accept you have to choose someone in the center if you want to win red states. Or they can lose again, which they probably want.
I personally wanted Hillary to win the primaries, but if she won the elections, there would either be a Bush of a Clinton in the White House way back from 1989 – almost 20 years! The President is not a dynastic position, and the USA desperately needs change. Barack Obama is the man!
I know that a lot of Clinton supporters are upset that she did not get the nomination, but I also feel that rallying behind McCain is not the answer. For Clinton supporters who do not feel that Obama is not their candidate, then vote third party. Do your research and vote for the person whose ideas best matches Hilary Clinton. John McCain is not this person.
Furthermore the same could be said for Republican Party. If you feel that John McCain was not the person that you wanted to be chosen, do your research and vote for the person whose ideas best matches John McCain.
This whole notion that you have to vote for either Democratic or Republican has to stop. As well-informed citizens, people should use reason and logic when voting.
No doubt Democrates Pick the right person Without knowinging the approach to suceed in upcomming election.
Infact leadership is in favour of change not the key voters, they will be lucky to keep the party united / alive, during & after election as party manifesto & foundation been laid down when no one can even think beside White Domination in USA.
Over all Democrate’s are trying to overhaul political structure, pattren & transformation of society which is really tough & sensative challange to deeply diversified USA.
Abdelilah
John McCain was born outside of the US – in Panama. He is a US citizen only because that part of Panama is seen as US soil.
John McCain spent 5 1/2 years in a prison camp – that and the fact he crashed a few US planes is what he is saying (Constantly) makes him perfect to be commander in cheif – that is what he wants, not the formal presidency of the USA.
He believes, like his ilk, that he can scare the American voter enough to get him into office.
If the American voter is so scared – then I pity them.
@ steve
So just to make it clear:
Whites voting for Whites because they’re White is not O.K. and racist
Blacks voting for Blacks because they’re Black is O.K. 🙂
-Anthony, LA, CA
What some call “experience”, I call the old ways. The world has changed so much in the last 10 years. This lack of experience will help us usher in change for America. Let’s move these oil loving dinosaurs out of office!
I can say the same for the company I work for. My co-worker and I are the youngest most inexperienced people in the corporate office. We create more change because of this than anyone else. We still listen to the old ways and take some pieces from it, but we understand that in order to survive, we need a new way of doing business.
@Anthony
Not the point. Yes it just happened but the same principle. You can’t move forward until you accept that it did happen and noe lets move forward.
People were taken from Africa hundreds of years ago but there are still policies that affect those same people, other than affrimative action. That everyone complains about.
Please complain and convince people that he is the wrong person, so McCain will be elected. I don’t know what you and Steve have been drinking or eating but this always happens. Someone some people beleived is qualified doesn’t get the nomination. This is not the first nor will it be the last. THIS IS LIFE.
What I don’t think people are understanding, is Hillary supporters going over to the McCain side ISN’T because they are spiteful, it’s because they truly believe he’s a better choice than Obama. What’s wrong with that, that’s Democracy right???
-Anthony, LA, CA
*for the record, I prefer Hillary, but believe Obama is a much better choice.
@ WHYS
So the answer to your question is that it does not matter. As you can see people are locked onto Obama/McCain and don’t give a whip about the VP.
@ Anthony
You’ve got it. Please pass go and collect $200
@ Bert
Because the democratic party is run by idiots. I wouldn’t be shocked in 2012 if they put a transsexual up for president. something to be shocking, someone whose views will probably not mesh with the vast majority of americans. The party is run by the far left,and those values don’t appeal to the people in most of the states, especially the red states, which you absolutely need to win to become president. As long as they stay to the left, they will continue to lose.
@ Angela
You’re right. For all those rapists in jail, we forgive you 🙂 We’ll let you go, and if you happen to rape a few more women, well thats the chance we gotta take because we’re moving forward.
-Anthony, LA, CA
Why does it matter why blacks will vote for Obama or whites will or will not vote for Obama. I try not to quote people too much but when will there be a time that race when race is not the most discussed issue. I am black and I realize there are some policies that bring down blacks and some policies that try to uplift blacks. I wish I could live somewhere where it didn’t matter what color you are but what you beleive in and what type of person you are. There are people of all different nationalities that I would be scared to live around because of their actions, not color. I have been around some of the most racist white people I have know and some of the most racist black people. They both disgust me. I can’t stand people that dislike someone just because of their color.
However, the racist people that will or will not vote for Obama or McCain have always been that way and I don’t see how it is an issue. There are some people that feel this is a monumental elction and they want to vote for a black man. There are just as many Americans that can’t stand to thought of a black family living in the white house. Those people were going to vote that way anyways.
-Anthony, as you said those blacks that are going to vote Barack because he is black is a problem. I think it is a problem that people dislike me for how I look. I can’t change them and they can’t change me. So it is a pointless discussion. You just live with it.
P.S.I apologize for the length.
@Anthony
A criminal and a campaign are so different. People moving on in a political campaign can’t compare. I am not saying this about you but that is just a childish argument. I say that with the most respect because I think you are an intelligent man.
@ Will Rhode,
I agree with your point. John McCain is still capitalizing on his past as a war hero. This could make sense for the majority of the voters if the US didn’t have about 200,000 of its soldiers outside the US fighting wars costing lives and billions of dollars.
Voters need a politician with a clear vision for the present and the future. McCain’s age can be a handicap for him as many will see him as too old to govern a very powerful country. The risk that those disenchanted with either Obama or McCain will simply choose not to vote.
For Obama, voters should see him as supported by all heavyweight Democrats like the Clintons and not make a lot of fuss about minor mistakes like when he looks at a loss for words or speaking with hesitation for a few seconds, disregarding the minutes when he was talking eloquently and convincingly.
But Angela, you know it’s inevitable, that when Obama loses in November, that many will say it was due to racism, rather than his liberal views. I’m sure there are some whites that won’t vote for Obama because he’s black, but I’m sure that’s HEAVILY outweighed by the number of blacks that vote for him becuase he’s black. One of our very own posters supports obama for “obvious reasons” because he’s “black”. It’s an issue that can’t be avoided, it’s going to happen. And the US will be criticized, because europe wants Obama so badly, that they will allege racism, many blacks will allege racism. It’s going to be an issue because Obama has no chance of winning. So we’re just delaying the inevitable right now. How best to deal with the inevitable?
@ Angela
So what would you rather do, let one rapist go free or put one Bush back in the white house, he which is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths and a falling economy. Yeah, there’s such a difference, because one politician can ruin A WHOLE COUNTRY!!!
-Anthony, LA, CA
Abdelilah
What war hero? He was a POW!
War hero – he fought in North Africa from Egypt to Tunisia, The Italian campaign, Palermo, Salerno – invasion and all the way up to Rome, Borneo Jungle (Liberated with his American, Autralian and British comrades Japanese POWs, Suez crisis, Cyprus crisis, Korean war – receiving a BEM (British Empire Medal) mentioned in despatches for his heroism under fire.
Taking himself out, under Chinese fire to go get spare parts and ammunition from fallen comrades so they all could live and fight on. That, my friend was my dad – and he never, ever said he was a hero – but a soldier doing his job. End of.
THAT is a war hero – not some guy who claims to be one. Many men were POWs in Vietnam – and John McCain insults them by using that reference!
@ Will
HERE HERE!!! My Grandpa went through crazy stuff in Japan, and he never talked about it (until later when I begged to know, and found out he was sorry for all the Japanese he shot). Very well said Will!!!
-Anthony, LA, CA
@Anthony
I have no idea what you are talking about. A rapist going free or Bush? My, my, what a choice.
Yeah W. did a lot to mess up this country and anytime we elect a president we take a chance. I am sorry I don’t understand your point.
I don’t want either one, unless the rapist has served his full term.
@Steve
If he gets elected or he doesn’t people will complain. If he is elected people will say it is because he is black and if he doesn’t people will say it is because he is black. Who cares what people say. If people want to critize the US, let them. I care more about the results than the reason why. Like football games, I want UGA to win. If they win because some other team did not have heathly playere, I don’t care. I just want my team to win.
Anthony –
Most of those guys didn’t say a thing – war, to them was hell, McCain knows a little because of his capture but that is it.
All I said above is what dad told me – he never spoke about the fighting unless it was a funny story. The rest died with him.
Hi gang ! :-)… Mr Obama will never win these elections, because apparantly the influence of the neo-conservatives and the right wing white Anglican fundamentalists in the US is growing greater and greater everyday, and to those people having a president like Mr Obama in the White House is an absolute nightmare… With my love… Yours forever, Lubna in Baghdad…
@Steve
I can tell you where I am from, most of the whites that I know will not vote for Obama because he is black. I have heard plenty of people saying they don’t want no _______ for president. Blacks make up 13% of the population and many of them can’t vote because so many are in jail or have records. No I am sure the whites that won’t vote for him can out weigh the blacks. Obama has not made it because of blacks, it is becasue he has been able to win over multiple ethnicities. The blacks are a small percentage and he can’t win with just them, that is MORE important than the people who vote because he is the same color as them.
Did the Democrats pick the wrong person?
Yes,but the fault lies with Hilary Clinton for not taking the process seriously right from the start,just as Rudy Guliani messed up on the republican side.Momentum,Momentum,Momentum
Barack Obama can not be neck and neck with McCain or only 5-10 per cent ahead(in opinion polls),any person of colour knows you can not be as good as your competition or only a little better,you have to be twice as good if you want to succeed.
The Labour Party in the UK 1992 General Election experienced an opinion poll lead but an election defeat,because people said one thing to pollsters but voted another way( ).I think a lot of white Americans will not have the ability to vote for a Black man when they are standing in the voting booth(although they might publicly support Obama).
@ Angela
When will the nonsense stop? Is Obama a Black man or a man that happens to be Black?
I believe in the high ideals in that we judge a man by the content of his character (or politics) and not by the color of his skin.
Voting for Obama because he is Black is as racist as voting for McCain because he is white.
The present presidential election USA has now reached a stage where candidates have become obsolete. Anti-incumbency (either constitutionally imposed or natural)will push Bush out.
Anti incumbency applies more to republicans than Bush republicans endorsed him at all level. The very fact that USA doesn’t allow a third term for a president, indirecly asks people to vote for an alternate force. In this case, it is Democrats and Obama.
US elections are deeply divided on republicans vs democratic lines and candidates are just party symbols. I think the world has not understood US as a democracy. We have wrongly focused on candidates rather than their parties.
Yes, the Democrats made a double fault. Both Clinton and Obama are off the novelty rack, and this is not where the average US citizen will go to pick a president in this turbulent period of American history. Had the candidate been, say, Al Gore, there would have been no question of the Democrats streaking home to the White House.
Bad candidates all round, actually. The Republicans, in order to regain international trust and the beginnings of a renewed esteem, really needed a statesman this time round – and McCain is not that.
Nevertheless, he’ll win by default; elected, really, by the Democrats themselves. I say I’ll eat my hat if the Democrats win, and I’m hoping that I’ll be forced to swallow it, brim first.
@Dan
That is what I said. It doesn’t matter one way or another. Some people are racist and will or will not vote for him. It doesn’t matter. One can be racist, regardless of the color of their skin.
Unless the election is rigged, In a free and fair election , Obama will beat McCain hands down.
@ gary August 28, 2008 at 4:38 pm
My, my, what a wonderful horse your riding today! For a fact, most readers I’ve encountered at WHYS are highly more informed and knowledgeable about politics than the average bloke sitting in the office. You may wish to put down people sharing in an open-educational debate but at least were not arrogant and full of ourselves. Now excuse me while I get back to my job, which I don’t feel the need to mention as an act to boost my ego.
@ Mr. Timmy Gibson:
Reason and Logic have no place in the current American Political System.
I find it ludicrous when I hear that 1/4 of hilary’s supporters plan on voting for McCain now… Clinton and Obamma had similar stances on many, many topics. Not so much for McCain. Americans prove they are ruled by vindictiveness and spite once again.
@ nelsoni
I remember everyone was saying that in 2004, I mean who wanted 4 more of Bush, of wait…
-Anthony, LA, CA
“Unless the election is rigged, In a free and fair election , Obama will beat McCain hands down.”
Oh well, I guess the conspiracy theories will be starting then. obama is going to lose because of his politics. Not becuase anything was rigged. Perhaps if he were on the center, politically, he’d win. But nope, he’s a far leftie, and is going to lose for that very reason. Just like Dukakis, just like Kerry.
@ BBC WHYS
The question is moot. Obama is the nominee of the Democratic Party and he will win this election, because people who believe in our party’s values will stand behind him.
GOP’s greatest fear is a united Democratic Party… Well, grab your blankies GOP, because Obama will be the next President of the United States. As Dr. King said, this is an idea whose time has come and he is the best man for this job.
I look forward to stories asking in McCain got it his VP selection or if his party selected the right candidate.
“change” hahah. Again, i would say a slogal can’t win an election, but then again, bush only spoke in slogans. But why the supporters speak in slogans as well? use your OWN words for once.
They chose the right person. Obama represents a new generation of leadership for the 21st century.
As Bill Clinton said of him last night, Obama’s life story is the 21st century embodiment of the
American Dream.
Obama will win.
Obama is the right person to bring to the world a new view of USA. His leadership might bring
change to the Arab world, Asia and Africa and I support Barak Obama.
The debate is not whether the Democrats pick the right candidate. The question is the US ready to
change its shameful track record of the past eight years. Right now, the rest of the world is suffering
because of the invasion of Iraq.
I can remember the last young Democrat contender, who like Obama, was very popular with voters
but just got too big for his boots, lets see what Arlington or the Presidents book will dig up.
Obama is a good orator for sure but at present america needs a president who can win the trust of
american citizens and also the rest of the world .on this key point Obama is a bad bad choice as he is a novice.
Obama was chosen for the say reason why McDonalds is so popular. The stuff tastes like garbage, and hurts your tummy after, but marketing marketing marketing!!!
-Anthony, LA, CA
It seems to me that a lot of people are upset because of Obama’s popularity, hinting to him being referred to as a superstar and the like. I can recall a McCain commercial referring to him as a “superstar” and only that. Yes he is the right pick, this “international superstar appeal” people keep complaining is due to the fact the people like him. When the people, both nationally and internationally like a candidate, inst that a good thing?
I think the America and the world have become so much more gripped by Obama the charmer than
obama the CEO of the USA.
The “idea” of having a black president seems to be overshadowing the grave concerns of the general
public…as if having a black president will suddenly demonstrate US progressiveness to the rest of the
world… after the novelty has worn off, as it surely will, reality is what we must live with.
Well said speaker… We have to get things done. The discussion is over.
To the woman who said “Anti-Americanism is because we have ignored threats”
You are incorrect ma’am. Anti-Americanism is due to us dismissing and ignoring others beliefs and wishes and doing as we see fit in the international stage, most often for our benefit at the expense of others whether right or wrong.
So you are advocating that Anti-Americanism needs to be quelled by more of an Iron Fisted tactic? Yes, that will work….
Don’t like us? We’ll make you!
Two terms of an unpopular president, very low in the approval ratings, who got this country bogged
down in a pointless war and would have gone even further if given half a chance. And yet, the polls
show Obama and McCain in a dead heat. That can only mean one thing: The Dems chose the wrong candidate.
The suggestion that Barak Obama is all style no substance is absurd and disingenuous. If anything, the “problem” with Sen. Obama is that he’s a smart guy (U of Chicago prof) running in a country that has become increasingly anti-intellectual. That said, he’s damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t. When he does talk policy in detail, he’s called dry!
This USA citizen and Democrat sees Mr. Obama as a problem solver running against an ideological party, if not an ideological candidate.
As to Republican charges that he’s inexperienced – dear God – George W. Bush had never been abroad at the time of his election!
I voted for Mrs. Clinton in the primary, and feel the Clinton’s generosity of spirit will lift Mr. Obama. Mrs. Clinton is so qualified, but she was up against a pernicious Clinton-bashing machine, and possibly unelectable in a national base.
I think it’s time for the left to accept that once again, the democrats messed up with their candidate and picked someone who is unelectable. Obama should be double digits ahead of Mccain now. He’s not.
The only force that can beat Obama is fear. If the Republicans are better at fear mongering than the
Democrats are at staying on message, loss will likely follow.
See? The Anti Capitalist supports Obama. That’s going to go over SO well in the red states! This is why Obama is going to lose. Because of th appeal obama has to the far left.
“WHYS: Did the Democrats pick the wrong person?”
Yes. Kucinich was the only candidate who actually had new ideas and would have been a logical and rational president.
For decades the US has descended into Conservatism and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are too far to the right. We really need to go back towards the center.
We must always put up with the Republican version of “experience and judgement” despite the fact that we are in the deepest economic and international trouble we have been in since the 30’s BECAUSE of the FAILED POLICIES OF THE REPUBLICANS. John McCain promises more of the same.
could somebody explain to me how an old white male from a high ranking military familiy with 7 houses and a loaded wife can call a balck guy from a single parent family, brought up by working class grandparents “ELITIST”.
i begs belive that people actually belive this trash propaganda by the lying republicans. remember they still try to convince us that iraq as wmd……
You know what makes me indignant? It’s your question. We aren’t even through the Democratic Convention and the media begins questioning whether the candidate the party picked can win or not.
And where do you get your info? Polls and speculations. You are doing what the press seems to do best: trivializing life and death situations, trivializing and sensationalizing for the trivial reason of getting my (and people like me) back’s up.
To me, this is all much too important. Barack Obama is a great candidate, as Hilary Clinton would have been. The clinton’s are going to work to get him elected because the issues of our times in MY beloved country and, damn it, in the world are much greater than Hilary’s disappointments and resentments.
They know we need to stop the diverting from the important issues at hand and UNIFY.
Why didn’t you ask, “why is it so important so important to defeat McCain, so important that the Clinton’s both spoke magnificently and urgently in support of Obama.
I am sadly disappointed by your question, as I am insulted by it.
LOL—This speaker is deranged. Even GOP admit the massive failures of Bush.
@ Anthony
“Obama was chosen for the say reason why McDonalds is so popular. The stuff tastes like garbage, and hurts your tummy after, but marketing marketing marketing!!!”
Absolutely WONDERFUL!!! Great insight.
Obama was chosen in the most democratic way. That makes him the correct person. However, I do not believe he will win over McCain. That makes him the wrong perons. For me there is no chose for this election. I may write in someone.
The VP is an irrelevant position. That anyone is concerned that Hillary isn’t the VP candidate just shows childish immaturity, foot stomping temper tantrums.
yes obama is the right man , i have been watching him from the begenning and he is the right man
syed nadeem
Obama is right person with a 100 percent chance of beaten Mccain come november. MOHAMMED in GHANA.
I don’t mean to hit below the belt, but how great can a man be that can’t even quit smoking, even though they’ve tried many many times. Obama the Marlboro man!!!
@ steve
You’re remembering John Adams, but you’re forgetting that SO MANY AMERICANS ARE IMMATURE AND CHILDISH. You are right, but many many people would have voted for that ticket with no other reasoning except that she was on it. Sad but true.
-Anthony, LA, CA
Hey Folks,
From the primaries to the super delegates, Obama has captivated the world over that he is ready to lead the free world. He has survived a gruesome primary and has gotten the nomination. The American people now have the stage to decide. I just hope they will take the right decision in the interest of America and the rest of the world.
I am an Obama supporter and one problem I see is that so far Obama hasn’t really been able to unify people.
opinion polls are showing the current split in the american public is very close to 50/50 as it has been for the past few elections…
from what I can see, as time goes on those who do not like Obama are just becoming more cynical… maybe the message of unification just doesn’t appeal to half of the US public?!? and that’s a problem if it’s his main selling point!
@ teresa
Brovo! If I may, the media has too much to gain by continuing to wedge the issue of divided democrats. Look at how unanimous the DNC nominated Obama yesterday and how clear and direct Bill Clinton was on his commitment to make sure Obama gets elected.
“Last night, Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she is going to do everything she can to elect Barack Obama. That makes two of us. Actually, that makes 18 million of us because, like Hillary, I want all of you who supported her to vote for Barack Obama in November.” Bill Clinton
I have never in my sixty-two years seen such a high-integrity, wise and caring candidate as I see in Barack Obama. I am surprised at this question, and to the suggestion, even, that he is not a man of substance. His experience is so much more impressive than most, i.e, George Bush’s experience;, why is he being questioned? Senator Obama was on the brink of a an ambitious, financially successful career. Instead he left the offers for this career to beome a low-paid community worker who accomplished miracles, helping people, negotiating, making peace in Chicago. The exact experience we need at this time, especially added to what he has already worked for in the Senate. I question Senator McCain’s qualifications, not Obama’s. Please learn more (i.e. read Senator Obama’s great autobiography) before you talk about him.
@Anthony
Why wasn’t Hillary picked?
This question is completely backward and counterproductive. I believe that Obama has shocked the corrupt world of global politics and all the criticism that is being thrown at him about being inexperienced or not knowing enough about foreign policy just shows how exposed the political world is to highly intelligent men who want to make a difference.
@ Anthony
“Obama was chosen for the say reason why McDonalds is so popular. The stuff tastes like garbage, and hurts your tummy after, but marketing marketing marketing!!!”
I said it earlier, we are tired of Burger King or McDonalds ( I hope people can see the metaphor)! Time for an all around different approach to our problems! It’s just too bad that a 100% organic soy burger would sell in very few cities here. People are scared of things that sound different.
@Roebert
Al Gore are you joking,he lost to Bush at a time when the USA was at peace and had a booming economy(He sidelined the Clintons).
@Steve
What’s your phobia about mixed restrooms and transexuals.
If a Jew(or Jewess) was a Presidential candidate,there would be a constant focus on their Judaism and when they lost the election, it would be blamed on Anti Semitism .
When Obama loses of course it will be blamed on racism(which will be a major component forhis loss)
Obama is America’s only hope for the future. The damage done by Bush/Cheney/Rice et al will take a wise and insightful leader like Obama to overcome.
We have seen history in the making with Obama’s nomination and I predict this to continue with Obama becoming the country’s 1st black president.
Go Democrats!
@Anthony
Everyone has vices, even Hillary and McCain
Let’s face a bit of reality: BOTH the Republicans AND Democrats are wholly owned subsidaries of Multi-national corporations. Nothing much will change with EITHER candidate in regard to the US Imperialism now encompassing the entire globe. The Democrats are as much to blame for rendition, the Military Commissions act, the PATRIOT Act, NAFTA, CAFTA, WTO and most recently giving US telecoms immunity to spy on US citizens. The Dems have not done ANYTHING to slow down the occupation in Iraq and have left the open wound of Afghanistan fester for over seven years. Obama has even said on Meet the Press “And so my job as the next commander in chief is going to be to make a decision what is the right war to fight, and, and how do we fight it? ”
Not much “hope” that anything much will “change” in regard to the next administration, regardless, unless it’s Ralph Nader.
imbillorightsmanandiapprovethismessage in CLE OH USA
listening on WCPN 90.3 FM
A true breaking down of prejudice would be the nomination of a president who could say he was agnostic or atheist- I can’t see that happening!!!
No matter who will be elected, the one who can united democrats to win the final presidential election is the right choice. Given the current situation, the new VP partner Biden and Clintons are standing with Obama, trying to unite democrats and the whole US nationals, no matter colours and races, it is a good sign of democrats even the nation. Though, the division and hurt caused by the competition of Hillary Collinton and Obama is remained at a level still, but as a half-Black, half-white, american grown Obama give a lot of people a new feeling and new hope, which is really exciting the US people even the world. Even before, as a foreigner and oriental person living in european culture’s Australia, I feel Hillary Clliton is a better representative of the main white culture, and prefer her to win. However, the final nomination of Obama is still much attractive to us, in Australia, in China and in Japan, etc.
As person of Indian origin, I am scared of Obama getting elected to Presidency. He has been negative about Indians as they supported Hillary in large numbers.
Bordering on being labelled racist, as person of Indian origin we have been on the receieving end of the Black power, Eventhough we have supported them in their struggle all throughout the world. For e.g. S. Africa, Kenya, Uganda. Something closer to home happened in 1992 roits of LA , when Asian business were specifically targetted by roiters.
After 8 years that has seen two “unfriendly to America” powers feel the need to step up their pursuit of nuclear technology. WE saw a president land on the deck of an aircraft carrier and declared a war that is still going on 5 years later, was “mission accomplished. We have seen the rise in both number and popularity of the extremist organizations that have sought to do us harm. We have seen overbearing reactions that should have been handled discretely by our intelligence organization. The Current administration with the consent of the republican held legislation allowed them to gain notoriety.
We have seen “the ownership society” lead to hundreds of thousands of foreclosures. We have seen “trickle down economics” lead to investment in foreign economies and not our own. We have seen “no child left behind”, result in the greatest dropout rate on record. We have seen the dollar plummet to below the Canadian dollar for the first time ever. WE have unemployment reach levels not seen since the Sr. Bush administration. We have seen nothing but economic destruction take place under the policies provided by the first 6 years.
We have seen corruption rampid. An outed secret agent, hiring irregularity of judges, election fraud, and torture camps that were hidden just to name a few.
These are just a few of the travesties bestowed by 8 years of republican rule. Why would any god fearing American even consider electing another republican.
2 Shirley Lutzky
Obama has almost no experience. Despite being in Harvard Law School he produced nothing of scholarship.
In Illinois he became famous for getting his opponents disqualified.
In US Congress he has done nothing as he has not been there but for 143 days.
He stands for NOTHING and cannot speak off script. What substance does he have? Tell me SPECIFICALLY what he will do?
He is the “feel good” candidate and cheerleader for a “nanny” government for people who want to be taken care of rather then achieving for themselves.
To me he is a ZERO.
To the British person who said he supports Obama, I presume It’s got a lot to do about race, as Obama shares the same political views of many other democrats. If it’s that big of a deal, why doesn’t the UK have a black prime minister? Has any black in the UK ever been the leader of a major political party such as labour or the conservative party?
The UK person that wants the right to vote for Obama I also assume he will pay taxes to America as well.
Since Obama was chosen why wasn’t Hillary picked? Was it because most Americans couldn’t see through Obama?
Like him or hate him, he is the candidate. Since Hillary was treated so badly, vote for McCain or don’t vote. I think that is a suitable solution and convince everyone else that Obama is wrong, so McCain will get elected. Then Hillary will try again in 2012, against a republican incumbant.
I can’t stand Hillary but if she was the candidate I would support her. If Obama is so horrible what was W., peaches and cream? I am going to miss W. being in Washington, he brought humor to DC.
@ Will Rhodes
LOL–please they can’t put McCain on TV around the clock, because it will disinflate their hot air balloon that the has the experience to lead US. What good is experience when the “poor” man can’t remember how many house he has, thinks a rich person is someone who makes more than 5 million a year, and that the economy is doing well.
@ Tom D Ford
I don’t know about president, but Kucinich is a good guy. He said what others are afraid to. He is so entertaining.
I think Obama is definitely the right candidate, but he will have a hard time getting elected. He would be the first black person as a president and seeing his image in a row with all his white predecessors will be hard to imagine for a lot of voters, even though Hollywood started familiarize people with this image lately.
@ Angela
The reasons that Hillary lost:
-Racist Blacks
-Marketing
-Dumb youth
-Florida
-Michigan
Those are the reasons off the top of my head.
-Anthony, LA, CA
re: living abroad
That sounds rather elitist, so say that living abroad is something that’s good and rare and more should have it, and he’s the first in a while to have lived abroad.. Let’s not forget that Mccain was born in Panama. So I presume he “lived abroad” as well…
I think Obama is definitely the right candidate, but he will have a hard time getting elected. He would be the first black person as a president and seeing his image in a row with all his white predecessors will be hard to imagine for a lot of voters, even though Hollywood started to familiarize people with this image lately.
If he had half the experience that McCain or Clinton has, I’d love him!
But he’s a fresh teenager in the Mature Political World encompassing the entire planet!
Alan in Arizona
The U.S.A., not just “America,” no longer exists. It ceased to exist when Supreme Court judges, in a coup d’etat, pronounced George Bush would win the White House. Since then, many of us have simply avoided the political sphere, or have been ridiculed for choosing Nader or someone who vowed to bring back our Constitution. Beyond that, it does matter a bloody bit who inhabits the White House. We are officially a kleptocracy and no ‘candidate’ of the major party represents the people. Now I know this won’t register a blip with you folks, but you would be amazed how many people feel this way.
Here is my issue with Mr Obama. He has demanded ads pulled from tv and radio because they offended him. His party last night stopped the delegate vote without counting all votes.
His party wants to eliminate talk radio.
He wants to penalize corporations for making to much profit
He wants to enlarge unions.
All very remenecent of the beginning of communism.
@Jessica,
LOL – You ever get the impression that McCain is really a reincarnation of Herbert Hoover with his views and background?
No. Barack Obama exploited the archane rules of the democratic party nomination process. If deligates were chosen in the same way that the electoral college is chosen, Clinton would have won on super Tuesday and we would not be seeing such a close race in the polls right now.
Gloria Geiser (“geyser”)
Portlant Or
My Husband is American, living here in the UK, and his comment on watching Michelle Obama’s speech was
‘It’s so corny, I think i might have to vote for McCain’
She said nothing of note. It was all about loving her husband, her country etc. Nothing of real import to the people voting.
The American elections are too based on personality. If you look at Hilliary and Obama’s voting records in the senate they are very close to each other. Policies and ideas need to be given more air time, or it just puts people off entirely.
I have no idea what Obama stands for other than getting out of Iraq and ‘change’ (whatever that means – isn’t everything changing all the time?). My husband, who has a vote, feels the same.
Emma
@Steve
Why does race matter? If he is elected or not, it will not be based solely on race. It is nice that there is a candidate that has come this far that is black but other countries have had females nut we haven’t. You place way too much emphasis on race.
I don’t believe Obama will “heal the world” overnight, as your commentator put it. I *do* believe he will stop executive endorsement of torture, show respect for civil liberties, and be willing to engage in diplomacy. John McCain, like George W. Bush, will do none of these things. Your commentator mistakes enthusiasm for blind idealism. As a Democrat, I am a pragmatist.
A true breaking down of prejudice would be the nomination of a president who could say he was agnostic or atheist- I can’t see that happening!!!
No. Barack Obama exploited the arcane rules of the democratic party nomination process. If deligates were chosen in the same way that the electoral college is chosen, Clinton would have won on super Tuesday and we would not be seeing such a close race in the polls right now.
Gloria Geiser (“geyser”)
Portland Or
(I correct typos)
Hillary and Barak have different strengths. I ended up supporting Barak because I believe the country needs a charismatic and popular leader who can undo decades of Republican devisiveness. Hillary may have made a good president, but she would never have been charismatic and popular.
I find it interesting that Republicans (I’m Independant as I don’t truyst any party) like to look back at history to claim their success but Democrats are talking change which means a new and hopefully better direction. As with President Clinton, we won’t be able to judge his term until its completed after his victory over the past living Republicans that are afraid to let the lower & middle classes an opportunity to claim their lives back. Thanks for free thinking politicians, because they’re aren’t many, and we can’t afford another admisnistration with the same old ‘experienced’ politicians.
Living abroad does not qualify at all. this is an AMERICAN President to govern America.
We do not want a European as President we want an American. Europe has shown that it has timid policies and an almost bankrupt socialist economy.
Hi, there
No matter who will be elected, the one who can united democrats to win the final presidential election is the right choice. Obama is remained at a level still, but as a half-Black, half-white, American grown Obama give a lot of people a new feeling and new hope, which is really exciting the US people even the world. Even before, as a foreigner and oriental person living in European culture’s Australia, I feel Hillary Clinton is a better representative of the main white culture, and prefer her to win. However, the final nomination of Obama is still much attractive to us, in Australia, in China and in Japan, etc.
Folks, it’s called an Administration for a good reason, it’s collective reasoning. Obama has more than sufficient intellectual chops to handle any on-the-job training he may need.
The most important point though is that the US is a democracy based on checks-and-balances. Since the Reagan Administration it has been a conscious strategy of the Republicans to load the Judiciary with right-wing ideologues. Bush even went so far as to poison the Justice Department with politically screened career bureaucrats.
Look what has happened with the Bush appointed Chief Justice Roberts’ Supreme Court – it’s a nightmare. Our Constitution simply can’t stand one more Republican administration bent on finishing the job of dismantling the impartiality of our third branch of government.
It’s not the economy, IT”S THE SUPREME COURT, STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Greg Twain
Portland, OR, USA
I am a 25 year old male working in Columbus Ohio who is relatively undecided. My main qualm with the Obama camp is the relative lack of substance that their candidate has displayed. No one seems to be able to tell me what he’s done in the senate (other than taking part in framing a comprehensive ethics bill and his impressive community service resume within Illinois). I want and need more than rhetoric and speeches and visual excitment. What will he do? He can captivate an audience, but then again so can Ozzy Osbourne.
At this point I’m leaning more towards McCain, especially since reading the latest update of economic growth in the US (appx 3.3% growth). Maybe Bush’s tax policies don’t look so bad anymore considering the effects of such plans are not felt until years after their implementation. I also tend to agree with your guest who puts the interests of Americans above all other sovereign nations. This is how the world works. Brown works for his British Constituency as Zapatero works for his Spanish Consituency as V. Putin and Medvedev work their Russian constituency. Why should Americans be subjected to a different standard of governance? We can’t forget that we are Americans, and it shouldn’t be shameful to be proud of that. We should expect our elected officials to see to our interest’s first thereby setting an example for other, less developed democracies. This is how all people of all nations expect to be governed within their country.
Tommy B
For those on air right now with the oppinion that living overseas can help Obamas world veiw. Lets just remember he was young and did most of his informative years here in the USA. You all also have a poor veiw on your fellow Americans here in the USA. I have been overseas and I still feel our domastic issues also have to be addressed first and the world after that.
God, listening to how rude the liberals in the audience are is sickening. So rude, cannot stand hearing other people’s opinions, they interrupt. And mostly, just so bitter.
Nobody studies the presidency in college. All this talk of experience is bull. Obama is articulate, charming, smooth and BLACK and some people just can’t handle that. You can’t stop change when the time comes and this is Obama’s time.
I am shocked at the Democratic party. I have been a registered Democrat my entire life and I will be voting Republican for the first time. I do not want to live in a socialist/communist society. I am a lower middle class, 35 year old female and I have seen the Democratic party get closer and closer to socialism. It is not the governments jobs to take care of my personal life. The government cannot take care of their own budget, why do I want them to be in charge of my health care. I do not believe that other countries with government run health care can say they have great care. Otherwise, why would foreigners come here to get health care.
PS We do not negotiate with terrorist!!!!!
Thank you,
Tammie W
I can’t wait till Obama takes over, then the Middle East will accept Israel, Iran will drop all Nuclear ambitions, and gas will be 1.89 a gallon (please insert sarcastic face here).
-Anthony, LA, CA
Geez…what garbage “If we all talk all will be sweetness and light”. Does he live in Fantasyland?
You cannot talk to an Iran that wants Israel destroyed
Whenever I have listened to Mr. Obama speak, I have been impressed with the thoughtfulness (and empathy) that he has clearly put in to each of the issues he addresses. As someone who has had the benefit of being an ex-pat in Germany for four years in the ‘80’s, I appreciate politicians who don’t just look for short-term, ‘band-aid’ solutions which would suit only Americans. He is far-reaching and visionary in his approach, yet I do believe he will prove he has a practical nature. As one who now works with inner-city youth I believe that on a symbolic level, he will be an inspiration to African-American males if elected and I suspect we will see a statistically significant reduction in drug abuse and crime in our cities.
Brenda D
@Anthony
The racist blacks probably only voted because Obama was running, if not they would not have voted anyways. There were just as many women that voted for Hillary because she was a women, why don’t you focus on that. The blacks make up such a small percentage. Most women voted for Clinton because she was a woman, does that matter. Or only the racist blacks because so many voted for Obama because there was a huge difference in their policies. Their policies were very similar, it came down to personalities. I am offended that so many people think that blacks can’t think on their own. We are not all the same. Plus their is a small percentage of racist blacks compared to racist whites. Many of Hillary’s supporters were black.
Of course Obama will do a great job. look at what we have had the past 8 years. anyone could do better than bush. what kind of experience did bush have? i can not help to think that what underlies ALL of this, oh what has he done? he is about nothing is just code words for, “he’s black !” i am sorry you get any rich white corporate white man who’s only experience is knowing the “right” i used to be for Hillary until i found out she is just as evil as the republicans and would do anything to win.
World Have your Say. Don’t act as a mouthpiece for the Republican Fox Network propaganda machine. Obama has a vision of a better America. He will not do the things the Republican have done such as starting wars without good reason, driving up the deficit to terrifying levels, severing friendships and alliances, endangering the US by acting unilaterally in the world, and trashing our economy. McCain supported Bush in all those emabrrassing mistakes. Obama has as much experience as Bill Clinton in 1992, which is plenty. More so Obama has intelligence and dignity. Obama is the right person for the United States presidency.
That people think Obama is DC outsider, and that he won’t become an insider, shows me how naive people really are. That he is even a politician makes him part of the problem. We elect these people that serve their own interests first. Obama is no different than any other politician, the ones you complain about, becuase he WANTS to be in officer. Sure, his particular views, what he says might be different, but they’re all the same. That people don’t see this truly scares me. Remember Bush would say he was a DC outsider as well ? A uniter not a divider? He’s still a politician, meaning he’s inherently unqualified to be president.
Wow, as a young American residing in London, I’m quite disgusted by the ageism of the last person. ‘OId person’, really?
I’m twitching with embarrassment.
People talk about him not having foreign policy experience. What about President Bush?
Bob
Lynnwood WA USA
@ Angela in WA
LOL— towards the end, I was leaning more towards Hillary, thanks to the media’s sexism. It’s all moot, now. We have spoken, voted and now have a leader of our party. As you stated, I support Obama.
@Tommy B,
If you want to see what Obama has accomplished, please research the Great Lakes Compact. You will see that he is quite a skilled statesman once you learn at it.
How is someone in the UK qualified to comment on the state of the US economy, especially the GDP reports that came out today? How are you basing this opinion? Sure, things aren’t perfect, but are they ever? And is it Bush’s fault that MORONS, complete and TOTAL MORONS bought more house than they could afford?
@ Steve
That sounds rather elitist, so say that living abroad is something that’s good and rare and more should have it, and he’s the first in a while to have lived abroad.. Let’s not forget that Mccain was born in Panama. So I presume he “lived abroad” as well…
I have to say I sometimes have to disagree with you but not here! I jumped back on to enter a blog before I read your missage. You stated it better then I did.
They did indeed pick a person—or at least a little more then half did. Although of course the voters of two states didn’t get the chance to do so, in what I consider to be a fair and equitable way. My primary objection is on those grounds that the process was violated. Perhaps, because the Democrats, wanted to win so badly, that they valued the appearance of unity over the fairness of the process. Justice is as important as winning.
Now we see this same desire to win at-all-costs played out through the entire Democratic convention. They have all become liars: Mr. Clinton, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Obama, et al. What was the fight for? How could it have had any substance? If now everyone is flattering everyone else? What this means: it wasn’t about substance. It was an ego contest.
The president does not make his decisions in isolation. There is a whole cabinet, there is a congress, there is more to reducing this question all down to one person. However, it is important to trust the judgment of that person, their leadership ability, their ability to motivate and their organizational skills. I think it is clear from the campaign alone that Mr. Obama has those skills. Look at the people he surrounds himself by.
“America doesn’t need a soldier, but a wise leader”. To the person who read that, did you hear what Biden said just yesterday? Very bellicose words about Russia, saying that Russia must be held accountable and the US must support Georgia. That sounds like fighting words, doesn’t it?
I think people fail to realize Barack is a politician. He plays the game the same as any other politician, thinking he is going to be this huge change is really expecting to much. I’m willing to give him a try, but I believe Hilary was a better choice for this election.
Barack lived in another country when he was a child, yes, but he only just this year made trips to the middle east and other parts of the world.
AND STOP SPEAKING OVER EACH OTHER!
As as 56 year old man and one who has experienced many presidential elections, I am not surprised at the tenor of the “World Have Your Say” segment. It is quite partisan in its wording. Why is the efficacy of a possible Barak Obama presidency being scrutinized? Why not a segment entitled “Did the Republicans pick the right candidate?” or “Is John McCain competant enough to handle the presidency in the 21st century?” or “John McCain: Experience or the Wrong Way”?
The focus of this campaign on Barak Obama is a Republican strategy. His nomination was in direct response the America’s domestic and foreign policy disasters that John McCain helped shaped and still advocates. The United States and the world are in much worse shape than what it was 8 years ago and this can be directly placed on the shoulders of 8 years of Bush/McCain leadership. Who will begin the process of clearing up this mess should be the topic of this discussion. These are not liberal vs conservative topics. This is the wrong way of the past 8 years vs a new way that can help us get out of this mess.
Experience does not equal wisdom. And McCain is utterly lacking in wisdom.
If Obama is ambitious in wanting to be President, then what about McCain? He ran 8 years ago and lost, and now here he is again, and has changed all his views on critical issues just to please his party and win the nomination. Talk about blind ambition!
I ask, if the race had been between clinton and j. Edwards and edwards had won,would this have caused a split within the democratic party? Would there have been 18 million democrats saying i’m not going to vote or i’m going to vote for the republicans? I wonder… What this seems to be about is whether the us. Are ready for a black president.
Hi,
Firstly, I wonder if your question is phrased correctly. It’s sounds negative !
btw,
Iran’s President Did Not Say “Israel must be wiped off the map”
Please do not spread USA – Neocon propoganda.
Refer to article here :
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16218.htm
01/18/07 “Information Clearing House” — — Across the world, a dangerous rumor has spread that could have catastrophic implications. According to legend, Iran’s President has threatened to destroy Israel, or, to quote the misquote, “Israel must be wiped off the map”. Contrary to popular belief, this statement was never made, as this article will prove.
BACKGROUND:
On Tuesday, October 25th, 2005 at the Ministry of Interior conference hall in Tehran, newly elected Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivered a speech at a program, reportedly attended by thousands, titled “The World Without Zionism”. Large posters surrounding him displayed this title prominently in English, obviously for the benefit of the international press. Below the poster’s title was a slick graphic depicting an hour glass containing planet Earth at its top. Two small round orbs representing the United States and Israel are shown falling through the hour glass’ narrow neck and crashing to the bottom.
Before we get to the infamous remark, it’s important to note that the “quote” in question was itself a quote— they are the words of the late Ayatollah Khomeini, the father of the Islamic Revolution. Although he quoted Khomeini to affirm his own position on Zionism, the actual words belong to Khomeini and not Ahmadinejad. Thus, Ahmadinejad has essentially been credited (or blamed) for a quote that is not only unoriginal, but represents a viewpoint already in place well before he ever took office.
THE ACTUAL QUOTE:
So what did Ahmadinejad actually say? To quote his exact words in farsi: “Imam ghoft een rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods bayad az safheh-ye ruzgar mahv shavad.”
That passage will mean nothing to most people, but one word might ring a bell: rezhim-e. It is the word “Regime”, pronounced just like the English word with an extra “eh” sound at the end. Ahmadinejad did not refer to Israel the country or Israel the land mass, but the Israeli regime. This is a vastly significant distinction, as one cannot wipe a regime off the map. Ahmadinejad does not even refer to Israel by name, he instead uses the specific phrase “rezhim-e ishghalgar-e qods” (regime occupying Jerusalem).
So this raises the question.. what exactly did he want “wiped from the map”? The answer is: nothing. That’s because the word “map” was never used. The Persian word for map, “nagsheh”, is not contained anywhere in his original farsi quote, or, for that matter, anywhere in his entire speech. Nor was the western phrase “wipe out” ever said. Yet we are led to believe that Iran’s President threatened to “wipe Israel off the map”, despite never having uttered the words “map”, “wipe out” or even “Israel”.
more :
Refer to :
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16218.htm
Thanks
It’s about time America shed it’s violent and disturbed past and elect a realistic reflection of America’s future
Glen Donawa
It was mentioned by European US Dems that Barack’s strong showing there isn’t a negative here in the US.
Recently I heard a Republican state, “Barack would have us drive small cars, turn down the heat and live like Europeans!” Somehow, the Republicans seem to think that the European lifestyle is wrong.
McCain was near the last in his class at the US Naval Academy and I suspect that the only reason he got in was because his father was a Navy Admiral and pulled strings to get him in.
@ Rene
I know right, saying “old dude” is embarrassing!!! I hope people don’t think ALL Americans are like these people fighting and being rude like kids, interupting every 4 seconds!!!
-Anthony, LA, CA
I think it’s a little ridiculous to think that any candidate will have all the knowledge necessary to run our country – that’s why the President has a cabinet that can advise him. I think that Barack Obama is really intelligent, would learn fast and would have the good judgement to make the right choices. I don’t think the same can be said for John McCain.
Please tell the moron to shut it with his 10 year old has as much foreign experience as Barack, that is a pathetic point to make.
@ Anthony
I will reserve judgment, but these people are obsessed about politics and politicians, meaning they are like the politicians they support. Only what they want matters. You probably know my views on politicians, so put that together with this, and I’m sure you’ll see how it’s true.
One world govt. is an other veiled anti Semitic statement like world banking conspiracy.
The Progressive movement in the states, visible across the blogosphere, has basically two main problems: Bush; Israel. Bush must be held accountable and Israel must be defunded. Without those two things happening, there will be no peace or justice ever again.
I am an avid listener of World Have Your Say, and I have to say that I am extremely disappointed with today’s display of juvenile behavior. Please allow each other to complete points and statements as everyone has the right to Have Their Say, before disputing opinions are expressed.
How can that caller even equate being a prisoner of war as experience abroad? I am an undecided voter but I know that if nothing else a traumatic experience like that will actually harden an individual against logic and reason.
And saying a 5 yr old has more experience is just irrelevant and silly.
Jeremiah Wright was RIGHT about a bunch of the things he said.
Can somebody tell me what the skill set is that makes one good at solving foriegn problems.
A conflict between two other nations pops up. What is the first step a president is going to need to do?
Barack has just as much experience as anyone when it comes to foreign experience, I am tired of the critics state that is a knock on Barack. Wake up people, the man is an intellectual human being unlike the donkey that is currently in the White House. McCain is an extension of that donkey and will further ruin this country and many others as well. Its time for a CHANGE!
LOL, the sinner casting the first stone. What is the saying about glass houses?
I find hypocritical, close minded, racist, GOPers far more rude and insulting than zealous young people standing up for something they believe in. If this means they must interrupt another speaker to do so, then keep it up.
Who wants four more years of failed international policy as represented by McCain’s generation ? Democrats have picked a man wise enough and experienced enough to reject old, failed policy and forge new alliances and coalitions that will address challenges with a fresh approach.
Well, there we have it. If Obama doesn’t win, it’s because he’s black. Funny thing is, he would never have gotten as far as he did if he were white.
Just bitterness, accussations, rudeness, etc from the left.
I have always been around racist people all my life and it doesn’t matter. Jeremiah Wright is not Obama. Clinton also met Wright.
Can people quit speaking over others! Get your emotions in check and have an objective debate!
I want someone who is smart and has good judgment
Who has respect for the constitution, understands climate change and the need for universal health care. Mccain isn’t that person
Mccain is a damn the torpedos full speed ahead – bomb bomb bom bomb bomb iran kinda guy
Mccain has hired bush’s election team – that says something about MccCain that’s not good.
As Hillary said we cannot afford 4 more years of the last eight years.
Sue In San Francisco
Please please please tell Jenelle to shut her pie hole, she really is unfair and anoying and making Americans look…. well, you can all see for yourselves.
-Anthony, LA, CA
Do you know how many people have said bad stuff about America, Wright is not the first person.
I am on trying to understand what is going on because all the people are talking over eachohter. How Rude.
Some of the Republicans who have chosen to call in and attack, not comment on, Obama sound scared – what are they so afraid of I wonder.
Rich
Toronto
Hi!
Doesn’t matter if he is wrong or wright person and even who exectly will be elected. Current USA Administration is going to bluff people with Russian and so on threats, lay US under international obligation (reg. missiles in Poland etc.) and make the country sunk into the mire of hysteria. Any way new US president is just going to muckrake. Forget about your domestics, they make you forget anyhow.
It’s still anouhgf time up to Novemeber.
Good luck.
If Americans want to restore glory , greatness and global admiration to America, they must not miss Obama. Emeka(Tel-aviv)
Barack is the wrong candidate. A crowd pleaser, and an entertainer, but not a decision maker. AMERICA has lost its chance for a real leader. HILARY CLINTON. Nitya, Trinidad.
Good judgment of people to have surrounding you and offering advice… Donald Rumsfeld? Great choice there.
Jerimiah Wright was exactly right!
Tammie W August 28, 2008 at 6:44 pm
So you are afraid of the word “socialism” like so many others here [America]. Well, better not drop a letter in the post, let your kids go to public school, use the public library or heaven forbid, call the police if someone breaks into your house. These systems are fundamentally socialistic – they are for the people of the community and guess what your paying for them, just as you would for a socialized health care system.
Carol, your generation has created the ill will and failed foreign policy that has brought us to thiis point. If you are concerned abouit Obama’s associates why aren’t you just as concerned with McCain. His associates include holocaust deniers and folks who seek to curtail a woman’s right to choose.
it is very very insulting to think that Obama does not have the ability to hear something he does not like no matter how much he likes the person saying it and dismiss it. when JFK ran they said is the POPE going to be running our country. like i said it is because “he is black.”
@ Rich
I don’t know where you got that from. If anything the democrats sounded scared, and bitter, and wouldn’t be respectful enough to let someone finish their comment before interrupting, then acting all bitter about someone expressing their views.
Iran’s President Did Not Say “Israel must be wiped off the map”
Please do not spread USA – Neocon propoganda.
Refer to article here :
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article16218.htm
01/18/07 “Information Clearing House” — — Across the world, a dangerous rumor has spread that could have catastrophic implications.
Unlike many people here, I have read Obama’s book. One of his largest points he makes his the greatest strength that I think a president can and should have: empathy. Obama grew up with a mother that constantly asked him, “How would that make YOU feel?” Growing up with this sense of empathy has allowed him to be able to put himself in the shoes of the members of his community and now members of his state, and, God willing, members of his country, and understand how they feel to have their homes lost, their jobs shipped overseas, and otherwise be completely rejected and forgotten. John McCain, I can safely say, has never felt empathy for those beneath him. If he did, he would, as someone who was tortured for 5 and a half years, he would have fought against the Bush administration and their belief in torture. I want a President that can empathize with those separate from him, no matter their lot in life. That President will be Barack Obama, and we will all be the better for it.
To the caller from Cypress.
How wonderfully arrogant and ignorant a position you have. You dictate Obama for the US but know nothing about him. You then postulate thet the Russians will withdraw from Georgia after murdering thousands, looting banks, destroying infrastructure.
What is going to make them do that? NOTHING except a strong response from the West.
You are driven by fear and that is why you love Obama. those of us who think rationally understand Obama is an empty suit but suited to Europe as that is what you prefer.
Barack Obama is an exceptional person, multi-dimensional, and highly intelligent. Both he and his wife, Michelle Obama, are going to be wonderful leading this country. That’s it, simply said. (To NOT have him as our next president of the United States of America raises my anxiety level. Seriously.)
“I find hypocritical, close minded, racist, GOPers far more rude and insulting than zealous young people standing up for something they believe in.”
What was racist or closed minded about that GOP comments? Becuase they differed than your opinion, they must therefore be racist and closed minded? I think that reflects on YOU, and not them.
GREAT WHYS!! The best ever so far!! Great!!
I just want to say that we need a change and that means we need to change EVERYTHING that is the same in this country. We need to get the oldies out of the office because they carry with them memories of yesteryear that is poisoning our country.
America needs a fresh start. Obama is the way.
Obama is the absolute right candidate for the Democrats & there’s no problem with the issue of his experience. His educated enough & well sane, he can surely deliver the goal for Americans. Mohamed Foday, Sierra Leonean, Middle East.
During elections I have always heard “Do you want to puppet on the Right or the Puppet on the Left.” This is the first election in my life time (I’m 24) that the Left isn’t offering a Puppet. Obama is the best choice because he offers hope to all the people who feel like they have been screwed by Bush’s version of the Free world.
Kyle in Akron, Ohio
@ Michelle
“One of his largest points he makes his the greatest strength that I think a president can and should have: empathy.”
Obama is a politician, by nature is narcissistic. Narcissistic people can feel no empathy. They can act that way, but it’s not genuine. How can he not be narcissistic? Writing books about yourself? My lord. I don’t care if I saved the world, i wouldn’t pat myself on the back by writing an autobiography. They are incapable of feeling for anything but them selves. He, like all other politicians has narcissistic personality disorder, which is closely related to being a sociopath. There is no “empathy” at all there.
The Idea that Obama surrounded himself with the Rev. was due to his curcumstances as a community leader in that part of chicago has never been brought up, this issue stinks of racism.
WHYS let the discussion drift, could use better “crowd control.”
But to the original issue, (…wrong person…), Hillary was the wrong person for all her baggage, Bill in particular. As with Jane Fonda (never forgive, never forget), I can’t forgive Bill’s taking advantage of intern Monica, or his pardoning of Marc Rich ($48M tax evasion.)
Mr. Obama is a fresh, inspiring start and hope for America.
The guest who was a democrat and acted completely rude by interrupting and not allowing people to finish their thoughts was down right rude. I hope people won’t automatically associated all with democratic beliefs [in America] with being as selfish and close-minded as she was.
@ Richard Tapia
Obama cannot sit in the filth of Rev Wright for 20 years and stand up clean. Michelle Obama made that clear.
@ AZ
Sorry, try again.
@ Arablak:
You’re not alone.
Frankly, at the very high risk of sounding like a twit, I think it comes down to Americans and how they view politics.
The poor moderator had such a tough time getting these people to calm down and stop talking past one another, when they weren’t yelling.
A few weeks ago ‘World Have Your Say’ had an even more touchy debate about rape. There was tension, definitely, but nowhere near the hysteria I heard today. Can you believe it, less hysteria despite some of the women commentators being questioned about their role in their own rapes–and still they managed to keep a dignified tone.
Today’s debate was embarrassing indeen. No, it was cringe worthy.
It reminds me of a Question Time (BBC) episode that took place in Miami, in the run-up to the 2004 elections. Compared to the usually civil and, dare I say probing tone, you had the audience shouting and the panel members saying the stupidest things.
I felt bad for poor David Dimbleby trying to get the Americans in the room to pipe down.
@ Julie P
LOL – Herbert Hoover, excellent comparison. I’m going to use it.
@ WHYS
This is what happens when Obama gets young people passionate about politics. They don’t play by the rules and it’s a whole other game. The GOP can’t stop these young people. The media can’t accuratly poll them. Adults definitely cannot diminish the power they hold. They will come out and vote for Obama.
and “MCSAME” is a politician as well so he is a narcissist who changes his positions with the wind does whatever rove tells him and is a mean man who wants to destroy this country like the present administration.
Obama is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and his socialist agenda will be exposed as this election unfolds.
@ Rene
It’s not because they are american, but because they are obsessed with politics, which makes, them, well, suffering from mental maladies. The only people sicker than politicians are the fans of politicians. This is why everyone was rather rude, disrespectful, and completely intolerant of the opinions of others, all sorts of accusations, cheap shots, etc. They are ill like the politicians they support.
@Alexis
Hurteling insults that if you break them down into context have no real meaning and no merit is the reason I got turned off from the Republican party in ’03. The only thing you ever hear about Obama are “slogans” and publicity stunts. Nobody can say, “he supported “x” and “y” was the negative outcome.”
McCain supported the Iraq invasion. The outcome is obvious. McCain used to not support the Bush tax cuts. He now does. The result of them has been a slowing of economic flow leading to a need to “stimulate” it. McCain introduced the idea of a “gas tax holiday” that all economist agree would have caused a 40 cent increase in gas over the long haul. Many more difficult to explain policies have been supported by McCain that have went on to contribute tou the US overall economic weakness.
.
It’s so demoralizing to hear so many True Believers. We’re talking about politicians here, everyone. Let’s keep a lid on the this adulation. What happened to critical thinking? I think this celebrity-worship atmosphere is what is hurting the Obama campaign more than anything else.
The level of strident evangelism on the radio program was quite off-putting. And no, I’m not at all in the McCain camp.
As to what a poltician writes in his book, huh? Wouldn’t anyone expect a poltician to write that he is wonderful, in his own book?
During elections I have always heard “Do you want to puppet on the Right or the Puppet on the Left.” This is the first election in my life time (I’m 24) that the Left isn’t offering a Puppet. Obama is the best choice because he offers hope to all the people who feel like they have been screwed by Bush’s version of the Free world.
@ Steve
1) It’s Michael, not Michelle.
2) By your logic, all politicians are selfish narcissists and therefore unilaterally unqualified to be leaders? I’m plenty cynical, but, I’m sorry, that’s just too much for me.
I love that you say you would save the world and wouldn’t “pat yourself on the back” by writing an autobiography. Obama is just as ambitious as most politicians, I’ll agree. You don’t become a politician without being ambitious, and yes, elitist and narcissistic. But, I have to ask, what’s your solution? Find the most humble person in the world and make them lead the world?
@ Fae Marie
I agree!
@ WHYS
Great show. It was very entertaining. It showed how much is at stake in this debate and to see how young dems abroad feel this passionate.
Hope the debate continues, I’m off shortly to celebrate all evening with all the dems here as we cheer and watch Obama accept the nomination.
@ steve
I know you hate a lot of politicians, it would be funny if you ended up president someday, HAHAHA, lol!!!
-Anthony, LA, CA
People who think Obama appears shallow and “all talks”, no substance, should first read his books, then understand his simple vision, e.g., “ordinary people can do extraordinary things; basic needs considered, there are more commonalities than differences”. This is not political vision, but people-centered, social vision. All other values: economic, political, military, etc., evolved from that.
His exposure to the world outside US is not the short-duration touristy confined-to-camp or office type. He lived as locals. People who appear to distrust his leadership are probably blue-collar, less-educated, live in the Past, afraid, and pardon me, subconsciously-racists. It is clear from the way they talked and wrote. If there is one weakness in Obama as President, it could be that he is too idealistic to be a politican who has to change within the old system in 100 days, or 4 years. American people are not well-known for patience.
@ Anthony
The 13th amendment forbids forced servitude. The only way I would ever be in politics is at gunpoint.
Yes, many women voted for Clinton because she is a woman. Yes, many blacks voted for Obama because he is black. But, YES, many whites also voted for Obama, for the prevailing reason that he was black and they equated the color of his skin with change. Although, no whites admit they voted for Obama because he was black—they always make the claim they voted based on substance. Are whites the only group that votes on substance? Unlikely, it seems more likely they also didn’t vote on substance.
So—either whites are the least racist group in the country and blacks are possibly the most racist, or some of the groups are liars, or all of the groups are liars.
Obama is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and his socialist agenda will be exposed as this election unfolds. The youth and liberal vote is not enough to win the general election and the totally inept leadership in the Democratic controlled House and Senate will ensure a McCain victory. Obama, Pelosi, and Reed, three strikes and your out!
Today’s question was relevant during the primaries. today, it’s moot. Barack Obama is our candidate. I’m an Obama supporter, a nearly 70 year-old, long-married, white woman — and grandmother. In a very few months, Barack Obama demonstrated tremendous leadership, assembling a remarkable organization that, for the most part, stayed on message and succeeded by employing a 50-state strategy–which, by the way, is a legacy of Howard Dean’s 2004 campaign. He also demonstrated wisdom in choosing Joe Biden for his running mate. While the Republicans’ spin cannot be ignored, their assessment is intended to undermine an Obama win in November. In contrast, John McCain, who I believe is a fear- and warmonger, proposes policies that are worse than the past nearly 8 years of George W. Bush. I’ve lived long enough to know it takes more than a single leader to change the direction of the country. There’s no doubt, though, a President Obama is the leader to help return our country to Constitutional government and recover our role as a moral leader in the world.
As a Libertarian, I don’t feel that Obama is the right man for president. But I really think that it is important for people to support candidates that are the best candidate not who can win. If parties nominate only “winners” we will never improve. So I hope the question is about the man and his policies and abilities and not if he can win.
The Idea that Obama surrounded himself with the Rev. was due to his curcumstances as a community leader in that part of chicago has never been brought up, this issue stinks of racism.
@Dan
People don’t understand that growing up in certain enviroments, certain things are common. He was around when there were a lot of racial tensions in Chicago and in the US. When you are aound that mentality, you talk about it. Most blacks did not see the gov’t being concerned with issues that affect them. Affrimative action is one little thing that people continously bring up. However the way the laws are, it is easier for a black kid to go to jail for the same crime a white kid did and went free. When you see that all the time, you don’t think the US is as good as other think it is. I know so many white kids that got in trouble for drug charges and their cases just went away. I never saw that with a white kid. most people like to pretend that their are not racial tensions and get updet when someone talks about them. Wright talked about the tensions, in a way that his congregation would understand. Until you have seen and went through some of the things many blacks have gone through, especially during Jim Crow, you will never understand. Wright’s problem is that he did not focus on the future, instead he focused on the past to encourage his members. I think some of the stuff he said outrageuos but it came from his experiences.
Michelle Obama was speaking about her experience. I have not been through soem of the things other blacks have seen but I always heard stories from my grandparents about their relatives that were lynched or raped by these racist people.
I have heard these things but I don’t think white people are bad. I wish people could understand people go through different things.
Watch the full Rev. Wright sermens on YouTube if you would like to get a perspective on mostly out of context clips the media shows. America’s not a paragon for everything that’s right with the world. It’s done terrible things in it’s past and even if there are reasons for them they are still horrible. I honestly thing Rev. Wright loves America but is not going to pretend that it’s perfect.
“God Damn America as long as she tries to act like she is God and she is supreme.” -Rev. Wright
@ Michael
I have no solution. YOu can’t force qualified people to run for office. But the problem with the system is that we are getting the least qualified, most mentally ill members of society (other than schizophrenics) into positions of power. I wouldn’t trust a narcissist to clean my shoes, let alone lead my country. But this is the mistake we make every time, picking these self serving, mentally ill people, and wondering why promises always go unfilfilled. Aren’t you tired of being lied to?
Do you know what the politicians do on a daily basis and how much they lie to the people that elect them? Take any toll road or bridge with a toll on it. EACH time the legislature says the toll is only to cover the cost of the road, and once it is paid for, no more toll. That NEVER happens. They keep the toll going to raise revenue. Now the trend is to SELL these roads that you and I paid for, to private companies, so you will pay indefinetely for something you already paid for. The politicians lie to people constantly, and we reward them by voting for them again and again.
To any of you who believe that Obama, or McCain for that matter, will be able to ride in on a white horse and reconcile all of the “big issue” problems that we face as a country, I’d like to offer you the proverbial bridge.
Limiting the conversation to economics, the seeds of our current demise were planted some twenty years ago, and longer is some instances, and have been well nurtured and cared for as they grew into enormous trees. There is little argument that Greenspan & Co. oversaw a period of robust growth, mostly on President Clinton’s watch, however, this growth and prosperity was a direct result of an accomodative interest rate regime combined with a de facto insurance policy extended to major financial institutions and market participants. In a nutshell, Cheap Money!
Excess liquidity leads to excess speculation leads to excess risk leads to excess calamity, which is where we are now and where we are likely to habitate for some time. It has taken a long time to reach this point of the cycle and it will take a long time to get back up. Our best hope is that the new President will have the courage to rebuild the groundwork of our economic system at the expense of popularity. I have my doubts.
Absolutely, senator Obama is the right choice both for americans and for the world at large. It’s not just americans that need change but the world could
If Americans want to restore glory , greatness and global admiration to America, they must not miss Obama.
Barak will bring some class and dignity to an office that has been tarnished and disgraced by a corrupt, self serving administration.
Are we forgetting that the President does not single handedly run the country? Barak is wise enough to surround himself with exceptional people to compliment him in his leadership he is already showing this in his selection of Biden as VP.
For all the disgruntled Hillary supporters (I too was hoping for her nomination) I would bet money that all of her and Bill’s praise is coming from a nice position within the Barak Administration where she can actually do more good then if she was the President.
For all the Republicans out there with no real valid argument, sorry you lost Rove he was pretty good at making BS up – you are all saying the same thing and you are the reason this country is in the shape it is in, you blindly follow your party without thinking maybe you should think about America as a whole instead of just your bank account
Bush and all his experience advicers deceived American people and fooled the world by going to war with falsehood of WMD, Alqaeda & Saddam. -Alkali, Ng
@ Steve, you wrote:
‘It’s not because they are american, but because they are obsessed with politics…’
Well, that’s what I said, Steve. I said, ‘I think it comes down to Americans and how they view politics.’
There’s a cultural quirk implicit in that statement regardless. Take it as you may, Americans are just too quick to loudly shout down people whom they disagree with.
I don’t think that’s always a bad thing…Americans make their opinions heard, which is good, and I’m party to that. I do, however, think a good proportion of Americans can come off as rather rude when they disagree with someone.
And in relation to politics we lose our bearings–our bearings in relation to a sustained, rational and open-minded debate–way too quickly.
Either way, the debate was way too unruly.
Having closely followed the Democratic National Convention I have realised that behind every successful man is a powerful woman. Michelle Obama is thewoman on whose back Barrack Obama will ride to the White House. I wish them the best on their long and difficult journey. Ekayu Wilson. Soroti. Uganda.
Barack is the wrong candidate. A crowd pleaser, and an entertainer, but not a decision maker. AMERICA has lost its chance for a real leader.
I think Obama will win bcause they are both united with Clinton. & she has encourage her supporters to vote for Obama. Teboho from Lesotho(SOUTHERN AFRICA)
Obama is the absolute right candidate for the Democrats & there’s no problem with the issue of his experience. His educated enough & well sane, he can surely deliver the goal for Americans.
Yes,Mr Obama is the right choice by the Democratic Party to lead the USA.He understands the issues,brings a message of hope and has reinvigorated.
Whenever d name Obama is mentioned in my household there’s peace & hope
this is cecil from the copperbelt university zambia. i think the democrats chose the right candidate because most of the countries in the world need change and i think the USA are the best example to lead the way. go barak go!
Obama is the right chioce for the Democrats, an for American people. Martins, Nigeria.
OBAMA IS THE MAN TO WHITE HOUSE. WE LOVE N RESPECT HIM
I BELIEVE THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE NO MISTAKE IN CHOOSING BARAK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT. HE IS THE RIGHT LEADER THAT AMERICA NEEDS. HE IS THE EMBODIMENTOF HOPE & PEACE FOR AMERICANS THE WORLD. MARIAN SL.
3 months is an eon in US Politics and anything can happen between now and November. Lets wait until after the debates and see what wil happen.
Why are people doubting Obama for God’s sake? He is d best d democrats had.
Pls BBC,your question is prejudiced.Oboma is yet to work as a president,its premature to judge him now?Obama is the next extraordinary president of US.
All Americans do not act like the people in the debate. To debate, you must be respectful of each other and respectful of different opinions. Some of the individuals acted ignorant and all democrats don’t act that way.
plse,lets not try thinking whether obama is good or not,why not give a chance two a black man.
Obama is the best man for america now
@ Steve
I imagine that you and I would agree on a lot more things than we would disagree. I hate the system, I hate the lies, I hate the pork, I hate the cheating. But short of complaining about it (as I do, too), what solutions do you have? All we can really do is push for even the slightly lesser of two evils, the one that’s slightly more progressive and hope that things slowly change.
Short of a complete populist revolution, or total anarchy, I don’t think there are other solutions. But it would take just as long to recover from that as any other solutions. If good men don’t try to change the system, it will only get worse. All I can hope for is for eventual change. The country’s not going to get better overnight, but we have to put our faith in the right people and just, well, hope for the best.
Unless you have a better solution?
Mr Obama need alittle bit of political milage to take this challenging task of Presidency of U.S.A.
Africa,Russia,Europe will sigh with relief if Obama wins.
For members of the ku klux klan, Obama is a wrong choice, but for ordinary Americans Obama is the right man in the right place at the right time.
I BELIEVE THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE NO MISTAKE IN CHOOSING BARAK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT. HE IS THE RIGHT LEADER THAT AMERICA NEEDS. HE IS THE EMBODIMENTOF HOPE & PEACE FOR AMERICANS THE WORLD. MARIAN
Obama would have given America another chance 2 restore her battered image but he wil not win bcos he is a black man.
@ Cjones
I agree about how long and deep the problem is. The “seeds” were actually planted the day that the first credit card company and mortgage company opened for business. We are the very first society ever to achieve a negative national savings rate. That means most of us spend more money then we have. We have grown accustomed to not living in mud huts and eating twigs for nutrition. However, most of would be forced into those conditions if we got rid of credit.
However, stopping the wage disparity caused by the Republican policies is the first step towards bringing this locomotive to a stop. stopping forward movement is required for anything that you eventually wasn’t to reveres.
Obama is the right chioce for the Democrats, an for American people.
i think the democrats chose the right candidate because most of the countries in the world need change and i think the USA are the best example to lead the way. go barak go!
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE MADE NO MISTAKE IN CHOOSING BARAK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT. HE IS THE RIGHT LEADER THAT AMERICA NEEDS. HE IS THE EMBODIMENT OF HOPE & PEACE FOR AMERICANS & THE ENTIRE WORLD.
American should wait and see. Never judge a book by mere looking at its cover. Obama wil do it.
The U.S., not necessarily America, has fallen into believing its own press. Bush was such a shock to the culture of freedom and innovation that had existed, though quietly. Today, we are the culture of Paris Hilton and Magic Johnson. We mean nothing and stand for less. Our Mother stock market is our whore and we treat even her poorly. Our biggest growth industry is prison. A PhD will get you there.
Americans need a leader whoz down to earth in touch with them,aware of their spirations,anguish,needs&know where the shoe pinches.i feel barak offers that.
Obama is a just and a correct chioce for the whole word but not for Americans alone.
We need peaceful leaders and leaders who are young who understand the diversity of life.
Go Obama we are proud of you.
Like so many other Africans who have been following both the Republican and Democratic pary primaries outside the US, I am proud of Barak Obama- his charisma, seeming brilliance and oratory.
What is not clear however is his level of preparedness to lead the rest of the Free world as president of the United Staes.
I very much doubt if his nomination would have happened if Georgia had happened Three months ago
Moham,ed Dabo
Accra, Ghana.
@ Angela
I hope that you are still there.
I fully understand what you are saying. What I believe is the the world changes one person at a time and I choose to start with me. I am old enough to know the struggle, to see and hear Dr Martin Luther King and his word resonated inside me.
I passed that to my kids and then to my grandkids expanding geometrically.
The point is that I saw what I came to understand to be a grave injustice and joined the fight against it.
The Obamas sat in Rev. Wrights church and simply absorbed the hate. Oprah Winfrey went to the same church and left.
Obama must be a wonderful inspiration for Africans all over the world as he is for most African Americans. He has, you must understand, shifted far to the right for many progressives, and those who follow the intricacies of U.S. political plodding understand how it is done. Of course, the argument always is that he must move far to the right to get those other folks on the fence, so to speak. Blast the Progressives, they’re just effete and cheap. Unless Obama makes some immediate concessions, he may lose a lot of folks who were supporters.
There wasn’t a single Dem candidate that I’d have chosen for President. However it happend, Obama reached to top and now stands to be or not to be. For my money, Hillary’s husband could have been an asset. Hillary herself, however, would have been political suicide. The lady has non of the right and all of the wrong qualities for the job. Bush did/does too but then, did WE elect him? As for McCain, that’s Bush all over again only worse, if that’s possible. Fact is, AMERICA IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE, despite the Dems rhetoric and Obama’s young supporters fervent loyalty and beliefs. If McCain takes the White House we’ll go down fast. If Obama has it we’ll go down slower, but go down we will… Why? Because McCain will be as much of a puppet as Bush was. And Obama cannot make it nor will be allowed to make it unless he too tows the line. Big Money controls the nation. Big Money controls the world. That’s FACT 1. Disregard it or ignore it at our peril. Could things get turned around? Yes! Will they? Probably not. Don’t expect one, but do know that Miracles do sometimes happen. What I do expect is a worsening of all the crises we already face, globally and locally, because they are now far worse than the public is allowed to know or governments dare tell, or anybody dares face and take effective action. So… this basket’s bottom will soon crack… food, water, energy, social unrest, political debacle… As the first two grow scarce, the rest will follow as dominoes all neatly in a row!
Hello there,
Can you tell me if my computer messed up and did not post my comment?
Thank you.
Jennifer –
Your post was way too long. By all means repost but in a concise manner.
Thanks.
I just resubmitted my response. I am glad I copied it in case it messed up. If there is something wrong with it will you let me know?
I believe that the Democrats made a terrible mistake. Obama is a good speaker, but that is all. Our country will be a catastrophe if he wins. Obama has so little experience; which is most important in securing our future and bringing our country around .
I will not vote for a black man president to make up for discrimination I did not condone or even participate in. Obama supporters here play the race card. This election should NOT be about race. We are all human beings so get the chip off of your shoulder, let it go, and then things can change.
Biden didn’t think Obama was competent enough to run our country and he’s the VP candidate? It was offensive that he would throw out that he stuttered as if it is something to pity during his speech. I do stutter.. Don’t expect me to feel I can relate to you when you stumbled not once. Say something other than Obama is going to bring change; he tells us that every time he speaks.
Michelle Obama’s scripted speech was an insult to the intelligence of American people: dressing down to make herself like us common folks, yada yada; I’m just like you. I will never relate to someone who said she is only proud of America now that her husband has been nominated for President.
Hillary Clinton had 18 million votes but conceded with grace and dignity for the unity of the Democratic party. She would have done so much for our country. Hillary will run for President and I’ll vote for her again. She makes me proud to be an American woman.
We know Bush made mistakes; after 9-11 there was pressure to act. He did, with democrats and republicans backing him. Bush has taken the heat for everything. Isn’t Europe in a recession too? Is that Bush’s fault too?
McCain is a decorated war veteran, Obama has not served. McCain understands the importance of securing our country for our future. Obama thinks we shouldn’t worry about Iran because they are “little”. We should work with other countries not isolate them. I don’t care how many homes McCain has-as long as I know that I am secure in mine and the people I love are safe. The Obamas may not own 7 homes but they don’t worry about where money for their bills is coming from either.
My vote will be McCain 2008 Clinton 2012!
P.S.
I thinned it out a whole lot and added a little. Hope it makes it this time:) Sorry for the length of this still but I am really emotional about this subject.
Hello BBc world service, I always listen to your program regarding world problem in all aspect, specially one story capture my attention was on the night of 28th of August on world have your say, the question was is Democratic party shoes the Wright man for the higher position on the planet, it’s sound to me like American whom claim that they want not vote for senator Obama because he is black. Mean while American is in deep problem in would stage even though American people still claim or think they are powerful nation as it’s used to be, but in reality America is going down in faster rate than they ever imagine and would population know about it, that why I personally think senator Obama will lift up American power in world stage and enough distraction from Republican President George Bush for the last eight years which cost America more than two hundred years to build. All those point that I made its shows American failure weather in war on terror or even to rescues has people during the Hurricane Katrina, economic recitation and I do not think that the wise man or advance country like us will play card of rise in has own back yard mean while promoting Democracy around the world.
Hello BBC World service. I believe that the Democrats chose the right candidate for the job. Americans wanted meaningfull change and that is what Obama will bring to the World. We need to have a positive change, be it foreign policy, economic issues etc. I agree with the fact that, we need a leader who will deal with this menacing issue of terrorrism, but, we need someone who will inject new alternative ideas on how such a menace would be dealt with. Thaty is why i believe, we need Barrack Obama in that seat.
Obama is the wrong candidate. He will appeal because he is young, has experience outside the USA, and has not established himself. So he is the messiah and McCain is the war hero …when is it going to be over? Like a famous comedian once said of these elections ..”It’s Patty Duke playing cousins.” These are narcissicists who will say anything to get in office and it’s not about helping the people. I am astounded but shouldn’t be to hear a single mom say she is happy to have someone run who is in touch with the people’s problems. Obama made $4 mil last year and owns 4 homes and McCain cannot keep track of his 7 homes …this is indicitive they are not in touch with the people or their problems. It’s all about taking money from people who work hard and giving it to people who don’t. Will people vote for Obama because he is black? YES. Will people not vote for Obama because he is black? YES. That will definitely be a part of this election. If we want progress …let’s drill our oil, get rid of the federal reserve and the IRS, get rid of unions who protect the lazy, crack down on welfare abuses, investigate how these rich people in washington spend their money and stop the mind control… Is there a Builderberg group that wants to get rid of property rights and get rid of the 2nd amendment and create a one world government…YOU BET! Follow the money. Vote for your interests. One good thing Bush did is create a sphere of influence in the middle east between Iran and Syria and people will thank him for that later despite his “failed” presidency.” What about our failed Do Nothing Congress? You never hear about that in the media. PEACE but there is no PEACE. Light and Love People.
ever get the impression Obama will give us the Carter years?
Obama is for sure the right person for the job. We americans need someone who represents a change. Obama is original and has the potential to bethe best president this country has ever seen. I used to e proud to call myself an american, and even though the US has always had a shady polocy, we were at least respected by our allies. the republican administration has robbed us of that, robbed us of our vote and ruined our economy taking it from a record surplus to a record deficit in just 4 years. we need change now, and Obama is the ONLY person that can unite this country.
and as a side note, to anyone who does not understand politics in america; Obama is the only candidate who has stayed on track with the issues and not taken the cheap hit at his rivals. when I find someone who is against Obama and ask them why, it is always an answer like’ he has no experience’- he does and his VP does, and the office of the president is not a one-person job, but is advised by an army of experienced advisore, always has since washington- these are weak arguments and I have yet to meet a republican with an original thought that hasn’t been fed to them by our biased, conservitave media.