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Obama: McCain campaign cynical, not racist

MIKE GLOVER

Associated Press

Latest comment posted at 7:20 PM EST 04/08/08

Race card issue continues to dominate campaign talk ...Read the full article

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  1. William Doyle from Prince George, Canada writes: McCain is yesterdays man who amongst other things will keep on occupying Iraq for up to 100 years. Obama on the iother hand is full of new ideas and will get out of Iraq. McCain is running a campaign of fear Vs Obama who is running a campaign of hope.
  2. Tiberius Oderint dum probent from Canada writes: I can't understand how Obama only leads by a mere 4%.
  3. Gail Thomas from Canada writes: Obama says what a "wonderful life it will be" with him in charge. I really wonder where the truth is? He's still a relative unknown commodity to most Americans. Judging by his former minister and personal friends, I think bamboozaling is part of the Democrat strategy. John McCain on the other hand should be the Democrat of choice, since he's more that than a conservative Republican.
  4. Mark H from United States writes: It's funny, Obama's the only one I hear playing the race card.
  5. Clive Gingell from Canada writes: William Doyle: Can you tell us one of these 'new ideas' that Obama is 'full of'?
  6. Brian Dell from formerly Alberta but now, Sweden writes: Obama is barely leading because A) he is behind by 21 points with white males and B) he's behind with married white females as well and especially with females over 50 who thought Hillary got the shaft (these "PUMAs" will probably vote Nader but say McCain in polls that don't give them a Nader option). More substantively, he's proposing eyebrow raising GHG reductions (see Jeffrey Simpson's editorial today), is luke-warm at best on free trade, voted against judges like John Roberts (when had he voted in favour he would have voted with the majority of DEM senators, not just Republican), has held only one office beyond the level of what in Canada would be provincial legislature backbencher (and then spent most of the time in that one high office campaigning for President), in Illinois supported rent controls, something more than 95% of economists oppose, supports income tax increases which would raise the marginal rate on on additional labor earnings (or small business income) from 44.6% to 62.8% (prompting Michael Boskin, economics prof at Stanford to declare 'Obamanomics is a recipe for recession"), has associated "the Christian right" with "intolerance, narrow-mindedness, and false nostalgia", and says he has been "fighting alongside ACORN on issues [they] care about my entire career." What is ACORN? Just an ultra-left activist organization that, among other things, says its calls for illegal squatting and rent strikes are justified by the need to further the "struggle".
  7. He Shoots! He Scores! from Chicago, United States writes: "Mark H from United States writes: It's funny, Obama's the only one I hear playing the race card."

    What's really funny is that McCain's crew was the first to use the words "race card".

    Being that you are from the States, you know full well that race will play a huge part in this election. If Obama were white, he'd be leading in the polls by 20 points.

    My neighbor belongs to a working mans benevolent club (really just an excuse to set up a cheap place to drink). In years past, it was written into their bylaws (and in other such clubs) that no blacks would be allowed. With civil rights, they had to remove that language but to this day there are no black members and it is definitely not promoted or encouraged. An unwritten rule if you will.

    So, should Barry become POTUS, he would not be allowed membership in my neighbor's club (my neighbor himself seems colour blind) or even entry into its facilities.

    The race card exists and McCain expressly acknowledged it and is quietly playing on it. They don't have to be loud about it because it exists big time here in the good ole US of A. Scratch the surface and that puss of ingrained racism comes bursting out.
  8. Brian Dell from Stockholm, Sweden writes: In fairness, I should have said added "for the top income bracket", above. Obama isn't calling for higher income taxes on the middle class.
  9. D. Hall from Wpg, Canada writes: Tiberius Oderint dum probent from Canada writes: I can't understand how Obama only leads by a mere 4%.

    I think the following contribution from Chicogo answers your question nicely.

    "He Shoots! He Scores! from Chicago, United States writes at 11:11 AM EDT: "
  10. gordon davies from Victoria B.C., Canada writes: Attack adds are the actions of a desperate campaign , one wonders who spawns this trash & worse , who pays them.
  11. More CO2 Gas from Canada writes: The voting turnout come Nov could be very low as many Americans seem unhappy with the selections for president the two national parties have put forth.
  12. Tom Weller from Canada writes: John McCain and his cohorts are mocking Obama in their characteristic mudslinging ads. One recent TV ad arrogantly asks about Obama’s ability: “Is he ready to lead?” Well, Obama camp could legitimately ask back without blushing about McCain’s qualifications: “Is he able to lead?” McCain likes to tout his military knowhow. However, the stars on his shoulders shine a bit dimmer if one becomes familiar with this tattered background. It is unbelievable McCain could get this far in the Presidential race. Get a load of this. McCain finished at Annapolis Naval Academy in a class of 899 on the 894-th place. Rumor has that because both his father and grandfather were admirals the Academy let young McCain just squeak through. During his spotted Navy career he lost 5 planes. On the deck of USS Forrestal supercarier he may have been personally responsible for the Navy’s worst fire disaster. This incident claimed 123 lives, numerous wounded and 21 planes lost. The unsinkable Navy craft was almost sunk. http://judicial-inc.biz/82jjohn_mccain_and_the_uss_forresta.htm Retired Colonel Earl Hooper recounts McCain’s captivity in Vietnam. He claims McCain probably collaborated with the enemy, giving out classified details on primary targets, entry and exit routes on bombing runs over North Vietnam. As a result 60% more planes were lost and at one point they almost suspended bombing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xh1AhKBv1vs&feature=related So all in all is John McCain really able to lead? Can he be trusted and relied on he is not going to screw up big-time if he gets in the White House?
  13. Boomer AB from Canada writes: Obama looks to be trying to recycle Jimmy Carters policies. For those that don't remember he was even more unpopular than GWB. I think that the USA is ready for a Black President; I don't think they are ready for a socialist one.
  14. Tim Bryson from Claresholm, AB., Canada writes: "He shoots, he scores" hits the nail on the head. McCain has also gotten into bed with Carl Rove. Given the hatchet job this slug did on McCain in 2000, it shows how desparate McCain is.
  15. Boomer AB from Canada writes: Any comments on the bomb that the head of the DNC, Mr Edwards, was caught sneaking out of the hotel room of a lady other than his wife in the wee hours of the morning.
  16. Boomer AB from Canada writes: Tom, Rosie O'Donnell called. She wants her mental derangement back.
  17. He Shoots! He Scores! from Chicago, United States writes: "Boomer AB from Canada writes: Tom, Rosie O'Donnell called. She wants her mental derangement back."

    McCain himself has humbly admitted that he got shot down through his own stupid actions.

    What the US doesn't need is another "C-" student.
  18. Andrew E from Canada writes: The race card was played when a man who is 1/2 white and raised by a white mother and extended family was championed by the blacks as "their" presidential candidate.
    The "one drop of blood in the father's side" rule is an anachronism.
  19. John Smith from Valencia, California, United States writes: McCain can't get it right. No matter what he says the MEDIA just falls all over itself to get it wrong. What a fit these children shall have if the old boy beats the Senator who can speach well when the scripy is prepared.
  20. Mothers Talk from Toxic planet dead earth, Canada writes:
    Obama or Mccain doesnt matter, the USA is doomed because it's corrupt to the core.
  21. bob london from Canada writes: Andrew E. Spoken well by an Ontarian when any shade of beige brings out the worst racism in Canada. Yes worse than "redneck" Alberta. The whities in Ontario "Liberals" and US Republicans only like pure white, and ask where you are from when both parents are Dutch but grandma was Dutch Indonesian. WTF?
  22. Mikey Gault from In the voting booth, Canada writes: The funniest comment I read on this board was made by He Shoots He Scores when he said, if Obama was white he'd be leading by 20 points.

    That blows my mind. If Obama were white, he would not be nominated! Hilary would have secured the nomination after the first primary. Obama is where he is now solely because of his race and the myth that he is a great uniter. Geraldine Ferraro called him out on this point months ago (and was trounced by the liberal media who fawns over Obama).

    I don't care much for John McCain but I think he will win this fall. Obama is fake and is the world's biggest egotist. Americans will see soon that the media's hero is nothing but a phony.
  23. L.B. MURRAY from !! from Canada writes: Wake up, people! Look at what's happening and please read The Economist or your Globe and Mail Investor.... No matter what ChaneyBushRummy might say, they have managed to ruin the US economy, and they don't care since one is moving to Dubai and the other is moving to some South America ranch in a country with no extradition agreement with the United States. So.... if you're very wealthy, the best advice would be to follow one of them to Dubai, if you like sailing, sunshine, oil, or if you prefer wide open spaces, a ranch in South America would be great. Unfortunately, I'm just a middle class schmunk like the great majority of the Globe and Mail readers. Good luck to the next POTUS, whether Obama or McCain.... GM loses billions, Freddie mac and Fannie mae need rescuing and this is just the tip of the iceberg.... No matter how ''prudent'' and ''diversified'' is your portfolio, it won't matter and with the threat of some impending Iran disaster, we're all in major trouble... Just check out the ultra conservative NewsMax and what they're warning us about.... No electricity, no gas, no internet, no phone, no satellite communications, everyting coming to a standstill...is the latest threat against America.... Want a link?? I can provide it. A very conservative-friendly link, NewsMax... -
  24. L.B. MURRAY from !! from Canada writes: Here's the link to the Newsmax article by Timmermann re the latest threat

    http://www.newsmax.com/timmerman/irannuclearplan/2008/07/29/117217.html

    Sorry, my other post was sent to the Globe and Mail ''moderator'' and might be posted with all paragraphs gone or not poste at all.

    No matter. You have your link to Newsmax.

    Yesterday, R. Carriere gave me a link to PNAC. Tks. Tks also for the Zeitgeist on youtube. Tks again R. Carriere.

    -
  25. Jah Nee Kah Sun from Canada writes: Tim Weller......Surviving crewmen and those who investigated the Forrestal fire case reported that McCain deliberately 'wet-started' his A-4E Skyhawk to shake up the guy in the F-4 Phantom behind his plane. 'Wet-starts', done either deliberately (the starter motor switch allowed kerosene to pool in the engine and give a wet start) or accidentally, shot a large flame from the tail of the aircraft. 'Wet starting' was a common practice among young 'hot-dog' pilots.In McCain's case, the 'wet-start' 'cooked off' and launched the M34 Zuni rocket from the rear F-4 that punctured the Skyhawk's fueltank, knocked the M-65 1000 lb bomb off it's mount, and touched off the explosions and massive fire. When the carrier Oriskany came along side, McCain was put in a chopper and whisked away. McCain was the only Forrestal crewman to be immediately transferred.
  26. L.B. MURRAY from !! from Canada writes: Here's a link to PNAC but of course it is not the original PNAC which was on the internet for years but strangely was PULLED just recently. Fortunately, some org had the wits to save it to another provider but I'm not sure it will be available for very long and the original was easier to access and everything made quite clear and ''transparent'' .....

    This was on another conversation August 1

    Random Observer from Canada writes: REPOST, the link keep getting cut off. Please join them together in one line.

    http://web.archive.org/web/20030412002754/

    www.newamericancentury.org/iraqmiddleeast2001.htm
    Posted 01/08/08 at 3:08 PM EDT
  27. A B from Vancouver, Canada writes: Jeffrey Simpson be a man and open your "Besotted" article to comments.
  28. sam johnson from Canada writes: boomer ab - obama is a socialist? really? mccain said that he is, then he backed down when asked to specify obama's socialist remarks, leanings, attitudes.
    mccain's campaign is now being run by those wonderful bush campaigners who brought 4 more years of... dubyah.
    the campaign shall now concentrate on "obama, do you really know him?" they want him to be endlessly mired in political characterizations, etc., to be constantly defending himself and his campaign.
    i think the u.s. economy is going into a nosedive and whoever wins isn't going to be able to do anything about it.
    but obama a socialist? better take a closer look, this guy's further right than stevie harper's reform/con party.
    i do believe that a mccain win would probably end up with nato and the chinese and russians invading the most hated nation.(joking, but he wouldn't do much to make the u.s. more popular.)
    and of course mccain is further right than obama.
  29. L.B. MURRAY from !! from Canada writes: -
    This McCain campaign gets uglier by the day. If you thought the ''swiftboatvets'' and the rovian tactics were bad.... wait till you see what's in store for Obama, courtesy of the old ChaneyBushWolfieAndTheGang
  30. sam johnson from Canada writes: brian dell - do a google on ACORN.

    the good thing about bs on these threads is you don't have to smell it.
    but even though you can't smell it it's still untrue.
  31. Patrick King from Canada writes: Here goes another flip-flop by Obama, ie. offshore drilling. I can't think of one issue Obama has not flip-flopped on, from his love for Rev. Wright to offshore drilling. From March to June, he's been blaming Hillary Clinton for getting in his way. Now that almost two months after she has dropped out and enthusiastically endorsed him, Obama is only having a narrow lead over McCain, which has put McCain within striking distance of passing him. Obama played the race card again, just as he did after he lost New Hampshire and Nevada, before South Carolina. McCain has been absolutely skillful in pointing it out and defending himself, and therefore cancelled out the effect. What could Obama have meant when he said he looked different from the other Presidents on the dollar bills, other than he meant his race is different. Did he mean he did not have the features of a man, that I don't know. Obama played the race card last time in desperation and succeeded. This encounter with McCain shows Obama could be playing with fire to bring the race card up again.
  32. Shawn W from Toronto, Canada writes: Although he would be better for Canadian interests, I thin McCain doesn't have a chance. He's a tired old man and Obama is like a rock star. We all know Americans generally go more for surface rather than substance.
  33. Mary Smith from United States writes: He Shoots, He Scores

    You don't have a clue about what you're talking about when you say Obama would be leading by 20 points if he were White.

    First, he is most likely getting votes because he is BLACK. 13% of Blacks voted Republican in 2004; Obama is getting 90% of Black votes now. Then there's Whites who will vote for him because he is Black too.

    The US is pretty equally divided politically and there's no way Obama is going to garner all the Independents. I know because I'm one of them and I will not be voting for him (though he's my Senator and I did vote for him. Also, I voted Dem the last 3 elections and will be voting Republican this time around and any idea that Dems are a shoo-in is foolish.

    Obama the great uniter is a joke. He is absolutely disgusting and insulting with his continual race-baiting and accusations.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjRfKVwRUds
  34. sam johnson from Canada writes: patrick king - barack obama has "flip-flopped."
    are you insinuating that mccain hasn't? if you sincerely believe that then you are really whistling in the dark.
    here we go again! google mccain flip flops
    i'll say no more, you have a lot of reading to do.
  35. Brian Dell from Stockholm, Sweden writes: Sam Johnson, if you are suggesting that what I've claimed about ACORN is untrue, then why does it say right on ACORN's website that "This required the forceful and illegal (though logical and moral) seizing of the properties - squatting."
    http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=2752

    Go on and read the full context and tell me the group is not radical-left by its own account.

    What's BS are the claims in this thread that McCain was responsible for the USS Forrestal catastrophe and that PNAC is behind everything.
  36. Anti Elvis from Calgary, AB, Canada writes: I'm not a fan of the left, but on the US side, I do have to ask, what have the Republicans did for the USA? The country is a fiscal disaster, 10 trillion in debt, 500 billion in deficit, mired in stagnation, losing a war for the past 5 years & generally not being the progressive business minded nation it was. This countries ideal of fiscal stimulus was to hand out cheques to Americans to spend at Wal Mart. Brilliant.
  37. Prairie Boy from Canada writes: Both agree that affirmative action has to be worked on. Both agree that poor white kids should also get a hand if needed. Sen. McCain was not in favour of Arizona's desire to get rid of AA. Sen Obama said it must be "crafted" to encompass all.

    The race card seems to be played most by the party that has the most to gain from it. The "Messiah" Tour did not give the push they desired and black people seemed miffed from what I have read.
  38. Brian Dell from Stockholm, Sweden writes: I might also note that, according to Chicago sources, it was Obama's work organizing a "Project Vote" voter registration drive back in 1992 that "raised a new political star". See
    http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-1993/Vote-of-Confidence/

    The rest is history.

    What is "Project Vote"? An "arm" of ACORN, according to a New York Times story that ACORN reprints on its website:
    http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=12047
  39. sam johnson from Canada writes: brian dell - Association of Community Organization for Reform Now, is the largest national association of low to moderate income families seeking reform in housing. you consider it radical left. that's as far as i'm going to go.
    i don't consider working to help people in tough economic straights a radical left organization.
    wasn't JC up to this sort of thing?
    my old man thought "income tax" was a commie plot.
  40. Me Again from Toronto, Canada writes: Isn't it amazing how the Obama supporters forget how easily he used the race card against Hilary's campaign. That he tried to destroy Geraldine Ferraro and Bill Clinton (and believe me I have no time for him). Obama has played dirty and every time the tables are turned on him he cries foul. If you think those little ads are so terrible then you don't watch enough TV. It is rough when you are accused of sodomy in a Muslim state and arrested, like Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia. That is playing rough

    Tim Bryson please could you tell us where Carl Rove has gotten into bed with MCCain , you have information that the major Obama networks would die for.
  41. sam johnson from Canada writes: brian dell thank you for your post, including links. i have other things i'd rather be doing. this is descending into those hateful threads i'd sooner get away from.

    i don't mean you. but it's getting pretty disgusting. gotta have a long, hot shower.
  42. Against the crowd from Toronto, Canada writes: I'm so sick of hearing about Obama!!!!!
    The man has a good speechwriter. Nothing more.
  43. gao gao from Canada writes: Obama uses the race card. Too bad Hillary didn't get to use the sexist card. I will say many of Obama's supporters are racists, because he was chosen because of his skin color.
  44. Dave Francis from Indianapolis, IN, United States writes: The executive director Diversity Alliance for Sustainable America (earthtimes) have stated in it's article that if the U.S. grants amnesty and gives citizenship to 12 to 30 million illegal migrants, as Senators Obama and McCain propose. All those naturalized citizens could possibly add 120 million U.S. and foreign-born relatives to the U.S., in the next 20 years whom all would CONSUME MAJOR ENERGY. Proposals to reduce energy costs in the U.S. will not work unless we also simultaneously curb U.S. population growth by reducing immigration and curbing teen pregnancies."

    Americans cannot afford to support illegal aliens here with our tax dollars, or the millions who will jump the fence in the future. Only THE FEDERAL SAVE ACT (H.R.4088)offers any chance of halting this overpopulation quagmire It's enactment will give ICE and the police more enforcement powers. Join NUMBERSUSA for free and become part of a solution and not lies.
  45. L.B. MURRAY from !! from Canada writes: Bottom line is : We should all feel very sorry for the next President of the once greatest country of the planet, the United States of America. After the humongous mess, either financial or political or whatever mess that ChaneyBushRumsfeldWolfowitz have dumped on the USA... just feel sorry, very very sorry for next President... no matter it it's Obama or McCain.

    -
  46. Kathleen Degelder from ProxyCondoleeza Rice, Canada writes: Everyone knows he has stolen Condoleeza"s hard work. I forgot to buy sunscreen today. But I do have makeup with sunscreen.---
  47. CM Chen from Toronto, Canada writes: Like Canada, America was built by immigrants and has a healthy and growing melting pot of various races. Still there are a number of challenges.

    To see a "racial" group massively back one candidate primarily because of his colour is hopefully something that we will move away from.
  48. CM Chen from Toronto, Canada writes: We Canadians do not have a vote in the U.S. election. However, we should try to understand the policies each candidate propose that would impact Canada.

    At the state level, Michigan just passed a law than will have large tax impact a wide number of Ontario companies that do some business in Michigan. As the world economy is in a unstable fluid state, protectionalism is on the raise in the U.S.

    We should elect leaders than can stand up and deal with the Americans in a professional, neighbourly but firm manner.
  49. Kathleen Degelder from Condoleeza Rice Proxy, Canada writes: CM Chen: You forgot dual citizenships.--However you are correct on the protectionism thing with the Democrats.---The $ five trillion affair with Freddie and Mac---The collapse of the Doha in the WT0--With all the squabbling of the tariffs et al. Take care my friend.
  50. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: Of course Obama played the race card and he will play ever card in the deck plus the extra Jokers and whatever Ace's he has up his sleeve. This is for the President of the United States of American.....anything goes!!!
  51. CM Chen from Toronto, Canada writes: Kathleen D. It does seem the Democrats are much more protectionists than the Republican. If simply looking at Canada in terms of free trade, we are better off with McCain than Obama.

    The Americans will elect whoever they think its best for them and not necessarily best for anyone else.

    In terms of dual citizenships, I assume that is just a tiny percentage and probably tend to vote percentage wise like those of a Blue state.
  52. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: FLIP-FLOP, FLIP-FLOP...contrary to his earlier position, CNN is reporting that BHO is now in favour of oil-shore drilling....FLIP-FLOP,
    FLIP-FLOP
  53. suss man from Canada writes:

    John Smith from Ottawa -- It's good he's only flip flopping and not a pathological liar like Bush and Harper.
  54. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: BHO is trying to do the same thing to McCain that he did to HRC. Obama says look at me I'm black and "they" don't want me to be POTUS because I'm black. While In the primaries some believe that WJC was racist when he said "Jesse Jackson won South Carolina in '84 and '88. Jackson ran a good campaign. And Obama ran a good campaign here." BHO screamed and people were shocked.

    It strikes me that this time BHO is trying to take offence when none was given. BHO's pre-emptive claim of that McCain is racist could be to fill his policy void and create a bounce in the polls. If anyone thinks McCain is racist, they should talk to his daughter Bridget. To McCains credit he is not dragging Bridget out to pander to the black vote, unlike BHO and his tabloid interviews.
  55. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: suss man from Canada writes:

    John Smith from Ottawa -- It's good he's only flip flopping and not a pathological liar like Bush and Harper.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Atleast you are now admitting that BHO is a flip-flopper. It is becoming clear that BHO's policies are based on polling data and not a personal conviction on which direction to take his country. Can you say Michael Dukakis?
  56. suss man from Canada writes:

    John Smith -- Canyou say Nixon
  57. True Grit from Canada writes: John Smith from Ottawa, are you talking about hte same John McCain, who fought against the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in the Senate, and who after losing the battle in the Senate, then pushed for the state of Arizona not to acknowledge the King holiday? Did you know that the only reason Arizona finally, a few years ago, decided to enact the King holiday was because they wanted to host the Super Bowl and that the N.F.L. whose players are primarily "black", said "no way" unless you observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day? Yeah, McCain may not be personally a racist, but he sure does pander to those who are.
  58. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: suss man...I think it is unfair to compare BHO to Nixon...You're a racist...lol
  59. Opinion in Toronto from Toronto, Canada writes: Obama may be the best man for the USA, but not for Canada in any economic sense. We'd come under heavy pressure to increase the number of troops in Afghanistan, increase military spending, withdraw from NAFTA, have diminished access to one of our largest markets, loss of jobs, etc. I cannot imagine why Obama appeals to Canadians short of a death wish.
  60. boz dobbs from toronto, Canada writes: What going on with Michelle Obama,I,m starting to check milk cartons.
  61. suss man from Canada writes:

    John Smith -- here is a clip with the people you love and trust the most.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd2llPUJCvU
  62. True Grit from Canada writes: John Smith from Ottawa, McCain's daughter is not "black", she is from Bangladesh. Hence, that's why he does not use her to get the "black vote". On the flip side, he keeps her hidden because there are a lot of Republican voters who would also take issue with the fact he adopted an East-Indian child. Look at how his campaign imploded in 2000 when the Bush campaign said that he had fathered a "black" child.
  63. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: True Grit from Canada, it's about time you MoveOn cronies came out of the wood work. So Let's discuss MLK Day vote. BACK IN 1983, that's right 1983, McCain was on the wrong side of the vote. I guess if we go back 25 yrs we will be able to examine BHO's political positions. Oh wait a minute, no we can't because BHO wasn't a politician 25 yrs ago, or 15 yrs ago or 8 yrs ago, now was he. This is what McCain said April 4, 2008 in Memphis.

    “We can be slow as well to give greatness its due, a mistake I myself made long ago when I voted against a federal holiday in memory of Dr. King. I was wrong. I was wrong, and eventually realized it in time to give full support — full support — for a state holiday in my home state of Arizona. I’d remind you that we can all be a little late sometimes in doing the right thing, and Dr. King understood this about his fellow Americans.”

    So, McCain was wrong on an issue 25 yrs ago. Atleast he's not changing his core positions from 1 yr ago, unlike BHO.
  64. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: suss man from Canada writes:

    John Smith -- here is a clip with the people you love and trust the most.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd2llPUJCvU

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    So suss man, you get your news from You Tube. That explains alot. Why don't you try Jim Lehrer or POTUS on XM radio, or even realclearpolitics. You Tube...lol
  65. suss man from Canada writes:

    John Smith from Ottawa -- I like the BBC here is a clip about the man who is the arcitech of your Neo-Con thinking. Maybe watch the whole documentary "The Power of Nightmares"

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag0Df9fQeYw
  66. George BrownIII from Christmas Island writes: Why does Obama not use the video's of a demented mac cain spewing non sense and leberman correcting him in Jerusalem.
    With the question would you like to have a senile as president?
  67. Mary Smith from United States writes: True Grit

    Enough with your painting of the Republican Party as rascist.

    The Democrat Party had, and still does, Blacks under their thumb. The Democrat Party is the Party of Jim Crow Laws that decimated the Black community and whose effects ARE STILL BEING FELT TODAY. The Democrat Party is the Party that cast more votes against the Civil Rights Act Than the Republicans. Many issues Blacks agree with are Republican positions. The NAACP actually supports Democrat policies in when the Black population supports the Republican position. The Democrats get unwarranted support from Blacks. Their policies are failing in many urban areas where they dominate. The Unions fought against a Wal-Mart in a neighborhood desperate for a place to buy goods and create jobs. Unions support Dems. Blacks support school vouchers, the Teacher's Union doesn't.

    The Democrat Party was and is the racist Party. They own them in a different way now.
  68. National Action Committee on the Status of Elvis in Canada from Ottawa, Canada writes: Mary Smith,

    The vote on the Civil Rights Act was 44 years ago. It was pushed through by Lyndon Johnson, a Democrat. It was opposed by the Republican candidate that year, Barry Goldwater. Since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the African American population has been overwhelmingly Democratic while the white Southern population has switched from being massively Democratic (with some exceptions) in 1964 to being predominantly Republican.

    Lyndon Johnson is supposed to have said after the Civil Rights Act, "We've lost the South for a generation." Make that two generations.
  69. suss man from Canada writes:

    George BrownIII from Christmas Island writes: Why does Obama not use the video's of a demented mac cain spewing non sense and leberman correcting him in Jerusalem.
    With the question would you like to have a senile as president?

    -------------------------------------------------

    Simple George, he is above that type of thing. Those are tactics that someone like GWB would use, or that our own Harper does here in Canada.
  70. Mary Smith from United States writes: National Action Committee

    We have Congress. 69% of Senate Democrats' voted in favor of the Act while 82% of Republicans did. 63% of House Democrats' voted in favor while 80% of Republicans did. Those are the facts.

    44 years ago is nothing when you look at the generational problems within the Black community.

    Like I said; Democrats have had Blacks under their thumb for decades. Their policies are failing Blacks. Chicago, dominated by Dems for as long as I can remember and Black male graduation rates are something like 42%. Again, many positions Black's support are positions Republicans support, not Democrats.
  71. Mary Smith from United States writes:

    National Action

    Are you inferring something when you say that White Southerners switched to the Republican Party after the Civil Right's Act?

    At the time of the Act, Democrats in the South dominated the House and Senate, 94-10 and 21-1. Those Democrat's overwhelmingly voted against the Act (as did Rep). If you're saying White Southerners switched to the Republican Party because they weren't happy with the Civil Right's Act, that doesn't make sense. The Republican Party supported the Act more than the Dems and the Dems already dominated the South and those Dems voted against it.
  72. Brad Wood from Sugar Land TX, United States writes: I can't stand Obama. This week he said that to not to drill offshore he said for every american to put more air in their tires. Now he is for offshore drilling as of last night. He flip flops like John Kerry Did.

    Carter, Dukhakus, Gore, and Kerry all had leads in the summer (Dukhukus had a 17 point lead). Some papers actually give McCain the lead and some say he is only down by 2 points. Either way I predict a McCain victory. I think when McCain and Obama have their debates, Obama wont fair too well.
  73. Steve is ..... a Crusader with no need of a stinkin' cape. from Canada writes:

    Team Obama has been race-baiting since the early days of the primaries when he was sparing with Billy Jeff Clinton.
    Billy Jeff has been vocal about the Obama team labeling him a racist.
    http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2008/06/bill-clinton-miffed-at-obama/

    When you think about it you get a migraine,
    Clinton was 'the first black president'.
    Now you have Obama as the first black Clinton.
    How else can it play out since 'first black' has already been coveted?

    It is not surprising that race baiting is a hallmark of the Obama campaign since Obama's lunatic fringe pastors openly displayed their race-baiting skills.
  74. Patrick King from Canada writes: Obama defends his offshore drilling flip-flop with "he doesn't want the best to be the enemy of the good". I told you so. Despite giving an anti-war speech in October 2002, had Obama been qualified to vote go or no go on the Iraqi war then, he most probably would have voted yes, because no go is the best, go is the good. He would have compromised the best for the good. By now the American people should know Obama will not fight for your best interest. He will compromise the American people's best interest to advance his own best interest, which is the good he will go for.
  75. Patrick King from Canada writes: "sam johnson from Canada writes: patrick king - barack obama has "flip-flopped."
    are you insinuating that mccain hasn't? if you sincerely believe that then you are really whistling in the dark.
    here we go again! google mccain flip flops
    i'll say no more, you have a lot of reading to do. "

    Then you shut up and go to bed. Your mama will bring your glass of milk.
  76. Edgar Allen Poe from No City, Canada writes:

    Everyone relax and enjoy some humour. The US will recover like they always have. Go to the link and have a laugh...

    http://tinyurl.com/6nm5ao

    Remember the Brittany Spears video of the guy crying...
  77. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: Patrick King from Canada, I can say that McCain has not flip-flopped on any issue in the last 6 mnths. BHO has on several occaisons. Off-shore drilling is just the latest.
  78. A J from Canada writes: Brad Wood from Sugar Land TX, United States writes: I can't stand Obama. This week he said that to not to drill offshore he said for every american to put more air in their tires. Now he is for offshore drilling as of last night. He flip flops like John Kerry Did.....Either way I predict a McCain victory. I think when McCain and Obama have their debates, Obama wont fair too well.
    _____________

    Brad Wood, you have the right to like or dislike any candidate or anybody else you care. However, on this question of positions on off-shore drilling: you are aware, are you not, that McCain was long opposed to off-shore drilling? His present position in favour is so new that the ink is still wet.

    As to debates: again, if you support a candidate, you're free to engage in as much wishful thinking as you care to about how the debates will turn out.

    But looking at this more objectively, what leads you to conclude that McCain will do better in the debates than Obama?

    As between Clinton and Obama, Clinton was the better debater, Obama the better orator. They each worked to improve during the primaries and both did so, I think.

    Obama is articulate, a gifted speaker, and temperamentally calm. McCain likes short town hall meetings with friendly audiences, because he tends to ramble. He has a hard time just answering the question. He mis-speaks often. And he has a short fuse: during the debates, he'll have to put a lot of effort into controlling his famous temper.

    Obama has been doing a lot of town halls lately, so he's getting some practice with that format. Whether the format is traditional debate or town hall, I think Obama will do a good job. I have my doubts about McCain's skillfulness in either setting.

    I've watched video of McCain from 2000 and now. He's not as sharp, as focused, or as articulate as he used to be. I don't know why--but it doesn't augur well for his performance in the upcoming debates.
  79. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: A J from Canada writes: But looking at this more objectively, what leads you to conclude that McCain will do better in the debates than Obama?

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because McCain will be speaking about postions he believes in, while BHO will have a tarnished flip-flopper image to deal with. As hard as BHO tries Idoubt he will be able to convince people the policies he presented in the primaries were just an aberration. BHO's sprint to the centre is costing him in dearly.
  80. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: McCain learned alot about BHO in the primaries by watching how he discreditted HRC. The only reason BHO went down this path was to insulate himself from claims he is inexperienced. BHO made the same claims a month ago and McCain wisely said nothing. McCain laid the trap knowing BHO would insinuate racism again, and BHO fell for it. The days are now gone when BHO can use hios race, name, or ancestry as a tool, and he has to present and defend substantive policies.
  81. A J from Canada writes: John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: ...Because McCain will be speaking about postions he believes in, while BHO will have a tarnished flip-flopper image to deal with.

    ________________

    McCain really believed in immigration reform, which is why he sponsored that bill. But he recanted during one of the primary debates, and said he would not even vote for his bill. He backed off because there was strong opposition to immigration reform among many conservatives.

    He was against off-shore drilling, now he's for it.

    And so on. One of the media outfits--possibly CNN--did a survey on this "flip flopping" concept. They found that accusations of "flip flopping" aren't going anywhere in this election. The poll found that something like 61% thought McCain had changed his position on something for political gain reasons; about 37% thought he hadn't. 59% thought Obama had changed, 39% thought he hadn't. BUT: these views on whether they had or had not "flip flopped" had no effect on how much the candidates were liked. They were both liked. This isn't 2004, in which there was an imbalance in the perceptions of Kerry and Bush. McCain supporters can try hard to present their guy as honest and unchanging, and Obama as changeable--but that argument isn't something that the voters are buying into this year.

    Of the two, I find Obama much more honest and predictable. He's a moderate Democrat on most issues; he is a centrist. And he is a process guy, not a "fixed positions" guy. The democratic process, for Obama, involves bringing people to the table, listening, discussing, negotiating, finding common ground, finding a common sense solution.

    I've read The Audacity of Hope. I find that what Obama is doing this year with his entire campaign is very much consistent with the values and the views that he expressed in that book.
  82. A J from Canada writes: John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: ...Because McCain will be speaking about postions he believes in....

    ______________________

    I'm curious. What positions do you think he'll take in the debates on the major issues? And by "major" I mean the real substantive issues of these times, not all the little folderal tossed about in McCain's current ads. (Sorry, I should be calling him JSM, since you favour initials over names.)

    At this point, JSM seems keen to avoid discussing substantive issues, and it is easy to see why. He's dealing some conservatives who don't think he's a real conservative. There are some evangelical conservatives who don't approve of his personal life, feeling that he has problems with morality. And so forth, through all the divisions within the conservative movement--and that's not even taking into account the views of other voters he needs to attract.

    No points for predicting he'll talk (and talk and talk) about "the surge" every chance he gets.

    Elsewhere, though, what's your prediction about what he'll say about:
    (a) the economy, and what he'll do to fix it?
    (b) continuing or ending the tax cuts for the wealthy
    (c) Social Security, and what he intends to do about it? and what he thinks the problems are?
    (d) immigration -- where will he settle on this issue?
    (e) Afghanistan
    (f) stem cell research
    (g) SCHIP?
    and so forth.

    How do you predict he'll negotiate that gap between what he himself believes to be appropriate, and what significant constituencies (for McCain) support?

    Overall, it seems to me that it is a benefit to your guy, JSM, to avoid debates with Obama for as long as he can. That way, he can continue to duck the substantive issues as much as possible, and instead concentrate on casting aspersions with respect to basketball, popularity, and similar matters.
  83. National Action Committee on the Status of Elvis in Canada from Ottawa, Canada writes: So...both Obama and McCain are both flip-floppers. Yes and so were Kerry, Gore, Clinton (both) and Mitt Romney. So are Harper, Dion and McGuinty in this country. So what does all this mean? I look at the one person who has never been nailed with flip-flopping, George W Bush, who is probably the worst President the US has ever had. I especially appreciate how he concealed his drunk-driving conviction (makes flip-flopping look like small potatoes). Ya, so stick to your guns and lead the nation down the road to oblivion, hell or highwater.
  84. gordon davies from Victoria B.C., Canada writes: To me Obama speaks with personal knowledge & conviction , while McCain seems to be reciting from a list from memory.
  85. Brad Wood from Sugar Land TX, United States writes: AJ

    What I have seen of Obama believes me to speculate he isnt a good debater. Regardless, I still predict a McCain victory regardless. Seems the rest of the world like Germany loves Obama, but they can't vote.

    Depending on who McCain nominates for VP, (I predict a younger Evangelical Christian), will decide if the Christian coalition decides to vote. The big story this election is who is going to go out and vote. I also predict this will be the largest turn out of voters in a long time.
  86. He Shoots! He Scores! from Chicago, United States writes: "Brad Wood from Sugar Land TX, United States writes: AJ

    What I have seen of Obama believes me to speculate he isnt a good debater. Regardless, I still predict a McCain victory regardless. Seems the rest of the world like Germany loves Obama, but they can't vote. "

    Something is happening. The balance of power in the world is shifting and Barry has recognized it. Instead of the world relying on one super power, the emergence of India and China as economic power houses is shifting economic clout away from the West. Obama showed that he has the ability to mend fences with the US's traditional allies. The West will need to be united in the decades ahead. The fear and greed tactics typified by bush, McCain and the GOP are obsolete.
  87. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: He Shoots! He Scores! from Chicago, United States...I'm in Canada yet I know the man's name is Barack, not Barry. Why are you trying to Americanize BHO? Like the rest of us, I guess you also see the polls slipping under your candidates feet. Maybe you should email BHO and suggest he take off the flip-flops before he hurts himself...lol
  88. Mindfully Partisan from Ottawa, Canada writes: This "race card" issue is just another example of the useless, mean-spirited debates that the media and the political classes in the U.S. engage in in order to distract their citizens from the real issues facing the U.S. and a majority of the U.S. population. My only fear from an Obama victory is the looming and deepening economic downturn currently taking place in the U.S. If long-term trends are any indication, this donwturn isn't going to turn around any time soon no matter who becomes president and will probably be worse in four years, not better. Deregulatory policies combined with a decreasing tax base due to shipping more and more jobs overseas that has led to the current crisis. Even though Obama offers the best and most sensible strategies to turn the situation around, I don't think he will be able to do anything about it without a few bumps in the road. If Obama gets in, every red-necked Bush-sympathizing Republican (about 30-40% of the population) will be blaming Obama and "liberals" for all of their live's problems, pretty much what they do now, but they'll have a Democrat in the White House to point their finger at. I think things have gone so far in the U.S. in terms of political culture and the nature of political dialogue and debate that what they really need is for a continuation of the current doomed course to it's logical conclusion; a total and complete collapse of the American economy and American influence and power around the world. If McCain gets in and actually implements what he is campaigning on, this is what will happen. There will be no "liberal" or "liberal conspiracy" at the highest levels which they will be able to point their finger at in blame. The Bush/neo-con ideology needs to be proven and demonstrated to be a total and complete failure, which will only happen for many once it has completely shattered the U.S. and turned that country into a shadow of it's former self.