Reflections On Obama's Speech

If you're watching this speech in the suburbs of Philadelphia and are an undecided voter... please let me know what you thought.

For a biracial candidate living at the cusp of a postmodern era, Barack Obama's identity has been remarkably coherent and well-contained. Rev. Jeremiah Wright's discordant rhetoric poses the first real existential threat to the "Barack Obama" who has captured the hearts and minds of so many Democratic voters -- and, perhaps more importantly, piqued the curious admiration of non-Democrats.

In his speech today, instead of casting Wright out, throwing him overboard, trying to write him off, Obama did the opposite: he incorporated Wright into Barack Obama, LLC. Wright's evolution becomes part of America's evolution, which is part of Obama's story.

In no uncertain terms did Obama renounce -- morally condemn -- the hateful, anti-Semitic, anti-American and just plain bizarre rants of his pastor -- "former pastor," as Obama now calls him. But he did not reject him. He refused to reject him. He is daring, in essence, his white liberal supporters to accept what Wright's anger represents -- a legacy of oppression -- and daring the rest of white supporters to take a leap of faith him... and asking them to expand their minds a bit and see that Wright is preaching in a tradition that has a context that is directly related to the material and spiritual conditions of all Americans.

The sell will be easier for white liberals, I think. The speech was magnificently written. It was internally consistent with Obama apparently believes.

How it plays will determine how it plays. If the media focuses more on the Wright defense-by-renouncements and then juxtaposes them with clips of Wright's comments, then I think the trouble remains. The seeds of doubt about who this guy really is may be nourished. I know that Obama believes that a discussion about race plays to his benefit, no matter what people think about white working class voters and their latent feelings. Perhaps this is the beginning of his opportunity to lift the veil and get everyone -- not just himself and the media -- to talk openly.

Problem is... so far, this is a one way conversation. It's ... well, the tiny media scrum debating Rev. Wright... and Obama preaching to the country. There's no give. There's go back and forth. A one way conversation is a lecture.

CW tells us that white voters tend to become nervous when Democrats and liberals lecture to them -- even when they lecture eloquently and respectfully -- about race. Will they, this time? What do you think?

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/03/reflections_on_obamas_speech.php

Obama advisor sorry for calling Clinton a 'monster'

A key foreign policy advisor to Barack Obama has apologised, after branding his White House foe Hillary Clinton a "monster" who would stoop to anything to win the Democratic nomination.

Samantha Power made the explosive comments in an interview with the Scotsman newspaper, in the latest sign that Obama's once flawless campaign is feeling the heat from increased pressure from the Clinton camp.

"We f***d up in Ohio," Power told the Scottish daily, referring to the Illinois senator's loss to the former first lady in the midwestern state in Tuesday's primary.

"In Ohio, they are obsessed and Hillary is going to town on it, because she knows Ohio's the only place they can win," Power was quoted as saying.

"She is a monster, too -- that is off the record -- she is stooping to anything," Power said.

"You just look at her and think 'Ergh.'"

The Obama campaign attempted to tamp down the controversy, putting out a statement by Power, and disavowing her remarks.

"These comments do not reflect my feelings about Senator Clinton, whose leadership and public service I have long admired," Power said in her statement

"I should not have made these comments and I deeply regret them. It is wrong for anyone to pursue this campaign in such negative and personal terms.

"I apologize to Senator Clinton and to Senator Obama, who has made very clear that these kinds of expressions should have no place in American politics."

Obama's spokesman Bill Burton said his boss "decries such characterizations which have no place in this campaign."

The latest nasty twist to the campaign came a day after the New York senator's camp accused Obama's team of acting like Clinton nemesis, special prosecutor Ken Starr, in its attempts to force her to publish her tax returns.

Power's comments came as she was interviewed in London promoting her book on UN representive Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was killed in a suicide bomb attack in Baghdad in 2003.

Power is a professor of Global Leadership and Public Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Her previous book "A Problem from Hell": America and the Age of Genocide, won a Pulitzer Prize.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5icKWjCKekIqO-A0iIcrN6gF4JyTQ

Texas caucus results give Obama a boost

Barack Obama regained lost ground in the fierce competition for Democratic convention delegates on Wednesday based on results from the Texas caucuses, partially negating the impact of Hillary Rodham Clinton's string of comeback primary victories.

Late returns showed Clinton emerged from Rhode Island, Vermont, Texas and Ohio with a gain of 12 delegates on her rival for the night, with another dozen yet to be awarded in the Associated Press' count.

That left Obama with an overall lead of 101 delegates, 1,562-1,461 as the rivals look ahead to the final dozen contests on the calendar. It takes 2,025 to win the nomination.

The two presidential contenders made the rounds of the morning television news shows, agreeing on little -- except that their historic struggle would continue at least until the Pennsylvania primary on April 22.

That left six weeks for public campaigning, and for private appeals to party leaders, known as superdelegates, who attend the convention but are not chosen in primaries or caucuses.

Clinton has the support of 241 superdelegates, and Obama 202. But more than 350 remain uncommitted, a large enough bloc to swing the nomination should they band together.

Clinton, in particular, projected confidence on the day after her candidacy-saving victories, suggesting she might want Obama as her vice presidential running mate.

"That may be where this is headed, but of course we have to decide who is on the top of ticket. I think the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me," she said on CBS.

Obama no doubt had other thoughts.

He said he would prevail in the nominating battle despite facing a tenacious candidate who "just keeps on ticking."

Democrats plunged into the next round of their campaign as Republican John McCain was visiting the White House to confirm his status as the party's nominee-in-waiting. Lunch with President Bush headlined his day.

Bitter rivals in the 2000 presidential primaries, the two have forged an uneasy relationship during Bush's administration and have clashed on issues such as campaign finance, tax cuts, global warming and defining torture.

There were 370 Democratic delegates at stake in Tuesday's contests, and nearly complete returns showed Clinton outpaced Obama in Ohio, 74-65, in Rhode Island, 13-8, and in the Texas primary, 65-61.

Obama won in Vermont, 9-6, and was ahead in the Texas caucuses, 30-27. Ten of the dozen that remained to be awarded were in Texas; the other two in Ohio.

"We still have an insurmountable lead," Obama said.

Clinton and Obama spent most of the past two weeks in Ohio and Texas in a bruising campaign, with the former first lady questioning his sincerity in opposing the North American Free Trade Agreement and darkly hinting he's not ready to be commander in chief in a crisis.

Based on their current delegate counts, neither candidate can win enough delegates in the remaining primaries and caucuses to secure the nomination without the help of nearly 800 party officials and top elected officials who also have a voice in the selection. On Wednesday, Clinton and her campaign clearly aimed their case at those so-called "superdelegates" -- a strategy that could take the nomination fight all the way to the party's August national convention in Denver.

"New questions are being raised, new challenges are being put to my opponent," she said. "Superdelegates are supposed to take all that information on board and they are supposed to be exercising the judgment that people would have exercised if this information and challenges had been available several months ago."

She said voters are being drawn to her argument that she would be the better commander in chief, the best steward of the economy and that she can better confront McCain in the general election.

Obama countered that on a key national security issue -- the war in Iraq -- "she got it wrong" by supporting Bush's call for authority to use of force.

As for superdelegates, Obama said he expected them to rally around him.

"I don't think it will necessarily go to the convention floor," he told reporters aboard his plane before taking off from San Antonio for Chicago.

He also said he will challenge Clinton on her foreign policy credentials.

"Was she negotiating treaties? Was she handling crises? The answer is no," he said. "She made a series of arguments on why she should be a superior candidate. I think it's important to examine that argument."

The count does not include delegates from Florida and Michigan, who were penalized by the Democratic Party for moving up their primaries ahead of a schedule set by the Democratic National Committee. None of the Democratic candidates campaigned in either state. But Clinton, who won the popular vote in both state primaries, on Wednesday renewed her call for Florida and Michigan to be counted in the nomination race.

"It's a mistake for the Democratic Party to punish these two states," she said. "I don't see how a Democratic nominee goes forward alienating two of the most important states."

McCain surpassed the 1,191 delegates needed to win his party's nomination against odds that seemed steep only a few months ago, and all but impossible last summer.

Facing a couple of well-financed marquee candidates in a crowded field, the Arizona senator opened his comeback in New Hampshire's leadoff primary, rolled over Rudy Giuliani in Florida and finished off Mitt Romney after Super Tuesday on Feb. 5.

Mike Huckabee hung in until Tuesday night, gamely keeping up the fight weeks after dropping from long shot to afterthought.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080305/POLITICS01/803050454

Obama, Japan, roots for accidental namesake

Barack Obama, who has been credited with tapping support in unlikely places, is enjoying a groundswell of enthusiasm in a small city in western Japan, which is delighted to share his name.

Obama, Japan, is rooting for candidate Obama, hoping that if he becomes the US president he will put this ancient fishing town of 32,000 people firmly on the tourist map and, just maybe, choose it for an international summit.

Supporters in Obama -- which means "small shore" in Japanese -- have held parties to watch election results, put up posters wishing the senator luck and plan a special batch of the town's "manju" sweets bearing his likeness.

"At first we were more low-key as Hillary Clinton looked to be ahead, but now we see he is getting more popular," Obama Mayor Toshio Murakami said.

"I give him an 80 percent chance of becoming president," the 75-year-old said with a proud grin.

Murakami sent a letter last year to Obama, enclosing a set of lacquer chopsticks, a famous product of this town on the Sea of Japan (East Sea) in Fukui prefecture's Wakasa region.

"I will present you the chopsticks of Wakasa paint and I am glad if you use it habitually," Murakami said in the English-language letter. "I wish you the best of health and success."

Murakami noted that Barack Obama's birthday, August 4, happens to be "Chopsticks Day" in the city.

Obama, who is also a hero in his father's native Kenya, has been gaining in a neck-and-neck race with Clinton, in part by winning over voters in states that rarely back members of their Democratic party.

Murakami is now preparing another package for the candidate that will include a good-luck charm from the local Obama Shrine.

"For the first letter I found his address on the Internet, so I don't know if he got it," Murakami said. "But this time I asked the (US) embassy for his exact address, so I'm sure he'll get it."

Lest cynics find the city's efforts naive, it was Obama himself who first drew attention to the connection.

Obama, speaking to Japan's TBS network in December 2006, said that when he flew once to Tokyo, an officer stamping his passport told him of the town.

"He looked up and said, 'I'm from Obama,'" the senator said.

A professor saw the footage and contacted the mayor, who insists that his support for Obama goes beyond just his name.

"It seems to me that President Bush isn't aggressively addressing global warming, but Obama would. And I like how he opposed the Iraq war," he said.

Murakami also hoped a President Obama would sign a peace treaty with North Korea. It is no small issue in Obama, one of the seaside towns where agents from the communist state kidnapped Japanese in the 1970s and 1980s, setting off a long row between the countries.

The election is being closely followed by many in 1,500-year-old Obama, a port nestled by snowy hills that in ancient times supplied food to the emperor when he lived in Kyoto some 75 kilometres (40 miles) to the south.

"When you look in Obama's eyes and hear his voice, he's very impressive," said resident Rieko Tanaka.

"Hillary is a bit old-fashioned and she's the wife of Bill Clinton, so I think a new person should lead the USA," she said.

Tomoyuki Ueda, 40, a company worker dining at a restaurant serving the town's celebrated mackerel, said it would be healthy for the United States to elect its first African-American president.

"I think both Obama and Hillary are qualified, but if Obama becomes president he could correct problems of racial discrimination," he said.

Seiji Fujihara, a head of the local tourism board, said he has only met a black person once, but believed Obama's election would make the United States "more equal" on racial issues.

Fujihara started a club for self-styled Obama supporters in the city and plans "I love Obama" T-shirts.

"We know we can't vote. But if we send out a message, we can help push him to victory," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080212/pl_afp/usvoteobamajapan&printer=1;_ylt=Am.U0rQq6TKDMxtDUZy6F1itOrgF

Obama beats Clinton (at the Grammys)

LOS ANGELES — Barack Obama topped a Clinton in another contest today — the Grammys.

The presidential candidate beat both former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter to win best spoken word album for his audio version of his book The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream.

Clinton was nominated for his book Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World and Carter for Sunday Mornings in Plains: Bringing Peace to a Changing World. Also nominated was Maya Angelou and Alan Alda.

Sens. Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are battling for the Democratic nomination for president; both have won key states, though Obama has the most recent wins, capturing the Louisiana primary and caucuses in Nebraska and Washington state on Saturday.

Though Clinton and Carter lost, they both have won the category before (Clinton, twice). And Hillary Rodham Clinton took home a Grammy in 1996 for her audio version of the book, It Takes a Village.

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/787035,obamagrammy021008.article

SUPER TUESDAY RESULTS

It is SUPER TUESDAY so let the games begin! Polls will open soon and for the first time in the 2008 primaries Republicans and Democrats will not be able to loom over the votes to see where there alliance lays. With over 24 states candidate’s fate hangs in the balance.

On the Republican side John McCain seem to have the strongest lead and does not show signs of slowing down. Although the republicans have been fighting like democrats lastly, with Mitt Romney attempting to discredit McCain’s claims of his constant shifting stand on the issues, this has not seemed to budge voters on Mc Cain’s side. One issue however that was recently polled and has shown strongly negative marks on Senator McCain is his age, 71. Very high percentages say that they would not vote for a candidate who was in their seventies. Which asks the question. Is this an age issue or just an age concern? The person to date with the title of oldest elected president is (Republican) Ronald Regan (69).

Where this race really starts getting interesting is on the democratic side. This SUPER TUESDAY promises to shake rattle and roll out an outcome that just might make history. It is shaping up to make SUPER BOWL SUNDAY look like a walk in the park. With the same sort of odds coming out of the polls weeks ago about the New York Giants winning over the Patriots, The same underdog theme has Barack Obama hoping for the same sort of upset as we saw in the super bowl.

Recent polls have shown that Hillary Clinton has had the overall lead throughout the United States. Within the last few days the tide seems to be turning, or more like a major shifting, which has leveled the playing field substantially for the two candidates. Although polls vary in different states and have shown Clinton as the leader by only a few points, recent history has show that polls can be wrong and that this makes this race a dead heat and America waits a photo finish.

The key states to watch on the democratic side are; New York, Illinois, California, New Jersey, and Georgia these are the states with most delegates.

Although the weather is pretty bad through out the United States, folks are driven by the hopes of change. Polls have shown that record breaking Americans are heading to the polls today. Only time, and not polls will tell if voters are willing to take on the Rain, Sleet, or Snow, other wise we will have to depend on the mail people to bring us results. As results come into our news department here in Arizona we will bring them to you with a first hand account.

First result is Huckabee Wins All 18 W.Va. Delegates

http://www.australia.to/story/0,25197,23040466-697,00,00.html

Bill Bradley endorses Obama

Former presidential candidate and ex-U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley endorsed Barack Obama this morning.

Like Obama, Bradley waged a presidential bid in 2000 that challenged the party establishment's candidate, former Vice President Al Gore, and drew heavily from independent voters.

Bradley will be campaigning for Obama in New Hampshire on Monday, an Obama spokesman said.

In endosring Obama, Bradley cited the Illinois senator's ability to draw support from independents and Republicans.

“Barack Obama is building a broad new coalition that brings together Democrats, Independents, and Republicans by once again making idealism a central focus of our politics,” Bradley said in a statement the Obama campaign released a few moments ago.

“Because of his enormous appeal to Americans of all ages and backgrounds, Obama is the candidate best positioned to win in November. Barack knows above all that unless people can once again believe in our democracy, we won’t be able to do the things that need to be done on health care and education or to break our dependence on foreign oil.

His movement for change could create a new era of American politics – truly a new American story.”

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/bill_bradley_endorses_obama.html

The Iowa Caucus Results!

We'll be offering results and commentary on the Iowa caucus results all night, with material from numerous TV and Web outlets. We will update from the top, blog style.

10:10: Hillary and Bill about to speak. You can almost feel the spin from here, as she still trails Edwards slightly for 2nd with not much vote to come. Matthews expects a big announcement of some kind.

Chris Wallace on Fox signs off with praise for Huckabee -- Fox may have decided to stop knocking guy they may have to back in the fall.

Poll analysis shows 56% of first time caucus voters went for Obama. But will young turn out everywhere, and in fall? They often disappear.

9:40: Obama pulling away with 37% to the other two at 30% -- a big win. Huckabee lead over Romney trimmed to 34% to 25%.

Rudy on TV looking for help in Florida to save candidacy. Romney campaign manager Ed Rollins on Fox getting testy with Chris Wallace probably because Fox has mocked Huck.

Bill Schneider on CNN analyzing polls that show "change" people went for Obama and "experience" people went for Clinton. Surprise. Clinton polled very poorly among young. Independents swung it to Obama, but Democrats were purely split. They get to vote in New Hampshire, too.

9:30: NBC calls it for Obama. He is drawing about 35% with Hillary with chance to finish 3rd, tied with Edwards at 31%. Matthews crowing about smashing Clinton setback with "two-thirds" voting against her. But Rachel Maddow points out, "two-thirds voted against the other two, also."

9:20: With 60% of Dem vote in, Obama widening lead to 35% to 31% for both Clinton and Edwards. More than half his vote coming from 17 to 29 year olds. Seventeen? Yes, they can vote now, if they turn 18 by November.

9:15: Analysts point out that Huckabee will need to broaden base since most states don't have the same 60% GOP vote as Iowa. Still, he is in line with much of party and as Pat Buchanan says, "Huckabee now has a ticket to the finals in the Republican race." Howard Fineman wonders who will be the un-Huckabee. Buchanan says it will be McCain, especially if Romney loses New Hampshire.

Thompson still drawing 14%, McCain and Paul about 12%.

9:02: NBC calls it for Huckabee, easily. Did the bass playing with Jay Leno prove the difference? Where is Derek Smalls when we really need him?

9:00: Now with 27% in, "tight as a tick," as Dan Rather used to put it, with Edwards at 34% and Obama and Hillary at 32%. Chris Matthews still inanely insisting that 33% would be major defeat for her, even if she wins. Huckabee with surprisingly big lead at 36% to 23% over Mitt, with Thompson at unexpectedly high 14%. Matthews no longer fantasizing about McCain drawing 18%.

8:55: The popular liberal blog DailyKos seems to be quickest with actual results as reported by the Iowa Democratic party. Latest, with about 15% choosing, finds Edwards leading with about 34%, and Obama and Clinton at 32%

8:45: Edwards actually leads with first actual numbers in, with 9% reporting, with a healthy 39%.

8:30: NBC says that its "early" entrance polls indicate that Obama and Clinton are topping Edwards, and Huckabee and Romney neck and neck. Even if true, Edwards is said to be a strong second choice of the voters for the lower-tier candidates and so could still end up on top.

One explanation if indeed he is trailing: Possibly a huge turnout, with added women (favoring Hillary) and more young and indies (for Obama). MSNBC found David Gregory at one caucus site where partication tripled from four years ago, from roughly 85 to 250.

Liberal bloggers upset with early Chris Matthews spin that 30% would represent a smashing defeat for Clinton while 18% would be a triumph for media-fave McCain. If Ron Paul manages to tie or beat McCain for 3rd, watch his head explode on live TV.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003691480&imw=Y

Obama wins 'Coffee Bean Caucus'

After months of political events and bean dropping, caucus time has finally come for Iowa and the Hamburg Inn No. 2.

The iconic Iowa City diner, which has become a political hotspot, was packed with patrons munching on pancakes, bacon and eggs and possibly hoping for a shot to share their political views with the nation.

CNN’s American Morning Show was at the Hamburg Inn early on Wednesday to broadcast live, interview locals about their plans for Caucus Day and unveil the winner of the “One Bean One Vote” Iowa Coffee Bean Caucus. Despite temperatures being in the single digits, the diner was constantly full with many people sporting campaign stickers and t-shirts.

“I think we’re getting a nice crowd,” said Dave Panther, the owner of Hamburg Inn. “It’s been a really good mix, a little bit of everybody.”

Though Iowa City is predominantly comprised of Democrat supporters, many Republican supporters came out for breakfast and to make their presence known.

“I’m a big supporter of Rudy Giuliani and I knew CNN was going to be here and I wanted to see what they had to say,” said University of Iowa junior Kendall Sater.

The political science major from Bartlett, Ill., said she wasn’t expecting so many people to come out so early in the morning.

“It’s kind of weird for me because I’m from Illinois,” Sater said.

However, Iowa City resident Bob Hibbs said he wasn’t surprised by the big turn out. Hibbs said he and his wife came early to the diner to make sure they got a seat and to take in “the excitement of the election process.”

“We’re in the political mood right now,” Hibbs said.

Many candidates have appeared at the Hamburg over the last few months as they geared up for the Iowa Caucus. Former President Bill Clinton and Democratic hopeful John Edwards also made impromptu visits to the diner while they were in Iowa City.

However, it was Barack Obama who came out as the big winner of the Coffee Bean Caucus. Obama got more than twice as many votes as any other candidate with 1,733. Hillary Clinton placed second with 830 and Edwards received 445. Trailing behind several other Democratic candidates, Ron Paul led the Republicans with 132 votes.

Panther said while it was somewhat bittersweet that the political fervor will like wane once the politicians start focusing on the New Hampshire primary after Thursday, he enjoyed the excitement.

“It’s been fun,” he said. “It’ll be interesting now to see who shows up to the real caucus and how it turns out.”

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080102/NEWS01/80102001