Video
Twitter
RSS Feed
McCain: Secular Messiah?
I am vacationing off the coast of Sicily where internet access is rather spotty (and where no sane person spends much time online anyway). But once I experienced John McCain's "The One" attack ad I immediately put down my octopus-hunting harpoon and started taking notes.
By the time Charlton Heston began doing his Moses shtick I realized I was in the presence of one of the biggest Faith and Values stories of the campaign. So please permit me a few reflections as I sip my Malvasia (BTW: how's the weather in DC?):
The Strategy: A certain professional football coach--whose name I refuse to pronounce--has fashioned a storied, if not controversial, career out of doing the following: making opposing quarterbacks discover that the things they once felt comfortable doing they can no longer do without incurring tremendous risk.
A similar set of tactics, I think, is at play here. Senator Barack Obama, as some of you may have noticed, absolutely owns the religious card. He effortlessly delivers soaring monologues filled with scriptural allusions. Rendered in churchly cadences, his rhetoric mongers hope and electoral good will far and wide.
The McCain people, I surmise, would like to put a stop to that. With this commercial they try to condition voters (and the media?) to roll their eyes every time Obama "goes there." Thanks to "The One" an image of a goofy Obama/Charlton/Moses casting a spell over the sea and swarms of liberal dupes will pop into the heads of Obama's auditors when his rhetoric gets too highfalutin.
The next time he enthuses about faith on the campaign trail, he will be looking out of the corner of his eye.
The Victims: Going where the Clinton people never dared or imagined to tread, Team McCain has made Obama's faith-based politicking itself an issue. From the soulful gospel organ accompanying his winged words, to the implication that the Senator has a messiah complex ( "I have become a symbol of America returning to our best traditions," and the voiceover, "And the world shall receive his blessings"), to the charge that his aspirations are not particularly realistic ("A nation healed, a world repaired"), this ad is nothing less than an attempt to nuke Obama's religious appeal and credibility into oblivion.
There were other casualties--and don't call them "collateral damage" or "road kill" because they were deliberately victimized. The first are the Obama faithful who are made to appear as if they just sleeve-dried the Kool-Aid off their lips (At the college where they teach directors to film political attack ads is there a required course entitled "How to Make People Who Don't Agree With Your Client Look Like Unbelievable Dorks?")
The second was the press. In a quick cut a fawning reporter asks Obama if he ever has any doubts. To which he responds--with that Old Devil Moon smile-- "never." Any other questions, journalists of America?
The Target Audience: Independent voters, without a doubt, were invited to this smirkfest. As for Obama-curious Evangelicals and Catholics, they were confronted with an image of an arrogant false prophet, speaking vainly in the name of the Lord. The frame that most struck me was that of a staircase ringed by Obama's cheering fans and ascending into the clouded heavens. Are the false messiah and his flock about to walk the celestial plank?
John McCain: Secular Messiah?: Probably not, but through some freak occurrence the presumptive 2008 Republican presidential candidate may be a little less threatening to Church/State activists than his Democratic counterpart.
At the end of "The One" a representative from Americans United for Separation of Church and State did not appear to say: "I approve this ad." But whatever one may think of McCain's own maladroit religious pandering, this was the send-up of faith-based politicking that America desperately needed.
By Jacques Berlinerblau |
August 4, 2008; 2:54 PM ET
Save & Share:
Previous: Digging Deep to Make Peace |
Next: Separation of Mosque and State
Posted by: Paganplace | August 20, 2008 2:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
If McPhony loves Jesus so darn much, how come he couldn't even quote the Bible much less Jesus the other night? He was in a Christian church, pandering to Christians and he couldn't quote Jesus or the Bible even once? He's either a poor Christian, a poor panderer, or both. McShame.
Posted by: Freestinker | August 19, 2008 1:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Jacques,
You are a hate-filled idiot. Please stay in Sicily where your comments might be appreciated (they are not here).
It is obvious you are in the tank for Obama. So your promotion of the fictitious "Right Wing Attack Machine" idea is bogus. The same moral majority that elected Bush twice will elect McCain for the same reasons. You will once again call them idiots, as you wallow in Michael-Mooreian disbelief.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 18, 2008 3:42 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The evangelical vote was always destined to go to the candidate that tells them what they want to hear - and which McCain in his own fumbling way tried to do. Sure he flooded the crowd with his anti-abortion rhetoric, and all the while his pro-choice VP, Tom Ridge of PA is waiting in the wings. McCain actually believes he can have it both ways - and why not?
The media has been giving McCain a pass on his flip-flopping and equipivating since the beginning of his campaign. He changes positions according to his audience - he's been doing this from the start. Leave it up to the evangelicals not to notice....
Posted by: autonomous | August 18, 2008 9:46 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"this is the place for faith..and sweety, I got it and it ain't in that Old, wrinkled, white haired dude"
I thought that old, wrinkled, white-haired dude was clear and concise tonight at Saddleback. In stark comparison- the younger man seemed uncertain, faltering, and unsure.
One of the candidates won over the evangelical vote tonight by speaking openly and honestly.
Posted by: james | August 16, 2008 10:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
McCain would probably finish his second term in a nursing home - at least he's drawing Social Security.
I'm voting for the guy that is most likely to finish his time in the White House standing up under his own power - more energy, more intelligence, and far more capacity for contending with the huge problems that loom post-Bush.
For example, I can't imagine anything more stupid than putting missiles in Poland - what did we suppose would be Russia's response to that? Talk about escalation - pumping up global unrest is about all this administration has accomplished in 8 years....and McCain is prepared to take these disastrous policies forward. He's really a very scary old guy.
Vote Obama.
Posted by: autonomous | August 15, 2008 8:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"Compare policies and vote."
Ha-Ha! The vast number of waffles and flip-flops of Obama makes it impossible to tell what he backs at any given moment. Better wait until the day before the election and see what his policies are then.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 14, 2008 9:48 AM
Report Offensive Comment
No political messiahs, religious or secular. Just two politicians competing for the most powerful office in the world.
Compare policies and vote.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 14, 2008 12:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I haven't personally seen very much of this this time around. There has been a lot more "faith-based politicking" in the past.
Posted by: Angela | August 13, 2008 6:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Time for a prophecy -trouble in paradise.
After the Democrats nominate Obama his, "natural born" citizenship will be challenged in court. It will take way too long for a decision, can't come before election day.
Did I say after Obama's nomination? During the nominating process but not in court. Already under way. Court comes if step one fails. Actually, the court of public opinion is the one where it will get it's first trial.
Guess who is behind it. Looks to me like one of them coalitions of the disappointed. Is Hillary really for a woman's right to chose pro life?
Posted by: BGone | August 13, 2008 4:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Hey GL- do you know what happens in Denver, Colorado at the Pepsi Center on August 25-27 and at INVESCO Field at Mile High on August 28?
Posted by: james | August 13, 2008 2:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
James,
As to your belief that you've been running circles around me, I beg to differ. I don't think you've made a single coherent point, let alone drawn any line of connection between two points. You certainly haven't traversed the 360 degrees required for a circle.
Sorry to puncture your "Proud of my Ignorance" balloon, but each of your postings represents a transparent failure to "launch the propaganda" successfully. That quote is from George W. Bush, by the way, who said he understood "launching the propaganda" to be his job as president. John McCain pretty much said the same thing when he lied about the circumstances of his trip to Iraq, and later demonstrated his reliance on propaganda and misrepresentation when he lied about Senator Obama's trip. The McCain campaign and the White House --does that qualify as an axis of evil? Your posts, James, represent the same modus operandi, the same fraud. To Republicans that's "politics as usual." To me it's "had enough."
As to Research, Thought, Argument and Creativity, I don't think you'd recognize them if they came and sat down on your sad flat head.
Posted by: GL | August 13, 2008 1:01 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"Is that what you and Anonymous did when you wrote "Thanks for the backup Anonymous" in a previous post? --Not naked, I hope."
GL sit down and put your thinking cap on:
I've been running circles around you. You are out-researched, out-thought, out-argued and you don't even know it.
I don't need any help..
And maybe (just maybe)- I'm a PUMA mole.
Posted by: james | August 13, 2008 11:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I'm disappointed GL. You are so lacking creativity. I'd say you are s-l-o-w but I don't want Timothy Shriver jumping his thread to come over here and defend you.
Take a look at this link and be inspired-
"Party Unity My Asp! Say NO to the DNC, NO to Obama. Just Say No Deal. P.U.M.A.!"
Posted by: james | August 13, 2008 10:49 AM
Report Offensive Comment
James:
In response to your comment below: "Why don't you and Terra go out in the moonlite and dance in a circle?"
Is that what you and Anonymous did when you wrote "Thanks for the backup Anonymous" in a previous post? --Not naked, I hope.
You know who you sound like James. Let me see. Hmm, yes. A John McCain campaign ad.
Posted by: GL | August 13, 2008 10:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"Terra is absolutely correct."
Great GL- Why don't you and Terra go out in the moonlite and dance in a circle?
Posted by: james | August 13, 2008 9:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Terra is absolutely correct. But James doesn't need to research, or learn or listen or tell the truth. James has already got "the dope" from his lame-a$$ Republican playbook. From whence he digged up a couple of smarmy jibes against Obama. Sneering all the way to political minority status for the next 25 years, I hope. Or extinction altogether.
Posted by: GL | August 13, 2008 9:49 AM
Report Offensive Comment
GL once again- I am an independent voter. I have no party line.
Calm down and try to be more openminded in your paranoid ramblings.
Next time- why not accuse me of being a PUMA.
Posted by: james | August 13, 2008 9:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"James- maybe you need to do a little research. In the Ill. senate you vote "present" when it is a bill you like, but it needs more work."
Terra- I already heard Obama's lame-@ss excuse. Don't you know- there's a reason why the "present" button is yellow? The man doesn't want to take a stand or commit to what he supports and what he rejects.
His trip to the war zones were an eyeopener. He keeps re-writing his positions on Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Israel and a plethora of other major issues.
Now he is trying to address the war in Georgia. How can we know what stand he will take??
Posted by: james | August 13, 2008 9:03 AM
Report Offensive Comment
To the "blind trust" and "crime of persuation [sic]" comments below, my answer is No, it is not blind trust and crime of persuasion (which isn't a crime). Whoever wins the election, it will be in some measure because they were trusted to do something they've never done before --be president-- and persuaded people to vote for them. So how would my voting for Senator Obama be in any way different from voting for Senator McCain in terms of trust and persuasion?
Weighing the two candidate's character, tone, style, words, policies, legislative history, personal history, etc. is how we come to a decision. As well as by weighing the opinions of those we trust. For me, Senator Obama is the man to be trusted when weighed against John McCain. As Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight Eisenhower (who describes herself as a "lifelong Republican"), summarized it, "Obama seems like a leader who can deal with challenges that are highly complex, nuanced and interconnected, and he has the language and communication skills and temperament to engage a set of world leaders who are his generation." John McCain seems like a leader who can't. And so I am being persuaded --strongly-- to vote for Senator Obama.
Only a Republican would say that a vote for Senator Obama is blind trust and "crime" of persuasion. "Anonymous" you may call yourself, but I still wonder if you might be Alberto Gonzales or Monica Goodling picking up a few extra RNC dollars by shilling anti-Obama claptrap on the web.
Posted by: GL | August 13, 2008 8:00 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"Senator Obama has shown leadership skills in getting people to trust in him despite his lack of experience."
isn't that a confidence trick? a crime of persuation?
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2008 7:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"Senator Obama has shown leadership skills in getting people to trust in him despite his lack of experience."
blink blink...wink wink..
isn't that blind trust?
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2008 7:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Senator Mitt Romney criticized Senator Obama for advocating age appropriate sex education even in kindergarten. It seemed shocking to Senator Romney. But the fact is sex abuse of children is not so uncommon as one would like to believe and yes, even little girls as old as five could be sexually abused. Most cases of sexual abuse happens at home and among family/relatives and friends of family of the child. Therefore psychologists who have dealt with children who have been sexually abused advise that it is important for little children to know when any kind of body touching is not appropriate. It is an extremely sensitive topic that needs to be dealt with in the most sensitive manner.
Senator Obama is right to see the urgent need for age appropriate sex education from kindergarten to tackle the monster of child sex assault and sexual abuse of minors. Since most of the cases happen at home and the vast majority go unreported, children should be empowered to tackle the epidemic and at least in a generation or two through intense education and tough measures, sexual abuse of children and minors will be eradicated like small pox.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2008 3:13 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Both Senator Obama (a strong supporter of Planned Parenthood) and Senator McCain should take a good look, no, many good looks, at this video ---
The Silent Scream - Dr B Nathanson MD
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2008 2:51 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Negative campaigning maybe politics as usual, but when that is the main thrust of a campaign it spells desperation and disaster to the party resorting to it.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2008 2:03 AM
Report Offensive Comment
If negative campaigning about Senator Obama is the best campaign Senator McCain can put up, then it is going to backfire. Senator McCain needs to focus on his positives and tell the country what he can do that is better than Senator Obama. At the very least he should remember to keep his campaign clean so that he can exit brave as a solider and like a gentleman in defeat. Fight the good fight by all means but fight it fairly.
The ad did its job but now Senator McCain must focus on his own positives, the strength of his own policies in comparison to the policies of Senator Obama.
Senator Obama has shown leadership skills in getting people to trust in him despite his lack of experience. He has a clean personal life that gives those who seek mud to slay his character no ground to attack. He has shown that his own work has been in contrast to the negatives preached by Rev Jeremiah Wright.
The battle should remain on the merit of the policies. Let the best man win.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2008 1:51 AM
Report Offensive Comment
James- maybe you need to do a little research. In the Ill. senate you vote "present" when it is a bill you like, but it needs more work.
I have no doubt that you are a regular to the McCain website...what is it you are going for..the golf balls? Why not save it...save your fear mongering for those "low information voters" they don't know any better. But the thing is, no one can win with just them.
I personally will vote for the one that I have faith in...we have had fear thrown at us by the rethugs., for it we have a liars war, we have more homeless, more sick,infastructure falling apart, we have a president that I am ashamed of, a constitution being mutilated, folded and shredded...we have children ending up in prison instead of colledge, we have a government that does not care about the people...we have a system broken and a people with less hope and less life. So James you keep your BS for somewhere else..this is the place for faith..and sweety, I got it and it ain't in that Old, wrinkled, white haired dude that made 32 propaganda films for the viet cong...did you know he is called Songbird by the vets?
terra
Posted by: Terra Gazelle | August 13, 2008 12:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
No, take your "fair and balanced" selection of hyperlinks and your RNC guidelines to online guerrilla campaign tactics and shove off, James. People are not as interested in the kind of stuff you're peddling as they used to be.
The Republicans have proven to be one of the worst, most destructive and most corrupt administrations in history--and we still don't know even the half of it, I'm convinced, because of the iron curtain of secrecy and unaccountability that descended around them years ago. I look forward to tearing down that wall. You say Obama is zero. I say Repubs are less than zero; they've driven this country into the "red" economically, politically, morally...all the while saying --as you're doing now-- trust "us," it's our opponents, "them," who are aliens, seditious, traitors, unAmerican, unknown. Meanwhile, shoving the money into their own pockets. In some sense, the war has followed us home with unparalleled debt, corruption, negligence and ineptitude. If Conservatism has been a cultural war, the Republicans have been carpetbaggers extraordinaire.
What angers me the most --yes, I admit my anger-- is the way the Repubs have laughed about it. George W. laughing about not being able to find WMD. Where's that hyperlink, James? George W. laughing about not having any housing problem. Opportunity for hyperlin? John McCain laughing about IEDs and bomb bomb Iran. One day, Republicans laughing might become a cliche like Nero's fiddling while Rome burns. Audiences of oil-rich elite Republicans laughing at George W.'s antics.
My hope...and I haven't tried to hide this in any of my comments...is that Americans will wake up to the shell game that's been practiced upon them and decide to take a positive step into the future. You say voting for Obama is a leap of faith. I say it's a positive step toward a better future for America. Now, John McCain-that's a leap of faith to believe he'll be anything but a puppet for the people who are running things now and running him in order to keep running things in the future. And running them into the ground for most of us.
Posted by: GL | August 13, 2008 12:00 AM
Report Offensive Comment
No, take your "fair and balanced" selection of hyperlinks and your RNC guidelines to online guerrilla campaign tactics and shove off, James. People are not as interested in the kind of stuff you're peddling as they used to be.
The Republicans have proven to be one of the worst, most destructive and most corrupt administrations in history--and we still don't know even the half of it, I'm convinced, because of the iron curtain of secrecy and unaccountability that descended around them years ago. I look forward to tearing down that wall. You say Obama is zero. I say Repubs are less than zero; they've driven this country into the "red" economically, politically, morally...all the while saying --as you're doing now-- trust "us," it's our opponents, "them," who are aliens, seditious, traitors, unAmerican, unknown. Meanwhile, shoving the money into their own pockets. In some sense, the war has followed us home with unparalleled debt, corruption, negligence and ineptitude. If Conservatism has been a cultural war, the Republicans have been carpetbaggers extraordinaire.
What angers me the most --yes, I admit my anger-- is the way the Repubs have laughed about it. George W. laughing about not being able to find WMD. Where's that hyperlink, James? George W. laughing about not having any housing problem. Opportunity for hyperlink? John McCain laughing about IEDs and bomb bomb Iran. James, give me the hyperlink here. One day, Republicans laughing might become a cliche like Nero's fiddling while Rome burns. Audiences of oil-rich elite Republicans laughing at George W.'s antics.
My hope...and I haven't tried to hide this in any of my comments...is that Americans will wake up to the shell game that's been practiced upon them --that you, James, are practicing right here right now-- and decide to take a positive step into the future. You say voting for Obama is a leap of faith. I say it's a positive step toward a better future for America. Now, John McCain-that's a leap of faith to believe he'll be anything but a puppet for the people who are running things now and running him in order to keep running things in the future. And running them into the ground for most of us.
Posted by: GL | August 12, 2008 11:59 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"You can kick and scream about it all you want. I don't trust YOU."
Okiedokie GL. Quiet down- you don't have to trust me. Listen to what others are saying about the inexperienced presidential candidate:
http://video.thechrismatthewsshow.com/player/?fid=31183
This is a longer clip of the Chris Matthews Show (8.10.08) I already posted. Its about twelve minutes long and worth hearing. A vote for Barack Obama is a HUGE leap of faith. Like when a kid buys a twenty dollar mystery box guaranteed to be filled with one hundred dollars worth of treasures- but when he gets home and opens it he finds five dollars worth of old crap.
Think about it.
BTW- the one kicking and screaming again and again is you- not me.
Posted by: james | August 12, 2008 10:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
JAMES,
Frankly, I'm convinced you're a shill and a salesman for one of the worst and most destructive administrations in the history of this country. And a dangerous one too, in that it wants to continuate itself using John McCain as a puppet and front man, and people like you as a shill and propagandist. So you can mock and rock and sock Senator Obama and me all you want: Obama the zero; Obama the neophyte; don't vote for him he's scary; our strange mental fatigue; my ability to fabricate a story; our under-80 IQ; our need for a "Christ-like Messiah"; my paranoid hissy fit, etc. YOU ARE NOT SELLING ME THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. I AM NOT BUYING JOHN McCAIN. You can kick and scream about it all you want. I don't trust YOU.
Posted by: GL | August 12, 2008 5:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"(McCain) begs an examination of his own faith, which has invited comparisons not to Moses but to John Edwards. While infidelity might not be a big issue for infidels..)
What type of Christian has never heard of King David and thinks McCain's "The One" video diminishes the Church more than the Obama's Father Pfleger video?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_H11x6bMu4Y
Honestly- I am beginning to wonder if Obama followers are experiencing some strange mental fatigue. Its that or he has the under eighty IQ vote sewn up.
You people are going to scare the bejesus out of Berlinerblau when he reads this and he doesn't even have any bejesus..
Posted by: james | August 12, 2008 12:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
An interesting take on "The One." The McCain campaign might regret this ad not only because it fails to address an issue.
Of the voters who identify themselves as Christians, 15% of us have switched moved from the GOP to the Democrats. About 35% have become "independent." While it is still true most Christians identify themselves as Republicans, that number has slipped significantly since Obama came to the Senate in 2004.
Rather than analyze the reasons for this shift, which have nothing to do with Obama, as he himself has said, "The One" is designed as a wedge between Obama and non-believers who fear religion. But the mistake of the ad is that many Christians who have suffered under the economic and foreign affairs policies of the GOP have eaten the bitter fruit borne by that tree for too long.
The faith problem for McCain is two-fold: one, by lampooning Obama's profession of faith, McCain divides and diminishes The Church for personal gain; two, he begs an examination of his own faith, which has invited comparisons not to Moses but to John Edwards. While infidelity might not be a big issue for infidels, it makes it difficult for the Clinton-is-an-adulterer wing of the GOP to forget how they spent 1992-2000 and now throw their support to McCain. Ironically, both Clinton and McCain have asked forgiveness, which should turn us back to ideas about how to govern best, some McCain's "The One" ad fails to do.
Posted by: Brandon Cesmat | August 12, 2008 11:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
GL, Take a minute and think about this.
You've read a few of my posts- and believe I am a staunch republican "reciting RNC, White House and McCain talking points" and a paid propagandist clearly associated "with the (McCain)campaign, the White House and the RNC".
You've made up a history for me and convinced yourself to believe it without a shred of evidence. In fact- I am a registered independent voter and have been all my life and (unlike Berlinerblau) no one pays me to post.
Its easy to see- you are using your dazzling ability to fabricate a background story out of thin air to choose a presidential candidate. That's not smart.
Allow yourself to look at this link with no bias:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc-jlErK_zw
Many serious voters are taking a closer look at Obama and backing away.
One last thing- when you see people at the convention in Denver raising their hands over their heads and making an O with their fingers- they are signaling to you that Obama is a BIG ZERO. Don't vote for him.
Posted by: james | August 12, 2008 9:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
James and Anonymous, all you're doing is reciting RNC, White House and McCain talking points --we know next to nothing about Senator Obama-- and posting hyperlinks to cherry-picked targets. I use the term "cherry-picked" deliberately because it seems to be a favorite propaganda technique of our beloved president. And since we know that the McCain campaign is "peppering" (oops, sorry, should I say "salting"?) the internet with paid propagandists, it's only reasonable to ask you to disclose your associations with the campaign, the White House and the RNC. For all I know, you're actually Alberto Gonzales and Monica Goodling doing temp work.
Far from being a "hissy fit," all the things I asked James to reveal about himself are things we know about Senator Obama, despite James's sloganeering claims about knowing "next to nothing." If one doesn't know, one finds out. Senator Obama's legislative record is as available as Senator McCain's. At least I admit we're still learning. But James isn't interested in finding out because he's really not asking a question. He's sloganeering, and whatever answer he gets, even if it's a complete list of Obama's legislative activity going back to his birth certificate, James is going to reject it on some grounds or other because knowing is not what James is about.
And even though you each had time to do your homework, neither of you was able to say anything about Reagan's or Roosevelt's or Lincoln's accomplishments as governors or as congressman. They were each equally attacked in their time as being lightweight and unknown. Is Obama in their class? I hope to give him the chance to find out, because what I don't know yet about Senator Obama is better than what I know about Senator McCain.
As for belittling James, I find it marvelous how conservatives schooled in the Rush Limbaugh school of verbal attack, factual distortion, mindless talking points, propaganda and innuendo whinny when someone turns around and says "Boo!" I'm sure you'll live and go on to salt and pepper many more discussion boards before it's all over.
Posted by: GL | August 12, 2008 8:03 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Senator Obama can make up for his lack of experience by choosing a good VP.
Senator John McCain's ad did take the pseudo religious messiah fervor out of the political campaign. It is good for both candidates for now they can be who they really are - politicians, and leave preaching to real pastors.
Compare policies, compare policies, compare policies and CAST YOUR VOTE for every vote counts.
Let the best man win.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 12, 2008 1:05 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"Belittling the person who asks for information is not nice. It gives the impression that verifiable facts are hard to come by."
Thanks for the backup Anon. GL must have viewed my links and finally realised this is a HUGE campaign issue. He CAN'T provide verifiable facts of Senator Obama's real accomplishments or he would have. So he threw an online paranoid hissy fit and sheet his drawers. So much for calming anxieties.
Get a grip GL.
One more link you're sure to enjoy.
Posted by: james | August 12, 2008 12:16 AM
Report Offensive Comment
By the age of forty seven professionally successful men and women have usually made a mark in their field of work. There are rare late achievers and those who achieve their best in a newly chosen field late in life. But as a rule one gets a good idea of a person's values and accomplishments by the age of forty seven.
Nobody comes with experience of being President. So only the ability to be president is being looked for.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 11, 2008 11:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment
GL:
So, begin by telling us who you are James. Are you a Republican? Are you employed by the Republican National Committee or the McCain campaign? Are you being paid or rewarded to be among us commenters?
August 11, 2008 11:17 PM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The same applies to you. Begin by telling the bloggers who you are. Are you a Democrat? Are you employed by the Democratic National Committee or the Senator Obama campaign? Are you being paid or rewarded to be among those who post comments.
Try another tactic next time. There is nothing wrong in wanting to know all about the man who aspires to occupy the most powerful political office in the world. Provide verifiable facts of Senator Obama's real accomplishments to calm anxieties. Belittling the person who asks for information is not nice. It gives the impression that verifiable facts are hard to come by.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 11, 2008 11:42 PM
Report Offensive Comment
James wrote:
"People- you gotta stop thinking doing a meaningless cut and paste is an acceptable argument. The man Obama is a neophyte with no record. We know next to nothing about him."
James, I know even more next to nothing about you, so tell me why I should take your word about, well, anything, let alone about scholar, author, teacher, former congressman and junior Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama? Furthermore, you accuse others of copying and pasting arguments when your comment doesn't even rise to that level. All you've done is copied and pasted a couple of hyperlinks.
Tell us about yourself James. Where were you born? Who are your parents? What have you achieved in your life? What schools did you attend? What degrees have you earned? What organizations or employers have you worked for? What schools have you taught in? What church do you attend? What is your legislative record as congressman and senator? What debates have you participated in, testing your words and thoughts against rebuttal and argument in front of a watching, judging audience? What questions have you responded to publicly? What interviews have you given? Where can I read them? In what venues have you placed yourself before the public and put your words and your thoughts on record?
Yeah, we're still learning about Barack Obama. But you don't intend for us to have a chance, do you? Hey, off the top of your head, tell me about Ronald Reagan's gubenatorial achievements...or Franklin Roosevelt's. What were Abraham Lincoln's congressional achievements?
So, begin by telling us who you are James. Are you a Republican? Are you employed by the Republican National Committee or the McCain campaign? Are you being paid or rewarded to be among us commenters?
Posted by: GL | August 11, 2008 11:17 PM
Report Offensive Comment
People- you gotta stop thinking doing a meaningless cut and paste is an acceptable argument. The man Obama is a neophyte with no record. We know next to nothing about him.
Obama campaign rep STUMPED on legislative accomplishments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGeu_4Ekx-o
Name one accomplishment by Obama
Posted by: james | August 11, 2008 3:26 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"That's a really good run-down on Obama's accomplishments. Looks like he's been busy."
You people who back Obama are scaring me. Educate yourself about the man's lack of accomplishments before you vote for a pig in a poke..
John Edwards to Obama: Why did you vote 'present' 100 times
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD3CWIh-UP0
Obama Pressed "Wrong Button" in State Senate
Posted by: james | August 11, 2008 3:16 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Terra Gazelle:
I notice they removed the comment that was nothing more than the URL to the government site with facts about Obama'a record. Now combine that with their removal of any reference to hoax buster and we get to the bottom of NW.WP thinking. They can't take the truth, sorta like, "lies that cause people to believe are moral."
Keeping the faith is getting more difficult. The facts keep getting in the way of faith.
Posted by: BGone | August 11, 2008 2:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Brambleton,
Before I respond to your comment, I'd like you to disclose any connection you have to the McCain campaign or the Republican National Committee or its affiliates, whether you're employed by the campaign, being paid by the campaign, or earning "rewards" from the campaign for commenting in online discussions.
Thank you.
Posted by: GL | August 11, 2008 8:09 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Let me be the first one to guess Senator Obama's choice of VP:
It is a well deserved Senator Hillary Clinton!
The speaking schedule for the Democratic Convention says it all ---
Day 1 - Michelle Obama
Day 2 - Senator Hillary Clinton
Day 3 - Former President Bill Clinton
Day 4 - To be President - Senator Barack Obama
Posted by: Obama Well Wisher | August 10, 2008 10:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Terra Gazelle:
That's a really good run-down on Obama's accomplishments. Looks like he's been busy. I didn't notice any government grants for the ministry which explains why God hasn't spoken to anyone in his behalf. Maybe if he introduced a bill banning abortion and/or gay marriage, important issues that effect all our lives and the ministry more than most, sure to be signed by the president?
The price of oil has come down a lot here lately explaining why only 65%, down from 86% who say drilling is the only significant issue. By November $3 gas will look so cheap they may stay home. Don't sell your gas guzzling yuppimobile short yet.
This oil crisis is beginning to look a lot like the other two where you could buy a fuel efficient car for 1/3 of what was paid for it a couple of months earlier and had to get on a waiting list of a Dodge Ram with an 8mpg Hemi "burn up the road" engine.
Don't nobody give up. God can speak any minute. Which is a wast of God's breath since we already know what God will say. Don't we? That's not the problem Jacques Berlinerblau addresses here is it, not knowing what God will say this election like previous elections?
Posted by: BGone | August 10, 2008 6:29 PM
Report Offensive Comment
GL,
You stated, "The Republicans have already trashed Senator Obama's Christianity because, even though he worshipped at a Christian church for 20 years, it had black people in it with black opinions about white America."
--> I'm confused. Are you talking about the same church that Obama has disassociated himself from? Is this the same church led by Pastor Wright - whose comments and peformances have been publicly criticized by Mr. Obama?
--> So either Republicans have simply JOINED Mr. Obama in the "trashing" of this specific church, OR, Mr. Obama left the church to curtail any further damage to his political campaign (thereby sacrificing whatever integrity he had to begin with). I'll let you decide.
Posted by: Brambleton | August 10, 2008 12:01 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Mr. Berlinerblau writes, "Whatever one may think of McCain's own maladroit religious pandering, this was the send-up of faith-based politicking that America desperately needed." This is an obvious and deliberate misreading of the ad.
1. "Whatever one may think of McCain's own maladroit religious pandering...."
At least in this portion of the sentence Berlinerblau sees and states the truth. The ad is religious pandering, though the dismissive "Whatever one may think" is disingenuous, implying that it doesn't matter what one may think of McCain's religious pandering. In fact, it does matter what we think of McCain's religious pandering. I personally think it stinks. I wonder also if it is not subtly (or not so subtly) racist, since McCain is suggesting the incongruity of Obama's black face with ultra-conservative white actor Charlton Heston's 1950-something portrayal of Moses in DeMille's "The Ten Commandments." Other McCain ads also suggest the unacceptability of Senator Obama's black face on Mt. Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, and the one hundred dollar bill. The Republicans have already trashed Senator Obama's Christianity because, even though he worshipped at a Christian church for 20 years, it had black people in it with black opinions about white America.
2. "...this was the send-up of faith-based politicking that America desperately needed."
No, it is not a send-up of faith-based politicking, it is maladroit religious pandering, as stated initially. No, it is not needed desperately by America. America may need some things desperately, but maladroit religious pandering is not one of them.
Mr. Berlinerblau, are you thinking or are you "spinning"? Your sneering references to Senator Obama as "the Christ-like Messiah" lead me to believe you're spinning.
Posted by: GL | August 10, 2008 8:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
More Obama record, here's more on the list of some of his legislation.
Four bills on energy including
• S.1151 : A bill to provide incentives to the auto industry to accelerate efforts to develop more energy-efficient vehicles to lessen dependence on oil;
•S.115 : A bill to suspend royalty relief, to repeal certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry; and •S.133 : A bill to promote the national security and stability of the economy of the United States by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes.
On health care he introduced ten bills/amendments, including one amendment that passed: S.AMDT.1041 to S.1082 To improve the safety and efficacy of genetic tests. Other issues addressed in his proposed health care legislation were AIDS research (S.823 ), hospital report cards (S.692 — the V.A., and S.1824 — Medicare), better emergency care (S.1873), and drug price controls (S.2347).
On Iran: S.J.RES.23 : A joint resolution clarifying that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq, any resolution previously adopted, or any other provision of law.
On votingPassed out of Committee and now on the Senate Calendar for Feb. 22, 2008
S.453 : A bill to prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections Please check this out! This is a great bill. We need this. I can't believe that this time voter intimidation is not already illegal.
On veterans and military personnel: S.1084 : A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans;
On global warmingS.1324 : A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel sold in the United States;S.1389 : A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to establish a Climate Change Education Program; S.AMDT.599 to S.CON.RES.21 To add $200 million for Function 270 (Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and sequestration technology by the Department of Energy. (This last one passed both the House and the Senate as part of the budget bill.)
On campaign finance and lobbyists S.2030 : A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require reporting relating to bundled contributions made by persons other than registered lobbyists; and S.AMDT.41 to S.1 To require lobbyists to disclose the candidates, leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect or arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions collected or arranged.
On Blackwater S.2044 : A bill to provide procedures for the proper classification of employees and independent contractors, and for other purposes, and S.2147 : A bill to require accountability for contractors and contract personnel under Federal contracts, and for other purposes.
On global poverty S.2433 : A bill to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day.
On global nuclear proliferation S.1977 : A bill to provide for sustained United States leadership in a cooperative global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, stop the spread of nuclear weapons and related material and technology, and support the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear technology.
I counted nine education bills, but it's getting late
Oh and just in 2007-
S.AMDT.1041 to S.1082 To improve the safety and efficacy of genetic tests.
S.AMDT.3073 to H.R.1585 To provide for transparency and accountability in military and security contracting.
S.AMDT.3078 to H.R.1585 Relating to administrative separations of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder.
S.AMDT.41 to S.1 To require lobbyists to disclose the candidates, leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect or arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions collected or arranged.
S.AMDT.524 to S.CON.RES.21 To provide $100 million for the Summer Term Education Program supporting summer learning opportunities for low-income students in the early grades to lessen summer learning losses that contribute to the achievement gaps separating low-income students from their middle-class peers.
S.AMDT.599 to S.CON.RES.21 To add $200 million for Function 270 (Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and sequestration technology by the Department of Energy.
S.AMDT.905 to S.761 To require the Director of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education to establish a program to recruit and provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities who are interested in careers in mathematics, science, and engineering.
S.AMDT.923 to S.761 To expand the pipeline of individuals entering the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to support United States innovation and competitiveness.
S.AMDT.924 to S.761 To establish summer term education programs.
S.AMDT.2519 to H.R.2638 To provide that one of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5 million or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee owes no past due Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.2588 to H.R.976 To provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.
S.AMDT.2658 to H.R.2642 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.2692 to H.R.2764 To require a comprehensive nuclear threat reduction and security plan.
S.AMDT.2799 to H.R.3074 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.3137 to H.R.3222 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.3234 to H.R.3093 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
S.AMDT.3331 to H.R.3043 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
An empty suit? I think not..but if you want to do your own research..http://thomas.loc.gov at the
Library of Congress Website.
Some one should list McCain's record. Obama's record is better then Hillary Clintons. Oh she has alot of bills..many of which Obama co sponsered, but they are smaller and more incremental.
terra
Posted by: Terra Gazelle | August 9, 2008 11:37 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Can anyone name just one thing Obama has acomplished as a politician that shows his leadership abilities.. Without resorting to a cut and paste from wikipedia?
Sure...Obama as a state senator he fought against great odds and enlarged KidCare, the Ill childrens healthcare system. He passed a law that all interagations were to be video taped...too many people were being abused or the cops were being accused of abuse. Opposition came from the police, too many of whom had become accustomed to using muscle to "solve" crimes. And the incoming governor, Rod Blagojevich, announced that he was against it. But Obama got it passed 35-0 and he talked the gov into signing it. The first state to have this protection. He also passed the states first earned income tax credit, helping the poor, the first ethics and finance law passed in 25 years...what has been called the best state finance ethics law in the nation...that he carried over to the US senate. He had been asked to do the same thing in the senate... where he co-authored the new lobbying reform law that, among its hard-to-sell provisions, requires lawmakers to disclose the names of lobbyists who "bundle" contributions for them.In the U.S. Senate, Obama introduced the STOP FRAUD Act to increase penalties for mortgage fraud and provide more protections for low-income homebuyers, well before the current subprime crisis began.Barack Obama introduced the Patriot Employer Act of 2007 to provide a tax credit to companies that maintain or increase the number of full-time workers in America relative to those outside the US; maintain their corporate headquarters in America; pay decent wages; prepare workers for retirement; provide health insurance; and support employees who serve in the military.Obama voted in 2005, 2006, and 2007 to reinstate PAYGO federal budget rules.Obama has introduced and helped pass bipartisan legislation to limit the abuse of no-bid federal contracts.In 2006, Obama voted against misguided Republican efforts to raise the statutory debt limit.Obama championed a proposal to create a system so employers can verify that their employees are legally eligible to work in the U.S.Obama joined Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) to introduce the citizenship Promotion Act to ensure that immigration application fees are both reasonable and fair. Obama also introduced legislation that passed the Senate to improve the speed and accuracy of FBI background checks.Obama created the Illinois Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income working families in 2000 and successfully sponsored a measure to make the credit permanent in 2003. The law offered about $105 million in tax relief over three years.He joined Senator Dick Lugar in passing a law to help the United States and our allies detect and stop the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction throughout the world. He joined Senator Chuck Hagel to introduce a bill that seeks to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, and stop the spread of nuclear weapons.As a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Obama passed legislation to improve care and slash red tape for our wounded warriors recovering at places like Walter Reed. He passed laws to help homeless veterans and offered an innovative solution to prevent at-risk veterans from falling into homelessness. Obama led a bipartisan effort in the Senate to try to halt the military's unfair practice of discharging service members for having a service-connected psychological injury. He fought for fair treatment of Illinois veterans' claims and forced the VA to conduct an unprecedented outreach campaign to disabled veterans with lower than-average benefits. Obama passed legislation to stop a VA review of closed PTSD cases that could have led to a reduction in veterans' benefits. He passed an amendment to ensure that all service members returning from Iraq are properly screened for traumatic brain injuries. He introduced legislation to direct the VA and Pentagon to fix disjointed records systems and improve outreach to members of the National Guard and Reserves."
Now these are only some of the bills and laws that Obama has dealt with. He has more of a legislative history then Hillary Clinton. But gee going to google and researching is just too hard. I did the research when I was deciding who to back...it does not take a rocket scientist and I hate kool aid..I am a Crystal Light drinker myself. Obama is not the massiah...but will make a hellofa good president. The biggest problem he has is too many see a black man who is intelligent and has gotten to a place that they have not.
John McCain is jealous. He is a mean old liar who is a year away from senility. He said yesterday that when he was president (Jan.maybe) that he will tell the senate to get back to work. What is he going to do tell them to leave and come back? The man is losing it..well maybe you think a crazy old man is better then a smart, energetic black man. More coming.
terra
Posted by: Terra Gazelle | August 9, 2008 11:23 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Oh, and the Obamas purchased a $1M house on the strength of Michelle's income, not Barack's. She worked as an administrator for a hospital system prior to taking a leave of absence to help her husband campaign.
Both Obama and McCain have wives that earn more than they do. Not that this is a bad thing.
Posted by: Athena | August 9, 2008 11:01 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Actually, it was regugitated from www.thomas.gov, not Wikipedia.
Posted by: Athena | August 9, 2008 10:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
If I were a US soldier,risking my life and sanity in the 100-plus-degree desets of Iraq,I'd be asking some pretty serious questions of the CEOs of companies like Halliburton.
How much do you earn?
How much do I earn?
What do you risk?
What do I risk?
Equally,if I were a syudent,or a school teacher, or a single mother in the United States,reading about the huge cuts in public spending, I'd be asking a very simple question about this war:
Who pays, who profits?
-Never Ending War- A ROY
Posted by: Anonymous | August 9, 2008 12:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
It is Senator Obama's good fortune that his followers in the US and outside have granted him a cult personality status.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 8, 2008 9:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Let's face it: both Senator John McCain and Senator Obama have speech writers. David Axelrod was recently cited as being the brain behind Senator Obama's political rise and chis mesmerizing speeches. So it is not fair to mention only Senator McCain's ghost writers and political think tanks. Fair is fair. We are dealing with the Olympics of politics here, each one using the best resources at their disposal. Portraying Senator McCain as doing everything with help from others and Senator Obama as a one-man show is not honest at all.
Let the best man win. Both are playing the same game each in his own way, each with their own think tanks and own speech writers.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 8, 2008 9:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Folks, if you want to keep a clear head, leave religion out of the picture and concentrate on the merits or otherwise of the policies.
No politician comes with prior experience of being President. A president only needs to have good advisers, the leadership skills to choose the best among them and work out a plan based on ideas he has been presented with.
CAST YOUR VOTE after comparing policies.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 8, 2008 9:33 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Athena:
Obama can afford a $1M+ home helping welfare cases. Now let's suppose he helped folks with money. How big a MacMansion then? McCain married money, a beer distributor. Jerry Falwell makes them both look like pikers and he began his career as an apprentice bootlegger before he found out how much money there was in helping poor unfortunates find Jesus. Clearly, there's big money for those doing God's work.
McCain went to the mountain where God lives. Trinity God that is -Billy God the father, Frankie God the son of farther God and their dog Holy Spirit God. It's obvious McCain went there hoping to convert God, make them beer drinkers. In reality he's lucky they didn't sic their dog on him. They still have time but then there's the God vote still waiting in the wings for an abortion opportunity.
Things just ain't like they used to be. It's so bad Jacques Berlinerblau had to leave the country, gone all the way to Italy. Don't you imagine he did something pretty bad to get sent to Italy? Reckon when they're gonna let him out?
Posted by: BGone | August 8, 2008 6:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Athena...
That's regurgitated wiki-speak.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 8, 2008 4:51 PM
Report Offensive Comment
And how many homes does "regular guy" John McCain own?
Obama's home may be worth $1M, but in an expensive real estate market like Chicago, that's just above average. Heck, I can point to homes in my neighborhood here in the DC suburbs that are going for $800,000+. And they're not McMansions, either.
Obama's time in the Senate may have been short, but it's been worthwhile. He's partnered with Senators Lugar, Coburn, and (irony alert) McCain for various bills that were passed, including one that limited the proliferation of conventional weapons. (Expanding Nunn-Lugar). He partnered with McCain on a Global Climate Change bill, and with Coburn on a government transparency bill. He's also worked on public notification of radioactive waste dumps and campaign finance reform.
Meanwhile, McCain has missed over 150 straight days while campaigning for President. He even missed the crucial FISA vote, which Obama and Clinton came back to Washington for. He's consistently voted AGAINST expanded funding for the Veteran's Administration, opposed and did not vote for the New G.I. Bill (of which Obama was a co-sponsor), and voted against expanded health care for veterans. He also submitted legislation to "suspend royalty relief, to repeal certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal certain tax incentives for the oil and gas industry." Hmmm....
Posted by: Athena | August 8, 2008 4:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Obama short career as a senator has been average at best. He was not a great legislator and has shown no particular leadership. Democratic state senators from Chicago- Trotter and Hendon called him a "privileged, know-it-all greenhorn". He might have accomplished much more for his constituents but he never intended to stay long enough to help them- they were only a stepping-stone for him.
Can anyone name just one thing Obama has acomplished as a politician that shows his leadership abilities.. Without resorting to a cut and paste from wikipedia?
Posted by: Anonymous | August 8, 2008 4:07 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Mary:
Quiet contrary too I see. So far all BarakO has presented as credentials is his role as a welfare advocate. You got that straight and we can suspect one of the greatest beneficiaries was his pastor, Jeremiah Wright. Obama's house is worth over a million dollars showing there's big money to be made helping the poor, (stay poor?).
I guess you're referring to Jacques with "sir." Either I read him or you in error for I can't see where he's promoting senator Obama with, "Are the false messiah and his flock about to walk the celestial plank?." Even if he left "false" out.
Posted by: BGone | August 8, 2008 4:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
My question is this? In every company run across America, people aren't promoted from summer intern straight to CEO. Obama could be a high-quality, intelligent person. But literacy and showmanship don't provide the necessary life experiences that you can only acquire over time. Again, he might make some very good, well informed decisions. But why would we risk at least four years from someone "learning on the job" when we can elect someone who has already made both the good and bad decisions and, presumably, learned from them?
Perhaps, in that case, we wouldn't have a President making ridiculous comments about tires and tune-ups. To quote from commentator Glen Beck:
"No one, including John McCain, disputes that keeping your tires inflated will help you get better gas mileage. But so will emptying your trunk, buying a hybrid, not using the heat, and driving naked. The point is that none of those things are solutions; they're unsustainable gimmicks that distract people from solving the underlying crisis. They're also exactly the type of things that Obama once claimed he was against."
Posted by: Brambleton | August 8, 2008 3:37 PM
Report Offensive Comment
One other reminder, sir, respectfully submitted:
Recall the story of the 2 workers in the vineyard, and which of the 2 Jesus most admired.
One worker said all the right things, gracefully, charmingly, but never showed up for work.
The other worker was not verbally gifted, did not say a lot of "gifted" things, but showed up , every day, to DO the right thing.
Now....examine the poor in the Chicago public housing units, and what Jesus would have wanted done. His "worker" said all the right things, garnered all the right government grants to "help" those people, brags, now, that this "work" is what represents what he wants to do, and be, for America.
And yet, the poor in those housing units went without heat or maintenance, lived with rats and overflowing sewage, while the associates of the "worker" walked away with all the money, without accountability.
I think I know exactly what Jesus would think of the "says all the right things" worker who didn't really "show up" to get the work done.
With all due respect, sir.
Posted by: Mary | August 8, 2008 10:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Stunning, that the writer thinks Barak Obama "owns" the religious card.
Uh, no. For many Independents, who are Independents because their religion is not flaunted publicly for personal advantage (as in, pray in the closet, remember), Mr. Obama's "performances" ring hollow.
All that glitters is not gold.
Posted by: Mary | August 8, 2008 9:48 AM
Report Offensive Comment
When Rev Jeremiah Wright was criticized he said the whole black community was being accused. That was a smart tactic to shift personal responsibility and play the victim card on behalf of a whole community.
It would be a pity if Senator Obama used the same tactic when criticized for his policies or lack of experience. If he said that any criticism of him was criticism of the black community or the Democratic party as a whole, that would be too bad. Let us hope he does not go there.
As he might have noticed by now, his implication, "I'm the one the US and the world has been waiting for," can backfire in some cases for not all are attracted by cult personalities.
People need to hear what he has done and what he intends to do.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 8, 2008 2:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment
He may not be the Messiah, but if Obama cures us of the Republicans, he'll get my vote.
Bush...lying about Iraq and then Laughing about it in that video he made of himself looking under beds at the White House. "Nope, no WMD under here. Har har." And laughing about "Wall Street got drunk" and "Me and Laura don't have any problem finding housing." Hee hee.
McCain laughing about IEDs ...and then telling John Murtha to "get a life" when Murtha criticized McCain for making jokes while American soldiers are wounded and killed by these devices. "Get a life." How appropriate is that? Oh, and his joke about "bomb bomb bomb Iran." War with Iran...more dead...Hardy har har.
I mean, I'm a level-headed guy, but I am so outraged by the Repugnant Republican thugs, that I really do feel like we need to be saved from them.
So, now the Republicans want to laugh and make fun of me because I've had it up to here with them. Well, we'll see who has the last laugh.
Posted by: GL | August 7, 2008 10:14 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Paul,
I'm from Tennessee, actually, and make that EAST Tennessee. I've lived here in GA since 1984.
The Neanderthals here in GA - by the way, I like GA very much, despite the neolithic politics - will do their best to return a caveman to the oval office. But it will be close.
Posted by: Arminius | August 7, 2008 5:35 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I can tell- Arminius "ain't from Georgia"- he only lives here.
On election night in November- he ought to stay home with a BIG box of kleenex. It "ain't going to be his party."
Georgia hasn't lost its mind. We'll be voting for the old white-haired dude.
Posted by: paul | August 7, 2008 5:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Nonpundit,
Don't discourage Bob Barr. It is possible that he will draw away enough republican votes here in Georgia to hand the state to Obama, where it belongs.
Vote Obama!
Posted by: Arminius | August 7, 2008 4:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
You'd think Hillary was still running the way Bill is waffling and hedging his bets & new libertarian Bob Barr is an unreconstituted republican redneck from Georgia. A real wolf in sheep's clothing.
Word has it that McCain has just put in an order for a Harley full dresser - which will probably get him a few extra votes in Milwaukee. Later on, he and his deluxe wife will look good in leathers as they tool around the Senate chambers swilling Bud lite at his retirement party.
Nope, looks like Obama is still the only one that's focused on the hard job ahead. Not everyone likes the choices - but if you have to roll the dice, you have to consider 8 more years of Bush.....or the likely possiblity of real change.
Of course what we will actually get is anyone's guess - but even the most pessimistic voter has to consider that Obama will almost certainly muddle through at a far higher level of performance than McCain would ever be able to muster on his best day - and his best days are far, far behind him.
Only one candidate has the stuff.
Vote Obama -
Posted by: nonpundit | August 7, 2008 3:42 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Oooh, lots of McCain points being earned in this thread! You guys might just get those wonderful McCain golf balls if you keep posting!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/06/AR2008080603589.html
Posted by: Athena | August 7, 2008 2:20 PM
Report Offensive Comment
McCain and Obama are both abominable, so why not just say no to both and vote Bob Barr? Wouldn't that be a sweet wake-up call to both major parties...?
Posted by: Carol | August 7, 2008 2:17 PM
Report Offensive Comment
GL:
Correct. The sad part about it is the Democrats had to pick a first term senator with zero qualifications by most folks' standards. So far all I've been able to find out about him is he worked for, (lawyer for) welfare cases in a Chicago slum. I also happen to know that the Illinois public assistance, (welfare) department went bankrupt at about the same time. This leaves me to wonder if he "taught them to fish" or helped them demand and get fish caught by others.
"I was against the war in the beginning" is weak. The one thing the war has done is remove one of those easy, "unrest in the mid east" scenarios. The war seems to have finally accomplished it's stated goal, bring Democracy (such as it is) to Iraq and remove Iraq as a threat to our security. And it has created a thorn in the side of all those mid east "kingdoms" from whence springs terrorists. Yes, he gets all those doves who wouldn't have gone to war with Japan, 1941. It's been so long since they decided an election it's impossible to say they ever did.
85% of the voters say oil is the issue. Where does he stand on oil? Maybe Obama can walk on water but he's to busy walking on oil to even try it would seem. Bill Clinton would be yelling drill if her was the candidate. Who are the evangelicals going to vote for if not McCain? Who are the ecologicals as well as the doves going to vote for if not Obama? He's courting McCain's base, his base and leaving 85% out in the parking lot.
It gives Bubba a thrill when he hears they're going to drill and he decides all elections. Of course, if Bubba only knew the truth. Good luck educating him. Everyone else has given up on that.
Posted by: BGone | August 7, 2008 11:53 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Take a look at McCain's latest ad:
DEMOCRATS PRAISING McCAIN:
Posted by: nobama | August 7, 2008 10:31 AM
Report Offensive Comment
What is being read in America?
Anti-Obama books are flying off shelves. There are three books that take a negative view of Obama's ability to lead that are bestsellers. The conventional media have barely acknowledged these books. Maybe Berlinerblau will comment in a future post?
Posted by: russell | August 7, 2008 9:33 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The so-called messianic celebrity of Obama is as much about "the disaster of Bush-Cheney" (Andrew Sullivan) and a desire to throw them out of office as it is about Obama. That's what the ads and attacks are meant to cover over. Many people feel that unrestrained Republican governance has been a disaster. To follow through the "messiah" metaphor, there's no Democratic redemption without Republican sin.
I also am intrigued by Karl Rove's use of the image of white film actor and ultra-conservative Charlton Heston as a silver-haired Moses parting the Red Sea, while referring sneeringly to Senator Obama as "The One," which is of course a reference to Jesus Christ. There's some real cunning calculation involved in suggesting Christ but realizing that the visual identification of, say, Christ on the cross, would skew the message too far into incalculable associations. It's a very manipulative use of the religious beliefs of others, though not necessarily of those who produced the message.
Isn't the suggestion of the ad that a black man has no place in Christian society? He can't be Old Testament patriarch and film icon Moses/Heston and he can't be New Testament Messiah? Because only an old white man can? Isn't the ad suggesting that it's as incongruous and unacceptable to see a black Obama parting the Red Sea in Cecil DeMille's movie as it would be to see Obama's face in the office of president or on dollar bill? It's a cunning attack, but what does it say about McCain and what McCain is really about.
Posted by: GL | August 7, 2008 8:23 AM
Report Offensive Comment
There IS a cultish fascination for Senator Obama. Hence it is all the more important to focus on policies to get a balanced view.
Senator Obama needs no special sympathy as a black man. Other blacks have done the hard work and paved the way before him - Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice, Tiger Woods, Oprah Winfrey, Jesse Jackson etc etc.
Being raised by a white mother and white grandparents in Hawaii, a black father who was an overseas student who went on to study at Harvard, and left no impression on Obama because he had nothing to do with him after the age of two...Obama carries no personal scars because of being HALF black. As far as his upbringing goes, for Obama there is not much difference from the sons of white single mothers in America. Only his many half siblings in Indonesia and Africa makes his story unique.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 7, 2008 12:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Bill Clinton is an experienced politician and is very careful when he speaks of Obama-
When asked if he thought Obama was ready to be president- Bill Clinton said only 'I Think He Should Win'. He will not say 'Obama Is Ready To Be President'.
Posted by: ray | August 6, 2008 5:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Mark,
Actually, Paris pwned McCain. 'Pwn' is a computer gaming term meaning, in this case, she 'owned' him, i.e. beat the crap outta him. Good video, all here should see it.
Amazing the depths the McCain campaign has sunk to. The tire pressure thing was sad, even NASCAR corrected McCain on that one. It is pathetic that the maverick of 2000 has morphed into a political prostitute.
Posted by: Arminius | August 6, 2008 3:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
McCain can't draw a crowd, so they slip him into events with a crowd....how pathetic.
Paris PUNK'D the wrinkly old white haired guy
Posted by: mark | August 6, 2008 3:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
uh huh..
"Barack Obama's campaign contends it returned $33,500 in illegal contributions from Palestinians in Hamas-controlled Gaza, but the donors told Aaron Klein of WND today they have not received any money.
The Wall Street Journal reported it spoke to Obama officials who said the donations from three Palestinian brothers were received between Sept. 20 and Dec. 6 last year, and virtually all of the money was returned by Dec. 6. The campaign said, however, the refunds were not reported to the Federal Election Commission due to a technical error.
The Obama camp insisted the remaining $2,500 was refunded Monday and all of the refunds will be reflected soon in an amended report. The campaign said new controls are in place to prevent any similar attempts in the future."
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2008 3:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
uh-oh
"Barack Obama's national Muslim outreach coordinator has resigned amid a controversy of over his connections to a man who the Justice Department named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the racketeering trial last year of several alleged Hamas fund-raisers.
Mazen Asbahi, a Chicago lawyer who had been appointed to help Obama reach out to Muslims, stepped down on Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported late last night.
The paper had inquired about his relationship with Jamal Said, who served on a board with Asbahi in 2000 that is a subsidiary of the North American Islamic Trust, which holds titles to mosques, Islamic centers, schools, and other real estate around the country. Said had been named in an investigation of alleged Hamas fund-raisers, which ended in a mistrial last year, the paper reported."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/06/AR2008080601081.html?hpid=topnews
Posted by: jon | August 6, 2008 3:10 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Here come the trash.
Source -> http://www.onenews.com
"According to Federal Election Commission filings, Barack Obama has received illegal donations from Palestinians living in Gaza, a hotbed of Hamas terrorists."
Posted by: BGone | August 6, 2008 3:02 PM
Report Offensive Comment
SPEAKING OF SHIFTY-
"NEWSWEEK: In Iraq, it's not new that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has wanted to take control of his own country. But there's always been this gap between his assessment of his abilities and American commanders' saying he's not up to it. As president, faced with that difference between what he says he can do and what the commanders say he can do, how would you choose between them?
OBAMA: Iraq is a sovereign country. Not just according to me, but according to George Bush and John McCain. So ultimately our presence there is at their invitation, and their policy decisions have to be taken into account. I also think that Maliki recognizes that they're going to need our help for some time to come, as our commanders insist, but that the help is of the sort that is consistent with the kind of phased withdrawal that I have promoted. We're going to have to provide them with logistical support, intelligence support. We're going to have to have a very capable counterterrorism strike force. We're going to have to continue to train their Army and police to make them more effective.
NEWSWEEK: You've been talking about those limited missions for a long time. Having gone there and talked to both diplomatic and military folks, do you have a clearer idea of how big a force you'd need to leave behind to fulfill all those functions?
OBAMA: I do think that's entirely conditions-based. It's hard to anticipate where we may be six months from now, or a year from now, or a year and a half from now."
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OBAMA PROMISING TO END THE WAR AS HIS FIRST ACT IN OFFICE IF ELECTED??
Posted by: NOBAMA | August 6, 2008 2:10 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Face it. Barack Obama is too shifty:
"Barack Obama called Monday for tapping the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve to provide short-term relief from rising gasoline prices, marking the second time in a week that the Democrat has shifted positions on an energy issue.
His proposal to release 70 million barrels of oil from the stockpile — a concept he rejected one month ago — follows his decision last week to support some offshore drilling if it were part of a comprehensive energy bill."
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2008 1:18 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Oh, yeah, forgot - to see the Paris vs John videos, go to the Newsweek site, scroll down a bit. Under voices is a link to Stumper which will bring you right there. Enjoy!
Posted by: Arminius | August 6, 2008 1:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Arminius:
I just watched Paris Hilton presenting her energy plan. It was a good laugh, mostly silly - she wants to paint the White House pink, for instance. All in all, a really good satire, she put down McCain pretty well. But she actually made a good point: compromise, drill for some oil with environmental saveguards (McCain) and also give tax breaks to those companies who develop hybrid cars and alternative energy sources.
This charming video was followed by one starring McCain at the bikers' gathering. He played off drilling as a silver bullet, which it is not. Then he made his astonishing tire pressure gaffe. Afterwards, even NASCAR came out publically and said that properly inflated tires do give better mileage.
Go figure, conservatives. I will vote for Obama.
it just cracks me up when republicans will back up a man even if he is completely wrong. i love the whole tire pressure debate because mccain is trying to prove a fact wrong and all these mccain followers are saying the same thing. if mccain said the sky was purple and not blue his followers would stand by him and believe everything he says.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2008 1:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I just watched Paris Hilton presenting her energy plan. It was a good laugh, mostly silly - she wants to paint the White House pink, for instance. All in all, a really good satire, she put down McCain pretty well. But she actually made a good point: compromise, drill for some oil with environmental saveguards (McCain) and also give tax breaks to those companies who develop hybrid cars and alternative energy sources.
This charming video was followed by one starring McCain at the bikers' gathering. He played off drilling as a silver bullet, which it is not. Then he made his astonishing tire pressure gaffe. Afterwards, even NASCAR came out publically and said that properly inflated tires do give better mileage.
Go figure, conservatives. I will vote for Obama.
Posted by: Arminius | August 6, 2008 1:10 PM
Report Offensive Comment
nobama:
James J-
Do a wiki on:
YELLOW DOG DEMOCRAT
How old are you anyway??
Many democrats are voting for McCain because he is the best candidate.
do you really believe that crap. mccain is the best candidate lawl. did you think that about bush?
and it dont matter how old i am cause i have more common sense then you.
Posted by: james j | August 6, 2008 1:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment
James J-
Do a wiki on:
YELLOW DOG DEMOCRAT
How old are you anyway??
Many democrats are voting for McCain because he is the best candidate.
Posted by: nobama | August 6, 2008 1:02 PM
Report Offensive Comment
nobama:
"i have a question for all you christians. why would you vote for a man (mccain)"?
I'd vote for a yellow dog if he ran against Barack Obama..
but youd vote for a washed up angry senile old man. i just want to hear his views so far i havent heard anything but obama this obama that and all his views are bush's views so lets just have another bush in office to mess up this country for another 4 years. a question to republicans do you feel like its your job to republican no matter who is running for the candidate. i bet you all would vote the head of the kkk if he was the runner for the republican nomination.
Posted by: james j | August 6, 2008 12:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"i have a question for all you christians. why would you vote for a man (mccain)"?
I'd vote for a yellow dog if he ran against Barack Obama..
Posted by: nobama | August 6, 2008 12:52 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"Obama pokes fun.. by parodying"
Hey Paulc
Is that like Obama's pastor for twenty years was "just being provacative" when he said:
“We bombed Hiroshima, we bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon, and we never batted an eye.”
“We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff we have done overseas is now brought right back to our own front yards. America’s chickens are coming home to roost.”
“The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three-strike law and then wants us to sing ‘God Bless America.’ No, no, no, God damn America..”
“In the 21st century, white America got a wake-up call after 9/11/01. White America and the western world came to realize that people of color had not gone away, faded into the woodwork or just ‘disappeared’ as the Great White West kept on its merry way of ignoring black concerns.”
“Racism is how this country was founded and how this country is still run!…We [in the U.S.] believe in white supremacy and black inferiority and believe it more than we believe in God.”
“Barack knows what it means living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich white people. Hillary would never know that. Hillary ain’t never been called a nigger. Hillary has never had a people defined as a non-person.”
“Hillary is married to Bill, and Bill has been good to us. No he ain’t! Bill did us, just like he did Monica Lewinsky. He was riding dirty.”
“The Israelis have illegally occupied Palestinian territories for over 40 years now. Divestment has now hit the table again as a strategy to wake the business community and wake up Americans concerning the injustice and the racism under which the Palestinians have lived because of Zionism.”
Obama disowned his longtime beloved mentor and told him to shut up.
But Obama can't stop speaking:
"Something is stirring in America, but let me tell you- people are telling you not to believe in it"
"We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek"
"I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions."
BARACK OBAMA- One World. One Dream.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Vbtz_z7WU
Anyone who can listen to this video and not feel nauseous is a true Obama Cultist..
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2008 12:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
i have a question for all you christians. why would you vote for a man (mccain) when he lies about everything,judges a person on the color of his skin,and this man goes to a bike ralley where there is naked women drugs and music that in the eyes of god are wrong.and when in the bible it says thou shall not judge and thou shall not lie. if you all are true believers in the bible and gods words then this is a sin and you all dont like sinners.
Posted by: james j | August 6, 2008 12:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Dumb topic. Mediacurves.com shows that it plays to Republicans but not Democrats or Independents.
"Karen's" and others use of the quote "... a light will shine through that window, a beam of light will come down upon you, you will experience an epiphany ... and you will suddenly realize that you must go to the polls and vote for Obama"
conveniently edits the sentence and context in which Obama pokes fun at Clinton by parodying her criticism of him.
Very dishonest. Very desperate.
Posted by: PaulC | August 6, 2008 11:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
John McCain has a meanness to him that forbids one to think he has ever nor is he now a Christian. The same with Bush. With Obama only time will tell. Remember Bush said Jesus was his favorite philosopher (snicker) and the religious republicans fawned all over Bush in a sickening strawberry sweet way. After 9/11 the whole country fawned over messiah Bush but boy did we get a rude awakening! And McCain IS Bush without the religious facade.
Posted by: JanD | August 6, 2008 11:51 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Karen - what you have shown here is that even democrats are capable of hubris - although Obama might actually be displaying an ironic sense of humor regarding the inane ruckus over his 'chosen' status with your selected New Hampshire quote.
I personally hate all the quasi-religious crap that's been associated with his nomination.
People never get over their juvenile tendency to exaggerate, do they? Unfortunately Obama rode the religion bandwagon early on, so now we see the backlash.
On the other hand, McCain is the furthest thing imaginable from a Messianic figure - if we're going to get biblical, maybe Methuselah would be a more apt comparison - but without the wisdom.
Truth be told, I liked John Edwards and Hillary better way back when - and we would have avoided all this New Age blather. But then again, Obama is the only choice a sane voter has - the upside is simply that we'll be spared another 8-16 years of gross republican mis-management in the White House, and ample opportuntity to re-balance the Supreme Court.
That should be enough time to repair much of the damage of the Bush years. With McCain, the damage will only continue. We have to be realistic, as you say.
Posted by: autonomous | August 6, 2008 11:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
THERES NO SECULAR GOD VOTE IN JOHN MCCAIN. MCCAIN IS NOT HUCKABEE, AND DOES NOT HAVE FAR RIGHT SUPPORT. PEOPLE SUPPORT MMCAIN FOR CONSERVATIVE VIEW POINTS, AND TO SOME HE'S NOT EVEN THAT CONSERVATIVE. BAD TRY TO BASH REPUBLICANS, AND CHRISTIANS., WHO MAY SUPPORT CONSERVATIVE POLITICS. HOWEVER THERE ARE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS TOO. HOWEVER THE NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS NOT MAINSTREAM----ITS LIBERAL FAR LEFT NOW.
Posted by: PAMELA | August 6, 2008 10:47 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"the right-wing is trying to mock his popularity"
Gary- I'm not "right-wing"- I'm reality-based. This is what I'm talking about. Read it and decide for yourself:
"... a light will shine through that window, a beam of light will come down upon you, you will experience an epiphany ... and you will suddenly realize that you must go to the polls and vote for Obama" - Barack Obama- Lebanon, New Hampshire.
January 7, 2008.
OBAMA CONVERSION STORIES:
"Many even see in Obama a messiah-like figure, a great soul, and some affectionately call him Mahatma Obama."
-- Dinesh Sharma
"We just like to say his name. We are considering taking it as a mantra."
-- Chicago Sun-Times
"A Lightworker -- An Attuned Being with Powerful Luminosity and High-Vibration Integrity who will actually help usher in a New Way of Being"
-- Mark Morford
"What Barack Obama has accomplished is the single most extraordinary event that has occurred in the 232 years of the nation’s political history"
-- Jesse Jackson, Jr.
"This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal."
-- Barack Obama
"Does it not feel as if some special hand is guiding Obama on his journey, I mean, as he has said, the utter improbability of it all?"
-- Daily Kos
"He communicates God-like energy..."
-- Steve Davis (Charleston, SC)
"Not just an ordinary human being but indeed an Advanced Soul"
-- Commentator @ Chicago Sun Times
"I'll do whatever he says to do. I'll collect paper cups off the ground to make his pathway clear."
-- Halle Berry
"A quantum leap in American consciousness"
-- Deepak Chopra
"He is not operating on the same plane as ordinary politicians. . . . the agent of transformation in an age of revolution, as a figure uniquely qualified to open the door to the 21st century."
-- Gary Hart
"Barack Obama is our collective representation of our purest hopes, our highest visions and our deepest knowings . . . He's our product out of the all-knowing quantum field of intelligence."
-- Eve Konstantine
"This is bigger than Kennedy. . . . This is the New Testament."..."I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often. No, seriously. It's a dramatic event."
-- Chris Matthews
"[Obama is ] creative imagination which coupled with brilliance equals wisdom . . . [He is] the man for this time."
-- Toni Morrison
"Obama's finest speeches do not excite. They do not inform. They don't even really inspire. They elevate. . . . He is not the Word made flesh, but the triumph of word over flesh . . . Obama is, at his best, able to call us back to our highest selves."
-- Ezra Klein
"Obama has the capacity to summon heroic forces from the spiritual depths of ordinary citizens and to unleash therefrom a symphonic chorus of unique creative acts whose common purpose is to tame the soul and alleviate the great challenges facing mankind."
-- Gerald Campbell
"We're here to evolve to a higher plane . . . he is an evolved leader . . . [he] has an ear for eloquence and a Tongue dipped in the Unvarnished Truth."
-- Oprah Winfrey
“I would characterize the Senate race as being a race where Obama was, let’s say, blessed and highly favored. That’s not routine. There’s something else going on. I think that Obama, his election to the Senate, was divinely ordered. . . . I know that that was God’s plan."
-- Bill Rush
Posted by: karen | August 6, 2008 10:37 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Blah! Blah! Blah!.....get back to your Octopi
fishing!
Posted by: Raymond Schweppe | August 6, 2008 10:18 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Anyone else remember when supporters of George W. Bush believed our current President was the "Messiah" - a man destined to lead us through a Holy War?
Unlike with Bush, I don't believe Obama supporters really believe Obama is the Messiah. I think this is just a way the right-wing is trying to mock his popularity.
What I can't understand is how ANYONE honestly believed George W. was a "chosen one"...
Posted by: Gary | August 6, 2008 9:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"this was the send-up of faith-based politicking that America desperately needed."
Umm, Jacques..
I think you forgot your readers who (like Obama) actually believe he is the one. You have made a religiously incorrect offense by suggesting America might be tired of Obama's messianic declarations. In future posts- please refrain from making fun of their exalted saviour and redeeemer.
When Obama is elected- his devoted followers expect peace and harmony for one hundred years.
Of course- if he's not elected his followers will probably need therapy and sedation...
Posted by: karen | August 6, 2008 9:52 AM
Report Offensive Comment
And here we have, juxta position, John McCain speaking at the Sturgis bikers rally and offering up his wife for the Ms. Buffalo chip contest. Cut to the other contestants doing pole dances, shaking their booties topless, and holding a banana between their breasts! "Oh Johnie, we hardly knew ye" No wondaer you attract the "values voters"
Posted by: b kenneth mcgee | August 6, 2008 9:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Steveco says: "No one except brainwashed right wing zealots (like you) think the surge is working, or even matters. "
Hahahaha! Seriously? Who is the brainwashed person here? Casualties are down 95% since the surge started. You seriously want us to believe that it's just a coincidence that both events happened at the same time?
I love politics. Hmm, there must be some way to use this to my advantage. I got it.
Steveco, Obama wants you to come to my house and mow my lawn. He says it will help prevent global warming. You are the one you have been waiting for. Now is the day the world's oceans stopped rising, you must mow my lawn to save the world.
Posted by: ZZim | August 6, 2008 8:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
As I recall over two thousand years ago the people were expecting to be sent a military leader to deliver their country from their "enemies" and instead they were sent a peacemaker. Not to compare Obama with Christ, but I do find it ironic that after two thousand years many on the Christian Right haven't actually progressed much as they are still looking to be "saved" by a military leader who seeks to win the wars rather than looking for one to bring peace.
Posted by: rclab123 | August 6, 2008 8:45 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Religiously, McCain has the devilish problem of being a Republican. People associate religion to good versus evil. McCain is considered to be a war mongerer that is bad. McCain endorses all of Bush policies and that is considered to be bad.
Republicans are construed to believe in torture, corruption, skirting the law, outing CIA agents, corrupting our institutions for political purposes, in bed with the oil companies etc. All of this is bad.
Obama, by being compared to Moses and other Biblical characters, regardless of the funny face placed on that association by the Republicans is still being associated with good. We religious people know which figures in the bible are associated with good and which character in the bible is associated with the bad. McCain has a devilish problem. END THE WAR IN IRAQ.
Posted by: Jim | August 6, 2008 8:27 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"Obama was against the surge before he was for it.
Would You Like Some Syrup With Those Waffles, Barack?"
Obama is still against the surge. No one except brainwashed right wing zealots (like you) think the surge is working, or even matters.
The Constitution is not democratic; it's theocratic [GOOGLE "Iraqi constitution" + English and see for yourself. It states within itself that "Islam is the ultimate authority"]
The Bush administration is guilty of massive war crimes, for killing our own and up to a million Iraqi civilians when his pretext for "shock and awe" was based on known lies.
Posted by: SteveCO | August 6, 2008 5:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Obama: "...the campaign, that the crowds, the enthusiasm, 200,000 people in Berlin, is not about me at all. It's about America. I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions."
Karen:
"well. at least its increasingly clear to obama. he's become convinced of his own greatness. creepy."
I don't get it. You put in the quote at top, it's Obama noting that it's *not* his popularity but a yearning by Americans to return to American values...
...then you say Obama has become convinced of his own greatness.
Reading comprehension is not your strong point, hmm?
Posted by: Anonymous | August 6, 2008 5:46 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Obama owns the "religious card?" Maybe the "race card" but the "religious card?"
A man who sat in church for 20 years and never spoke up against the bigotted and racist preachings of his "reverend" and "crazy, old uncle?"
Somebody's been dipping into the kool-aid again.
Posted by: zqll | August 6, 2008 4:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Somehow, I don't think that the Messiah would volunteer his wife to enter a topless beauty pageant in front of 20,000 drunken bikers. :p
Posted by: Athena | August 5, 2008 11:17 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Karen,
It's true, Obama has become to me and millions of others, a "symbol of America returning to our best traditions."
And Bush has become a symbol of America turning away from our best traditions.
So what?
Bush said God chose him to be president and to bring war to the Middle East. And you're creeped out by Obama? What nonsense.
Posted by: B-man | August 5, 2008 7:33 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"the Senator has a messiah complex"
"I have become a symbol of America returning to our best traditions."
Here's the full quote:
"It has become increasingly clear in my travel, the campaign, that the crowds, the enthusiasm, 200,000 people in Berlin, is not about me at all. It's about America. I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions."
well. at least its increasingly clear to obama. he's become convinced of his own greatness. creepy.
Posted by: karen | August 5, 2008 5:38 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Right on B-man:
That TV ad Jacques Berlinerblau is talking about is so. Obama is Moses come to lead God's chosen people, (that's the whole world) to the promised land. Obama is so good even McCain is praising him and doing all he can to let everyone know.
Jacques Berlinerblau calling Obama Messiah tells us he don't know the difference between those that talk to God and the son of God. But then maybe Obama is the second coming of Jesus. I'm sure McCain will fill us in on that before election day. Don't worry about it. They'll get Barak down off that cross in time to bury him before he starts stinking too much.
Posted by: BGone | August 5, 2008 5:11 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Barack Obama is the most intelligent man to come to Washington in a generation, Bush is the dumbest and most arrogant man to come to Washington in history.
All this talk of Obama being "dangerous" is utterly ridiculous. The entire world wants him to be the US leader, the majority of this country wants him to be the US leader. Everyone recognizes that this is the guy who will get things done right, across the board, in domestic and foreign policy.
The only people on the planet who don't want Obama is this dwindling minority of paranoid delusionals called US Conservatives. And they gave us Bush, and turned this country into a total f'd up mess in 8 short years.
Posted by: B-man | August 5, 2008 4:55 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"Try to stay focused Anonymous, on people being dead"
So-Autonomous
Haven't you heard? The surge worked. Fewer people are dying in Iraq.
So now Obama wants a SURGE in Afghanistan.
Brilliant. But didn't the USSR try that in 1980 and fail?
You should think before you vote. This man is dangerous.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2008 4:31 PM
Report Offensive Comment
So Anonymous, because Saddam killed so many people, this is justification for Bush killing people too?
This is the usual republican defense, the other side did it too.
Try to stay focused Anonymous, on people being dead, not on defending your party.
Posted by: so | August 5, 2008 3:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Anon - I had heard there were still a few Bush supporters lurking out there. It appears one just showed up. Best to remain anonymous...
There never was and never will be a valid reason for invading Iraq, other than the usual felonious Bushco contrivances. You'll be able to read that in the history books one day - if you stay focused.
Posted by: autonomous | August 5, 2008 3:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
kevin:
I suspected something like that all along. Islam is real easy to accept "over there." However, the Tyson Foods, "chicken processing" plant in Shelbyville, Tennessee has substituted a Muslim holiday, (holy day) for labor day by union contract. Over there IS over here.
William Jennings Bryant "proved" Moses really parted the red sea not too far from Shelbyville clearing up any doubt this is a Christian nation. You don't suppose folks in Tennessee will turn blue in the face over that and vote for Obama? Is changing from Christian to Muslim "change we can believe in." Must be in Tennessee.
Posted by: BGone | August 5, 2008 3:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Obama was against the surge before he was for it.
Would You Like Some Syrup With Those Waffles, Barack?
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2008 3:07 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Obama's position on the Surge in Iraq:
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2008 2:53 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"Virtually anyone, even you, can find that the 'casualties of the Iraq War' made available in Wikipedia since 2003 number in the many tens of thousands, by even the most modest estimates."
Better look this up-
How many people were killed, maimed and disabled yearly by Saddam with no hope of change or deliverance from oppression? Remember to add in the number who just disappeared in the prisons.
Lets try to stay focused.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2008 2:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment
As regards the future of Saudi Arabia, their biggest long-term concern is what happens to their economy when they run out of oil. In recent years they've invested oil profits heavily in the creation and development of new cities in the middle of the Arabian peninsula.
It is clear that in the future, many thousands of immigrants will need to be lured to a life in the desert in order for that part of the world to prosper and survive the eventual depletion of oil - in short, they will need a brand new economy. This kind of pressure to modernize will necessarily result in vast changes to the structure of Islam as presently found among the Saudis - and elsewhere.
How this all turns out depends on keeping Islamic fundamentalism marginalized and in check until such a time as the dynamics of economic modernization becomes a truly transformative force on a very large scale in the Middle East.
Much will have to happen to the economies and governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan, as two examples, before there is any hope of planting the seeds of a more civilized prosperity in the future.
Posted by: autonomous | August 5, 2008 2:37 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Geoff,
What does your link have to do with anything. Some anonymous blogger creates a website that showcases what other people have said about Obama. So what?
Obama can't control what the media or the blogosphere wants to say about him.
The real question is, has Obama ever said these things himself. The answer to the best of my knowledge is NO.
Just because he's talking about hope and change after the long twisted nightmare of 8 years of Bush-world doesn't mean he thinks he's the messiah.
This is just a story line for a lazy press corps and a cynical McCain campaign to push for their own questionable agendas.
Posted by: B-man | August 5, 2008 2:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Anon - you sound like a McCain supporter alright. Everything is always 'improving' in Iraq.
Virtually anyone, even you, can find that the 'casualties of the Iraq War' made available in Wikipedia since 2003 number in the many tens of thousands, by even the most modest estimates.
The number of displaced persons is probably equal to or greater than the number of dead and maimed.
So based on these figures, I really can't begin to imagine what your point was...do you recall?
Folks in the USA are barely aware that a war is even going on over there.
Posted by: autonomous | August 5, 2008 2:20 PM
Report Offensive Comment
BGONE inform yourself
The House of Saud (آل سعود transliteration: Āl Suʿūd) is the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The modern nation of Saudi Arabia was established in 1932, though the roots and influence for the House of Saud had been planted in the Arabian peninsula several centuries earlier. Prior to the era of the Kingdom's founder, Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud, the family had ruled the Nejd and had conflicted on several occasions with the Ottoman Empire, the Sharifs of Mecca, and the Al Rashid family of Ha'il. The House of Saud has gone through three phases: the First Saudi State, the Second Saudi State, and the modern nation of Saudi Arabia.
The history of the Al Saud has been marked by a desire to unify the Arabian Peninsula and to spread what it promotes as a more purified and simple, though often criticized as less tolerant, view of Islam embodied by Wahhabism which has gained international controversy since the events of 9/11. The House of Saud is also linked with Wahhabism (Saudis deprecate the term, preferring the term Salafi) through the marriage of the son of Muhammad bin Saud with the daughter of Muhammad Abd al Wahhab in 1744.
Though some have put the family's numbers as high as 25,000,[1] most estimates place their numbers in the region of 7,000,[2] with most power and influence being wielded by the 200 or so descendants of King Abdul Aziz. - wikipedia
This programme gives us an insight into the royal family, by the very members of the family. (Aired 02/11/2004)
BBC Four Storyville - The House of Saud p1/2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D09_-q0lttc
Posted by: kevin | August 5, 2008 2:13 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Have people not seen this?
http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com
Obama and Obama's supporters have left him open to this Messiah comparison.
Posted by: Geoff | August 5, 2008 2:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
kevin:
You might be onto something. Then again you may be just another victim of propaganda. Is Islam really a threat?
I began there myself. Don't you wonder what our great thinkers are thinking? It was Islam that attacked us so why aren't we shooting back? If it wasn't Islam then it was Saudi Arabia.
What were we thinking supporting al-qaida against the former Soviet Union in Afghanistan? Where is bin Laden? Maybe at some resort on the coast of the Arabian sea living it up. Ever think of that?
What is the Bush administration doing lathering ministries in tax money? It's the, "God vote" that must be paid back else God will become a Democrat.
Oh! That's it, money. You see, every time a bomb goes off the price of oil goes up and the "smart people" make lots of money.
When God voted Bush won and the price of oil has now gone through the ceiling. When God sets off a bomb the price of oil goes up some more. Sometimes God votes at the voting machine and sometimes God votes with a bomb but God always votes for the money to be made when the price of oil goes up.
Religion makes people stupid. Let things get just a little worse and evangelicals will start blowing themselves up right here. Smart people take advantage. All issues are economic, money.
I don't support either candidate but I do pay attention,,, to the price of oil,,, can't help notice how sensitive it is to "unrest in the middle east." Unrest is one of the easiest things there is to plan,,, when you have a country full of religious people.
Maybe Islam is a threat and then maybe oil is a bigger threat. Drilling here and now can conceivably remove both threats with one stroke. Then again I must guard against becoming just another victim of propaganda.
Will Bubba do that, see the propaganda or will he vote to drill here and now? Bubba decides all elections even the ones in Iraq. He's righteous, casts God's vote for God who is way too busy being worshiped, honored, adored and glorified by Bubba to actually vote.
Posted by: BGone | August 5, 2008 1:55 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Jacques,
Are you really really of the opinion that McCain's ad was "the send-up of faith-based politicking that America desperately needed"? Really? Please think again, and repeat it one more time, because I'm not sure I heard you correctly. You think John McCain's ad is something "that America desperately needed."?
I think America could have done without it and found much better material for consideration. Here, for instance, is the opening paragraph from a piece about religion and politics written by John Shelby Spong, former Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, on this "On Faith" website:
"Far from my religion tempering my prejudices, racial prejudice was actually instilled in me by my evangelical Christian church. I grew up in North Carolina in what we call the Bible Belt. My church taught me that segregation was the will of God and quoted the Bible to prove it. It taught me that men were by nature superior to woman and quoted the Bible to prove it. It taught me that it was o.k. to hate other religions, and especially the Jews, and quoted the Bible to prove it. It taught me that homosexual persons were either mentally sick or morally depraved and, of course, quoted the Bible to prove it. So the idea that being religious might make one less prejudiced is a fantasy. It appears to make people more prejudiced, or at the least, not to confront their prejudices."
I think this short paragraph is more plain speaking and open-eyed and truthful and helpful and dances rings around you or McCain's ad for plain speaking clarity and depth of understanding. And is far more desperately needed by America than McCain's ad, don't you agree, Jacques? Please answer and tell me you believe you may have been mistaken about John McCain's asinine ad and your asinine opinion of it.
Posted by: GaryL1 | August 5, 2008 1:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"People do seem to forget that warmakers that bring war down on the heads of other nations guarantee the slaughter of many thousands of innocents in the form of civilian casualties. This killing of innocents is ongoing in Iraq and McCain would have us stay 'until the job is done' or until there are no Iraqis left...which will come first?"
Hey Autonointellect- Please try to stay within the bounds of reality..
FYI-
Car bomb kills eight in Baghdad
"A car bomb killed eight people and wounded 14 others in a Sunni Arab area of Baghdad on Sunday, Iraqi police said.
Police said the parked vehicle exploded on a commercial street in the northern Adhamiya district.
Major car bombs are now relatively rare in Baghdad, where a semblance of calm is returning more than five years after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. Overall levels of violence in Iraq have fallen to lows not seen since early 2004.
In the last major attack in Baghdad, three female suicide bombers killed 35 people when they blew themselves up during a religious pilgrimage nearly a week ago."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/03/AR2008080300105.html
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2008 1:11 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The Lion King strode to the gate and ascended high to the podium. Around him the Changelings thirsted yet, the pitcher was dry! Minister Obama reached into his robe and pulled not one but dozens of Grape Kool Aid packets. The Changelings with their thirst slaked, they embraced the newest meassage-no matter how different from the last. Minister Obama having consulted the Prophets of Polls will speak only that which the people demand for comfort.
Viva Barakistan!
Posted by: Otto Focus | August 5, 2008 12:57 PM
Report Offensive Comment
People do seem to forget that warmakers that bring war down on the heads of other nations guarantee the slaughter of many thousands of innocents in the form of civilian casualties. This killing of innocents is ongoing in Iraq and McCain would have us stay 'until the job is done' or until there are no Iraqis left...which will come first? The fundamentalists and the rightwingers hate abortion but love the righteousness of war - if so, the McCain is your man.
He won't stop with Iraq however. Iran is next on his hit list....and again, with similar results, but to the 10th power.
By anybody's standard, attacking Iran will likely result in catastrophic consequences greater by magnitudes than anything we've ever seen with the Iraqi invasion.
So far these predictions haven't had any impact on McCain, nor has he been dissuaded from his hawkish stance in Middle Eastern affairs.
The USA and the world cannot endure more Bushthink.
Posted by: autonomous | August 5, 2008 12:37 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Joe M:
Can anyone believe that Obama is not full of himself. The trip to Europe made his head swell to 5 times it's size. Look, he refers to himself in messianic terms and does act as if he is the second coming. I believe all the adoration of the younger generation and the large crowds have made him feel as though he is the savior of the world. Mind you, not of America but of the world. His favorite words are I, me, my, and this is our moment in time. He reminds me of Elmer Gantry
___________-----
Elmer Gantry was a fictional womanizing, preacher who cheated on his wife. Do you have evidence of this regarding Obama or do you just like to libel him like Rush Limberger and Fox News?
Posted by: Roy | August 5, 2008 11:41 AM
Report Offensive Comment
BGONE and all other readers:
Educate yourself. We have an enemy threatening our way of life in the West. Wake up and acknowledge- the right and left in America must unite to stand against this threat.
"Obsession" on CNN: Radical Islam & Nazism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvpKQTjAb2U
When has evil risen in the world and just gone away without being confronted? Radical Islam is not just going away. Compassionate Muslims cannot stand alone against it. Check the news/current history- they are the first to be killed. See the movie "OBSESSION: Radical Islam's War Against the West" and take a stand.
Posted by: kevin | August 5, 2008 11:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
God must be crying while Lucifer simply loves it, can't get enough of that wonderful stuff. Just you wait. Obama will walk on water before judgment day. The best Moses could do was get the water out of the way. That's what McCain is up to -getting those water weak evangelicals somebody to vote for.
McCain keeps this up and he'll win without the evangelicals. What a pity. Now about those ecologelicals.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch on the main line here they've noticed many Christians including a few evangelicals are bigots. Who gets the bigot vote? The bigot vote isn't more important than the God vote is it?
Let's do some figures. 30% are bigots. 10% are evangelicals, so they say. 15% each of the 30% bigots are Republicans and Democrats. The polls have the upcoming election a dead heat. Obama is ahead 24% in California, a state that has been conceded by the GOP in recent elections. California is 12% of the electoral votes, the only ones that count. Grab your slide rule and see if you can call the upcoming election.
Oh yeah. 10% of voters won't even know the names of the candidates before they enter the voting booth. When they look at the ballot with Obama and McCain as choices which one will they pick? You'll be amazed at how many of this 10% are black folks.
California is biggest commuter state and therefore suffers the most from the high price of gasoline. San Francisco has the highest gasoline prices in the nation, home district of speaker of the house Miss Nancy P, (D) who refuses to let drilling come up for a vote. We may not question the 24% Obama lead in California polls but we can question the wisdom of voting against drilling here and now by California voters. Will Obama actually win California?
Posted by: BGone | August 5, 2008 11:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Mr. Berlinerblau,
You guys are unbelievable; why doesn't the Washington Post, Newsweek and all three network television stations just sign up to be campaign managers for Obama because you are all aready his cheerleaders...I hope those who are likely to vote see this clearly. Journalism and media is at its worst. Outward Left Totalitarianism
Posted by: Angela | August 5, 2008 11:17 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Berlinerblau-
Everyone one has stopped asking:
"Who is Barack Obama?"
Now they just want to know:
"Who does he think he is??"
THE ONE-
Posted by: melissa | August 5, 2008 10:54 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Wow. I agree with Berlinblau on something. I think it's a sign of the End Of Days, lol. I haven't see the ad because I don't watch TV. Guess I'll have to make an exception fro this one.
Posted by: ZZim | August 5, 2008 9:06 AM
Report Offensive Comment
This is all baloney from the right. You people have no morals and yet think of yourselves as the moral majority, christans and evangelist. You bring tears to my soul. Its shameful how you are trying to tell the uneducated what they must be feeling and thinking. Why can,t you just deal with issues and stop the character assassinations? Ask your hero who states he knows wars and how to win them...which war he was in that he won. What war has he managed? Why was he captured? Has he ever disobeyed orders? why is it he cannot draw a crowd? When will he start to take the high road that he and Cindy talked about in the interview? He is a hippocrite and so are you. We the people are just plain tired of it. Being in senate for 30 years and captured and imprisoned for years does not make him experence for the White House. It disqualifies him as he allowed us to be in the shape we are in. He keeps saying that Barack and the Iraq leader are saying certain things because they are running for election but of course this does not apply to him. "He thinks of himself as the Messiah and therefore is angry that people are rallying behind Obama. Finally...being white does not automatically qualify us for office. Obama is far more intelligent then McCain and as far as I am concerned...change we CAN believe in.
Posted by: Lanette | August 5, 2008 8:38 AM
Report Offensive Comment
DWIGHT wrote:
"McCann is pro life, obama supports abortion...no Christian who is a Christian should vote for obama..."
In the same vein, anyone who supports murder in the form of the Death Penalty, unjustified wars killing thousands of innocent women and children, and supports the use of torture is also not qualified to be a Christian. You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Posted by: Bud | August 5, 2008 8:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
An in-depth analysis of every policy is required to make a more meaningful decision, especially not to get distracted with religious rhetoric or PR skills.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2008 8:08 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Whoever votes for a messiah, secular or religious, is bound to be disappointed.
Get real.
Compare policies and vote for a politician.
Be prepared for election promises to be broken.
Win some, lose some. Enter into the real world of politics.
Repeat cycle every four years.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2008 7:19 AM
Report Offensive Comment
It's good to see the believers so disturbed about the current political climate, since Falwell and his kind took over the republican party the believer crowd as been in lock step and now - now they might have to actually think for themselves.
They will have to use discernment and judgment, they will have to consider this and that - all things they have not had to do for a long time now.
And we get to see it right out in front, how little thinking goes on in the mind of the believer. They look for tokens, for strawmen, things they can swallow whole without digestion, they want to be fed their daily delusion along with their daily bread only this time - it isn't working.
See how they flounder around, trying force religious language into this contest. The hated godless liberals are winning the religious BS contest and the once-loved conservatives are being led by a man they can't perceive as caring about their beliefs.
You just gotta enjoy how disturbed they are. I mean, they are disturbed anyway, but now we get to see it unmasked.
Posted by: disturbed | August 5, 2008 7:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I find it ironically funny that the GOP chose Charlton "Moses" Heston as the image to superimpose against Obama. So the subliminal message is Obama who thinks he's a messiah, or Heston who the GOP/NRA know is the messiah. . .
Either way, I'm laughing at McCain. What a weary old man. I would rather than a leader who leads with hope and vision than a leader who would keep us wandering around the Iraqi desert for another 40 years. . .
Posted by: Tess | August 5, 2008 6:56 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Both are politicians. Period.
Compare policies and take your pick. Period.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2008 6:50 AM
Report Offensive Comment
You're joking. The man so closely identified with President "Line to God", our current war criminal leader? *That* McCain, the flip-flopping, present-day evangelical-smooching political coward?
What America needs are less war and corporate criminals running the country, and more people with empathy and compassion for this and other countries.
McCain and President "God Told Me To Murder Iraqi Civilians" Bush: if anybody needs a send-up, it's this sorry bunch of brainwashed religious robots. No *way* do people worrying about the separation of church and state support anyone but Obama. Christian terrorists such as Richard Dobson and the unlamented Jerry Falwell, and their supporters which include McCain and Bush, are dangerous and simply unneeded anymore in this country.
Posted by: SteveCO | August 5, 2008 5:40 AM
Report Offensive Comment
James Dobson the pastor/psych has *chosen* for evangelicals and fundamentalists.
Posted by: Hey Zeus | August 5, 2008 5:38 AM
Report Offensive Comment
McCann is pro life, obama supports abortion...no Christian who is a Christian should vote for obama...
Posted by: Dwight | August 5, 2008 5:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Senator Obama's unstinted support for Roe vs Wade and Planned Parenthood Federation of America alone disqualifies him as a religious messiah. It is somewhat hypocritical to sound righteous about calling for death penalty of evil criminals (who are serving life sentences) who have killed children simply because those few children are killed after they are born. When moral outrage about abortion - especially about late term pregnancies - is lacking, after voting against a bill that would have given medical support to infants born alive after an abortion attempt...
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2008 4:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Anonymous,
When and where has Obama ever claimed he was a messiah or a prophet?
You're believing too much of the trash that passes for news coverage in this country. This is a non-story concocted by a cynical and incoherent McCain campaign, that's been mindlessly regurgitated by a lazy press corps with a 24 hour news cycle to fill.
Posted by: B-man | August 5, 2008 2:26 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Anonymous:
I am quite late to this discussion so this comment may be moot but here goes:
I was surprised after reading all the posts that no one mentions the type of abortions being done at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL which makes this BAIPA legislation necessary. Jill Stanek was a labor and delivery nurse who “blew the whistle” on the practice, that some have called “live birth abortion.”
Here is part of her testimony:
“But what was most distressing was to learn of the method Christ Hospital uses to abort, called induced labor abortion, now also known as "live birth abortion." In this particular abortion procedure doctors do not attempt to kill the baby in the uterus. The goal is simply to prematurely deliver a baby who dies during the birth process or soon afterward.
To commit induced labor abortion, a doctor or resident inserts a medication into the mother’s birth canal close to the cervix. The cervix is the opening at the bottom of the uterus that normally stays closed until a mother is about 40 weeks pregnant and ready to deliver. This medication irritates the cervix and stimulates it to open early. When this occurs, the small second or third trimester pre-term, fully formed baby falls out of the uterus, sometimes alive. By law, if an aborted baby is born alive, both birth and death certificates must be issued. Ironically, at Christ Hospital the cause of death often listed for live aborted babies is "extreme prematurity," an acknowledgement by doctors that they have caused this death.
It is not uncommon for a live aborted baby to linger for an hour or two or even longer. At Christ Hospital one of these babies lived for almost an entire eight-hour shift. Some of the babies aborted are healthy, because Christ Hospital will also abort for life or "health" of the mother, and also for rape or incest.
In the event that an aborted baby is born alive, she or he receives "comfort care," defined as keeping the baby warm in a blanket until s/he dies. Parents may hold the baby if they wish. If the parents do not want to hold their dying aborted baby, a staff member cares for the baby until s/he dies. If staff did does not have the time or desire to hold the baby, s/he is taken to Christ Hospital’s new Comfort Room, which is complete with a First Foto machine if parents want professional pictures of their aborted baby, baptismal supplies, gowns, and certificates, foot printing equipment and baby bracelets for mementos, and a rocking chair. Before the Comfort Room was established, babies were taken to the Soiled Utility Room to die.”
Updates:
On August 5, 2002, President George W. Bush signed the Born Alive Infants Protection Act into law. It recognizes that babies born after failed abortions are citizens and have all rights provided under our Constitution and laws. Jill Stanek was invited and was present at the signing ceremony in Pittsburg, PA. The U.S. Senate passed this bill by unanimous consent on July 18, 2002. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill in March, 2002. It is still unclear how Christ Hospital will respond to the new law.
In 2002, Senator Patrick O'Malley introduced Born Alive Infants Protection legislation. Two of three bills were passed by the Illinois Senate, but these bills were killed in the Illinois House Health Care Committee. Even though many strong abortion supporters in the U.S. Senate approved of this legislation, it was denied a vote in the Illinois House.
In 2001, the Born Alive Infants Protection legislation introduced by Senator Patrick O'Malley was passed by the Illiinois Senate, but all three bills were rejected by the Illinois House Judiciary Committee so the bills never got to a vote by the entire House.
Jill Stanek was fired by Christ Hospital on August 31, 2001. Since that time she has continued speaking about the live birth abortion procedures used at Christ Hospital. She ran for state legislator in the March, 2002 primary, but lost to the incumbent.
Read more:
http://www.illinoisrighttolife.org/newpage36.htm
http://www.priestsforlife.org/testimony/jillstanektestimony.htm
August 4, 2008 10:26 PM
Posted by: Posted on Catholic America - Obama and Infanticide lie | August 5, 2008 1:47 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)allegedly is pro-abortion at all stages of pregnancy, even for healthy mothers pregnant with healthy children, as long as the mother does not want the child for any reason, including convenience. Senator Obama apparently supports the mission of PPFA 100%; he wants women to realize their full potential without being burdened with children they don't really want.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2008 1:04 AM
Report Offensive Comment
I find the ad very offensive. I think that McCain has nothing positive and uplifting to say to the American public about himself and his views so he has to attack Obama.
Posted by: Patricia Cogswell | August 5, 2008 12:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Woe to those who call evil good, and
good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light
for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet
for bitter!
(Isaiah 5:20)
Posted by: Sweetlife | August 5, 2008 12:37 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Senator Obama's unstinted support for Roe vs Wade and Planned Parenthood alone disqualifies him as any kind of religious messiah. It is somewhat hypocritical to call for death penalty to evil criminals who kill children simply because those few children are killed after they are born.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2008 12:28 AM
Report Offensive Comment
B-MAN that is the point - Senator Obama is a politician, not a religious messiah. Moral of story: Senator Obama should not be using religious symbols to win votes. Rev Jeremiah Wright, Senator Obama's pastor for twenty years preached a "prophetic" kind of Christianity in his church. That is where Senator Obama got his "prophetic" ideas from, the audacity to portray himself as a religious messiah when he is just a smart politician. A smart politician is good enough as a president. Religious symbols and real prophets are sacred to believers. Sacred symbols are not to be misused by politicians as pieces on a political chessboard to win votes.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 5, 2008 12:20 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Obama is the smartest politician to come to Washington in a generation. He can take care of himself. He's smarter than the entire GOP, smarter than the press, and he's certainly smarter than John "bottom of his class at West Point" McCain.
Some people will call Obama's intelligence and charisma "uppity" or "full of himself" etc. What a crock. The smirking dumb-sh*t George Dubya Bush is the most arrogant president to ever sit in the white house.
All these pathetic attack ads by McCain are just sound and fury from an anemic candidate, signifying nothing.
Posted by: B-man | August 5, 2008 12:11 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Gerard Baker reads his article on YouTube ---
And it came to pass...
http://timesonline.typepad.com/comment/2008/07/and-it-came-to.html
Senator Obama in Berlin, oops! that was John Lennon singing Imagine
Posted by: Anonymous | August 4, 2008 11:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Tempest, meet tea kettle.
Mountain, meet molehill.
Please, don't you WaPo people have like real work to do?
Posted by: Christian in NYC | August 4, 2008 11:31 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Anonymous:
A very important hero working behind the scenes of Senator Obama:
David Axelrod
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/27/barackobama.uselections20081
July 27, 2008 5:02 AM
*******************************************************
Anonymous:
This on a lighter note
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4392846.ece
July 26, 2008 6:36 AM
************************************************
Anonymous:
Up to this time Senator Obama's bid for the most powerful office in the world has gone to plan like a carefully directed Hollywood blockbuster, perfectly managed with perfect backdrops and perfect script. No need to fear that it won't continue to be managed like that as long as it is necessary. Image and media consultants, policy advisors and speech writers all play their part behind the scenes to make everything a grand success. Get ready America. History is being made everyday. No need to worry, Barack and Michelle Obama are a power couple who will do America proud.
Way to go until casting the vote - compare policies, compare policies, compare policies...
July 26, 2008 12:30 AM
Posted by: Posted on God Vote 26 & 27 July 08 | August 4, 2008 11:31 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Professor finally, finally there is hope that God Vote will be what it is meant to be: critical and unbiased analysis of politics without pandering to any one political party.
*************************************
Posted earlier ---
Anonymous:
One thing Senator McCain should refrain from doing is negative campaigning. It is a sign of desperation and does not put him in a good light. He should emphasize the merit of his policies and weakness of Senator Obama, the advantage of his experiences etc.
Senator Obama has already shown great class in this regard without lashing at anyone and not lashing back at anyone who criticize him. Senator McCain could learn from it. Even if McCain loses the election (all indications are that he will) let people remember him as a gentleman. He should campaign in a way that he can exit with grace, brave and gentlemanly in defeat, as Senator Mitt Romney did.
July 28, 2008 4:26 AM
**********************************************
Anonymous:
Rev Rick Warren is to be praised for his neutral, non-partisan stand in the election issue. That would have been the right way for the God Vote. Becoming a campaign blog for Senator Obama is about becoming part of power politics not about assessing politics as a neutral outsider.
July 28, 2008 1:45 AM
Posted by: Anonymous | August 4, 2008 11:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
It's McCain and crew that seem to scoff at Judaism and Christianity in this irreverent (if not blasphemous) political ad. Like the dumbest guy in his college class (which he was), McCain sits in the back at scoffs at those who work hard in hope to understand the problems facing us and find solutions to them. Religious voters across America will rightly object to McCain's mockery of religion. Obama, whose faith is real, deep and natural, will continue to wow crowds with his sincere religiousness and genuinely friendly good will.
Posted by: Roameo | August 4, 2008 11:14 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I don't think the writer gets it. McCain's ad "The One" is really mockery against all of us the voters. America is hurting and needs answers. And the best McCain can do is some diversionary hoodwink tactic to mock Obama? Sure religious folks will also feel mocked as independents and everyone else snickers, but the real joke is on us. And oh yes, who's the more arrogant - the person who is targeted, or the person who is doing the targeting?
Posted by: cmgmaggie | August 4, 2008 10:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Farnaz,
Apparently Christine, despite her claim that it was not over, has packed her bags and fled the scene. Why am I not surprised? So typical of those unfortunates.
Posted by: Arminius | August 4, 2008 9:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Hello, Farnaz,
Christine got all my ancestral Celtic Fury to a boil. I'm sure she will continue. My claymore is at hand. I do not suffer bigots lightly. Obviously, neither do you. And you have much more reason not to suffer such fools than I do. Please remember - there are many, many Americans not like that benighted fool Christine.
Posted by: Arminius | August 4, 2008 9:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Anyone who talks about how Obama is "full of himself" or that he returned from his trip with a "big head" has not followed Obama and his career -- and has never watched a speech all the way through. They are just parroting "Talking Points."
And to those who refer to "Kool-Aid Drinking" Obama supporters, an earlier poster has it perfectly right: it is a horrible insult! It compares us to the deluded cult members of Jim Jones who committed mass suicide and murder on behalf of their insane leader. This kind of jargon has no place in civil politics.
Unfortunately, civility and informed discussion seem to have disappeared from the GOP side of this election. Which is a shame because I thought, at least, that having McCain as the Republican candidate would mean civility and rational discussion during this election.
Boy was I wrong! McCain sold his soul and Republicans just don't care what they have to do to "win."
Posted by: Louise | August 4, 2008 9:08 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Christine,
I will NEVER apologize to someone anti-semitic. Ever. That is NOT what America is all about. See the First Amendment.
Posted by: Arminius | August 4, 2008 8:50 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Yes, yes! I am so glad that SOMEBODY has made the attempt to expose the "religion card," that has come to dominate politics in a nation whose system was designed specifically to avoid the kind of church-state identification that tore Europe apart during the memory of some of the Founders.
It seems to be the only "card" that can be played with impunity -- "praised," even -- in American politics. I am so tired of reading stories about what this or that candidate feels about his or her "faith." Who cares? Leave it where it belongs -- in the candidate's own conscience.
And I thought the McCain ad was spot on in targeting what seems to be Obama's Achilles heel -- the point at which his supposed strength is exposed as a weakness, because it is what his mass appeal and political persona is based on.
For that reason, I find Obama to be the most problematic Democratic presidential nominee since Jimmy Carter -- and I am a very liberal Democrat who pleaded with friends NOT to vote for Ralph Nader in 2000.
But the messianism of the Obama campaign -- not to mention his ratification and desire to expand Bush's prgrams blurring the line between church and state -- make it highly unlikely that I can vote Democratic this time.
Posted by: Myles Gordon | August 4, 2008 8:48 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Christine: Because I am a Christian, I have a deep admiration and respect for Jews, the Hebrew Scriptures and ALL people. Christine, you must remember that Jesus of Nazareth was Jewish, as were all of his earliest followers. Jesus lived as a Jew and died as a Jew -- on a ROMAN cross.
Posted by: Chara | August 4, 2008 8:36 PM
Report Offensive Comment
christine:
America does not need neo-nazi bigots like you.
America does not want neo-nazi bigots like you.
Go away. America will be a better place when those like you who oppose American core beliefs of equality are gone.
Posted by: Arminius | August 4, 2008 8:27 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I'm old enough to remember the Nixon years and his slogan of "Nixon's the One." We learned a new meaning of that phrase after he was investigated and impeached when it became perfectly clear that he was the One.
Posted by: ejgallagher1 | August 4, 2008 8:04 PM
Report Offensive Comment
What I see is a John McCain who, were he to re-write the New Testament narratives, would stand squarely among the mocking crowd in order to protect the status quo.
Posted by: Chara | August 4, 2008 7:58 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Huh? Obama isn't particularly associated with "the religious card" ... unless by "religion" you mean "cult of personality". His self-as-messiah is typically read as a solidly secular concept, not a religious one... his writers might form some of his rhetoric using "religious" sounding phrasing, but that is not the same thing.
Posted by: DRH | August 4, 2008 7:35 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Huh?
What do you mean by 'send-up' and why do you think that America desperately needs it?
Posted by: Patricia Moskowitz | August 4, 2008 7:34 PM
Report Offensive Comment
You mistook the moisture on McCain's brow for born again baptismal water, it was FLOP SWEAT, and the creator of this ad is a Rovian disciple, which is way closer to Damien than Jesus or Moses.
Posted by: mark | August 4, 2008 7:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The Moses ad targeted a tiny itsy bitsy teany weanie lunatic fringe of the Christian Right. The parents who save all year to take their kids to a Creationist Museum,(the folks who watched the Flinstones and thought it was a documentary.)This group isn't going to get excited enough to volunteer for grampy McCain, due to a 2 second glimpse of Heston, even these twits have VCRs and Netflix.
Posted by: mark | August 4, 2008 7:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
just remember it's never "the religion, stupid" it's "the economy, stupid"
Posted by: Kurt | August 4, 2008 7:15 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I think this ad shows that McCain has a total lack of respect for Christians and Christianity. Maybe that little bit of devil in him is a lot bigger than we think.
Posted by: R D McNeal | August 4, 2008 7:12 PM
Report Offensive Comment
You do realize that "Kool-Aid" is a reference to a mass-suicide cult, don't you?
Do you find it at all irresponsible to compare political supporters of a presidential candidate to the Jamestown victims of the Jim Jones cult?
Or is that you just being funny?
I ask because there are sickos on the web who don't think it's a funny joke:
Posted by: Brad | August 4, 2008 6:47 PM
Report Offensive Comment
No, this ad has nothing to do with Separation of Church and State. First of all, every element of the ad is taken out of context. The scene where Obama is talking about voting for him is taken from comments he was making when he was mocking what Hillary was claiming about his supporters, but they are portrayed in the ad as if Obama is telling those things to his supporters. The quote on screen is the exact opposite of what he really said, which is that what the people in Europe were really excited about was America, not him, that big crowds showed up for him only because he was symbolizing the change that they are excited about in America, not that it was about him personally.So, the ad was just a complete bunch of nonsense a lies basically. However, one thing is true, and that is that Obama and the Democratic party have been pandering too much to the "faith based community".
Posted by: Jeff | August 4, 2008 6:25 PM
Report Offensive Comment
JOE M:
you have obviously never heard an obama speech in it's entirety. from the beginning every single one of his speeches he talks very humbly about himself and about how this campaign is not about him, but about the momentum that people have built from the desire for change in our government. it is the mccain people who named him "the one", please stop watching out of context clips and just watch a full obama speech, any of them and how mccain and his people are bamboozling the american public into believing something that is not true.
Posted by: metrpolitan | August 4, 2008 6:11 PM
Report Offensive Comment
For a proclaimed Christian he has forgotten Jesus' admonition: Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Can you believe the hubris of this guy?
Posted by: Joe migliorise | August 4, 2008 6:07 PM
Report Offensive Comment
so why is no one mentioning that the "the one" ad has that gorgeous (white, female) reporter interviewing him?
isn't that the main connection between most of the mccain's sleazy attack ads against obama recently? pretty white women juxtaposed with the smiling candidate?
anybody getting the drift of where they're going? don't get distracted by the big attack (he's a celebrity, he has a messiah complex) when what they are doing is slowly and scurrilously building a subtext of "lock up your daughters from the powerful black man" into the mccain slime ad campaign while everyone gets distracted and discusses by the big superficial attack and never challenges the sleazy subtext.
Posted by: metropolitan | August 4, 2008 6:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Can anyone believe that Obama is not full of himself. The trip to Europe made his head swell to 5 times it's size. Look, he refers to himself in messianic terms and does act as if he is the second coming. I believe all the adoration of the younger generation and the large crowds have made him feel as though he is the savior of the world. Mind you, not of America but of the world. His favorite words are I, me, my, and this is our moment in time. He reminds me of Elmer Gantry.
Posted by: Joe M | August 4, 2008 6:03 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I don't think the ad was really attacking the idea of religion having anything to do with politics, but the way Obama and his supporters really do talk about him in terms of a religious Messiah who has come to save America. The ad doesn't have too much to do with complete separation of religion and state, but with the almost cultlike atmosphere surrounding obama.
Posted by: hank | August 4, 2008 5:56 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Your faith mixed with your global colonialization has lured you all completely away from your supposed beliefs. You all walk in Jesus footsteps only long enough for power and self enrichment. If god is on anyones side what is his number? Because I for one want his own words to motivate me, not any of you theologians or born agains. Like any of you monkey boys hear from god. Other than that the study of gods will and the disemenation of his wishes is a scam, albeit a huge scam I wish I'd invented. Maybe we can ban christianity like they have banned all our pagan fun.Ya know anything that gets you off or tastes way too good. Probably not but it is a nice fantasy. Sig Heil the Church of Rome for me! Oh, and just to kick sand in your faces,you are all the same religion, Muhamad, Jesus, Jehovah. Jew, Christian, Muslim all the same,and all bad for life on Earth. The End.
Posted by: David Crsoby | August 4, 2008 5:37 PM
Report Offensive Comment
McCain to speak here tonight.
Topless Women, Kid Rock, Bikers, And John McCain
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/03/topless-women-kid-rock-bi_n_116632.html
Posted by: Kristin2 | August 4, 2008 5:05 PM
Report Offensive Comment
McCain to speak here tonight.
Topless Women, Kid Rock, Bikers, And John McCain
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/03/topless-women-kid-rock-bi_n_116632.html
Posted by: Kristin2 | August 4, 2008 5:02 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Bullies love 'smirkfests' and McCain is more of the same.
Posted by: Roy | August 4, 2008 4:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The comments to this entry are closed.
"It is obvious you are in the tank for Obama. So your promotion of the fictitious "Right Wing Attack Machine" idea is bogus. The same moral majority that elected Bush twice will elect McCain for the same reasons. You will once again call them idiots, as you wallow in Michael-Mooreian disbelief."
Let's just say that a) the moral majority is neither, and b) Voting for Bush twice isn't exactly what passes for a sign of great intelligence in most of the country, these days.