WOW I'AM IMPRESSED, THATS WHY I'LL VOTE FOR HILLARY. hillaryclinton.com

Never did like any of his films, now I know why. hillaryclinton.com  

Another slap in the face for Hillary Clinton. The cost of negative campaign will only make people galvanize towards Obama - most especially in New Hampshire

There has been much made of the similarities between Obama's run for the White House and Lincoln's run as well.  I don't want to say that Obama will be as good as Lincoln, but different.  If Obama does get elected, I hope that he won't end his term like Lincoln -- shot.  I hope that we won't see any more of that.  

Ken Burns does seem to know his history given the films that he has made.  I would like to know more as to why he felt "compelled" to say something.  I would hope that historians might provide us clues as to what is likely to happen rather than what they would like to happen.  

I did like all of the films that Ken Burns has done that I have seen; I think I have seen several.  

This is news?

Ken Burns’ “The War” is a beautiful documentary. Burns is immensely talented. For a man of his talent and integrity to stand up for Obama really says something. This is great for Obama.

I totally agree with Burns.  

Gotta love him!!! www.barackobama.com

Barack Hussein Obama will be our greatest President ever!

No one else will notice, but this endorsement means something to me.  Ken Burns is a smart guy who understands history.

CLinton slash and burn attacks are really dealing her a heavy blow in NH. While she lost her campaign co-chair in NH, Obama has received several endorsements from NH lately, including high profile Republicans changing their Party to vote for Obama.

WOW!

If Clinton looses drops to second or third in NH, as she has dropped in Iowa, she's finished. If she's sincere that experience matters, it might be the right time to drop out and endorse Joe Biden.

2008 Presidential Election Weekly Poll

http://www.votenic.com

New YouTube Video!
The Only Poll That Matters.
Results Posted Weekly Tuesday Evening At Midnight.

Give it time. with technology and the media outlets investigating, it is going to come out. the very fact that someone has taken the time to hide who is behind this is going to make it undeniable to the public the kind of candidate it is, as well as what type of campaign they are running. this has footprints all over it. This is an expensive ad. it didn't come from somebody at home or some local campaign captain. whoever is behind this has money. just wait, it is going to destroy someone's campaign nationally.

Like Obama is a virgin and never gotten down in the mud.

Puh-lease.

Ken Burns.  I'm a big fan.  Being a history buff and loving all of Burns documentaries, I find this to be wonderful.
Thanks for reporting this as it's just a little nice news.

Wow, The Hillary INC trolls are awfully sensitive. Good points Burns made.

This is news?
Sean
--I guess they needed an Obama story ...

I agree in the sense that I could really care less about this endorsement.  I think my eyes actually rolled more than when babs endorsed Clinton.  Anyway, the part that stuck out to me was how a renowned historical video biographer made the connection that Lincoln was just what the country needed, and maybe Obama is likewise just what the country needed.  Certainly adds credance to that argument, no?



Like Obama is a virgin ...
Puh-lease.
Dickie Flatts, Charlotte, NC
--I don't know, he seems to have a very nice family from what I can tell.  Pretty supportive.



Barack Hussein Obama will be our greatest President ever!
Patricia M
--I don't know about greatest.  I like to promise humility.  We've certainly had some great Presidents (and some not-so-great Presidents ...).  But I do agree with your assessment that Barack Hussein Obama may be one of the great Presidents.

That's it folks, I have had enough! What "tone" has the campaign taken on the part of Senator Clinton? Has she played the race card? Has she misrepresented Obama's record (that is if he had one to misrepresent)? Has she told any lies about him at all?? PUHLEZE, tell me what sin that Clinton has committed to get NBC/MSNBC/FOX (ok nevermind about Fox) and Obama supporters so damn mad at Hillary. Honestly, if everybody thinks that talking about somebodys experience is so innapropriate or negative, what will happen in the general election?  Each candidate needs to have a strategy and be able to distinguish him or herself from the other. As far as I can see, no democrat (including Clinton ) has gone overly negative. I find it ironic that Clinton backers do not seem to hate the other democratic candidates the way that Obama and Edwards supporters do. And I will not rest until I know why Chris Matthews and his MSNBC staff have decided to forgo their journalistic reputations by spewing propaganda on behalf of camp Obama.  

Now who is Hillary going to roll out for an endorsement? I'm sure it is a rather short list. Maybe Guy Ritchie?

Just lookie here... hillaryclinton.com

Oh yes, BEE, this is such a slap in the face to Hillary. Give me a break.

Rob in Phoenix,

To answer your questions, Clinton's campaign has gone overly negative on Obama in many ways.  Her top New Hampshire advisor insinuated that Obama might have sold drugs as a kid.  Two Clinton campaign workers sent email forwards around saying that Obama is a Muslim who is planning on taking over the White House to bring about the demise of the US.  Plenty of her top advisors are referring to Obama by using his middle name "Hussein", knowing that it has a negative connotation being that the former dictator of Iraq shared the same name.  She is being disingenuous by claiming that Obama's healthcare plan isn't universal since it doesn't have a mandate, but doesn't explain how her mandate is going to cause any of the tens of millions of Americans who simply can't afford health insurance to all of a sudden purchase insurance with money they simply don't have.  And while I wouldn't call this a low blow, her criticisms of Obama writing in kindergarten that he wanted to become President show how pathetic and desperate her campaign has become.

Rob, Phoenix, AZ – “That's it folks, I have had enough! What "tone" has the campaign taken on the part of Senator Clinton? Has she played the race card? Has she misrepresented Obama's record (that is if he had one to misrepresent)? Has she told any lies about him at all?? PUHLEZE, tell me what sin that Clinton has committed to get NBC/MSNBC/FOX (ok nevermind about Fox) and Obama supporters so damn mad at Hillary.”

Give everyone a break.

Has she played the race card? – Yes. She had her NH state co-chair suggest that Obama, a black man, is a drug dealer. As well, since we now know her team is behind the false “Obama is a Muslim” chain emails, we also know that she is trying to incite religious intolerance against him, even through he is a Christian. And, Kerry, who recently endorsed Clinton, went on CNN yesterday and called Obama a Muslim. She’s playing all kinds of cards!

Has she misrepresented Obama’s record? – Yes. President Clinton appeared on Charlie Rose last week and said that Obama hasn’t done anything for others. Excuse me? Instead of taking a well-paying job after graduating from Columbia, he went to work as a community organizer to help Chicago’s poor. He passed healthcare and ethics reform legislation in Chicago, etc. etc. He’s got 11 years experience in elected office – not 1. I could go on and on about all the lies Clinton told in that interview.

People are tired of the Clintons' lies.

Rob, come down...you gotta check that Clinton Koolaid you drank. Looks like the expiration date on the bottle was 1/29/2000. Obam has a much more distinguished and lengthy resume of legislative accomplishments than Hillary - almost twice as much in fact. I see Hillary supporters keep saying that Hillary visited more than 80 foreign countries as first lady. Big whoop. Laura Bush is up to 70 countries and I don't think she's going to run for office anytime soon. It's funny how the experience issue you tout has gone over like a lead balloon because if it was so effective and resonating with the electorate, the campaign wouldn't have pivoted to show Hillary's warm and cuddly side. They would have kept driving that "experience" advantage home. But guess what? All that 35 years of "experience" tells us is that she is the establishment candidate. We need someone young and vibrant with great ideas and even better judgment. That's Barack Obama.

As an astute student of history - I think Ken was compelled to speak out due to the dog whistle racism the the Clinton camp employed. With so much more access to information and analysis today, I am surprised that the Clintons thought yesterday's old tricks of veiled take downs would work.

I've noticed the uneducated support barak

he's "wishing, not working"

When I saw the title, Filmmaker Endorses Obama, I wasn't too impressed, nor interested. In fact, I had thoughts of endorsements you'd be better off without. But Ken Burns is pretty cool. Still its not a big deal, unless he's some kind of local icon up in NH.

Ken who?

Big freaking deal.

Ava/MarkieBee/Keith

All of these things that you bring up seem very tame and rather silly. 1) Obama himself has admitted to his drug use. The Clinton campaign worker only suggested that the republicans will use this against him in the general election. This is somehow news?
2.)Nobody and I repeat nobody ever said the words Obama sold drugs "as a black man." That is your own head making that up.
3.)The whole thing about the Muslim email was taken care of by clinton. Those workers were dismissed.
4.)I have never heard Clinton's camp refer to Obama by his middle name. But you can be sure that the republicans will.
5.)As far as Obama and Clintons health care plans are concerned, candidates disagree all of the time on their positions, plans, and accomplishments. Recently, Obama has put out a pamphlet in NH that slightly misquotes and misrepresent Clintons health plan. Big deal. Obama and Clintons health plans are  different and both candidates should be allowed to highlight those differences.
6.)You don't seem to cry foul that Obama accuses Clinton of many things. But as a Clinton supporter, I would expect Obama to hit Clinton on certain issues in order to distingusih himself from her. But you don't see many Clinton supporters crying foul over the more mundane back and forth between the democratic candidates. My point is that if you Obama supporters really think that Clinton has been so rough and negative, you will never weather the republican storm that will unleash heall on earth before it allows Obama to be President (or any democrat). It seems to me that Clinton supporters tend to be more pragmatic and want the democratic party to prevail. I get the feeling that for Obama supporters it is all about Obama and to hell with the democratic party and those that have worked very hard (flaws and all) to serve their party and constituents. Let's not forget that Clinton is attacked daily for just about everything and yes Obama, veiled or not, has been apart of those attacks. All I am asking is that coverage be a little more fair and balanced.

Don't get me wrong, I love my candidate and I think this is the best worded endorsement of all time, but can we take a step back and look at ourselves?

I implore to look at the comments on Obama and Hillary articles around the net. Look how divided we've become. We're on the same team here, people.

The passion stirring in supporters of both candidates does not really correlate with the actual differences in Hillary and Obama's proposed policies. They are a lot more alike than it would seem to any uninitiated observers of our comment wars.

So, what gives? What prejudices do we hold within our own party that allow us to so radically distort their images?

I can't answer this for everyone but I'll do it for myself.

- Prejudice 1: Hillary hatred. So many of us, who mostly believe what she believes, hate her for what we perceive her to be like, regardless of policy. What does this say about a general election? The polls keep saying this but we're not listening.

- Prejudice 2: Obama worship. Be it his voice, looks, youth or message of change - many, many Obama supporters are on the train because of factors more related to celebrity than politics.

- Prejudice 3: Bill worship. As we've never been in this situation before, I think the grand majority of Hillary supporters believe that a vote for Hillary is a vote for Bill. I can't judge this as simply prejudice yet, but remember - she can choose to heed his advice as much as she chooses when she gets in - sadly, the American people aren't awarded the same choice if she gets elected. A vote for Hillary is really a vote that she might listen to Bill.

Prejudice 4 - "Experience" poisoning - As convinced as most Hillary supporters are of Obama's lack of it impeding him from making good choices, history doesn't necessarily agree. It's hard to knock experience as bad - but it's really more of a non-factor than we admit.  Washington experience has never made a president bad, but it's never made a president good either (Lincoln, Kennedy, Clinton, etc.)

I've done my research and I chose Obama for a lot reasons that I don't think include my previously stated prejudices. I really hope this at least encourages somebody to really look at their voting records, proposed policies and in depth personal histories before chanting an online battle cry.

Let us not weaken our resolve with reasons that are not reasons at all.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Negative attacks??????????

Go to

attacktimeline.com

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You bet there have been lots of attacks  Shame on those who go negative and attack other candidates

"I've noticed the uneducated support barak

he's "wishing, not working"
tuck,kansas,realityville (Sent Tuesday, December 18, 2007 6:11 PM)"

That might be a good point except for the fact that every single poll I've ever seen shows that Obama's support is even stronger among college graduates as well as people who have graduate degrees or PhD's.  That, and the fact that you didn't even spell "Barack" correctly.  Gotta love the irony.

The latest Hollywood PR tactic.  Endorse a candidate, any candidate.  They love me, they really love me!

Ken Burns isn't Hollywood.  He's PBS.  You're a moron.

As a Lifelong Democrat- many Democrats -liberal ones do not seem to understand that Mr. Obama will never be elected President- if he wins the nomination I cannot see him carrying any more states then John Kerry in 2004. In borderline states like Ohio- even with a horrible economy- they will not vote for Mr. Obama- certainly not in Florida- even a 'purple state'  like PA may not be won by him.

It may be wonderfully idealistic to want Mr. Obama to be President- but his views on health care -one of my primary concerns are shallow and weak- all of his other proposals are weak and empty.

The USA needs change- but electing Mr. Obama may bring chaos and little change. He currently is not qualified to be President, at least in 2008.

The liberal Democrats clamoring to him may be making a huge mistake in nominating him. Unless there is a total economic disaster in the next year- he cannot win.

Bill the creep Clinton just can't rachet up the crowds for Hillary, WONDER WHY ???

Rob, as you might guess, many of us disagree with your points in defense of Clinton.

You say that nobody said Obama sold drugs. I respond that Bush never said Iraq was involved with 9-11. Words have power, and can be put together in a manner intended to spread messages beyond literal meanings. Shaheen did that by suggesting the Republicans would ask him if he sold cocaine.

You say Clinton took care of the Muslim e-mails. All we know is she took care of the three who got caught. We also know that a year ago Insight said the Clinton campaign was passing 'madrassa' stories. Clinton denied it, just like she more recently denied passing Obama info to Robert Novak. Novak has since validated his claim. Makes me wonder about the Insight claim. And now we have another 'coincidence' of an experienced pol who while speaking in favor of Clinton also dropped the madrassa bomb.

You say you've never heard anyone from the Clinton camp using Obama's middle name. I happen to think the middle name thing is silly, but Kerrey did go out of his way to use it. Now, not officially part of the campaign, I'll give you that.

And there's others. We know Mark Penn's polling company was push polling in Iowa last summer, and bringing up the Muslim thing as well as Edwards' haircuts. We know of one campaign who has had staffers kicked off a blog for false representation. Seven from Clinton's campaign were kicked off Blue Hampshire - or at least that's seven userIDs, which may represent one person. Who knows. All seven accounts were registered from a Clinton office computer. By the way, someone using one of those IDs was posting here on First Read last summer.

You know, it just goes on and on. I keep hearing these hints from television journalists that no one sends out more information on other candidates to the media than the Clinton campaign. Maybe Domenico and the guys here at First Read can validate that.

Carlos I agree with your words, thank you.
The dems are not really getting as dirty as people want to believe, this is a rather quiet primary compared to many others.
If many college kids are for Obama that is good, I just hope they go out and vote.
I taught in higher education during the last election and asked my first class who was voting, three out of thirty five raised there hands, another class two out of forty, another class twelve out of thirty.
Maybe Obama supporters should not count the college vote as a given, history shows the young just don't get out and vote much.
Bee, I just have to tell you that you have gone over the edge with your ecstatic visions of your 'New Utopia' musings, come to earth dear, we need you here to vote for the democratic candidate who finally wins our nod, and for them to go forth and slay the repub dragon. Anything else would be a disaster.
Your anger for THE HILL is palpable and can hurt you, settle down, the world will not end if your guy doesn't get the nod. Did Obama touch your soul?

Rob in Phoenix, your comments are right on the money.  Of course I am a Hillary supporter as well, but I am tired of the impartial unbalanced coverage of Hillary Clinton.  I am also disgusted at the hypocricy of some Obama supporters.  It seams to be alright for Obama to criticise Hillary and distort her political views, but if someone points out an inconsistancy or flaw in Obama then we all must be part of the Hillary gestapo ready to smear the righteous and pristine Obama.  Give me a break.  This is politics and people need to chill out.  Lets stop sugarcoating Obama and let the truth be told.  He is human and fallible and if democrats put him on a pedestal he will fall.  The republicans will knock him down like a ton of bricks.  At least Hillary has been through it and is tried and tested.  Democrats need to stop dreaming and start thinking.  Reality is Obama will be torn to shreds by the republicans and our agenda as democrats will once again be halted due to stupidity on our part.  lets elect someone we know can make a change and who is not going to cave when the republicans start attacking.  prepare your selves Obama supporters, because the onslaught against Obama is coming.  I just hope you wont be too shook up when the media turns on him as they have other candidates.

Come on guys. We have all had our fun now but let us get real and acknowledge that Barrack HUSSEIN OSAMA (O pardon me, I mean Obama)will not be our president come Jan 20, 2009. Should he be able to get the nomination of his party, the Republicans will cut him to ribbons! He's too soft and too mellow and, he just wants all of us to get along now.HAHHAHA I give him about 100 electoral votes NY, Ill and Cal. That's it!

If I were Obama, I'd be freaking honored to have Mr. Burns endorse me.

Ken Burns is not hollywood, but neither is he PBS. Seriously, his projects are His projects. Other entities pay him to do whatever he wants to do.

Ken Burns is America's greatest story teller. Few people have the breath of vision of this man.

I met Mr Burns along the Snake river, near the border of Washington and Idaho. He's for real.

This is a huge endorsement.

"preventing a potential genocide in Iraq isn't a good enough reason to keep U.S. forces there."
Barack Obama
July 20,2007
Lincoln? I don't think so.

Great points Carlos!  There is one thing I am trying to find more information about-did Obama choose to go work as a community organizer simply to help or was there something else behind his decision?  I would think that counts for something if the former turns out to be the case.

while you are arguing and shooting deomocrats in the foot, republicans are now planning a bill that would triage people and immunize hospitals from liability of sending patients away from ER'S if the condition is not deemed serious enough.they want to tie it into s-chip.
any one can see the not serious enough condition would be "lack of insurance"

how can anyone in good conscience still support and call themselves a republican? the gop candidates as a whole call for continuation and expansion of iraq war, refuse to even consider national healthcare, congratulate themselves on bankruptcy reform while millions lose their homes and 3.00 a gallon gas is a welcome sight to them.

We need to work to give the dems a super majority in the congress to turn back bush policies for the corporations and wealthy instead beating each other in the face.personal attacks just show immaturity. argue facts and philosophy not personal attacks that degrade.

and remember: republicans hate AMERICA and the middle class.

Ken Burns is one of the greatest documentary directors ever and has a vast knowledge of American history from many angles from almost 30 years of work. Clinton has Magic Johnson walking around grocery stores. You decide!

Scott, Ohio:

PBS?  Well, knock me over a feather. All those episodes of "The Civil War" and "Baseball" and I just never noticed! (Sarcasm intended).  If you're on NBC, CBS or ABC, you're not Hollywood, either?

Anyone who has been nominated for two Oscars and 8 Emmy's, whatever the category, is at least a little bit Hollywood, and a celebrity at that.  Frankly, I thought he was more serious than to try to lend his celebrity to a presidential candidate.

At least he's not Michael Moore, another " serious documentarian" who wasn't "Hollywood".

Welcome to the moron brotherhood.

"PBS?  Well, knock me over a feather. All those episodes of "The Civil War" and "Baseball" and I just never noticed! (Sarcasm intended)."

It's pretty funny when one must Label his or her sarcasm. Yes, how could anyone NOT KNOW who Ken Burns is? Still, there you are, having applied a label "hollywood" that simply doesn't fit.  

Hey, 50/50 in the labeling ain't half bad (sarcasm assumed) . . . or, err, is it?

"If you're on NBC, CBS or ABC, you're not Hollywood, either?"

Being hollywood means churning out formulaic, market tested, repetitious versions of what succeeded the year before in order to sell advertising time. As was said in an earlier post, Burn's motivation is his own, like most artists.

"Anyone who has been nominated for two Oscars and 8 Emmy's, whatever the category, is at least a little bit Hollywood, and a celebrity at that."

Again, you think you are on some trail, you appear to be aware of some thread that automatically makes anyone who produces media to then be "hollywood."

Now, because he's won awards for his talent -- his ability to bring hisorically accurate narratives to life -- he must be at least a little bit hollywood. This makes no sense and it does not follow logically from anything you've offered.

"Welcome to the moron brotherhood"

It would appear you're welcoming yourself.

I meant to write 'breadth' of vision, not breath (although his treatment of the landscape itself as the main protagonist in the series on Lewis and Clark was a 'breath' of fresh vision).

"Lincoln? I don't think so."

Willy? Zat chew, buddy?

Just a lil ole headsup for ya: the allusion to Lincoln was a complex play on the ironies of both candidacies. Sheesh.

As an Australian, in Australia, I am watching your election process with real interest, but rather embarrassed by so many ill-informed comments being made online.

Bill Clinton was a great President. Obama could be even greater.  America, and the west, needs change. It's time for change.

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