Mr. Johnson, If you only vote for people with your exact same experience; uneducated, broke and wasting opportunities, I guess you never vote.

There may be a lot of hispanics that are puerto rican and dominican (From the islands) but the majority share the same cultural values as the hispanics of the west; therefore, they will vote for hillary and not obama.

Sam,
I'm a political science-international affairs student in Europe and I have been following this process up close from the very beginning(by that I mean since the period of "the invisible primaries" (Arthur T. Hadley, 1976)). I just wanted to tell you that what became apparent is that Mr. Clinton is not going to be the "inevitable nominee" as she and her campaign were stating until the Iowa-blow came along. So, in fact if there is anyone who should make a concession speech it would have to be Clinton. It's only normal that the Obama campaign, being the underdog, is trying to show folks in SC and elsewhere that even after loosing NH and NV nothing is decided yet. All this of course in order to minimize the possible boost Clinton could get from two consecutive wins. It's just part of the game and in the end there will be only one who can claim victory, until that moment conscession speeches are merely message-less bottles floating on the high seas. Furthermore, both the candidates are classy and are presidential material otherwise they wouldn't have come so far! As for electability I put my money on Obama. But first let the following principle prevail: May the best woman or man win!! (And let that best man be Barack!!!)

R.J.

Why do Hispanics hate blacks so much?

I heard Obama didn't even give a concession speech? If that is true, it is disrespectful. It is part of our tradition as decent respectful Democrats to give a concession speech and also thank the supporters. Obama's supporters must be thinking why they supported him!

Jermaine Johnson, enlighten yourself.

--
Where Obama's Journey Began

CHICAGO, April 27, 2007
--------------
(CBS) When Barack Obama arrived on Chicago's South Side, he was on a mission to help. The fires of the once-vibrant steel industry had already died, there were 326,000 people unemployed, and nearly 70 percent of public school children were living below the poverty line.

"It was a lot of poverty there, but a lot of pride," says Loretta Augustine, a community activist.

Chicago was in the midst of a political firestorm. Harold Washington, the city's first black mayor, had taken the reins and racial tensions were running high, CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric reports.

It was at a church, in 1984, where Obama came to work as a community organizer for a faith-based group called the Developing Communities Project. He worked in Altgeld Gardens, a racially segregated housing project on Chicago's far South Side. In a city where political power means everything, the people of Altgeld were invisible.

"To a great extent, we were powerless," Augustine says.

Obama's challenge was to empower the impoverished residents of Altgeld Gardens and turn them into political players. But older members of the group were skeptical of the 23-year-old Columbia University graduate.

"How was this kid gonna be any help to them?" says Gerry Kellman, who hired Obama.

But over time, Obama earned their trust and figured out how to make those voices heard.

"What Barack had to do was instill confidence in those folks," Kellman says.

Then there was a crucial meeting: A representative from the mayor's office tried to take over — and suddenly the South Side activist rose up.

"From the back of the room came Barack's voice, and he says, 'We want to hear from Loretta. Let Loretta talk,'" Augustine recalls. "And in that instant, he changed the meeting and focused right back on our agenda."

Today, still surrounded by 53 toxic waste dumps, Altgeld Gardens is often called "the toxic donut." In 1967, Augustine's 6-year-old daughter died of leukemia — which she's convinced was caused by toxic waste. Yet no one was listening to the people in the neighborhood.

"We found out there was a secret meeting in South Chicago on this issue and we had been excluded," she says.

Obama and 300 community members marched to that secret meeting.

You cannot leave the community out of the process. It was so powerful," Augustine says.

Most people stayed in that job for four months. Obama continued to fight for four years, cutting his teeth on community activism. — the first measure of his leadership skills that are now being tested on a much larger stage.

"Barack came here very idealistic, and he left much more practical," Kellman says.

"He left, but he didn't leave us," adds Augustine. "We claim him."

video
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/27/eveningnews/main2737505.shtml


COMMUNITY ORGANIZER
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22bcGFeq71U

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/27/eveningnews/main2737505.shtml

Carry
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid988092914/bclid1025135559/bctid1038694004

Choices
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid979377028/bclid1023793871/bctid1076557340

Go OBama!!!

Disgusted is right.  Obama's "black experience" is a hell of a lot different than MY black experience.  

I'm sick of him actin like he is one of us.  He is NOT.  He has NO idea what it is like to grow up in the inner city where no one got to go to Harvard. Hell, most didn't even get out of high school. Don't see many lawyers who married lawyers among the people I grew up with.  And none of us are Senators or live in big fancy houses.

We work like dogs for every penny we can scrap together.

He don't know what the hell we've lived thru.
Obama is not one of us.

I never support or vote for Obama.


Mr. Jermaine Johnson (Sent Saturday, January 19, 2008 11:36 PM)
________________________________

Okay Jamie

Your statement is completly ignorant...So, you are saying that he's not a black man because he went to Harvard...No wonder you support Hillary Clinton...Dumb ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Barack Obama
Senior Lecturer in Law

EDUCATION

Harvard Law School, J.D. 1991, Magna Cum Laude.
President, Harvard Law Review
Executive Board, Black Law Students' Association
Columbia University, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, 1983


US Senator from Illinois 2004-present
Senate Foreign Relations Commitee
Senate Commitee on Veterans' Affairs
Senate Commitee on Health, Education, Labor, Pensions
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs


Illinois State Senator - 13th Legislative District, Chicago, 1996 - 2004
Minority Spokesperson for the Public Health & Welfare Committee, Member of the Judiciary and Revenue Committees, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.
Areas of legislative interest include welfare reform; public school funding and accountability; tax accountability and tax fairness; campaign finance and ethics reform; job training and workforce preparation; economic development and technology access; and juvenile justice issues.

University of Chicago Law School
Senior Lecturer, 1993 -

Miner, Barnhill & Galland, P.C.
Of Counsel, 1996 -  
Specializing in civil rights and voting rights litigation, employment law, and the representation of not-for-profit and community development corporations in urban redevelopment activities.
Associate, 1993 - 1996
Litigated voting rights and employment cases, wrote appellate briefs and argued appeals in the United States Court of Appeals, helped to structure and finance efforts to construct mixed-income housing to replace public housing in and around Cabrini Green, served as general counsel to community health clinics, social service agencies, and charter schools throughout Chicago.

Illinois Project Vote
Director, April 1992 - November 1992
Organized and directed a voter registration and education campaign targeted at minority and low-income voters in Cook County. Recruited and managed 10 paid staff and 700 volunteers; helped raise $200,000 for the project; coordinated a companion multi-media campaign; established office and reporting systems. Resulted in approximately 150,000 newly registered voters in the 1992 Presidential election.

Developing Communities Project
Director, June 1985 - June 1988
Organized and directed a not-for-profit community development program in low-income areas of Chicago's Far South Side. With a membership of over twenty churches and civic groups, the organization trained local leaders to formulate and execute a range of community development projects, including job training programs for area unemployed, college prep programs for low-income students, parent initiatives to reform public schools, and campaigns to clean up hazardous waste sites.

Business International Corporation
Writer/Financial Analyst, January 1984 - January 1985
Researched, wrote and edited articles, reports, and how-to manuals on international business and finance for multinational corporations.

Honors

Outstanding Legislator Awards from Campaign for Better Health Care and Illinois Primary Health Care Association, 1998

Best Freshman Legislator Award from Independent Voters of Illinois/Independent Precinct Organizations, 1997

Legal Eagle Award for litigation leading to Illinois' compliance with national "Motor Voter" Legislation, 1995

Monarch Award for Outstanding Public Service, 1994

Crain's Chicago Business "40 Under 40" Award, 1993

Obama helped to deliver the first significant campaign finance reform law in Illinois in 25 years. He brought law enforcement groups around to back legislation requiring that homicide interrogations be taped and helped bring about passage of the state’s first racial-profiling law. He was a chief sponsor of a law enhancing tax credits for the working poor, played a central role in negotiations over welfare reform and successfully pushed for increasing child care subsidies (NYT, 7/30/07).  Here in Chicago, Obama worked as lead organizer for the Developing Communities Project, a campaign funded by south-side Catholic churches to counteract the dislocation and massive unemployment caused by the closing and downsizing of southeast Chicago steel plants. (ChicagoReader 12/8/95)   As a Chicago community organizer, Obama notched accomplishments ranging from job-training programs to a successful attempt to improve city services at the Altgeld Gardens housing project, chaired a voter-registration drive that helped carry Illinois for Democratic presidential candidate Bill Clinton in 1992 and led an effort to acquire state money for a dropout prevention program that still operates today.


"As a state legislator, Obama worked with both Democrats and Republicans in drafting successful legislation on ethics and health care reform. He sponsored a law enhancing tax credits for low-income workers, negotiated welfare reform, and promoted increased subsidies for child care. He expanded healthcare to include 154.000 people in Illinois(including 70,000 children).  Obama also led the passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations, and a law to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped. During his 2004 general election campaign for U.S. Senate, Obama won the endorsement of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police, whose president credited him with having been "immensely helpful in working with police organizations" on death penalty reform."

Although Barack Obama has represented urban areas of the country where gun violence was a community concern, he has been a long-time and consistent supporter of all Americans’ right to bear arms. Senator Obama has led the way in protecting our law enforcement officials by cracking down on armor-piercing bullets while also protecting individual rights of hunters and gun owners.

o Obama said he supported better enforcement of existing gun laws, not new ones. Obama said he supported “common sense gun control measures. For now, the federal government should focus on better enforcement of existing gun laws, rather than creating new ones.”

o Obama voted to give concealed carry for retired police and military. Obama voted to allow retired peace officers and military personnel who have served honorably for at least 10 years to receive a permit to concealed firearms. He was the only Chicago Democrat to do that. [93rd GA, SB 2188, 3/26/04, 3R P; 40-13-1]

o Obama voted to allow the use of a handgun for hunting. Obama voted to allow the use of a handgun during the open hunting season for deer. [93rd GA, SB 257, 3/24/03, 3R P; 47-5-2; 5/28/03, HA 1 SC; 55-2-0]

o Obama said municipalities should control local gun regulations, not the state. ‘That law eviscerated anti-handgun ordinances in some communities… The way I feel, Wilmette should not determine Mattoon’s firearms ordinances and Mattoon should not determine Wilmette’s.’&r dquo ; Obama said, “I don’t necessarily support those (gun-ban) laws… but I think local communities should have the right to pass them, and that’s what this law was about.” [Chicago Tribune, 10/8/04; Springfield Journal-Register, 6/3/04]


As a member of the Democratic minority party of the Senate for six of his eight years there, Obama wrote a health insurance law that covered an additional 20,000 children, a welfare reform law, an earned-income-tax-credit law for working-poor families, and death penalty reform that passed unanimously. During his last two years in the majority, he sponsored 780 bills, 280 of which became law.

----continued---

While in the US Senate Obama has passed Lugar-Obama, a bill that expands the Nunn-Lugar cooperative threat reduction concept to conventional weapons, including shoulder-fired missiles and anti-personnel mines. He has also passed the "Coburn-Obama Transparency Act" provides for a web site, managed by the Office of Management and Budget, listing all organizations receiving Federal funds from 2007 onward, and providing breakdowns by the agency allocating the funds, the dollar amount given, and the purpose of the grant or contract. In addition to those two he has also gotten through the "Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act," which had his name on it as the first sponsor.
He also worked with Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) in strengthening restrictions on travel in corporate jets to S.1, the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007. And then Obama sponsored with Kit Bond (R-MO) an amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Act adding safeguards for personality disorder military discharges, and calling for a review by the Government Accounting Office following reports that the procedure had been used inappropriately to reduce government costs. He sponsored the "Iran Sanctions Enabling Act" supporting divestment of state pension funds from Iran's oil and gas industry, and joined Chuck Hagel (R-NE) in introducing legislation to prevent nuclear terrorism. He also sponsored a Senate amendment to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to provide one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries.
"I sit on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee," he said. "So I have frequent interaction with world leaders who come to visit here, and I take trips on various fact-finding missions, whether it's to Iraq or Russia or Africa. But you know, probably, the strongest experience I have in foreign relations is the fact that I spent four years living overseas when I was a child in Southeast Asia."
"A lot of my knowledge about foreign affairs isn't just what I studied in school -- I studied international relations when I was in college -- it's not just the work I do on the Senate foreign relations committee.

-----------------
As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama is committed to helping the heroes who defend our nation today and the veterans who fought in years past.

In January 2007, Senator Obama reintroduced the Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act to improve the VA’s planning process to avoid budget shortfalls in the future.
---
He authored the Sheltering All Veterans Everywhere Act (SAVE Act) to strengthen and expand federal homeless veteran programs that serve over 100,000 homeless veterans annually.
---
Part of the Lane Evans Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act, which Senator Obama reintroduced in January 2007, would help veterans transition from the DOD health system to the VA system by extending the window in which new veterans can get mental health care from two years to five years.
READ MORE AT:
http://obama.senate.gov/issues/veterans/

--
Honoring Our Veterans
http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/veterans/

---cont'd---

Ensuring that the Voting Section Protects the Right to Vote:

Barack Obama has been a life-long defender of voting rights. After law school, he registered 150,000 new voters in Chicago. As a civil rights lawyer, he defended minority voters who challenged redistricting plans that diluted their vote. As a constitutional law lecturer, he taught classes on voting rights. And in the US Senate, he has led the fight to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act, to oppose discriminatory photo-ID laws and improve our election machinery. His " Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act", which has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate Judiciary Committee, will enable investigations into deceptive and fraudulent practices.  It establishes significant, harsh penalties for those who have engaged in fraud, and it provides voters who have been misinformed with accurate and full information so they can vote.

Obama didnt even thank his supporters tonight in Nevada?

That's too arrogant and cocky. He shouldn't look down upon the poor Nevadians who were trying to help him sell hope.

Jerome,
I believe that, based on Barack Obama's self-written books 'Dreams from MY Father' and 'Audacity of Hope'/
his work throughout the years to give voice to the voiceless and hope to the hopeless(poor and union-workers)/ his speeches etc, he is a better candidate. He did not just happen upon Democratic principles in this campaign, he gave up hundreds of job offers over 20+ years ago to go work for $12,000/yr in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Chicago. He graduated magna cum laude/became head of Harvard Law Review/Civil Rights Attorney/taught constitutional law for over 10 years etc.  Obama went to work with churches that organized job training and other programs for residents of a massive housing project in Chicago. He persuaded the city to provide summer jobs, remove asbestos, repair toilets, pipes and ceilings. He went door to door, offering help for three years, then went to Harvard Law School. After law school, he registered 150,000 new voters in Chicago. He was finally able to pay off his college debt using proceeds from his first bestselling book.

NO BUSH/CLINTON/BUSH/CLINTON

What's that say about you? About America?  The world wonders and believe me, the world really is concerned about America.  

Hasn't the world experienced Clinton's leading this Country with their form of diplomacy?  It was the Clinton's right and not just Bill crafting world policy and directives.

That's what Hillary is claiming.  Her Co-Presidency back in the 90's, but had little idea what Bill was doing in his personal life.

The good things Bill did, she will do, some supporters of Hillary say.  

Where in the world did Bill do good? Africa?  Europe? The Balkans? Middle East policy?  Israel?

Social concerns and policies.  I don't remember clearly because my life wasn't affected by the Clinton's in the 90's.  I voted twice for him, but disenchanted now.

His lying to Congress and pardons to his friends.  Hillary's brother was selling access to pardon consideration. He made a bunch of money.

People that didn't get pardons in the 90's from Clintons will look again for favor.

Clintons in the White House will cause the Bush's family to cringe.  Like we need another Bush as President. The Bush family has an ego.  Two Presidents Father and Son.  More years as President than Bill got.

Former Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush will be President in 2012 because of Hillary's Presidency.

Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton/Bush

Jeb Bush is the GOP's "secret" they may spring on the nominee as a Vice President.  Like they forced Dan Quayle into that position.

A lot of industry likes the profits from Bush's policies, they don't want to end that relationship. If Jeb Bush is in the White House, it continues!

Maybe GOP will allow Hillary to be President. GOP will win Congress in 2010 and will place Jeb in the White House in 2012.  

Bill is the problem. He gives a good speech attacking Obama but is increasingly partisan.  He causes more stories than Hillary.  

Because she has Bill, some women say is they are voting for Hillary.  Because she has Bill being Co-President again, makes America look bad in the world's eyes.

We're creating Royal political families who's ego's are focused on the Presidency.  The Bush Family is more egotistical. Like we need another Bush, it will happen because Hillary is President.

Nevada is the big loser here.  It is a HUGE EMBARRASSMENT when the caucus-delegate math erases A 6% LEAD in the popular vote.  What a stupid, STUPID system where the acreage of land counts more than the votes of individuals.

If billary gets the nomination I will vote for whoever the republican nominee is.  At least that way when the country goes further to crap, maybe the country will finally take a stand for real change.  not the billary type of change.  Ask yourself this.  Was the democratic party better off after BC?  Of course, the answer is no.  A billary presidency means the end of any real hope for change, needed change, like the social programs of the 60's.  The country and the Democratic party will be nearly irretrievably ruined.  So, lets let a republican ruin it.  At least that way, some forward thinking Dem or Progressive will have a better chance of winning and enacting real change after the disaster of another 4 years of republican ruin.

If I remember correctly something like that happened eight years ago where one candidate got the votes and the other candidate got the job. Look what a mess that situation created. Is'nt about time that whomever got the most votes wins the election? Is that not the democratic way? For Obama to claim victory under those circumstances is the REPUBLICAN way, not the DEMOCRATIC way.

@ mr. jermaine johnson

1st of all, you have to consider that not all blacks are going to have the same black "experience".

2nd of all, obama probably has as much of your typical stereotype black "experience" as most youth of today; never knowing his real father, mostly raised by a single parent or grandparents, have self-issues on race, unfocused as a teen to the point of being a weedhead as well as a cokehead....but turning his life around WITHOUT any types of handouts. he didn't get into harvard because his family was rich or he had connections...he got in thru hard work after b.s-ing thru the 1st year of college in california. ending up being top student there.

then you cannot even discredit him for throwing all that opportunity away to become a grassroots activist at the southside of CHICAGO!! how in the world you can claim he's not understanding the "blaxk experience" when most of his life in public service relied on HELPING those that are struggling thru that experience....

do your research before assuming

OMG!!

Mark don't try to clear anything up!  MSNBC is much better at clouding issues when it comes to the Democratic race.  Honestly "you" are not concerned with truth or the reality of events.  "You" are much more interested in making news, than reporting the way it actually happens.  Many of us are much smarter than you think, and in a lot more cases than you think, we are smarter than "you."  Yes I read and sometimes watch "your" shows, but "you" have never changed my mind (about anything,) and I suspect it is the same for legions of others who read, watch, and listen...  

If experience really mattered to the Dem voters, Biden and Dodd would be fighting it out for the nomination at this time.

Hillary has about as much experience as this nation's chief executive as a General's wife would have commanding troops in combat. I watched the debates, she clearly has the ability to memorize her talking points - but she does not strike me as a leader.

Obama has the skill set to be a very good leader. That much is clear from watching the debates. He has probably about as my experience as JFK had when he was elected back in 1960 (Nixon was the experience candidate back then). JFK turned out OK. Obama will too.., if this country gets smart and gives him a chance.

If Hillary wins the nomination, I'll probably vote for MCain (who at least seems decent & has some character). If both Romney & Hillary make the general election.., I might have to move to Canada in 09.

Obama is starting to sound more like Bush, everyday.

Hillary get the popular vote, and Obama was to pull a "Florida"-type of move.

Interesting.

Yeah Obama is not even man enough to give concession speech. You Obama supporters would of attacked Hillary if she was not classy enough to give a speech in Iowa. He is nothing but a fast talker with no class.

I fully agree--Why is everyone so afraid of the Clinton's.  The rules are the rules.  If Obama won the delegates-he won the delegates.  Ted Kennedy and Rahm Emmanuel have called Bill and told him to calm down (Newsweek article).  I still think he going to implode before this is all over, but why destroy a sure Democratic victory by tearing the party to shreds.  If by some stretch Hillary gets the nomination, but African Americans in particular, Independents and others refuse to participate in the general because of the behavior and tactics of the Clinton's what's the point?

January 18, 2008 at 12:12:12

Hillary Clinton's Sleaze Parade

by Paul Rogat Loeb     Page 1 of 1 page(s)

http://www.opednews.com
 
Politics can be a rough game. Candidates need to hold their competitors accountable and challenge distortions and lies. And God knows, we need a Democratic nominee who's willing to fight. But Hillary Clinton's campaign has included far too many cheap shots, sleazy manipulations, and unsavory players.

New questionable actions emerge daily. You're probably familiar with many. But it's the broader pattern that disturbs me--how much the Clinton campaign seems to nurture questionable actions from her operatives, supporters, and surrogates. And how the campaign's actions go beyond drawing legitimate political lines to an all-too-Rovian instinct to do whatever's deemed necessary to take down those blocking Clinton's potential victory. Here's a representative list of actions that, taken together, offer a troubling portent for her candidacy and presidency.

Start with the hiring of chief campaign strategist, Mark Penn. He's CEO of a PR firm, Burson-Marsteller, that prepped the Blackwater CEO for his recent congressional testimony, is advising the giant industrial laundry corporation Cintas in fighting unionization, and whose website proudly heralded their union-busting expertise until it became a potential Clinton liability and they removed that section. B-M has historically represented everyone from the Argentine military junta and Philip Morris to Union Carbide after the 1984 Bhopal disaster.

Then there are Clinton's campaign donors. Any major candidate has some dubious supporters, but Clinton's gotten money from particularly noxious sources. Start with her donation from Rupert Murdoch, who's given to no other Democrat. Add in massive amounts of money from Washington lobbyists and from industries like defense, banking, health care, and oil and energy providers (though Obama's also gotten a lot from some of these industries). Then there's Norman Hsu, who brought in over $850,000 to Hillary's campaign after returning to the US following his flight to evade a fraud conviction (Hsu was subsequently rearrested, sentenced to three years, and is facing further federal charges, and the campaign eventually returned the money he'd raised). There's the Nebraska data processing company InfoUSA, whose CEO, Vin Gupta, used private corporate jets to fly the Clintons on business, personal, and campaign trips, gave Bill Clinton a $3.3 million consulting contract, and is now being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly diverting company money to his own personal uses. Mississippi attorney Dickie Scruggs recently canceled a major December 15 Hillary fundraiser (with Bill Clinton headlining) after being indicted for trying to bribe a judge. Major international sweatshop owners, the Saipan-based Tan family, have given Clinton $26,000, complementing their previous massive support for Jack Abramoff and Tom Delay. That doesn't even count dubious supporters from the past, like Peter Paul, the convicted con-artist turned event producer who coordinated a massive Hollywood Clinton fundraiser during the 2,000 election. Taken together, it's a pretty tainted constellation of backers.

Like most candidates, Clinton spends the bulk of her money on ads and mailings, and she's taken some pretty problematic approaches there too. I wonder how many of the New Hampshire women who voted last minute for Clinton were swayed by a mailing claiming that Obama wasn't really committed to abortion rights because he'd voted "present" on some abortion-related legislative votes. Except that Obama had done so as part of a strategy devised by Illinois Planned Parenthood to protect vulnerable swing district representatives. New England Planned Parenthood's Board Chair strongly refuted Clinton's letter, pointing out that Obama had a 100% record on all the votes that really mattered. But the mailing may still have damaged his support.

The distortion of Obama's position on abortion echoes Hillary's audacious argument that Obama really wasn't against the Iraq war and betrayed his promises by failing to vote against war appropriation bills after the Democrats couldn't override Bush's veto. I wish Obama had bucked the Democratic leadership and taken a stronger stand. But it's a gross distortion of history to equate his positions with Clinton's overt support for the war authorization, refusal to apologize for her vote, and claim that she was really doing it all to promote more diplomatic solutions.

We can find further distortions in a mailing sent out before the Iowa caucuses by the independent expenditure committee of a key Clinton ally, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The AFSCME mailing attacked Obama on his health care plan by using a John Edwards quote that was featured so prominently that recipients could assume that his campaign was the source of the attack piece. This and other actions so disturbed a group of seven AFSCME International Vice Presidents wrote a public letter to their union president, saying that although the union had endorsed Clinton on a split vote, the political committee had no mandate to attack Obama. They demanded the committee stop what they called "fundamentally dishonest" attacks.

Other surrogates have attacked Obama's character. Twice they've tried to raise Obama's early drug use as a campaign issue--despite his having addressed it directly and frankly in his book Dreams From My Father. Hillary's New Hampshire campaign chair, Billy Shaheen, mentioned it first, claiming that he was only worried about how the Republicans might use it. Sheehan resigned from the campaign after a storm of criticism, then Black Entertainment Television CEO Robert Johnson (who's backed Bush on issues like the estate tax) raised it again, with Clinton standing next to him at a South Carolina rally. After Johnson's words drew major heat, Clinton belatedly distanced herself from them, but the smear still stands, along with the disingenuous claim that those making it were just neutral participants, only trying to serve the Party's best interests.

Clinton's campaign also attacked the John Edwards campaign for appearing in New Hampshire with the parents of Nataline Sarkisyan, the 17-year-old leukemia patient who died after CIGNA refused her a liver transplant. Clinton press secretary Jay Carson claimed that the US needs to elect "somebody who's actually going to help people and not use them as talking points." Never mind that the Sarkisyans had initiated the chance to speak out by contacting Edwards about appearing at a Manchester New Hampshire town hall campaign appearance. To the Clinton campaign, their appearance had to be suspect, because they were supporting Edwards and his ideas.

The campaign has also attempted more directly to discourage participation by voters who might support Clinton's opponents. A judge just shut down the lawsuit filed by the pro-Clinton leadership of the Nevada teacher's union, which sought to prevent long-scheduled caucuses from being held at central locations on the main casino strip, where workers largely represented by the Obama-endorsing Culinary Workers Union would find it easier to attend. When asked, Hillary Clinton claimed to have "no opinion on the lawsuit" and Bill Clinton overtly supported it.

New Hampshire saw parallel voter suppression tactics, as the campaign encouraged the New Hampshire Democratic Party to evict Obama get-out-the-vote observers from the polls. In Iowa, the Clinton Campaign tried to discourage out-of-state students from returning to their campuses to participate in the caucuses. In the Michigan primary, Clinton kept her name on the ballot after the state violated Democratic National Committee rules by moving its primary ahead of the Feb 5 "Super Tuesday" vote, while Edwards and Obama took theirs off.

Campaigns can have either closed or open information styles. Clinton's comes far too close to the Bush-Cheney model, as when the Clintons successfully killed a major story in the national men's magazine GQ about Clinton campaign infighting. Author Josh Green had written a long critical previous piece on Clinton for The Atlantic, and campaign press secretary Jay Carson threatened to deny the magazine access to Bill Clinton for a separate cover story on his international foundation work. GQ acquiesced and pulled the critical piece.

The flip side of trying to stop negative coverage is manufacturing praise. Clinton's campaign did this when they gave planted questions to Iowa student Muriel Gallo-Chasanoff, and according to Chasanoff, to other students as well. After being driven to a public event by Clinton interns, Chasanoff was introduced to a Clinton staffer who showed her a list of suggested questions to ask, one of which she used at Clinton's forum. It's not quite like Bush inviting the softball inquiries of former male-prostitute turned right-wing blogger Jeff Gannon. But it isn't so different either.

Taken together, these examples echo the Bush's administration's tendency to attack anyone who challenges them. They echo Clinton's refusal to apologize for her Iraq war vote or for an Iran vote so reckless that Jim Webb called it "Dick Cheney's fondest pipe dream." They hardly bode well for reversing the massive erosions of transparency of the past seven years.

The list could go on, but it's the pattern that's important. It's true that one person's cheap shot artist is another's fierce competitor. Obama himself has called politics "a full-contact sport," and used legal maneuvers to block a long-time state legislator when he first ran for office. And Democrats will need to be fierce in their campaigning if they're going to defeat the right-wing Swiftboating machine that gave Bush the last two presidencies. So maybe I'd be more charitable if I didn't disagree so strongly with Clinton's Iraq and Iran votes, and utter failure to take leadership in standing up to Bush when he was riding high in the polls. But I think I'd still have a problem. I look at the actions of her campaign, and see an ugly example, a ruthlessness not remotely equaled by either Obama or Edwards. I'll vote for the last Democrat standing, because the Republicans will continue the current administration's disastrous priorities. But Hillary's scorched-earth approach threatens to fracture the party if she does get the nomination, and to leave a trail of bitterness even if she wins. We can do better for the Democratic nominee.

Delegate counts are the meat. Popular votes mean squat in presidential elections. The players in this political campaign know the game. This may just be hard fought and longer than the pundits can project. In spite of some arguable deficiencies  in the electoral system, that is the  game.  We would all do well, after 2000, to remember that.

That said, Obama is no loser. Perhaps Hillary should give a concession speech, by way of a civics lesson?  A five point caucus victory does not a delegate victory make.

In 2000, Gore won the popular vote but lost to George W. Bush in terms of delegates to the Electoral College. Many people thought that was unfair. It is very ironical, then, for Obama supporters to insist that their candidate won because he has one delegate more than her when Clinton won the popular vote in Nevada.

Regarding Mr. Johnson. I didn't know that there was a litmus test for blackness and I am Black! I have an advanced degree, so does my spouse. I grew up in the city too, in a house, with a dog and a yard and so did my neighbors.  I know a lot of other Black people who grew up in the suburbs and rural areas. Come on now, that is so tired. To quote the rapper Rakim, "It ain't where you from, it's where you at!"

Jermaine Johnson,  I am very sorry to hear of your plight.  What are you doing to better yourself and your circumstances??  Have you tried moving out of the inner city and getting a better-paying job?  Senator Obama was not born into wealth, he was raised by a single mom then with his grandparents, they were not wealthy either.  He worked hard to get to where he is at, things were not given to him on a silver platter.  Anyone of us can make something out of our lives when we make the effort.  You have to go to it, it is not going to come to you.  Good luck to you.

The Political system award the winner of the state, not by popular votes but by the number of delegates won, Bush became president the first time by dlegates count and not by popular votes, if that is so Hilary lost Nevada and Obama is the BIG WINNER!!! ja ja ja...sorry Hillary fans, OBAMA WON NEVADA acording to our Democratic system of goverment.

Obama grew up in the US. He wrote a book about what it was like to be black in America. Yet there was a twist... he was half white. Not only did he experience rejection from white people because he was black ad had a fro... he experienced some rejection from full blood blacks. He was subject to racism all the way around. Despite the strikes against him he graduated from Columbia University and spent years as a community organizer for inner city black youth. He then went on to be a star at Harvard Law School, becoming the first African-American president of the renowned Harvard Law Review. After law school, he worked as a community organizer and a civil rights lawyer in Chicago. He also taught at the University of Chicago Law School as a senior lecturer specializing in constitutional law. Obama represented the South Side of Chicago in the Illinois State Senate from 1996–2004 as a Democrat. In 2004, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, winning with 70% of the vote. Obama became the only African-American serving in the U.S. Senate (and the fifth in U.S. history).

Obama could never pass as anything but black in a white world. He is one of you. He is one of me, too.
He is both of us brought together as one. It's not easy but like hope he will rise.

Still I Rise
 

 You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

cont'd... Obama and his wife worked for years on the southside of Chicago.

They have much more in common with urban grassroots activists than Billary Tyson Walmart Clinton will ever have.

Hillary will not win the general.  Look at NV, she won in major urban areas. But because of her racial baiting, she can not count of black voters and she doesn't have rural or independent support. Nominate her and watch the democratic party implode.  Kennedy is right.  Why is she cutting off her nose to spite her face.  Because she only cares about herself and damn the democratic party or the rest of america.

All you irresponsible democrats that have been voting for Hillary - don't expect we independents to throw in our support for her.  WE AREN'T CONTROLLED BY THE FANATICAL LEFT LIKE YOU ALL ARE!!!  If Hillary gets the nomination, to hell with the democratic party - I vote either republican or for Bloomberg, whichever looks best at the time.  Obama supporters are not like you all.  We looked and saw the BEST candidate and support him 100%.  We are smart enough to know that over 3700 of our young military have died in a senseless war because Hillary and all her cohorts were stupid enough to give Bush the right-of-way to go to war.  Her judgment was wrong THEN and it's wrong NOW.  One question...who is paying for the secret service to follow Bill Clinton all over the country campaigning for his wife?  I think it's irresponsible for an ex-president to campaign for ANYONE!  His testiness the past few weeks brings disgrace to his position as ex-president.  Get a life, Bill!  Go chase a few women and quit acting like a child!

Are journalists writing these stories or idiotic misinformed media hacks?  GET THE FACTS FIRST BEFORE YOU REPORT – PLEASE GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE YOU POST MISINFORMATION!!  
NEVADA HAS NOT ASSIGNED NATIONAL DELEGATES!  HILLARY CLINTON WON THE NEVADA CAUCUS!!!
THE OFFICIAL statements from Nevada are:

**OFFICIAL Statement by Nevada Democratic Party Chair Jill Derby:  (Las Vegas, NV) "The Nevada Democratic Party and its officials have taken great effort to maintain our neutrality in the presidential campaign and the integrity of our process. Just like in Iowa, what was awarded today were delegates to the County Convention, of which Senator Clinton won the majority. No national convention delegates were awarded. We look forward to our county and state conventions where we will choose the delegates for the nominee that Nevadans support."

Las Vegas Sun latest report:  
Clinton’s win over Barack Obama in Nevada gives her much-needed momentum going into next Saturday’s South Carolina Democratic primary, where Obama was seen as having an advantage because of that state’s large African-American population.

Her victory today included a stunning showing at the nine controversial at-large sites on the Las Vegas Strip — where she won seven of those precincts.

However, during the late afternoon, the Culinary-backed Obama campaign tried to throw some cold water on Clinton’s victory.

Using arcane caucus math and a formula that figured in Obama’s results in rural Nevada, his camp insisted that Obama actually won Nevada by taking 13 of the Silver State’s 25 national delegates. However, party leaders put out a statement saying Obama’s camp was flat wrong.

As one smart blogger noted today, “In the face of tough situations and defeat, it is disappointing to watch Obama's behavior contradict his rhetorics for positive change. He has been dismissive of Clinton while uplifting of Reagan. That instigates division among democrats. He was quick to acknowledge a black man's contribution to civil rights and totally unrecognizing of other white men's contribution and even spanned racist sentiment against Hillary for equalizing the contributions of MLK with Johnson's. That instigates division among Americans. When he lost in Nevada he lost his grace and whined, even suggesting the others did not run a clean campaign. His campaign even gave misleading statements about the delegate-winning process. If he's not ready, he's not ready. It's tougher in national elections. He cannot be whining and accusatory all the time. If he thinks being ordinarily candid about questions like "what's your weakness" is good, he's being naive. His answer is not wrong but it's not the kind that will come prudent and respectable in the world stage and even presidential league. No president can be perfect but America cannot go from one extreme (GWBush) to another extreme (BHObama). The experienced person can fail and there is greater probability that an inexperienced person would fail. Obama is running for the presidency now, not because he is called for a vision, but because he is compelled by a favourable condition. His candidacy is not about hope. His hope is about his candidacy. “

As for Obama’s aides and the latest misinformation from the Obama campaign … keep spinning, we are not listening…you are an Obomination to the democratic process AND your candidate…

The simple fact of that matter is this.  The primaries is a race for delegates.  Much like in the general election, where the candidates vie for electoral votes, not the popular vote, in the primaries, the candidates are trying to win delegates.  While the popular vote is usually on-par with who wins the most delegates, it's not always.  To this end, the person who won the most delegates should be considered the winner.  When convention time comes, and the party picks its nominee, the choice will be whomever has the most delegates, NOT the candidate that received the greatest number of voters voting for them.

Two of Clinton's cards were played, Both were losers. The race card and the gender card! She jumped out of a loss in NV right into CA with the race card again. Those   black people don't like pandering.

Two faced and self serving agenda, Well even the gender shall see how hollow the great HRC is. HRC, nothing more than a puppet for B.Clinton.

I'm so dissappointed in the democrats right now,  The republican party is a mess, and almost any democratic candidate should win because the republicans are not going to come out to vote FOR any one of their candidates,  but if the democrats nominate hillary,  you can bet that the republicans will be coming out of the woodwork to vote against Hillary. (what do you think that will do to all the close congressional seats we won 2 years ago?) There's a huge group of republicans who hate her.  I personally won't vote for her because I think she'd be a poor president.  COME ON democrats vote for the one who will win in November.  

The thrill of seeing the real power!! Uncle Teddy reamed slick Willy. I wonder the EX-president, what a meaning less chump. He might be the puppet master, but he better shut up while he is in the lime light!!!!!

Mr. Jermaine Johnson thoughtlessly writes:

"He don't know what the hell we've lived thru.
Obama is not one of us.

I never support or vote for Obama."

And Hillary is "one of us?"

You are myopic.

people . for your information !!
this is a (DELEGATE) race , again i would say it a (DELEGATE) race ..
if hillary wins only in clark which is one of 17 country in Nevada .. this the calculations is right . obama did win in everywhere ! it is not a one city (las vegas) race ... it is a whole state remember that

Obama , he can now run away with commanding lead, Billy boy just shot the spouse. Ted Kennedy reamed ass, and when the lord of the DNC speaks ""One B.C better listen.

Yes, Mr,J.J there is no justice We all would have a silver spoon and media in our pocket. But we were given one small important item no others in the world have freedom? No your vote! But yes in the end, the electoral can and has over ridden your vote and mine, justice """really the dollar""!    

By looking at this blog and seeing what is going on
right now within the Democratic Party, I can see why Ted and Rahm are telling Bill to shut up in so many words. Look people this division has severely damaged this party. I am an independent who was looking to vote for a dem this go round, but looking at how things are in the dem party I am starting to get turned off by what I see. I found it interesting that on one of the MSNBC programs Howard Fineman said that there will be a civil war within the Democratic Party, and the war will be between the sides of the Clintons
and Obamas and that this war will just make it more and more easy for a Republican to win in November. I think both Democratic candidates need to worry about supressing the votes of either side (Why?) because in looking at this blog and looking about what is going on in this party, someone will feel that one side ganged up on the other a little bit too much and will not forgive them for it. I do believe the Dems worst fear is that the Republicans shallow their pride and nominate John McCain (whioh if the Republicans see the damage that is being caused on the dems side will capitalize on it with McCain wooing the voters of those felt their dem candidated got the bum rap (ie if Hillary is the dem candidate, McCain will woo independents, moderate dems, and African-Americans). So I think the Democratic Party in the short term may call this a "spirited contest" on their side, but this will actual help the republicans in the long term win in the fall. And after that is all done, who will be to blame? Clinton? Obama? the media? the Democratic Party? or the supporters of either candidate?

Sun-Times Exclusive: Obama surfaces in Rekzo's federal corruption case
Source confirmed Obama is the unnamed "political candidate" referred to in document which outlines case against Rezko
January 19, 2008

BY DAVE MCKINNEY, NATASHA KORECKI, CHRIS FUSCO AND TIM NOVAK Staff Reporters

For the first time, Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama has surfaced in the federal corrupton case against his longtime campaign fund-raiser, Tony Rezko, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
The Illinois senator isn’t accused of any wrongdoing. And there’s no evidence Obama knew contributions to his 2004 U.S. Senate campaign came from schemes Rezko is accused of orchestrating.

The allegations against Rezko that involve Obama are contained in one paragraph of a 78-page document filed last month in which prosecutors outline their corruption and fraud case against Rezko, who was also a key money man for Gov. Blagojevich and other politicians.

Rezko is set to go to trial Feb. 25. The revelation that Obama’s name could come up in court is a political headache he doesn’t need as he heads into a round of primaries that are likely to determine his party’s nomination for president.

Obama is not named in the Dec. 21 court document. But a source familiar with the case confirmed that Obama is the unnamed “political candidate” referred to in a section of the document that accuses Rezko of orchestrating a scheme in which a firm hired to handle state teacher pension investments first had to pay $250,000 in “sham” finder’s fees. From that money, $10,000 was donated to Obama’s successful run for the Senate in the name of a Rezko business associate, according to the court filing and the source.

Rezko, who was part of Obama’s senatorial finance committee, also is accused of directing “at least one other individual” to donate money to Obama and then reimbursing that individual — in possible violation of federal election law.

A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald declined to comment.

Joey B -
Please take a minute to actually READ Hillary's autobiography and then look at the facts.

Obama has more public service and political years served than Hillary!

Contrary to her 35 years rhetoric, it does not stand true.
I don't count being someone's wife as actual experience in the political arena. Would you let your doctor's spouse practice medicine on you, or let a surgeon's spouse operate on you....OF COURSE NOT!
You need a reality check!

Hillary's background -
1. President of Young REPUBLICANS
2. Supported Goldwater.... look up who that is because you probably don't know.
3. First lady of Arkansas - 16 years
4. First lady of White House - 8 years.
5. New York State Senate rep. in White House
Geez...where is her own experience here. She's riding on the coat tails of Bill Clinton with name recognition, and him actually being more vocal about the campaign than Hillary.
Reminds me alot of the Bush Dynasty...and we all know how that ended up.

Obama -
1. Constitutional professor
2. Civil Right Attorney
3. Illinois State Senate member for 8 years
4. Illinois State Rep. Senator in Washington.

I don't want someone in office who needs her husband to come and be in charge and basically hold a one-sided debate against Obama.
If Bill wants to reenter the political arena, then Obama should be allowed to debate him in a public forum, with or without Hillary.

I used to be a Clinton fan, but they are making me sick. Enough with the double team. If Hillary has what it takes to be the President, she should NOT need her husband to come to be running this campaign.

Enough with the dynasty politics in this country.
Everyone needs to go read the facts and stop listening to anyone's campaign rhetoric...the facts speak for themselves.

Go Obama!
Obama for President!

Mr. Johnson
-
You also need a reality check.
Here in America, you need to work for what you want, just like Senator Obama.

I am a black physician, and let me tell you...nothing was handed to me. I have black patients who ask me...how did you get to be a doctor?, my response is "Just like everyone else. I worked hard, made good grades, studied like crazy, did well on the MCAT, got into medical school and worked some more..." How sad that Blacks in this country think that if someone is successful or professional they did not start off with the same set of cards. WRONG Mr. Johnson, it's what you do with them. That's what separates the leaders from the followers.

And believe me, people from the inner city go to Harvard and become attorneys every year.

Don't criticize Senator Obama for doing well.


Obama grew up being raised by a single mother, and lived in poverty for most of his childhood and adolescence. Read his autobiography.

Please, everyone just pick up a book and read. Learn about who these candidates really are....Obama is more like you than privileged, previous Republican Clinton. Even Edwards, like Obama has a true story of triumph in an American society where then poor are left to rot.

Obama and Edwards have both struggled and survived against the odds.

Please read something Mr. Johnson, that last response was uninformed and not true.

Obama for President!

To try to take away a big win for Hillary (as it was) is ridiculous. If he does end up with 13 to a 12 for her - she still won the majority of the state (51%) and strongly ahead of him.

Oh, yeah, let's not focus on popular vote - remember the last time the country did that?

It is true that the the Clinton campaign has been saying for weeks that the accumulation of delegates is more important than winning states; now that Obama wins more delegates in Nevada they say they won the State.  No more Bush/Clinton/Bush...We need to go another direction with Obama. The Hispanic vote in Nevada was a fluke.  In NY and NJ, you have Puerto Ricans who will not follow the Clinton line...by the time Obama returns to the West, Obama will win the Hispanic vote over Clinton. Finally, Bill is looking alot like a angry person - expect another outburst on 25 Jan - the day before the SC primary or even before then since he has done this once a week the last month.  OBAMA 08! YOU WON NEVADA!

Joey B., What is nuts is trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Experience itself is value neutral. Judgement and the ability to unify and provide direction is what really counts in a president.  Take a look at the cumulative experience of all the people who got us into this mess in Iraq, just as experienced people got us into Vietnam. Listen to the words of Robert McNamara, the Donald Rumsfeld of Vietnam, in the documentary "The Fog of War" as he recounts how the experience of WWII and its aftermath led them to completely misjudge the situation in southeast Asia such with tragic consequences for our nation. Barack Obama has just the right amount of experience. Enough to know how the system works, but not so much that he can't imagine any other way. He has consistently shown sound, even prescient judgement  and I am completely comfortable giving him my wholehearted support.

Jermaine Johnson

I think you are not black; just posing to start a class war...(separate blacks so Clinton can win)here we go, another Clinton attack but in a different way (low profile). Shame on you for acting like this... The Clinton attack machine has no decency... You and your Rove tactics are ruthless and dirty.  Everyone, watch this racial (very low profile - under the radar emerge this week). You guys are dispicable. It is starting folks...Let us get on the boards and continue our march to the White House with everyone on board!
OBAMA 08!

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