ABOUT FIRST READ

First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC Political Researcher



The battle for South Carolina

Posted: Friday, January 25, 2008 9:24 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: ,

The Washington Post writes about the decision by both Clinton and Obama to pull their negative radio ads. More proof that just when this campaign looks like it's going to go down the normal negative road, the campaigns balk.

“The race between U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, who would be her party’s first female nominee, and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, who would be his party’s first black nominee, has divided women along generational and racial lines,” the Columbia State writes. “It has split households and forced women to ponder racial and gender allegiances.”

The L.A. Times also looks at how the campaign has become racially polarizing. 

The Columbia State notes “Edwards rises in SC polls.” “With only a day left before Saturday’s S.C. Democratic presidential primary, the former U.S. senator from North Carolina and S.C. native is making a move, tracking polls suggest.”

Edwards took a bit of a swipe at Clinton for not campaigning in the state early this week. "After the debate, she flew out and she's been gone and she won't be back until I don't know -- later in the week or until primary day," Edwards told a crowd of about 150 people in this small city on Wednesday. "What are the chances she's coming back when she's president of the United States?"

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Have you seen the picture of Hillary and Bill Clinton which was taken with Mr. Rezko at what appears to be a fundraiser?  Interesting.
The American people deserve better than they've been getting out of the Clinton and Obama campaigns. The whole country will be tired of them by the convention.
Maybe that's why Edwards says he's in it to the convention.
It's despicable the way the Clintons have turned this campaign into one about race.  The Democratic Party has always been the big tent party -- the one that embraced diversity and opportunity for everyone.  Their persistent race-baiting has hurt, perhaps irreparably, the Democratic Party.  But they don't care.  Winning is all that matters to them and they'll do anything it takes, even if it means destroying the party or demonizing African-Americans, in order to do it.
It ain't over until it's over.
good question, Mr. Edwards!  Sadly, she'll only show up when it benefits her or her agenda.  Take note America--we already have a president in office now who does that kind of thing.  Oh, well <sigh>
Remember that the Democrats have not won South Carolina in the General Election since 1976 with Jimmy Carter. Carter went on to lose SC in 1980 as did every Democrat since - including BILL CLINTON who lost SC in both 1992 and 1996. South Carolina - and other Deep South states - have not been kind to Democrats. I really doubt if 2008 will be any different with either Obama or Clinton. The electorate is just more conservative. That said, I think it is a disgrace that the Clintons have tried to make this primary a race about race. They are trying to say that, of course, Obama will win SC because African-Americans will vote for him. Well, wasn't Bill the First Black President?? Don't THEY have a strong , loyal base of the Black community? If they are losing some of their supporters in the African-American community could it be because these Blacks are turned off by the Clintons' use of race-baiting? Also, trying to say that this shows Obama cannot win WHITE voters is absurd. The White vote in SC will be divided three ways among Obama, Hillary - and native-son John Edwards - who, BTW WON SC in 2004. If Obama doesn't win as many White voters in a Deep South state should we really be surprised? It's not a good thing, but we have to be realistic. But to extrapolate from that that Obama CANNOT WIN Whites in other states is ridiculous! ONE WORD - IOWA!! Obama - the African-American - won HANDILY - in 98% WHITE Iowa! REMEMBER - OBAMA LEADS IN DELEGATES WON - and ALL THREE STATES THUS FAR ARE PREDOMINANTLY WHITE!!! So don't buy into this Clintonian spin that Obama is in a "box" of being the Black candidate. It just isn't true.
Lets get something straight here. The primary election going on in the Democratic Party right now is not splitting households, pitting blacks against whites, latinos against blacks, women against men, children against parents. The media is portraying it this way. You are completely irresponsible in reporting and I believe the media in this country is responsible for everything that is wrong. You people feel no social responsibility for anything you write, say, or do. It is border line criminal.

Instead of writing that this is a dividing election going on in the democratic party, write and report on the enthusiasm the supporters of each candidate share and about how the first women or african american presidential nominee is going to come from the Democratic Party, not from the Republicans. Write and report about how historic it truly is and how far this country has come from the beginning of the civil rights struggle that includes everyone that is not a white, christian, anglo-saxon, straight male.

When I ask an african american to vote for Hillary some say they will other say they are voting for Obama. I don't blame them for that, they should. It would be a triumph for decendants of very ugly time in the history of America. But I tell women it is just as important for them to take the top job in this country to prove that they too can be an equal. Polarizing has a negative connotation to it and it touches on a different era, namely George W. era's amd it suggest that either one of these candidates are going to govern according to the color of their skin or their sex, which is untrue. They would both make a great president. However, I like Hillary she has the experience, and a side note is I really, really miss Bill Clinton. Seeing him in action the last couple of weeks was great, I remember a better time in this country.
The Clintons throw in the race questions to divide the party. We as Americans are better then that I hope. Lets come together and put an end to racial divides. Lets sent a message to the Clintons that we are not going to put up with it anymore!
The Clinton person running for the White House was in South Carolina - Bill - plus he does better in campaigning, running the campaign, and will do better in running the White House.  Besides what did Hillary do those 8 years besides have a major failure in getting Health Care Reformed.  Why will she be able to get anything done this time - ohh Bill will be there to save her.
Listen up...the media is running by big corporates and they have strong support for the republicans. Remember John Kerry's swift boat"?  Their mission is to elect another republican president so they go after the strongest democrat candidate, Hilary Clinton. Their "best polical team" has one mission: bashing our best candidate, Hilary Clinton. Why? because they know Hilary is the most experienced of the bunch and none of the republicains will be able to beat her.
Don't fall into their trap again or we will have another 8 years of doom.  
Obama will get his chance after Hilary than we'll have 16years of prosperity and respect of the world.
Has anybody noticed that Edwards is within striking distance of Clinton in SC?
Where's Al Gore when we need him?  With an Al Gore endorsement of Barack Obama, I predict the end of the Clintons drive to reinhabit the White House!
I was wondering when that picture of Rezko and the Clinton's was coming out.  Guess we will not be hearing from Hillary again about Rezko LOL.

they need to find a picture of Obama and Norman Hsu to even it out a little bit....
WHY IS CLINTON RUNNING FOR A THIRD-TERM PRESIDENCY?

America to be ruled by two families handing over presidential powers to each other is not pleasant at all. I want Howard Dean to come out and denounce the Clintons negativity and to realize that his own goal as chairman should be to have a candidate that the Republican cannot have enough refuse to dump on him. And that is Obama. The Republicans are happy to have the Clintons as the candidate because they can easily defeat her; and many Americans are fed up with the name "Clinton". The Clintons have long become a big burden on Democratic party and this is the best time to liberate the Democratic party from the Clintons' hostage or hijack.
Shame on the media to promote this racial issue.  I hope the American people are more inteligent. Remember the Swift boat? think again after listening to this kind of ads. it gave you guys Bush for four more years.

It is clear Mrs. Clinton, should win the election she has more exprience and is very inteligent and Mr. Obama, was not inteligent enough to wait his turn and consolidate his resume.  this says a lot of him.  

But any ways I dont even vote I dont live in your Country, but certainly shame on the media for attacking and taking out of contest every word this woman says.

The legitimate differences are not in Hillary Clinton's favor. On policy the biggest difference between Clinton and Obama is in there health care plans.

Hillary wants to mandate coverage and force poor people to pay for something they can't afford.

Barack's health care plan focuses on bringing the overall cost down , so more people can afford coverage.

Outside of that it comes down to there approach.

Hillary thinks she can force feed congress and the American people her agenda.

Barack knows that you need to get people to work together with the will of the American people behind you , to actually get something done , and move your agenda forward.

Hillary "if elected" would be another do nothing , get nothing done administration , because she is even more polarizing then George Bush and Dick Cheney. Plus this is a lady with mounds of scandal and trash in her back yard.

I don't know about you people , but this voter and most people i talk to in this part of the country want something to actually get done for a change , and simply will not vote for Clinton , even if that means crossing party lines to keep her and her husband out of the White House.

Obama would be good for this country , not only because he has a better method of pushing his agenda through , and a better chance. But the eyes of the world are upon us , and the most shameful thing we could do is put the Clinton's back in the white House.

Turn the page America
Jerry - No, Clinton IS still talking about Rezko - her fact hub has made it clear that neither she nor Bill have ever taken a dime from him, and you cannot compare one photo to a 17-year relationship that is the main reason for Obama's Illinois come-uppance.

Why are people saying the Clinton's are playing the race card?  As far as I can tell, it is the media who won't let this die.  Obama won Iowa, so everyone knows he has plenty of ability to gain White votes.
Some facts...


Norman Hsu


The crime: Hsu pleaded no contest in 1992 to grand theft after soliciting investments for a latex glove manufacturing business described by prosecutors as a 'ponzi scheme.' He fled to Hong Kong for four years rather than serve a jail sentence. When Hsu's curious campaign donations finally came to light, and his past criminal record was revealed in August, he fled California authorities after posting bail. The Wall Street Journal also reported September 19 that Hsu's business ventures are under SEC
investigation.

The donations: Senator Hillary Clinton returned $850,000 worth of campaign donations 'bundled' by Hsu, and Barack Obama has returned $7,000. Many other Democratic politicians benefited from hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of Hsu's largesse.




Abdul Rehman Jinnah


The crime: Pakistani businessman Jinnah is currently a fugitive after the FBI charged him with reimbursing employees for their political donations to Senators Clinton and Barbara Boxer.

The donations: The LA Times reported in April that Clinton's PAC took in $45,000 through Jinnah's fundraising work. FEC records appear to show that $22,500 worth of donations went to Clinton campaigns and committees directly from Jinnah or his family members.




Antoin Rezko


The crime: Chicago-area businessman and longtime Barack Obama friend was charged in 2006 with money laundering, extortion, and fraud. Obama also arranged a sweetheart real estate deal with Rezko which the candidate acknowledged appeared improper, although it was fully legal.

The donations: $12,500 to the Obama for Illinois and Obama for Congress campaigns, reaching back to 1999, according to FEC records. His 'homemaker' wife Rita also donated $1500. In all, the Chicago Sun Times reported in June, the Obama campaign has returned about $37,000 donated by Rezko and individuals connected to him. But the Sun Times also reported that Rezko and his associates had donated as much as $168,000 over the breadth of Obama's political career. In the meantime, Rezko also hedged his bets as any good businessman might: he wrote the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign a $4,000 check in 2003.




Geoffrey Fieger and Ven Johnson




The crime: Ex-Jack Kevorkian attorney Fieger and his legal partner were charged in August with conspiracy to channel $127,000 in illegal contributions to John Edwards' 2004 campaign for President. The two have pleaded not guilty and are fighting the indictment.

The donations: Fieger himself donated $4,000, and Johnson gave $2,000 to Edwards, according to FEC records. But Edwards isn't the only politician that the attorney backed. Senators Obama and John McCain also took in $2,000 a piece for their 2004 campaigns. And Johnson gave $1,000 to Senator John Kerry.




John R. Burgess


The crime: The head of the Buffalo Grove, Illinois-based International Profit Associates was disbarred after pleading guilty to grand larceny in 1988. Burgess also pleaded guilty to patronizing a teenage prostitute in 1984.

The donations: FEC records showed Burgess donating $3,000 to Clinton's Senate campaigns and political committees. Burgess and his executives at IPA have donated heavily to Republican and Democratic candidates but Senator Clinton over the years has taken in $157,000, according to the New York Times in May 2006.




Tab Turner


The crime: Staff in Turner's law firm said that they were promised reimbursements if they made full donations to the 2004 Presidential campaign of then-Senator John Edwards. Turner and Associates reached a $50,000 settlement with the FEC, and Edwards's campaign paid a $9,500 fine.

The donations: Edwards' campaign returned $10,000 in donations from Turner and his staff.




Peter Paul


The crime: As a Miami attorney, Paul pleaded guilty in 1979 to conspiring to defraud the Cuban government as well as possession of cocaine and intent to distribute. After being paroled from his 11 year jail sentence, he was caught traveling to Canada under a false identity, and pled guilty for making false statements to customs officials. Capping it off, Paul pled guilty to securities fraud in 2005 related to Stan Lee Media, the now defunct company he formed with the man who dreamed up Spider Man and Doctor Doom.

The donations: Paul organized a 2000 fundraising event in Los Angeles that helped raise $1 million for candidate Clinton. After the FEC investigated the event's curious financing, New York Senate 2000, a soft money fund connected to Clinton's campaign, agreed to a $35,000 settlement, and the former First Lady returned a $2,000 donation from Paul.

So....

Clinton:
Received:  $2,052,000
Returned: $852,000
Kept: $1,200,000

Obama
Received: $177,000
Returned: $42,000
Kept: $135,000

Edwards
Received: $137,000
Returned: $10,000
Kept:  $127,000

Obviously in a campaign of this magnitude there will be some dirty donations for pretty much anyone not self financing the entire thing.  I just find it interesting who seems to be taking in the most "dirty donations".   And this isn't even counting the millions and millions being "donated" to the Clinton Library by people who seemed to benefit from such a "donation".
I disagree that the Clintons turned this election into one about race.  I'd suggest that the person who did that was Oprah Winfrey.
Lets get something straight here. The primary election going on in the Democratic Party right now is not splitting households, pitting blacks against whites, latinos against blacks, women against men, children against parents.
Brian, Worcester, MA  (Sent Friday, January 25, 2008 10:24 AM)

Judging from the polls Brian, I beg to differ with you.

If the Clinton's had not introduced "spadework" into our vocabulary in the last few weeks, this may be just a man V woman fight.  But the Clinton's brought out the "S" word and now the fight is on.  I can see why this is a black and white issue after all the stuff Bill has brought out against Obama.  if the Clinton's would stick to the issues at hand, they may get a win out of this.  Instead they are showing themselves to be a bunch of morons that will even play the race card in order to get the White House back.

I think the media has called this right down the middle.  While Obama has tried to stay with the issues, the Clinton's bring up all sorts of dirt and sludge trying to derail him.  This is typical of the Clinton campaign team.  

Now I don't really care who wins here, because they will lose to my guys anyway in the general.  But to watch one group (the Clinton's) go out of their way to destroy someone who is trying to stay on message is a bit sad and will add to their miserable history of being the most alienated group of folks in American politics.
Hillary will surprise the polls, once again, and win SC!  She saved her marriage...she can save our nation.
The Clintons are insulting the intelligence of the American people. I would say that they are currently doing a much better job of trying to divide us than Bush has done over the last 7 years.

As a nation, we have far too much at stake to let the Clintons or the Bushes divide us.
I hope Edwards is the chosen one---enough from the media about this gobbledy gook.I believe they should instead just shut up and let we the people decide.I know this is a novelty but it is time they earned their salaries by being journalists not gossip hacks.They need to stick to what they do best--follow Brittany and Paris.
Oh Boy, jerry likes Obamas message, does any democrat need any more evidence that Obama is not the man to vote for here?
it is amazing how people are so easily fooled by the clinton's. just because it's bill clinton that says it, people are willing to so blindly believe whatever they say.

the clinton's are going to cost the democratic perty the nomination.

they are going to turn away so many voters that would have voted for the democratice party.

if hillary wins the republican base is going to rise up and come out in huge numbers.

in the mean time independemts, young voters, first time voters and crossover voters will stay home or vote republican(low voter turn out for the democrats).

The clinton's have been dividing blacks against whites and hispanics against blacks. they have stripped unity away from the campaign.

it is sad that so many assume that come nomination time everyone is going to fall in line. the clinton's have done a lot of damage.

we respect the clinton supporters, but your blind support will give the white house back to the republicans.  
WHY CRITICIZE DICK CHENNEY & BUSH, BUT REWARDING HILLARY CLINTON'S BAD JUDGMENT ON IRAQ WAR?
HILLARY CLINTON CONTINUES TO VOTE FOR THE WAR WITH POOR JUDGMENT. SHE VOTED ALTHROUGH WITH BUSH AND DICK CHENNEY. WHY DO THE DEMOCRATS DENOUNCE THE WAR BUT TRYING TO NOMINATE HER? IF WE DO NOT PUT THE CLINTONS OUT OF THIS DOMINATION AND DOMINEERISM, THE PARTY RUN INTO BIG PROBLEMS. DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS NOW STANDING ON A VERY THIN THREAD BECAUSE OF THE CLINTONS. THEY ARE TOO AGGRESSIVE ABOUT POWER. THE YOUTHS ARE NOT READY FOR THE CLINTONS AGAIN IN WHITE HOUSE.
htp of Seattle-Right on! Corporations run this country and have essentially been very generous to the Gop as it is run by white males who favor tax breaks given to them by them. MSNBC is today reporting that thousands of Mississippians remain in fema trailers. The slimy GOP governor; former party chairman; and I am sure the state gop politicians have decided to use 600 million dollars earmarked for housing to be diverted to port expansion. The gop continues to delude the masses into believing their party is fiscally conservative. Voters are truly fools as well as gullible. Corporations  own the media and will continue to saturate us with nonsensical stories  i.e., Anna Nicole Smith, Natalie Holloway and have The New York Times deliberately witheld for 1 year that Bush was lying to us about secret wiretaps w/o warrants. We the people have become truly apathetic whereby only about 52 % bother to vote every 4 years. Real scary and not what I call representative democracy.
Brain from WORCESTER here here to you. Where is all of this bickering going on among blacks and white and woman and men. I work in a very large hospital in Brooklyn, Ny. We have close to 5,0000 employees here made up of men and women, blacks, whites, latinos, and every ethnic group under the sun. Everyone has an opinion but there is no argueing going on here  believe me. Its a shame that it has come to this, but again I believe the media has been chomping at the bit waiting for Anything they could use to to put race into it....
Hillary Clinton is a liar and and has no problem doing it, in fact She is an expert at doing it. She and bill clinton are the most scary people on the political scene today. (right next to Bush and Cheney)
Two new polls this morning show a race in complete flux, with Clinton actually starting to threaten to overtake Obama for first place -- though there are just as many hints that she could fall to third. Polls: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2008/01/primary-polls-dont-bet-on-south.html
DickMorris.com is a looooser and the MSN and CNN media all contribute to the race debate for more titilating stories.  Race injected itself when the Black gentleman entered the "race!" The fact is that "Blue Dog" dems in the south and west will not likely vote for a black man no matter what they say. And Mr. O'Reilly's comments that all Dems have moved left is nonsense. Democrats need to unite in this election or we will end up with another Bush lite!
I find it funny that every Obama fan seems to forget that they were the ones who played the race card.  I remember when Hillary mentioned LBJ got the Civil Rights Bill passed and Obama's surragates jumped on her claiming she was slighting MLK.  Which she wasn't.  Bad move.  I remember posting that same day that Obama is going down the wrong path and he will only inject race into the campaign and he will end up losing because of it.  The media jumped on Hillary for no reason, Obama took the bait and he has only himself to blame.  It may get him SC, but not the nomination.  I will go back to my earlier post and send it out if people don't believe I sent it.  

The media also over the last few weeks have conviently forgotten that Hispanics have a larger voting share in the US than blacks do.  They kept harping on how many black people were going to vote for Obama, when in fact history shows that Hispanics tend not to vote for African Americans.  The states that are in play in Super Tuesday have huge hispanic populations.  So all of these polls about the black vote is meaningless.  

Polls showing Hillary basically tied with McCain are also meaningless.  The people who do these polls have no idea how many women rpublicans and independents will vote for Hillary come November.  There has never been a Woman nominated by Democrats or Republicans for the Presidency.  It will be huge.  A lot of women who have been beat down by the Republican sexist view in the South will go into that booth and vote for Hillary and then tell their Husbands that they voted for the republican.  Trust me, this will happen.  That is why the Republicans have been bashing Hillary for years because they know if she gets the nomination, they won't be able to beat her.  

Ask yourself why the media has never polled women on who they would vote for if Hillary was the nominee.  Keep looking for that poll, you will never see it.  Because they know if they show that poll, it would show 60% to 70%, if not more, women would be voting for Hillary.  They will never show this poll. Keep an eye out for it.  I guarentee, you won't see it before the election.  
I find it funny that every Obama fan seems to forget that they were the ones who played the race card.  I remember when Hillary mentioned LBJ got the Civil Rights Bill passed and Obama's surragates jumped on her claiming she was slighting MLK.  Which she wasn't.  Bad move.  I remember posting that same day that Obama is going down the wrong path and he will only inject race into the campaign and he will end up losing because of it.  The media jumped on Hillary for no reason, Obama took the bait and he has only himself to blame.  It may get him SC, but not the nomination.  I will go back to my earlier post and send it out if people don't believe I sent it.  

The media also over the last few weeks have conviently forgotten that Hispanics have a larger voting share in the US than blacks do.  They kept harping on how many black people were going to vote for Obama, when in fact history shows that Hispanics tend not to vote for African Americans.  The states that are in play in Super Tuesday have huge hispanic populations.  So all of these polls about the black vote is meaningless.  

Polls showing Hillary basically tied with McCain are also meaningless.  The people who do these polls have no idea how many women rpublicans and independents will vote for Hillary come November.  There has never been a Woman nominated by Democrats or Republicans for the Presidency.  It will be huge.  A lot of women who have been beat down by the Republican sexist view in the South will go into that booth and vote for Hillary and then tell their Husbands that they voted for the republican.  Trust me, this will happen.  That is why the Republicans have been bashing Hillary for years because they know if she gets the nomination, they won't be able to beat her.  

Ask yourself why the media has never polled women on who they would vote for if Hillary was the nominee.  Keep looking for that poll, you will never see it.  Because they know if they show that poll, it would show 60% to 70%, if not more, women would be voting for Hillary.  They will never show this poll. Keep an eye out for it.  I guarentee, you won't see it before the election.  
It's interesting that Bill Clinton has convinced some of the American public that it is the media that has injected race into this election.  Let's look back:

Shaheen, Bob Kerrey, Bob Johnson, Bill Clinton, Mark Penn...  Members of the press corp?

Trianguation is an artform for the Clinton's.
It is a sad sad day in history, when the Clinton's who intentionally introduce race,slander, and a gross distortion of the truth, in order to secure a democratic nomination. If the Clinton's are successful in their wayward tactics, and win the democratic nomination; come November, African Americans will not forget the way they defamed a viable African American Candidate.
The economy has quickly become Thee issue of this election.  John Edwards has a plan for economic stimulus that is widely regarded as a very good and accurate plan with thorough insight and foresight to jump sart the economy. His plan is becoming acceptable by both parties at this point....John edwards is looking like a Wharton School Economics professor with 30 years seniority and umpteen PHD's to go with it!...while passing at an airport flight layover Rudy911 and Edwards did a meet and greet in passing and old Rudy did a reach around and swiped the unabridged version out of John's back pocket while shaking hands and wishing him well in South Carolina....they're running off to congress with different variations of John's masterpiece and trying to lay claim to publishing rights....yes, they're coming from all corners of the country from el paso tx to portland maine trying to claim rights to an economic package that edwards has been stumping for the last 14 months   hey Edwards,  thinking outside the box is un-American, un-monopolistic  and unfair!!!


While we're on the subject of money, an avalanche of bad paper written by greedy lenders now caught between the devil and tanking subprime insurers is transferring the recession we are already in into something deeper, nastier and more global.  The Central Bank of China or Japan probably holds your mortgage....call the Dell Help Desk in India and they'll be glad to explain how it works.  then hop in your Kia and drive to the nearest Russian owned Luke Oil station and fill up with some gas supplied by a country that wants us to vanish into the sands of history....then when you gather your collective thoughts pull yourselves up by your bootstraps that were made in Haiti and munch on your newly outsourced mexican hershey bar (thats right even hershey is no longer made here!)....when the dust finally settles and you gather whats left of your conscience could you please find it in your hearts to vote for a real candidate for real change?...vote for John Edwards the real candidate for the people
I've got a novel idea. Why don't we implore the media to start covering  John Edwards and what he is saying as much as they are covering the childish squabble between Hilary and Obama.  Maybe we could then nominate the one candidate the GOP fears the most and the one who will really bring about change!  Just thinking...
where was OBAMA IN THE 90S WHEN THE CLINTONS WERE HELPING KICK THE CRAP OUT OF THE PARTY THAT OBAMA THINKS HAD THE IDEAS FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS,THEN KERRY LOSER 04 ENDORSES HIM,FAT CAT KENNEDY ENDORSES HIM LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE A LITTLE JEALOUS OF BILL AND HILL
America deserves better than Billary Clinton and Barack Obama. Edwards is the ONLY Dem. candidate in the presidential race that can take on and defeat any and all GOP challengers in November. Its time America got behind a candidate with an actual plan for improving the lives of all Americans, not just a select few. I am an independent and I can honestly say that what turns off many voters is Billary Clinton and the possibility of a CLinton dynasty running our country. I proudly support John Edwards and he has my vote.
Wasn't it funny when obama tried to get hilliary on regun he just got done saying he can work with the other side better and they had better Ideas and nixion and clinton were the same but regun and for that matter poppa bush they had ideas and jr had ideas but not the dems,hilliary did say reagun was a great communicator so was mr wipple,COME BACK TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OBAMA and bring those great IDEAS with you less health care for middle class kids a broken budget a army thats broke lests not go bAck to the 90s lets just sit in  the shit were in.
Don't blame the race thing on Oprah.  She has a right to endorse whoever she wants.  There are plenty on "Black American" for Hillary.  It's not fair that Bill and Hillary are running against Obama.  If Obama wife, Michelle was doing this the whole world would be in a panic mode.  If Hillary is going to critize Obama, then it would be okay, but Bill is not acceptable.  Obama is for all race of people.  He has said it over and over that he was for black, while, asian, spanish, and Dem/Rep.  So the hell want those people who say "Obama is playing the race card"  they are not telling the truth.  Obama is going to win the election.  Then I wonder what will the Democrats do.  Vote Republician or Democrat.  HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
"Go Obama"
I see nothing wrong with Bill Clinton campaigning for his wife. Even George W tapped his father and Bill to raise money after the Katrina tragedy. Yeah, he's the former president. And, whether you like him or not. The economy was doing great, we had a budget surplus and we were not in a stupid war. As the saying goes "At least when Bill lied, nobody died".  Bill Clinton wheter you like him or not can still do many good things for this country. And WE REALLY NEED IT NOW!  It just doesn't make any sense to me that you wouldn't want some experience in the White House. Look what we got for the past 8 years.  There is no reason why one's family regardless of their stature shouldn't help their family at any time. Ain't that right John McCain's mother.
Give me a break delvin, the clintons defiled no one. the obama campaign took one thing that was said, twisted it around and threw the race card right into play. The media then lapped it up and then blew it up. Barack Obama is inexperienced and that would be true of he were white, black or purple. I cant stand this stupid race card that gets played. And now when he loses, all of the blacks who think it is his right simply by virtue of being black to win will cry RACIST when in fact he will lose because he isnt qualified to be the president of the united states. Its not his turn. ( this is also true of Clinton by the way  if she loses will all women revolt and cry its a gender issue !! Its so silly......
If Obama can't handle the Clinton double team now, how will he be able the face the Republican in Congress if elected?
StopwatchingMSNBC, Rochester, NY, how dumb , you made the case aginst yourself when you bring up the fact that clinton siad that lbj not mlk got civil rights passed . do you forget why she siad that. because the conversation was how mlk inspired people to stand up for civil rights . first of all if you think her assement is right ,you need to do some studying , lbj cared little about civil rights it was a kennedy agenda before he was killed . Second ,in that context if you dont think that was a racial swipe ,then we know whats up with you .
Santo Domingo DR wrote:  "It is clear Mrs. Clinton, should win the election she has more exprience and is very inteligent --------------
What experience?  And what "intelligence"  The only Government job she's held is as senator of New York, the rest is a FAIRYTALE.  As far as her intelligence, while smart, she wasn't smart enough to pass TWO Bar Exams in Washington DC.  I don't call that "intelligence".  
   
Santo Domingo DR wrote: "...and Mr. Obama, was not inteligent enough to wait his turn and consolidate his resume.  this says a lot of him."

"Mr. Obama is much more intelligent tha Hillary and has more experience in the field of government office; EIGHT years as Senator of Illinois, and is on his third year as United States Senator.  AND JUST WHEN IS HIS TURN???  When YOU decide? Actually, Bill and Hillary Clinton THINK IT'S HER TURN!  George Bush Senior, Clinton, Clinton, George W. Bush, George W. Bush, and NOW the Clintons THINK IT'S HER TURN. Frankly 50% of Americans do NOT like Hillary. And, NO, it's NOT HER TURN.  A candidate should run for what IS BEST FOR THE COUNTRY, NOT because SHE THINKS IT'S HER TURN or because she's Bill's wife, or because she thinks the Presidency is OWED to her; those ARE the REASONS she is running.  
--------------
Santo Domingo wrote: "But any ways I dont even vote I dont live in your Country, but certainly shame on the media for attacking and taking out of contest every word this woman says."
----------------------
The media is not "attacking and taking out of contest every word this woman says" (By the way  it is not "CONTEST", it is "CONTEXT".) The media is truthfully calling out her LIES and DISTORTIONS, and that is what they SHOULD DO.  And since you are not an Ammerican citizen and live in a different country, it would behoove you to LEARN the facts before you go spouting your uneducated opionion.  Also, since you cannot spell, you might try using an English dictionary and learn to use better grammer and punctuation.


If you listen to Hillary speak---you know---President is written all over her. She is one of the finest people I have seen--and she is like drink of pure water after this 7 year Republican crusade which has parched my mouth. I like HillBilly and the earth!!!!
The Clintons have said they don't need the Black vote to win the Democratic Primary. Well I know one thing, they’ll need the black vote to win the general election. And by the way they carried themselves in SC, I doubt seriously Black will show up for them. They turned a lot of black voters off!

I say Black America should hold its vote to the highest bidder. Why should we give it to the Democrats after the way they treated blacks in South Carolina?
You can't ask black's to come in through the back door in January then pretend that were one big family in November.
If she wins the Primary, I would beg all Black people to put some serious consideration before putting your vote behind a woman that supported a candidate who opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964; remember, she is a “Goldwater Girl”

Good Luck Hillary!!!
StopwatchingMSNBC, Rochester, NY,   by the way ,i notice when the question was asked at the SC debate on mlk she did not have that same ridculas stance . instead she just prasied mlk . now that speaks volumes to your ridiculas post.
If Obama can't handle the Clinton double team now, how will he be able to take on the Republicans in Congress, if he is elected? Obama is living in a dream, Hillary lives in reality.


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