OBAMA ISSUES 'SUPER' THREAT TO TOP DEMS
By GEOFF EARLE Post Correspondent

Pow Wow On Democrats

Post columnist Charles Hurt and Post corespondent Geoff Earle discuss the Democratic race for president.
February 7, 2008 -- Barack Obama fired a warning shot over the heads of lawmakers who get to cast crucial votes at the party's convention as uncommitted "superdelegates" - saying they shouldn't override the will of the voters in their states.
Obama said superdelegates "would have to think long and hard about how they approach the nomination when the people they claim to represent have said, 'Obama's our guy.' "
The message: If you're an elected member of Congress, and your district backs Obama, casting a vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton could be bad for your political career.
Obama delivered the message at a Chicago press conference yesterday - after he battled Clinton to a draw in yesterday's Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses, carrying 13 states and barely besting her in the count of pledged delegates.
But when superdelegates who have pledged support for Clinton are counted, she gets the lead.
Pledged delegates have to reflect the will of voters in their states, but superdelegates - who include members of Congress, governors, and various party functionaries - get to vote for whomever they want.
Obama also said there was "a whole dump truck" full of dirt that Republicans could use on Clinton if she becomes the nominee - countering her repeated claim that she has been fully "vetted" whereas he hasn't.
He said Clinton's research operation was "about as good as anybody's," and it hasn't found much dirt on him.
"I assure you that having engaged in a contest against them for the last year, that they've pulled out all the stops. And you know I think what is absolutely true is, whoever the Democratic nominee is, the Republicans will go after them," he said.
"The notion that somehow Senator Clinton is going to be immune from attack or there's not a whole dump truck they can't back up in a match between her and John McCain is just not true," he said.
Clinton, in her own press conference yesterday, said "this is a vigorous two-person contest now," and called on Obama to agree to more debates.
"We're going to be able to showcase our records, our qualifications, the differences, the contrast between us, because voters are really tuning in now," she said.
"If voters start to think about who would be the best president, to be commander-in-chief on Day One, to turn the economy around and who would be the best Democratic nominee to win in November, I am very comfortable with the answers to those questions," she said.
Clinton said there's nothing in her past she has to try to paper over - including the years she represented big corporate clients as a lawyer for the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock, Ark.
Clinton unfailingly touts her time working on behalf of children and providing legal aide, but doesn't talk much about time serving on corporate boards or representing big companies.

But advisers to Clinton (N.Y.) are now mapping out a strategy that does not exclude Maryland and the District but focuses heavily on fast-growing outer suburbs such as Prince William and Loudoun counties in Northern Virginia and the state's economically struggling rural southwest, where unemployment is high among white working-class voters."

And these people believe that The Clinton's will wave a magic wand and everybody will get rich????  LOL, anybody who believes The Clinton's will make things better again must be drinking wayyyyy to much Kool Aid.

If you are a HILLARY SUPPORTER please consider contributing to her campaign at www.hillaryclinton.com because Obama is out-fund-raising her with individual donations...if contribute, you are part of the change for the future...ready on day one!

Hi Justin,
With Supertuesday, and now Chesapeake tuesday, it is clear that the democratic nomination will drag out for another 40 or more days, the republicans have by and large chosen their candidate, although their party have a slimmer chance of winning in november even with conservatives making half the country. They will perhaps still make it if the democrats remain such an undecided lot, with spilt between women and men, educated white and blue collars, hispanic, white and black, young and old, all under the democratic umbrella! For sure, it is now going to be either of the two men, Barack or McCain, or Hillary as the next president. Barack O is not just a flash in the pan, as we have seen from the popular vote he got on super tuesday, but his financial advantage with large sum of money collected and his crowds at rallies, etc. explain that it is a real candidacy he has with people who truly believe in him. But does he have what we need right now from the next american president, for he rarely talks policy, the difficult problems being 1. restoring the economy which is already plunged into recession like in 1992, 2. restoring American image and standing in the world, by easing tension especially with muslim world, 3. end the war in Iraq, which is very difficult to do, 4. bring some credibility to the white house by making real difference in the American people’s life, all that is possible if the next president is a woman, I believe, not another cowboy! We don’t need a maverick, a racial alternative, another ‘male’ only, me saying so without any gender bias! Barack is the youthful alternative, but sorry to say that at this point in time, he is the wrong one, because the timing is wrong. I trust the change in the oval office as a woman takes over, for the first time, and with it, change will be happening, for America and the world at large. We have to have the first woman President, and then judge, not before! Let’s trust that in the end, America will make the right choice this time! But patience will be necessary.

Obama's team is horrendous at setting expectations. Really, really bad. Why in the world do they let everyone believe they are going to win every contest in the next three weeks? It's a problem.

Evie is scared.

By the way, did we know that Mark Warner's wife, Lisa Collis, was supporting Obama?  Apparently so. She and Tim Kaine's wife, Anne Holton, are leading "Virginia Women for Obama."

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WOHOOO table for two...party of two!!

"Obama strategists have broken Virginia into four parts ..."
--Sen. Clinton (wife not the husband) believes we need a manager in office.  But clearly Sen. Obama has strong organizational capabilities, just ask her staff.

I don't think that its a forst that the Clinton's are out of cash. However she had such a smug look on her face when she stressed that she was donating 5M of her own money. I think just as her campaign mgt. said that Obama is part of the establishment. Gives credit to the ploy that Hillary is again crying..... (this time without tears) to win over votes through  the "oh poor is me" routine. Give me a break please.

Democrats reading these posts .... be suspicious of any posts that state vote Hillary and you get President McCain, or otherwise try to divide the Democratic party...they are most likely from republicans engaging in typical Karl Rove politics.

I agree with Avi from Belgium. Barack is an amazing person, speaks eloquently and is awe-inspiring; however, we as Americans/Democrats need to realistically think about the political process and how things get done in Washington. With all the issues this nation is confronting, we do not have time to have a "rookie" in office. The problems we face are too near-term that we can't afford to have someone in "training" in order to effect change sooner rather than later. Hillary is well-versed with the inner workings of washington and who better than her husband to have her back. So much political capital to put to good use here and abroad. I hope that other folks will come to realize that albeit it is wonderful to hope and be inspired, let's be realists about how things are accomplished in Washington. You can't get rid of all the congressman and you can't get rid of all the senators and the lobbyists who back them in Washington. We need someone who will be ready to address the issues quickly and who will be ready on Day 1. Too much at stake here to consider any other solution. I hope people take this into consideration and use their heads when casting their votes!
Go Hillary!
btw, Bill Clinton years were good years for this country. Balancing the budget mainly which if it were still in place, we may not have the "debt-laden" issues this country is facing/will be facing in the future.

Mark Warner was my first choice for President, way back when. Yay! I am so glad to hear his wife and Gov. Kaine's are Obama supporters!

The city is spelled Chesapeake, not Cheasapeake (sic).

Everyone alwas said that Virginia was too conservative to elect a Democratic Senator, and yet it has.  The rural southwest may be more conservative than than affluent Northern Va, but the numbers are in N. VA.  Also, I'm betting there are lots of people in southwestern Virginia who'd rather be waterboarded than vote for Hillary, or Obama...or Mccain. That part of the state's going to be a real problem for everyone running, except maybe the Huckster.

evie, what is your source of information? Where are people getting all this crazy stuff from?  Fact check please.

An interesting comment from Mr. Obama regarding superdelegates.  Does this mean he will refuse to accept the votes from Senators Kennedy and Kerry and Governor Patrick from Massachusetts since the state went to Clinton.  Be careful of what you wish for, Mr. Obama.

An interesting comment from Mr. Obama regarding superdelegates.  Does this mean he will refuse to accept the votes from Senators Kennedy and Kerry and Governor Patrick from Massachusetts since the state went to Clinton.  Be careful of what you wish for, Mr. Obama.

What we can't afford is another war. This time is with Iran. Hillary Clinton will sure to start one if she is elected. She already authorized George Bush to start one.  

"Obama strategists have broken Virginia into four parts ..."

It is telling that they are not including southwest Virginia.  Nobody here would vote for him, so they would be wasting their time.

I just got an email from the Clinton Campaign and they raised $4,000,000 in the last 24 hours and I made my 2nd contribution this week just minutes go.
35,000 people contributed over $4,000,000 to Clinton over the past 24 hours on the internet.
We won't let our girl down, Obama Supporters.
We do not want the triple A for president - That stands for African American Asshole
Hillary is our next President.

Hillary 08

By the way, did we know that Mark Warner's wife, Lisa Collis, was supporting Obama?  Apparently so. She and Tim Kaine's wife, Anne Holton, are leading "Virginia Women for Obama."

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The above paragraph is a classic example of just how biased the media coverage for Obama is these days!

Yes, it is not your imagination - the last news cycle had 81% of reports for Obama as positive while only 51% were positive for Clinton.

Obama's cheap shots are ignored by the press. But what goes around comes around.  Given the choice of Obama or McCain - no vote or money to either one!

I donated $250 to the Clinton campaign today!

And MSNBC - your still third among the cable networks.

Please don't forget Mr Clinton's comments before and after New Hampshire and South Carolina. I fear that the Clinton's political machine will not hesitate to employ Tammany Hall type tactics to get the needed "super delegates" to push her over the edge into the nomination, leaving all of us disenfranchised that are not supporting her.
Should she get the nomination it will be back to scorched earth politics. Certainly Bill will not be able to keep his mouth shut when it gets ugly, and the republicans will have a field day, raising the spector of a "Bilary" presidency.

I will bet Hillary gets Maryland and splits delegates in Virginia. Her biggest states will go to her,Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania. Florida is hers as well. She will be ahead in delegates and win the nomination.

What I don't get is, democrats kick and scream about the war in Iraq, but turn around and vote for the person who voted to authorize the war.

Well,
Pay attention people.  The Clintons are cheating, when Senator Obama can get the staes in the rockies where you can barely find an African American take notice.  I just hope the Obama people are aware. No more Clintons in the white house no more NAFTA.  Obama 2008!    

It seems to me that all this spin from the media that Obama's vote does not reflect the intensity of the numbers that show up to his appearances is a case of "not seeing the votes because of the election" Here in AZ John Edwards received 7% of the vote in Phoenix after dropping out. This vote was made up completely from his supporters like me that cast early ballots weeks before he withdrew. I waited till the wed before to send in mine and changed my vote to Obama. The early voting here represents 40% of the vote. If Edwards was pulling that many votes’ weeks ago think of how many people sent in their ballots before Obama was here in person and really changed the momentum in this state. I'm sure that if someone looks at the returns that were actually cast on Super Tuesday they will realize that Obama won overwhelmingly in AZ and probably every other state except NY that had early voting. This should bode well in the coming primaries and caucuses for Obama

If Obama's so great, why is he afraid to debate Hillary?  She's has two disasterous debates but is still willing to put up. He should too, or shut up.   All Obama's done is hold star-studded rallies where he doesn't even take questions.  And 3/4 of the states he's won weren't even primaries, but caucuses which are not at all representative of the population and totally undemocratic.  How many of us have several hours to travel miles from home to be pressured in front of others to vote for a particular person instead of making up our minds in private as the founders intended?

Romney is out-McCain will be the republican nomination. If you think that Obama can beat him you got to be out of touch with reality. I have posted repeatively that Obama will lose every southern and border state. No black candidate can win those states.McCain will win those states, as well as Ohio,Michigan aand Pa. No one but Hillary Clinton can stand up to the republican attack machine and prevail.We have a choice, we can can continue to dream, or we can be pratical and win in the fall. Support Hillary,she can beat
cCain.

Anybody who thinks Obama is a rookie only about "hope talk" and no substance is clearly uninformed and quite frankly not giving him a fair shot. I've been following this campaign since Iowa and at first I was for Mrs.Clinton but I have found that he has more legislative experience than her, he has passed more bills in a bi-partisan way than Mrs.Clinton. He has laws with his name on them (Lugar-Obama) weapon nuclear proliferication. He truly has been in a leader in every step of the way in his life. He is an independant self made man. He is not where he is at without any substance.

Both Clinton and Obama have very similiar stance on issues BUT the only difference is that Republicans are more likely to work better with Sen.Obama than with Sen.Clinton. That is why she failed in the 90's to pass on healthcare. NO MORE gridlock I want progress. Just check him out read about his policy plans on barackobama.com and dont sell him short. The ability to be a productive and inspiring leader in this new millenium is extremely valuable

As a woman, I am very much invested in the idea of the first woman President.  Nevertheless, I am first and foremost a citizen of the United States who wants the best future for myself, my friends and most of all my family.  It is because I want that better future that I support Senator Obama.  

Senator Clinton is not a bad choice; she is just the same choice with a large change in outward appearance.  Senator Obama, on the other hand, is a transformative choice with a soaring breathtaking vision of where to take this Country.  

Case in point:  Senator Obama has radically changed politics already by refusing to take money from special interest PACS and lobbyists and instead, asking us to contribute.  It is obvious now that we we, the People, believe Senator Obama is the best candidate since he has outraised Senator Clinton.  This is true even though Senator Clinton has broken all fundraising records primarily by taking donations from special interest PACS and lobbyists.  I would be proud that Senator Clinton is fundraising from special interests better than a Republican, if Senator Obama had not shown me a better way.  

We now have the 3rd most powerful office in the land in Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3rd in line to the Presidency.  We should not sacrifice the tantalizing future Senator Obama offers simply to put a woman into the White House.  Senator Clinton is a good senator; let her stay there.  Obama '08, Yes we can!

In every single one of these threads, Pat Huntington posts a paragraph about giving to Hillary Clinton. Let me try to counter that:

If you are one of the millions who support the movement for change, please go give five or ten dollars (or more) to www.barackobama.com

With the Clintons willing to use their fortune to beat Obama, he needs all the small contributions he can get.

For all you Clinton fans, I would like to know how  being just the wife of a governor and president qualifies her as having so much "experience"? Also, having had 8 years to try and pass healthcare reform while hubby was in the White House, and failed to do so, what makes you feel so strongly that she will succeed if given yet another chance?  Just wondering. I feel that once you put aside all the hype, Obama and Clinton both have very similar experience. They both got law degrees from Ivy Leagues schools and involved themselve with community activism and in their respective states. They both have had about the same amount of time in their respective senate positions. The only difference I see is that the initiatives brought forth in Illinois by Obama, while he was in the state legislature to help "children", "the poor and disenfranchised" etc actually succeeded. I have lived in NY and Ill. and to be honest it doesn't look like Hillary has accomplished much of anything at all. She has fought the good fight but has never really accomplished much. I think her effort desrve merit but she has failed at everything that she has tried to pass.  
Go Obama!

By the way, the idea of the super delegates was for them to be independent of their constituents.  We went from a smoke filled room with politicians making all the decisions to every open and voting upon and that didn't work either.  The super delegates are there to balance things out.  These people know more about politics and governance and what works than the average voter who, as we can see, can be swayed by a good looking guy in a nice suit preaching at us from the pulpit of change.  So, Mr. Obama, if you want to threaten the super delegates and try to intimidate them into doing your wishes rather than what they are appointed to do, I would say you are not "ready for prime time."  Yet!

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