Obama: Watching NCAA hoops...
Posted: Friday, March 21, 2008 9:07 AM by Mark Murray
Richardson sent an email to supporters to explain his reasons for picking Obama. "Earlier this week, Senator Barack Obama gave an historic speech that addressed the issue of race with the eloquence, sincerity, and optimism we have come to expect of him. He inspired us by reminding us of the awesome potential residing in our own responsibility. He asked us to rise above our racially divided past, and to seize the opportunity to carry forward the work of many patriots of all races, who struggled and died to bring us together.”
“As a Hispanic, I was particularly touched by his words. I have been troubled by the demonization of immigrants--specifically Hispanics-- by too many in this country. Hate crimes against Hispanics are rising as a direct result and now, in tough economic times, people look for scapegoats and I fear that people will continue to exploit our racial differences--and place blame on others not like them. We all know the real culprit -- the disastrous economic policies of the Bush Administration!
“Senator Obama has started a discussion in this country long overdue and rejects the politics of pitting race against race. He understands clearly that only by bringing people together, only by bridging our differences can we all succeed together as Americans. His words are those of a courageous, thoughtful and inspiring leader, who understands that a house divided against itself cannot stand. And, after nearly eight years of George W. Bush, we desperately need such a leader.”
Per NBC/NJ’s Aswini Anburajan, Obama often has been billed as the wine-drinking candidate, who’s unable to attract the working-class, beer-track voters that are the staple of the Democratic Party. It's no exaggeration to say that in a sports bar in Beckley, West Virginia yesterday Obama found the answer to winning over those regular Joes. Plopping down at a table with a group of men, he sat, talked, ate two chicken wings, and dissected the NCAA tournament. Why didn't Mississippi State make his final four pick? "They don't have good free throws," he explained. "Pittsburgh is hot," he declared, insisting that it had nothing to do with politics. He told the assembled crowd that he watched ESPN’s Sports Center to unwind. By the end of the visit, the bar patrons -- who had appeared more interested in the games playing on the multiple TV screens when he walked in -- applauded when he walked out.
"Senator Obama you sat down, talked, ate some chicken wings and watched basketball in March. You just got my vote," Michael Cross from St. Albans, West Virginia told Obama. Cross later said that he was a Democrat but hadn't been comfortable with the choices in the primary and had a considered moving over to vote for John McCain.
It's a telling incident that shows how Obama can appeal to guys by being a guy. His campaign posted his NCAA bracket on its website, a smart move that allows the candidate to appear just like the rest of the country rather than a shiny new political hot shot. And the pictures of him eating chicken wings and sipping on water (it was two in the afternoon) may help him at least slice off a portion of men who would otherwise may have voted for Clinton in a primary and perhaps McCain in a general election.
The only problem is that March Madness only lasts so long. "You a baseball fan?" one man asked Obama at the bar. "The White Sox," Obama answered affirmatively.
Yesterday, in West Virginia, Obama's economic speech avoided mentions of Clinton and instead focused on Bush and McCain. The speech allowed for Obama to find himself in another back-and-forth with the McCain campaign.
The Boston Globe sent reporters to Hammond, Ind. to get some man/woman on the street reaction to Obama's race speech. "Frieda Andersen and Ted Skup are both white, both live in northwestern Indiana, and both plan to vote in their state's Democratic presidential primary in May. Andersen, an 82-year-old retired business manager, said Obama's two-decade-long association with the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., who is under fire for his harsh sermons condemning America and white racism, has pushed her firmly into Senator Hillary Clinton's camp. ‘Twenty years he put up with that?’ she said of Obama. ‘He was softening me up. He was kind of even with Hillary. This cinched it.’”
“But Skup, a 56-year-old who works for BP, said he empathizes with the anger many African-Americans feel and believes it would be unfair to punish Obama for remarks Wright has made. He plans to stick with Obama. ‘I think the pastor just overreacted,’ Skup said. ‘I don't use that against [Obama].’”
Peggy Noonan weighs on Tuesday's speech. "It seemed to me as honest a speech as one in his position could give within the limits imposed by politics. As such it was a contribution. We'll see if it was a success."
