Obama: Big profile day

Posted: Monday, August 25, 2008 9:16 AM by Mark Murray

Lots of news organizations kicked off convention week with Obama retrospectives. Bloomberg News looks at Obama's "coolness" what he needs to do. "For the Illinois senator, cool can be complicated. It helps him maintain composure as he bursts through the barriers of race and politics; it also creates about him an aura of detachment. It fuels his boldness as well as his caution, the inspiration and the calculation, the intelligence and the ambition that will make him this week the first black presidential nominee of a major U.S. party."

More: "Obama so far has picked his battles carefully, choosing most often to focus on winning converts. ‘One of the dangers here is that in the effort to constantly adjust his position, people then begin to wonder where his bottom line is,'’ says Leon Panetta, President Clinton's former chief of staff. ‘He's got to show that he's got a bottom line and that he's willing to fight for it.’”

Also, check out this endorsement to someone who came from the Jim Baker world. ‘I've been in meetings with at least three different presidents,' says Dennis Ross, the former Middle East envoy for Presidents George H.W. Bush and Clinton. ‘He wasn't just up to the level, he was superior.'”

Politico's Roger Simon has a tour de force of a behind-the-scenes, how-did-it-happen? piece on the Dem primary. It opens with some great nuggets about how close Clinton came to hiring Axelrod and Hildebrand.

The Boston Globe profiles Obama and focuses on his days at Occidental College in California. "Oxy, as it is affectionately known, nurtured his transformation. He started playing basketball less so he could read and study more. After shying away from activism early in his college career, he joined an antiapartheid campaign. He came to terms with his identity, eventually ditching his nickname, Barry, and embracing Barack. And then, yearning for a bigger stage, he engineered a transfer to Columbia."

Talk about the biggest speech of his life! NBC/NJ’s Athena Jones observes. Obama arrived at a downtown Chicago hotel to work on his convention speech at about 7:12 pm CST, and he did not depart until 1:54 am CST, That's nearly seven hours, in case you're counting. It was the third night in a row that he has spent several hours at this hotel working on his speech.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

"Talk about the biggest speech of his life!"
***********************************************

Indeed. This is going to be huge -- as long as the story is about Obama and not about... someone else.

http://thepajamapundit.com/

the Pajama Pundit (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:22 AM)

John McCain's presidential platform:

Noun, Verb, POW

rudy g (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:24 AM)

...Sorry to be off point for a second, but I wanted to address the whole situation with the Hillary Clinton supporters... I've had enough of this madness. I've come to realize that these women are just plain ignorant, so it's not hard to see why they align themselves with McCain's nonsense... These are just some bitter feminist, all about the "Women's Movement", blind to fact that McCain doesn't even care about the issues of women. (GOOD LUCK THERE) They are obviously not listening to the issues, nor are they too concerned about the future of their kids.

I look at the polling where 27% of Hillary's supporters say they're going to vote McCain, I laugh, and quickly realize that they are most likely republican FEMINIST'S anyway, who were just crossing party lines in support of a woman... So that number doesn't surprise me at all. They are simply returning to their original party, for true democratic women can't be that stupid!!!

People need to realize that you can't strong arm an election... There's a process, and Hillary Clinton lost fair and square...

Also, I see the idiotic logic that some are putting out, saying that "She got 18 million votes, she should've been on the ticket", what in the world does that have to do with anything??? Yeah, getting her as VP would've sealed the deal for Obama, so it must say something towards his character that he choose rather to focus on taking this Country to where he envisions it as opposed to JUST winning an election... Seriously, think about that for a second... Hillary would have given Obama the Presidency without doubt, but he'll much rather lose an election for the sake of his Country, than to save face by assuring victory at whatever cost. He's obviously got a plan, and Hillary as VP simply did not fit the mode of what he needs out of a VP...

...And let me just say this... As for the Hillary supporters, God forbid Barack lose this election due to your stubborness, Hillary wont stand a chance in 2012... People wont forget this... And let's remember, Obama had more votes... {So that's just a higher percentage of no-show voters come November 2012}

SO IN ESSENCE, THEY'RE ACTUALLY HURTING HILLARY MORE THAN THEY'RE HELPING HER... (Go Figure)

{...And the sooner they realize that the better}

Obama/Biden 2008

Droppin' Science, Miami Fl (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:27 AM)

I hope they tell the part too how he loves dogs so much if he wins the electiong, he will buy his first dog.

Obama list of accomplishments not everything he is going to do is very long and everything he has done is non existent.

It concerns me he leaves his 1/2 brother homeless in Kenya but has this great love for the rest of us.

Sandy Butte, Montana (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:28 AM)

With the 18 million votes Hillary got in the primaries; If Hillary was a man Obama would have picked her for his VP in a heartbeat. And insread of that one point lead he had last week, he would have soared to 10 or 20 point lead against Mccain. " But sadly this week he even lost his one point lead that he had last week!" "I like Joe Biden ,he is a good Man, `but he is no Hillary.

ge`pa (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:29 AM)

"One of the dangers here is that in the effort to constantly adjust his position, people then begin to wonder where his bottom line is,'’ says Leon Panetta, President Clinton's former chief of staff. ‘He's got to show that he's got a bottom line and that he's willing to fight for it.’”"

What bigger way could Barack have showed he has a "bottom line" than resisting the incredible pressure to pick Hillary as a running mate?!

OB 08

Nospin (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:34 AM)

So ready.

This past weekend put some big momentum is Obama's favor. This is going to be a great ticket.

I can't wait to hear that Invesco speech.

This really has been an amazing story.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com

Rodney Hopper, Waxahachie, TX (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:36 AM)

Donna,Lincroft, NJ,

You have claimed to be a life-long democrat over, and over again on this site, who is now totally disgusted with the party of JFK, (while sanctimoniously trashing his daughter Caroline, and his stalwart brother Teddy, ( who is dying, you vicious hater).

But you stupidly dropped your drawers, and blew your cover, 'Your Arrogance', when you proclaimed how strictly you practice your Catholic faith, and how you could never vote for anyone who supports abortion, under today’s 'Abortion' article about Biden . How could you have voted your lifelong as a democrat, (the party of abortion rights)?

You're busted, liar. You're a trolling republican. You may not even be a woman, for all we know.

Sherlock Holmes (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:42 AM)

It will be wonderful to see presumptive Democratic nominee, Barack Obama, his camp a true patriots take Mile High city and the rest of America by storm. Oh, what a what a grossly inaccurate description of a solid presidential candidate, Barack Obama, the Republicans sought to paint. Senator Obama has both the intellect and strength to solidly defeat the Republican's feeble candidate, Senator John McCain. An appropriate slogan to display in Minnesota applicable to Republican candidate John McCain is "A Twin Visits a Twin City ". Depicted above this Minneapolis-St. Paul slogan should be a photo of both Senator John McCain and his mirror image President John Bush. Yes, if you want the same old politics, policies and pathetic presidency stick with McCain. If you are looking for "Change You Can Believe In...", then work with an individual who is demonstrating collective infinite judgment and wisdom, presumptive Democratic nominee, Barack Obama. unstoppable

Obama and Biden 08-12

Sheila from Texas (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:43 AM)

Obama is working so hard on his speech because it is difficult to write a speech which uses a lot of words but says nothing. Read his policies: he is going to remove 10million taxpayers from the rolls. Who? How? When? He is going to allow Seniors who EARN 50k per year to do so tax free. He does nothing about the taxes on Social Security, which is UNEARNED income. He continues to rail about raising taxes on the 'RICH', despite the fact that even a high school freshman who passed Econ 101 can tell you that YOU DO NOT RAISE TAXES DURING AN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN. So, I predict that his speech will be another rail about 'Bush McCain', with veiled references to race, and a lot of meaningless rhetoric from the Zelig candidate. The Obama 'Feelers" will swoon, and those of us who think will hear nothing at all to make us even consider voting for this empty suit. The Democrats are lost.

Donna, Lincroft, NJ (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:44 AM)

more like "BIG PANDER DAY" as he panders for the votes of those he kept disenfranchised during the primaries!!

He is such a lying flip-flopping hypocrite and all he gets is a pass from the media and the "educated".

Hope HRC does not turn her delegates loose and those from MI anf FL get behind her.

HRC or McCain never noprahbama

noprabama (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:46 AM)

Some in msm confuse coolness with confident,which is the big differance between Obama and McCain.Mccain is a grumpy old war monger,and seems to be listening to every word that the Bush/Chaney/Rove tell him.While he dosn't have a clue what is really going on in real peoples lifes,how could he when he thinks that the economy is just fine and that the rest of us are a bunch of whiners.He is in favor of the draft and would send our brave troops over to protect the Oil Companys.Seems with all the billions they have made during the Bush years they could afford there own protection.Obama may show that he is confident,and has the right intellengents to make wise and well thought out plans.Only thing the Bomber is interested in is Bombing,more wars,more tax brakes for the his millonaire friends,and the same Bush plan used the last 7 years,and that an't COOL!

jesse St.Paul Minnesota (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:47 AM)

Talk about the biggest speech of his life! NBC/NJ’s Athena Jones observes. Obama arrived at a downtown Chicago hotel to work on his convention speech at about 7:12 pm CST, and he did not depart until 1:54 am CST, That's nearly seven hours, in case you're counting. It was the third night in a row that he has spent several hours at this hotel working on his speech.
______

...And yet he is reticent about how it may not be great.

His prayer for humility is being answered.

O&B '08 (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:48 AM)

We are witnessing the best prepared candidate in a long time. Remember that every African American who has the first in anything has always been exceptional. For African Americans history shows us that we must be a cut above the rest just to compete, let alone win. So in order for Obama to be where he is at this time means that he represents the best. Just think, his selection of Joe Biden is a showing of great judgement. There is nothing wrong in seeing your weakness and deciding on someone who can best fill it. Isn't that the sigh of a great executive? It is worse when you think you don't have any weakness and just pick the most politically correct person. Senator Clinton while experienced in many ways, falls way short of Senator Biden when it come to foreign policy. Obama is looking forward to governing not polling. All of America's great executives are persons who gather the best minds and talents around them in consideration of their won weaknesses. He is the best out there. People of judgement understand how judgement works.

Don Curtis, Mechanicsville, Maryland (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:48 AM)

We are witnessing the best prepared candidate in a long time. Remember that every African American who has been the first in anything has always been exceptional. For African Americans, history shows us that we must be a cut above the rest just to compete, let alone win. So in order for Obama to be where he is at this time means that he represents the best. Just think, his selection of Joe Biden is a showing of great judgement. There is nothing wrong in seeing your weakness and deciding on someone who can best fill it. Isn't that the sigh of a great executive? It is worse when you think you don't have any weakness and just pick the most politically correct person. Senator Clinton while experienced in many ways, falls way short of Senator Biden when it come to foreign policy. Obama is looking forward to governing not polling. All of America's great executives are persons who gather the best minds and talents around them in consideration of their won weaknesses. He is the best out there. People of judgement understand how judgement works.

Don Curtis, Mechanicsville, Maryland (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:50 AM)

‘I've been in meetings with at least three different presidents,' says Dennis Ross, the former Middle East envoy for Presidents George H.W. Bush and Clinton. ‘He wasn't just up to the level, he was superior.'

There has never been a doubt in my mind that Barack is up to this big task. This stuff comes naturally to this man. He was born to do this. Look at the ease with which he carried himself among the troops and the top world leaders during his trip to Europe and the Middle East! A trip that he knew was a test and everybody was watching - friends & enemies!

All those reasonable people who care about this country, please put your doubts and fears aside and help this man become president. We will be in good hands. I've never been more sure of anything in my life (42).

Nospin (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:51 AM)

Nice to see some remotely positive profiles on Obama from the MSM; in their effort to mirror McCain, the MSM has offered nothing but negative coverage of Obama for the past several months. (And the MSM wonder why Obama has lost his lead?)

Cindy Lou, TX (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 10:01 AM)

Yep Barack Obama is the superior presidential candidate by a wide margin and anyone who intends to vote for "LameBrain" McCain shows just how ignorant they are. We can't afford another IdiotBoy president who will just keep us involved in perpetual war and steal from future generations to give tax cuts to the rich and greedy who aren't paying their fair share of taxes in the first place.

Just as Barack is working hard on his speech, and no doubt it will be awesome, he will work hard for the middle and poor classes. Don't be fools and tools of the repugnant ones who seek to destroy our democracy with their intolerant bigotry.

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 10:14 AM)

You people in the msm are very impudent. The American people have nominated Barack Obama to be the presidential nominee. You act as if we know nothing about him at all. I know he is different than Bush, I know he is different than McCain. He will look for ways to ease our energy problems. He will secure SS for the people that have paid into SS all thier working lives. He will work on ways to make health care afforable for the majority of us, and will help those that cant afford insurance. I know womens issues
are important to him. I know he will not send our troops to fight in a illegal war, awar to benefit big oil and huge corporations, Haliburton, KBR, Blackwater. The rich are doing just great, while we working poor take it on the chin. Oh Yeah I know Obama and I know McCain.

Obama/Biden

marty holloman,columbia,s.c. (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 10:19 AM)

It concerns me he leaves his 1/2 brother homeless in Kenya but has this great love for the rest of us.
Sandy Butte, Montana (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 9:28 AM)

******************************************************
You only know what the media has told you......please don't make a judgement too soon.

Half sister (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 10:24 AM)

noprahbama08 (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 10:38 AM)

Thank you "nospin".

We will be in good hands with Obama and Biden. They will get the job done AND have a congress and senate to help them. This is all Win_Win!

Andrea, New York City (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 10:43 AM)

"Aura of detachment"?? That sounds to me like Johnny McMansion forgetting how many homes he owns, not Barack Obama.

jbentley,Chicago,IL (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 10:48 AM)

Obama will show this week that he is the leader this country needs. McBush only thrives on negative messages. He is just not the man to trust to get the job done. He only worries about his celebrity status. He is so jealous of Obama his temper is starting to show. We Americans need to vote for a leader that takes our issues and works for them. This man is OBAMA.

Donna (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 11:00 AM)

Sandy Butte, Montana: you are so concerend about Obama's half brother who lives in Kenya and you fail to mention the fact that John McCain's daughter wrote a book about her family and did not mention her other siblings from McCain's first marriage. Get serious!

Read Dennis Ross's comment about Obama [‘I've been in meetings with at least three different presidents,' says Dennis Ross, the former Middle East envoy for Presidents George H.W. Bush and Clinton. ‘He wasn't just up to the level, he was superior.'”] and realize that not only is Obama more intelligent than McCain, but he is more able to take this country in a better direction.

McCain is not deep enough intellectually (he was 5th FROM THE BOTTOM of his calss of about 850 students) to ask the right questions and challenge the ideologues in his party in order to make the proper decisions. He is going to be dictated to just like Bush. He will keep a small group of sycophants around him because he is known to resent challenge-what he and Bush call disloyalty. People like that do not relish debate in order to form a sound opinion, and in fact they are dangerously flawed.

Joe, Dallas (Sent Monday, August 25, 2008 11:18 AM)

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=1289853