Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Dan, WI — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:46:40 GMT

Americans are seeing through the McCain/Palin junk yard dog tactics.

It's the economy, economy, economy.

New polls came out today from Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire. Obama is leading by double digits in all of today's new polls for these states.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

pat huntington ny — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:47:00 GMT

First, let me finally say, congrats Obama, for learnign the lesson most democrats never do - not allowing yourself to get swiftboated.

Second, remind people that only two issues McCain ever really was a MAverick over, were immigration reform and ethics reform...otherwise, he's lock stock and barrel a true red bush republican on all the issues that matter most to us, like the economy, health care, the environment, global warming, foreign affairs, etc.

And third...the strategy of marginalizing Palin worked like a charm!

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Doug, Renton, WA — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:48:53 GMT

Ayers and Keating are not comparable.

Ayers is a casual acquaintance of Obama. Keating was a close personal friend of McCain who vacationed in the Bahamas together many times.

Ayers helped Obama get started in state politics by hosting a small fundraiser at his house. Keating made contributions to McCain’s senate campaign in excess of $100,000.

Ayers has never used his relationship with Obama to gain political favor. Keating managed to fend off federal banking regulators and auditors thanks in part due to his relationship with senator McCain (one of the Keating Five).

When Ayers was active in the Weathermen, Obama was 8 years old. When Keating’s S&L failed, McCain had already been in the senate for several years, and they were well acquainted.

Ayers was on the same Board of Directors as Obama, for a non-profit agency advocating education issues. Keating was a business partner in a for-profit real estate venture with Cindy McCain and her father.

The charges against Ayers were dropped. Keating was convicted of felony fraud, racketeering, and conspiracy, and he did jail time.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

sherri richmond tx — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:51:42 GMT

can you say depression??????????????????

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Hugh P Leesburg, GA — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:53:53 GMT

Ayers and Keating. Tit-for-tat and slam dunk. 8 years old versus full participation. Tit-for-tat and another slam dunk. Wright versus withcraft exorcism. Tit-for-tat and once again, slam dunk. Concern and issues versus smear stump chatter. Tit-for-Tat and once again, slam dunk. Obama/Biden versus McCain/Palin, say it is so Joe, just say President Obama and conversation over with a slam dunk!

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

subgruvet, ok — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:54:08 GMT

Cheated on his wife for money and influence...that's John Blinky McCain who was Keating's biggest little helper. And old Blinky will start slinging the trash himself tomorrow night. He's used doofus Palin to soften the mood for mud and it's going to come back to bite him in his ass. You can't change the minds of racists or religious cookoos but it's amazing that republicans of good sense don't see that McCain's a real conservative. He's just an opportunist who'll do anything for power.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Tom Allen, St. Paul, MN — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:54:45 GMT

As a former Arizonan, I lived through the Keating Five hearings. What an embarrassment for our state, and how awful that this man might become president!

McCain is scared and is lashing out at Obama, who is a good Christian man. McCain can't run from Keating and Bush, so he is trying to change the subject to a nonsensical argument.

The more America sees of McCain, the less they find to like!

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

subgruvet, ok — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:54:57 GMT

Cheated on his wife for money and influence...that's John Blinky McCain who was Keating's biggest little helper. And old Blinky will start slinging the trash himself tomorrow night. He's used doofus Palin to soften the mood for mud and it's going to come back to bite him in his ass. You can't change the minds of racists or religious cookoos but it's amazing that republicans of good sense don't see that McCain's not a real conservative. He's just an opportunist who'll do anything for power.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

CJH, LB, CA — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:55:35 GMT

This debate should be about the Economy and Foreign Policy. (1) What is my wallet going to look like in the upcoming months? (2) How is our standing with the rest of the world? These are the issues that matter to Americans the most and both are victories for Obama hands down.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Heather, Port Charlotte, FL — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:55:40 GMT

The republican party is grasping at straws and using fear tactics to try and sway voters. Anyone with a brain can do the research and find the facts for themselves. I am sure we will be hearing a lot of conspiricy theories, trying to tie Obama with "terrorists". Sorry, it's not going to work.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

anoldwhitewoman,OH — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:56:21 GMT

Yeah, my country is going to hell in a handbag, and all that McCain/Palin can talk about is what happened when a Senator was 8, repeat EIGHT, years old. And then Ms. Palin tells Biden not to talk about the past, just the future! And then after they tell all of their lies,they will go to church!!!! I don't give one damn about Ayers, or the Keating 5, or how about G Gordon Liddy, I just want my country to try to get straightened out and on a different track. I a an old white woman, only a high school education, who is going to vote for Obama!

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

J Ivey, Brooklyn — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:56:25 GMT

I used to respect McCain and was planning to vote for him just a few weeks ago. No more. I have lost so much respect for him. He stood up for what was right in 2000 and has thrown it all away -- not for the sake of putting country first, but putting himself first. Everyone has some guilt by association. I have relatives I am not proud of. I have friends that at some time did something that was despicable. And what is lost on this Ayers story is that people can forgive others what they do. It's the Christian way. But I guess in this case people expect Obama not to be a Christian and condemn every aspect of what he has done for his community and not just the terrible bombings of 40 years ago.

McCain has lost me. And I actually respect the way Obama has come through these attacks. He has gained my vote in the process.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Bertin evina-Ze, Tampa, FL — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:57:02 GMT

Shame on you McCain/Palin.. These old tactics will not work this time around, enough is enough..

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

D.Miles Sr. Ct Obama/Biden 2008 — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:58:33 GMT

Now that's what I'm talking about you don't take a knife to a gun fight! Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. No swiftboat politics this time!!!!...and by the way if you don't think that that type of politics works check out what happened to Kerry in the 2004 elections.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

KD in NY — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:58:47 GMT

Ayers had one of Obama's first fundraising events in his living room. Not many people throw a fundraiser for a newcomer unless they know them well enough. So to say that he is just someone you served on a board with is down playing your connection Senator Obama. That is not being truthful to the American People, it is being sneaky.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Independent in TN — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:58:48 GMT

what happened to McCain "the maverick"? . . . the one who promised a respectful campaign!!!

he has no plans whatsoever on either the ecomnomy or international relations . . . just more of the same Bush policies that got us here in the first place

so now he's going to drag the country into the mud for the next month in a desperate and greedy attempt to scare the country about voting for Obama because he's a "black", "muslim", "terrorist"

The John McCain I once admired has sold his soul . . . he has no honor

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Sharon, S Florida — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:58:49 GMT

Way to go Obama. The McPalin camp knows they have nothing else but negative attacks. In this economy, with the country at war I think we deserve a lot more credit than to have to deal with the garbage they spit out.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Libratine — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:58:54 GMT

and run a check on stepford wife Nancy Pfotenhauer oil indutry lobbyist for Koch Industries too.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

LJ — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:59:35 GMT

The last punch is always the best punch! Obama needs to also answer the smears being waged against him by Palin as well. The woman has been coddled into believing that she's now qualified for and capable of being the VP, or god forbid, the President. As long as people like Scarborough and Buchanan continuously praise what she's doing and how she's doing it, she'll take that as confirmation that she's in the right place and belongs there, and this woman is simply not wired to be a public figure of any magnitude. Fatal attraction comes to mind and we all know what happened there. The republicans are making me feel like a boiled bunny!

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

wesley rodermund, tucson, Az — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:00:49 GMT

Mr Obama if you can't remember your childhood, and especially the at least one documented year in an Islamic school what else can't you remember. You are a Muslin and that in itself does not mean a whole lot, but the fact that you don't or can't remember it terrifies me.

Why can't you remember it?

( not only documented by yourself that you are a muslin in your book but by CNN also )

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Frank, MO — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:01:31 GMT

Way to go! Don't be the one who starts throwing mud - but hit back hard, if the other side does !!
Palin/McCain - what a clown parade !

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Erik, Mechanicsburg, PA — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:01:54 GMT

Obama's using the rope-a-dope like an expert. Pretty soon, McCain will have nothing left and he'll have to accept defeat like a whipped dog.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Hector, Lexington, Ky — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:02:05 GMT

I was you of those who said that Obama should go on the attack. But after seeing what Senator McCain is doing, I'm start to rethink my position. While the McCain/Palin camp is going around talking non-sense, Senator Obama is talking about how to get out of this economic crisis.

The American people always say they want a campaign on the issues. Well, here is one candidate addressing the issues and the other raising everything but the issues.

America ... choese wisely for once.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Julia, Chicago, IL — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:03:27 GMT

Palin should stop trying to use fear tactic and address some real issues.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

JOANNE DAVIS, SMITHS, AL. — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:03:28 GMT

I am glad Obama is fighting back. Please stick it to
him tomorrow night, no I agrees. State you facts. and if he say anything about Sen.Obama not understanding, or just don't get. You pull your Joe 40 oz. out.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

RT, Durham, NC — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:03:52 GMT

And, finally, Kerry can rest as he sees that lessons learned from his campaign are put into practice.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

D Iowan, Marion, IA — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:04:52 GMT

I wish Obama would challenge McCain to promise to end attack ads at the debate tomorrow night. Just call him out and say, "the American people want to hear about the issues facing us today, not about things which happened in the past." Press him on it right in front of the camera and make him promise to drop the sleazy character ads. You want to make character an issue? Show some! Americans deserve a better campaign than McCain is choosing to run.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Not Fooled by Good Hair and Cute Eyewear, Nashville, TN — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:05:15 GMT

Honestly, I don't care about Ayers or Keating or who cheated on their wife or who did coke in college. All of the above are not my problem. What is my problem is that my husband is out of work, our investments are dwindling by the hour, I have to put gas and groceries on my credit card because ends aren't meeting, I've gotten stellar reviews at work but no raises for the past two years, and I'm not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel.

I want my country to stop occupying and rebuilding Iraq and start paying attention to THIS nation. I want to see independence from fossil fuel and fairer trade regulations. I want to see our corporations to stop sending jobs overseas and keep Americans in decent paying jobs. And while we're at it, I'd like to see corporate greed reigned in.

Oh, and how about actually FINDING Osama Bin Laden instead of just yapping about him to instill fear? Is that one too much to ask?

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

what a woman — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:05:22 GMT

Michelle Obama's Hospital Turns Away Poor Black Patients

Lets talk about compassion for the poor, or Universal Health Care and being in touch with the "common folks" you know the type of people that Senator Obama and his wife claim to be working so very,very, hard to protect. You know those people like the Senator's half brother, who lives on 12 dollars a year. Here is another example of the Obama's respect for the "common folk." Mrs. Obama is the Vice President of the University of Chicago Medical Center. At her job she helped to create a program where the uninsured get sent to a different hospital. Imagine that, the wife of a candidate promising Universal healthcare is doing her utmost to make sure that the Poor go elsewhere. You just can't make this stuff up:

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

SABRINA, ORLANDO, FLORIDA — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:05:37 GMT

Ok, so I listen to the Tom Joyner Morning Show every morning and I was able to catch Barack Speaking about Palin's remarks. Let me tell you, this man sounded so cool and calm over the radio. He is not at all worried about this garbage McCain is throwing. I was actually on my way to work after stopping by the Supervisor of Elections Office to drop of my ballot vote for OBAMA and register my fiance to vote! We don't need more of the SAME.
OBAMA/BIDEN 08

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Gene, Atlanta — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:06:44 GMT

I like the way the Dems are running their campaign. Don't throw the first punch - but do stand up and fight back when you are hit with a bunch of exagerations and out-right lies. From what I have seen - Obama's character is much more trustworthy than McCains.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Tom Kaye — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:07:26 GMT

Barack Obama is handling these latest despicable attacks on him like a gallant warrior. He doesn't rant & rave but responds like a surgeon with precision cuts.

McCain & Palin have many skeletons in their closests and are now fair game for counter-attacks.

Let's face it . . . McCain has run a blunder-filled campaign and it is showing by his standings in the polls. All he has left are personal attakcs on Obama.

John McCain not the type of person who should be President.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

CA Voter NOT For McCain/Palin — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:07:31 GMT

GO OBAMA! For McCain/Palin to even try and smear Obama with a fellow charity board member shows the desperation in their campaign. Mr Maverick definately has more skeletons in his closet. And Palin has a current investigation into her actions in Alaska. Time to put the mavericks out to pasture.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

AndyC, San Diego, CA — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:07:40 GMT

Doug in Renton, WA:

Your post should be mandatory reading for anyone and everyone who cares about this election!

Well done, sir!

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Eric, Salinas, CA — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:09:07 GMT

Sing the following to the tune of the Mickey Mouse song:

M - c - C -- a - i - n -- P - a -- l - i - n Mickey Mouse,
Can't be allowed in the White House!

Ironically Obama/Biden is a syllable short.

While the stock markets crash and burn all that the Mickey Mouse ticket can do is fiddle around with gutter politics. When Obama met Ayers back in the early 90's Ayers was a lauded professor. Just more all ado about nothing from the Mickey Mouse ticket.

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

jesse St.Paul Minnesota — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:09:25 GMT

Barak,,,We stand united behind you.The repuks swiftboat tactics and the sinner sarah the alaskan piglipsticken attack dog will not turn back after they have gone this far.This is what happens when you have no plan other than the Bush/Chaney plan and only 25% of the country think they are doing a good job.Plus the retirement statements sent to the account holders will be arriving just in time for the election.Even the elderly not to keen on black folks will poop there depends when they see the damage.I'm glad to see you stay aggressive and have veterans of the last elections in your camp.I'm sure that by the end of the week they will have blamed you for everything from globeal warming to the person that shot J.R.With all the skelletons the sinner has and Johnny Bomber and his Druggie wife there will be plenty of spin to go around.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Michael — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:09:29 GMT

The sotck market is down over 550 pts, yet all McCain can do is sling dirt at Barack Obama. Is this really how pathetic his campaign has become, to rehash this tired old argument when real Americans are facing real problems?

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Brian M De. — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:09:59 GMT

WTG Obama same thing I teach my kids. Dont you go starting a fight. But dont back down you come back swinging and let um know they were in a fight.
Obama/Biden 08
No way No how No Dipstick /Lipstick

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Clinton Democrat for Obama — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:10:05 GMT

Sen. Obama, be careful about using phrases like "tangentially related to me" because you have no relationship with him.

And while you've made it clear that he did detestable things when you were 8, you need to make it clear that you served on a CHARITY board on which he happened to also serve that decided how to fund local public schools so kids would get a better education.

You didn't serve on the board b/c he was on that same board nor did you make any decisions in your political career based on his views.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Conrad Hennings, Largo FL — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:10:34 GMT

Obama is punch drunk. None of his policies make any sense. He's raising taxes and giving tax breaks? That just means more debt for the country. We're all going to power our houses and businesses with what, wind power? He's more of a pacifist then Carter was. That man is in waaaay over his head. If he wins, he might last a term. He'd probably quit half way through to go to rehab.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

rhonda indiana — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:11:01 GMT

I really hate to see McCain going negative. How could someone do that. And then if he wins, would he really feel like he earned it. One thing I can say about this election is if Obama wins he will have earned it. Because it has been a long and stressful campaign and I'm just sitting on the sideline.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Joan — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:11:24 GMT

Sarah Palin is loving her role as attack dog because she does not have to know anything when she attacks! NO DOMESTIC OR FOREIGN POLICY! Finally, she can succeed in her new role on the national stage.

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Joan — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:12:02 GMT

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

James Lee Chatsworth, GA — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:12:03 GMT

I hear different messages concerning the Obama-Ayers connection. Most Obama defenders and Obama himself declare the relationship between the two men to be casual. Obama critics on the other hand have gone so far as to say that Obama kicked off his political career in Ayers' home and that Ayers influenced Obama's teaching style by mentoring him in the views of radical anti-Americanism.

Somebody must be right and somebody must be wrong. It seems to me that rather than accept Obama's denial, there must be non-partisan information available somewhere to confirm or to deny the closeness of the relationship.

Does anyone know? What about Factcheck.org?

Obama: Not the first punch, but the last

Lauri Smalls, Providence,RI — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:12:10 GMT

I think this is an awful door the McCain/Palin campaign opened. Firs, for Gov. Palin, she causes the light to shine brightly on her own unresolved issues, Troopergate, the Anointing Service and the Alaska Independence Party - It's just stupid -- plus the American public has had its fill of it -- we went through it in the primaries and it didn't work then. I think Senator McCain ought to spend the next few days telling people what he can do for them versus what the thinks Obama will not do for them. Good for Senator Obama stepping up and letting them know he's got a good fight in him...