Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

cms — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:44:43 GMT

You reporters like to write the same narrative... not enough time for questions due to the advisors singing Obama's praises. Not true. The audience asked questions over a period of at least an hour and a half. Seems petty to begrudge the panel of six the collective thirty minutes they took to introduce themselves and explain why they are supporting Obama.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Marcus, Chicago — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:50:54 GMT

Meanwhile, Hillary was shoring up her cred with...er....Barbra Streisand.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

JOHNNY V. — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:53:50 GMT

MR. OBAMA, AMERICA IS STILL AWAITING "YOUR" RESPONSE TO NEW REVELATIONS ABOUT FINANCE PRACTICES.WHO DECIDED WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS WHOULD BE MADE BY HOPEFUND ? WERE "YOU" AWARE OF THIS YES OR NO ? iT'S BEEN 2 DAYS NOW AND NO RESPONSE FROM YOU. i'LL BE ASKING THE SAME QUESTIONS TOMORROW. I'LL BE BACK,UNTIL WE RECIEVE "YOUR" DIRECT RESPONSE.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Mary — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:54:39 GMT

During the event Tony Lake, former national security adviser in Bill Clinton’s administration told the audience of 150 before Obama arrived after touring a nearby Navel facility:
"I cannot understand why he is attacked for a lack of experience," Obama is older than Bill Clinton was when inaugurated, and probably has more foreign policy experience than presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Clinton and the current president had when they took office.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Fair and Balanced, USA — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:58:47 GMT

"the scene was Roosevelt-esque."

hmmm... I wonder who Aswini Anburajan is voting for...

A panel does not make a man...

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Tony S. — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:00:32 GMT

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ O$AMA $$$$$$$$$$$ FOLLOW THE MONEY $$$$

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Ron, TX — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:09:04 GMT

Obama got it 100% right… again. That's what he does- gets it right. We can't be afraid to talk to foreign nations. Hillary Clinton is afraid. Hillary Clinton buys into Republican Iran drum-beating legislation. We need REAL CHANGE. Hillary won't give an Iraq timetable. She won't talk to foreign leaders she doesn't agree with. How is that representing a change from Bush-foreign-policy?

His Iran policy he laid out is revolutionary, but the media didn't carry it for any longer than a day. Research the article: 11-2-2007, "Obama Envisions New Iran Approach" from the NY Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/us/politics/02obama.html

Hillary just doesn't have a plan to carry us OUT of our foreign policy disasters. From all I can tell, she wants to continue non-personal diplomacy with undersecretaries, the same as current Bush policy. She wants to keep wagging guns and bombs in front of Iran's face to "scare" them, same as current Bush policy. She doesn't think she, as President, should talk directly to leaders. Well guess what, this isn't kindergarten Hillary. In this day and age, it wouldn't hurt to talk to someone you don't like.

Barack Obama has the JUDGMENT to carry America forward. Real change… better judgment… Barack Obama has what we need. No one had more experience than Rumsfeld or Cheney, look where that got us. PLEASE, America, DO NOT UNDERVALUE good judgment.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Perry, toronto — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:11:58 GMT

I watched this conference, and it was very good. Much more informative than any of the so called "debates"

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

TunaFish,the atlantic — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:12:01 GMT

oooh, tom daschle, who lost the seante to the gop, and then pulled the unheard of result of the senate president losing his seante to neophyte republican.

BTW, only Obama loyalist got tickets... a lot like a bush advent.
it was private.iit's not news

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Merri — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:23:10 GMT

I would have loved to have been there. I have heard Samantha Powell on Charlie Rose, and have seen the caliber of the people that Obama has surrounded himself with. I think this was a great format to display the depth of his core foreign policy advisors, and also to show the level of support from such an esteemed group. I hope we see more of this level of discourse in the future.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

History — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:28:53 GMT

Ron TX,
Did you read Hillary foreign policy at all? When i read both, they almost have the same position, except Obama want the president to get personally involved at the beginning, Clinton said the president should get involved after the diplomatic process got launched. The big question for you, if the president got involved right now, and nothing got resolved, then what? Even obama does not have an answer to that. Sometimes caution and patience work better. Remember how long it take Reagan to convince Gorbatchev?

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Rick, PA — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:30:41 GMT

Who cares about Hopefund? I want to know if there are any more interns around Clinton wearing blue dresses. I want to know about all the land deals, Vince Foster's MURDER, all the "bimbo's" still writing books.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Edmonsky, Sacramento, CA — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 23:59:12 GMT

The analogy of the scene as Roosevelt-esque was prickpoint accurate and there was something else at play also. It is a scene created to simulate Obama’s presidency and chairing his cabinet meetings or holding press conferences. Obama was showing people how confident he would be as president that listens to other points of view and unassuming to take advice from experts in diverse fields. He was acting presidential and that is the visual picture he wants to imprint in people’s mind in order to dissuade those who think that he needs some seasoning to have a rethink. It was a home-run or coup de grace.

There was a house-party session where Professor Laurence Tribe spoke to the audience about Obama. He said that Obama was the best student he had taught at Harvard. He emphases Obama’s gift with making sound judgment and how he could see my sides of to an the issue before making decisions. He finally told the crowd that he is looking forword to the day Obama will be sworn in as US President by the Chief Justice of the Surpreme Court, John Roberts; and both Justice Roberts and Obama were his students at Harvard. After the speech, many in the group started completing the forms to caucus for Obama in Iowa. That is the way Obama is building his ground game by sending renowned academics who were his mentors at Harvard to campaign on his behalf.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Katy7540, Cedar Rapids, IA — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:00:26 GMT

The idea that the panel didn’t allow enough time for questions in their efforts to explain their endorsement of Obama is just one more distortion and example of continuous biased reporting against the greatest presidential candidate we've ever known! Nor was it a closed conference, It was streamed live for the world to see, and demonstrated a well-informed, well engaged, mentally nimble foreign policy awareness in Senator Barack Obama that went beyond impressive.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Marbw — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:13:10 GMT

Video clips are available here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/Cx7J

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Brian, Ohio — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:14:22 GMT

Is there any truth to the rumor that Hillary affiliated groups are paying people $100 a day to post positively about Hillary and negatively about Barack on internet blogs?

Its not planting questions, but planting postings?

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

modernwoman, Anytown,USA — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:25:32 GMT

Well, thanks First Read, it was nice that you reported on this fine event! I liked it, it gave me a sense that our future interactions with other countries will be well thought out. Perhaps Senator Clinton would like to try this format(after all she copies everything else Barack Obama does)

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Maria — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:34:33 GMT

Could it be that they had covered so much during the discussions that there was very, very little to ask?

Could it be that the MSM is looking at a guy that for once has an IQ that is probably higher than their own? That for the first time in 8 years they won't be able to feel smarter than the POTUS? Tough luck guys and gals. Your artificial self-appointed intellectual superiority days covering the White House are numbered..get over it..

Obama 08

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Ruth Bethinger, New York, New York — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:40:18 GMT

Ms. Anburajan - I'm sorry, but your snide tone leads me to ask - as a 27-year old blog writer, how are you qualified to editorialize about the deep foreign policy discussion that Sen. Obama organized today? Shouldn't your job be to objectively describe the event, without your own bias?

I, for one, found it to be one of the first campaign events from any candidate that I actually learned something (actually many things) from. Clearly, I am an Obama supporter, but this event far exceeded my already high expectations in that there was real substance to it in a way you almost never see on the campaign trail.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

JOHNNY V. — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:40:44 GMT

I SMELL DIRTY MONEY. IS IT FROM THE HOPEFUND ?

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

lars — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:28:32 GMT

watch out for the chubby interns. Watch out for the young woman from the Greek island of Lesbos around Hillary. Bill is just a beard

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Tammy, Denton — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:39:39 GMT

Give it a break. I heard plenty of questions and answers. It was a great forum.

Obama's advisors are impressive. It will be wonderful to have them working with President Obama to fix our foreign policy. I'm excited. We'll have sane intelligent folks at the foreign policy helm again. Praise God.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

TunaFish,the atlantic — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:14:14 GMT

who cares if the Hand selected audience got to ask questions?
It was like george w bush panel and audience.....

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Raina Dale, American living in Hamamatsu, Japan — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 02:45:12 GMT

Mr. Anburajan misquoted Senator Obama's comment regarding his Republican opponents.

As Mr. Aburajan put it
"And Obama criticized Bush and the other Republican presidential candidates more than he usually does, saying that one of them started their stump speech by saying "We'll kill them all." That mentality, Obama and his advisers argued, engendered a framework of "fear versus hope," which would be the choice in the next election.

What Senator Obama actually said was significantly different. Senator Obama said, in a response to a question regarding "the exploitation of fear":

"You have heard the Republican canidates talk in just very bald terms- starting off a stump speech with saying 'they are...they want to kill you.' And that is the message that is going to be transmitted during the course of this campaign. You are gonna have a battle between fear and hope. Now, that doesn't mean that we should be ignoring the very real perils that are out there. There are people who want to kill us."

And Senator Obama went on to talk about the very real threat posed by Al Quaida.

Now, my question is this: Why is Mr. Aburajan misquoting a presidential canidate in such a blatant and dangerous way? Was it an honest mistake or a deliberate misrepresentation?

I expect an answer to this please. I feel that msnbc's credability as a responsible member of the media is in question here.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

wizinit, Burlington VT — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:00:20 GMT

"the scene was Roosevelt-esque"

Apart from totally failing to convey Obama's supreme confidence, open style and thoughtful responses to audience questions, one has to wonder how in the world you chose the description of "Roosevelt-esque" for today's session.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

AB — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 03:54:52 GMT

Obama is just so fake, well known for creat a scene, make up a story, throw some speech, shift attention, .... to finally cover how shallow he is. To sad, so many people buy it. Do more homework, guys.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

lane filler, spartanburg, sc — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:38:52 GMT

Anyone looking for some new Hillary video from an SC stop and an interesting commentary on how race is impacting that primary should try: http://goupstate.us/index.php/lanefiller/2007/11/27/hillary_and_the_black_men_of_god

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Kiku, Old Greenwich, CT — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 05:17:06 GMT

Judge for yourself, second reads are always slanted towards a journalists perception.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/Cx7J

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

anita preer, Boston, MA — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:15:59 GMT

I watched the whole thing and I think it showed, not only Obama's intelligence, judgment and vision, but his ability to see a problem in layers,and the interconnectedness between issues. From energy to the United Nations to nulear proliferation to the urgent need to build a civil corps as well trained as the military to work globally, for the US government,rather than Fortune 500 compaines, he clearly demonstrated how he would restore America's standing in the world while keeping us safe. He also showed how he thinks first and foremost about how policies affect real people, here and abroad. It showed us how he will surround himself with the best and the brightest, seeking the best minds to work on the hardest questions. Finally, he showed once again how he can actually answer question after question with specific, well-considered answers! I recommend that everyone watch this - the whole thing. You will come away with a clear understanding of who Barack Obama is and why he is the best candidate for our nation NOW>

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Mary — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:30:26 GMT

Video of the event here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/Cx7J

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:26:08 GMT

Is this conference to be re-cast on C-span or anything like that? I would really like to have the opportunity to see it. I think that Obama shows the best potential of all of the presidential candidates to deal with foreign affairs.
Obama '08

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Sam — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:15:04 GMT

Brian of Oh
In thius Hillary hating MSNBC blog, you have the audacity to suggest that Hillary is paying people money to put in positive things.
I Hillary is paying $100 then at MSNBC First Read the Obama people must be paying $500.
Of course that is mere peanuts campared to what multimuiilionarie Crackpot Chris Matthews gets paid by MSNBC to do the same thing with the added bonue of trashing Senator Clinton or any other Dem candidate.
Closeted Repbulican Matthews has chosen Obama because, as Karl Rove, he knows Obama can NOT win in the GE...thus insuring another Republican president.
And once again, we little Demo. followers get right in line to run right off the cliff once again as we spout our idealistic drivel while either remaining quiet or embracing the Rove/Crackpot Matthews Republican talking points to bash and trash any Demo. candidate we don't llike.
Hello, Prsident Rudy
Good-bye Social Security )as wew now know it)
Hello, MORE WARS
Hello, privitzation of eveything
Good-bye, health care
And when all this happens in the next 8 years, please just keep your mouths shut, unlike Crackpot Matthews who wiolently trashed Al Gore for his manhood, 3 button suits...you inow important stuff, thus helping to elect the uniter not the divider George Bush.
NOW, Crackpot Matthews innocently attacks Bush's war as if he had no hand in helping to get that "likeable", man's man elected.
AND HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. Democrats must love to look like fools. Matthews and BIG MEDIA are at it again.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Sam — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:26:21 GMT

Brian of Oh
In this Hillary hating MSNBC blog, you have the audacity to suggest that Hillary is paying people money to put in positive things.
If Hillary is paying $100 then at MSNBC First Read the Obama people must be paying $500.
Of course that is mere peanuts campared to what multimuiilionarie Crackpot Chris Matthews gets paid by MSNBC to do the same thing with the added bonue of trashing Senator Clinton or any other Dem candidate.
Closeted Repbulican Matthews has chosen Obama because, as Karl Rove, he knows Obama can NOT win in the GE...thus insuring another Republican president.
And once again, we little Demo. followers get right in line to run right off the cliff once again as we spout our idealistic drivel while either remaining quiet or embracing the Rove/Crackpot Matthews Republican talking points to bash and trash any Demo. candidate we don't llike.
Hello, Prsident Rudy
Good-bye Social Security (as we now know it)
Hello, MORE WARS
Hello, privitzation of eveything
Good-bye, health care
Hello more Haliburton and Blackwater
Goodbye regulations
Hello more lead and drugs in our kid's toys
And when all this happens in the next 8 years, please just keep your mouths shut, unlike Crackpot Matthews who violently trashed Al Gore for his manhood, 3 button suits...you inow important stuff, thus helping to elect the "uniter not the divider" George Bush.
NOW, Crackpot Matthews innocently attacks Bush's war as if he had no hand in helping to get that "likeable", man's man...Bush... elected.
AND HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. Democrats must love to look like fools. Matthews and BIG MEDIA are at it again.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

steve daytona beach — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:27:15 GMT

So this is the "change" in washington that you wannabe reporters tout for Obama? Sounds like he pretty much relies on everything washington, to me. As a matter of fact, why don't you guys list how many former Clinton policy advisors he has working for him? I guess because that would shoot his arguement about "changing the way things are done in Washington" full of holes. By the way, do you guys get paid by the Obama campaign? Instead of "First Read" you should call yourself "All The Obama News WE Want You To Hear". You guys are a joke! Are these the values you teach to your children? Same, Shame.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

steve daytona beach — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:40:07 GMT

HAHAHA!! I just read Raina Dale's post! You must be doing some of the same drugs that causes Obama to have "flashbacks"(his words, not mine)!! Where in the world did you come up with the idea that MSNBC had any credibility or was a responsible member of the media? YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS! This place is FoxNews Lite. I say "Lite" because at least FoxNews has the balls to admit they are a mouthpiece gor Giulliani. Unlike these fake wannabes that print all this stuff for the sole purpose of getting Obama elected. They are as phony as Obama himself. You want real news? Go to Washingtonpost.com or Newyorktimes.com. At least there they'll give you resources to check up on what they are printing. Here all you get is the current mailer from Obama campaign headquarters.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Marbw — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:45:13 GMT

Mitchell, click on this link below to watch the video speeches by the panel(including Barack Obama(:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/Cx7J

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Ron, TX — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:59:50 GMT

All I know is that you'll never see Clinton at a 3 hour long round table discussion on foreign policy, where she has to answer questions for an hour and a half, questions from very smart and well educated people, questions that HAVEN'T been planted, questions she can't PREPARE for ahead of time.

Obama gave an interview to NY Times answering questions on his revolutionary Iran policy, no prepping on the questions, for over an hour without referring to notes. He responded IN DETAIL.

Why does Hillary never have that kind of story hit the press? Hasn't all her "experience" prepared her to answer hard questions and give long interviews on difficult subjects? I guess not...

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

lets think — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 17:58:12 GMT

Since Sen Obama was a Ill state Sen when the vote on Iraq was taken, what intel was he privy to that the US congress was not. If in fact he was not privy to better intel or even the same intel how is it a feather in his cap. Unless he did in fact have better info. If so why did he nott share it with the men and women that had some controll. If he just did not feel it was right thats ok too, but surley not something he should claim as foriegn policy expertise.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Kelly (from PA) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:36:42 GMT

"lets think" - Why don't you look up the speech Obama gave opposing going to war in Iraq. He didn't have better intel, he had better intelligence. Oh yeah, and he has the guts to stand up and say the president and Congress was making a mistake. That's what being a leader is about. The ability to make the right judgement and follow your convictions. Hillary does not possess this quality. His "intel" was that he understood how Iraq and the muslim world works. It's actually pretty pathetic that he did learn more as a pre-teen living in Indonesia, than Hillary did traveling the world as First Lady. Bush didn't even know the difference between Sunni and Shiite before he got us in this mess. The CIA warned him, but he didn't listen.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

lets think — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:16:23 GMT

Kelly, so you say he was able to make that important of a call based only on the knowledge he obtained as a pre-teen in Indonesia? and you are ok with that? Do you really believe that a pure judgement call in that situation is ok? I know that a large number of people are tired of the conflict in Iraq, this is America, discent has made us great. Please though think about what you are saying. There have been leaders that have had to make choices all through our history. No one agrees with them all, but the thought of a POTUS making a critical choice based on his youth in a foriegn country does not give me comfort.. Well thats just me...

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Bruce, Medford OR — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:52:29 GMT

To answer lets think:

Nobody is saying all of Obama's intelligence and experience is derived solely from experience growing up as a pre-teen in Indonesia. But growing up in a foreign land and having relatives all over the world does make one more aware of others and more empathic toward the views of the rest of the world. Just as my father dying when I was young gave me more empathy toward others, despite learning this hard lesson as a young man. It doesn't encompass me, but it did help shape me.

Barack's experience and background, along with his native intelligence, his degree in international relations, his ability to hear multiple sides of an argument, and his proven ability to discern the truth and make wise judgments gives me confidence to vote for Obama.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

Raina Dale, an American living in Hamamatsu, Japan — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 03:23:11 GMT

I apologise to Ms. Aburajan for mistakenly calling her a Mr. in my previous post.

However, I am still waiting for some kind of response from her regarding her misrepresentation of Senator Obama's remarks.

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

lets think — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:07:44 GMT

Bruce thank you for your answer. I guess my point is that right or wrong Sen. Obamas stance on Iraq in 2002 was not based on any outside intel. Its not as if he can really pass judgement on those that voted yea. The congressmen that voted to the neg can however. They saw what the other members did. My point is not if the Sen was right or wrong, it is that he can in no way tout it as a foreign policy positive. He made his decision on a feeling, based without any facts. Foreign policy has to have intel, not just feelings or hunches....

Obama, advisers discuss foreign affairs

leona daniels — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:13:32 GMT

obama don't be agfraid of hillary clinton's negative comments about your experience. she has been in the white for eight years, that's enough, she selfish, greedy and evil with her lies about your experience, she should be giving you a chance just like she had 35 years and has done nothing but enjoy her riches.
time will tell on her. she is jealous for you to win above her. she hates it because she is selfish and greedy and doesn't even realize it.