Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Kevin, SF, CA — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:27:21 GMT

I just can't bring myself to stomach endorsements of a candidate whose campaign engages in dirty tactics, including voter fraud:

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/1/19/162953/644/790/439573

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Marbw — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:30:25 GMT

FLORIDA PRIMARY: Democrats: Obama
Click-2-Listen
Palm Beach Post Endorsement

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Barack Obama has set the tone for the presidential campaign, which is why The Post endorses him in the Florida Democratic primary.

One irony is that Sen. Obama has influenced all his major challengers despite his youth (46) and the fact that he was little-known nationally until his riveting address at the 2004 national convention. Another irony is that Sen. Obama is downplaying the state primary because of a fight between the national and state Democratic parties. But all the candidates are on the Jan. 29 ballot, and we hope that voters ignore the sideshows and turn out.

Why vote for Sen. Obama? Because his opponents, Democratic and Republican, now tout the "hope" and "change" on which Sen. Obama has campaigned from the start. No candidate has more directly and correctly addressed the unease that pervades the country after seven years of a terrible presidency.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2008/01/20/a2e_obama_endorse_0120.html

-------
The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell said Saturday that he's endorsing Obama's presidential campaign because of the senator's "character, confidence and courage."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/5469706.html

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Joy, Memphis, Tenn. — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:35:55 GMT

YOU GO GAL!!!

Vote Hillary 2008

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Marbw — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:36:40 GMT

WASHINGTON -- Ex-Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo., will endorse Sen. Barack Obama, the Post-Dispatch has learned.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/politics/story/7E21094589C268BE862573D60065E99B?OpenDocument

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Jeff Rathdrum ID — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:37:10 GMT

LOL!!! You Dems are funny, I'm loving this. I'm an independent and I support Obama!!! You know going into this election I was thinking the Republican party is over, people are pissed. The Dem's would have to do something totaly stupid to lose this election, and sure enough a good portion of you want do exactly that. You want to elect the one person (Hillary) that can lose it for you.
I don't know how else to say this, there is a very large group of people that will support Obama or Edwards, but they will not vote for Hillary. And that number is getting bigger with the Clinton attacks, dirty politics and lies they are playing. I personally don't think you Dem's alone can win this, the two party faithfuls will cancel each other out, but with Independents willing to vote Dem, you can win. But it's your choice, Roll your dice LOL!!!!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

AWESOME...ABSOLUTELY AWESOM — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:37:30 GMT

EMBARGOED for Delivery

The Scripture tells us that when Joshua and the Israelites arrived at the gates of Jericho, they could not enter. The walls of the city were too steep for any one person to climb; too strong to be taken down with brute force. And so they sat for days, unable to pass on through.

But God had a plan for his people. He told them to stand together and march together around the city, and on the seventh day he told them that when they heard the sound of the ram’s horn, they should speak with one voice. And at the chosen hour, when the horn sounded and a chorus of voices cried out together, the mighty walls of Jericho came tumbling down.

There are many lessons to take from this passage, just as there are many lessons to take from this day, just as there are many memories that fill the space of this church. As I was thinking about which ones we need to remember at this hour, my mind went back to the very beginning of the modern Civil Rights Era.

Because before Memphis and the mountaintop; before the bridge in Selma and the march on Washington; before Birmingham and the beatings; the fire hoses and the loss of those four little girls; before there was King the icon and his magnificent dream, there was King the young preacher and a people who found themselves suffering under the yolk of oppression.

And on the eve of the bus boycotts in Montgomery, at a time when many were still doubtful about the possibilities of change, a time when those in the black community mistrusted themselves, and at times mistrusted each other, King inspired with words not of anger, but of an urgency that still speaks to us today:

“Unity is the great need of the hour” is what King said. Unity is how we shall overcome.

What Dr. King understood is that if just one person chose to walk instead of ride the bus, those walls of oppression would not be moved. But maybe if a few more walked, the foundation might start to shake. If a few more women were willing to do what Rosa Parks had done, maybe the cracks would start to show. If teenagers took freedom rides from North to South, maybe a few bricks would come loose. Maybe if white folks marched because they had come to understand that their freedom too was at stake in the impending battle, the wall would begin to sway. And if enough Americans were awakened to the injustice; if they joined together, North and South, rich and poor, Christian and Jew, then perhaps that wall would come tumbling down, and justice would flow like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

Unity is the great need of the hour – the great need of this hour. Not because it sounds pleasant or because it makes us feel good, but because it’s the only way we can overcome the essential deficit that exists in this country.

I’m not talking about a budget deficit. I’m not talking about a trade deficit. I’m not talking about a deficit of good ideas or new plans.

I’m talking about a moral deficit. I’m talking about an empathy deficit. I’m taking about an inability to recognize ourselves in one another; to understand that we are our brother’s keeper; we are our sister’s keeper; that, in the words of Dr. King, we are all tied together in a single garment of destiny.

We have an empathy deficit when we’re still sending our children down corridors of shame – schools in the forgotten corners of America where the color of your skin still affects the content of your education.

We have a deficit when CEOs are making more in ten minutes than some workers make in ten months; when families lose their homes so that lenders make a profit; when mothers can’t afford a doctor when their children get sick.

We have a deficit in this country when there is Scooter Libby justice for some and Jena justice for others; when our children see nooses hanging from a schoolyard tree today, in the present, in the twenty-first century.

We have a deficit when homeless veterans sleep on the streets of our cities; when innocents are slaughtered in the deserts of Darfur; when young Americans serve tour after tour of duty in a war that should’ve never been authorized and never been waged.

And we have a deficit when it takes a breach in our levees to reveal a breach in our compassion; when it takes a terrible storm to reveal the hungry that God calls on us to feed; the sick He calls on us to care for; the least of these He commands that we treat as our own.

So we have a deficit to close. We have walls – barriers to justice and equality – that must come down. And to do this, we know that unity is the great need of this hour.

Unfortunately, all too often when we talk about unity in this country, we’ve come to believe that it can be purchased on the cheap. We’ve come to believe that racial reconciliation can come easily – that it’s just a matter of a few ignorant people trapped in the prejudices of the past, and that if the demagogues and those who exploit our racial divisions will simply go away, then all our problems would be solved.

All too often, we seek to ignore the profound institutional barriers that stand in the way of ensuring opportunity for all children, or decent jobs for all people, or health care for those who are sick. We long for unity, but are unwilling to pay the price.

But of course, true unity cannot be so easily won. It starts with a change in attitudes – a broadening of our minds, and a broadening of our hearts.

It’s not easy to stand in somebody else’s shoes. It’s not easy to see past our differences. We’ve all encountered this in our own lives. But what makes it even more difficult is that we have a politics in this country that seeks to drive us apart – that puts up walls between us.

We are told that those who differ from us on a few things are different from us on all things; that our problems are the fault of those who don’t think like us or look like us or come from where we do. The welfare queen is taking our tax money. The immigrant is taking our jobs. The believer condemns the non-believer as immoral, and the non-believer chides the believer as intolerant.

For most of this country’s history, we in the African American community have been at the receiving end of man’s inhumanity to man. And all of us understand intimately the insidious role that race still sometimes plays – on the job, in the schools, in our health care system and in our criminal justice system.

And yet, if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that none of our hands are entirely clean. If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that our own community has not always been true to King’s vision of a beloved community.

We have scorned our gay brothers and sisters instead of embracing them. The scourge of anti-Semitism has, at times, revealed itself in our community. For too long, some of us have seen immigrants as competitors for jobs instead of companions in the fight for opportunity.

Every day, our politics fuels and exploits this kind of division across all races and regions; across gender and party. It is played out on television. It is sensationalized by the media. And last week, it even crept into the campaign for President, with charges and counter-charges that served to obscure the issues instead of illuminating the critical choices we face as a nation.

So let us say that on this day of all days, each of us carries with us the task of changing our hearts and minds. The division, the stereotypes, the scapegoating, the ease with which we blame our plight on others – all of this distracts us from the common challenges we face – war and poverty; injustice and inequality. We can no longer afford to build ourselves up by tearing someone else down. We can no longer afford to traffic in lies or fear or hate. It is the poison that we must purge from our politics; the wall that we must tear down before the hour grows too late.

Because if Dr. King could love his jailor; if he could call on the faithful who once sat where you do to forgive those who set dogs and fire hoses upon them, then surely we can look past what divides us in our time, and bind up our wounds, and erase the empathy deficit that exists in our hearts.

But if changing our hearts and minds is the first critical step, we cannot stop there. It is not enough to bemoan the plight of poor children in this country and remain unwilling to push our elected officials to provide the resources to fix our schools. It is not enough to decry the disparities of health care and yet allow the insurance companies and the drug companies to block much-needed reforms. It is not enough for us to abhor the costs of a misguided war, and yet allow ourselves to be driven by a politics of fear that sees the threat of attack as way to scare up votes instead of a call to come together around a common effort.

The Scripture tells us that we are judged not just by word, but by deed. And if we are to truly bring about the unity that is so crucial in this time, we must find it within ourselves to act on what we know; to understand that living up to this country’s ideals and its possibilities will require great effort and resources; sacrifice and stamina.

And that is what is at stake in the great political debate we are having today. The changes that are needed are not just a matter of tinkering at the edges, and they will not come if politicians simply tell us what we want to hear. All of us will be called upon to make some sacrifice. None of us will be exempt from responsibility. We will have to fight to fix our schools, but we will also have to challenge ourselves to be better parents. We will have to confront the biases in our criminal justice system, but we will also have to acknowledge the deep-seated violence that still resides in our own communities and marshal the will to break its grip.

That is how we will bring about the change we seek. That is how Dr. King led this country through the wilderness. He did it with words – words that he spoke not just to the children of slaves, but the children of slave owners. Words that inspired not just black but also white; not just the Christian but the Jew; not just the Southerner but also the Northerner.

He led with words, but he also led with deeds. He also led by example. He led by marching and going to jail and suffering threats and being away from his family. He led by taking a stand against a war, knowing full well that it would diminish his popularity. He led by challenging our economic structures, understanding that it would cause discomfort. Dr. King understood that unity cannot be won on the cheap; that we would have to earn it through great effort and determination.

That is the unity – the hard-earned unity – that we need right now. It is that effort, and that determination, that can transform blind optimism into hope – the hope to imagine, and work for, and fight for what seemed impossible before.

The stories that give me such hope don’t happen in the spotlight. They don’t happen on the presidential stage. They happen in the quiet corners of our lives. They happen in the moments we least expect. Let me give you an example of one of those stories.

There is a young, 23-year-old white woman named Ashley Baia who organizes for our campaign in Florence, South Carolina. She’s been working to organize a mostly African American community since the beginning of this campaign, and the other day she was at a roundtable discussion where everyone went around telling their story and why they were there.

And Ashley said that when she was nine years old, her mother got cancer. And because she had to miss days of work, she was let go and lost her health care. They had to file for bankruptcy, and that’s when Ashley decided that she had to do something to help her mom.

She knew that food was one of their most expensive costs, and so Ashley convinced her mother that what she really liked and really wanted to eat more than anything else was mustard and relish sandwiches. Because that was the cheapest way to eat.

She did this for a year until her mom got better, and she told everyone at the roundtable that the reason she joined our campaign was so that she could help the millions of other children in the country who want and need to help their parents too.

So Ashley finishes her story and then goes around the room and asks everyone else why they’re supporting the campaign. They all have different stories and reasons. Many bring up a specific issue. And finally they come to this elderly black man who’s been sitting there quietly the entire time. And Ashley asks him why he’s there. And he does not bring up a specific issue. He does not say health care or the economy. He does not say education or the war. He does not say that he was there because of Barack Obama. He simply says to everyone in the room, “I am here because of Ashley.”

By itself, that single moment of recognition between that young white girl and that old black man is not enough. It is not enough to give health care to the sick, or jobs to the jobless, or education to our children.

But it is where we begin. It is why the walls in that room began to crack and shake.

And if they can shake in that room, they can shake in Atlanta.

And if they can shake in Atlanta, they can shake in Georgia.

And if they can shake in Georgia, they can shake all across America. And if enough of our voices join together; we can bring those walls tumbling down. The walls of Jericho can finally come tumbling down. That is our hope – but only if we pray together, and work together, and march together.

Brothers and sisters, we cannot walk alone.

In the struggle for peace and justice, we cannot walk alone.

In the struggle for opportunity and equality, we cannot walk alone

In the struggle to heal this nation and repair this world, we cannot walk alone.

So I ask you to walk with me, and march with me, and join your voice with mine, and together we will sing the song that tears down the walls that divide us, and lift up an America that is truly indivisible, with liberty, and justice, for all. May God bless the memory of the great pastor of this church, and may God bless the United States of America.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Steve, Chicago, IL — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:38:37 GMT

Obama's speech today was one of the greatest speeches delivered in American history and it gets buried five paragraphs into an item about Clinton saying how important MLK was to her in some vague sense? Come on, POST OBAMA'S SPEECH YOU DOPES!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Go Hillary , Tennessee — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:39:03 GMT

Hillary you will unite us. We are one people in the United States. Your record speaks for itself. I hope
all will review the records and know as I do you have the backs of the working people. It will take experience and vision to get us back on track to the
American dream.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

PLB — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:40:58 GMT

minister Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts, a prominent figure in New York's African-American community.

Good for her... Minister Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts is entitled to support whom ever he wants...but their are many of us who have our own opinions.....

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Marbw — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:43:10 GMT

A Times Editorial (St Petersburg, FL)
Published January 20, 2008

No wonder many voters are torn, wishing they didn't have to choose one over the other. It is a close call, but as much as we admire Hillary Clinton, we recommend Barack Obama for president in this primary vote. (John Edwards is still actively campaigning.)

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/20/Opinion/Obama_for_Democrats.shtml

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Frankie Crosby, Columbus Georgia. — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:45:39 GMT

OMG!!

Billary the Monolithic...

MSNBC, is going to "Clarify" how sweet. Please allow me just a little bit of assistance!!

Mark, try not to speak... The MSNBC political agenda is not going to be realized... You're buddy Chris Matthews, already knows and has conceded... So I humbly recommend that you, and the rest, of the distortionist, at MSNBC, jump off the Obama band wagon, and *just report the news*.... No it is not "muddled" you folks at MSNBC, are, and have been muddled.

Just report the news now.. and accept your defeat, gracefully MSNBC did make a "Herculean" effort to color and change the election for Obama.

Not to take anything away from Obama, he is decent chap but the Republicans will grind his bones to make their bread. Everyone is starting to see this now, so your ploy to try and keep it an interesting and tightly contested race... Has lost it's steam. I enjoyed it too, but, I am not blind or stupid. The writing is on the wall for all who want to read it... For those who don't that's fine, it's a free country despite the news organizations being little more than political agenda organizations.

No need to clarify, Billary won. There will be fight in South Carolina, and maybe the Obamaites will carry the day, but it's only for political drama... On Super Tuesday, Hillary will win, and Billary will go on to win the nomination... One has to give Bill his due, he is far smarter than all of you at MSNBC, in politics. You all appear as mere embryo's, compared to a blue whale in its prime. The size or breadth differential, of depth, understanding, cunning, experience, practical know how, popularity, ingenuity, brilliance.... and more is of almost mythical proportions.

Bill Clinton is a juggernaut and he wants his wife to be President, and from every measure of the word it appears *she is capable.* So it is time for MSNBC, to accept... That is acceptance to the idea of... change the things "you" can.. accept the things "you" cannot.. and the wisdom to know the difference... They've beat you, no need to try and clarify, I, and many others, don't need clarification between an embryo and a political monolith "blue whale." This Moby Dick, verses a minnow don't need no explaining...Mark.

Get out of the way "Change" is coming... Whether you like this particular brand of change or not, matters little, game over, the king is dead, all hail the king...

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

AWESOME...ABSOLUTELY AWESOME — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:51:46 GMT

AWESOME...ABSOLUTELY AWESOME (Sent Sunday, January 20, 2008 2:37 PM)

Obama's speech today was one of the greatest speeches delivered in American history and it gets buried five paragraphs into an item about Clinton saying how important MLK was to her in some vague sense? Come on, POST OBAMA'S SPEECH YOU DOPES!
Steve, Chicago, IL (Sent Sunday, January 20, 2008 2:38 PM)

_________________________

I just did

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Jackson — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:53:34 GMT

does Abyssinian church have african or african-american significance?? read this about the church http://www.jimmatimes.com/article.cfm?articleID=17591

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Gerald Wisdom, Nassau, Bahamas — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:04:01 GMT

Most people in the Bahamas are so thrilled over the honorable way he is conducting himself. I am sure that I can speak for most Bahamians, as we wish the best of luck and may god be with him.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Edward, Indiana — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:04:58 GMT

Has anyone taken a moment to ask Hillary about her support of Barry Goldwater in the 60's? I find her trumpeting of her support of civil rights and her campaigning for one of the most outspoken opponents of the civil rights act to be, at the very least, curious

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Jay Link, Chicago, IL — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:06:21 GMT

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

S.K.M. Mass — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:07:52 GMT

Supporters of Hillary,
Can any of you explain to me how the heck she is going to beat John McCain in November? On healthcare, by citing her plan to issue a mandate? On the economy, from having so much experience in that area? Because she's on the armed services committee? Because she has more experience than him? Because she's going to energize our Democratic base? Because she's not going to rally the Republicans together? Because his negatives are so much higher than her's?

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Michael — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:07:53 GMT

Obama started the dirty campaigning with the Pun'jab stuff and race baiting. His campaign had a 4 page memo on race baiting. Obama has never done anything for the black community. The Clinton's have done more for them than other politican except maybe Lincoln or LBJ

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

wavey — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:08:29 GMT

My heart is breaking.

Pastor Butts, how could you do this? How could you offer up the Clintons as moral leaders and role models to anyone in the Black community?

The Clintons are USERS not friends of the Black community.

Do you remember Lani Guinier?

You should be ashamed!!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Sarah, Vienna, VA — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:08:59 GMT

Where was Bill? Is he already knocking on all those doors in South Carolina??

I will say this about Bill's very public courting of the African-American vote in South Carolina. It will make Obama's win just that much more impressive. The Clintons and the media will not be able to "dismiss" Obama's victory after this extremely overt challenge by Bill to see who can win more of the African-American vote.

(BTW, Bill does know that HE is NOT the candidate, doesn't he??)

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Jordan Clinton — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:13:03 GMT

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

BO, San Antonio, TX — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:15:35 GMT

For those African-American who choose to vote for Senator Obama, please do so only if you really believe in good conscience that he is the best candidate. Senator Obama's many "PRESENT" votes while serving in the Illinois Legislature is NOT the sign of a great leader. I could be cynical and suggest that this was all calculated so those votes will not come back to haunt him.

Great leaders should be able to take a stand and vote YES or NO! ...that's why they are in the legislature in the first place. Voting present is sign of political cowardice. As an black man, I ask my fellow black bothers and sister, would MLK Jnr have voted PRESENT??????? What would a President Obama do in the White House on the great issues of our time - sit on the fence AGAIN????

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Frankie Crosby, Columbus Georgia. — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:17:25 GMT

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

DCortez, Houston, Texas — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:19:36 GMT

Think for yourself!

BTW, is a softer Hillary a new brand of toilet paper?

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

L, Tennessee — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:20:59 GMT

It really shouldn't be a close call between Hillary and Obama. She has the record to prove she will get
the job done. He only say's he can. It takes experience to run a country. He has 3 years, she has 35! When it comes to anything that is important why would you even consider inexperience? The man clearly needs to learn more before he sits in the oval office,
Do some good in the world and get some EXPERIENCE. Hillary will take care of us while you do.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Shadow, Hamden, CT — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:22:44 GMT

Jay - Please get educated. Obama writes most of his own speeches; he is also known for doing more off the cuff, ad lib than any major candidate to run in modern history, and you see that spontenaity in both the honesty and the occasional wit which appears in his speeches and debate answers. He doesn't can answers like other politicians, and it shows. He has a certain style of writing, and it's unmistakable; like any modern President or viable candidate for the Presidency, he does have indeed have some speechwriters, but a greater majority of his speeches are his than any of the major candidates on the Democratic OR Republican side this year. I wonder now that you know you were mistaken about Obama whether you will continue to underestimate his capacity in other regards.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

MLC — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:25:11 GMT

Wow... He mentioned MLK 3 times in that speech , and ripped off most of MLK words, does he really think people see him as another MLK... Sorry Mr. Obama, I met Martin Luther King, and you sir, are NO Martin Luther King.
Jordan Clinton (Sent Sunday, January 20, 2008 3:13 PM)

___________________________

Jordan--- Your original....And apparently lacking of any inspiration...No wonder you support Hillary

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

csh, IL — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:27:40 GMT

I see the Obama fans are extra ornery today – not surprising considering Hillary’s victory in Nevada yesterday. Look how many Culinary union workers defied their union’s endorsement of Obama and voted (publicly) for Hillary! Sweet!!

Also look at the exit polls – there were tons of new voters, most of them women and they voted for Hillary. Same thing happened in New Hampshire.

So, it’s not Obama bringing in the new voters – it’s Hillary. And these new voters will be the key to her victory in November!

You’re likable enough Barack……….

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

kmnecole, st louis, mo — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:35:22 GMT

I am pretty sure Obama's eloquent speech wasn't written by him at all. He pays professional speech writers large $$$ to make his speeches fiery and eloquent and to make sure they push peoples buttons. OBama will win South Carolina by a small margin, lose huge in the Big Primaries on February 5th and , if he is very lucky, Hillary will ask him to be her Vice-President on the Dem ticket.
OBama is a nice man, but he is not ready to become president.
Jay Link, Chicago, IL (Sent Sunday, January 20, 2008 3:06 PM

Jay- if after reading that speech, the best you can come with is 'a speechwriter must have wrote it'- sir, I implore u to read the speech again. And again And again- until it's purpose and message ring through. Until u have no choice but to say- I may not support his candidacy, but his message is 'case in point'.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Jay Link, Chicago, IL — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:37:53 GMT

Shadow, I am extremely educated and I am from a very political Illinois family. I dare you to prove that Obama wrote every word of his speech, I am positive he didn't. I presume you think because of Obama's flowery speeches, he will make an excellent president. I see Obama for who he really is.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

MLC — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:38:20 GMT

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Jordan Clinton — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:39:27 GMT

MLC, please don't put words into my mouth, Is there any comment in my post that indicate I support Hillary?
I think you take much for granted, as an Obama follower.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

jeff — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:41:05 GMT

LOL!
I just love it how Obama's fans are so pissy today. If Rev. Butts was endorsing Obama they would be all over it, making sure everyone heard it.
You are so sad!!!! much to the dismay of your candidate.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Bill C — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:41:59 GMT

Pandering.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Mary — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:49:08 GMT

I have no problem supporting and voting for Obama. He has, as all candidates do, evolved during this campaigning process but has also stayed true to himself and his message is virtually unchanged. I do not see this in Hillary who changes depending on which state she is in - nice in Iowa, found her voice and tears in New Hampshire, attack dog in Nevada, etc. Her integrity has been in question for me since 1998 when she stood by a philandering and demoralizing husband simply for political gain. I think that as a woman, I would have found her stronger and more genuine if she had divorced Bill after the presidency was over. Divorce is not a political death knell anymore, but having oral sex, cigar sex, impeachement and lying really should be. The fairy tale is that they (especially Bill) want to act like his scandals did not occur and did not upset ppl in the base like me.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Suzi, California — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:54:18 GMT

I agree Jeff, I too think Hillary will have a difficult time winning the general election. The Republicans really want her to win the nomination, what does that tell you? They have the old dirt and prolly a little new dirt too. I am a Democrat - have voted Democrat since registering in 1992, but am not a Clinton fan - she is too shrill, too tainted by the husband and too power hungry.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

AKB NYC — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:02:10 GMT

"does Abyssinian church have african or african-american significance?? read this about the church"

I work with the church and Cal Butts. The Abyssinian Baptist Church is perhaps the most influential in the black community throughout NYC. It is no surprise he supports Hillary, because she has been Senator, and done great things for NYC and New York, and he knows this. Noty to mention that Bill's office is a short walk away. this endorsement is perhaps her most important to keeping New York in her column.

Thank you Rev. Butts.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Janel, Indianapolis, Indiana — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:02:31 GMT

I would vote for Collin Powell, in a heartbeat, for VP, but not Obama! I would love to see a Hillary/Collin ticket...but he would have to be on our team and not the other team...
Hillary all the way....she is working her butt off to get the job done...not sure if anyone can outwork her
She has our vote!!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Frankie Crosby, Columbus Georgia. — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:07:04 GMT

OMG!!

Analysis, Obama's Gaffs, 1,2,3,4...

I must say I was surprised to learn last night and today that Hillary Clinton did not win Nevada, that in fact Obama won... Now I am beginning to understand better what Bill Clinton who may be inaugurated for a unprecedented (post WWII) 3rd term as president of the United States, was saying by using the word "fairy tale."

God bless Obama and more power to him... However when one takes a cross section of who voted for him in Nevada, it is becoming more clear, Obama is starting to look like a "one trick pony." The corn fields of Iowa are not representative of the rest of the nation, outside of the "farm subsidy" state, his change this, change that, and change the other, is not resonating well... But in all truth "change" is not really the issue now, it has become somewhat passe. Because the savvy consumers of politics, see other issues that have replaced the mantra of change and unity, to, politics as usual, and divisive political tactics.

Obama's naivety of politics and understanding of "real issues" is beginning to show, he is not so new anymore, and now he is being measured with a more critical eye... His blunders or gaffs have taken center stage, and a lot of the "politics of division," have there genesis inside and from his campaign.

The race card of fairy tales and civil rights, was divisive, and Obama let it fester, he should have immediately come out and stopped it. The black political pundits and black politicians who seized on the above and distorted the words of the Clinton's. Made a colossal mistake. In their zeal, to try and use race as an enhancer, of the idea, that poor little Obama was being unfairly discriminated against because of his color, and the public sympathy they were hoping would galvanize support for Obama... Did quite the opposite, it back fired [1] and hurt his campaign, and it hurt Obama. The short sightedness of "this will guarantee South Carolina," idea, has done tremendous damage to his campaign, and his future prospects of being the Democratic Nominee...

Instead of immediately coming out and saying this is wrong and the Clinton's were not smearing Obama because of color or aspirations, *he waited* to see if there was going to be significant political gain. In doing so he appeared divisive, not uniting, and to a certain degree it was "black" politics as usual... The very thing that he and his campaign had worked so hard to distance themselves from.... "Polarization."

The Democratic debate in Nevada, in which Obama was honest about a real flaw. We all have them... but even in interview tactics 101, "everybody" knows the fundamental law is, sell your weakness as a strength. He did not do this, instead he self proclaimed in front of millions of viewers, that he was disorganized, and somewhat absent minded... Giving the perception that his Executive skills are weak.... That he is a hands off type of guy who's purpose is to inspire, and not be bothered to much with the details. This played right into the hands of the Clinton's and campaign, who had been saying and going to great lengths to portray him, as inefficient, and lacking judgment. Obama's candid comment back fired [2]

Obama's pointing to Ronald Reagan as a leader and an agent of change, coupled with Republicans being the party of ideas for the last fifteen or twenty years, and slamming the Clinton administration record as the boring politics as usual. Back fired [3]

Ronald Reagan, did change the "trajectory" of politics, but it was not the type of change most Democrats, liked or believed in. The negatives in which RR trajectory of change for the middle class and ordinary working people, are well beyond the scope of a blog... But I will list a few...

Ronald Reagan's, trajectory of change took away... health care for the elderly, raised college tuition dramatically, reduced student loans, and increased student loan disbursement fees in the hundreds of dollars, painted single welfare mothers as "welfare chiselers" and drunkards and said they were bankrupting the country, busted unions, gave massive tax cuts to the riches 1% of Americans, gave every penny he could suck out of the middle class and health care to defense contractors, dumped mentally ill patients out of hospitals and put them on the streets.... and there is lots lots more. In short RR was a good speaker, a great salesman, but a terrible President for working people... And the ultimate "hands off" president whose only real talent was salesmanship.

Then the casino debacle, it also back fired [4] when the Culinary Union, put out a message in Spanish, that the Clinton's did not respect Hispanics and were trying to disenfranchise their voting rights. Both Edwards and the Clinton's told him to pull the ad but he did not.... The Clinton's actually won six of the nine Casino's. Small wonder considering Obama had in effect spoken highly of Ronald Reagan, who was an anathema to unions and middle class working Americans, just a couple of days before.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Judy, Beiber, California — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:07:47 GMT

Thank you poster for posting the content of Obamas speech here. I have been trying to find it on TV and on the internet today. I am moved to tears just reading it, genuine tears that we are so blessed to have such a human being in our times. I am voting for him unabashedly as a white woman, and I do think he may be too good for presidential politics. The Clintons and the Republicans simply pale by comparison

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Road Runner — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:10:14 GMT

Just in to the news room, Yogie Bear has just endorsed

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Bill C — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:10:50 GMT

Hey Jordan, it was MLKs church in honor of MLKs bday, are you really that obtuse?

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Rosemary, California — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:15:41 GMT

I am very disappointed in the Rev. Calvin Butts. You would think after all of the shamful attacks the Clintons have made on an Outstanding African role model, he would stay neutral at best. I wonder what the Clintons offered him for all of the adulation. The shameful way Bill Clinton as an ex-President is using his role. Wow. Unbelievable. Even Bush senior did not take an active role in his son's campaign. Jimmy Carter is not taking a front and center role, even though he endorsed Clinton. I hope that most of the voters in his church use their own minds.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Michael — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:16:17 GMT

I am sure Barack loved MLK and followed the struggle for Civil Rights while in Hawaii and Indeonesia with his white and Asian relatives.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Joanne Netland, Scottsdale, AZ (use JN) — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:26:05 GMT

As a registered Democrat and lifelong Lutheran church goer I never heard a minister in the churches I attended ever suggest who I should vote for, let alone stand out on the street and endorse a candidate, in this case the Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts endorsing Hillary Clinton. This goes way beyond the job description. The clergy are spiritual guiders, laying the groundwork for followers to make their own decisions at the ballot boxes. So is there now a debt to pay in a country that is supposed to separate church and state?

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Betty, S..C. — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:30:04 GMT

Cshm Il - love you baby! I have read your posts in the past and you are s00000000 right.

Hilary will be a great president so get over it
superficial Obama supporters, he is just another black man running for president now due to his own
doing. Jessie Jackson ran in 1984 and also 1988 and I think he did win around 12-13 primaries but he never made it to the White House- Thank goodness! I can only imagine what this country would have been like under that hot headed, irrational black man.
Obama won't make it there either. He in reality is a dirty underhanded politician who belongs to a black "racist" church that supports Louis Farrakhan, not to mention his illegal activities with Tony Rezco when he was in the Illinois State Senate. Sorry guys but he ain't gonna make it.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

wavey — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:30:17 GMT

OBAMA was a formidable vote-getter in NV. There are 17 counties in NV and Obama won in 11 of them. In 7 of the 11 counties that Obama won, he won more than 50% of the county vote.

Hillary's lead was less than 600 votes. That is not much of a win.

OBAMA demonstrated voting support all over the state of NV. That is why he won more DEM NV delegates.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Rajiv Patel — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:33:14 GMT

The 'tragedy' of Obama: I am an indepedent but have decided to vote for the democratic party nominee whether it be Obama or Hillary. I have deep and sincere admiration for Obama and recognize the sincerity with which he speaks and the dreams he inspires and makes afforable to us. He did not want race to be injected into this race for the very environment we are now in: a factional party based on race. The African-American community is conflicted for sound reason. Obama really represents hope to them that anything is possible, a priceless dream that can become real. So a vote for him is a vote for the future of the black race. On the other hand, a vote for him can be viewed as racially motivated which is want MLK did not want. A very tricky position. As an Indian, the only analogy I can offer is that of the current Governor of Lousianna who is Bobby Jindall and ethnically Indian. I would not have voted for him just because we are of the same race or based on personality but but because he had the experience to lead and govern. Regards, rp

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Ray, New York City, New York — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:35:06 GMT

Two excellent democratic senators are vying for the nomination leading to the 2008 presidential elections, as much as I like Obama's fine speeches and youth, I have to go with Hillary's proven track record and experience. Obama seemed to be polarising the US Democrats, something that never happened before.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

PLB — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:38:15 GMT

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Kevin — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:44:42 GMT

It amazes me how illiterate, ill-informed, and unintelligent the posters to MSNBC's First Read are about the issues and their candidates. First, Obama has done a lot for African Americans as a community organizer, but he also doesn't believe in racial divides. Second, as has been documented many times, Obama works with his speechwriter in such a manner that they both heavily contribute to the speech. Third, a "present" vote in the Illinois legislature does not mean "sit on the fence". This is the 21st century, and we have the Internet. Why don't you look this up for yourself? Fourth, regardless of the President's policies and ideals, the guiding factor for any presidency is going to be the person's character, integrity, and leadership. I don't know any knowledgeable, reasonable person who can look at me with a straight face and say that either of the Clinton's has character, integrity, or leadership. On that basis alone, a Clinton presidency would be a disaster. Besides, do people REALLY want to continue the Bush-Clinton dynasties? You know, Jeb Bush is "waiting his turn" for Republicans..

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

FJR in L.A., CA — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:47:24 GMT

FRIENDLY NOTE TO OBAMA SUPPORTERS:
WAKE UP; GROW UP; AND MAN UP; OR SHUT UP!!!

Or as Sean Connery's character phrased it in his death scene in "The Untouchables":

"WHAT ARE YOU PREPARED TO DO?"

I am not talking about dirty politics here at all. I am just suggesting they recognize the external shifts and substitutions that their opponent has made and respond according.

Start by facing these clear, simple facts:

1. You are beating beaten by Bill Clinton, not Hillary.

2. The Clintons are running the fall campaign against you that they argue Republicans would, complete with attack-dog running mate; and that many DEMS believe you should be able to effectively deal with to earn the nomination.

3. DEMS will never endorse OBAMA until he shows a willingness to run the campaign against the Clintons that the Republicans would as well.

4. Be prepared to openly compare and contrast the complete record of the Bill Clinton White House issue for issue and line it up against what you have done in Illinois and the US Senate and what you would like to do for this country.

5. No one has beaten Bill Clinton in a national campaign and if you don't man up and take him on; he'll keep trouncing you while his wife plays the innocent role.

More importantly, if you don't back up Bill Clinton now before he gets up a head of steam that carries HRC to the nomination; it is a near certainty that the ROVE/BUSH wing of the party will do it for us in the general election.

Bill Clinton is no more the 800-pound elephant in the room. He has become the big DEM bully to theABC wing of the party, a Ghost of DEMS past, that must be frontally addressed if this party and/or this nation is to move forward with any type of cohesion. Would it be a surprise to learn that the ROVE/BUSH Republican party has been game-planning this run against Hillary for some time? Only a weird public opinion coalition of faith-based Dems, anchored by African-Americans, and fair-minded Independents stopped them from defeating him in their 3rd and last national campaign which was the Impeachment Referendum. They are said to relish the opportunity to finish the job and completely expose the Clinton record in what may be the last chance they get to salvage any Bush legacy. Since this would undoubtedly include unearthing the 911 Commission that equally blamed the outgoing and incoming administrations for negligence; isn't it fair for Obama to start bringing that up again now. Rove, who left the White House early will likely be the Republican architect for their nominee in the General Election, has probably been planning to campaign directly against Bill Clinton all along, whether he had interjected himself into this election or not. And if so, we can expect them to frame a national debate that will undoubtedly start with assessing blame for 911 and continue on invoking the worst psycho-drama of the 90's that bring back not only the "moral malaise" feeling the Clintons' are known for, but also our unresponsiveness to bombings in the Sudan and un-preparedness as evidenced by large military cuts he deemed a peace dividend, which hindsight or not, the opposition points to as naively premature.

Since it now appears that the inadequacy of HRC to have her voice and mobilize women or young people through IOWA and NH forced Bill's hand to intervene on her behalf in a way that frees the Republicans to campaign against the Bill and the Clinton legacy. And they don’t need new material. Those old dogs will hunt fine once they’re brought out, dusted off and seen through the prism of that event that changed everything.
Even if Bill Clinton were to shut up right now through the rest of the Primary, it is clear that Republicans have the opening they need and won't hesitate to remind us that most pundits see the turning point in HRC's campaign as Bill's NH election eve, "Fairy Tale" rant and previous "Roll-of-the-Dice" reference.

The good news for the Obama campaign is that it provides you the same opening.

And isn't it only fair that Obama now give HRC some practice against what will surely be the Republican appeal to America this Fall:

A) That we don't want to return to the moral malaise of the Clinton years in the White House (see campaign tactics: they were for the NV Caucus Rules before they were against them); and

B) That we are tired of hearing about their martial woes (see: Tyra) and more tired of seeing Bill Clinton lie to us (see: "I have been against the war in Iraq since before I was born")?

More importantly, it is necessary from the point of view of this Obama supporter, that Obama take on the complete Clinton Record right now to UNITE, yes unite the DEM party against allowing our entire agenda and current Congressional majorities to be jeopardized and seriously put into play, which is what will happen if we allow that discussion to happen in the Fall out of some false sense of loyalty.

The only way Mr. Obama can strengthen all our chances to rid this country of the REP grip on power that began with Reagan and was never really threatened during the Clinton Administration is to forcefully engage the former President in that debate.

There is no shame in losing a campaign to Bill Clinton; but there is shame in not even recognizing that you ARE in a campaign against Bill Clinton; or worse, recognizing it and shrinking from it.

So as Sean Connery's character also implied in that movie, "Don't bring a knife to a gunfight".

Step it up Obama; it's now or never for you and us. Go down that path with the former President; and you may just come off even more Presidential than you already are. Is he a better speaker or debater than you? Take up his challenge and keep inciting him like you did with the Reagan comment.

Tell America that you agree with his assessment like most of us do, that supporting you represents a ROLL-OF-THE-DICE or leap of faith. It certainly does, but not for fear of loss but for hope in coming up 7's. Tell him it is a gamble on a big, sweeping DEM victory that can usher in real change against the downside of a ROVE/CLINTON conversation that REPUBLICANS are well prepared for.

Fair is fair. Right now it is not clear to this Obama supporter if Barack defers to the Clintons out of politeness or "political correctness", adherence to principles or fear. If he's chivalrous, then he should do the right thing: not shrink from Bill Clinton's future engagements and challenges but take him head on. Only then will we really know who is best suited to be the next "Head of Household" in a DEM White House.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

t o — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:49:14 GMT

and to this day black folks cant stick together

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

justwaitandsee — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:49:46 GMT

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Tommi — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:50:37 GMT

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Youth Voter, USA — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:52:45 GMT

Are we selecting a speech writer? or a preacher?

Please let me know which one so I can vote.

Oh wait, we are voting for President of USA. Did he get a prepared speech to talk from? You bet, that's why he did so well. Put him in a debate where spontaneity counts, and he flip flops and UHs and AHs.

You guys know who I am talking about, dont you? The same moral ethical Brack Obama who ran the shameless low class pathetic UNITE ad.

Talk about hope, it's in despair!!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

crying foul, TN — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:54:36 GMT

I feel sure if the GOP wanted Hillary to win they would be going after Obama and not her. They know they won't stand a chance against Hillary. From what I've been reading it sounds like the Obama camp are the one's playing the race card. Hillary's record speaks for itself on fighting for not only Africian-
Americans, but all Americans rights. We are one people and no room for the race card. We need a President who will stand up for everyone. Hillary has proven she will.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Chet Whye, Harlem, New York — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:54:47 GMT

Reverend Butts goes one way...and his flock usually goes another. The good reverend endorsed Rudy Giuliani for mayor--an endorsement that he had to eat later.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Diane Darrow Novato CA — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:59:18 GMT

This speech brought tears to my eyes. It is the most spiritual speech I have ever heard a politician make. In my heart of hearts if I were to make one wish, I would wish for the unity he describes. What a different world we would live in. It is idealistic, but if we shoot for the moon we might actually land and walk on it.
We need a man like Obama to represent our country. He inspires my heart that has only been left broken for too many years now. I am ready to move on to greater heights. Maybe this is MLK mountain top I desire to reach.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

G Davis — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:03:16 GMT

I wonder if Pastor Butz has heard of the Bounced Check Speech?

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

chuck — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:03:21 GMT

Endorsement or no, if Hillary's the nominee, John McCain will be the next President of the U.S. The Hillary people can tout how great she is and all the rest, but those dirty campaign tactics won't work on McCain. McCain's trouble is with the base but the GOP has only 1 candidate right now that can unify their base -- Hillary Clinton. If it's McCain and Hillary, McCain wins. If the Dems want to lose another election they should win -- go with Hillary!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

HMT-MI — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:11:20 GMT

the democratic party is disinigrating on this very site.Whining ,hating,writing such long e-mails that you do not bother reading them---copying the Bible,writing down whole speeches,repeating the same crap over and over and over----one states preachers should not endorse candidates(they have been doing it at least since the religous Bush was running)but turn around and cheer when Joe Blow endorses Obama.The republicans have nothing to worry about---George said they will keep the oval office and it seems that is the only thing he has ever been right about.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

KING OF SMEAR — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:14:09 GMT

GO TO CLINTONS CHRONICLES.COM---WATCH VIDEO OF CLINTONS 10 MILLION A MONTH COCAINE CARTEL AND THE MURDERS FROM IT, INCLUDING 2 YOUNG BOYS--YOU WILL KNOW WHY HE PARDONDED ALL DRUG DEALERS THEN IT WILL SHOCK YOU

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

voter — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:22:30 GMT

Vote Obama if you are looking for good speech giver. Yeah that is what we want for president. NOT!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Eliott, Los Angeles, CA. — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:24:21 GMT

To S.K.M. MA

Let me see if I can enlighten you.

Hillary Clinton, provided she is the nominee, will beat who ever the Republicans put up. But let’s assume that person is John McCain...someone I have a great deal of respect for. I respect Mr. McCain for his service and for his passion for this country. I disagree with him on many issues and the most important being the war. Hillary will easily beat McCain because of his very pro-war stance. Remember “Bomb Bomb Bomb...Bomb Bomb Iran” great commercial...I can see it now. Plus he said he can see us in Iraq for another 100 years. Seventy plus percent want us out. John McCain sees no end. So the war and his pro-war positions are problematic for him against Hillary. The current recession we are in or about to go into is another problem for Mr. McCain. Is this country going to continue to spend billions on an occupation when people are losing their homes, jobs, savings accounts? Short answer: No. I can hear Hillary making that part of her stump speech to cheers from her supporters. So that is number two. It is the economy stupid. And last but not least...the country is overwhelmingly seeking “Change”. Mr. McCain is hardly change. On the other hand Hillary, being the first woman president, is change. And let’s be real here...she will have Bill out there campaigning for her...and this time we can be sure we are going to be getting two for the price of one. Given the choice I will venture to bet the people will choose...to end the war....to invest in America again...and they will choose “Change”. That is how Hillary Clinton will beat John McCain.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Jim, Hesperia, MI — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:28:21 GMT

What happened to choosing a candidate on how good they are able to do the job? Personally, I think the African-American population is smart enough to know not to vote for someone only because they might match their own skin color. I mean isn't that what all of this is about? If the reason to vote for the guy is because he is black, then isn't that racist also? The endorsement Hillary received shows that MANY things need to be considered before a candidate is chosen. This is bigger than "we have a black man in the White House that can understand our issues". He/She will be president for the whole country, and ALL of its problems. We need the best person to do that job. Stop the bickering and consider all of the options before you. Our country deserves and NEEDS that desperately. If there is to be change, then WHAT change? Change is not always good. It depends on what the changes are going to be. Personally, I think experience needs to count for something. Obama may be the right person next time.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

jeff — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:32:58 GMT

Suzi from California,
i'm not sure you read my post correctly. I clearly made it clear that i do not agree with obama supporters over all the hate they spit and personal attacks. you should go though the columns and read carefully. you'll see that obama's fans with all their negativity completely undo the 'feel good' their candidate is promoting.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Betty, S.C. — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 22:45:26 GMT

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

jo johnson, Easton, Md — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:05:45 GMT

All I hear and read from Obama supporters is how nice and how sweet he is from his speeches. Yeah, ok, so he has some really good speech writers on his team, but does that make him prez material. Listening to a speech and it makes you cry so you are going to vote for him, oh yeah, now that is the way to choose a prez. I want someone with the grit to "git it done". Not someone who speaks purty! As far as black ministers using their pulpits as a place of political support for candidates, this is what they have always done. It was one of the safest places to do it, since meeting out in the open on a street corner could get you arrested or killed. If you read Hillary's book you will find out what her conection was to Goldwater and how she came to be a liberal Dem. But one thing I really want to know is where does Obama's white mother fit into his black support. Why can't he be considered a white candidate with dark skin? Would all of the brothers support him then if his mother was still alive and at his side campaigning?
jj

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

JN — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:14:31 GMT

What does "Remember me? (we'll keep it private)" mean? I marked X in Remember me box, yet my full name was used followed by instructions to you to us JN only. Naughty, naughty.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Hubris , Las Vegas via Cincinnati — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:19:42 GMT

As a liberal independent I can tell you the FACT that Daily Kos blog is a radical left wing site that highly endorses Obama and hates Hillary.

I'm sick of seeing those who post lies about the Clintons just because they found it on Daily Kos. I am finding this all over the net. It makes people no better than the Bush administration, the most incompetent, the most CORRUPT administration this nation as ever seen.

I live in Las Vegas and there were 2 robo calls going around. One was against Obama. The other was a VERY NASTY one against Hillary. Funny how people and Daily Kos don't mention the other robo call, eh ?

The robo calls, neither of them were done by, or endorsed by the campaigns of Hillary Clinton or Obama.

This is a FACT if anyone in this country cares about facts anymore.

Obama is a great orator, he has presence.. and that's about it. He's an empty suit, has a very questionable voting record and twists important topics to keep people from caring about the truth about him.

If he did cocaine at-19, 23, or 27, whenever it was, then why is this not relevant in comparison to what Hillary was doing at that age? (By the way, the woman has been working for families and children since she left college).

How is it these topics aren't relevant? How many know he's spent a 1 1/2 yrs in the Senate and missed over 100 votes? He's voted "present" on controversial votes so he couldn't be cornered for voting yes or no on some intense issues. How is this not relevant? He does have connections to lobbyists, he has supported the war 100% since he's been in the US Senate and the public seat he had in his hometown he won because he was unopposed in the race..how is this all not relevant? He claims he didn't vote for the war, well he wasn't even in the senate then, he didn't have access to the secret documents the others were given to base their judgment on..he was a guy sitting at home like you and me with an opinion of the war.. how is this relevant?

If he's so honest, why won't he clarify that Hillary and others (200 others) didn't vote for war but a resolution with MANY amendments that clearly stated they'd consider an attack, under the assumption of PROOF of wmd's, ONLY AFTER the inspectors thoroughly did their job.. and then Bush intentionally and secretly pulled the inspectors out early, because he and Cheney always had the intention to invade Iraq.. it had nothing to do with WMD's, it had nothing to do with 9/11. it was about oil. Need proof? google it.

If he's so into facts why does he spin and avoid them?

People who support Obama, how much seriously do they know about this guy? Have they researched on their own the facts of his background, personal and professional, much alone political?

This smear campaign against Hillary is insane and it is fed by the right wing media, one of the worst of which is msnbc-tv.. they are fox wannabe's and trash her 24/7. Have others not noticed how the media handles Obama with kid gloves and they NEVER even discuss important issues? this is insane!

yeh he's a great orator, he sounds like a preacher and he's arrogant as hell. He promises the moon.. well anyone can promise anything.. empty words..

Reminds me of ummmm.. oh yeh, BUSH! the good ole guy everyone likes so much... by the way, how'd that turn out for ya?

By the way google info on Obama's family.. nuff said.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Hu — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:21:58 GMT

wavey, omg, the info you post is incorrect on what happened in Nevada. Hillary had a clear and precise victory. I cannot believe the spin I'm seeing.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

John Kooms , Edmonds , Washington — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:23:23 GMT

Time for Billary to bring out her black southern accent accent again .

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Anybody but HRC, Lancaster, CA — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:25:03 GMT

HILLARY, RELEASE YOUR RECORDS TODAY!!

Prove your record of experience in the White House for 8 years:

Release your First Lady Appointment Calendar-

Release your Clinton co-president strategy meeting notes-

Release your Cabinet and Clinton Administration Advisory Notes-

Release your Clinton Health Care Task Force Notes-

Release your First Lady Security Clearance Listing- (appropriate proof)

Immediately, Release all of the documents that have been requested through the FOA.

TODAY - Hillary, Make the CHANGE from secrecy to transparency.

Where’s the INTEGRITY Hillary? Where’s the INTEGRITY?

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Steve — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:43:01 GMT

HRC and her pandering and wondering Billy are a joke. And PLB, I really think you have a "racist" streak; if you do not, then i misjudged you - you are lost in the dumbness pile. Get a life...:-)

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

css las vegas,nv — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:45:05 GMT

I don't usually get into this but, someone said something about Lincoln(president) I have this to say as a learning tool for all; the so-called freeing of the slaves was nothing but a political move on his part and all presidential candidates and those in office do this...

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Gail Driscoll, Maine — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:53:52 GMT

Regardless of who you support...
The next president is going to TRY to dig us out of the deepest hole this country has ever been in. GW Bush has nearly destroyed this country. This isn't JFK taking over after Eisenhower...a pretty flat landscape...soaring is easier when you are on a flat surface. Soaring is hard when you are in a hole. Obama or Hillary...either first black or first woman...in the end they will be blamed when they can't solve all the problems overnight and it will be a generation before a 2nd gets elected.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Marbw — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:08:28 GMT

Tuscaloosa News endorses Barack Obama (Alabama)

There is much to be said for (and against) his main challenger Hillary Clinton. But after four years of George H.W. Bush as president, followed by eight years of Bill Cinton, followed by eight years of George Bush, most Americans would prefer a fresh face in the White House, someone who can move away from the cycle of partisan warfare that these two families have furthered.

That person, we believe, is Barack Obama.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080120/NEWS/801200303
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Gainesville Sun endorses Barack Obama (FL)

Come November this is the best choice Americans could make in deciding who will lead the nation: John McCain or Barack Obama

http://www.gainesvillesun.com/article/20080120/OPINION01/801200308/1017
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A Times Editorial (St Petersburg, FL)-
Published January 20, 2008-

No wonder many voters are torn, wishing they didn't have to choose one over the other. It is a close call, but as much as we admire Hillary Clinton, we recommend Barack Obama for president in this primary vote. (John Edwards is still actively campaigning.)

http://www.sptimes.com/2008/01/20/Opinion/Obama_for_Democrats.shtml
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WASHINGTON -- Ex-Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo., will endorse Sen. Barack Obama, the Post-Dispatch has learned.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/politics/story/7E21094589C268BE862573D60065E99B?OpenDocument

ST. LOUIS , MO -- Former Senator Jean Carnahan joined current Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill and announced her endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President, citing his ability to bring people of all different political beliefs and backgrounds together to achieve real change.

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FLORIDA PRIMARY: Democrats: Obama

Palm Beach Post Endorsement

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Barack Obama has set the tone for the presidential campaign, which is why The Post endorses him in the Florida Democratic primary.

One irony is that Sen. Obama has influenced all his major challengers despite his youth (46) and the fact that he was little-known nationally until his riveting address at the 2004 national convention. Another irony is that Sen. Obama is downplaying the state primary because of a fight between the national and state Democratic parties. But all the candidates are on the Jan. 29 ballot, and we hope that voters ignore the sideshows and turn out.

Why vote for Sen. Obama? Because his opponents, Democratic and Republican, now tout the "hope" and "change" on which Sen. Obama has campaigned from the start. No candidate has more directly and correctly addressed the unease that pervades the country after seven years of a terrible presidency.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/opinion/epaper/2008/01/20/a2e_obama_endorse_0120.html

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Sharon — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:14:53 GMT

My email to Dr. Butts was returned "undeliverable". I will share it here:

Dear Dr. Butts:

I am writing to you to ask that you reconsider your endorsement of Senator Clinton. Our country is at a crossroad, and we can either continue to go down the wrong path, or we can make the changes necessary to move forward in a positive direction.

I am a supporter of Barack Obama because I believe with all of my heart that he is the one who can help us find our way. He has the judgment and the character to guide us through these difficult and dangerous times. He has the wisdom to speak out against wars that are wrong, injustices to the downtrodden and the divisiveness that is like a cancer to our nation.

I don’t know what your relationship is with the Clinton’s, though I suspect you feel a sense of loyalty to them. I beg you to review some of their behavior during this campaign, and to rethink your choice. I beg this of you for the sake of our country. For my child and for her children, I ask you to think about the implications of your endorsement.

My U.S. Representative is Elijah Cummings. His parents were preachers and he has inherited the gift that they both have for speaking in ways that will move your soul. He is Barack Obama’s co-chairperson in Maryland, and recently I was fortunate enough to attend a press conference where he announced that 200 Baptist ministers in Baltimore were throwing support behind Senator Obama. While I can’t begin to emulate his speech, I can tell you his main point. He told us that when a man does everything that a community could ask of him; like getting an education at Harvard and becoming the first African American president of the Harvard Law review. And when he turns down a seven figure income on Wall Street in order to work as a Civil Rights attorney in Chicago, and becomes a good husband and a good father, how can you not support him? When he does everything possible to make his people proud of him, how can you not extend your hand to him?

The Clinton’s are engaging in despicable and hurtful tactics during this campaign. I volunteered to go to New Hampshire for Senator Obama and I saw this first hand:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/01/18/trying_to_heal_a_rift_in_new_h_1.html

Please think deeply in your heart about supporting Barack Obama.

As we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this week, I can’t help but think that he is smiling from above at the possibilities that an Obama presidency would help us begin to heal these deep wounds that we have suffered for so long. I think that he is extending his hand to Barack Obama. Please, won’t you join him in doing this?

I sincerely appreciate your time.

Regards from my heart,

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

EKGreen — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:19:20 GMT

As a member of this supposedly "rascist" church, I encourage you to come to Chicago and attend a service or two before you make such grand and incorrect statements. Our church does not support Farrakhan but does support the work the nation has done to support and clean the an ignored neighborhood on the South side of Chicago. Urban race politics are very different. I did not understand how different they were until I moved from Jacksonville. Some alliances mean safer streets for children and access to quality doctors which out weigh whatever religious opposition one might have.
Our church has members of many different races and belongs to a mostly european congregation. We are unashamedly black because the reality is that while christians serve the same God, for generations we have celebrated Jesus in the fashion of our culture. Trinity is church steeped in black culture.
It's interesting that the media has skewed this into bigotry. We welcome all visitors and even sing songs in German to welcome our visitors from Germany (where our denomination was born).

Also, all of the money from Rezko (not rezco) was dumped onto charities and I challenge to find not one blemish in the Clinton campaign.

Have you realized that if Hillary wins the election that the Dems are done. Repubs and independents would rather have my dog in office than Hill.
Also if she wins we will have been led by that same two families for about thirty years. Ewwww...

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Disrespectful Obama Supporters — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:34:29 GMT

Is there really any substance to this endorsement since Rev Butts is from New York and Bills office is in the neighborhood? I noticed he was quick to praise Obama as well, not too many ppl who endorse sincerely will praise the other guy. I am sure he is conflicted
Tommi (Sent Sunday, January 20, 2008 4:50 PM)

There is no harm in praising good things about the other guy. It shows you have a big heart and you are civil and polite. Hillary praises Obama always as she has a big heart. But Obama says "you are likeable enough" which is low. Show respect and you will earn respect.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Youth Voter, USA — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:46:27 GMT

All Hail the Preacher, our Spiritual Leader Barack Obama. His speeches are so spiritual, I cry when I read it.

Then I feel hungry and look for money and go out to work in this sinking economy and wish Hillary can change this economy quickly along with Bill.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Al Harris, Wisc — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:03:25 GMT

JN - you need to read the instructions and stop waving your finger at MSNBC. Remember me is if you want you name remembered for your next post.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Suzi — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:21:34 GMT

Well "jeff" I was talking to Jeff Rathburn, is that you? If it is you and that was your point, you did not make it very well. My point still is that Hillary will have difficulty in the general election due to her high negatives nationally - more than 50%. I'm no math wizard, but that does not seem too hard to figure out

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

csh, IL — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:22:48 GMT

Cshm Il - love you baby! I have read your posts in the past and you are s00000000 right.

To Betty, S.C - Love you too, we sane people have to stick together!

Go Hillary!!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Carravagio, dead in Italy for a long time — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:24:15 GMT

If you get your inspiration from political speechs you are looking in the wrong place.
You independents make me laugh, willing to believe anything to stay out of the political fray of party politics. Go start your own party, bunch of whinners.
"I hate the way the world is, I want someone to change it for me so that I don't have to do it".

You make changes in life by doing things, not by voting for a certain person. Put down your I-Pod get off the couch and get out there and make changes or just shut up already!
Senator Obama will not be your NEW MESSIAH, get another religion!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Martin — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:25:59 GMT

Where is the "hope" for the 15 million Americans Hussein Obamas health plan would leave uninsured? And where is the "hope" in Hussein Obamas close cooperation with the criminal Rezko?

Hillary's health care plan covers EVERY SINGLE American - look THAT IS "hope" and "change"!

Hussein Obama is all empty rhetoric.

Hussein Obama is Old School -

Clinton is Cool!

OBAMA GO - HOME!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Martin — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:26:11 GMT

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Al Harris, Wisc — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 01:47:18 GMT

Newsflash Clinton operatives - 99% of us simply scroll through your inflammatory, erroneous, lengthy and redundant posts. We see them for what they are - pathetic and desperate. Resorting to dirty and false tactics are a reflection on you not the candidate you are smearing. Lee Atwater is dead, Karl Rove is semi retired and dirty nasty tricks are not yet working this election cycle

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Rick,ky — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:01:40 GMT

Obama seemed to be polarising the US Democrats, something that never happened before.
Ray, New York City, New York (Sent Sunday, January 20, 2008 4:35 PM)

That's why Ted Kennedy dressed down a Former President. Now That's Power!!!!!!!!!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Peter Hall Las Vegas, NV — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:05:49 GMT

I cannot believe how much the Obama camp is crying about the lost... At my location I say just the opposite.. Obama's people were playing a nasty sneaky game. Allowing people in after the doors were closed, adding fake ballots, making up their own rules trying to confuse people like me who were undecided.

After seeing the way the Obama's camp acted, I changed my support to Clinton. She has my vote for 2008!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Rick,ky — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:06:27 GMT

The senator heard King's sermon about staying awake through the revolution for civil rights and economic justice in the 1960s in downtown Chicago as a high school student and talked about how it inspired her.

Inspired her so much, she became a Barry Goldwater girl( Republican) right down to the Cowgirl outfit.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

jared, providence — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:19:14 GMT

Suzi, the most recent Rasmussen Reports favorability/unfavorability survey has Senator Clinton with a 48/50 split and Senator Obama with a 43/51 split. The article is very explicit in noting that due to the elongated campaign season, only one candidate (John McCain) is viewed favorably by a majority of voters.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/as_campaign_season_begins_only_one_presidential_candidate_is_viewed_favorably_by_majority_of_voters

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Kaye — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:31:58 GMT

I voted for Bill Clinton twice and was proud of Hillary and to have such a smart first lady. All pride in these two eroded away as scandal after scandal washed up, but the real clincher was the Lewinsky scandal and what he did to the honor of the office he held and dignity of the office. Hillary was there beside him crying right wing conspiracy, knowing full well he was (maybe still is) a terrible womanizer. What kind of woman who truly cares about womens rights, stands by and defends such a total creep. He just wants us to forget about his lying and cheating while he is out there attacking the character of Barack Obama, who really lives in a fairy tale I would like to know>

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

anne davis Bahamas — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:32:59 GMT

I used to watch MSNBC all the time. Even though I didn't agree with all the opinions, they seem even handed. Joe for the Republicans, keith for the Democrats and Matthews in the middle. Now of course, I hate to watch their bias coverage. They have decided that Obama is their candidate, and their coverage is so unfair to Hillary, especially Chris Matthews and Mika. The democrats should be proud of all their candidates. Mika should not allow Joe and others to degrade Hillary. She should speak out for fairness, even though her family works for the Obama campaign. Questions about each others capabilities for president are fair. If Obama cannot handle the "mild" criticism from Clinton, then how is he going to handle the republicans in November? or the North Koreans, or the Iranians if he wins? Will chris matthews be there to smash anyone who gives him trouble?

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Lynn — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:37:54 GMT

Rick, thanks for giving me the heads-up on that story. I hadn't seen any stories about Kennedy or anyone else telling Bill to pipe down until you mentioned it and I did a quick Google search. Unfortunately, the comments from the Clinton camp (in the Newsweek article) make it clear that regardless of what anyone says, Bill wants back into the White House so badly that he'll say whatever it takes to get there, regardless of how false his comments are, or how hurtful they are to the party. Very sad.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Suzi — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:38:28 GMT

Yeah jared and other polls show her negativity upwards of 60%. Polls are iffy for sure, but I know that there are alot of repub leaning independents who would never vote for her that will consider Obama. No republican will vote for her and some have already voted for Obama in the early primaries and caucauses. He has a much more unifying campaign and message than she does. His "experience" is much more unifying as well - he has worked well with Republicans his whole career. Hillary has openly fought with them and in the debate last week stated one of her first jobs would be taking on the repubs. She is always ready for a fight - too antagonistic

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Fasteddie, Houma — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:46:00 GMT

Jay Link, The only way the Clinton's can beat any Republican, is to have Senator Obama as her running mate. Without him it's not going to happen. If she is lucky enough to get the nomination, she will need every vote the Democratic party can put their hands on. She will get no Independents, no Republicans and lose a bunch of Democrats. WHY.....because the Clinton's have no integrity and will tear the party apart with their politics of destruction, and they have no problem with it......so be it!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

DJ, Philadelphia — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:49:03 GMT

Dr. Butts is a man of integrity as he kept his word in the face of a community with some who are insistent on devaluing Hillary Clinton's role in history as a champion of minorities. I watched footage this evening on Fox of an African American male who was spouting such crud as a group of Obama's supporters were demonstrating at today's event. Shameful. I am grateful to the Hispanic community who are not rewriting history and are remembering Clinton's life work on behalf of all.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Rick,ky — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:53:33 GMT

FJR in L.A., CA, as a Barack supporter, i tend to agree with most of your post. However, it is very apparent of the Appeal & Message that has gotten him this far.How does he do what you mention without being Accused of destroying the Democratic Party? The Democratic party is in Unchartered territory, & it seems NO ONE knows, which is the best way to handle it all.Anyone with Any Common Sense can see the Clinton Double team!!!! How do you take down an Ex-President( who is'nt running (hehe) with the Popularity that Bill enjoy's in Most of the Democratic party & still Maintain the level of Credibility he has?
With Ted Kennedy dressing down a Former President, we would think that Bill should cool his heels.Barack need's to Attack Hillary on the bankruptcy bill, I MEAN HAMMER HER ON IT, Relentlessly & Not Stop. He need's to HAMMER her on her War vote, RELENTLESSLY. Make her explain & Not Stop until Democrat's have an answer.Barack need's to HAMMER her on this 35 year's so-called Experience( what a joke the media runs with without the 1st question about it). As the saying goes " I'm from Missouri, SHOW ME". All of this need's explaining, yet he has'nt walked that line yet. Until he decides to show other's, that he too can Run with the Big Dog's, the Respect & vote's he need's to beat her will not come around. Leave Bill alone is my take on it, Just Hammer away at Hillary & her Non existent Resume of 35 year's Experience. Anyone beleiving that joke is still living in LA-LA-LAND.

My party is falling apart & letting another Presidency slip away because of SHEER IGNORANCE!!!!!!!!!

If Democrat's lose with a Hillary Democratic ticket, all these poster's you see Praising her now, will be the 1st ones outta gate to complain of a Vast Right Wing Conspiracy, they simply REFUSE TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE, which is the Supreme Court.

It's frustrating to be a Common sense Democrat these day's!!!!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

CES MT.VERNON, ILLINOIS — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 03:10:59 GMT

HOW IS HILLARY GOING TO BE ABLE TO BEAT A WHITE REPUBLICAN,IF NOMINATION. IF SHE CAN BARELY BEAT BARRACK OBAMA.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Leslie J, Buffalo, NY — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 03:13:30 GMT

Has someone changed the law or the Constitution lately? Since when have ministers been allowed to endorse candidates? Did the R's completely erase the separation of church and state while I wasn't paying attention?

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Lynne, Little Rock, Arkansas — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 03:19:23 GMT

BREAKING NEWS!!!! - HILLARY HAS 236 DELEGATES AND OBAMA HAS 148 DELEGATES - NOW DO YOU GUYS NEED PROOF THAT HILLARY IS AHEAD AND IF YOU WANT IT JUST GO TO REALCLEARPOLITICS.COM
It is for certain that you Obamaites will disagree but folks this is a fact. Also you may want to report Realclearpolitics to the Election Commission for reporting false statistics. What a bunch of sore losers Obama supporters are!!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Jackie, Washington DC — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 03:50:54 GMT

First Read-why are you letting half of these inflammatory comments even go through?

It honestly seems like the Hillary people who are doing the crying here. You come on here and flame Obama, making your candidate and her supporters look like a bunch of looney bins. Is it perhaps it was YOU guys who were doing the nasty tricks in Nevada? Or is it because he, in the end, got more delegate than your candidate? OR, is it because she used to have a 20 point margin in NV polls up until a month ago?

This sense of entitlement from the Clinton supporters is humorous. It's like you guys are pissed there is another viable candidate because 'she deserves this--how dare anyone try to take this away from her. This is her time'. Is it because this is her only shot at the White House? That if she loses the nomination to Obama and he wins the presidency, she will be a little too, dare I say, old by the time her next shot comes? She is no spring chicken, ya know.

As for Obama, he could lose the nomination, but has the chance to come back again. He is a young guy and has a huge, beautiful political career before him.

This sense of entitlement coming from Clinton supporters gets more and more pathetic as time goes by. Calling him "Hussein Obama" is another pathetic attempt to correlate him to the Muslim world. Next thing you know, you are going to talk about the other myths, like him being sworn in on the Koran, as truth.

There are plenty of arguments on either side as to which is the better candidate. Why don't we actually stick to the factual ones instead of relaying dirty and nasty comments to the other side? It doesn't make you seem smart, funny, or commendable as a Hillary supporter. It makes you sound like a jackass

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Opa2 — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 03:52:48 GMT

On February 5th, the HUGE Clinton machine that has been working for that day for five years will bring out the vote for Hillary and she will be the nominee. So get with the program all you Hillary haters. Either it is her or McCain who will keep that war going for "100 years" (his words not mine)

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

George Hoffman, Lexington, Kentucky — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 03:59:42 GMT

I'm always amused when people cite Hillary's 35 years of experience. What experience? She was a staff lawyer for a Republican congressman at the beginning of her experience. Then she was a governor's wife and a president's wife, without a security clearance. She had nothing she was responsible for in all those years. She accomplished nothing by herself and yet she takes credit for a list of things for which she had nor responsiblity. Typical Clintonian assessment.
Obama worked on the streets of Chicago, changing circumstances and changing lives. Then he served in the state legislature, with responsibility and achievements that were his own. His experience is real. By the way, voting "present" is a legitimate legislative tactic that is used by every state legislator. I've covered legislatures in 4 states as a reporter. It does not mean the legislator did not take a position. It shows the legislator supported the general idea but did not support certain portions of the bill, some which were found to be unconstitutional in Obama's case. People should understand how a legislature works before rendering judgements.

Those who are duped into liking the Clintons continue to be blind. It is sad that such ignorance exists, but people will believe what they want to believe. Obama is the future. Clinton is the past. If we nominate Clinton we get nothing new and probably go down to defeat once again. We will have no one to blame for the next Republican president but ourselves. And we will have missed the opportunity to transform our politics to something decent and unified rather than the bitterness, divisiveness and stagnancy that the Clintons have fostored for the past 15 years.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

PLB — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 04:21:53 GMT

PLB,
Here is your post - Please stay humble..It's not atrractive...Things can change so quickly... This is a close race...Keep that in mine

O.K. PLB, I will keep that in "mine" for I do want it to be "atrractive" but I also know how to spell and obviously you do not.

BUT, Of course I am a Hilary supporter and we are smart and even write our own speeches. We are also winners, not racists nor members of questionable churches and we certainly do not support Louis Farrakhan and we abhorr him in lieu of honoring him.

Betty, S.C. (Sent Sunday, January 20, 2008 5:45 PM
______________________________________

But can you explain why you support HILLARY...and exactly what has she done....I am waiting????????????

And being a woman doesn't qualify as an accomplishment...... But I doubt you understand that....Continue to praise your candidate while you continue to divide the party...

John McCain / Collin Powell ticket....The way many are feeling about the Clintons...who do you think they would chose?....I am waiting???????????????????????????? My guess....it won't be the Clintons and they would have people like yourself to Thank....

So go head...keep up the good work....Keep providing us with positive comments... No, Please go head

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Chaunda — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 04:22:43 GMT

CES MT VERNON

The same can be said of Obama.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

CHRISTY — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 04:47:33 GMT

PLEASE AMERICA LISTEN WE HAVE A PLANET THAT IS FALLING APART YOU HAVE TO RESEARCH STUDY LEARN AND STAND UP TO THIS WORLD. I LIKE OBAMA BUT TO REPAIR THIS ECONOMY AND THE ISSUES AT PLAY I DON'T WANT A PERSON THAT SHOWS NOTHING BUT FANCY SPEECHES AND THE FACT THAT HE IS A MINORITY, I WANT A BLACK PERSON TO RUN THE COUNTRY BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT IS AT STAKE PLEASE GIVE HILLARY CLINTON A CHANCE SHE HAS DONE SO MUCH AND BILL AS WELL, ASIDE OF THERE PASSED ISSUES, WE ALL HAVE PROBLEMS. PLEASE LIKABILITY IS IMPORTANT BUT THE KNOWLEDGE AND STRENGTH IS WHAT IS NEEDED. HILLARY CLINTON.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

susan — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 04:58:52 GMT

Neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton has ever been racist, made a racist comment or anything like that. Even O'bama admitted this was true and has praised them for their long history of work on behalf of minorities. It's the media who has caused and kept this race argument going and if we continue to allow it, they will split the democratic party. This is the ONLY way a democratic candidate won't win the election. I love it when people say...well the republicans say they want Hillary to win because they can beat her...but if this was true, they would be keeping their mouths shut right now. Duh. The truth is, any democratic candidate will win with the numbers we have coming out to vote UNLESS, of course, we continue down this road the press is leading us on and split with all kinds of hurt feelings. This has actually been one of the nicest races by the candidates in history. Of course there's going to be some maneuvering and arguments, even some dirty tricks...but that's politics, folks. but you can bet, when this is over, whichever one of them wins, the other will be supporting them. Don't let others twist things and tear us apart, democrats! That's the ONLY way we will lose!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

James, Wichita, KS — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:06:07 GMT

Why does no one ever bring up Hillary's Walmart ties? She was on their board for 6 years and did nothing about employee health care, let alone supporting unionization. Is Walmart good for our communities?

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

OneCommonMan, Seattle WA — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:31:14 GMT

Has anyone seen or heard of a 527, Right Wing, grainy, black and white, slow motion ad showing Barack snorting lines of cocaine? The image grows dark as the camera zooms into one of his pupils and an image of him speaking to school children fills the screen with a foreboding voice-over saying: Barack Hussein Obama: Inspiring America's Children?

Is this true? I hope Barack can inoculate himself from what the swift boat producers have prepared for the general election. Maybe the Clinton's are doing us a favor by prepping him for these kinds of attacks.

The other ad is of Barack buying cocaine from a dealer in a dark alley. The ad is grainy and black and white. The scroll across the screen: "Barack Hussein Obama Preparing Himself to Lead the United States"

If these ads are proven to exist, Hillary should denounce them and Barack should challenge them to be shown! Let's not have another Kerry episode! We need to be united against these tactics! It was admirable for Barack to admit to taking Cocaine and it’s a testament to his inner strength that he was able to stop doing drugs on his own!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Tammy Arlington, Tx — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:31:35 GMT

Rick, Ky,
I agree with you totally. The Double Teaming of Obama is CLEAR as today is Sunday. That Good Cop - Bad Cop crap is wearing real thin with me. If I hadn't already pulled my support for last month, then I would now that is for sure. A former president out there ranting and raving like a complete and total fool. Seriously, the guy is out of control. He acts like a animal with rabies or something. The worse thing about it is, he is purposefully misleading people regrading everything Barack. If he were attacking him on his stance, that would be one thing but to purposefully mis-lead people is just wrong. Of course those people believe everything he says.

As to what Barack needs to do, he did the first thing by calling Bill Clinton out. You heard about that right? Well, if you haven't Barack wants to have a debate or sit down with Bill regarding Barack's record! Go Barack, silence that liar.

I digress, the second thing he needs to do is, make them accountable for the voter intimidation claim they made. You see, Bill give two statements that amounted to voter fraud, and since that is against the law. I feel someone from Camp Clinton should be looking into it. I doubt they would b/c it was a lie. Another lie or complaint they wanted to file in case she she suffered a huge loss. They complain about something every place they go. What do you bet later this week they will be filing another complaint regarding something? Anyway, I feel if the voter intimidation had happened that they would have filed a complaint. They would have wanted to shame Barack or send him a message or something. They sure wouldn't have let it go.

So, Barack needs to hold to the fire their feet regarding the voting. He needs to get Bill Clinton face to face and ask him why is he telling ball-face lies about him. And he needs to question him regarding his role in his wife's campaign. We knew he would step in at some point, but so soonnnn? See this makes Hillary look incompetent (people are already talking about)so if Barack can get this out in the press it shine a light on their gutter tactics.

At the end of the day, the Dem. party will split there is nothing that can prevent that from happening. It will all be because the Clinton's. I don't think he cares. I think they care more about her victory than they do for the party. After all, if they cared, he wouldn't be acting like a fruit loop on steriods. I know I certainly no longer respect either of them. And if necessary, I will do as other Dems. if Hillary is the nominee and vote 3rd party or Repub.

A vote for Hillary is a sanctioning of her actions and none of what they have done is alright with me. I'd rather see another Repub. win than be a sheep for the Clinton's. I'm ashamed I even voted for that guy. At least now we see what kind of people they BOTH are.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

John, E'ville, Ill — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:36:46 GMT

There have been comments made about Hillary's "vision" and "experience" uniting the democrats and the nation.

I hope this is not the same "vision" and "experience" used to vote for the Iraq war...but of course, George Bush tricked her, right? Maybe I would even believe that, if I knew that Hillary actually read the resolution she was given first in considering her vote on the war...but she did not.

OK, it's war, our own soldiers will die or be disabled for the rest of their lives, not to mention the tremendous financial burden this will put on our nation, I don't need to read this resolution because in the end it is irrelevant- I need to vote yes for this revolution if I am to look tough when I run for President in 2008.

I voted for Bill Clinton both times and loved Hillary until the smear campaign began. The smear campaign of Obama. They are hell bent on dragging the democratic party down with them if they can't win the nomination. You talk about Rovian politics and Republican dirty tricks - they are revealing themselves to be the poster children.

How disappointing. I am so disappointed with both of them. I was not certain who I would vote for until after New Hampshire. Now I can say that I will under no circumstances vote for Hillary Clinton if she wins the Democratic nomination. I have voted Democrat all of my life but never will I vote for her. I will vote for the Republican nominee before I vote for her just on principle.

I will not reward the Clintons for their divisive and unacceptable campaigning. I always thought the Republicans were masters at getting people to vote against their own best interests, but the Clintons can now be added to that crowd, unfortunately.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

just a mom in MN — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:43:15 GMT

You asked for it...
Just the highlights for you who say that Hillary has no real experience or accomplishments...and this is just a few of them...

As a law student, Hillary represented foster children and parents in family court and worked on some of the earliest studies creating legal standards for identifying and protecting abused children. Following graduation, she became a staff attorney for the Children's Defense Fund.

After serving as only one of two women lawyers on the staff of the House Judiciary Committee considering the impeachment of Richard Nixon, Hillary chose not to pursue offers from major law firms.
She went to Arkansas with Bill, had a child and also continued her legal career as a partner in a law firm. She led the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession, which played a pioneering role in raising awareness of issues like sexual harassment and equal pay. Hillary was twice named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America.

When her husband was elected President in 1992, Hillary's work as a champion for women was recognized and admired around the world. She traveled the globe speaking out against the degradation and abuse of women and standing up for the powerful idea that women's rights are human rights.

In the White House, Hillary led efforts to make adoption easier, to expand early learning and child care, to increase funding for breast cancer research, and to help veterans suffering from Gulf War syndrome who had too often been ignored in the past. She helped launch a national campaign to prevent teen pregnancy and helped create the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, which moved children from foster care to adoption more quickly. Thanks in part to her efforts, the number of children who have moved out of foster care into adoption has increased dramatically.
As everyone knows, Hillary's fight for universal health coverage did not succeed. But her commitment to health care for every American has never wavered. She was instrumental in designing and championing the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which has provided millions of children with health insurance. She battled the big drug companies to force them to test their drugs for children and to make sure all kids get the immunizations they need through the Vaccines for Children Program. Immunization rates dramatically improved after the program launched.

Hillary's 1995 book It Takes A Village, about the responsibility we all have to help children succeed, became an international best seller. Hillary has donated the proceeds -- more than a million dollars -- to children's causes across the country.

Hillary's autobiography, Living History, was also a best seller. It has been translated into 12 languages and sold over 1.3 million copies.

In 2000, Hillary was elected to the United States Senate from New York. As Senator, Hillary has continued her advocacy for children and families and has been a national leader on homeland security and national security issues.

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Hillary worked with her colleagues to secure the funds New York needed to recover and rebuild. She fought to provide compensation to the families of the victims, grants for hard-hit small businesses, and health care for front line workers at Ground Zero. And she continues to work for resources that enable New York to grow, to improve homeland security for New York and other communities, and to protect all Americans from future attacks.
She is the first New Yorker ever to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee, working to see that America's military has the necessary resources to protect our national security. She has visited troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and at Fort Drum in New York, home of the 10th Mountain Division and other New York bases, as well as at Walter Reed Military Hospital. She has learned first-hand the challenges facing American combat forces. Hillary passed legislation to track the health status of our troops so that conditions like Gulf War Syndrome would no longer be misdiagnosed. She is an original sponsor of legislation that expanded health benefits to members of the National Guard and Reserves and has been a strong critic of the Administration's handling of Iraq.

But Hillary has recognized that we can't ignore our problems at home while we face challenges overseas. She has introduced legislation to tie Congressional salary increases to an increase in the minimum wage, because she believes if America's working people don't deserve a raise, neither does Congress. She has supported a variety of middle-class tax cuts, including marriage penalty relief, property tax relief, and reduction in the Alternative Minimum Tax, and supports fiscally responsible pay-as-you-go budget rules. She helped pass legislation that encouraged investment to create jobs in struggling communities through the Renewal Communities program. She has championed legislation to bring broadband Internet access, which is so important in today's information economy, to rural America.

In the Senate, Hillary has not wavered in her work to expand quality affordable health care to more Americans. She worked to strengthen the Children's Health Insurance Program, which increased coverage for children in low income and working families. She authored legislation that has been enacted to improve quality and lower the cost of prescription drugs and to protect our food supply from bioterrorism. She sponsored legislation to increase America's commitment to fighting the global HIV/AIDS crisis, and is now leading the fight for expanded use of information technology in the health care system to decrease administrative costs, lower premiums, and reduce medical errors.

Her strong advocacy for children continues in the Senate. Some of Hillary's proudest achievements have been her work to ensure the safety of prescription drugs for children, with legislation now included in the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, and her legislation to help schools address environmental hazards. She has also proposed expanding access to child care. She has passed legislation that will bring more qualified teachers into classrooms and more outstanding principals to lead our schools.

Hillary has been a powerful advocate for women in the Senate. Her commitment to supporting the rights guaranteed in Roe v. Wade and to reducing the number of abortions by reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies was hailed by the New York Times as "frank talk...(and) a promising path." Hillary is one of the original cosponsors of the Prevention First Act to increase access to family planning. Her fight with the Bush Administration ensured that Plan B, an emergency contraceptive, will be available to millions of American women and will reduce the need for abortions.

Hillary is strongly committed to making sure that every American has the right to vote in fair, accessible, and credible elections. She introduced the Count Every Vote Act of 2005 to ensure better protection of votes and to ensure that every vote is counted.

In 2006, New Yorkers reelected Hillary to the Senate with 67 percent of the vote.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

PETE, SEATTLE — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:59:52 GMT

IT IS CHARACTER AND HEART, AND NOT JUST EXPERIENCE THAT CHANGES WORLDS, JUST LOOK AT MARTIN LUTHER KING AND OTHER GREAT FIGURES WHOSE CHARACTER AND HEART CHANGED THE WORLD!!!!

this talk of experience would not convince Martin Luther King, who would say A MANS CHARACTER IS WHAT MAKES HIM GREAT.

the only thing clinton has proved is that she will do anything and everthing to win the nomination. which shows a lack of character.Just look at the nonsense her and her husband are doing with their good cop bad cop trickery.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

F Tollette — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 06:37:09 GMT

Could some of you Clinton supportors please tell me why she voted not once, but twice for the bankruptcy bill that makes it harder for people to file. She is suppose to be for the poor and middle Americans, yet she would vote to make it harder for them to fight against the predetory credit card companies. When people refer to her as having the "Clinton Machine" behind her I understand fully, she is more manufactured than genuine and offers the same old political BS that has been coming out of Washinton for years. Senator Obama has proven to be a critical thinker with true wisdon and insight. For him to state what his true weekness is instead of some "Interview 101" answer like Clinton and Edwards shows that he has sincere integrity. Since when is it a crime to be honest to the American people? For him to come out and state the facts and truth in regards to his comments on Reagan shows the true signs of someone who is above the fray and intellegent enough to know what the real history is; unlike the Clintons that are fond of rewriting it. Are the dems so dumb that they cannot distinguish from what is fact and what is fiction. I really feel sorry for the dems. They are putting their faith in a "couple" that is morally bankrupt and pretending that their not. The Republicans are going to eat them alive come November if she wins the primary...I think I'll bring my fork to the buffet.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

roberto — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:12:06 GMT

Most of the people writing comments here come from the younger generation. Look, you need to start looking at the record of BILL CLINTON and see the great things he did for America. During his presidency there were more than 22 million new jobs, the highest homeownership in American history (up to that time), the lowest unemployment in 30 years, the paying off of $360 billion of the national debt, the lowest poverty rate in 20 years, higher incomes at all levels, the conversion of the hitherto largest budget deficit in American history into the largest surplus, the lowest government spending in three decades, the lowest federal income tax burden in 35 years, and more families owning stocks than had up to that point.
DONT YOU PEOPLE SEE THE ECONOMIC CATASTROPH HAPPINING RIGHT NOW. WE NEED THE CLINTONS TO GET AMERICA IN THE RIGHT PATH AGAIN.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

LES — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:57:30 GMT

Wow, Obama supporters.....stop lauding his speeches that you 'admire so much' or that 'bring tears to your eyes' and then come off in this blog with insulting, demeaning, untruthful and in many cases bigoted and racial overtones.
If you are so enthralled with him then why is everything you are saying all things he WOULD NOT say? Tsk Tsk.
I have been around too long, heard too many politicians and voted across party lines more than once because I vote person not party. I record all of the debates etc. I watch them three or four times and listen very, very carefully.
Sen. Obama is a powerful speaker, and obviously very intelligent, qualities that we need in the White House. However, I did look at the Illinois voting record and as much of the Senate voting record as I could. (That is a long boring task!) So, maybe instead of shooting from the hip more of you should really look at all of the candidates and their history. If they say they are going to do something to bring change look at how they have voted on the changes that are important to you. Look at their community and civil accomplishments, that is long, hard work in and of itself. Then compare. That is the way we should all be deciding. Not by inspiring speeches, not by race, not by gender and for me not even by party. Fortunately I live in a country where I can do that. Overall, I think it is very disingenuous for Sen. Obama to criticize Sen. Clinton on many issues that he does actually criticize her on after looking at the real deal of how he votes.
I am voting for Hillary Clinton. We need the hardest working, most dedicated, diligent and intelligent person we can get in that office. Through voting records, speeches, debates and accomplishments, she is my candidate of choice.
By the way, I feel great empathy for our next President because they are walking into one of the biggest messes of any President in my lifetime.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Justin, New York, NY — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:20:44 GMT

I am a white male, I have supported Obama for the Presidency, sadly enough having originally found him during those YouTube video's by the Obama Girl. As I learned about him and followed his campaign speeches though I was inspired by his ideas of hope and change.

That has changed though, he's no longer just a candidate for President, he's called himself "a viable black man for President, standing on the shoulders of those before him like shirley Chisholm and Jesse Jackson."

Since I heard him say that in New Hampshire; injecting his race into the campaign, he lost his lead there, in Michigan and in Nevada, losing all three primaries. To me, and I'm dating an afro-american, it feels as though he's pandering to the black people exclusively and sorry, but essentially appearing to favor one group, does not unite anyone.

I think in Nevada we saw that division clear as day, as Hillary desively won the vote in exit polling of all other minorites women, jewish, gays and hispanics. He must shed this "Man of the Blacks" montra and return to the "Man of Change" or his campaign will be on life support or dead already on February 5th with the 23 Primaries of Super Tuesday.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

NinaK — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:46:39 GMT

Sounds like Hillary used the same tactics in Nevada as she used in New Hampsire to win. In NH she brought in busloads of people from New York and the surrounding area a day before the NH primary. Bill was badmouthing Sen Obama while Hillary's friends were sending out E-Mails degrading Sen Obama. New Hampshire is doing a recount, I heard they are finding Hillary's votes were being counted twice by the Dibold machines. We'll wait and see. In Nevada, no machines, but BILL&HILL were determined to WIN. Witness the lawsuit just two days after the Cullinary Union endorsed Sen Obama. As Hillary said, "I AM IN IT TO WIN IT".: What she didn't say was "AT ANY COST OR DISTRUCTION OF MY OPONENT, THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, AND THE NATION!! SOMEBODY HAS TO STOP HER AND BILL, THEY ARE EVIL AND ALL THEY CARE ABOUT IS WINNING AND WILL GO TO ANY LENGTHS TO DO IT!! Yes, Howard Dean need to step up to the plate and hopefully BAN Hillary from the candidacy.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

James, Tampa — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:20:52 GMT

It is truly sad to see a person such as this align himself with the Clinton's, only because he is hoping to gather a favor later if she is nominated as President. I can say, along with a lot of other Dem's out there. If it came down between Hillary and McCain. McCain will be getting my vote, I don't see where the Clinton's can help this country. I see them only trying to make there own mark in History. Hillary is just a Democrat Version of the Current Bush. Will say and do anything to get into office, to include selfless lying. Hey if you want true change and someone who is going to be strait with you and there heart is truly in helping the people of this great nation. Then Vote Obama, if you just want to place your marker for a Clinton Favor, then keep on voting for the lying team and John McCain will be the next President of the United States.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Jason Crown, Raleigh NC — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:36:19 GMT

Keep your head up Obama, he is not the first so called "black leader" to turn his back on us for selfish benefit!
So Hillary voted for the war yet she is against it. She says the President should hold it's staff accountable but she lets Bob Johnson and Bill Clinton go wild with "her" campaign and turn it into a racial war that she can not win. An lastly why is the Bill Clinton giving more speeches than her if she is suppose to be the first female President? Step up Hillary and earn my vote if you want it. Do not use men to fight your battles while you sit back and cry.

OK black voters there is a familiar trend here of bad decisions and staff gone wild.(We've seen this with Bush)

So far it's refreshing to see Obama stay above the 2000 & 2004 nonsense and focus on a brighter future for me and my family.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

bacalove — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:11:32 GMT

The Clintons have intentionally distorted Barack Obama's record on a number of issues. The American people are tired of politicians who lie and distort their opponent's records to gain the edge. Our politicians should be held to a higher standard. We should have politicians who are honest and above tactics that are unethical, irresponsible, misleading and dishonest -- who are willing to do anything to win. After all most of us teach our children to be honest, ethical and not to lie.

How can we have trust in our leaders to be honest with us when they have not been honest and ethical on the campaign trail. Politicians who intentionally lie, distort and mislead are in all honesty not honorable people, and basically unethical -- not the kind of people we should want to run or represent our country.

I can only hope that Barack Obama will not stoop down to their level while trying to set his record straight, which he must, against the lies and distortion their campaign are trying to get into the American psychy. These tactics are old time party politics and should be a thing of the past as we move towards the 21st Century, towards cleaner air, cleaner water, cleaner politics, towards a more holistic way of living. It is a greater duty and in the best interest of the country for Barack Obama to continue to stay positive and hopeful while attempting to bring this country together and lift it up from fear an a distrust of one another -- to continue to show the American people and the world there is another way to run for office other than smear and fear. That is why Obama and Huckabee are so appealing. They are authentic and each in their own way are trying to lead the Americans away from dirty campaigning, lies and tricks. How can a country be blessed after all that ugly and dirty fighting, it can't be. And too we have to ask ourselves as a people, why do we allow this behavior to be acceptable and reward this kind of negative behaviour, when we would not accept it in ourselves.

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

susan, MN — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:06:52 GMT

has it truly come to this...some of us actually condemning a minister for stating what he believes? He supported her because he knows her, has worked with her and seen the good she's done that the press tends to bury (or at least not highlight). Are we so cinical that we have to condemn a man for standing up for what he believes is right even if that goes against his race (though I truly believe he didn't go against his race at all). It seems to me that Martin L. King would have been terribly disappointed to see this man persecuted and defamed for stating his belief in a woman he feels is the best to lead our country. Whether you agree with his position or not, he should be praised for stating and standing up for what he believes. Those who defame him should be ashamed!

Prominent NY minister endorses Hillary

Russ Wells, Maine — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:31:12 GMT

The only reason the clintons have support of the black community is that they have been giving the impression that the are the rescures of the black..You have some one like Al Sharpten who kisses the clintons backside...I think the black in NYC should wake up they may be your salvation but not for all American blacks and the reason is that NYC carries over 10 million voters..So wake up there are many white people who support the black community and Obama... Again im independent not voted yet and havent supported anyone as of yet but Obama is a front runner...And im white with no racism or gender. will support the best canadate but im sorry it wont be bill or hillary