The morning rush

Chip — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:30:40 GMT

Another nice fluff piece on Obama from his fans at NBC/MSNBC/Newsweek.

The morning rush

Paul, NY, NY — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:31:03 GMT

Isn't it amazing now that the press has started to actually look beyond the hype, Obama's love for the media has cooled.

It was hysterical on the TODAY show this morning when Viera snagged him in another lie WITH VIDEO and his response was, "I'm sorry Meredith, I couldn't hear the audio." What a freakin' tool!

There have been several instances in that last couple days where he has let his temper flare - I guess Bill really is getting into his head.

If he can't even handle a couple tough questions from your average reporter, it's no wonder the Republican machine is eager to chew him up and spit him out - with glee! Thankfully, he won't be the nominee and they won't get the chance.....this year!

The morning rush

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:32:20 GMT

.....and of course the only reason First Read posts this is to counter the frazzled, fidgety, overly-anxious, and overtly angry appearance Obama made at the debate the other night(...in front of a live audience, I might add).
Come on First Read, you're ambarrasing yourselves and you're losing credibility.

The morning rush

teddi, Norwalk, CT — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:36:55 GMT

And he was extremely lame on The Today Show when he couldn't hear the tape of him contradicting himself. Did you guys catch that gem?

The morning rush

hillary 08 — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:37:25 GMT

all this that means...what?
And Hillary's very big endorsement gets 2 lines on here.
Pathetic

The morning rush

Brett, Pittsburgh, PA — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:38:50 GMT

What was the point of this blog really? Between this and Hillary's front-page-2-day-put-on-3-tv-shows airline thing you guys really seem to love the fact that you do your job. How about lets talk about how your cameramen are forced to borrow chairs so they can see the candidate because you guys arent willing to pay for something STABLE for them to stand on?

JUST AN ASIDE.

The morning rush

teddi, Norwalk, CT — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:45:14 GMT

Wow, I'm so impressed by Mr. Cowan's man-crush on Saint Barack of the Inspired. "It's hard to stay objective about this guy"-he has gushed. How can NBC and its offshoots actually call themselves journalists after this campaign?

The morning rush

John Alexander — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:49:27 GMT

HA HA HAH HAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHHA.
And this is news, why?
Dominico and Obama sitting in a tree, K-i-s-s-i-n-g.
The msnbc lovefest goes on. You guys make me laugh more than Jerry, Sierra and little David Anders.

The morning rush

Steve, Chicago, IL — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:54:51 GMT

It's not a surprising attitude for a person accustomed to grass-roots campaigning and organizing. I think he's fine in interviews, but he needs to wise up to the overall media war being waged by Clinton. They have surrogates EVERYWHERE on TV. You can't turn on a news panel show on any channel, except Fox, without running into three different Clinton aides, advisors, supporters, strategists, etc.

The morning rush

Antoine Sheep — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:55:20 GMT

A interesting piece! Thank you Lee Cowen.

The morning rush

Yiannis, Baltimore — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:57:09 GMT

I remember before Iowa one of Vilsack's neighbors got on youtube and explained why she had switched to Obama.

Please watch and publicize this two-minute video in the blog and help this woman's voice offer further proof of the distortions by the Clinton camp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVuMYKs8iJs&feature=user

The morning rush

Mark W. Joplin, MO — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:04:28 GMT

What would you get if you took the Clinton lies out of the campaign? IOWA
Thats why the Clintons are trying so hard to pull one over on us now.

The morning rush

Tami in Iowa — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:05:13 GMT

well I think we are ALL about bored to death of the same ole accusations from the Clinton campaign as he is! I have watched every debate and the insane woman accuses him REPEATEDLY of the SAME things in which he has ALREADY explained and cleared up THOROUGHLY! She is a loud mouth, hormonal maniac that seems to have the same short term memory loss as her husband!
I,like many others, could care less what SHE or anyone wants to accuse others of, I want to hear HER tell me what she's going to do as President..PERIOD! I don't need her or Bill digging so called 'dirt' on Obama for me...you would think they would remember how much they hated it when they were IN the white house!

The morning rush

R Nunn Sacramento Ca. — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:24:49 GMT

Its funny how all these clinton supporters do is constantly whine as if Barrack is getting off easy concerning the press. That is one big lie. Bill Clinton complains the press is unfair to his wife well the way I see it if you constantly brag you have a 35 year record and can't show it then the press should question you. you idiots haven't figured out that the more you trash Obama the more Obama supporters will not vote for Hillary under no circumstances so if she wins the nomination for the democratic party to run for president she will lose against any republican because there is no way we will vote for her and she or the democratic leadership will not be able to unite this party because the damage will be to the point that the democratic party has lost the general election before it gets started. This win at all cost you Hillary supporters believe in will be your own demise. This is not a threat but a promise the clintons couldn't pay me to vote for them because I have totally lost all respect for them and you clowns only make the situation worse by keeping up the personal attacks on Obama so when Hillary looks like a fool after losing the general election then republicans can say not only will we not work with her but her and her supporters were so stupid they splintered and fractured her own party and there was not enough time to put it back together again because in real life bad blood runs deep and the democratic party will be the laughing stock of the United States because a lot of us will leave the party out of respect for ourselves. So keep it up and be willing to suffer the consequences and then look at yourselves in the mirror and ask yourself was it really worth it. I have never seen the hatred so deep against another democratic canidate Like Obama it makes me sick. Oh yeh the black vote that Hillary is counting on in the general there is a good chance it won't be there to gaurantee a win for her and after this election i will change parties because there are times i am embarrassed to tell someone i am a democrat. The republicans now have all the amunition they need to bring down any democratic candidate. I know some of you will say you don't need the black vote think again because once this party is fractured it might take 10 - 20 years before the democratic party has a chance of getting the white house again and will always be remembered as the party that blew it in 2008 by destroying itself. The republicans didn't have to do nothing. Good luck Clinton supporters because i doubt she will win the whole thing bevcause sometimes the ends does not justify the means the same hatred you show towards your adversary will be the same hatred directed right back at you

The morning rush

Arthur — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 06:39:49 GMT

Thanks for the piece Lee Cowan. Its unfortunate that you have such nasty critics for reporting a campaign nuance through your eyes; it is, after all, what all the readers of First Read crave in the second-to-second news cycle of this election. Also, Hillary is a liar and a carpetbagger, the late New York Senator Daniel Moynihan 'said that the Republicans were becoming the party of ideas.' The same Dan Moynihan that endorsed her for the Dem nomination coming out of the White House and legitmized her bid for New York, a state she had never lived in prior to running. Though, Obama has also played the Rezko situation a bit less than forthcoming, and I wouldn't doubt their campaign floated the unknown memo regarding the clintons' racism. ... Good read, First Read.

The morning rush

MrSensible, NH — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:17:57 GMT

To Tami in Iowa:

Thank goodness! Finally an American that makes sense! You are absolutely right! I do a lot of political digging beyond the media and I am finding that there are a lot of "individuals" behind a lot of false statements and propaganda that is being advertised by that campaign. Barack may or may not be the best but, there is no reason to stack lies. Now people are getting caught up on a video tape that Barack supposedly made. My wife is a double-law major and is exceptional at forensics. First thing she pointed out was that the date subjects on a modern taping of Obama shown the exact same print and font types of a supposed taping made of him some years ago. Immediately she said that there is an EXTREMELY good chance the tape is a fake because the technologies were very different in these two time periods which would bring question to the taping (presented by HRC campaign) from the past.

Is something like this possible? From my perspective (which is a more politically established view), when I consider the number of lobbyist that are currently contributing to the HRC campaign, I must question what promises have already been made against ones potential presidency that would gain such involvement? Hint: the Teachers Union in Nevada is NOT Hillary and it is fair to say that Hillary or Bill did NOT file suite in regards to the additional caucus polls in Nevada however, the Teachers Union (recently endorsed and support the Clinton campaign) DID take the initiative to wage this law suite!

Take a good look at HRC's lists of supporters and you may be supprised who is responsible for much of the lies, and nonesense that is being wrongfully spread across the internet and media. Why would an supposedly honest candidate accept or interact with companies or agencies that condone dishonest activity?

Then, point the finger at Obama stating that he as DIRECTLY involved with Rezko (which was a lie). He was working at the FIRM that supported Rezko; he had NOTHING to do with the case directly! Again, who fabricated that he did? HRC and/or her campaign! LIES ALL LIES!! Is it a lie that she IS actively dealing with a bunch of lobbyist? Remember, Obama had a bill passed that politicians must list thier lobbyist and what is the intent of their donations. It's no longer that difficult to find out who Hillary is dealing with.... I would assume this is part the reason why she continues to attack Obama?? HHmmm..?? Maybe because the bill he pushed has a lot to do with opening americas eyes about politicians that is playing "dirty politics" with the big businesses. They ALL have a stake in her winning the Presidency; don't you people see that? Of course they are going to do whatever in their power to bring down ANY candidate that opposes her making it to the oval office. She (like any previous sell-out president) has to make good on the deals with the lobbyist!

The morning rush

MrSensible — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 07:32:47 GMT

"you would think they would remember how much they hated it when they were IN the white house!..."

Even then, Bill Clinton was the "inexperienced" and George W. Bush, Sr. was beating him down with the "experience" factor. I guess Bill forgot that he still won because America had faith in him even though he didn't demonstrate as much experience as George Bush! Barack Obama is a LOT smarter than Bill was when he ran for President and now, Bill has taken the other position.

Some of the organizations that Hillary is taking credit for as part of her Political experience are beginning to speak out. The common word on the issue is that Hillary primarily stood on the side lines and done very little to help as much as she proclaims. Now I think that is a BIG kick in the pants to her redeemed "experience."

Even though the claim came directly from the company that was part of her listed accomplishments, I am SURE she will somehow work it in as though Obama made the claim...NOT!

The amazing part of all of this is, as she tries to take on false credibility for some of these accomplishments, the places of origin are beginning to speak out against her self-made credibility to set the record straight. I look at it this way; even is she somehow wins the oval office there will be so much truth that will surface and expose the truth of her agenda. There is nothing like being a leader without support and to lose the support of the people makes for a HARD term in office!

At least Obama is honest about is approach to the election. He admits that some things WILL be taken out of proper context but, with that said, some explanation is better than none. On end, if you visit the Obama website where he speaks more in depth about his plans, time lines, etc to help America, he is demonstrating that he HAS taken the time to look over the issues an come up with a stretegic approach to dealing with most of our current complex issues. I have to give him two thumbs up! Even if he IS a little messy with his desk, his agenda is well structured, organized and well put together!

The morning rush

CJ Cox — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:02:01 GMT

As a former Clinton leaner, I watched the last debate in horror at her fish-wife behavior. As Mike Barnicle said on Hard Ball, "She's like every guy's first wife on the steps outside probate court". She can UNITE us? Not! Obama is now looking very good, with his excellent judgment about Iraq from the very beginning and the obvious pain it causes him to engage with her. It would be beneath this very high-
quality man. (I'm a white, 62 year-old professional woman in Missouri.)

The morning rush

Neale Freeeman, Atlanta, Georgia — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:16:38 GMT

I thought it was a pleasant light piece, a refreshing break from all the back and forth.

Leave it to the Clintonites to demonize even this. It appears that her supporters are nearly as rabid as she is. In fact, they're a downright nasty bunch. I hate to share a party with them. If that's the sort of candidate and supporters who push forward to the nomination, then I want nothing more to do with this party.

Still, my hope is that there are still enough decent Democrats that this sort of underhanded politics and small mindedness do not represent the party majority. With any luck at all Obama will pick up speed after the thrashing he's about to lay down on Saturday and move forward ultimately to the nomination and the Presidency. God willing, there's hope for America yet...Yes we can!

Obama in 08!