Exit polls: Economy top issue

Barry, Chicago, IL — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:17:01 GMT

Bill Clinton supports Obama:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbHiw2jlwa4

Exit polls: Economy top issue

Former Dem, California — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:18:01 GMT

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Copycat Candidate
Rookie Obama Swipes Key Themes, Lines And Even A Joke From Former Clients Of His Chief Strategist
Last Week, Obama Swiped A Line From Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA), A Former Client Of His Strategist David Axelrod:
Obama On Saturday: "'I have a dream.' Just words. 'We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal.' Just words. 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' Just words." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At The Wisconsin Democratic Party Founders Day Dinner, Milwaukee, WI, 2/16/08)
• Patrick In 2006: "'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.' Just words. Just words. 'We have nothing to fear but fear itself.' Just words. 'Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.' Just words. 'I have a dream.' Just words." (Gov. Deval Patrick, Remarks At The Boston Common, Boston, MA, 10/15/06)
Obama Later Admitted He Should Have Given Patrick Credit For Taking The Line. Obama: "I was on the stump, and, you know, he had suggested that we use these lines. ... I thought they were good lines. I'm sure I should have [given him credit], didn't this time." (John McCormick, "Obama Says He Should Have Credited Patrick," Chicago Tribune's "The Swamp" Blog, weblogs.chicagotribune.com, 2/18/08)
• Chicago Political Strategist David Axelrod, A Top Adviser For Obama's Presidential Campaign, Guided Both Obama's Senate Campaign And Patrick's Gubernatorial Bid. "The man who has honed that message for both candidates is veteran Chicago political strategist David Axelrod, who guided Obama's Senate campaign and Patrick's gubernatorial bid and is now a top strategist on Obama's presidential effort." (Scott Helman, "Patrick, Obama Campaigns Share Language Of 'Hope,'" The Boston Globe, 4/16/07)
Will Obama Give Gov. Patrick Credit For Other Key Lines He Has Used Repeatedly On The Stump?
Patrick In 2006: "I Am Not Asking Anybody To Take A Chance On Me. I Am Asking You To Take A Chance On Your Own Aspirations." (Gov. Deval Patrick, Remarks At The Massachusetts Democratic Party Convention, Boston, MA, 6/3/06)
• Obama In 2007: "I Am Not Asking Anyone To Take A Chance On Me. I Am Asking You To Take A Chance On Your Own Aspirations." "But you see, I am not asking anyone to take a chance on me. I am asking you to take a chance on your own aspirations." (DeWayne Wickham, Op-Ed, "Obama Tries To Allay Race, Safety Concerns Of Blacks," USA Today, 11/6/07)
Patrick In 2006: "We Can Disagree With Each Other Without Being Disagreeable." "By showing that we can disagree with each other without being disagreeable." (Gov. Deval Patrick, Remarks On Election Night At Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA, 11/6/06)
• Obama In 2008: "We Can Disagree With Each Other Without Being Disagreeable." (Anna Webb and Brian Murphy, "Obama Wows, Inspires Crowd At Packed Arena: 'And They Told Me There Were No Democrats In Idaho,'" The Idaho Statesman, 2/3/08)
Chairman Of The Massachusetts Democrat Party On Obama's 2007 DNC Winter Meeting Speech: "We Could Have Closed Our Eyes When Obama Spoke [And] It Could Have Been Deval." "When a delegation of Massachusetts Democrats heard Obama speak at the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting in Washington in February, they could trace the thread, said state Democratic Party chairman Philip W. Johnston. 'We all said that we could have closed our eyes when Obama spoke [and] it could have been Deval,' Johnston said. 'To us it was a similar kind of message.'" (Scott Helman, "Patrick, Obama Campaigns Share Language Of 'Hope,'" The Boston Globe, 4/16/07)
Obama Also Copies Former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) Of 2004, Another Axelrod Client, Taking Key Themes, Lines And Even A Joke:
In His 2004 Presidential Campaign, Axelrod Was Edwards' "Senior Strategist." (CNN's "Inside Politics," 2/11/04)
In 2003, John Edwards Stressed He Had Spent Enough Time In Washington To See The Need To Change. Edwards: "I haven't spent most of my life in politics, but I've spent enough time in Washington to know how much we need to change it." (Sasha Issenberg, "Obama Borrows From Edwards," The Boston Globe's "Political Intelligencer" Blog, www.boston.com, 1/5/08)
• Obama Does The Same Today. Obama: "I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change." (Sasha Issenberg, "Obama Borrows From Edwards," The Boston Globe's "Political Intelligencer" Blog, www.boston.com, 1/5/08)
Edwards In 2004: "Hard work should be valued in this country, so we're going to reward work, not just wealth." (Former Sen. John Edwards, Remarks To The Democratic National Convention, Boston, MA, 7/28/04)
• Obama In January: "We shouldn't just be respecting wealth in this country - we should be respecting work." (Sasha Issenberg, "Obama Borrows From Edwards," The Boston Globe's "Political Intelligencer" Blog, www.boston.com, 1/5/08)
John Edwards In 2004: "Reject The Tired, Old, Hateful, Negative Politics Of The Past ... Embrace The Politics Of Hope." "[T]he American people, you can reject the tired, old, hateful, negative politics of the past. And instead you can embrace the politics of hope, the politics of what's possible because this is America, where everything is possible." (Former Sen. John Edwards, Remarks To The Democratic National Convention, Boston, MA, 7/28/04)
• Obama Swiped This Theme Urging Voters To "Break Out Of The Politics Of The Past." "Democrat Barack Obama said Sunday it is difficult ... 'to break out of the politics of the past,' when the country was badly divided and Democrats lost control of Congress ..." (Charles Babington, "Obama Ties Clinton To Divisive 'Politics Of The Past,'" The Associated Press, 2/10/08)
Obama Has Even Swiped One Of Edwards' Key Jokes From The Stump. "Even a new Obama laugh line -- joking about pharmaceutical ads that 'have all these people running around in the fields and stuff' - evokes an anecdotal staple of Edwards's 2004 'Two Americas' stump speech used to ridicule the marketing budgets of pharmaceutical companies. 'I love the ads,' Edwards said then. 'Buy their medicine, take it and the next day you and your spouse will be skipping through the fields.' Obama wins the biggest response when he punches up the Edwards observation with a slyly racy kicker." (Sasha Issenberg, "Obama Borrows From Edwards," The Boston Globe's "Political Intelligencer" Blog, www.boston.com, 1/5/08)
Media And Others Have Noticed Similar Themes And Lines Among Axelrod Clients:
Elizabeth Edwards, Wife Of John Edwards, Pointed To Axelrod As The Reason For Obama's Rhetoric Resembling Her Husband's Rhetoric In 2004. Elizabeth Edwards: "You listen to the language of what people say, particularly Obama, who seems to be using a lot of John's 2004 language, which is maybe not surprising since one of his speechwriters was one of our speechwriters, his media guy was our media guy. These people know John's mantra as well as anybody could know it. They've moved from 'hope is on the way' to 'the audacity of hope.' I'm constantly hearing things in a familiar tone." (Ruth Conniff, "Elizabeth Edwards," The Progressive, 8/07)
The Washington Post's Dana Milbank: "[T]he Boston Globe caught Obama red-handed after the new Democratic front-runner stole words from Edwards. ... Coincidence? Consider that Edwards's 2004 adviser David Axelrod is Obama's 2008 adviser." (Dana Milbank, Op-Ed, "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" The Washington Post, 1/7/08)
The Boston Globe's Scott Helman: Obama "Borrowing Themes, Messages, And Even Specific Lines" From Patrick. "In the midst of his improbable run for office, Obama and his advisers have evidently studied Patrick's up-from-nowhere victory in Massachusetts and are borrowing themes, messages, and even specific lines for the presidential campaign." (Scott Helman, "Patrick, Obama Campaigns Share Language Of 'Hope,'" The Boston Globe, 4/16/07)
ABC News' Jake Tapper: "Since last year, observers have been noting that rhetorical similarities between the two candidates [Obama and Patrick] with vaguely similar biographies and campaign pitches - who also share political guru David Axelrod." (Jake Tapper, "Obama Echoes Deval Patrick ... Again," ABC News' "Political Punch" Blog, blogs.abcnews.com, 2/18/08)
The Boston Globe's Sasha Issenberg: "The two candidates share a common strategist -- David Axelrod, the mastermi nd of Obama '08, helped launch Edwards '04 - and now a common goal of standing as the reformist outsider against Hillary Clinton." (Sasha Issenberg, "Obama Borrows From Edwards," The Boston Globe's "Political Intelligencer" Blog, www.boston.com, 1/5/08)

Exit polls: Economy top issue

Kim, Pasadena, CA — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:19:14 GMT

Senator Obama is the only candidate running who is offering us true change, the kind that actually gets us healthcare reform, educational reform, trade reform and out of a war in Iraq that should have neither have been waged, nor authorized. Of course, we are that change! Our involvement, our votes, our participation after the election is completed is required.

God bless my Country and the voters of Wisconsin,
Yes we can! Obama '08

Exit polls: Economy top issue

Jeff, San Bernardino CA — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:19:17 GMT

I hope everyone realizes that NAFTA has decimated the industrial economy of the United States, and that Billary Clinton with the republicans made it happen - you reap what you sew.

Obama '08!!!

Exit polls: Economy top issue

Chad Carrelton, St. Louis — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:21:10 GMT

The economy? Used to be the war. Funny how that issue went away after the Republicans won the war. Now we know who does the heavy lifting in this country, and who gives fancy speeches.

Exit polls: Economy top issue

Lee, Milwaukee, WI — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:40:07 GMT

Today the people of Wisconsin made their voices heard loud and clear. WE ARE FOR CHANGE! WE ARE NOT FOR FLIP FLOPPING on issues and "do anything tactics to win".

Barack Obama for '08!! YES WE CAN!! CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!

Exit polls: Economy top issue

Tim J, Chicago, IL — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:46:10 GMT

The Economy, the War, Health Care and education reform are all serious issues within this campaign. But I beleive the most serious issues is Changing WASHINGTON!!!! The Plutocrats who run it need to be releived of their duties and the old guard put out to pasture. This includes the Clintons!!!!!!

The change Obamma is seeking is the fundamental way in which Washinton is run. It should be run by the citizens of this country, not a few selected individuals. Now I'm not talking about getting into every little detail, rather having an open dialogue between the elected leaders and the citizens. To many back door deals, lobbyists, porkbarrel spending and the like are ruining this country and making the USA the laughing stock of the world.

We don't need 4 more years of the past. We need to cut ties and move forward. For your childrens, grandchildrens and your future, vote for real change.
Obammo 08!!!

Exit polls: Economy top issue

mike — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 02:57:47 GMT

I would prefer a WAR HERO than a phony slogans

Exit polls: Economy top issue

Tim J, Chicago, IL — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:14:06 GMT

Thanks to all of the Wisconsinites who pushed this country towards true change. Bye the way, love the cheese curds, brats and beer!!!
Obama O8'

Exit polls: Economy top issue

OK-then — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:19:45 GMT

Hello well Clinton and the mighty old school tactics of bring a black woman on to attack a black man thing almost won. Now we have another text book attack direct thing from mommy Clinton I quote for the regular people "you said what someone else said". Is that he said she said. Well don't we need a real change from the same old stuff. By the way sorry for being so straight with the truth since the American people cannot take the truth. Should I have given Mommy Clinton the props for that.

Exit polls: Economy top issue

Sue, Chicago — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:39:36 GMT

Chad said: The economy? Used to be the war. Funny how that issue went away after the Republicans won the war. ---Chad, when did we win the war? You must be thinking of WWII or something.

Exit polls: Economy top issue

steve Knapp — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:13:48 GMT

FOR CHRIS MATTHEWS{ I watched you pin the state senator from Texas down on Obama's US Senatorial accomplishments and was so disappointed that you did not ask the same question of the congresswomen from Ohio. Hardly Hardball. Love your show. But disappointed by your gloating while the Clinton surrogate piled on. She deserved the same question. Steve Knapp 11:08 edt feb 19 2008

Exit polls: Economy top issue

Joe,henderson,nv — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:26:45 GMT

Hello Mr. McCain...I am a democrat who will be voting for YOU this fall, and I ALWAYS vote...to that idiot in San Bernadino who thinks nafta took down american industry.....I'm from Detroit...I KNOW AMERICAN INDUSTRY!!! Look around your state and tell me how many CARS are from MEXICO!!!! Now, HOW many Californians drive japanese and Korean....I've been to your state, and I see where your peoples allegiance lies. As long as it was only impacting undesirable places like Detroit, and didn't affect YOUR states economy, that was all right???Now, it's hitting home...and, oh my god... now it's a crisis....LOL...you're a joke!!!

Exit polls: Economy top issue

John, Morgan Hill, CA — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 04:46:32 GMT

The Clinton family's support of NAFTA, China in the WTO and outsourcing of service jobs to India is going to backfire big time in Ohio. For example, Tata Consulting is the largest software development outsourcing provider in India. Hillary bragged about getting Tata to open an office in Buffalo, NY and hire TEN whole people there:

"In an appearance on CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight, she boasted about attracting 10 jobs to New York from India-based Tata Consulting. When Mr. Dobbs inquired if she had understood the degree to which Tata, which helps U.S. companies outsource, was stealing American jobs, Mrs. Clinton rejoined: ‘They’ve actually brought jobs to Buffalo. Outsourcing does work both ways.’” (Crain’s New York Business, 6/21/04; CNN, 3/3/04)"

Now hold on there. The only reason Tata would hire ten people in Buffalo is to be a sales and support office with which to lure a far greater number of jobs OUT of Buffalo. Bragging about getting an Indian outsourcing company to open a sales office in your state shows a real lack of understanding.

You can see a profile of Tata Consulting here:

http://www.businessweek.com/it100/2006/34.htm

Note that they are proud of having 6% of their employees outside India.

Exit polls: Economy top issue

Steven Portland, Oregon — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:23:01 GMT

This one is for Chad Carrelton. When did we win the war in Iraq? Have republicans said this yet? No. We haven't won the war in Iraq because there is no MILITARY VICTORY. No matter how much the right keep saying that we're winning and we're beating the terrorist threat there the real issue is that until the Iraqis get past their RELIGIOUS differences there will be no peace. We have given them the space and time that the surge was meant to do. We have reduced violence that country because we have a military that can accomplish and goal we ask them to do (within reason). They have no failed, the Iraqis have failed themselves and failed us. We've laid down thousands of troops lives to help them get to a place where they can hold elections. They have done that and now that the people are in power of their country
there is nothing but corruption and exclusion. At this point in time we need to get our troops out of harms way because it has become obvious that the Iraqi leadership has no intention of holding up their end of the bargain. Please read more then FoxNews.com before posting unintellagble garbage. KThx

Exit polls: Economy top issue

eric — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:26:10 GMT

After the republicans won what war? The war in Iraq? Cause I'm pretty sure thats still going on. I'm pretty sure that Iraq was a mistake, the evidence presented for war in Iraq was a lie, and I don't see how republicans think they're going to win with John McCain saying that we could be there for "100 years". Maybe back in 2004 or 2005 a republican could get away with something like that, but this is 2008 and we Americans like to think we're moving PAST the Bush Presidency. The last thing we need is a President that follows Bush's foreign policies. That would do nothing but fuel the fires of terrorism. Al'Qaeda came to Iraq AFTER we were there. They FOLLOWED us there. The war in Iraq doesn't nothing but give these radical terrorists more reasons to attack us and our allies.

Exit polls: Economy top issue

YELLOW DOG DEM AR. — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:04:50 GMT

FORMER DEM.CA.
YOU ARE RIGHT , BUT YOU FORGOT TO MENTION ALL OF THE MANY LINES HE LIFTED FROM HILLARY. LISTEN TO HER TALK AT THE TOM HARKIN STEAK FRY.

CHAD.
IM SURE THE PEOPLE IN IRAQ WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE WON THE WAR. SAY WHAY????
IF THAT IS TRUE THEY WOULD PROBABLY LIKE FOR US TO BRING OUR TROOPS HOME.

Exit polls: Economy top issue

John S., Huntington Beach, CA. — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:05:58 GMT

The democrats hawk change as their new mantra but they steadfastly refuse to detail what changes they'd make. Would they expand government over every single facet of our lives, living in a socialist/communist nanny state where the government is the beall and endall determining factor? Some of what they say is that they would raise taxes on the wealthy but we have seen in the past that the "wealthy" really becomes the middle class who are hard pressed enough as it is paying for government waste, fraud and abuse in "temporary" government programs. Ronald Reagan once said (I'm paraphrasing) that there is nothing as permanent as a temporary government program. Our tax dollars are being wasted every single day by unnecessary earmarks and pork barrel spending. The government should be spending our tax dollars to protect the country and fix, repair and retrofit the country's infrastructure and stop building bridges to nowhere. With the Congress solidly in democratic hands, if a democrat is elected president, we are going to see our taxes raised across the board to pay for more earmarks and pork barrel spending to expand social programs that are not working. Social Security and Medicare are already beginning to collapse under the weight and strain of fraud, waste and abuse. The answer to our country's economic woes is to CUT SPENDING, STOP THE BORROWING, CUT TAXES and to use technological development and investment to make our country fully energy independent. So the CHANGE the democrats are talking about is what you all as taxpayers will have left in your pockets when they are through. I'm voting for McCain.

Exit polls: Economy top issue

Alan, NJ — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:16:04 GMT

From Robert Samuelson. I hope all you young supporters of BO keep voting for him:

Consider the retiring baby boomers. A truth-telling Obama might say: "Spending for retirees -- mainly Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid -- is already nearly half the federal budget. Unless we curb these rising costs, we will crush our children with higher taxes. Reflecting longer life expectancies, we should gradually raise the eligibility ages for these programs and trim benefits for wealthier retirees. Both Democrats and Republicans are to blame for inaction. Waiting longer will only worsen the problem."

Instead, Obama pledges not to raise the retirement age and to "protect Social Security benefits for current and future beneficiaries." This isn't "change"; it's sanctification of the status quo. He would also exempt all retirees making less than $50,000 annually from income tax. By his math, that would provide average tax relief of $1,400 to 7 million retirees -- shifting more of the tax burden onto younger workers. Obama's main proposal for Social Security is to raise the payroll tax beyond the present $102,000 ceiling.

Exit polls: Economy top issue

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca. — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:10:41 GMT

The republicans offer John McCain as their candidate for president. In essence, a continuance of the occupation of Iraq on the national credit card and to give the rich people of our country a tax cut. The oil companies have enjoyed the largest profits in their history while the common person has had the largest price increase for gasoline, shelter and food. Our government now enjoys the lowest ratings of any administration in history. Yet, some Bozo will try and tell you that no, everything is OK! Change is about the common person winning for a CHANGE. That is what the word change referes to.