CNN

Obama has detailed clear thoughtful policies that are well articulated. It isn't his fault that CNN thinks people are more interested in him making a (nice!) basketball shot....

If you lack knowledge of the candidates, you need only spend time on their web sites to see exactly what they think – or see how vague they are so that they can avoid criticism.

Cool under pressure?? Shooting a hoop with a crowd watching is neat-O, but somewhat juvenile. Is it too late to just start a revolution so we don't have to have rich, established people running this country?

Obama is our best choice if we really want to turn this country around... in addition to having the necessary intelligence, he has passion. His ideas are thoughtful and inspiring and he should not be disregarded. If you don't know enough about him – find out! The future of this country depends on our next president being a leader who has the ability and the desire to seek peace and diplomacy.

We desperately need a man like Barack Obama in the White House... not because he shoots and scores BUT because the American people want someone who is comfortable in his own skin. He was right on the Iraq war when it counted...in the beginning when people like John Edwards and Hillary were gung ho about it. Obama will tell the truth. He has the integrity and character to level with the American people and get the job done. Hillary's baggage would gurantee the Republicans another 4 or 8 year stranglehold on power. Obama's interests and concerns are NOT those of the special interests. He wants to send the lobbyists packing. Give this man a chance and he will make a truly great president!

To CNN. I am truly noticing a pattern of thoughtful and considered comments 'not' making it to your posts, or being deleted shortly after posting. I posted directly after "George" challenged you to post his link to a distasteful, disgusting, hateful and logic-twisted website. His post remains. My reply does not. So what does 'that' say about you?

The offensive, obscene racist web site above (Posted By George : August 24, 2007 4:43 pm) is indicative of two problems: one major, one minor.

The major problem is that racial hatred is still a factor in American politics and society. I can only hope that Americans of good will (of both parties) find the courage to stand together against bigotry and ignorance. Let us at least agree to judge our candidates by the content of their characters and not the color of their skin.

The minor problem is that CNN doesn’t do a very good job of removing inappropriate posts from the Ticker. The link I’m alluding to has been up for two days. An equally virulent link was up two days before that, despite several email alerts.. During the same period, (if I can trust the posted complaints and my own experience), multiple benign on-topic comments have been deleted. For a mainstream news organization like CNN to give free publicity to a site filled with obscenity and racist hate speech is irresponsible.

Moderators should feel free to remove this comment when they remove the offending post. Until then, I would appreciate hearing from other posters on this issue.

"Obama is inexperience and naive…

Posted By Providence, RI : August 24, 2007 4:28 pm"

LOL. Obama is amazing, as for people saying he is inexperienceD, is Hillary that much more? She has been in the Senate only a few years longer than Barack, unless you are counting her years as first lady which I think hardly qualify her to be able to run the white house. Barack is new and exciting, inspiring and trustworthy. Obama 08!

His appeal to young voters is undeniable. When you combine his vision and his charisma with Bill Richardson's resume and biliteracy you get a team that can actually beat the Republicans and lead this country back to the greatness it is supposed to have. Sorry Hillary.

The guy's just having fun. Too bad the folks who can't understand his "abstract" responses seem to be racist, politically derisive or cynical. Nice shot Mr. Obama!

Jordan from Austin that comment was unnecessary. People who choose to stereotype and make racist remarks or generalization will do so no matter what one does.

Case in point, the person who was allowed to post that buckwheat blog above.

Ummm... Providence, RI learn how to spell inexperienced and naive before you write comments. It makes you look how did you say it inexperience and naive...

George....
I could not be happier that CNN left your racist post here. I LOVE IT when that nasty streak is exposed!! But I will bet you the presidency, that ANYone associated with that disgusting site couldn't carry Obama's jockstrap. And I state that physically, as well as intellectually.
Thank you George. We needed to be exposed to those like you. Thank you, further for associating yourself with the right... I couldn't have done it better!

Yeah really...so what about his defensive skills?

Can he also post-up, get rebounds, pass, get assists, or dunk?

Pretty sweet shot though, nothing but net.

TO Bill S. dont hold your breath.
articulation that is what you will get from Barack .

want action? go to governor bill richardson and read what he has done in New Mexico .. real estate prices stable, 80000 jobs. . read the albuquerque journal classified ads . .eveyr dunday 900 Jobs ..if Cnn prints my message .

BIG DEAL...

Go Obama!! You are the right one for me. I think it's great that you can shoot a basket. You can be a role model to many. I like how you talk to people, what you say makes sense, your experience in Illinois is amazing especiall with how you can bring people together, not split among party lines. I just hope our country can get past their biases and prejudices. I can't beleive CNN posted the buckwheat blog site by George, and still more unbelievable is that there are embarassing Americans that actually read blogs like that-and post them.

Barrack, you are a man ahead of your time. I really hope you can get past all of the scrutiny and show people what you are made of and what you stand for. My intuition tells me you are what our country needs.

To the person that posted above saying that he is still undecided and wants to be persuaded.

I think the answer comes along on these boards day after day. They are surprisingly and refreshingly intelligent, candid, and overwhelmingly in support of Barrack Obama.

The next Presidential elections may be the most important of our lives. They will decide the fate of democracy. We cannot afford a close race, as any close race will go to the backward thinking Republicans due to massive election fraud. They, Repubs, have managed to get several states to require voter IDs, which will cripple minority voters without the required passport or other documents they probably won't find time to get in order to vote.

Hillary will stir the right wing base and make things very close. She can win the primary due to inaction and name value.

But the time has passed to wait on the sidelines. Obama can actually excite people and get them motivated to not only vote but get everyone they know to talk about the issues and about Obama. I've never seen anything like the man.

Hillary, The Right, and mainstream media are scared of him, that's why the constantly attack him, and the Right upplays that Hillary is the defacto candidate. Karl Rove said so on no less than three talk shows Sunday. He knows that by saying Hillary is the candidate then by attacking her, he can give her the nod and then the right will steal it again.

Obama can offset this. He is the candidate that actually has the wit, the common sense and the smarts to win. The previous poster is also right that Obama has the best record of speaking out against Iraq and lobbyists and for universal healthcare.

Hillary says just enough and plays it safe. She has since her healthplan went down in flames. She didn't have the conviction to call a spade a spade and out the corporate lobbys trying to keep people hooked on expensive and profitable HMOS. Why would she do that now?

She is a disaster waiting to happen because she is safe, she is calculated, and occasionally she is stiff.

have you read a book called "Armed Madhouse" by Greg Palast? They talk about it on Randi Rhodes's show on air america all the time and I was curious. I finally bought it at Borders and just finished it and it is amazing, although a little bit disheartening when you realize the real task at hand in electing a Dem, especially if it's Hil.

I think its really important to educate poll workers, volunteers, et al about how elections can be manipulated and how there are many ways voters can be taken off rosters without their knowledge. Voters desperately need this information and need to pester their reps to make changes and create meaningful oversight before the next elections.

Did you know in some districts in New Mexico, mostly Hispanic districts, people drove in busses for almost an hour to get to the polling booth after massive Catholic church voter drives, then mysteriously voted "none of the above" for president. NINE out of TEN people in some Democrat districts. In other New Mexico districts, more upscale and Repub, they actually cast more votes for Bush than they had registered voters, with ZERO undecided. Huh?

That's just a small sample of what is very clearly checked and double checked in Palast's book. (He also was the investigative journalist that first discovered Enron. His documentary about how the 04 election was going to be stolen had number one ratings worldwide two weeks before the election.

It was never played in the U.S. Not one station played it even though in Europe it made headlines in most major newspapers.

I cannot stress the election chapters in that book enough. I really had no idea about the level of vote mishandling and corruption that has gone on. We need to have eagle eyes, especially as Palast predicts that in 08 the real cheating will go down in the West, in California, Nevada, Arizona and again New Mexico. Pretty much anyplace that is Hispanic, as they all vote Dem and Repubs know they're sunk unless they can supress that vote. They were so happy with results in New Mexico apparently they think they can do it on wider scale next time.

Also, if you want to see some of RNC's missing emails, they're in Palasts book. Somebody from RNC accidentally sent emails to the wrong address, a spoof site of RNC.org., called RNC.com I believe. They were entitled, "RE: Caging Lists." from Tim Griffen, Karl Rove's protege that took over the US Attorney Post of David Eglasias (sic), who had been previously investigating Griffen for...election fraud.)

The emails include thousands of names and addresses of Black and Hispanic voters, and a bunch of service men in Iraq. The RNC sends their home addresses and even homeless shelters a first class letter and if it comes back returned, they challenge the vote because the person supposedly doesn't live there. bam. "caged." It's very illegal. But when you vote provisionally or absentee ballot like the soldiers do, your vote never counts and you don't know it.

You know provisional ballots are a bad idea when Republicans like Rove and Bush support it. Wouldn't you know, I voted provisionally in the congressional elections of 06, had no idea that they can throw the vote out no problem. All the Sec of State has to say is that he won't honor them.

Palast estimates 3 million Dem votes were tossed out through various means last election, much more effective than Jim Crow, easily throwing the election for Bush, and that they're set up to do it on a wider scale this time around.

But, they can steal maybe five, six million votes. They cannot prevent an overwhelming majority victory. Another words, if its close and voters are unispired, we have no chance.

Really listen to Obama, he can inspire passion, he can actually make a difference in our lives. He can bring not five or six million, but many million more people to the polls than before.

I don't have faith that any other candidate can do this.
Talk to you soon,

Lance

Obama's eyes are on the "goal" and I believe he is an honest and "straight" shooter.

Obama is inexperience and naive...

Honestly, who cares that he can shoot a ball? And this story is political in what way?!?

The jym where Obama made his shot is where Fed Charmain Ben Bernanke went to high school. Buildings and money don't necessarily make the student

I'm glad CNN showed it. It's an unscripted moment that shows Obama can be cool under pressure.

Go Obama! Keep shooting and scoring, straight to the White House. Sure, this was newsworthy!!! Thanks for the positive, CNN.

Dear Mr. Obama,

Your speech during the Democratic convention was amazing. It gave me the same feeling as an RFK, JFK, or MLK speech, you truly inspired me. You had my vote after that speech. I am always on your team, and in your corner. You are my man.

But...

Please, please, please, don't let anyone film you playing basketball, eating fried chicken, or anything that could be stereotyped. Ever, again.

I bet you were messing around in a half empty gym before an appearance, but be aware that all eyes and cameras are on you at all times. Just like Bill Clinton should never be caught on camera eating french fries, or barbeque, or doing anything that could make him look like a dumb poor white-trash cracker from the south. Or Kerry doing whatever rich elitist north easterner’s do.....

It's not who you are, it's what they make you look like. Believe that. There is a filter that you are not in control of, between you and the public. Just be more mindful of it.

Steven: Give me a break. A person being a constitutional lawyer does not automatically mean that he will protect all rights arguably found in the Constitution. A person can be, at the same time, a constitutional lawyer and hold a view of a particular clause of the document that, if implemented as policy, would result in an erosion of individual rights.

To all: There has been much discussion on these blogs about Obama and Clinton's experience. I would argue that niether has sufficient experience to serve as chief executive of our nation's government. Obama and Clinton do not have any managerial experience, inside or outside of government. This is critical.

A large part of the job of president is to assemble teams of persons to solve problems and to direct and oversee their progress. Another part of the job is to negotiate with legislators from both parties in seeking to pass laws. Both Obama and Clinton have no experience in doing the former and little if no success in doing the later.

As much as I want to vote democratic this time around as I fear more of the same from another republican (I am a moderate and have voted for both republicans and democrats in the past), I really hope to have the opportunity to vote for Romney in the general election. Yes, he flip flops on abortion and other pet causes of the extreme right wing primary voters, but its not like such convenient changes of opinion are a new thing in campaigning. Each and every candidate does a bit of flip flopping now and again. Unless done in excess, in my opinion it should not be a reason to cast your vote for someone else.

That said, Romney has been an extradorinary manager at Bain and in saving the winter games in Salt Lake City. He also obtained significant results on health care in MA when he was governor, working closely with the huge democratic majority in the state legislature.

Romney, for the duration of primary season, will likely appear to be more conservative than he has actually shown himself to be through his actions prior to his decision to run for president. Talk is cheap. I would respectfully suggest that moderates – right or left leaning – consider the demonstrated competency of Romney as an alternative to the mere rhetoric of every other candidate for president, republican or democrat.

Obama says he wants change. It sure would be a change to elect a president based on competence rather than vague promises and hopeful thinking. Life is messy and we need a president who has shown he can effectively deal with challenges.

Mr Obama, once President would "summon" the President of Mexico and the President of Canada!!!

The last person in Western history with the authority to 'summon' ALL or ANY of the heads of state of Europe into obedience at the penalty of losing their kingdoms was pope Innocent II at the turn of the 12th century. His purpose: ships and soldiers for a 4th Cruisade.

The lesson to learn? The 'summons' to the rulers failed utterly. Not only, but that attempt caused a reversal of roles. The pope became trapped in contention with the dukes of Europe who began thinking of another pope, of their choosing, with the seat in Avignon, Orange dutchy, now France. That begun the decline of the powers of the papacy.

So, Mr Obama, I would be cautious with words that underline intent. Does Washington really possesses the authority to 'summon'?

Posted By Bill S., Covina, California : August 23, 2007 5:43 pm

HEY BILL S. OPEN YOUR MIND AND YOUR EARS...If you had listened to the entire clip you would have heard Obama state VERY CLEARLY that this gym was old (built in 1928, old and hot to be in) and this was just another example of how WE HAVE TO INVEST MORE IN OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION......

I really hate closed minded naysayers that open their mouth with criticism without investigation.

yawn. another day, another distraction from debating the issues.

Looks like Obama has his Arsinio Hall. Clinton could play the sax, but Obama and his mad b-ball skills brings him even closer to The People. What's closer than your favorite neighborhood basketball court? And to imagine that a future president could play there too?

CNN is heavily censoring comments about Obama.

You want diverse opinions or just ones you approve??

I am not American. I cannot vote. As a diplomat it is my duty to keep informed on what happens.

So Dan, Mr Obama has a "definite plan". How about sharing it with us?

In scanning the Toronto Daily Star searching for reportings of the Montebello Summit which closed last night with nothing accomplished, I read the unbelievable!...

Mr Obama, not to be outdone on foreign policy said: "One of the first actions I would take as President, I would summon the President of Mexico and the President of Canada to [...] re-negotiate NAFTA".

Do you get it?....Canada does not have a President!!!!...Never did.......nor there has ever been in Canadian 130 years constitutionalism any call for one!!! The chief executive officer is the Prime Minister and the cerimonial Head of State, who is REALLY just a shadow, is appointed every 5 years by the Prime Minister.

Dan....Come on, my bru...

Great job Mike from Temecula on your failed attempt to be profound...and David from Gilbert..LIGHTEN UP!!

I'd like to see Obama dunk on Hillary!

Why was this bumped up to the top?? Gotta love the establishment's blatantly clear agenda. Don't worry, though; a revolution is coming–a Ron Paul Revolution.

To Katie from St. Paul, MN:

Thanks for the links. They were interesting reading. I agree that Obama has the moral high ground on lobbying and many other issues. Whether or not he reaches the White House in 2008, he’s going to be a major voice in American politics for many years to come.

While everything is in flux this year, traditionally California has had one of the later primaries, which means I have the luxury of time to make my decision. By the time I get to vote, several of my current possibilities may no longer be in the race. I’ll continue to weigh the issues until election day. I hope the posters on this board will continue trying to influence me.

Thanks again for elevating the dialogue.

As a young black professional, under 35 with an income of $80,000 a year, I resent the comment by the obviously racist "nonjumpingwhiteman" that "Obama is half-black anyway," which is supposed to somehow justify his skill at basketball.Mainstream America has rallied around Obama because they are amazed that there are successful and intelligent Black people in America. Obama just happens to be famous but there are many successful and intelligent Black people who are fully Black (unlike Obama) and they don't play sports. We saw this same behavior when Condolezza Rice was very popular. America was in awe that a Black person could be so intelligent. I am shocked that in 2007 that the culturally ignorant and unlearned are stil amongst us.

If you can pull of primaries, it's gonna come down to him and Rudy. That will be a very hard choice for me to make, because I'll be 18 by the time the elections come in 08. I may pick Obama, because it seems a lot like he has the family values and I like a lot of his stances on certain issues, though Rudy I have always liked, but I may just go Obama.

I believe people refer to 'abstract answers' when an answer contains thought, rather than WWF-style sound-bytes. Hence, Bush 2000 & 2004.

Also, CNN should install a grammar/spelling check. I can barely read the mangled English in some of these posts, and I don't think they're just typos.

I want an Obama-Paul (or vice versa) White House!

At least Barack Obama is shooting baskets instead of shooting er.....people in the face....Dick Cheney (hint hint)

If only the nomination could be determined by basketball skills...

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Yes maybe too 'abstract' for the narrow mind....it could be challenging to the uneducated and insensible...

Obama 08

Obama is an empty shell. He looked so arrogant in each debate he attended so far. HIS NOSE was up in the air! He lacks experience and deep knowledge in foreign policy. It is bunch of teens that are rallying around him, like they did RALLY around Dean in 2004. Those teens never vote. In 2004, voters dated Dean, and then married Kerry. It is the same analogy that applies to OBAMA. IT IS A SUMMER FLING; WILL FADE SOON, VERY SOON...just like Hibiscus flower...

CNN is trying to make us tired of seeing Obama. NOT WORKING, I have a semi right now!!!

Oh yea, and that guy from gilbert arizona. Find me one person that claims GW is a man of the people! hahahahahaaahahah thats the most rediculous statement ive ever heard. and jerry seinfeld's a nazi!!! aaahhaha lol

HOW MANY TIMES ARE THEY GOING TO RUN THIS STORY? IT WAS OLD "NEWS" BEFORE LAST EVENING.

I am totally baffled how anyone can say that Obama gives "abstract" answers. This answers are very clear and you actually know where he stands. His plans are far more detailed than any other candidate. It is possible to compare the candidate's positions easily at their official campaign web sites.

David in Salinas – please read:

The most important difference between Obama and the other candidates concerns his approach to political reform in Washington. For specifics, read Ruth Marcus' column in the Washington Post this week. She points out that Obama's openness regarding his own candidacy and record with lobbyists surpasses all of the other folks listed in your comment. He has been a champion of government reform and transparency since entering public service in 1996.

Find Marcus' article here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/21/AR2007082101420.html

If we can actually change the way politics works in this country (a tall order no doubt), we can change both the tone and the power mechanisms that create good, honest, clean government that can actually be representative of us, rather than special interests.

Also, see David Ignatius piece regarding his pragmatism:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/22/AR2007082202400.html

Add in his recently disclosed position on Cuba and his common sense approach to EVERYTHING. He's the one.

Stop bashing CNN. If you really want to heard about Obama, Hiltary, Ron Paul, McCain, Edward, and all the other ones, than go to their website and read it for yourself. CNN can have some fun from time to time by posting fun video of candidates. Lighting up. Plus you can found candidates with there own channel on YouTube and there own Myspace and facebook.

David of AZ:
Just because Bush is inarticulate does not mean that he's a man of the people. Also, a man of the people does not inherit everything he has, but works for it. Obama – like Bill Clinton – had to work for everything he has.

Thats what's so great about him – He takes the shot -just like the interview that followed, he was called over by a CNN reporter and took an unplanned imprompto interview on the way out the school door. He said to his people let me just talk to this guy before we leave.
That is one confident candidate! Yes,"he shoots, he scores" – I can almost hear Marv Albert calling the play!

He'll have plenty of time to play basketball after he loses the nomination to Billary.

We already elected a "man of the people" and ended up in an Iraqi quagmire and various laws that erode our Constitutional rights. I got this feeling too as I read the other comments about regular guy. And yes, this is an element that ALL candidates in the modern era or political campaigning strive to exude. Eating at diners, playing football...windsurfing and yes, even kissing babies. Obama ain't the first. I believe the difference is that he seems to carry of the balance of regular guy and intelligence pretty well. Finding the just the right spot is between these, at times, opposing poles is key.

Hi David I would just like to respond to your post and say... do you really think that a Constitutional Lawyer would errode our constitutional rights. Doesn't seem to make sense you know unless of course it was all a scheme to figure out what he'd start unravelling. Anyway just thought I'd dispell that thought from your mind. And as to his playing basketball being a distraction he was at a middleschool and the press video taped that and not his discussion on education. You want to talk about distraction then tell CNN and everyone else to focus on the issues and not Barack shooting hoops or hanging out at the beach. It isn't the candidate that is distracting it is the News Media not understanding what to report and what is really important. After all when your the Clinton News Network you don't really want to report any substance from her number 1 rival.

If you want to see obama answer a question go check out CNN videos and he will give you his plan on education and whats going on in Iraq. Go right ahead and research. I keep bashing CNN but they should have put the interview up not the damn basketball shot alone. Put the hole interview up

More often than not, Obama's answers to actual questions are far more than abstract, but they're detailed and thoughtful....which makes people complain cuz he doesn't use the soundbites that people only only follow politics by reading the Ticker or watching a short news segment like to hear.

Yea Mark, I think a lot more people than CNN care more about Obama ballin than Ron Paul's (riveting???) campaign.

CNN (Clinton News Network) must be really shaking in their boots. Everything this man says or does gets posted. This man seems to get the most blog responses on the ticker. Obviously, people are very interested in what this man has to say. It's unfortunate that CNN, MSNBC and the other networks can't curtail their pro-Hillary campaign and be neutral. Nevertheless, if it's in God's will, Barack Obama will CONTINUE to rise and win. GO Barack!

We already elected a "man of the people" and ended up in an Iraqi quagmire and various laws that errode our Constitutional rights.

I could care less if Obama can play basketball, writes left handed, or has his wife cut his hair. Just like I don't want to see video clips of Hillary baking a cake.

Obama says the al Maliki debate is a distraction. Well him playing basketball is a rediculously obvious distraction...and it seems to work based on previous posts.

Obama's an Awesome guy! He is normal, America will be very different with a normal person in the white house, he is one of the boys. lol. It would be funny to try and see McCain make that shot or even Ghoulliani.

Who cares!!!! I want to see Obama actually answer a question without giving an abstract answer.

Just goes to show, CNN thinks it's more important to show Obama playing basketball than report on Ron Paul's riveting campaign.

WHAT A JOKE.

All this video does is prove that, even though Obama can score, he is utterly lacking on defense.

Obama got game.

A bit more convincing than Kerry's attempt to play football, I must say.

Exciting and on target. Always a winner. The Money shot to Oval office.

Nice shot Obama, there's more where that came from!

O8AMA!

Well, he's obviously half black anyway..

I love it. Look everyone!!! It's a normal guy! And he's gonna be the President!!! HOW EXCITING!