Obama is smart, but he is an African American. He would make the best American president for he knows the pains of being the minority race in America and at the same time he knows the shortfalls which comes with the pride of being the majority tribe in America. Had Obama been a purely white individual he could have taken the lead in the presidential elections very easily. If America could burry racisim totally I hope Obama would be given a chance to change the American politics for the better because America is what it is not out of wars but its technological supemacy and economic might. Obama with a face which may not be with a face agreeable to most Amaricans is the right person to promote this agenda. Wars will cause a lot of resentment to the American ideals. To expand the American dreams may require an unusual idividual like Obama. I am praying that all the Americans should forget the black in Obama and only focus on the white in him. To me Obama has brought in the most intelligent suggestion and I pray the he should be given the chance to implement them. Althogh he is of a black origin Obama if not in any way a war monger.

Americans,do not be sentimental about electing your president next year.
You need some one very intelligent to manage the affairs of USA.Someone to truely revive the U.S Economy which the George Bush administration messed up as a result of his war projects in the Middle east which only created wealth for him and his friends in the Reublican.
For now Obama Barack is your best product for the presidency.Clinton Hilary cannot fit it now as U.S President because she does not have the critical management ability to balance the U.S Economy and the security of USA and the rest of the world.Mark you,Hilary Clinton is not Bill Clinton.The fact that she has been in the white house does not translate that she will be a good president.
This is why Obama Barak is most suitable for the job of a president for now.
Obama will riggle U.S out from the war in the middle east which has affected the U.S Economy greatly and at the same stabilise the Economy and security of U.S.
But if the U.S presidency is for gamble then Clinton Hilary or Another person from Republican will continue from where bush stopped and the Country will be worse for it.
It is therefore became imperative that all American's should waive racism in this presidential election by electing competence and that competence is Obama Barack.

I couldn't agree more with Kay. It is as if Michelle Obama is jealous or something. What kind of woman purposely sabotages her husband!! His campaign managers must be imbeciles or they would muzzle her. She needs to learn to choose her words carefully, and better yet, not speak to the media. She is an embarrassment to all women.

Before Michelle opened her big mouth, I was in support of Barack Obama running for president. He sounds very intelligent and confident and he's tall. His proposed strategies just may work. I don't see how Barack Obama can stand his wife either. I'm surprised that he passively accepts her domination and he is running for president. Do we want a man for president that is so obviously whipped by his wife to make crucial decisions for the people? She seems to be so possessive. If Obama were to become president and a female citizen needed his help on any matter, then undoubtedly, Michelle would jump in with jealousy and maybe even cause problems that would cancel out any help and would make matters worse. But only if the female citizen was fairly nice looking, educated and most significantly, single. Even more so if the citizen didn't have a family background and a big brother. Michelle may very well get a warped view of her husband helping anyone and mistake it as being some sort of competition. She may even jade her husband's viewpoint with some negative garbage and poof! there goes a disaster. Michelle is a highly educated woman earning a high salary of six figures. She's also a lawyer and lawyers are supposed to know how to use words. Surely she knows what she is saying. She apparently also knows that her husband, Barack Obama will accept her denigrating remarks. She knows and everyone else knows that he is just a man. She must not have given him her permission to run for president and she is deliberately punishing him. She must think that she is his golden goose. With a great wife, Barack Obama would well become the next president. However, Michelle's remarks are way over the line of social decorum. We don't want such a woman as First Lady.

Whenever Michelle opens her mouth, she offends someone–if not her "stinky" husband, whom I happen to think is inspiring–then the intellegince of women whon she deems will only vote for Hillary because "she a woman". Sorry, Michelle, we've not that shallow, and you don't need to tell us whose turn it is. Your are a tiring, arrogant, passive-agressive and holier than thou nag. You think your a strong woman, but I see you as mean-spirited and insecure, espscially toward your husband. I don't know how he can stand you.

This is officially out of control. Americans are voting without knowing the issues once again.

Why is there so much support for Barack Hussein Obama? Is it because he's a breath of fresh air (not according to his wife) and he's bringing an outsider's perception of change to Washington? We've heard that line before.

No. There are a lot of democratic voters out there who can't see passed what the media is constantly feeding to them. They hear about Obama being hailed as a new, "young" voice in politics. The JFK or Lincoln of his time! But the truth is that he is alarmingly unqualified, he's misleadingly power-hungry, and ignorant on international affairs.

What are his qualifications to be President of the U.S.?
1) Political science major. So he learned how to B.S. people.
2) Harvard. Forget college–Bush went to Yale, enough said.
3) Illinois State Senator. Ok.
4) U.S. Senator — He hasn't even completed his first term yet. How does that sound?

And that's it! So why does he have so much support? He and Hillary are novelty items just like Howard Dean was in 2004. Neither can be elected in a general election and their supporters must realize that or we'll be seeing a lot of Giuliani in 2009.

Do the rest of us serious democrats a favor and look beyond the novelties and the media's hype that we may see the "first black president" and the "first female president" ever. Let's cast our votes based on real qualifications and genuine experience, not on who wins the Flavor of the Day award (Obama) or who gets away with the Most Evasive Politician of the Year (Hillary).

If you still don't understand my advice, just pretend that your vote will impact your immediate life and the lives of your children and grandchildren. You know… think and vote like a serious adult for once. The results may surprise you.

Talking about the spouses of candidates, I have been extremely impressed by the future "first Laddie" Bill Clinton. Has anyone noticed that he has had nothing derogatory to say about the other democrats running against Hillary? He only talks about her good qualifications and what she has accomplished, not running down the others.
I for one am getting sick of the ugly and sometimes really…well, frankly, stupid comments from Edwards and Obama's wives attacking Hillary. I don't seem to ever see them saying what good things their husbands have done, only that they are "for" this and that, but not what they have actually accomplished.
And, are Barack and Michelle legally married? She is constantly referred to as Ms.? Just curious.

GO, HILLARY!

Michelle Obama is as brilliant and inspiring as her principled husband, and she's right on that we ought to be choosing the candidate who has the most to offer our great nation. I for one am a Feminist with a capital F and I wish with all my might that I supported Hillary. But it's Barack who has my vote because I want to see the country not just turn the page but open an entirely new book on how Washington represents us. I want to be inspired and I want to see us get past divisive politics. We can have a government that represents us, that listens to us, that tells us what's really happening, not just what the corporations want us to hear, not just what politicians think we want to hear. The notion that we should be electing someone just because they assumed they'd be next ignores the fact that the country wants and needs fundamental change. Barack Obama is the answer to what's plagued America with cynicism and Michelle knows this, has recognized it since she first watched him in action as a community organizer 20 years ago. If you don't want a black president or a woman president, don't vote for someone with black skin or ovaries, but don't think you speak for all of America and don't pretend to yourself that you're being honorable.

It's time for us to be a great nation again and elect a president who has great ideas and great vision and great judgment. It's time to end our small politics. Barack knows this, Michelle knows this, and I and hundreds of thousands of other Obama supporters know this.

Does Experience Matter? (Clinton and JFK didn't think so)

This Video Is Showing That Obama can be president because two fmr presidents were
where he is right now, lessons prove experience makes an either worse president( nixon, bush, vp dick cheney, defense sec.rumsfeld)

The Obamas are really great at creating straw men. Who are these mythical women who support Sen. Clinton just because they feel it's a woman's turn. This comment foolishly alienates people of both genders who incline toward Sen. Clinton but still have an open mind. It's condescending, ill-informed, and not what I expect from people running on the "politics of hope." It confirms in my mind why the Obamas aren't ready for prime-time.

Remember what Lincoln said about fooling people.

Hillary has fooled you about the experience debate!!!

Barak Obama has the facts and the truth on his side, he is creatively biding time.

Don't play the fool, folks!

The winds of change are blowing and the
whispering wind says Barak… Barak Obama… Vote for change America….

"Michelle, shut up, it's not Obama's turn either… we need a Senior Leader in the "White House" not a Jr. Senator.

Posted By Atlanta, Georgia : September 14, 2007 12:25 pm"

+++

Excuse me ? Who are you in Atlanta, GA ? You didn't even have the courage to post your first name.

I'm a guy and I would never tell anyone to "shut up", especially a woman.

Have some manners please.

I am highly amused by the shear oprah hate that so many on these comment boards seem to have. Just imagine if she runs for office in the near future, that would surely make the GOP base fume eh?

Another thing!

I guess d.j from Springfield, il did not respond directly to my previous response about experience and accomplishments, but is still trying to tear down Barack Obama’s record.

Dj may continue to refuse to join team Obama, but in order that no one reading this comment log will be confused, I am responding to dj’s post that said “…Obama lucked out big time, not actually having competition in the Senate race, due to Jack Ryan's scandal…Barack won by default, so he's lucky not experienced; he's lucky, but hasn't excelled at anything; he's lucky but not anywhere near the best person for the Presidency.”

Dj, dj, dj. You must not have read my previous post about Barack’s experience. He does have experience and has excelled. You don’t get to be editor of the Harvard Law Review or to where he is today by not being excellent. I think I thoroughly addressed the experience issue already, so I won’t repeat here and, instead, move on to the concerns about luck that you raised. I will preface by saying that Barack certainly has enjoyed certain lucky breaks, but he would not be where he is today if luck was the only factor.

Barack definitely benefited from the Jack Ryan scandal and the Republicans shooting themselves in the foot by running Alan Keyes in the general election, but let’s not forget that few people thought Barack would make it out of the Democratic primary field. There were some serious people in that race.

Barack was mostly unknown outside of his State Senate district, and he was competing against State Treasurer Dan Hynes (who was the candidate favored by the Chicago Democratic Machine), Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, former Richard M. Daley aide Gerry Chico, and investment banker Blair Hull, who, as a well-connected millionaire, had very deep pockets.

Barack was endorsed by the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times, but he won because of the hard work he did, his leadership skills and inspiring persona. I believe there were seven candidates in that primary race, yet, instead of winning with a mere plurality, Obama won more support than the other six candidates combined, earning 52% of the vote, fueled by an overwhelming victory in Chicago and surrounding Cook County. That, my friend, is decidedly not luck. He “had the goods” first, which is why he made it to the general election and subsequently benefited from the implosion of Jack Ryan.

Even if Ryan had not dropped out of the race, there is strong evidence to suggest that Obama would have won anyway. Ryan trailed Obama in early polls, with Obama opening up a 20-point lead after the media reported that Ryan had assigned Justin Warfel, a Ryan campaign worker follow Obama's movements 24 hours a day, recording everything Obama did in public on videotape. Warfel also heckled Obama by yelling questions at him in public. The tactic backfired when many people, including Ryan's supporters, criticized this activity. It was only after this point that the lawsuit brought to light the issue of what was in Ryan’s divorce papers and the sex club allegations. That was the final nail in Ryan’s campaign coffin, but he was likely to lose even without this issue surfacing.

You can live in denial if you so choose, but the facts are the facts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_United_States_Senate_election,_2004

Michelle,

You're extremely annoying!

Go have tea with your new best friend Oprah!

America need not fear change, its good all these years the lies and media deception, America should be sick and tired of the same ole crap, the republicans if they had any moral back bone should have had bush impeached by now, he lied about the war, a good 75% of anything bush has ever said is a lie, the republicans should cower in shame that they ever nominated somelike bush to mislead the whole country and take the country down a very dangerous path, and yes we should not attack iran, too costly and only if we absolutely have to, i dont think all diplomacy has failed in this regard, a vote for thomson, or clinton is just gonna give us more of the same, i say lets give a barack a shot, and see if in his first 100 days in office we dont start to see a light at the end of the tunnel, no country really wants to go to war and risk the lives of its citizens for nothing, lets get these hostile countries to the table again, i bet all they need is someone reasonable like obama in power.

There have been a few comments posted about how Barack was raised, presumably trying to raise fears and doubts based on some of the slime thrown his way by political hacks or people who had been badly misinformed.

If you know Barack's story, it is nothing at all to be ashamed of or to hide and the information is out there for all to know if they want.

He did attend school in Indonesia, but it was a normal school, as noted in the CNN report linked and excerpted below:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/22/obama.madrassa/

CNN dispatched Senior International Correspondent John Vause to Jakarta to investigate. He visited the Basuki school, which Obama attended from 1969 to 1971.

"This is a public school. We don't focus on religion," Hardi Priyono, deputy headmaster of the Basuki school, told Vause. "In our daily lives, we try to respect religion, but we don't give preferential treatment."

Vause reported he saw boys and girls dressed in neat school uniforms playing outside the school, while teachers were dressed in Western-style clothes.

"I came here to Barack Obama's elementary school in Jakarta looking for what some are calling an Islamic madrassa … like the ones that teach hate and violence in Pakistan and Afghanistan," Vause said on the "Situation Room" Monday. "I've been to those madrassas in Pakistan … this school is nothing like that."

Vause also interviewed one of Obama's Basuki classmates, Bandug Winadijanto, who claims that not a lot has changed at the school since the two men were pupils. Insight reported that Obama's political opponents believed the school promoted Wahhabism, a fundamentalist form of Islam, "and are seeking to prove it."

"It's not (an) Islamic school. It's general," Winadijanto said. "There is a lot of Christians, Buddhists, also Confucian. … So that's a mixed school."
…
Obama has noted in his two books, "Dreams From My Father" and "The Audacity of Hope," that he spent two years in a Muslim school and another two years in a Catholic school while living in Indonesia from age 6 to 10.

"And can this country actually elect a man, Obama, based on his qualities and overlook his race?

Here is the thing, and think about it Dems, this country voted Bush in TWICE. Get the mentality? How can we overcome that mentality that still persists, the dumbed down? "

– Amy

Good point Amy. Note that Obama has tried to answer your question with two pithy soundbytes, one cute, and one serious:

"Got Hope?"

and

"This is not who we are."

The first one I can take or leave. The last one 'made the sale' for me.

I spent a lot of time talking to voters in '04, a lot of time talking to people who would vote for Kerry, and a lot of time talking to people who would, unfortunately, vote for Bush.

When Obama says "this is not who we are," I believe he is right.

MO says don't vote based on "whose turn it is." Isn't that the basis for affirmative action; whose turn it is?

With an unqualified woman (Mrs. Clinton) and an unqualified man (Mr. Obama) grabbing for the ring, whoever the Dems pick will be an affirmative action candidate.

Do we really want our next president to be the affirmative action selection?

http://www.theamericansector.com

"She should send a message to black voters and tell them not to cast their vote in 2008 based on the fact that he is "black" "

As a response, check out Andrew Sullivan's blog and his mention of Obama's Selma speech:

My favorite moment was a very simple one. He referred to the anniversary of the March on Selma, how he went and how he came back and someone (I don't remember who now) said to him:

"That was a great celebration of African-American history."
To which Obama said he replied:

"No, no, no, no, no. That was not a great celebration of African-American history. That was a celebration of American history."

(http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/05/the_reagan_of_t.html)

Black voters have sent a message to Obama that he can't take their vote for granted. This is part of the reason that Michelle is taking an increasing role — the Obama campaign have been listening to this message and working to build that political base.

But NB, the Obama campaign is under no illusions that he can win the presidency on the basis of the black vote, particularly in today's immigrant society.

It's worth playing much closer attention to the racial politics of this race: it is fascinating how much things have changed.

All of you who are going to vote for Obama, have you forgotten how he was raised?

she needs to shut up, immediately.

As of my post,there are 181 comments on this story.
A quick scan of all topics currently on today's Ticker reveals the next highest commentary on ALL topics at 20.
Everything that's going on,and everybody wants to talk about who?
Hey CNN,you may want to check this out.
A reading thru of these comments might be quite revealing.
There seems to be a high racist tilt to comments that are not typical of your site.
Some posters are either biased 'trolls' or their Freudian Slips are showing.

Lines such as;"America isn't ready for…."
are red flags.The easy test is substitute Yourself for America.

Mrs. Obama is correct and she is not implying that it's Senator Obama's turn because he is black. The junior NYS senator has less experience than he does. What value is Clinton's experience when she voted for the war?

Senator Obama demonstrated leadership and courage in opposing the war in 2002. He passed legislation to videotape police interrogations, he has co-sponsored legislation with Republican colleagues. Anyone who doesn't look at his website to read about his accomplishments is a fool. Of course that applies to all the candidates and stop allowing the media to interpret what someone said.

Ms. Obama is like a breath of fresh air, because unlike wives in the past she is more than window dressing. The same can be said of Ms. Edwards.

Senator Obama submitted his earmarks and Senator Clinton has not. He does not accept federal lobbyist or PAC money, Clinton thinks lobbyists are "real Americans'. Clinton is responsible for the outsources of jobs. (See IndiaTimes.com)

We need a leader with good judgment, values, transparency, experience and a global perspective. Senator Obama has that and his wife is certainly an asset.

I read Mrs Obama's comments 4 times, and I could not find anything there about race, so why are so many posters calling her a racist?

Check yourselves, people….you are showing YOUR true colors.

I'm a reasonable Democrat. I think Bill Clinton was a great president. I think the mess in Iraq is this country's most important challenge, as well as our relationship with the moderate arab countries.

I am a news/Cspan watcher on a daily basis, and am lucky enough to have my own practice where I can have the TV on during the day and hear the latest events or hearings.

I am a bit concerned about the democratic "front runners"…no ALOT concerned.

Hillary spoke loud and clear on the Senate floor just before the Senate voted to give Bush the authorization that amounted to war without a declaration. Who controls Hillary is my question. AIPAC maybe (sp)? That terrifies me.

Obama seems like a good guy and I have no reason to think otherwise.

But do either of these people have a clue how to handle the terrible mess in Iraq? I'm not feeling they do.

And, I cringe as I write it, but Democrats must be realistic…at the end of the day, is this country going to elect a woman that is hated (and shouldn't be) by a LOT of people? Woman + hated = long shot in this country.

And can this country actually elect a man, Obama, based on his qualities and overlook his race?

Here is the thing, and think about it Dems, this country voted Bush in TWICE. Get the mentality? How can we overcome that mentality that still persists, the dumbed down? Sorry to be judgmental but truth is truth.

I truly admire Hillary for her past life's work, and Obama for his vision, but can either one of these candidates win the general election?

I will work for whomever the Democratic candidate ends up being. But, for the sake of this country, we have to be smart as an electorate and make sure we support a candidate that can cross party lines.

I have not decided who will get my vote yet, but Joe Biden is more and more appealing. He is smart, knows what the hell to do with the Iraq tragedy, has ample experience in lawmaking, seems like the kinda guy I could have a beer with (hear that Bush fans? ), and is strong in character.

Just food for thought.

Michele said exactly the correct thing. No one should vote for anyone in an election just because it's someone's "turn". She did NOT say now it's a black man's turn. Please don't say she did.

I laughed at the comment that actually John could medically become a woman in today's world. Actually the genome studies found that we ALL have had progenitors who started out in Africa AND after that the Middle East. So now John can be black and an Arab too, as can we all. Welcome to the famly of man. Obama in '08.

AAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

I cannot believe how gullible WE all are.Since when have EXPERIENCE BECOME A CRITERIA FOR THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY? You aquire the competency for this job with the grace thats comes with it once you are in office.What should get you in there is a vision, your ability to articulate that vision,communicate, sell IT,and get the AMERICAN PEOPLE TO OWN IT WITH YOU.What makes to you a great president is your ability to guide and lead the country to REALISE THAT VISION.
THE WAY THIS ARUGUMENT AND DEBATE IS SHAPING WE ARE ABOUT TO MAKE ANOTHER ELection fiasco.ELECTION IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD NOT TRIVIALISE, THEY HAVE CONSEQUENCES, ITS NOT A GAME AND ITS NOT AN ART. IT IS SECARED.WE SHOULD THINK AND LISTEN CLOSELY TO ALL THE CANDIDATES AND THEN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT WHO WE WANT OUR NEXT PRESIDENT TO BE.THANK YOU……..GOD BLESS THE USA!!!

Thank you Brian, TX. I couldn't stand with E and O couples. They are not enough materials for White House, not even Senators. Hillary Clinton's campaign is positive, clean, rightous, strong and powerful because The Clinton's are brilliant and experienced than rest of both party's candidates. We need Hillary Clinton to taking care of idiot Bush's mess. She is the only person can lead our country to the right direction.

To all the women here telling Michelle to "shut her mouth," is that how you live your own lives? Do you teach your daughters to keep their opinions to themselves? Do your husbands make all the decisions? What are you even doing on a news site, worrying your pretty little heads about politics? Shouldn't you be barefoot and pregnant, baking your man a pie or something? Sheesh. Sexism sure is alive and well, especially among women.

TRUTH UPDATE ! TRUTH UPDATE ! Barack Obama lucked out big time, not actually having competition in the Senate race, due to Jack Ryan's scandal (having taken his wife ot a strip club).

Barack won by default, so he's lucky not experienced; he's lucky, but hasn't excelled at anything; he's lucky but not anywhere near the best person for the Presidency.

She is definately right. It is nobody's turn, but the American people's turn to think carefully who is the best candidate for the president for at least another four years. Let's read and think. If you do read, she did not say that it is Obama's turn, either. The posted criticism about her is unffair.

I am sick and tired of hearing of Hillary's alleged experience. Where was this so-called experience when she voted to give GW unlimited power to create the worst human disaster in modern times. Hillary is the cause of the almost four thousand dead US soldiers in Iraq and the wastage of billions of taxpayers money. She is such a liar that it is troubling. It is her so-called experience that has now caused her to return $850,000 to Mr. SHU, the crook.
Hillary is all for her self-greed,power,manipulative. But she will get the shock of her life come next year.

Michelle Obama is correct. It is not about who's turn it is. However what eluded her was what it is about. Muchelle, it is about experience and no matter gender, the lady has it.
I appreciate Mrs. Obama to be her husbands voice so he doesn't appear nasty, but, it makes Michelle appear nasty. I think she shot herslef in the foot by not saying what it is about. Tongue tied is my guess.

Michelle, you are right we need to vote for the best candidate and that is Barack Obama. All the other Democratic candidates voted for the war. I am sure if one of your family members died in this war you would not be voting for any of these other candidates. Their lives goes on because they have nothing to lose but my heart goes out to all the mothers and fathers who have loss their love ones and the soldiers to come who will lose their life over this dumb war, the wrong battlefield. Enough blood has been shed, enough lives have been loss, enough bodies have been disfigured and enough money has been spent. The others candidates cannot make a wrong to a right, cannot resurrect the dead.

I agree — don't vote for Clinton just because she is a woman and don't vote for Obama because he is half white and half black (although he says little about the white half). Also be leery of voting for a candidate whose spouse doesn't know when to be quiet. Think of the problems the person will make if
he/she become the spouse of the president.

I haven't decided who I'm going to vote for in the primary, but Michelle Obama hasn't done or said anything to make me less inclined to support her husband. She seems like a strong, intellignet person. A good person. From what I've seen so far, America would be honored to be represented by her.

What Michelle Obama is getting at, is that in what is without a doubt the most important Presidential Election of this or any other time, we should judge each candidate on nothing but absolute character, judgement and experience. It should not be at all about dynasties, about labels such as "First woman" or "First Black" or anything else.

This race should be sheerly about how is actually electable and who is actually going to bring this country out of the mud its trapped in and put us back on track to lead the world with honor, and gusto toward solving the many problems that are now facing us.

Michelle Obama is obviously a woman of integrity and a person deeply concerned with the future of this country. Knowing that there is so much at stake, she's saying, basically, make the choice based on information, based on logic, based on common sense and ACTUAL electability. This is not a horse race, it is the HUMAN race that is at stake here. Literally.

Anyone that actually starts investigating the candidates will realize that Barack Obama is not the best candidate for any reason other than HE IS. He has the most experience as a legislature and has spent the most and most recent time amongst his constituency, hands on, in a variety of ways. He's passed meaningful bipartisan bills on the environment, ethics, and infrastructure while Clinton and Edwards have talked a good game but done little to really effect the change they espouse.

Obama also tells it as it is while the other candidates equivocate for fear of losing their position. Obama comes points out things that should be obvious to anyone paying attention, and so's so far more eloquently and passionately than we are used to seeing from politicians.

Michelle Obama comes across to me as a woman of integrity, honesty and completely, totally unpolished. She, like her husband, is simply speaking in human, every day terms because, refreshingly, neither one of the two Obama's has been crushed into a walking soundbite by the political Washington beltway machine that some years ago crushed Hillary Clinton.

When your words become so careful and your actions so calculated as Clinton's usually are, you are not a real human being, you are not an agent of change, you are simply an illusion of your former self.

I pray to God that Michelle and Barack Obama never get to that point. Their experience and good judgement will serve this country well for many, many generations to come.

Generations, I might add, that may never occur should any one else I see as having a legit shot at the White House gets into office.

Get off your butts if you haven't been paying attention and start figuring out these candidates yourselves. Ignore everything else I've just said if you like, but I'd be willing to BET that once you delve in, once you actually see these people, including the Obamas, for more than the thirty second soundbites the media provides…

You will be as impressed with Michelle and Barack Obama as I am.

Obama, the President of both experience and good judgement, and the President that will bring us change in the same mold as FDR, JFK, and Abraham Lincoln.

I'm not joking people, I really do believe he's a leader of that caliber, a great communicator, at long last…

a great leader.

Obama 08

I have not seen this many people from Hillary's campaign since she started paying 'em to "express opinion." Beyond Hillary's employees that are in this forum, let me simply say, MICHELLE IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT! When we've all had an opportunity to sleep on what she said, upon reflection we will have to agree with her comment. THIS COUNTRY IS AMERICA. We are not a country of Kings, Queens or Aristocrats. WE ARE AMERICANS, ALL, and let us be sober in how we choose our President this time. IF we are charged with owing a debt, it certainly is not Hillary to whom we should be indebted. Rather, it is to each other and to our children. We should feel indebted to one another, not to Hillary because she has lived long enough and married Wm. J. Clinton and now feels that it's her turn to be President. He had a turn, now it's her turn. Wait your turn! Do you hear how silly and childish that sounds? She simply IS NOT more qualified than Barack and NO, it simply is not "her turn" to be President.

Oh good grief!! Mo from Chicago calling Obama a "beacon of light"???? Are you kidding me??? that is funny! And I assume you are calling Laura Bush a "stepford wife"? HARDLY her personality at all–she would have what we call here in the South,"CLASS"–which is something Michelle & Hillary are LACKING GREATLY & would never be able to attain even if they tried. The next thing we will see Michelle doing is snapping her fingers & acting an idiot w/ Oprah @ her side, and Hillary clapping…UGH!

Go Michele! I love you! What a intelligent woman. I would hope people wouldn't be so shallow as to vote for anyone based on gender or race. How ignorant that would be, but then who voted our current President in office, not once,but twice. Obama has my vote because I feel he represents integrity, intelligence, and just plain common sense. Something GWB knows nothing about. Obama08!

I am a woman and college educated and a vietnam veteran and Barack Obama has my vote.

I am tired of division politics. Bush blaming the left Clinton blaming the right while we all are getting BOUNCED from right to left and back to right and back left we need a UNITER like Barack who has worked across party lines with republican senator Coburn from oklahoma to give us the transparency bill which now allows us to see what politicians are doing and what lobbyist are giving to them.

GOBAMA

I am a woman and college educated and a vietnam veteran and Barack Obama has my vote.

I am tired of division politics. Bush blaming the left Clinton blaming the right while we all are getting BOUNCED from right to left and back to right and back left we need a UNITER like Barack who has worked across party lines with republican senator Coburn from oklahoma to give us the transpaernct bill which now allows us to see what politicians are doing and what lobbyist are giving to them.

GOBAMA

seems to me CNN is supporter of OSAMA.
sheam of you !

Well–how about…its not Obama's turn OR Hillary's?? I shudder to think about the horror that would befall us all if either one of these two were to get elected, Heaven forbid. People should really check Obama's background–SCARY! & Hillary..well, do I even need to waste time typing all of her problems???

Let's be honest here, many of you are voting for hillary because of Bill, and that is the fact. Would you vote for her if she was not a cliton?
Please give me a break.

Who is saying that his muslim background does not matter? Please be serious. Have you ever seen any muslim that condemns Osama BIN laden? They all like the terror the world is experiencing now. This guy attended a muslim school in a muslim nation and that he has never denied. Get real. He will never be President of this Christian nation. Is just like the pope going to be the President of IRAN or Saudi Arabia.

All this is quite interesting. As I read this thread, I notice that for the most part:

Sen. Clinton's supporters take (or manufacture) any opportunity to post hyperbolic diatribe against the Obamas.

The Obama supporters counter with positive statements.

There appears to be a stark difference between the supporters of these two candidates. Both seem to reflect the basic qualities of their candidates.

Sen. Clinton = negative
Sen. Obama = positive

I'm just sayin'.

Posted By Fonsia, Oceanside, CA : September 14, 2007 5:16 pm

I didn't really notice that before. That's a great point to notice!

I agree with Mr. Gravel from Alaska, america is getting dumber and fatter, i'm glad dumb people are too lazy to vote, it is sad that america's uncurable sickness of racism will keep a qualified candidate from being president, cancer eats from the inside out and the cancer of racism in this country will eventually kill the spirit of what america was founded on unless we as a society take a good hard look in the mirror. Barack Obama is an honest, humble, intelligent man,of good character and values he is taking a chance on his life to run for president in this country, how many of you hate mongers would die for anybody and put your family lives on the line, yes he has the most to lose of any candidates, i'm sure he has the biggest threats against him, i wouldn't do it, in the end people will always side with corruption in politics.

Kat said: So, what she is saying is that as a women I don't think about the issues and what's at stake and vote accordingly? I only think as far as "whose turn it is"?

I think it's obvious Mrs. Obama was making a general statement about many voters, NOT all women voters, and not you in particular. But that obvious fact aside….

It's funny. I would have thought most people would care more about issues than race or gender. But then NPR did an interview with 8 black women at an historically black college and asked them who they intended to vote for, and why. Seven of them cited Hillary's gender or Obama's race as the reason they'd vote for that candidate. It was depressing.

Man some of these comments make me embarrassed to be a human being. Come outta the stone ages, ya rednecks!

But in response to MRS. Obama..she's just saying let the best PERSON win. That's all. If you haven't forgotten she's just as educated as any of the people running and she wouldn't say something like that out of context and harm Barack's chances. Grow up, y'all.

Geesh!

Mrs.Obama has some nerve.Like her husband,she seems to have a "entitlement" issue.How dare the wife of presidental candidate issue such stupid comments.It wasn't her first and it seems won't be her last,she wonders why her husband is so far behind in the polls.What if Hillary Clinton had said the same thing about the Obamas?The Sharptons of the world have crawled out of the wood work.

If these candidates don't stop their mudslinging, we're going to end up with another Big Brother Republican for president. PLEASE stick to the issues, candidates, and try to see beyond 2008. Your children's futures are at stake, not just your own.

I hate it when racist ignoramuses have to put there worthless cents in. Its amusing to me that people cite his Muslim upbringing and middle name (Hussein) as a reason not to vote for him. I've heard this from the Fox Opinion Channel, not so much on the Democratic side. Then again, Republicans can afford to make these kind of remarks. Most African Americans won't be on their team anyway. Tell me, when the white populaitin in this country continues to dwindle, how will the Republican Party survive? My strategy: vote Obama. Its quite ironic that those who support the Iraqi war constantly slam people of Muslim decent and in the same breath hope to acheive its goals. Maybe a black President with a Muslim name is the best thing for this country!!! And, yes its about race because America continues to be a racist country.

Everytime Mrs. Obama opens her mouth, she reduces the likelihood of her husband getting the Democratic nod for president. This woman is a loose canon. We don't need to know about Barack's snoring or stinky feet and definately not her views on Hillary Clinton. Keep talking and he'll be out of the race by January…

All this is quite interesting. As I read this thread, I notice that for the most part:

Sen. Clinton's supporters take (or manufacture) any opportunity to post hyperbolic diatribe against the Obamas.

The Obama supporters counter with positive statements.

There appears to be a stark difference between the supporters of these two candidates. Both seem to reflect the basic qualities of their candidates.

Sen. Clinton = negative
Sen. Obama = positive

I'm just sayin'.

I love Barack Obama! He is so inspiring and the only beacon of light in America right now! Way to go Michelle! I love how she's such a spunky lady instead of a Stepford Wife.

Obama 08!!!

Michelle Obama is RIGHT ON.!!

As a woman, I know what MANY women know, that it is NOT Hillary's turn.

I voted for her husband and I am sorry I did. I am so disappointed that she did not slap him silly for all the scandalous things he did to all those women. She lost my vote.

It is really the American voters TURN to decide who will be our next president, not the hype in the media. We need someone who is honest and has integrity. The Obama's are a genuine family with so many fine qualities, and I truly believe, that Michelle is a much better 'role model' for my daughter, than Hillary.

Michelle Obama represents all that is good about the wife our next President, Barack Obama.

Michelle speaks her mind, and it is a shame that so many men posting here, have so many nasty things to say about such a wonderful woman and our next First Lady.

Go Michelle !!

As an Asian-American who might someday decide to run for president, I ask Mrs. Obama: WHEN IS IT MY TURN? After all, my people build this countrie's railroads! ":P

It's a Democrat's turn to be president. How about that?

Fred Thompson? I don't think so – he's waaaaaay too scary and of course his handicap of being GOP. Pick a President not a daddy.

for Tony G from Texas,
Just one question: is a woman free to live her life as she sees fit? Is she allowed to forgive her cheating husband – for no other reason except that she wishes to do so (may be she still loves him, or believes in "death do us part", etc.)?
I think now a days, its not cool to forgive anyone, especially your husband – at least if you are HRC, right?

All the racist hate and bigotry on this blog does not represent the majority of America so you all best get right in your mind because you're going to have to deal with having a half white and half black president. Obama has won the hearts of americans of all ethnicity so the hate of a few is not enough to stop him. God Bless America!

The comments from the same dumb stupid Americans on this board remind me how they managed to vote in G.W. TWICE!

People are so fixated on labels – liberal, conservative, black, jew, woman, etc.

The first I ever heard that Senator Obama was getting so much publicity and campaign contributions (and possible Democratic nomination) because he is black – has been on this board. What an absurd and asinine observation. There have been other candidates of colour (as you american so eloquently put it) Rev. Jackson – who could only dream of getting the type of limelight Obama is getting.

Obama talks sense. He has good judgement and is a straight talker. People recognise this man has not only the charisma but the true leadership qualities that can help salvage the USA from the depths it has sunk to.

It is quite clear what Michelle is saying, but I am not sure how people do not understand. Vote on the issues, vote for the best candidate. STOP the VANITY. The problem is, people are concerned about fluff. How can her comments then not be understood? Black, white, female, male, who cares as long as this country is lead by someone that is right for the job? This is what Michelle is saying. OK? Let's not make the mistake that we have been living with for the last 8 years.

Fred Thompson? Are you kidding me? Why don't we just keep George Bush and his buddies? What a terrible joke.

Sorry Michelle, it is neither Obama nor Hilary. It is Fred Thompson. This election is not going to be about political parties, it is all about national security and issues that affect the American people.

Michelle Obama is making this a much more vitriolic race than it should be. Her comments make her appear desperate in regards to how well Hillary is doing. I hope Hillary does not pick Obama as her running mate. I am more and more turned off by how unpolished both Obama and his wife are. (And) she's an Ivy League educated attorney?? I think the ivy on those illustrious brick walls is trying to crawl back into the ground as we speak.

In response to all the comments about "voting for a man who lets his wife speak for him."…

Remember that she made a comment in an interview. She wasn't out on the street yelling on corners at people. She didn't send statements to all major news outlets. She was being interviewed! What is she supposed to do? Refuse to answer? Refuse to do interviews to support her husband? Should she go put on her prairie dress, go barefoot, get pregnant and cook everyone dinner while remaining silent and "in her place"?

I would say that the kind of man who has a wife that is comfortable in her own intelligence and power as a woman is the kind of man who will advocate for women's rights and deserves consideration from female voters.

We all know who will be the next President of this great country. Fred Thompson. Look at him. He has the personality, the experience and the message. Am glad Republican Party has finally got a candidate that can beat the democrats. Both parties did not have any until now.

Mrs. Obama may say that women will vote for Clinton only because she is a woman,but don't you think people will vote for Obama only because he is black? This election should not be based at all on sex or race. It should be based on what the president can do for this country. We don't need her making comments like that. Instead of targeting others because they don't fit the profile of a 'male, white president' that we have always had, try to show America why you think Obama should be president.

Would you vote for a man whose wife has to speak for him?

I advise you don't vote to monkey face with monkey mind (Osama ben bark) , because he likes his monkey friend ahmadinejad the terrorist president of IRAN. find the smart person to vote…!!!!

Wow…I am floored, not only by the hate and mindless anger in this list of comments, but also by the sheer lack of reading comprehension!

Please, before you start spouting that Mrs. Obama is arguing that it is Barak's "turn" for the presidency, reread slowly the article posted here. She is not saying it is anyone's turn. She is arguing that people should not vote based on a feeling that it is time the US had a female president. If you asked her further, I'd bet a month's salary that she would say votes should not be based on a feelign that it is time for the US to have a black president either.

This isn't a slam on Hillary. Its not a slam on specific woman voters, nor is she insulting our intelligence. We have all heard or even thought ourselves that it would be great to see a woman president. I consider myself an intelligent woman, and I even feel the pull to support Hillary to see a woman in the highest office, BUT in the end, I will not support her based on gender. I ahven't made my decision yet, but I can understand Mrs. Obama's observation having felt the pull myself.

CNN – Shame on you twice over. First for reporting comments outside of proper context. If you plan to quote someone's response to a question, MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT THE QUESTION IS. And second for drawing in the comments by Mrs. Edwards. These are separate issues and in response to different questions. If you'd like to highlight spousal involvement, do a separate piece and bring in the actions of ALL spouses, not just a few.

I'm voting for Obama and this is why:
Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush…Clinton?

It's time for a REAL change! It's time for Obama!

Being President of this Great Nation is a MAN's Job, not for a Powermad Woman. We don't need Pelosi either.
What we need is a great Senior Senator or career Government Leader….not a man without Great Experience who just wants to be President. Neither Obama or Clinton are qualified for this position.

We have seen what senior leadership can do to a country.
Cheney, Rumsfeld, Bush. the list goes on.

Don't worry about Hillary, for she will steadily drop in the Polls, and I would believe quite soon. Hillary's poll numbers cannot be accurate or a true representation from voters. Polls make No sense. Hillary has too many Negatives to have such high Polls.

I really wish the MSM would stop using quotes out of context. Michelle was answering a direct question.

CNN fails to mention that Michelle Obama was directly asked why she feels Obama is not doing as well as Hillary among women voters. She didn’t just volunteer a comment about Hillary Clinton.

Hannah Storm: Equally mystifying, the lack of impact the Obamas have had with women voters. When you look at the poll numbers, he really trails with women by some 30 points to Senator Clinton. Can you do something about that? And why is that?

Michelle Obama: You know…we’re working hard to ensure to the women of America that Barack Obama is who we need…some women just feel like, it’s a woman’s turn you know. That they just feel like…it’s Hillary’s turn. That I reject because democracy is not supposed to be about whose turn it is.

Ahhh CNN is at it again. Making a controversy between the obamas and Clintons where there is none. And the foolish public takes the only portion of an interveiw CNN chose to misrepresent, to whip up the crazies.. and they fell for it. WOW…you guys who are bashing Michelle Obama for the twist CNN posted is easy to manipulate. No wonder you get the government you deserve.

I am disgusted at many, many people posting comments on here. Why should a candidate's wife "shut up?" What makes her "inexperienced" or "foolish?"

I guarantee that she and her husband are both infinitely more experienced, intelligent, and qualified for leadership than any of the people commenting here, including myself obviously.

If some of the words expressed here are any indication of the true spirit of the American people, then this country deserves a corrupt, stubborn, and selfish leader for President. Why should there be any change in 2009 if the citizens are as cynical and filthy mouthed as ever?

UPITY WOMEN UNITE!!!!
All you sad, scared, pitiful little-minded morons out here saying Michelle Obama should "stay in her place"…IT'S A NEW DAY!
Blach, brown , blind, cripple or crazy America needs people in the White House that are capable of criticle thinking. The Obamas fit the bill 100%. Don't be afraid because they're going to raise the level of discourse about America and the future of it's citizens. There will be a place for all the "good ole boys" and "Ms. Annes".
A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for the future of America.
DO NOT BE AFRAID TO WALK INTO THE LIGHT…BAROCK THE VOTE!

I am not American. I cannot vote. But I have to report what happens to my governmet.

Every time Ms Obama opens her mouth–and shows her face–she does irreparable damage to her husband bid. The lies are just too obvious for the public not to notice. The BIG question now is about who is going to be the "spouse" for Mr Obama: his evanescent wife, or the titular "spouse" Oprah? Either ways is a disaster. In the last 2 weeks there has been nothing but a "testing of the waters" in Mr Obama's campaign. The way I assess it: not only Mr Obama is not flying anymore, he is actually sinking.

Right On Michelle. Hillary is not going to help women more than Barack – probably less as she's a woman of privilege. Go Obama!

don't believe the hype, he's our complexion but he know nothing of our struggles. Chilly, Dallas Tx.

Oh I see… And Hillary does??
HAHA

When I read the anti Obama comments here is makes me sad to see how truly IGNORANT people in our nation really are….Everyone I have seen rooting for Hilary have no real incentive or rationale in voting for her..outside of the dubious "experience" line they have been fed by the media and the Clinton campaign. It has been shown online here repeatedly that Hilary has no more credible experience than Obama and if anything, Obama has MORE experience than she does..yet there are Americans that have the nerve to post comments against Obama claiming he's "not ready" or that Michelle needs to "shut up"….What a sad, sad comment it is to read such ignorance. No wonder Bush was elected….twice..

Its your turn Michelle.

Here's the door, don't let it hit your bum on the way out..

It's not a question of "whose turn it is" but who would be the best.
The best would be Hillary !!!!

Speak the truth Michelle. Fear not, the American people are with you and the Senator. We will prevail! The hatred and racism that is live in a few Americans can not douse that fire and hunger of those who wants to see America healed so we can again lead the world to justice and democracy. There have been many great generations in our history, now is the time for our generation to be great. I have no doubt we will answer the call.

Just when I think Michelle Obama and Elizabeth Edwards can't possibly go any lower, they do.

I've read comments here such as "nonsense," "shut up Michelle" and "ridiculous." I agree with all of them. Wouldn't it be great if just once we could have an election on issues without all the mudslinging? When are these people going to realize the American people are sick of it?

Nikk Mann, what is really comical is the present president.

And I'm a black man and Obama isn't ready like somone else stated he could be vice president if he play his cards right, and I will say this too, Black Amercia, don't believe the hype, he's our complexion but he know nothing of our struggles.

She should send a message to black voters and tell them not to cast their vote in 2008 based on the fact that he is "black"

Posted By Esmer, Dallas, Texas : September 14, 2007 2:06 pm

Actually she doesn't have to do that. Senator Obama has always said to vote for him because he's the best candidate. What you said was really stupid. If all black people were expected to vote for Senator Obama…Hillary Clinton's people wouldn't have a job. If you're gonna try to make knuckle-dragging, racist comments…try to be more original. You're annoying the adults trying to have a conversation.

Nail on head. Go Barack!

In response to a comment that Hillary's spouse does not make a fool of himself like Michelle or Elizabeth,
well – Bill Clinton made a fool of himself many times while he was a U.S. President… talking lack of class, both of them!
I voted for Clintons twice and I was emarrassed for them… their two terms were more than enough.

I think Michelle Obama should let women decide who's turn it is!

Why do you people who know nothing attack Michelle when you should be attacking your own party. You should be attacking them for there lack of judgment and lack of intelligence on humanity. You can tell just by reading your post on a very dignified respected and successful MOTHER, AND WIFE! You people really need to smarten up. I pray that I can teach my children to be respectful to others and also teach them to research before they speak.

I learn something new today about Clinton's vote for the war resolution. She actually failed to support an amendment by Carl Levin that would have required Bush to exhaust all diplomatic efforts and come back to Congress before engaging in any military exercise. No one can question that such an approach was rationale and would have been appropriate. For those touting Clinton's experience, please explain how she could have not favored such an amendment? I suspect she was thinking about her presidential campaign, but I admit I have no proof. But it is beyond reason why she with so much experience would have given Bush such a blank check. The war resolution was a life and death decision (life and death for the soldiers). It is inexcusable for anyone to make life and death decisions based on politics. Knowledge/experience without wisdom/judgment means little. Please keep that in mind with discussing the virtues of Clinton. Also, please everyone do your own research about the candidates. This election is too important for anyone to rely on the MSM for all their information.

By the way, get posts from Michael in Miami and Michael in Texas.

Its not just about any women who might feel its a woman's turn; in fact, I suspect precious few women decide upon that basis. However, political parties defintely, at many levels of elections (federal, state, and lower) have a tendency to follow that mindset. "Its so-and-so's turn now and you get to have a turn later." Ridiculous, I know, but I have seen it happen.

What is the difference in thinking it's a woman turn or a black turn in the white house. If he was not black she would have a better leg to stand for who's turn it is to be president.

Ms. Obama is correct in stating "it's not about whose turn it is" though it is about who is more "experience and has the expertise".
Senator Obama lacks that experience and expertise on a national and world wide level. He is well qualified on a local level.
For example: No one becomes a CEO with less than 2 years because one must gain experience and expertise in that field. Senator Obama lacks in both these fields though he does have lots of charisma and is good speaker. Unfortunately that isn't enough for me during these times which the current president has put us into with the rest of the world.
I've been undecided between Senator Clinton & Senator Obama after listening to the last CNN debate was when I saw/heard the lack of world wide experience by Senator Obama with his responses.
I must admit that I do feel offended that both Ms. Edward and Ms. Obama feel that men can represent women better with them in office. My statement to them "please give an example when this has occurred".

I'm still perplexed (nothing new)that so many Americans still hate women – even women hate women for being women.

Although, I do have a specific question about the campaign – which one of Rudy G's wives will be speaking for him?

Has someone noticed that Obama, was going to run the clean campaign, but most of the negative comments about Hillary comes from Obama and Edwards?
Everyone, inlcuding the republicans are pouncing on Hillary, however she is the only one who has kept her stature and maintained a high ground.
I think the only candidate who is running the clean campaign is Hillary, of all the republican and democratic canddiates. She is the true change we need in WH…

Go Hillary….

This country needs to really look at an individual for who they are and ask themselves the question "is that person the right person to lead this Country," not "it's their turn." This country needs a leader with backgone that will be aggressive in protecting our country and who understands what it takes to be a soldier and put your life on the line everyday. George Bush has done that. The war in Iraq cost American lives but then war usually does. I do believe that our priority should have been Benladen but Sadam needed to be taken down as well. I'm still not convinced that they weren't working together in some respect. I believe that Sadam's weapons of mass destruction are still around. There is no way they would have just disappared in thin air. I don't trust Benladen and wouldn't be surprised if Benladen has them in his possession. Everyone wants to down Bush for going to war in Iraq but I don't feel he had a choice. Congress and the people of this Country need to start praising our men and women who are putting their lives on the line for us everyday so that we can continue to enjoy our freedom instead of rebelling against the issue of having gone to war. We have gone to war so get over it. Let's begin working on ways to now bring our troops home safely without having any further major problems developing. Dealing with terrorists is going to be an on-going problem, but I do pray that we can one day enjoy peace in this world.

This country also lacks family values, and the schools need to be allowed to discipline our children without having parents suing when their child deserves a spanking. Health care in this country is horrible and we have never recovered from it since Clinton was in office. The care that is received in our hospitals is also a tragedy. This Country was the best during the Reagan/Bush years. What happened? It's time the Democrats and Republicans begin to work together instead of fighting like children. I am a Republican but that doesn't mean that I haven't voted Democrat. I don't look at the person as to what party they are from. I look at the person who I want to lead this Country. From what I have heard among my friends, and I totally agree, is that if Hillary Clinton make President, we are all moving to Canada.

Another thing, EUNICE…. The ancestors are spinning in their grave. If you don't appreciate your past you can not have a future…I pray for you.

To all of those who don't think Elizabeth or Michelle should be speaking their minds, you probably wouldn't vote for a woman or a Black. You just think it's only a white, rich, male who can lead the country. How narrow-minded. Edwards/Obama would be a great ticket!

Fine Michelle Obama, i really don't think its the african-american's turn for presidency. SO ALL african-american please understand just because you're black, you don't need to vote for OBAMA. Because afterall don't feel that you're african american you have to vote for OBAMA.

I am so sick and tired of , first the media taking quotes out of context with Mrs. Obama and then this giving the "go ahead" for every hate filled zealots to write stupid things on posts like on this site. It is as if, it is used to say what some people REALLY think of the Obama's…Like the audacity to believe that some American's are ready for a Black President. This campaign will be long and hard fought , I pray it shows the BEST of America not the worst. It is in our hands !

I have noticed that Michelle Obama does not know how to talk in the public. She shows a lot of arrogance everytime she speaks. She should do her husband a big favor by not speaking in the public any longer. Obama will not win. He is too junior to be President. I am black but I don't believe Obama has the experience. Michelle, don't worry, may be next election.

Edwards or Obama would make excellent choices for our country. We need a breath of fresh air for this country. Clinton is an embarrassment to women. She needs to go home and go away!! And I am an open minded woman. Enough of the Clintons!!!

Dear lord some of the people making these comments are either ignorant, racist, or just plain partisan stupid. I don't support any candidate right now, but at least I have the sense to know that Mrs Obama was saying that this election is about more than race and gender. Shes arguing that people should examine the issues and decide on an informed opinion…get a clue already….

Wow I must went into the KKK web site political ticker with all the hate posted here.
"IT,S NOT ABOUT WHOSE TURN IT IS." what is wrong with that saying??? For you people that have a IQ lower then the freezer in your house it means "GO VOTE FOR THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB NOT ON COLOR OR GENDER"
WOW with IQ that low how did your turn on your computer?

Michelle is right. There are many women (and men) out there (including some I've heard personally) who say America is right for a woman president. She is also right when she says that democracy isn't about who's turn it is. So we should equally also not say 'it's a black man's turn to be president'

How about it's just a qualified person's turn to be president? That is clearly not Clinton. What has she done for NY as Junior Senator? Not much as I can recall. Oh ok so maybe she HELPED Schumer secure money for lower Manhattan rebuilding. But she is nowhere near Schumer in likeability and diligence.

Did people forget Clinton voted for the war but just loves to change the topic when asked about it. What about all those scandals they were investigating during the Clinton years. Don't tell me she didn't know anything about it just like Mrs. McGreevey had no clue her husband was gay.

Clinton is so phony. Anybody with a good education can see it. Oh wait, didn't one of the recent polls say she attracted many non-educated people?

Go figure. Gravel was right. America is dumb. What a disgrace.

Michelle is right. There are many women (and men) out there (including some I've heard personally) who say America is right for a woman president. She is also right when she says that democracy isn't about who's turn it is. So we should equally also not say 'it's a black man's turn to be president'

How about it's just a qualified person's turn to be president? That is clearly not Clinton. What has she done for NY as Junior Senator? Not much as I can recall. Oh ok so maybe she HELPED Schumer secure money for lower Manhattan rebuilding. But she is nowhere near Schumer in likeability and diligence.

Did people forget Clinton voted for the war but just loves to change the topic when asked about it. What about all those scandals they were investigating during the Clinton years. Don't tell me she didn't know anything about it just like Mrs. McGreevey had no clue her husband was gay.

Clinton is so phony. Anybody with a good education can see it. Oh wait, didn't one of the recent polls say she attracted many non-educated people?

Go figure. Gravel was right. America is dumb. What a disgrace.

I like Michelle Obama a lot and she is right. Electing President is not chosen based on affirmative action for black people or for woman.

To Brenda from LA,
You need a time machine to transport you back to 1920, you know when women and colored folks knew their place. I weep for the America that you portray us living in. I would never vote for a candidate simply on the basis of their gender or race but I would also not vote against someone for those same reasons.
Now, isn't is about time you got diner on the table for your husband?

Some people on this comment board should read Michelle's comments again. She never said that it was Barack's turn. She said that we should not cast our votes based on who's turn it is. We should be casting our votes based on the record and which direction we want this country to go. One post said it correctly… this country is too racist to even interpret the woman's comments without bias.

Here is a sampling of some CENTRISTS polled on the candidates

A sample of 2,931 members of Unity08, surveyed by Linescale in August 2007. (The survey was conducted via email to those signed up at Unity08.com. Margin of error is plus or minus 2%.

The sample of respondents was upscale (average income $74,000), slightly older than anticipated (average age of 51), well-educated (61% were college graduates), and disproportionately male (73%). Asked with whom they were most aligned politically, they responded as follows:

Republican 15%
Leaning Republican 10%
Independent 27%
Leaning Democratic 13%
Democratic 19%
Other party or no party 13%

Respondents were asked to name two leaders from the past whom they admired. Many, for example, named Lincoln, FDR or Reagan. On a 0-6 scale (where 0 represented poor and 6 excellent), they were asked to rate those two leaders for leadership skills. On an average they ranked the first leader they named at 4.93 on the 0-6 scale — and the second at 4.54.

On that 6 point scale respondents were asked to rank the three announced frontrunners for each of the two party nominations as follows:

Barrack Obama 2.91
Rudy Giuliani 2.52
John Edwards 2.51
Mitt Romney 2.48
John McCain 2.45
Hillary Clinton 2.30

I agree – It's not based on anyone's turn – We need to make an educated choice for our next president. Listening, researching all the information available to us about who is running for office. We have the freedom to be able tomake the right choice – we owe it to ourselves and we owe it to our children who are the future of our country.

Michelle is CORRECT. It is time for this country to put someone in office who will bring this country together. The BEST candidate to do that is Obama. He is welling to work with both partys. He is also willing to bring our brave MEN and WOMEN home.

MPG wonders when will people be able to discuss things and "disagree without being disgreeable?" This person asks this after calling other peoples opinions "simple-minded and uninformed"…hmm, who's being disagreeable, MPG? The only people ranting on here are those sticking up for this woman's sophmoric and snide remarks about a candidate, whether she was asked a direct question about people's voting habits or not. She should have replied in generic terms; she's a "celebrity" now and that comes with certain expectations, like it or not. Take the high road, Mrs. Obama, and then maybe some of us horrible, simple-minded Republicans, who would like to see someone, anyone show a SINCERE interest in the well-being of ALL U.S. CITIZENS (emphasis meant to be implied), not just blacks and/or illegal immigrants, just maybe, one or two of us might considering crossing party lines just this once!! But, so far, I'm not impressed…with any of them…on either side!

As much as I respect Michelle Obama and Elizabeth Edwards, I wish that they would support their husbands without feeling the need to criticize Hillary Clinton. It is obvious that they're saying things that their husbands won't dare say outloud for fear of being labeled chauvinists. They should both learn from a master politician like Bill Clinton who expounds on his wife's qualifications but refuses to badmouth any other candidate, including the Republicans. Personally, for me women who putdown other women are a turn off. I will vote for Hillary because I agree with most of her policies and because I have seen the real person and not just the caricature that she has been made out to be by some people. The fact that she also happens to be a woman is a nice plus, but it insults most women to assume that we would vote for anybody only because a candidate is of our same gender.

I see a lot of comments here saying America is not ready for a black president, but I imagine the real question isn't whether America is ready, but are You ready? Mrs. Obama's comments seemed to have struck home with a lot of people because it seems a lot of you are not ready to look past skin pigmentation and gender and see a candidate for who they are, not what they are. I think it's time all of you started researching your candidates, then I believe you will find the right one.

She has a point: we should not vote for Hillary just because she is a woman…. and (if we extrapolate) we should not vote for Obama just because he is black…. and we should not vote for all the others just because they are white guys….

We should vote for the PERSON who represents the ideas and ideals we want…..

Oh my goodness everyone is taking her comments out of context and really stretching.

I am glad someone finally said, no one is "entitled" to be President b/c they belong to a certain demographic but rather show us that they have policies, plans and ideas that will benefit all of us. The trend has been, we need to get a woman president, stat! No it's not, if she is qualified then by all means but I still don't think Hillary Clinton is the most qualified from the bunch; she plays politics, a lot and that's her experience, nothing really substantial to lead America in a new direction.

ugh why does these Hillary Clinton supporters go nuts every time someone else prefers another candidate?1?!

I think she has a valid point but Barack still doesn’t have the experience we need to make change happen in this country!

If it's not a woman's turn, then what…it's black's turn. Our next President should be decided on qualification not based on whether a women or a Black American gets to the White House first. Furthermore, our President work for the best of the nation-state, not a specific group, in this case women. Please don't attack Senator Clinton because of her sex; besides if she want to attack, according the Barack Obama, Canada has a President.

What a bunch of hypocrits – just how many posts are there based on "Let's have a WOMAN in the White House" ?
Ladies (and gentlemen), if you are into "Girrrl Power", please, email Spice Girls and stay out of politics…
These are serious times and the true politically correct choice is a leader with a good judgement and a strong backbone. Ann Richards was an admirable woman. Hillary…not so much.

Adam,
I agree, Obama would be a GREAT president. I'm not about to say one thing that would hurt his campaign or sway anyones opinion of him. But I do need to defend Hillary a bit regarding her vote for the War on Terror. Yes, she voted for the war. She, along with everyone else who voted for the war including all of America who once agreed with GWB, was lied to. How can you give Hillary crap for voting for the war, but not the rest of America who once thought it was the right thing to do. Here we are six years later and the mass murderer who we originally set out to catch, is still releasing videos. Why have we not caught him? Why have we not found these mass weapons of murder? Why after all this time, energy, money, and American lives spent do we not have any answers or even somewhat of a concrete exit strategy? No wonder Hillary's opinion changed, she's human just like anyone else in this vulnerable country, She's allowed to change her mind and should not be criticized for doing so, especially if its for the best of the American people. Hillary is one tough cookie, she has the ability to run this country just as well as any man. She has her political agenda that spans deeper than JUST femenist rights (Elizabeth Edwards). She has many issues on her plate, just like all the other candidates. Everyone needs to look at the larger scale. Womens issues are not the only problem this country is facing. Neither is healthcare. Healthcare, however is a major issue and I truly believe that Hill can do a damn good job at fixing our screwed up system. If/when Hillary gets elected, just remember that things will not be fixed overnight. Not with Hillary in office and not with anyone else in office. I encourage anyone to vote Hillary or Obama. Which ever one is the Democratic nominee. Even if Obama isn't chosen, remember that Hillary is still better than Thompson, Romney, Guliani, anyone of the GOP party and much tougher and harder working than most of the Democratic hopefuls. I'm hoping that the great people of America can look past the two worst social constructs of all; race & gender. Vote for the most qualified.

Michelle, you may suggest to Obama to have a sex change. A black woman candidate may get most woman and black vote. lol

I believe Michelle Obama's comment is totally idiotic and baseless. What she was saying is that women do not vote based on a candidate's experience and achievements but by whose turn it is. Well, it is NOT Obama's turn either. So shut up.

Hey Michelle, It is not Obama's turn either. I cannot stand you and Elizabeth Edwatds to be the first lady of america.

Hillary has earned her lead of all dem candidates, whether woman or not. Just watched her CNN debates.

I definitely trust a woman candidate to be more aware of women issues than a male candidate, that may come with carrying a baby in her tummy for 10 months. This is simple logics, Michelle.

Will someone tell these womem to Zip and stop attacking Hillary, let their husbands, THE ACTUAL candidates do it. Just because she is a woman, they have they have to? It makes them look catty and their husbands look scared. Blah!

For all Obama supporters, it is a pity that Racism will NOT allow both the pretentious Democrats and MSM, to speak the truth about Obama. You guys are great Americans, but Racism is the greatest cancer gradually destroying our nation. May God bless you all for standing for truth irrespective of forces of racism that is springing every corners of the nation.

When intelligent people talk about Hillary experience, it makes me wonder if these people are serious. What is her experience ??

1) Married to a President for 8 years is not a qualification for the presidency.

2) She has only served in the senate for one full term and half.

3) She has only been elected twice.

If the argument is that she served with her husband as a co-President, then I will accept this so-called experience. Nobody is yet to make that point.

If being married to a President is a qualification, then stop the whole process and elect Laura Bush. Because she has the most current White House experience.

EVERYBOY PLEASE LAYOFF THIS EXPERIENCE THING ABOUT HILLARY. SHE HAS NO MORE EXPERIENCE THAT ANY OF THE CURRENT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

What until the Republic machine finish with Hillary, she will be as good as mud.

It perplexes me as to the alarming number of dense individuals who comment on CNN's political blogs…surely these are facetious comments. How can anyone with an IQ above 70 misconstrue Mrs. Obama's statement into "You should not vote for Hillary because she is a woman, but you should vote for my husband because he is African-American"? Any third grader could grasp the concept of voting for the candidate that best addresses the issues that are most important to you, regardless of gender or race…I am not even particularly an Obama fan. I will probably vote for Edwards, but stupid is stupid.

Mrs. Obama should just keep her yapper shut because her comments will backfire and have a detrimental effect on her husband's chances of winning the presidency. She's right. We shouldn't elect a President based on the fact that it's time to elect a woman president. But at the same time we shouldn't elect a President because he's black. Democracy isn't about whose turn it is. It's about who's most qualified to lead the nation. Hillary has the experience and in my opinion is the right candidate for the job.

Racism is at the center of every decisions we WHITE people make in this country. I am sorry, but I have to call the spade a spade. It is just foolish for us to continue pretending that we are not going to support Obama because he does not have "experience." The truth is: Because of our ego; after our fellow White man–George Bush shrewed off, it will be shape on us to allow a black man to make things right again. This is what it is.

I would not necessarily characterize the negative comments here as "ignorant and dumb", but rather simplle minded and uninformed. I did not get from Mrs. Obama's comments that she was inferring that it was Barack's turn because he's black (can't believe so many of the comments here decided that that was what she said or meant). She said that democracy is about being able to make the choice for yourself as to who you would like to represent you….and hopefully, you're smart enough to realize the priviledge you have and will vote based on the issues…..not based on political, religious, racial/social or gender preference.
If you believe Mrs. Clinton will be the best person for the job, then cast your vote for her….if you believe Mr. Obama is better suited, then vote for him, or whoever (Democrat, Republican, Independent).

It is fortunate that we live in a country where we are comfortable considering a woman or an African American as the leader of one of the greatest countries in the nation. Just think that within most of our lifetimes, African Americans just recently were even given the priviledge to vote (and mind you, it is a Voting Rights ACT), women were given the right to vote within the last 100 years and both groups who have been very much marginalized in this society (by white males and even still by themselves within their own groups)are now beginning to enjoy some of the same freedoms and opportunities as their white male counterparts.

As great as this country is in its democracy, however, many of the comments posted herein shows how much more work we have to do in being a truly democratic nation in all aspects with life,liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all its citizens, and the inaliable that all (hu)man are created equal.

And people, there's nothing wrong with debating the issues and disagreeing. But when will we come to the point where we can disagree without being disagreeable?

So it's not a womans' turn but it's a black mans' turn?

This is in response to d.j. springfield, il, who said: “reply to Michael James please inform us about what experience Barack has that produced results his supporters are proud of…he voted AGAINST instating a flag-burning amendement…”

Clearly, you have strong feelings about flag-burning, but I don’t see how opposition to an amendment to the constitution translates into evidence of a lack of accomplishment.

Passing a constitutional amendment to stop an exercise of free speech seems a bit excessive to me, so heling to prevent an unnecessary flag burning amendment actually counts as an accomplishment in my book. Don’t get me wrong, I do not ever want people desecrating the flag of the United States in any way, but I think it smacks of totalitarianism to prohibit protest against the government and a lot of people interpret the flag as a symbol of the government. If you don’t want people burning the flag, let’s work to make our country something to be proud of, as Barack Obama is doing.

Also, I believe the approved method of disposing of flags is to burn them, so if you don’t want any flags burned at all, I ask you why are you standing in opposition to groups such as the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars?

http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=cmty.levele&eid=1998

Returning to the topic of results that Barack has produced, you can learn a great deal about Barack’s background by going to his website:

http://www.barackobama.com/about/

and you can see a nice chart summarizing the more than 800 bills he sponsored in the Illinois State Senate at the following URL:

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html

I won’t try to capture every aspect of his experience in this post since there is so much, but as an Illinoisan, you should know that in the Illinois State Senate, Barack helped to create the state Earned Income Tax Credit, which in three years provided over $100 million in tax cuts to families across the state. He also pushed through an expansion of early childhood education, and after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Senator Obama worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases. His first law in the US Senate was passed with Republican Tom Coburn, a measure to rebuild trust in government by allowing every American to go online and see how and where every dime of their tax dollars is spent. These are excellent results and are from only his period of time in elected office.

Prior to taking public office, he was a community organizer and, after earning is law degree, a civil rights lawyer in Chicago. He also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago.

The bottom line is that Barack Obama has the right kind of experience, the right judgment as well as the right temperament and character to be a great president.

When America or the media say Obama does not have the "experience," they are saying America can't allow a black man to be their leader. Thus, I will be very happy if we speak the truth down running around with this stupid argument of experience. If are going by what you guys called "experience," Dodd and Biden would have been selected. All these gangs of supposedly "experience" candidates, VOTED for what Obama 2002, called "a dump war." Judgment is what matters.

Once again Michelle is stating what I keep hearing.
Too many people seem to be voting for Hillary because they want to vote for a women. That's not a good enough reason.

And don't vote for Obama because he is black either. Vote for him because he is the best candidate for the position.

And choosing leaders based on how long they have been in the senate might not be a good idea either. Leadership abilities aren't acquired by years in a seat. Obama is the only candidate who is experienced in living outside the country, dealing with muslims, and, most importantly, in getting conservatives and liberals to work together to get things done.

I've Been following the Obama campaign for quite sometime, and early on had a very high opinion of this man, and the integrity of his campaign….that is until Michelle Obama opened her mouth.

If the White House comes with Michelle Obama; don't count on my vote.

One truly hopes the next President will not be elected because of their gender or race. Rather, it should be because tht person has the qualities of honesty, leadership, courage and vision. If that is the standard, Obama wins hands-down. Unfortunately, the American people, like Congress, have been beaten down by the fear-mongering of this Adminsitration, and we have yet to see any evidence that we are able to think straight about out future.

I TOTALLY AGREE with the comments made by Emily and Cary listed below. This is not on 'THAT ITS TIME FOR A BLACK'either Michelle. But IT IS time for experience, expertise, most of all TRUTH w/o fear to speak it, and confidence… all the things Hillary IS. Forget the gender thing, the color thing… just vote for the better candidate… HILLARY, SIMPLE AS THAT!!!

Previous comments:
I can't believe this inexperienced, foolish woman is making this election about race and about gender.
She should be campaigning on her husband's record, not mudslinging and making inane statements.
Who wants 'more of the same' in Washington?

Posted By Cary – Lowell, IN : September 14, 2007 12:57 pm
———————————

Barack Obama doesn't have enough experience to be president. That's the end of the story. Hillary is
a great choice not only for women, but also for the nation.

Posted By Emily, Wichita, KS : September 14, 2007 12:56 pm

Brenda:

Obama was a community organizer working in South Side Chicago working with unions, teachers and on civil rights issues. In the Illinois Senate he worked hard on ethics reform in the state political system and got the first meaningful reforrm passed in decades. He also worked on racial profiling legislation and got that passed. Clinton's record is really a bit blank, considering all her supposed "experience." Add to that her ties to outsourcing groups and her divisive nature which makes people refuse to vote for her and you have some good reasons not to support her.

They do not believe that it is a black's turn. They believe as I do that Barack Obama is the right person to be our next President.

It has nothing to do with race or gender. Who is the best person for the job – period!

Just a note – her answer was in response to a question regarding why Hillary is leading in the polls with Women voters. It's not like she just came out and said this. View who interview here:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/14/earlyshow/main3261130.shtml

I really hate when they take these things out of context.

Michelle is perfectly right; that we should based our vote on who will best serve our country and not whose turn it is. It is time to end this callous Bush/Clinton mindless gangs. They have betrayed us on all issues. I don't see why we should reward Hillary or any candidate who gave the authority to Bush the mad man to go shed American blood on the street of Iraq for oil. Hillary supported this war until Dec. 2006. American vote for the right candidate not who CNN or other media houses force on you.

Before some other blogger conservative tries to spin this before researching it even a little, some voters said they were going to vote for Billary because it is her turn…the point BEING MADE BY MS. OBAMA IN RESPONSE is that voters need to elect the best candidate, and Billary hasn't done anything for women's rights, so just supporting her to have a woman as president is extremely vacuous and shallow. How can someone post something against Ms. Obama without even reading about what happened in its' entirety??? It made send when Ms. Obama said it the first time…

The most important thing is to get the GOP out of the white house, get GW impeached immediately, and finally respect the will of the people, American people, Iraqi people, and not try to be an empire. ALL OF US (except for Native Americans) came to this country to escape tyranny and for RELIGIOUS freedom, and now we are on a crusade. NOW we don't like others. We are all immigrants…

Keep religion out of the white house, schools and the workplace. Separation of church and state is what this country is founded on, this is NOT what GW is doing now….Only look at how the GOP invasion of privacy has backfired on all those GOP hypocrites leading closeted lives because they can't even live authentically and still be part of the GOP: Craig, Vitter, Foley. Was it worth it??? Is it worth it to support this type of good ole boys party (especially if you are not one of them)??

Folks,
Is this Obama woman really a lawyer? Is that the line of arguement she would present to justify electing her husband? Is she forgetting that electing Obama is wishing for a Black's turn? Hell No… she needs a lot of re-Education better still in her former law school. I am done with Obama. Even Oprah can't salvage this non-starter. Go Hillary, go…..!

I had the opportunity to meet Hilary on two occassions a few years ago when I was working in the Senate. Until I met her, I wasn't the biggest fan, but after hearing her speak and meeting with her, I completely changed my opinion.

She is incredibly intelligent, poised, experienced, gracious and friendly. I have no doubt whatsoever that she would make a fabulous president and might actually be able to solve or at least begin to mend the many problems facing our nation, both internal and external.

I also happen to be a supporter of Barack Obama, but I really don't think he is the right choice for this country at this time. I don't believe he has enough experience and know-how yet to be able to serve as our leader. Clinton, on the other hand, has years upon years of insider experience beginning with her husband's terms in office all the way through her Senate career.

In response to the Mrs. Obama's comment about voting because it's a woman's turn… I believe it is time to give a woman a chance. I am a proud feminist who believes that women, generally, bring a unique approach to the game of politics, particularly at the international level as they tend to be more calculated and diplomatic in their approach. Women are more likely than men to making decisions after compiling an array of opinions and facts, a strategy that desperately needs to be employed in the White House.

There is nothing wrong for voting for Hilary Clinton because she is a woman, because she also happen to be the most qualified candidate to lead us for the next few years.

I cannot believe Mrs Obama could make such a shallow statement. She seems to be above avearge intelligence. Why is it Barak's turn? Asking whether it is Michelle's turn to occupy the White House sounds equally ludicrous. I know Barack talks a good talk but what has he accomplised so far in his short tenure as senator? Michelle lets stick to the issues that count to the American people and not focus on ethnic considerations. Let focus on the candidates' records (if that is okay with you Mrs Obama!!)

Just who wears the pants in the Obama household? Mrs. Obama's in-your-face arrogance is starting to get louder and I find it to be a real turn-off.

Until now I had not written off voting for Barack Obama but I don't think I am ready for a visibly overbearing First Lady!

She should send a message to black voters and tell them not to cast their vote in 2008 based on the fact that he is "black"

I see Hillary Clinton supporters are at it again, ruthlessly attacking another candidate's wife.

If Hillary Clinton's nomination is so inevitable, I wonder why her supporters are always putting up angry-sounding postings on this blog, many of which use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS to mimick a shouting sound.

If Hillary is assured to be the nominee, you would think her supporters would be sitting back with a cup of tea and relishing her inevitable victory with smile.

That aint happening, though, because they're getting nervous about her chances.

I don’t know if you folks notice this but any time an Obama article is posted. There are numerous comments for this man. And so many of his comments are just total common sense it seems as though those who oppose Barack are only speaking out of fear! I don’t know why but for this man to have as many followers as he does, he and his wife must be doing something right. They say if there not talking about you then there's a problem. Well guess what Barack they haven’t stopped talking about you here. If you look at the comment numbers he probably averages well over 100 comments per article. Either good or bad they still open dialogue for people to speak there mind and also receive information on why Barack is the best candidate out there. The media act as though he's not either ahead of hillbill or neck and neck with these national polls. But just take a look at how many people gather around there computers to talk about Barack Obama. I think it’s wonderful that he controls the headlines with common sense and nothing short of his message. Hey I don’t want the United States to lead this world in Wars started. I want the United States to just LEAD and look for a way to bring this world together. That is what a leader is supposed to do and that is what Obama tends to do. That’s why he should be our next president!

Brenda from LA, are you seriously telling me that America is not ready for a female or black president? Why not as long as they are capable of doing the job (I'm not saying that either Obama or Hilalry are) but that in general you honely think we are that backwards of a nation?????
Dear god, I hope your not raising a daughter to think like that. "now honey run along and play with your little dolls, you won't need an education to learn how to make lunches and watch Oprah"

Brenda–

After a string of death row inmates were found to be innocent, Obama passed legislation to tape-record criminal confessions, by winning over Republicans who were wary. The result? Fewer wrongful convictions AND stronger evidence in court for the prosecution.

Obama expanded healthcare in Illinois to include over 100,000 new people.

Obama passed the most important campaign and ethics reform in Chicago in the last 3 decades.

Obama got to the Senate and immediately became the Dem point-man on good government, passing "Google for Government", which introduces Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis' famed "sunlight" as the disinfectant to government largess. That was as a freshman Senator, in the minority party, over objections from both senior , pork-loving Senators from both the Democrat and Republican parties.

He passed a racial-profiling bill.

He helped usher the ethics and campaign finance bill through Congress that passed a couple months ago and is awaiting Bush's signature. That includes sponsoring (with Russ Feingold) the most important amendment in the bill, about bundler disclosure, which will require candidates to disclose to the public everyone who's collection 100s of 1000s of dollars for them, and where that money is coming from.

Obama has been working for years now on restricting no-bid contracts given out to help reconstruct Katrina, as reports roll in about money being wasted, appropriations for reconstruction not being used, etc etc.

Now, let's turn it around:

What has Senator Clinton done?

In little over a term in the Senate, she's passed all of 17 non-ceremonial bills, almost all of which are narrowly-tailored to send federal money to New York. Whoop Di Doo.

What about John Edwards? Well, he co-sponsored a Senate Resolution to send the U.S. to war with Iraq, so there's that. Somehow, I don't think he'll be running on that record.

Edwards, back then:
My position is very clear: The time has come for decisive action to eliminate the threat posed by Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction. I am a co-sponsor of the bipartisan resolution we’re currently considering.

Edwards speech

So.

Now you've been presented with the facts. Care to rebut them with facts? Or simply cede the fact that of the 3 main Democratic candidates, only 1 has a history getting reform passed, on health care, on civil rights, crime, and most importantly (in the age of corrupt Washington) transparency in government, ethics reform, and campaign finance reform.

The other two are a pair of machine politicians, feeding their constituencies pork while positioning themselves for a Presidential run. Has Hillary accomplished anything of note, that required any sort of legislative grit in the Senate, other than padding her own resume in the pursuit of her own personal ambition?

Right.

I agree with Michelle 100%…but I'm confused……Hillary, a woman? What? Surely you jest.

Give me a break. What I wouldn't give if I didn't have to hear another person cite Hillary's superior "experience". Just because Hillary was First Lady while her husband was in office doesn't give her any more leadership credentials than Obama. One of the few issues she tried to advance while first lady was healthcare reform, which failed miserably and if anything set back the cause.

Even if you still consider her to be the more experienced, let's look at how her "experience" helped her vote on one of the most important decisions she's had to make as a senator. She voted yes to what is looking more and more like one of the biggest mistakes in American history – the Iraq war. Only now is she jumping on the withdrawal bandwagon now that public opinion is starting to sway.

I want a leader who's not afraid to make decisions that won't benefit them politically. I want someone who questioned the administration instead of allowing them to get us into our current quagmire. That person is Obama. Take a look at this quote from 2002 – if this is inexperience then I'll take it any day over experience:

"I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of Al Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars," – Barack Obama, October 2, 2002

Wow. If the outcome of the election was determined by "who's turn it is" then it for sure would be Barack Obama's turn. The femenist movement spawned from the civil rights movement. All those fantastic femenists, who stood up for what whas right and challenged the general mindset of the communities, got their agenda from the civil rights movement. But does it matter whether good ole' America is "ready" for a black president or "ready" for woman president? What ever happened to voting for the best candidate for the greater good of the country. Rather than scrutinize the social acceptability of each candidate, lets come together and utilize the small amount of democracy we have in this country and vote for most over all qualified.
Yes, it would be nice to have a black man or white female in office to show that our country is progressing. But in a time like this, when our country is in a fast spiral downward (I.e. economy, war, poverty, healthcare, education, and above all Morale) we need someone in office who can fix what George Dubbya messed up and put our country on the right track.
Personally, I'm still torn between Hillary and Obama. They'd be great as a team.

Michelle, thank you so much for reminding us that it is time to end this madness called BUSH-CLINTON-BUSH-CLINTON. We are a country of over 300 million people, and we can let two dubious families to continue mortgaging our nation to their friends in India, China and oil industries. It is time to turn the page on "Texas and Akransa mafias."

I can't believe this inexperienced, foolish woman is making this election about race and about gender. She should be campaigning on her husband's record, not mudslinging and making inane statements. Who wants 'more of the same' in Washington?

Check the records Obama has more experience both Hillbill and Elizejohn. He's been elected more times then these two and has voted on more state and federal bills then the two. Check the records dont let the media spin your vote. Thats how we got bush in office

message to all spouses of candidates…STFU already. you and your biased, disingenuous and poorly researched opinions are a drag on the real democratic event – voting for the candidate.

you are constantly saying stupid things and putting your husband/wife candidate into spin mode to disarm your petulant meanderings about how the world should choose (insert your spouse's name here) for the next president.

uggh.

I am not voting for Hillary based on her being a women, I going to cast my vote for her because I believe she is the most experienced candidate for the job. If Obama had her resume I would be 100% behind him….

Michelle Obama is 100% correct and democrats need to realize that if HRC
becomes the democratic nominee for president majority of Barack Obama and
John Edwards supporters will not vote for her.

If America is supposed to represent maturity and leadership in the world, certainly the negative comments posted in here about Michelle's statements do not support that. What did she say in her statement that warranted all this hate?. IMHO, i think its those Clinton supporters who feel like something is being taken away from them that are seething in rage. Any one with his or her right mind would know that what she is saying is common sense. Isn't Hillary the same person who responded to her critics when she was called out for being too openly supportive of her husband's campaign by saying " so you would rather I stay at home cand bake cookies and pies" an obvious cheap shot at housewives?. Now Michelle tries to speak the TRUTH and you are hating on her.Listen up guys, those guys saying that Barack has no chance of being elected president and that Michelle speaks less (see Cary of Indiana and Steve of New York) shows how uninformed and unintelligent most people posting these negative comments are.There are those women who are voting for her just because she is a woman. Let me ask those women who are supporting Hillary. If you caught your husband cheating, isn't that a reasonable reason to leave him? Ordinarily, yes if you are sincerely tired of being cheated on and morals are on your highest. But obviously, if he is popular enough to enable you to piggy ride on his name and presidency, then you patch up and not divorce him for convinience sake. Is that it? Be honest. Would you like your husbands to go out for a drink with Bill Clinton after all you know about him knowing that birds of a feather flock together? Obviously we are at a low point if our politics have come to that. Wisen up guys, its time you opened your eyes and not always expect to hear what you wonna hear.Tell it like it is Michelle Obama!
Truth hurts..ouch!

1) Michelle Obama is saying that we need to vote for someone on MERIT, not a sense of entitlement by a candidate or their gender.

2) On MULTIPLE occasions Barack Obama has said, Do not vote for me because I am black. He has indicated that it is about voting for what the person is about not who they are.

3) Michelle is not insulting anyone here. She is saying that people need to search out the information on the issues. As a woman who would love to see a woman President I did exactly what she is talking about in January and switched from being a Hillary supporter to an Obama supporter.

4) Let's give this experience thing a rest, shall we? Obama has introduced and gotten passed more legislation in the US Senate than Hillary and she has been there significantly longer. Obama has been a community organizer, a constitutional lawyer, a state legislator and, now, a US Senator. If people are feeling that Hillary's vast experience comes from her time in the White House, I am not sure what people think she did. Pick out China? Travel to far away countries to shake hands, smile for the press and attend dinner parties. The one issue, health care, that she tackled – she got called out by the Rep party, took her ball and went home.

Intelligence is what Michelle is asking for her – not rheotric, not towing the party line – but doing some real research and finding the BEST candidate not the "entitled" one.

Ouch Michelle, come on … you don't have to make such a cheap comment toward other woman's candidacy. It's not about who's turn, isn't it? It is about who will bring the best to America regardless of color or gender or other primordial discrimination standards we have been boxed into.

We need a new fresh look at our politics and play classy, intelligent, smart game.

Imagine Bill Clinton saying "It is not Barack Obama's turn just because he's black." It would be just as nonsensical as what Michelle Obama said. One thing is certain: Hillary is the one candidate whose spouse isn't making a fool of themselves on the campaign trail.

We definitely don't need another conservative war-mongering defense hawk restarting the cold war again in the white house…GW needs to be impeached as soon as possible, hillary has done nothing for ny, she will rely mostly on advisors, rudy doesn't have a clue and was totally inept after 9/11 even though he tries to act differently now, it is very low to use this as his platform, that he somehow was a hero, he has no plans for anything!!!!!he could possibly be worse than GW, because he is not just stupid, but also evil, he is Cheney and Bush combined…

However, unfortunately, using the mentality of "whose turn it is" will most likely make these two the final candidates, in other words, either way, we are in trouble if one of these two are our only choices….Hillary will win because people want more of the same but want to say they did something different….without really changing anything….Barack Obama and John Edwards are the only two who have said anything intelligent on the democratic side, on the GOP side, other than rudy, only mitt seems to have any enlightened views, and ron paul is the most intelligent, but he is preaching to the choir, he doesn't have the resources, and money buys the white house WHICH IS WHY THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE PEOPLE. Most republicans are very closed-minded based on why they supported Bush, he did all this but nothing is REALLY his fault…and will just vote along party lines, which is how GW got reelected in the first place. It is scary to even contemplate the mentality of voters looking out for themselves and not for the future of the country, while most immigrants and minorities are being actively disenfranchised even right now, because we wouldn't want government to be representative of everybody. Why is Iowa still holding the first primary? Isn't the whole state owned by ADM now???

Even younger people and poor people vote republican, if they have any coherent thought patterns besides parroting some conservative media, do so because they have a deluded fantasy that they too will be rich too (if they don't get sent to Iraq first), That somebody actually aspires to be like Cheney and GW who are first oilmen and only second civil servants, and could care less about the common American, is beyond this modest reader's ability to comprehend, after seeing what atrocities they commit (or attempt to commit) daily on the average American.

At the same time, older people vote republican while this same republican party takes away their drug benefits, and tries to get rid of social security with no plan for the future (this is patriotic?) Privatize?? How much money would be down the drain with the recent correction if social security were to have been privatized??Many older Americans depend solely on this income. What a stupendously colossally short-sighted plan…Unless one is super-wealthy, voters need to realize the GOP is doing everything it possibly can to keep them disenfranchised while helping the top 1%. This is why Warren Buffett couldn't even believe his secretary paid more taxes than he!!!! If you do you want a president that continues these incredibly mind-boggling policies, then do not elect another conservative Republican into office!!!!wake up!!!!

Finally, if you vote GOP because you don't like immigrants, or don't think others should have rights, you are only hurting yourselves by keeping this country going down its' current road…to war, backwardness, third-world, no health care, no education, is that what you want??? Please try to think this time, turn off the TV and just think about you want for this country's future and the well-being of all its' citizens….and the fact that everybody should have an achievable avenue for citizenship and at least a chance to succeed in this country which used to be considered by the rest of the world to be the greatest country in the world, and still could be if we can change course immediately…

@ Paul from Tampa – Funniest CNN comment ever.

To all the rest of you, I can't beleive everyone's so down on Mrs. Obama for this one! All she's saying is that it doesn't make sense to vote for someone simply because of their gender or because of their legacy. Maybe you're not doing that but I've heard a disturbing number of people say that they're voting for Hillary to get "The Clintons" back in the white house or because "America needs to show its ready for a woman president." That is not a sufficient reason to make someone the leader of our country.

And to those claiming hypocrisy, when have the Obamas ever told people they should vote for Obama because he's black. When? They have studiously avoided even that insinuation. Please, whether you like Obama or not, you have to admit Mrs. Obama's statements here amount to sound advice.

Randy,

Soooo just because we don't necessarily support Barack or particularly like Michelle's comments, we're "Fox News people"? All hail democracy…

What has Obama done or what policies has he supported/will support if elected to show he and his wife truly care about the people of this country? This entire board is full of claims like your's, but no one has backed them up with anything he supports/cold hard facts. Boasting your opinions for Obama will not get him elected.

Michelle is just stating the facts. This election has been set for years as Hillary's turn. Go be a senator for a little while, what state? lets do New York, we can move there and get you elected…then in a few year's you can run for president. This has been set-up and coming for a long time…and everybody knows it…it's Hillary's turn. It is refreshing for a change to have someone state the obvious.
Oh…and d.j. What part of burning the flag is protected by the constitutional guarantee of free speech don't you understand?

I fully support Barack Obama. But if there's any single factor sure to bring down his chance to win the presidency, it's his wife's big mouth. She's a bigot and a racist, and she needs to get off her high horse, simple as that.

"It appears that she has some underlying issues that certain ethnic and genders should be excluded as formidable challenges towards her husband's run for presidential office."

You need to work on your reading comprehension, buddy. She's clearly not saying that ethnicity and gender should exclude someone from running. She's saying that when people donate money purely on the basis of ethnicity or gender, that someone without those characteristics will be at a disadvantage in fundraising.

I think she's incorrect to play the victim, in that ethnicity and gender have their own barriers that are more difficult to surmount than the one she claims for her husband. Nevertheless, she is clearly NOT suggesting that women and blacks should not run, and you are unfair to insinuate that she is.

The hate I am reading in the board is truly alarming. Can someone tell me this doesnt at all come from his race?

I guess I am wrong, maybe a black man doesnt stand a chance in todays America.

Dear lord some of the people making these comments are either ignorant, racist, or just plain partisan stupid. I don't support any candidate right now, but at least I have the sense to know that Mrs Obama was saying that this election is about more than race and gender. Shes arguing that people should examine the issues and decide on an informed opinion…get a clue already….

Mrs. Obama: Didn't you get the memo? Your husband is (supposedly) running a campaign based on the new politics–where you tell us why we should vote for your candidate, not why we shouldn't vote for someone else. Your catty sniping sounds a lot like the old politics. Oh, sorry, I just checked the polls, and your husband is 20% down in a barrage of recent national polls (despite earlier assurances from Mr. Axelrod that it would certainly be single digits by Labor Day)and behind in every state poll. Well, desperate times call for desperate measures. In with the old politics, out with the new. What was I thinking? Never mind.

Bonnie,

No I don't think she is saying it's Obama's turn. I think she is saying that American's should vote for the person they think is best for the job.

What utter nonsense these women are spouting!

I can't help but notice most of these comments are filled with anger. I think we should focus more on who would best run our country going forward and not on petty name calling. Grow up people!

Funny that Ms. Obama would think along those lines … I don't think voter support for Hillary has anything to do with it being "her turn" … but with her experience and expertise.

Mrs. Obama: I votesfor the best candidate, not for someone just because it's their turn! What an insult! Are you sying that it's your husband's turn just because it's time for a black president. So far, I see nothing that would make me vote for Mr. Obama. He certainly doesn't have much experience. May the best man/woman win; not just because it's somebody's turn. My mind doesn't think that way.

I've always prided myself on the intelligence of CNN's viewers…however, after reading some of the negative comments previously posted I have to wonder if they are Fox News people planted here! Senator Obama is by far the best candidate to lead this country. He and his wonderful wife are not only highly intelligent, they also truly care about the people of this country! OBAMA '08!!

Michelle, please stop speaking in public already. You're not doing your husband any favors.

Perhaps, the spouses of the candidates should remain quiet, or better yet, PLEASEstick to the RELEVANT issues. I, as a woman feel I am getting my "rights" by earning them.

This is one totally awesome political spouse.

She tells it like it is, is smart as hell and frankly she is so refreshing to hear instead of stale Stepford type cliches that "others" spew that sound like you are being lectured too.

Even as an independent/Republican I can see why people have taken a shine to this woman.

She espouses the truth and sometimes it hurts.

She said: "That, I reject because democracy isn't supposed to be about whose turn it is."

She is NOT saying that it's Barack's "turn" or anyone else's "turn" despite what the mudslinging pro-Hillary/pro-Republican commenters have to say. In fact, she's saying that you should consider "turns" but, rather, judgment and leadership. Thankfully, a few of the absurd comments here don't reflect real world majority views.

I feel you gal. Yes we should not vote on whose turn it is but by merrits and character as we have had the previous years of experience. No room for mistakes and this should not be Bush, Clinton,Bush, Clinton country. It is a real democratic country!

You are absolutely right Michelle. American should vote for the best person for the the job. I believe Obama is that person.

Also, the League of Conservation Voters releases environmental ratings of 2008 Presidential candidates – Obama is at the top of the list!

http://presidentialprofiles2008.org

There is more info. on his record here:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/14/9017/67671

Hmmm…John Edwards might be rather appealing as a black woman.

Comical that Democratic voters have to be reminded to vote for the best candidate and not only base decision on gender. Problem is that neither one of them have led anything or have any relevant experience to be President.

I have a message for Michelle Obama. GET OVER IT! STOP burning bridges. Your husband has NO chance of being the next president. If you play your cards right he may be the next vice president. But not of you keep burning his bridges.

Emily,

FYI

Barack has more ELECTED experience than both Hillary and Edwards, so your arguement is false. This marriage certificate has sure brought her a long way in the race, but it will end in defeat. Michelle Obama is classy and makes you think, unlike most comments here.

O8AMA!

Don't read too much into Michelle's comments- obviously she is not impartial (just like Bill Clinton is not impartial) and she is doing what any spouse would do.

I can just imagine the hateful comments from Republicans and Hillary Clinton supporters who are angry that someone new has proven to be a force to be reckoned with.

Times ostensibly have changed in the USA, if being an African-American or woman, "gets you a certain amount of fundraising dollars", according to the excerpt from an Elizabeth Edwards interview. As a millionaire white male, a former US senator and malpractice attorney, who made a fortune in a lawsuit friendly environment, that in turn, help shape the practice of medicine today, Mr. Edwards must feel shut out from those deep pockets, running the political show.

Actually, with advances in medicine, it is possible to make John a woman.

CNN can you please do a piece about the report that American troops have donated more money to the Obama and Ron Paul campaigns. It was reported on another network which is great news for people to hear.

Why do CNN consistently use "Ms." instead of "Mrs." when referring to Mrs. Michelle Obama. I find this odd since the article refers to "Obama's" wife.

Please advise.

reply to Michael James please inform us about what experience Barack has that produced results his supporters are proud of…

he voted AGAINST instating a flag-burning amendement. Do you think that's good "experience" and good leadership? So it's OK to burnthe flag, Barack?

Yes and some people feel its a black persons turn too so stop telling people not to vote on "who's turn it is" because Obama gets just as many votes just because he's black. Vote on the real issues.

I can't believe this inexperienced, foolish woman is making this election about race and about gender. She should be campaigning on her husband's record, not mudslinging and making inane statements. Who wants 'more of the same' in Washington?

Barack Obama doesn't have enough experience to be president. That's the end of the story. Hillary is a great choice not only for women, but also for the nation.

I must say that these comments by Sen. John Edwards wife are of grave concern for me for her to say such things as "We cannot make John black , we can't make him a woman.Those things get you certain amount of fundraising dollars." It appears that she has some underlying issues that certain ethnic and genders should be excluded as formidable challenges towards her husband's run for presidential office.

Michelle Obama makes a great point. Supporting Hillary because she’s a woman and/or out of a nostalgia for the 90’s are not good enough reasons.

If you look at the facts, you should find that Barack Obama is a superior candidate to Hillary in every way and without all the baggage.

Barack has the experience, judgment, temperament and character needed to make a great president.

I think that Michelle Obama is right in saying that people shouldn't cast a vote based on just " a change of presidential scenery"…. I think that such a knee jerk reaction really doesn't show an appreciation for the priviledge of free and open elections held in our country. You owe it to yourself to look at these candidates, and go over whatever information is out there on them with a fine tooth comb. Make as educated a decision as you possibly can, so that you can vote with confidence. I am a Republican by name, but when it comes to the election process, I vote for who I feel is the best person for the job, not just robotically checking the party line. I feel that doing so would be unethical, and rash. I don't agree with either party's philosophy hook, line, and sinker, so I try to look at issues that are of importance to me, and then choose the person I think can best make a positive impact in those key areas. Let's face it, none of them are going to do everything exactly the way we'd want them too, anyway.

Thank you Michelle! Your husband represents all that is good in a political candidate for all Americans. He is honest, hardworking, intelligent, insightful and visionary. We thank you and him for the work being done during this campaign to bring his wonderful message to the people. Obama 2008!

Who's running for president here: Michelle or Barack? Barack has done nothing to ensure he is the choice for me, as a woman, as of yet. If anything, Michelle has done a decent job of attempting to relate to women–although, I'd like to see her try harder at relating to all women instead of just black women (which it's obvious why she's doing so–to knock two birds with one stone in an effort to get the female and black vote).

Ladies and gentlemen – Hypocrysy at its height.

both should not be elected.

It's definitely not Obama's time…if Obama should happen to win the primary that only helps the Republicans…America is too racist to elect a half African man for president. However, I admire Michelle and Barack's audacity in thinking he can be president in 2008. But this is another example of how Democrats could potentially screw up an election…by even considering somebody as liberal as Obama. Although Republicans try to paint Hillary as Liberal, she is quite Moderate and I believe has the best chance among Democrats.

Well, I've finally found someone in the Democratic party that I can agree with on an issue.

So, what she is saying is that as a women I don't think about the issues and what's at stake and vote accordingly? I only think as far as "whose turn it is"? Frankly, I don't want someone with that opinon to be first lady…

The less Michelle Obama has to say, the better. It may also be a surprise to her that America isn't ready for a black president OR a woman president. Take care of your children, have lunch with Oprah and keep quiet Michelle.

whats the difference between saying that its time for a black president?

Michelle, shut up, it's not Obama's turn either… we need a Senior Leader in the "White House" not a Jr. Senator.