I'm a Republican - but I like this guy - he is very sincere….still more to the left than I like - but…if he ran against the Republican field - its not a sure bet the Republicans would get my vote…I would need to research further - if Hillary runs….thats a slam dunk - no socialists in the White House

Oh gheez, he must have a tin ear. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that Hillary prefers the Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Uncle Cracker. A much better choice in music.

Gosh there he goes bending to pressure to act more black. Do you believe that he dances to "Crazy in Love"? Nope

Laurinda it's always easy to criticize someone when they are responding quickly to such a broad topic. However to be honest you must be the one with the "tin" ear. Can you seriously be saying that Stevie Wonder and Earth Wind and Fire are not artist worth listening to. Obama chose artist which coincided with is youth. Hillary being much OLDER chose artist that match her youthful memories. Neither chose badyly or incorrectly in this regard.

As for the newer artist Obama chose Beyonce very good choice. Uncle Cracker?? Laurinda I don't think the question was "What one hit wonder would you most like to hear".

Chris you deserve credit for placing common sense and the good of the whole over party.

Obama's certainly the hippest candidate out of all of them.

"Oh gheez, he must have a tin ear. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that Hillary prefers the Temptations, Marvin Gaye and Uncle Cracker. A much better choice in music."

Unfortunately, a better music taste did not translate into better judgement when it came down to the Iraq vote.

Uncle Kracker? The child molester? Great musician…

If you are deciding how to cast your vote based on their favorite musicians, then you ought to be a star in the next documentary about the dumbing down of Americans.

Hillary a socialist? I'm not too sure socialists are that in bed with big business. Her husband oversaw the biggest era of free-trade in the US: NAFTA, WTO. I'd doubt many socialists would warm to her.

REPORT THIS! Chris in Conn. is not true to the Republican party. He is sitting on the fence swaying towards Obama. The Republicans are losing their followers.

I am not American. I cannot vote.

Mr Obama is back on this blog. Also, he is doing his thing in a small town; visibly not in a major city where the crowds are more sophisticated and not likely to ask gossipy questions.

And we say "cool" not "hip" these days, don't we?

I agree Chris, and I am a 2:30 conservtive who is supporting a McCain or Thompson vote, however if we are defeated in the 08 election, I would not be totally dissapointed to see Obama as president. I believe he would have a better chance of getting overall congressional support. Hillary and her socialist entourage would find themselves in a poltical solitary confinement.

Obviously,our republican stratagists are feeling the heat of the Obama campaign as we are now about to see in Florida: let Hillary take that state in the Primaries as she will be an easy win in the election. Before anyone jumps all over for that statement, click on the "Florida Dems go against party", and sroll through comments to Dave, MD, and then keep reading comments (the next 4-5). This is probably the most informative explantion in clarifying the overall DNC and RNC confusion. Thank you Dave and SB, you saved me a lot of research.

By the way, anyone who still doubts that CNN is abandoning Hillary for Obama, needs to start paying better attention toupcoming articles on the ticker. I noticed yesterday people were really getting upset with some of mine and other posts, in regards to HRC. We dont have republican sympathizers in the fold, we have a biased News organisation, now leaning towards Obama.

I would like to appologize to those who found my comments a little overborad. I have NOTHING against the Democratic party, my contempt is with Democratic support of the far liberal left and their lack of discernment.

Instead of talking about his music prefrence. How come CNN isnt talking about the beef between Bin Laden and Pakistan. Before the prime minister dismissed Obama's foriegn policy agenda against bin laden and stricking him. Now that "Big Bin" has thrown some threats his way. Is he kinda pulling back from dismissing Obama's Policy? Before it was naive of Obama and inexperience. But to me that was a huge plus for Obama and its like everyone has forgotten about that! Once again Obama and his team used there judgement and it would work for the American people. When will we see that Obama is the candidate for change and the best for office. He has republican and democratic vote. That is un heard of! HillBill is there own worst enemy. That wont get it done in 08!

Go Obama "Fired up And Ready to GO!"

He said he is hip to younger music, not hip to Beyonce. Don't make it something it's not.

REPORT THIS! Chris in Conn. is not true to the Republican party. He is sitting on the fence swaying towards Obama. The Republicans are losing their followers.

Posted By A DEMOCRAT : September 23, 2007 10:48 am
_______________________________________Check your history bud, Idependents+ are usually still undecided at this point in an election. Chris is simply expressing a sentiment felt by alot of those who sit on the wire.

You personify the democratic stance that conservatives like myself and others cant stomach. Its a long time before the election and its just as ludicris for to make such an assumption, as it would be to REPORT it, (which if you had bothered to read the entire ticker, CNN has already pulled that one out of the bag)

In this contemporary age of simulacra, Americans are too lazy to research the issues and rely on the media to spoonfeed them data. It's so easy to be misinformed and before you know it, your world is one of absolutes. There's so many great things about each one of the candidates, and at the same time there are things that turn us away. Folks, you have to read up on their voting records and then go to their websites and compare and contrast the information, then decide for yourself.

I love most of Obama's ideas and positions, but as a person he is even more impressive because he shows a humanity this nation is fast abandoning in favor of a "me" worldview — what is best for "me". While I don't mind reading about what music a presidential candidate listens to, I can see it being very influential on Americans because they are so infused with pop culture. This shouldn't be important to you as an American voter, instead, please go read up on their positions on issues that affect the nation's future and decide for yourself.

Obama came into the 08 campaign promising he'll re-invent the Electoral process. Few months into his campaign all we are seeing is a campaign dominated by the most extreme of hatred and insults for a strong woman who has spent the better part of her life forcing action on issues dear to the majority of Americans. It even beats me that even most of those who agree she had a good plan with the Health care program still blame her on it's failure. If Obama came in to make the practice of Politics better than Washington made it, then why is his campaign the major highway of Clintonophobia? Why not push your programmes and ignore the temptation of clinton-bashers? They run down the opinion polls and CNN all the time, Why not ignore the polls and continue hard at work? My guess is because they know they'll lose the nominations. Then some even say they are yet to meet one Clinton supporter in person. Why would they when they only go to Obama's campaign rally? Or are those attending Clinton rallys Ghosts? The Obama thing would soon run out of steam much like Howard Dean did. Americans are smarter than these Hate mongers.

I like how he almost complimented Eminem's music but then thought better of it.

Obama promised a different kind of Politics and that he'll change Washington's attitude to Politics. well it might seem someone would need to remind him especially in the light of his vote on the Moveon.org resolution. How come he stayed on the fence on that issue? This was very important and it takes a politician moulded in the form of Washington insiders to take to the sidelines on such an issue. Hillary voted against the resolution and didn't mind what the GOP would say but Barack tried staying in the middle so that he would later tell us he didn't condemn Moveon.org but the truth is he left the movement in the cold on a day they would have aprreciated his vote. The man isn't man enough to show us where he stands. He failed in the true test of Leadership. He failed to lead on that issue.

I think "Fred" from Houston has my favorite commment so far on the blog. You really should apply to her campaign if your not already on the payroll. HillBilly politics…
1) Listen to opponents message
2) Either take the message as your own or call a press conference and respond to "attacks" that don't exist
3)Blame other party or candidates for going negative, while at the same time you use your campaigners to go behind the scenes and suffocate any bit of dissent.

Obama, Edwards, Richardson, etc. haven't said crap against Hillary as a human being, as a woman, etc. they only bring up serious issues and point out the differences or how she operates. That isn't fear of strong woman, it's exposing a liar and a manipulator. DON'T DIVIDE TO CONQUER. I would much rather have a moderate Republican than a "Democrat" who is a mindless zombie…. I don't want your political games and I don't want your candidate….If Hillary wins, I don't want the Democratic party anymore either…..

My guess is that the Eminem tune he meant to mention was "Lose Yourself".

When I saw him at the Santa Barbara rally, he walked out to McFadden & Whitehead's "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" and then closed to "Galvanize" by Chemical Bros. w/Q-Tip ("don't-hold-back!"). I just think he's drawn to the feelgood vibes.

Hillary? The only music to her ears would have to be the sound of her own voice and the delusions of grandeur that waft in the air as a result.

I find it amusing how many people clearly prefer ignorance to knowledge. The post by Joe, Yorktown, VA : September 23, 2007 11:34 am was on track.

Why would a news organization waste its time explaining the positions of the candidates to you? They understand that if you actually cared where the candidates stand - on the vote on Moveon, on the issue of Jena, on health care, that you would go to the candidate's web site and LOOK FOR YOURSELF. You won't get the answers from the news. The news is saying - look, if you really want to know what the candidates policies are, just go to their sites, why should CNN just repeat what is already plainly available to everyone on-line. If you compare the candidates issues statements, if you read the text of their speeches, if you watch the videos, if you read about their endorsements– all of this is on the candidates web sites. Please, educate yourself, then make up YOUR OWN mind. If your too lazy to do educate yourself, you give your power and your rights to others.

Also remember he was talking at a Middle School. And CNN didn't ask the question, a music teacher asked.

This is what is great about Obama. He has enough confidence in himself to just be himself. If you asked the Republican candidates at a debate what their favorite song was, they would probably answer "How Great Thou Art" and then get a silly I'm-so-proud-of-myself-for-saying-that-on-national-tv grin. If you asked Hillary what her favorite song was, she would form a committee to create on online poll where people will vote for what her favorite song should be.

Obama is the only real candidate running. He is the only one that is connected with reality and understands our country.

I'm a moderate Republican but I gotta admit, the freshness and authenticity Obama brings to the table is hard to ignore. If Hillary get's the nomination, I'm definitely going with the GOP but if Obama gets the nomination, I may need to cross party lines this one time.

When I read/see Republicans label Hillary Clinton as a socialist, it makes me wonder if they even know the meaning of the term. Social democratic maybe, but definitely not socialist.

All good choices! Obama will win the democratic primary. GO OBAMA! OBAMA'08!!!!!!

That's the problem with this entire campaign. People ask questions that aren't important. Who cares about his musical tastes? Style over substance as usual.

Uh, no Kessinton, Obama didn't vote because that was a waste of time. You say he failed as a leader, but do you think the amount of taxpayer's money needed to vote on one issue could be better used to condemn a newspaper ad or something that can fix one of America's many problems?

Kessington, Cleveland, Ohio

I respectfully disagree with your statements. The moveon.org resolution was a non-binding resolution which was created to put pressure on the Dem politicians to distance themselves from moveon.org. Keep in mind this resolution was proposed by a fairly conservative senator from Texas. Obama rightfully stayed on the sidelines for the vote because he didn't want to jump into a petty argument that has no bearing on the important issues that this country faces. Of course it was by no coincidence that by not voting with or against Hillary on the resolution he tried to avoid criticisms from both sides
.
As for leaving the "movement in the cold," again even if he did vote, his vote alone wouldn't have changed to overall outcome. If this resolution was a true test of leadership, in your mind anyways, then I think your criteria for a leader are a bit out of whack. There are far more important things to do in the Senate than play political games with an ad in a newspaper. I believe Obama took the high road and stayed above the fray. If we spend more time trying not to divide people along political lines, the better off the political discourse in this country will be. It takes a smart leader like Obama to know when to fight and when to stay on the sidelines.

Now, I've gone on record in these CNN blogs to condemn the ad in NY times, myself, not that it matters much. I've also have stated my vote will be going to Obama in the nomination process.

How can America win hearts and minds of one billion arabs and freedom-loving people everywhere, while it supports Israel in starving into capitulation hundreds of thousands of innocent suffering Palestinian families held in the Gaza concentration camp?
Is this because Palestinians voted for the wrong party in what ex President Jimmy Carter called a "free and fair election" -albeit while under Israeli military occupation?
Is it because they voted for freedom from Israeli tyranny and oppression, liberty and democracy?
America supported and funded a military coup against the democratic choice of the democratic majority, Hamas, after demanding that the Palestinians go to the polls. Should America be dictating the regime in Palestine? Is an American Israeli funded Vichy-style occupation Government in Palestine superior to the free and democratic will of the Arab majority?
Why is America scared of true democracy in Palestine?
Should America demand that Israel comply with the 450 UN resolutions which Israel violates to procure peace in the middle east or not?

Honestly, fluff pieces like this one do not serve the public interest. I care nothing for the contents of Senator Obama's I-pod.

The man offers the most practical foreign policy proscriptions to America in the post-9/11 era and we discuss the racial significance of liking a Beyonce single? What?

(As if people don't realize that no popular musician can achieve platinum status with an album without selling most records to White consumers.)

Seriously, let's discuss the platform of the only Democratic presidential candidate with popular appeal, practical solutions and a record of opposition to the Iraq War from the beginning, not his music interests. Let's examine his appeal among independents and Republicans, not his interest in R&B and pop-rap.

Some stuff matters more than others.

Kessington, you and I are fishing from the same boat. I would also be concerned about his particular inability to show some absolution (I know u dems hate that word) on issues such as this. However, of course, I would like to see him continue to remain there, as this will only help the republican party as we move closer to the election. Both he and Hillary are building fragile campaign platform, that will crumble like a year old cookie, should America or our allies come under another terrorist attack.

We are facing the possiblty of military action against Iran. Weve heard democratics blast the Bush admins. for the current progress in Iraq. They say that he has "mislead" the American public into a war that has our forces stretched thin in Iraq, when we should be focusing on Pakistan and Syria (using Has Bin Laden as their martyr). This idealogy frightens those who have some understanding of what it would mean to take such action against a democratic ALLIED nation such as Pakistan. Put Syria aside for the fact that at the moment they pose realitivy the same threat to us as North Korea, in the sense that there are a multitude of other ways to deal with Syria that does not/will not require military action from the U.S. (if this were the only threat we faced on the Global theatre, yes Obama could possibly handle it). But people listen to your president, whether u like him or not, when he expresses to you the comcerns we face against the powers that be in IRAN. Dont listen to anyone who tells you we can live with a Nuclear Iran. That is so much more of an absurd and dangerous mind-set than we EVER faced in our complacency before 9/11, a date that Im only using for the sake of argument, as it was not the 1st attack from Islamic Fndmlts. The fact that the Democrats have so much trouble seeing that what little progress has been made in Iraq is actually somewhat of a miracle to accomplish in the Middle East in 6 years in a historical perspective, leads one to think that Obama and the democratic party might try to stay on the fence against military action that might be the only option when all others have failed. He can pound the soap box and talk big I agree, but is he the president we need in the face of such threats, in my opinion, NO WAY. And Hillary or John…GET REAL.

Obama never said anything demeaning about Clinton. Clinton camp is yelling foul every time anyone dares to question or differ with Hillary Clinton. Isn't that part of a democratic process to voice a different opinion? As for the Move-on congressional response - Obama did respond in a most sensible way and you need to research his comments before you make silly statements.

Lavelle, you are absolutelly right - lets revisit the situation in Pakistan and talk about a GOOD JUDGEMENT.

I am an Independent voter and my mind was open to see what all candidates are bringing to the table. Barack Obama is emerging like the most fit to lead this country,which is a pleasant surprise. His character and views are appealing and acceptable to majority of Americans. If he stays this course, he'll make one of those rare exceptonal Presidents who unite our country.That's the only way to accomplish real changes, domestic or in the world.

Sure, let us all run to the websites and read, in the candidate's abstensia, when and how s/he will do this and that. Nice, must be nice to hide behind a screen and never having to face the voters, and not having to give an answer on a splitsecond.

Then, someone has suggested, let us review history, and if we do, we will unearth how it has always been the case that volition and planning, in politics never fail. Somehow wishes translate into reality.

I beg to differ. And I will adduce in support of my view some flagrant samples of volition and positions that ended in disasters.
- 750 BC; Solon, social scientist, put in wrinting the major modes of conduct that should be adopted as law in Hellenia. Utter failure. But the principle of looking at how people interact in the commercial arena and juristically adopt it as THE community standard in commercial relations inspired Adam Smith to present us with the gift? of capitalism. Mr Obama knows nothing of this. So I ask: what kind of jurist is he? He does not know how Smithsonian economics came about. Therefore, he cannot possibly know or understand Keynisian economics nor Miltonian economics. He fails on Economics.
- 44 BC. Caesar goes back to Rome to crown himself as Emperor. The senators knew before he left Gallia about his intentions. Caesar had a clear "plan", the Senate made their own. Caesar never made it out alive from the senate chamber. All for nothing in the end. Thirty-five years later Augustus, without a plan succeded where Caesar had failed. Mr Obama does not know that crucial piece of history. He fails in history. Staying in the same topic, Mr Obama also fails in the the history of pragmatism. If it were different he would lock himself down to a web site.
- The previous paragraph connects tightly to political history since pope Innocent IV right through Marx. So Mr Obama fails in political theory. I am willing to give him an opportunity to defend himself. Mr Obama, please tell us in the web site what political errors flow through Innocent IV, Thomas Aquinas, Machiavelli, Locke, Rousseau, the American Constitution, Marshall CJUSSC, and the civil rights legislation of President Johnson (1964-65).

If you cannot answer this question personally, then you don't belong with the field of candidates.

I love how people thought Laurinda was serious. Think about it! The "Temptations," Marvin "Gaye," Uncle "Cracker." Hilarious. Thanks Laurinda for giving me a giggle this morning.

I am an Independent but have never considered voting for a Democrat for President. I would, however, vote for Obama. Hillary may have the establishment behind her, but the establishment would do well to read blogs like this and others around the Net that show the Democrats' best bet for the national election is Obama.

Isn'i it amusing how so many people actually think like Paris Hilton. I said correct me if I'm wrong, Hillary prefers yada, yada, yada. No I don't like Earth, Wind & Fire, Beyonce, Stevie Wonder or Uncle Kracker. If Obama said he liked Farmer in the Dell, some of you would say, oh thats a great song.

http://thinkonthesethings.wordpress.com/

A pro-Obama site. Check it out.

Perhaps CNN should change their name to ET. Explain to me how this is news?

Honestly, who cares?

Hillary voted against the resolution and didn't mind what the GOP would say but Barack tried staying in the middle so that he would later tell us he didn't condemn Moveon.org but the truth is he left the movement in the cold on a day they would have aprreciated his vote. The man isn't man enough to show us where he stands. He failed in the true test of Leadership. He failed to lead on that issue.

Posted By Kessington, Cleveland, Ohio : September 23, 2007 11:47 am

Barack was the leader on this issue because he refused to be part of a political game. We dont pay senators 1-2 hundred grand a year to vote on ads in magazines. The vote was a stupid political stunt and I applaud all the senatorts who didn't vote. Hillary of course couldn't resist.

Hillary failed to stand against the war. To anyone with a two digit IQ THAT is a true test of leadership.

Hillary's music preference depends on who's asking. It depends on her audience. She only likes Marvin Gaye and the Temptations when she's in front of black audiences.

You haven't figured her out yet?

who cares what he listens to?

Matt,

The person who cares is the person who asked the question.

Here's some news people should care about. This is the fight for the poor. I used to think I would vote for Obama, to help the poor, but I believe Ron Paul will do more to help the poor. The Federal Reserve is printing money based on thin air and causing the value of the dollar to plummet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5wfNnV6vTU

Ron Paul wants to reduce over crowding in prisons by pardoning non violent drug offenders.

I also have a question for you Mr. Obama, what would you do if a sailor came to you with the audacity to belive in your vision, your help when there was no one else he could turn to? As you know this did happen and you turned him away. But Senator Clinton did not, she helped this lost Sailor find his way back to shore, which is more than I can say for you.

Why wasn't this story about Obama's positions on Cuba and illegal immigration? I mean…that was what he took questions on. Why is CNN continuing to play this dumb game of making Obama look like he only deals with fluffy stuff and Hillary is the only one talking the important issues?

This is getting absurd.

What the hell are you talking about Brianna?

pl. at the UN for a while: I actually sat and tried to make heads or tales of that hopelessly wandering rhetoric, and I swear to you, Im the dumber for it. I am amzed I still have the capacity to type some sort response, as I am still staring at the screen in total bewilderment.Thanks.

You can find this retrogresser posting his advocacy for Hillary on some of her tickers. If memory serves me correct at this point, I believe youve mentioned that you cannot vote, if that saves anyone, in the Obama party the the time of trying to figure out exactly what questions you wanted answered.

well, weighing this against his stance on US diplomacy, health care, international poverty, and the Iraq War I just don't know who to vote for!?!

If Obama came in to make the practice of Politics better than Washington made it, then why is his campaign the major highway of Clintonophobia?

Posted By Fred, Houston Texas : September 23, 2007 11:37 am

Obama's Campaign is the LAST one running on clinton phobia. Ever single republican as attacked her like she was the anti-christ. And the Edwards camp as taken issue with EVERYTHING thing she has said. Mrs Edwards has become Viral in her attacks, but you blame it all on Obama?

The ONLY time I've seen this guy attack Hillary is when she called him Naive at the debate. I like Hillary but he had a right to defend himself.

his vote on the Moveon.org resolution. How come he stayed on the fence on that issue? This was very important and it takes a politician moulded in the form of Washington insiders to take to the sidelines on such an issue.

Posted By Kessington, Cleveland, Ohio : September 23, 2007 11:47 am

How in the H-E-L-L is the MoveOn vote an important issue? In what world do you live in. What Obama said was that it was a waste of time to vote on the issue. AND it was. What is the point of congressional act to condem a news paper ad. The fact that you think this is a important issue, make me worry more about the state of average american mind… Dumber and Dumber

PLEASE people let the damn MoveOn thing go. It was an ad, a play on words.

"I also have a question for you Mr. Obama, what would you do if a sailor came to you with the audacity to belive in your vision, your help when there was no one else he could turn to? As you know this did happen and you turned him away. But Senator Clinton did not, she helped this lost Sailor find his way back to shore, which is more than I can say for you.

Posted By Brianna Webb, McEwen, TN : "

I believe this comment was posted before by Gwen, McEven, TN. This is total nonsense. He cannot do favors for everybody and I believe this is fiction by a Clinton supporter to swy peoples minds. You sound like a selfish person. You sound so bitter. Please get a life and how about try working for a change. Obama will be the POTUS.