CNN

My thoughts for obama one who grew up out of the country,I just think we need a President who was raised and born –lived here all there life.

Yea you people!!! cant you see that he could not vote for the war nor oppose it,the vote was 2002 and whatever hes trying to pull over your eyes open them ,obama is bs,he knows nothing about the war not a thing. quit lying about that vote . quit using it for your speeches as the attack on hillary,she voted for it was her descision and with the stuff that was laid out for them you would have voted yes,you did not see any of that intelligence...bush lied to all get that thru your heads.. he has said at least 400 times i did not vote for the war.as hillary did ya need to find something else, he said he would never attack a democrat..said it at the begining now your losing.tells me want kind of president you would become,a lying one.Hillary has my vote,just because of this.

IF (big IF) she is nominated, she won't win the general because I like many other Democrats I know won't vote for her. Florida is a Republican stronghold that won't break Democratic regardless of who the candidate is. Hillary is fooling herself if she thinks she can take the White House. How long before the GOP brings up her philandering husband's antics, or the financial scandals; not to mention the whole terrorism issue. She is a weak candidate whose phony laugh can't mask the fact that she has no real plan for change. Funny how she floated the $5000 per baby bond issue in front of a black audience. Was she thinking, 'oh they have alot of children, they'll fall for this'. Won't work Hill, won't work.

BUNCH OF LIES!!!

Sen Clinon has never for one day blurred the line between her and Sen. Obama. She has made it clear she voted for the and regrets the vote with what Mr president is doing in Iraq today. How is that blurring the line. She also pointed out she wants to end combat operation and focus on anti-terrorism. Sen. Obama was against the war but he was not in the senate so he did not have to bear the burden of voting. It is easy to criticize when you are outside than when you are inside. As long as he was not in a position to vote in the Fall of 2002, it does no make any difference whatsoever he was against the war. Please be reminded that in 2004 shortly before or the day after the DNC 2004 nomination, Sen. Obama was asked about the Iraq war and he answered that if he were to be in the senate in 2002 it is entirely possible he would have voted for the war. If you doubt this look at the question the CNN interviewer asked him. It was amazing he came out the most ludicrous answer i have ever heard in recent times. He prepared his own speech, so he made the decision to make that statement. Do you guys and ladies here think Sen. Obama wanted to run for presidency? 100% sure he did not. He was drafted by David Gaffen, the idle billionaire in Los Angeles and his cohorts, who have an axe to grind with former Pres. Clinton. Don't be fooled, Obama is ambitious but he knows some people want to use him to score political point that is why he is being careful. Some of you may not have realized that with all the shenanigans of Bill in 90's he is still the single most popular democrats among our base. But all this storis are not even relevant to the major issue – Who can deliver the White house to us? The question you need to ask yourselves is which states will any of the democratic presidential candidate deliver that John Kerry and Al Gore could not? That is when you realize that neither Edwards nor Obama will EVER win the general election in 2008. Florida was one state holding us from winning White house in 2000 and 2004. Neither Obama nor Edwards will EVER deliver this state. Unfortunately, like her or hate her, Mrs. Clinton is the only democratic candidate that will deliver that state. I will also admit that her husband's immense popularity here rubs on her, which is the reason she can beat any of the republican candidate here in Florida. Let us not screw up this time. If you think elections are won by talk, then think again. Elections are won on electoral votes, please be careful when you decide on who our candidate will be, else we will lose the general election again. The south historically vote republican but Arkansas will be within arms reach if we nominate Mrs. clinton, in addition to Florida. Please forget the pundits, columnists who many times are paid to write hit piece against candidates. To counter the traction appeal, Obama appeals to the highly educated, upwardly mobile, upper-class section of the demography but Mrs. Clinton appeals to far greater extent to the poor section of the demography. Ask yourselves again, which is these two demography is more populous and which actually queue for long hours to vote. Please be wise. Don't let us blow it this time. If the republicans think Mrs. Clinton is the easiest to beat, they will not be drumming. They will not be trying to influence us not to nominate her as evident in their campaign, which is just a clever way of raising doubts in our mind. Before i rest my case, please understand elections are won be electoral votes. Think about the states we need to win that John Kerry and AL Gore did not win, and who can win it. It is not about talk because talk is cheap, it is about being realistic.

hey loyd the boy days are over , now i see why its so hard for u to believe in obama your first name should be jim last name crow , thats substance right there

The right choice.....you were not even in the senate!!!! Seriously stop playing this card!

more reason to pick Biden

If the dems realy want to stick it to the republicans and have a easy shoe in win in the general election we will pick Biden.

Why do you think the gop smear machine always bringing up Clinton and Obama. And will ignore Biden at all cost.

That becuse gop know neither of those two will steal the swing voters or the gop voters, like Biden will steal.

Biden has the same rep being strong on national securty like the Gop is. Like his Iraq plan. Which he got passed on non binding. Which means most of the voters that vote for strong national securty. Will pick Gop over Clinton and Obama. But biden will steal a lot of gop votes on national securty.

Dems need to see past the cover of a book and get into the pages. Why do GOP smear machine ignore Biden. When the gop smaears a dem it makes him more creditable to get nominated to run. the gop want a Clinton and Obama to run as president in general election. WHY ?????

The Gop knows those two will continue the stay the course. Or it has a better chance of lasting much longer then it will with Biden.

Just watch if Clinton or Obama get elected (IF) they will flip flop and make a new spin to prolong middle east war.

Ask your self if you were a gop strategist who would you want to run aginst in the democrat party. The one that will charge the swing voters and keep the conservative voters to stay right. IE CLINTON or OBAMA

Second. Which dem will push a plan that will be the closest to the Bush plan " stay the course "strategy. IE CLINTON or OBAMA.

and the GOP think of dem voters as sheep. Make the sheep mad so they pick Clinton or Obama. GOP thinking "Dem sheep are so easy to swindle" hehe.

"At least they wont pick Biden."
boy that was a close one. That biden guy will put the breacks on corpate repulbicans milking the US treasuary.

Are the Dems gona be GOP sheep? Guess we will see who wins the dem race.

After the 2 term Bush administration I will vote for anyone that is not a Republican. We cannot enjoy any more compassionate conservatism; uniting, not dividing and preemptive wars.
As a charter member of the anti-Iraq war club I agree that Obama is the rare bird that does not follow the political herd.

And the Obama rant goes on.

Obama is so stupid and really ignorant.
How can Hillary blurr the differences if there any real differences exists? Then all those bloggers who go on spreading malicious words and hateful messages about Hillary better watch it: What goes around comes around. Hillary's supporters never threaten not to vote Barack Obama if he wins the Dems nomination. They are always right on message telling others why they're routing for Hill. If Barack and his foot soldiers have a trouble with that, then let them keep spreading his message perhaps they'll start to register with the voters but if not, too bad. Let the most prepared candidate be given the nod to face the GOP in O8

Sarcasm – Obama is for change. Obama supporters are for change. Obama supporters say that media favors Hillary. And then in the same breath, they say Hillary has negative ratings in people's mind. Lo behold! Who helped create those negative ratings thru years of targeting? Media!

Why are you making negative judgements about Hillary which are just hyped/created by media and then dislike media when they support her? Think about double standards and hypocrisy before you take a stand.

Obama has nothing except i told you so. A lucky fluke decision. If he makes such decisions everytime then yes I will believe him. But look what -Dont pull troops back till 2013, Attack Pakistan, talk about nukes, about Iran, etc. Wheres the consistency?

Where's the consistency? We demand explanation from Hillary for Iraq war (because her opponents have nothing else to show) but where is Obama's consistency now?

Just making mushy mushy feel good 30000 feet high talks is not a good thing for a country facing enormous war challenges.

Joe Stebbins...I issue the same challenge as I have to other Hillary supporters and they've failed every time. Perhaps you won't . Explain to me the experience gap between Obama and Hillary. What is Hillary's huge experience? What has she accomplished as a U.S. Seantor? Give me one substantive authored bill she's passed. And don;t give me that first lady experience crap. Using that logic I guess Laura Bush will run for U.S. Senator from Texas. Come on, I dare you...explain to me the "huge" experience gap between Obama and Hillary. Years in Washington don't mean a damn thing unless you're getting things done.

I agree about the lack of experience. The Hillary has been in the White House for eight years. She is an icon. Obama is a good man (perfect for VP) but we are a worried society right now and Democrats are going settle for experience. Obama is still too fresh looking. I hope he does not destroy his bright future with bitterness.

So the distinction between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are blurred, meaning the candidates are similar in the eys of voters. If that's the case, why aren't they running about the same in the polls instead of Clinton trailblazing ahead him?

I get it now ED-Ellenville. You are really a Republican and when I went on that blue thing you told me, I hooked up with that phoney district attorney thing. Now I am stuck in this phoney web site that I think is CNN and I can't get out. Your like a bunch of aliens, no wonder you all have the same names all the time. Everybody else is on the real CNN and I'm stuck in this place with all of you.

Is that exasperated grunts and gasps I hear in response to questions from the interviewer? Not very statesman-like.

Obama needs to back off.
He is giving Hillary reasons NOT to ask him to be her running mate!!

Sonya in Atlanta I invite you to elaborate on any position that Barack Obama has come up with that Hillary Clinton can't challenge him on. Merely stating that you were against the war that you were in no position to vote on is not enough. It's way too easy to say NAH NAH NAH NAH like a little kid and say "I was against the war and you guys weren't". Since Senator Obama has been a candidate he has not come up with any viable policy initiatives. Don't you want and expect more from a man that people are speaking so highly of? So far the only thing Obama has cast himself as is an alternative to Hillary.

There are enormous differences between Obama and Clinton. If anything he is trying to blur the differences because we know where Hillary stands. SHE HAS A RECORD that we can look to and forensically examine. Obama has one too and when you examine it you will see that he is a man without substance or leadership.

Simply attacking Senator Clinton for her war vote is not going to get him elected. Like it or not this war will still be going on regardless of who is in the White House. Senator Obama needs to stop pandering to all the anti-war democrats and realize that if elected he will have to perpetuate the very policy that he so passionately denounces.

Obama has been an elected official casting public votes for 10 years, Clinton 6 years. Obama has more experience.

Before the vote in Iraq he stated exactly why it was wrong and what would happen, this in not "I told you so" this was an example of his understanding of international politics that far exceeded most of the politicians in Washington.

Clinton made a mistake in voting for the Iraq war – she wanted to tell the president it was ok to go to war with Iraq because to oppose it might lose votes in the next election cycle. Obama did care about votes, he cared about AMERICA.

Clinton doesn't learn from experience, she now voted to call Iran's military a terrorist organization. Bush is now drawing up the targets to bomb. She has terrible judgment.

You want to see who has support. Go to Clinton, Edwards, and Obama's campaign sites and read the BLOGS and posts there. You will see who has the most grassroots support, and who is going to win. The BLOGS posting represents the level of strong supporters, not the polls.

Hillary's vote for the war in Iraq was an egregious error and demonstrates that her judgement is seriously lacking. To explain her vote she says "If I had known then what I know now ..." Millions of people (including Barack Obama) already knew then what we know now - why didn't Hillary? Indeed, anyone paying attention to the news had a sense that Iraq could be contained using means other than war and that we would face many difficulties if we did invade Iraq (after all, Bush Sr. had to defend his decision not to take Hussein out of power, and he listed all of the difficulties that we're facing in Iraq now as the reasons).

im not to worried about hillary's Vp. trusting Obama's i think hes thinking jessie jackson or sharpton.and his issues are not clear.

where are his ideas he has none

HILLARY ROCKS

Here are her ideas:
For six long years, it's like America's middle class and working families have been invisible to our president. He's looked right through them.

If you're a worker who can't organize for fair wages and safe working conditions, you're invisible. If you're a grandmother who has watched this administration try to privatize Social Security and dump piles of debt on your grandchildren, you're invisible. If you're a mother who can't afford child care, a kid who can't afford college, a family that can't afford to get by on the minimum wage, you're invisible.

When Hillary is in the White House, no American will be invisible to the president of the United States.

As president, she will work from day one to strengthen and grow our middle class and restore the basic bargain: If you work hard and do your part, you can build a better life for yourself and your family.

Hillary believes Americans have the right to expect fiscal responsibility, discipline, and honesty from their leaders.

As president, Hillary will:

Make health care affordable and accessible to every American.
Reduce the cost of energy and make us energy independent.
Expand access to affordable, high-quality child care.
Make college more affordable.
Protect families from predatory lenders and help them avoid foreclosures.
Increase the minimum wage.
Create good jobs with good wages to expand the middle class.
Balance the federal budget so we don't pass today's massive debts to the next generation.
Reward savings, protect pensions, and provide greater retirement security.

OBAMA IS REALLY GETTING ON MY NERVES… HE APPARENTLY HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY THAT "I TOLD YOU SO"….

SAY SOMETHING OF SOME SUBSTANCE, FOR A CHANGE!!!!!!
Posted By LOYDA, WDC : October 2, 2007 9:03 pm
try listening to him for a change. and turn your caps lock off please.

Republicans encourage Obama to fight with Hillary, because none of GOP candidate can beat Hillary but any GOP can beat Obama easily, so they support Obama and device a stratagem.
I read that Obama supporters blamed CNN about 24,000 in NYC. Those 24,000 is not real his supporters, a lot of Republicans for agitative purpose there. Obama is naive and inexperenced, I wouldn't vote him because he is not ready for the president. Hillary is brilliant, strong and powerful leader, I will vote her and Americans will.

Brianna, McEwen, TN

Regular posters like me, see you post the same thing over and over again, like a broken record. Obviously you are not an Obama fan, that’s fine with me. But really, why don't you come up with some more concrete evidence or a link to post about what story you are speaking about? Otherwise this is just another example of empty rhetoric from someone who just wants to post partisan opinions without fact.

Laurinda I agree with you!

There will be a military presence in that region for years to come. We have a non-violent presence in many countries, and our military will need to provide security for the embassy and US contractors living in Iraq. Senator Obama will begin to remove combat troops immediately and that, sadly, is the best that we can hope for right now.

And if GWB decides to use Hillary's recent vote on Iran, we could be involved in a military conflict with Iran by the time the next president takes office.

Obama is gaining traction. In reading the new Newsweek poll about Iowa, it was mentioned that Obama's commerical starting airing on September 19th, a week before the poll was conducted. Hillary's began in mid August. So in a week the "I believe" ad moved Obama up by 4 points.
As for NH, the real test will be polling Independents who can vote for either Democrats or Republicans because that will decide if who will win the primary there.

Obama is correct in attacking Hillary on policy points and issues, and not character assasination or direct assaults. It's tricky competing with a woman in politics- you can't look like you are dumping on her. Plus there is Bill on the sidelines doing his fake chivarly thing, like he did about Tim Russerts question on torture.

Let Hillary try to wrangle, dodge, evade or move left on positions Obama has already taken and see the demise of a politican with no core values who will pander to everyone. Good job Obama.

OBAMA IS REALLY GETTING ON MY NERVES... HE APPARENTLY HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO SAY THAT "I TOLD YOU SO"....

DEAR BOY: YOU WILL NEED A HECK OF A LOT MORE THAN THAT TO WIN A ELECTION AND BE WORTHY OF BEING PRESIDENT!!!!!

SAY SOMETHING OF SOME SUBSTANCE, FOR A CHANGE!!!!!!

I have no problem keeping you both separated. When a United States Sailor came to both of you for help after being abused in boot camp you turned him down but Senator Clinton did not. She made sure that he was returned safely back to his family and it is because of her that I even still ahve a brother. Please explain to me Mr. Obama what the audacity of hope really means because obviously your vision does not extend to our troops.
Posted By Brianna, McEwen, TN : October 2, 2007 5:20 pm
you have a link for this?

I don't really think Senator Clinton is trying to blur the lines of distinction between herself and Obama. Only a fool would think the experience he has would somehow justify him as being a worthy candidate for President. We have had enough of those who require on the job training to do the job of President. Obama needs a lot more experience before he should consider himself as a serious contender. The reason Democrats have not responded to him; experience.
He has little, Senator Clinton has lots.
Posted By Joe Stebbins : October 2, 2007 4:56 pm
joe, there is not a single person in the world besides an ex president who would not need on the job training when he/she were elected president. please, keep this ignorance to yourself.

Its always easy to blame the front runner Mr. Obama. If you were so anti war why did you fund every bill after that similar to Mrs. Clinton. She is not blurring the differences, you, yourself has done that. You said, yourself, you cannot bring back the entire troops by 2013. I did watch the Candy Crowley interview and you could not give a straight answer to that question. You are nothing but a snake oil salesman and people know it so you would never be a front runner.

I certainly hope a good third party candidate emerges. It would scare me to have to vote for any candidate we have now, Democrat or Republican.

I could not understand why CNN is giving so much publicity to Obama. He does not need to be on the pedestal. He knows nothing about the war and the foreign policy.

GO Hillary!!!Bill oreilly just called obama a pinhead
Obama’s claims to fame have been his Iraq vote, his fundraising, and his online support. Today the AP torpedoed his Iraq history, Hillary trounced his fundraising and Josh Orton, Obama’s “blog outreach” guy quit (apparently unhappy with the Obama campaign).

It’s another trifecta disaster day for Obama.

And third or fourth tier Chris Dodd issues a press release mocking Obama:

“Today, the Obama campaign is celebrating the 5th anniversary of the speech that then-State Senator Barack Obama gave opposing the invasion of Iraq. But unfortunately, they forgot to celebrate another anniversary. July 26th marked the 3rd anniversary of the New York Times story in which Obama admitted that he did not know how he would have voted on the Iraq resolution had he been serving in the United States Senate at the time of the vote.”
Hes having an off day,hes ashamed a woman beat him...

mountain man,

The right decision was not to have gone to war. The fact that Obama stood up for what he believed speaks volumes about his character.

Seems the democrats have learned from the republicans. By not bickering and attacking each other the party has a much better chance of winning in the general election. Those who say "the gloves should come off" are not looking at the bigger picture.

Seems to me that Obama is basically a coward. When the vote is tough and it might come back to bite him, he doesn't vote. Recent examples are Move-On censure than Liebermann-Kyl.

According to Lynn Sweet of the SunTimes that's a long standing pattern of behavior. I've yet to see one shred of leadership on anything that isn't a 90% lock in public opinion.

I don't give a rat's ass what he said in 2002. He's done squat since he's been in the Senate to change anything.

This is the story of David and Goliath. "Everyone was afraid of Goliath. He seemed invincible..."

Barack is a man of great faith and principles. He will do what needs to be done.

If anyone promises that our troops will be fully pulled out by 2013, she or he is either irresponsible or lying. Goal and promises are two different things. Goals help you achieve things but promises bind yourself and thus limit your options. Obama is the real thing. He should run as independent if the democrates do not appreciate him.

hes messed up..shes not blurring anything..
Courageous or calculating? These are the facts:

In 2004, while getting ready for his star-making address to the Democratic National Convention, Obama gave presidential nominee John Kerry and other leading Democrats a pass for backing Bush on Iraq.

Noting he was not privy to intelligence reports shown to Kerry and others, Obama told The New York Times, “What would I have done? I don’t know.”

There _are_ differences between the two "frontrunners" but the trenchant similarity is their unelectability in a general election.

Barack Hussein Obama starts with the mudslinging! Good job Senator, a real change, a real 'Audacity of Hope'. YEAH RIGHT! Twenty-five percent of the country opposed the war! We can't all be president based on that now can we. NO! Stop making that the purpose of your campaign; it's petty. We need to have exprerience and true leadership skills. The leadership of HILLARY CLINTON!

HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT 2008!!!

ILL take hillary anyday over any of them.the current 2013 is she said you have to wait until what you find when you get in the white house...obama says everything and repeats everything after her he has no clue no long resume to fill a position, you go back of all the debates hillary reponses were first..he is a follower and not a very judgement guy,with uhh's and hmm;s especially if bush wagers another one with iran.and if hillary wins i know bill will help,with foreign policy.we have lost so much grace in this country you cant even travel abroad.

Those 20 Million, wonderful Illegals, and the attorney punks who hide behind all the claims, who have suddenly grown kahunas for protest in American Streets for demanded changes in American Law, should take the lessons they have learned on American Protest Streets and take those lessons back to Mexico and begin those very same protest in Mexico and Mexico City!!! America would support your efforts to no ends...

OH! Let me guest? No Balls in Mexico Huh?

That’s what America thought... Don’t be Puntas all your life!!! Want American support? Grow American Kahuta’s in Mexico, first Punta... Bottom line, you will send a lot of historic democratic voters to vote Repuplican for the 1st time in their or thier familie's history... don't be stupid on this issue... you are on the wrong side of the corporate issue on immigration... I gurantee, this issue wil cost you or Hilary the election... Here com3es another Republican President... because Dems don't have the balls to state the American Position in 2008...

D.

D...

Hillary will win the democratic nomination because George Soros and the other billionarie liberal donors of MoveOn.org want her to win, PERIOD.

From someone who does not live in this country and is not subject to the right-wing brainwashing of Fox news and the hypnotising liberalistic views of CNN, PLEASE VOTE FOR THIS MAN!!!

The people of the United States voted for the dumbest politician for President (twice!). Why not buck conventional wisdom and try voting for the smartest? Please.

Obama made the right choice by voice only. He was NOT a US senator at the time of the vote so therefore, he could NOT have voted. Obama was elected in 2004. The Iraq war started in 2003 which means the votes were in 2002. Can't you people see that he did not do ANYTHING for this war. He did not vote for it and he did not vote against it. I'm so sick of hearing him say I voted against it because he's lying. HE COULD NOT VOTE! Talk about a one act show. That's all we'll get out of Obama if he's elected. A one act show.

I want one – just one – Hillary supporter to explain to me exactly how they think that she has more "experience" than Barack does? And, please picking out the White House china does not count.

I'll tell you right now she can't judge him in the wisdom, common sense or judgment department. That is no more evident than on the Iraq war issue.

Lisa – Ann Arbor, Mi,

I know where you're coming from about Obama wanting to genuinely be the candidate of change – including how he campaigns (staying above the fray).

What I don't understand is – how does telling the TRUTH ever make him playing "dirty politics"?

Truth: Hillary has the highest negative ratings of any US Presidential Candidate.. EVER.

Truth: Norman HSU contributed $850,000 to Hillary's campaign and was a Hillraiser. Granted a few dollars went into Obama's campaign but come on... a couple thousand for Obama versus almost a MILLION for Hillary?

Truth: Hillary gladly accepts money from Special Interest Groups.

Truth: Hillary counts her "experience" as being 1st Lady (US and Ark)

Truth: More scandals have been charged against the Clintons than ANY Presidential couple in history!

Truth: Republicans are calling Hillary the candidate (before the first primary has been completed) because they would rather run against her than Obama. Hillary is MILES ahead in "swiftboat" material.

Obama needs to do more than make speeches... he needs to make headlines! Most people in this country never get past the headline to find out what was really said.

Check out Dodd's response to Obama's speech today. They uncovered a ,a href="http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2007/10/iraq-politics-obama-hits-field-and-dodd.html">2004 quote from the NYT in which Obama declares he "doesn't know" how he would have voted were he in the Senate in 2003.

Brianna, McEwen, TN,

I think you don't understand the whole issue. You just want to write probably because you like writing but you are away from the track. I'm sorry to tell you that. As honest as you may be, i want you to go back to Obama's opposition to the "Dumb" war; you could have a clue that will help understand Obama and support him.

"

I don't really think Senator Clinton is trying to blur the lines of distinction between herself and Obama. Only a fool would think the experience he has would somehow justify him as being a worthy candidate for President. We have had enough of those who require on the job training to do the job of President. Obama needs a lot more experience before he should consider himself as a serious contender. The reason Democrats have not responded to him; experience.
He has little, Senator Clinton has lots.
Posted By Joe Stebbins : October 2, 2007 4:56 pm"

Joe, Hillary Clinton doesn't have as much experience in political office as Obama does. Hillary has been in elective office for 8 years Obama has been there for 12 years.

Joe Stebbins, "experience..She has lots". If you must support Billary please do your home work. She does NOT have"lots" of experience. That is the weakest of the many reason not to support her. Please Joe, list her qualifications. Being the presidents wife is not being president. Not even close. She will raise your taxes, support big government, lie, cheat and steal from you.
Don't just repeat talking points. Find out who and what this woman is. She is not EXPERIENCED!
Obama or anyone but Billary 08

Hey Obama, You should blame yourself, not Hillary, for your failure to communicate or convince the democratic voters. Blaming others and poor communication skill do not sound presidential at all.

The bottom line is that the dem voters, and also the most american public voters, do not think you are electable, ie., (a) the election platform is fussy without substance; (b) you will not be able to do what you say; and (c) you will not beat the republican nominee.

In addition, the dem voters think Hillary has more experience and heart (passion) for public service than you.

She also has (a) the best campaign strategist to guarantee her successful presidential bid and more importantly to deflect all republican attacks, and (b) she has a close very experienced presidential advisor to make sure things go smoothly at the white house – Bill Clinton.

Hillary 08!

What distinction? Socialism in the first term versus socialism in the second term?

Sen. Obama, you yourself have repeatedly conceded that, if you were in the Senate at the time of the Iraq war authrization vote and had access to all of the information senators had access to, you might very well have voted differently. Since you have been in the Senate, you have voted exactly the same as Senator Clinton on every Iraq-related vote. And at the last televised debate, your answer about whether you would guarantee that all troops would be removed from Iraq by 2013 if you were elected President was indistinguishable from Senator Clinton's (or from Senator Edwards'). Senator Clinton is not blurring distinctions between you and her on this issue because there are none. Your so-called new politics of hope is a bunch of hooey. Your just obfuscating and attempting to create distinctions that don't exist. I don't know where you've been for the past twenty years, but there's nothing new about a politician who does that.

Obama should not be so shy about saying what he really thinks of Hillary. He is being unnecessarily cautious.

He must get more direct. He can do that without making personal attacks.

Also, Barack, wrong move to call Hillary successful" in blurring distinctions. You have been working hard to make them; this characterization is like a concession of defeat.

Great speech Obama is right!

I have no problem keeping you both separated. When a United States Sailor came to both of you for help after being abused in boot camp you turned him down but Senator Clinton did not. She made sure that he was returned safely back to his family and it is because of her that I even still ahve a brother. Please explain to me Mr. Obama what the audacity of hope really means because obviously your vision does not extend to our troops.

Micah, Conservative James,

Excellent posts!

I've been waiting for one of these candidates (other than Gravel) to grow a pair and knock the house of cards down.

Gravel showed it's pretty easy to fluster The Frontrunner. They're like boxers that stun their opponent but fail to pursue and deliver the knockout blow for fear of getting caught by a lucky punch.

Have a great day!

maybe Obama's message isn't registering because nobody likes an "I told you so" type of candidate. The majority of Americans supported the Iraq invasion and sure its easy to say to was wrong now, but at the time with what we knew then it was the right thing to do.

Dodd also points out that Obama said before he ran for president that he doesn't know how he would have voted if he was in congress at the time. Obama is just as bad as rove playing politics with the war.

Conservative James, Phoenix AZ :

While I agree that Obama may need to bring some of these points to light; I disagree that he needs to "throw a punch." Obama has stated over and over that he will work to change the political landscape, to put an end to the centuries-old politics of finger-pointing and name-calling.

If Obama goes against this ideal, and begins "throwing punches" now, then it will just fuel Hillary's fire and she'll attack Obama even worse than she already is. I truly hope that Americans will see Obama as an agent of change, and will appreciate his decision to NOT play dirty.

Obama IS putting up a fight- he's fighting with actions and not just words. I trust that America will take notice and elect him as the Democratic candidate.

Obama, if you need to win, you have to play politics. See, how "W" played the polticking by crushing McCain or bringing a terror spin in 2004 and bringing swift boat attackers to crush Kerry. These tactics may not work at this time, though. But, take some tips from Carl Rove. Your constant bickering about the Senate vote may not play the trick. As you were not in the US Senate and your opinion then did not count.

I am an Obama supporter. The more I hear his opinions, views and plans on the world today, the more I agree with him and feel he's really got it "right on" just like he did with the Iraq war even before this devastating war began. However, I must agree with Conservative James of Phoenix- "Senator Obama – if you want to win, you've got to fight for it harder Obama". Most voters I speak with have a negative approval rating of Hillary (HRC). Obama – just show the American citizens how you REALLY MEAN change in politics – not just the same old, same old as it would be with HRC.

I don't really think Senator Clinton is trying to blur the lines of distinction between herself and Obama. Only a fool would think the experience he has would somehow justify him as being a worthy candidate for President. We have had enough of those who require on the job training to do the job of President. Obama needs a lot more experience before he should consider himself as a serious contender. The reason Democrats have not responded to him; experience.
He has little, Senator Clinton has lots.

Obama (whom I admire) needs to take off the kid gloves and not be afraid to throw some punches at her (figuratively), and if Billy boy opens his lying and cheating mouth, hammer him too.

Ask out loud for some tips on how to make $99,000 overnight, or ask them where the WH furniture and gifts went?

So much material to work with and I wonder if it may take a below the belt shot to REALLY open up the discussion.

You don't have to "just dish dirt", but if she is being ascended to the throne by the willing and wanton media, MAKE A RUCKUS.

Make Hillary become accountable for the "few" positions she does take and as an excellent speaker (your strength) that should not be difficult as long as the MSM stops reporting when Hillary "has gas" and starts doing their damn jobs.

We know some of her stances as in for the war, against the levin amendment, against gay-marrige, for don't ask – don't tell, for baby bonuses, anti-smoking for all to just name a few, the more important issues she doesn't respond to, MAKE HER.

You can also add that the distinctions have been blurred by the enormous free press for Hillary by CNN – ...really ..."BREAKING NEWS" Hillary raising more money than Barack, but not one word about 24,000 people showing up at a RALLY FOR BARACK IN NYC! Hillary's backyard. That is news,not breaking news, but definitely news, but CNN didn't think so. But on the Ticker they talked about a stupid comment about Dodd and Anderson's gray hair.

His resume is short a few pages, plain and simple, it takes alot more than what he can offer to run a country, and successfully solve the problems the next president will inherit, you gotta have more substance, not just tell the majority what they want to hear, go beyond the sound bites. Talk is cheap".

Maritza San Jose, ca

Conservative James . . .

I agree with you that not fighting can lose you an election really fast – John Kerry and his insistence on taking the high road comes to mind. Rove's Swiftboat tactics crushed Kerry and Edwards, while Kerry sat back waiting on Americans to rebutt the offensive attack ads.

But fighting can be misconstrued. What some call fighting back, others would call bickering, or whining, or mud-slinging.

Obama has to be careful not to be accused of going negative.

.

Ted, I was thinking the same thing. News sources, CNN especially, only report selective information from the polls. I always try to read the entire poll results and I find them very interesting.

1. The majority of democrats say that whether they believe a candidate can get elected is a major factor in who they will support in the primary.
2. The majority of democrats think that Hillary Clinton is more electable in a general election.
3. When democrats, republicans AND independents are asked whether they would vote for [insert a dem candidate here] or [insert a rep candidate here], Hillary and Barack far almost exactly equally. Sometimes Hillary fairs slightly (1-2%) better than Barack against a given republican and sometimes Barack fairs slightly better than Hillary.

Obviously, the assumption that Hillary is more electable is false. I'm not saying that she is less electable or that anyone should make their decisions based off of polls. I'm just saying that WE SHOULD NOT BE MAKING OUR DECISIONS BASED OFF OF A FALSE ASSUMPTION THAT ONE CANDIDATE IS MORE ELECTABLE THAN ANOTHER.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/CSWp#extended

^^^Asked why his early opposition isn't resonating with more Democratic primary voters, the Illinois Democrat said Clinton has been successful in obscuring the differences between their two records on this issue.

She has been successful, Mr Obama, because you and the other democrat candidats WONT throw a punch.

Perhaps you're afraid of the DNC? Bill Clinton and his cronies? George Soros and Moveon.Org?

If you're going to be the candidate of Change… REMIND the people of what Hillary represents: Special Interests money, Campaign Scandals (Hsu, Jinnah, etc), Iraq War Flip-flopper, Hollywood darling, and THE MOST divisive candidate with the hightest negative approval ratings in the opinion poll history!

If you want to win – you need to fight. If you can't fight – you won't win.

Posted By Conservative James, Phoenix AZ : October 2, 2007 4:25 pm

^^^^Read this speech and then talk. He put everything on the line with this speech and you cant disagree with a word he used because it was all facts!

OBAMA 08

as Obama says we need to be as careful getting out as we were careless getting in. The combat troops in iraq will be home long before 2013. Its the forces to protect the remaining civilians and the embassy. Russert asked would all troops be home by 2013, you can't predict what is going to happen between now and then or the mess that he will inherit from bush. He is not going to lie like other candidates that say we can bring all troops home in six months.

I think Obama has the right approach to the difficult position the next president will be in. While I will vote for Clinton if she is the nominee...the more I hear and learn about Obama, the more I like him. I appreciate the fact that he talks about the issues w/o slamming the other canidates.

In light of all the consequences of the Iraq war, Mr. Obama was indeed correct in proclaiming it a potential disaster. Not only was the mission poorly implemented and conducted with a ridiculously small military force, but the entire concept of the war was false.

If it was conducted as a humanitarian mission from the beginning in order to remove a vile dictator and bring democracy to Iraq, then the debate would have been different. Even so, the entire idea of an invasion was ridiculous because of the ethnic and sectarian divisions that are now splitting the country apart.

The war should have never been started.

RIGHTY TIGHTY...No candidate will get us out by 2013. If they say they will they are lying. Go back to bed.

it's not just her but mostly the mainstream media. However I think mainstream media will eventually have to catch up with the American people and the rest of our media such as internet and average everyday media like local newspapers. I was a cartoonist in my hometown of Smithville Texas's newspaper and I think I have done some on my part to convey Obama the frontrunner in my opinion. He has, everywhere I have gone to, gotten his message across to the majority of peers I see, as well as people of other ages. The only reason that Clinton is an easy showcase for cnn and other news is that they have covered the Clintons' before, and people whether they hate or like them will watch. I do think, however, we people that support Obama, need to get our message across on why we support him more than ever. Otherwise we will get stuck in this Clinton/Bush partisan loop DEFINTELY longer than we need. Obama '08!!

Asked why his early opposition isn't resonating with more Democratic primary voters, the Illinois Democrat said Clinton has been successful in obscuring the differences between their two records on this issue.

She has been successful, Mr Obama, because you and the other democrat candidats WONT throw a punch.

Perhaps you're afraid of the DNC? Bill Clinton and his cronies? George Soros and Moveon.Org?

If you're going to be the candidate of Change... REMIND the people of what Hillary represents: Special Interests money, Campaign Scandals (Hsu, Jinnah, etc), Iraq War Flip-flopper, Hollywood darling, and THE MOST divisive candidate with the hightest negative approval ratings in the opinion poll history!

If you want to win – you need to fight. If you can't fight – you won't win.

There was an interesting article in the NYTimes a few days ago about why the front-runner status is so vulnerable and often doesn't reflect the outcome of the primaries. Here's one quote:

"Politicians and journalists inevitably try to simplify crowded political contests by identifying one candidate as a front-runner, long before a single American even votes. It is a designation that is often based on the most tenuous of evidence and one that often proves to be wrong, especially when it comes to Democrats."

Regardless of your opinion on Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton (or for that matter any of the Republican candidates), Mr. Obama's comments were remarkably accurate and have proved true over time. The facts:

Hussein, though destabilizing regionally, did not pose an imminent threat to world safety (short of a trailer full of hydrogen bottles or something in the desert). The US has a long history of *backing* people in the exact same circumstances, Hussein himself being one 15 years earlier. Iran posed and continues to pose a much more serious (though clearly containable) threat regionally and internationally.

The US invasion of Iraq has and will continue to require an extended presence there, something which all of the Democratic candidates other than Joe Biden have only owned up to in the last week.

The Iraq War has without question strengthened Al Qaeda's presence in Iraq (if not the "official" organization than its many off-shoots), which has been well-attested to by the likes of Petreaus, Crocker, Gates, even Bush himself.

It's also "true" that the president who got most of this trouble started by his repeated inaction from 1992-2000 is married to the Democratic frontrunner (who incidentally is gaining some rather impressive endorsements from the Republican Party).

I don't care who's leading in the polls.

In a healthy democracy people should vote for who they believe in and whose judgement they trust.

That's why I'm voting for Barack Obama, and I think many of my fellow Americans will do the same.

More taxes.
More government.
More taxes.
Not out of Iraq by 2013.

Differences??

The not promising to bring our troops home by 2013! makes both of you exactly the same..

America needs real change. America needs a third party candidate.