CNN

Obama is great at talking about hope for the future. He can be inspiring. However, our country needs much more than an inspirational speaker to fix our issues. We need someone like Hillary like her or not, that will stand up to the tyrants around the globe.

The times require someone who is willing to come to the table and negotiate yet not give the table away as a good faith gesture.

I would ask those that support Obamba if they are supporting him because they like him or because they really believe he has the skill and knowledge to do more than inspire us with speeches?

To Sue, St Louis, MO. I'm sure a lot of people from your fair state said the same thing about Abe Lincoln when he was being sworn in and he had just two years as an Illinois state legislator when he became arguably our best president. You know why? Because he had incredible intelligence, courage and God-given common sense. Those trump experience any day of the week. Liek Obama says, Cheney and Rumsfeld were very experienced people who lorded over perhaps the worst foreign policy blunder in our nation's history. What they really needed was common sense. Why did Cheney think in 1994 that invading Iraq could be a huge mistake and then in 2003 he thought it was a great idea. He knew nothing had changed fundamentally in Saddam's WMD status yet he wanted to go in thinking it would be so easy. Well, Obama knew exactly what would happen. He had the intelligence to see the country for what it truly was and the intelligence to see what would happen if we invaded. He had to courage to speak out against the war when it was unpopular and he had the common sense to know that it would cost us too many lives and too much treasure. I'll take those traits of Washington experience any day. But let's look at elected legislative experience between the three front-runners on the Democratic side shall we? John Edwards – six years U.S. Senate. That's it. No substantive bills AUTHORED or passed. Hillary Clinton – seven years U.S. Seante. That's it. No substantive bills AUTHORED or passed. Barack Obama – 11 years state and U.S. senate. Sweeping ethics reform and childcare bills AUTHORED and passed in Illinois and a nuclear non-proiferation bill co-AUTHORED and passed in the U.S. Senate. So I'd say Obama has plenty of experience and more than stacks up against his two top opponents.

forget george bush – he's not running for president. those who do invoke him are just wearing their revenge on their sleeve, which is not the best way to vote for President

Clinton 08
Obama 16
Get the dems in power!

G.W.Bush's name will not be on the ballot next year, and, honey, neither will the name of Barack Obama/Winfrey.

It was the best campaign event I have ever been to. Naturally there was much enthusiasm. But, and something I did not expect, most people were there to see Obama. Oprah gave a very good speech. But it was the substantive nature of Obama's speech that really sold me. He could have just rallied, instead he gave a clear vision of his platform and his vision for America.

Obama doesn't have a track record of success in his job in Illinois, compared with Gov. Romney who was elected to and ran a state known for being Democratic; Romney is much more experienced with economic matters, an example is his amazing and almost unbelievable turnaround of the Salt Lake Olympics. Mayor Guiliani reduced crime by over 50 % in NY, a city Time Magazine called "ungovernable". What has Obama done, leadership wise, not in taxing us for more social programs- to compare?

I'd rather vote for Oprah than Obama. She has a better chance of winning the electoral college then he does!

For all you losers who keep talking about Obama's lack of experience, you need to dwell on something else because it's not something Americans really care about. This abstract term "experience" would have 50 different meanings to 50 different people, so no one really has the "experience" to be president (unless they've actually been in that office before). So if you want to get technical about it, all of the candidates are equally inexperienced. Plenty of people have been elected president with far less "experience" than Obama and have done a great job. Further, plenty of "experienced" people have been elected to the office and have been ineffective and/or did dumb stuff while there (Richard Nixon, for example). How much experience did you have for your little job before you started? Was that a reflection of how you would perform in the position? What if your employer had shut the door on you? The man meets the qualifications to be president. That's good enough for me...and it should be good enough for you. Be thankful the constitution allows any citizen who meets the basic quailifications to run for office. If you're so smart and want someone with more experience, why don't you get the experience and run in 2012? Now is your chance to get started!!! Otherwise, shut your pie hole!

Further, I don't think any tax hike Obama implements would compare to what the most incompetent, "forgetful", irrational, and stubborn president in history has done with our tax dollars in the Middle East. You can be sure that Obama won't put the next three generations in debt like the Republicans and George Bush have done. For those anti-Obama and anti-democratic voters who voted for the "moral majority" and the "fiscally conservative" Republicans that were in office...shame on you! I get a big laugh out of how all of you were fooled into voting for Bush only to end up embarrassed more and more each week by this "guessing game" he's been playing for over 7 years now. You though you were voting for "the issues" but it turns out you were voting for more money to line the pockets of the wealthy who live in this country. No one else has benefited from what's been happening since 2000. Well, it's all about to be over.

This guy Mike "Chuckle"-bee will lose the election if he's the Republican nominee. I guarantee it. LOL

WAKE UP AMERICA! Its time we stop playing with Oprah and elect a QUALIFIED PRESIDENT!!! not just a man because he’s black and oprah says so, she may know soap and books, but why in he world would anyone jeopardize your future because a TV talk show host said so?... This weekends Oprah circus, will not help obama, its make us all realize Oprahs running the show not obama...Our great country needs a qualified leader, maybe if oprah was legally running, but obama is….

Glad the dog and pony show is over
Oprah is a shame to her gender, yes the same gender that made her who she is today and she turns her back on them in a second when race is involved...

I think its time WE ALL tune out the oprahbama show, and let’s elect a REAL Presidential candidate like CLINTON!

LOOKS LIKE OPRAH AND OBAMA SWITCHED PLACES, OPRAHS NOW RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT? AND OBAMA IS HER CAMPAIGNE FLUNKIE?
Go Oprah! We ALL know if anyone can’t take the attention off of obama’s no experience lack of leadership, refusing to show up and vote in the senate on Iran, Abortion measures etc... Seeking a trillion-dollar tax hike and raising the retirement age for Social Security!!!! Is not in favor of a health care plan to cover all children rich or poor and that he cannot make a decision on his own.

You can….YOU have disgraced American woman, YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO THE FEMALE GENDER OPRAH! SHAME ON YOU, now as a last ditch effort you throw Dr Kings name at the black voters, now American knows where you stand on race…

SHAMEFUL ACT...I SUGGEST WE ALL TUNE OUT BOTH!!!

Obama is not a brave man, usually ambitious people aren't. When criticizes he runs toward others – like Oprah, or Bill Cosby, or even Sen. Durbin. In his speeches I hear the words of a great man, Sen Paul Douglas, a big man with even a bigger heart, snowy hair with twinkling blue eyes that saw beneath the sham and the tawdry and moved this country together – not apart. and who stood in Congress and shamed the members for their bias and discrimination. It is no wonder that the late Sen Douglas was awarded the Conscience of Congress. Yet, oddly enough, I hear too much of Paul Douglas's words issued out of Obama's mouth, and not enough of Obama words – Obama does that – lifts the words of hope off of other people and shifts it a bit and sends it out into the crowd who wolf it up. Yet the bare facts – it is not his words – it is plagiarized. More than that, it is deceitful because it is not the real heart of Obama.

The real heart of Obama is an ambitious intellectual. Therein is his flaw. I think of Obama sitting in the Oval office, and it is not nice. He has not been tempered by life's challenges, he has been indulged by life's benefits. To me, a man, or woman, must have tempered steel that forms his backbone. Obama's backbone is made of plastic. Worse yet, the media do not challenge him – they fear the race card – and it is what Obama plans to capitalize upon. It is what
Obama has avoided all his life – the challenges. It is what he needs in the coming years – experience – then it will be time to run for president, but not now.

Windbag's racial rhetoric should have been an embarrassment to everyone who heard it.

LOL What about Oboprah instead? Or if the Diva demands top billing = Oprama

Oops my bad – It's not politically polite to spoof the candidates whilst standing in the check-out line at the corner mini-mart!!

I do wonder though WHY is it okay to solicit the black vote for Obama just cuz he's a brother BUT NOT okay for women to support Hillary just cuz she's a sister? Isn't that rather hypocritical... Double standards or good ole boy sorta thing?!

Yes, it is the Opie and Obie show.

Yea, Oprah-Obama sounds stupid. Stop calling him that. I mean we are talking a possible President of the United States of America. Not the next freakin American Idol.

This man will make a fine President. We should consider ourselves lucky to have such an option after President what's his name. OBAMA '08!!!

In the end, it is Obama that will be voted for and not Oprah. So what is all this noise? Oprah should have come out herself as a candidate. I don't think this is going to in anyway help Mr. Obama. People are just there to see Oprah. They are going to be disappointed after the primaries.

Mike Huckabee is the man.

This woman says it right and says it well.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/12/09/when_hope_is_not_enough/

Obama and Oprah sound desperate: a lot of hype and precious little substance. The carnival atmosphere surrounding these rallies cheapens the whole campaign process and may ultimately backfire.

YAWN....!!!!!

I was there in SC today. It was awesome! There is no doubt in my mind that Barack Obama is a gifted and visionary leader.

He will be able to form a new majority in the United States – with democrats, independences, republicans, and even some of the others groups...like the Democratic version of Ronald Reagan!

On the day Obama is inaugurated as President, he will restore my faith in government and good people.

What a hypocrite you have become oprah. You are calling Obama an honest politiian. You must be kiding me. You have really lost your credibility on after this one.

DOn't quit your day job

Why is CNN pro-Clinton?

I'm so bored with this Oprah Obama fest. It stills doesn't change the fact that he really lacks experience and doesn't know National issues the same way other candidates do. We need to elect a president that can really take charge. I don't see that with Obama. And I think he's been hypocritical in attacking Clinton. The only problem is the news media is giving him a total pass. Hopefully people will look beyond the hype because we can't afford to lose the election and we can't afford another President that doesn't know what he is doing (imho). Hopefully CNN won't delete this comment as they seem to be trying to create the news instead of cover it.

Oprah and Obama...."Sanford and Son." Has a nice ring.

Hey CNN? Why is your "crowd" count at 30,000? I just read is was maybe closer to 20. Check out what your buds at Newsweek are saying.

Oprah and Obama. Kinda of catchy, like "Sanford and Son."

Oprah is a truly remarkable woman. In many ways.
If she would not use her name to make things better, if she would not try, she would just be another millionaire.
There is an obligation no doubt.
The search for truth is not an Oprah reserved search. Every American has the right to hear the truth and deserves honest, decent representation. It is about true work for the people: environment protection, economical stability and growth, reliable foreign policies, good foreign relations with friends, allies and the world, healthcare (why is this not an issue in the EU?), education…
Not just words but actions.
It is about no nation is superior to another.
Admit it: not everything in the USA is great, the best, the biggest, the strongest, the nicest...
Join the International Court of justice and sign the Kyoto treaty.
Work to become a respected leader.

Peyton Manning is way better than Tom Brady. SportsCRAYZ7 has no idea what he's talking about!

OMG,I hate to say it, maybe Oprah DID endorse Obama because of his color of skin. I really hope that's not the case.

http://card.wordpress.com/2007/04/06/is-oprah-winfrey-racist/

Who is the presidential candidates Here? Does Oprah using the oportunity to boost her show? The big Ophrah need to tell the people that Obama is the right candidate? If he can't prove him self that he is what she says he is then he is not capable of running the country?

Why does CNN feel the need to nickname people that appear in their stories. It's demeaning to the 'named' and to your readers. BBC and other foreign news outlets refer to her as Ms. Winfrey; can we start showing celebrities a bit more respect? Also, you might want to edit your stories a bit more before they are posted... there are several mistakes here!

She took shots at Hillary and others for their judgment on Iraq. Yet Oprah supported the war too.

Do you think it's cool to make up these "conjunctions"? C'mon CNN!

People would like to think that Obama is the savior of America. Come on get a grip, Oprah is one of the "Hollywood Elites" that Rush refers to on a daily basis. She is one of the Rich and Famous do you really think she has the same views as us "common people" Would she be out there on the campaign trail if he was not African American. A vote for Obama is a vote for Hillary. Everyone needs to wise up.

I'm just wondering what's in this for Oprah, you know she's going to get something out of the deal. She is spending all this money and out thumping in Iowa. I guess she will be Sec. of State or Ambassador of Goodwill. If Obama wins she will be in his administration I bet. There is one thing for certain, all her star power won't influence my vote, in fact if a candidate can't convince me that they should be the next President a talk show host host won't either. If I were going to vote for Obama, I won't now because of this charade they are putting on......

More than Oprah-mania, it is Obama himself that is on fire if this new wave of early-state polls is to be believed. Obama has surged forward in New Hampshire and in South Carolina cutting Clinton's lead to as little as it has been in months (since early summer)! Check out all the polls here.

Good job Oprah!!!! You are using your celebrity to shine a light on the best person for the job on a crucial moment in our history. A lot of people listen to you and trust your judgement. Many of them don't understand politics or recognize phonies like Hillary. Good job for telling like it is: Obama is our only hope to get out of this mess.

Isn't this a waste of time for the "O"? Hillary will win the nomination and we will all be worse off.

By using Oprah Winfrey, I think you made a big mistake,by using her for your crutch to gain popularity, but in the long run you're going to make more people vote Republican. I've been a Democrat all my life but if Obama gets elected I will vote Republican. He does not have the experience and Oprah has turned this into a black white issue, which it might not have been otherwise. In the primary I will vote Democrate but in the general election I will vote Republican. Many people I'm talked to feel the same way. People say one thing and vote another way. When are they going to give equal time to the other candidates? I'm disappointed with Nightline for only covering the one candidate. Nightline has turned me off from watching. I'm 78 years old and have voted for quite a few years.

Those are not scenes, those are screams of Oprah and Obama...I know that American people are smart and they cannot be fooled. More screams they have, better it is for americna people to defeat them. We have no CNN to give them more and more publicity...God save us from these screams...

Stop calling them "Oprah-bama," what is this, the National Inquirer?

“At the end of the day it’s a choice among those of us who are running. And I think that most voters understand that.” (by Hillary Clinton, yesterday)

Now if that isn't no(n)sense double-talk Hill-Speak, then I don't know what is…..

And believe it or not, there ARE folks out there in the electorate, who actually would put someone who talks like this, in the Oval Office.

I have always been a Democrat, but if SHE's the nominee, I may be looking elsewhere.

Its NOT that she is female (my doctor and vet are both females). She is simply not qualified to make the Changes we need here in the US. Unless of course you believe that talking out of both sides of her mouth is a qualification…

The only remote advantage I can see for HER being Pres, is to make sure that the liberals regain control of the Supreme Court.

Conservatism is lost cause, but like Racism and the rampant use of guns in our society, it still rears its ugly head now and then.

We -certainly- need to stamp out the conservatives, but NOT with Hillary. Edwards, Obama, Biden, or Richardson… Yes.

Hillary NOT…

TAS, one of many liberal Democrats in Columbia, SC.

CNN where are those scenes?

It's sad that Obama needs Oprah in order to win.....he's an embarrassment to men everywhere.

Cnn misleading headlines.....I am going to look for news elsewhere....

I AM A 52YR OLD BLACK WOMAN LIVING IN FLA I VOTED ALL MY LIFE NEVER MISS A ELECTION.VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE

MR. B. OBAMA

WILL GET MY VOTE HEY THATS A GOOD NICKNAME MR. B.

ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE

Did you know Oprah was for the Iraq war. You know, the same Oprah that appeared with Obama in Iowa.
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/primaryvoices/2007/12/obama_avoids_key_votes_and_opr.html
There is no end to his hypocrisy

'Oprah-bama', 'Oprah-palooza'....

Media geeks and their desperation to create labels never fails to amuse.

How about a scene (aka picture of the nearly 29,000 people) to go with the article?

Thank you for finally correctly reporting the size of the crowds instead of showcasing your usual and unwarranted skepticism about the real excitement that Obama generates.

Wow. What an incredible rally that was...Obama was just fantastic. Oprah doesn't do much for me (I'm a middle aged guy who's maybe seen her show once), but the fact she helped draw 30,000 people for a political campaign event is pretty cool. I gotta believe that a lot of those folks in the crowd are gonna go back to their communities and be talking about both Oprah and Obama for days. Gotta be a good thing if you're an Obama fan.

Well, I would vote for Obama and Oprah any day!!!! So what if he is black... lets gets our heads out of the sand and realize the world is changing. Get with it or go live in a cave somewhere. And frankly, I'm embracing change.

Is Obama running for president or auditioning for a spot on American Idol. Did they post a telephone number where they can "call" in their votes. This is ridculous. Oprah has just found another way to stick her face in the public view. I guess she was fading and had to find another way.

I wonder how Michelle feels with Oprah's hands all over her husband; and where is Stedman in all of this?

Simply put, Oprah enters the political arena because she is JEALOUS of Hillary. Go Hillary!!!

A new wave of polls released this morning by Mason-Dixon has Obama pulling within 2% of Clinton in Iowa, New Hampshire and in South Carolina - much closer margins than we are used to seeing in the early states. The race is certainly shifting - check the full numbers here.

I'm fired up and ready to go!!

CNN: STOP TRYING TO MAKE OBAMA THE BLACK CANDIDATE. TALK ABOUT ISSUES

There is alot I don't like Hillary leave alone the mannerless thing she was doing on TV laughing like street gal. There is nothing attracting I like about Hillary....

RUN Oprah RUN !!!! jerrysrollin.blogspot.com

I am not one to be moved by political rallies, but this event, and the passion and substance of the speeches gave me hope for our nation once again.

And it appears the final numbers put it at around 35,000 in attendance.

I am not swayed by so called celebrities out campaigning, and I am definitly not swayed by Operah Winfrey. If she was so concerned for the American people, she would build schools in America, and not in other countries. These people make a movie or have their own talk show, and then suddenly they know whats best when it comes to politics or the environment....I don't think so. If these candidates were as good as they want everybody to believe they are, then they wouldn't need all these celebrities to speak for them.

The campaign dynamic changed suddenly one night in late October when Clinton stumbled in a debate in Philadelphia over the question of whether she supports allowing illegal immigrants to have driver's licenses.
The same that happened this December 8th-10th of 2007. Everything has been blanketed that Hillary has been doing. I think now the deal is over. Thank you America!

I guess these Palmetto State fans of successful blacks are not very much concerned that the Republicans are hoping for a Hillary they think they can beat, but would still pleased with a political lightweight nice guy like Obama. Nice guys lose in this rough business no matter what they babble about audacity and hope.

The event was phenomenal! Oprah was sincere and spoke very eloquently about her reasons for supporting Obama. I was very impressed with the entire production.

I base my vote on my research of the issues – not celebrities. The use of celebrites to sway the political process is just as deplorable as others have complained of the lack of separation of church and state. It also indicates how far a candidate will use others' influence (including PACs and lobbyists) to buy his way into office.

I do not care which of democratic candidates win the primary, I just hope anyone of them wins the general election and the presidency.
I have has enough republicans to last me the rest of my life and more.
If a republican never wins a general election it will be too soon.
I have voted republican, but after George W. Bush and the do nothing congress but BORROW, SPEND, AND RUN UP MASSIVE DEBT I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR ANOTHER REPUBLICAN.

This event was amazing to watch (even online). Of course it was just another Obama speech, but the presence of his wife and Winfrey were amazing! GO OBAMA!

WOW. Brilliant.
Obama '08!

I like Oprah but I wonder what she is up to. Does she like Obama because of his race–because he is from Iliinois–if she wants to use her influence in politics run herself don't invite the contenders to her show–oprah be fair!!!

nice