Hello, my name is A. Republican.

Democrats: Please continue to support Obama. My friends and I will continue to vote for him in the primaries to ensure he gets the nod from the Dems.

He will be the easiest to beat in the general election… wait til the gloves come off, then they will rip Obama apart. I appreciate your help on the path to electing Republican leadership once again.

Regards.

Lee writes "…borrow from Dick Cheney and paraphase, Obama is no JFK". Mr Cheney may have used the phrase but the put-down was originated by Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, in a 1988 VP debate against Dan Quayle. Mr Quayle answered charges of inexperience by saying that he had about as much experience in Congress as Kennedy had had before becoming President. And then Bentsen sprung his trap. "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy: I knew Jack Kennedy; Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." An unforgettable moment. Someone said it was like a troublesome fly buzzing round an old frog, which sits impassive until the fly gets too close, then zap! goes the tongue, and the fly is gone.

I would love to know how Obama can be considered a unifier, when he would belong to a church that is not about uniting anyone. Your only as good as the company you keep.

"A congregation with a non-negotiable COMMITMENT TO AFRICA."

Where is the commitment to the U.S.?

By the way, just because your a Republician does not mean your a racist. Hence you forget, Lincoln was a Republician. The only color Republicians like is green and we just want to keep the green we make.

what we really need now is someone with a business background who can stop america's economic freefall, not a televangelist playing the role of politician . where is mike bloomberg when we need him?

Remember that experience makes the diference

The Republicans should be scared. Their nomination of Bush gave us 9,000 Americans killed by terrorists,Iraq,no Osama,$100 a barrel oil, gas up 100%,5 record deficits,trade deficits,record foreclosures,a stock market that is up 4% a year,health care up 100%. America is worried about another Republican in the White House

I am really disappointed in people as a whole in reading these comments It sounds like two second graders talking about something, No one has anything to say positive about any one they dont like ,it is all dirt each one of the people running talk about the ones they are running against and some people have the nerve to say this one or that one is throwing dirt when they all are, I dont believe that any one of them can do what they say as president unless they have the help of the congress who ever they might be. What ever happen to be kind and considerate. Some of the ones running have done some good things, dont that count for something.

I watched the Debate last night and was disgusted by Hillary's behavior. She was so busy trying to lash out at her competition, that she made herself look like a complete idiot. She keeps claiming that she has all this experiance………..when?
only experiance I've seen her have was trying to clean up and make excuses for her husbands mistakes while he was supposed to be running our country.
I thought that both Barrak Obama and John Edwards were very forth coming with their views and not offensive at all, even though Hillary acted like a 5 year old.
I don't really think any of the Republicans running for office are suitable canadates.
I don't think it's wise to elect Huckabee, a jesus freak, cause then all the bible bangers and Red necks will go nuts, and racial wars will start up, and more corruption. Mc Cain would love to continue the war until ALL of our sons and daughters ( but not his) are killed over oil and halibutan. Romney seems sneaky like George Bush, And I would be afraid to leave Guliani alone in the same room as my 14 year old daughter. i think the wisest decicion is either Obama as President and Edwards as Vice, or vice versa.
In the mean time can we please IMPEACH Currious George, and Dick the prick??
Shouldn't after all they've done be charged as war criminals, not war heros?

Please peoplef don't pick the highest office in the country on feelings. Feelings will not do anything for this country. Experience is need and a track record. Obama has neither.

Barack Obama will win NH with 37%

Hillary will be probably second but maybe third

Obama 08 lets change washington, lets get the people involved!

Hello, Ron none of those Presidents: Lincoln, Washington,….. were trying or had to fix a country like ours on the 21st century!!! They did not need the experience required now.

Jimmy in Iowa, Sorry to hear about your son. Stop it now before it leads to something else. I do have to say blaming this on Obama is a cop-out! Not one word has been uttered or written to indicate he will legalize marijuana! You asked how you argue with your son because of his "Obama did it" arguement.. FOR ME, the answer it simple, you don't argue, you are the father! Your son was involved in an illegal activity and really needs to understand the consquences, the very least are health issues. I wish you and your family the best!

Obama "lacks a gut level connection" with me. He is becoming more arrogant and Bushian with each rise in his poll numbers. His lackadaisical grin is so reminiscent of the Bush smirk. Bush also floats above it all as he proclaims his "my way or the highway" rule.

Republicans and all Americans need to worry. Some movements are dangerous!

Hmmm…. Let me see if CNN will censure me and decline my post again. LOL

A "cross between JFK and MLK"? Oh, PUHLEEEZE, give me a break!

Far from burying my head in the sand, I'm old enough to remember both of them and to borrow from Dick Cheney and paraphase, Obama is no JFK or MLK!!

My goodness - Martin Luther King had his own dream and wrote his own speeches about it! He had the fire and spirit to be the revolutionary he was in his life. That is why anyone who possibly can do so attempts to tie themselves to his star decades later. The string that would tie Barack Obama to said star would be a fragile one at best.

John F. Kennedy designed the original facade of Camelot, but in the decades since anyone who can read understands that it wasn't what it appeared to our country. We did not have to read about the indiscretions or the backroom deals cut by his father to secure his position as our president. This is not to diminish the greatness that surrounded JFK, it is merely the reality of the situation without the benefit of revisionist history.

The young people in this world today missed out on a powerful era in America's history and grapple to find their own equivalent. That is understandable. Please don't denegrate the legacies of their work for the American people by attaching their name to every flavor of the month before they have even begun to prove whether they are worthy.

I like Obama. I really do. He has a lot of charisma.

Unfortunately, charisma is inadequate. His biggest flaw, for me, is his tendency toward after-the-fact politics. Almost all of what we know about his positions on critical issues comes from him watching as others have made missteps and then griping loudly about it afterwards. He has no substantial record of standing up to anyone when it actually mattered.

Example: when Clinton passed her vote in the Senate to label an Iranian group a terrorist organization, Obama criticized her for it, saying he would have voted against the measure if he had bothered to show up for the vote (he was to busy campaigning in New Hampshire at the time).

Even when I disagree with a candidate on some issues, I'd rather have someone who ACTS than someone who complains about it later.

Jimmy that is about as bogus as you can get…obviously you dont know how to raise your children and the rest of us dont care that you dont…oh by the way jimmy your state already voted so you can sit down and shut us…ignorance isnt allowed on this site ok…

I am a white,republican, christian, upper middle class mother of 5, ( one an adopted daughter from Africa). I am inspired by Obama's speeches, he has charisma that none of the other s (republican or democrat) have, and when Im listening/watching him its like listening/watching MLK. I only wish he were more conservative as far as abortion and economics. I wonder if ther is substance behind the words? If he gets the nomination, I dont think any of the republicans have a chance. He's no john Kerry! Im not sure that its wise to vote based on the feelings you get from listening to him. Im not sure what I'll do on election day……

Jimmy, you can't overdose on marijuana. This is sort of beside the point, but marijuana really is no more harmful than alcohol.

To answer your question, though, tell your son exactly what Obama said about his past: That it was a stupid decision and a mistake. Obama is not for legalizing pot; he's said in fact that the only reason he got where he is today is because he GAVE UP the stuff.

They should be VERY worried.

I caucussed for Barrack Obama in Iowa, just to latter catch my son smoking a jiont. During my reaction and punishment he argued back that it was ok to smoke Pot because Obama did and he is going to be President and will legalize it. So how do I argue with this. The only choice I have is to try to get Obama to explain to my child and the children around the United States that he used his past exsperence as a vote getter. A political stunt that could create a loss of life for some child with an overdose of drugs. America, Barrack made a very large mistake at the expense of our children he DOES NOT NEED TO BE PRESIDENT> THAT WOULD SEND THE WRONG MESSAGE TO OUR YOUTH. I can not take back my vote, but can do every thing I can to get this message out. I have changed my position to John Edwards, until I watched the debate. Now I will Support SENATOR CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES> Barrack go lead Kenya. You have as much tie there as you have her

Hey, I hear he gave a speech once… so apparantly that makes him qualified to be president.

Its a republican plot. John Mccain can easily beat Obama and the swift boaters in Texas are just waiting for his nomination.

Obama is a member of the United Church of Christ…. not Trinity!

I'm beginning to think he could beat any Republican out there except maybe John McCain.
Earlier this month I heard about him and wasn't sure if he would be electable but now as I listen to more and more of his speeches I think he is.

They all need to embrace Barack Obama.

Many have commented that this anonymous message hides the truth that Republicans really want Barack Obama to win the Democratic nomination. I'm proud to say that I couldn't agree with the Republicans more. I too, really want and need Mr. Obama to be our next president.

Mr. Obama inspires a wisdom of courage to have the audacity to seek victory in the weather of doubt. Through his words and actions he has manifested a leadership quality that has suaded even those that do not call his membership to cast him in the light of national attention. This quality: Is it not what we need in the halls of legislation and at the tables of negotiation?

Great is the number of Americans that can find within themselves a good they no longer wish to hide. With direction that collective will be a force to be feared by our enemies and will be a regained respect from our friends.

No one man nor one woman can affect this national change. The personal hopes, dreams and desires of the masses are what fuel the movement of growth. My Republican friends do not and should not fear the man, Barack Obama. They fear his leadership will so resoundlingly kindle the death of status quo.

I'm confused now. Maybe Obama would make a better and more useful inspirational minister rather than a vetted leader of complicated nation. It's nice to know that ideology and sermons have their place in our society but it still seems to be a little tricky in separating idealism from the reality of governing.

Everyone who opposes Obama talks about experience. Our current president had no experience relatively speaking and was elected. The key to running the country is to surround yourself with smart people who are well versed in their respective fields. It appears Obama has the appeal to get those individuals interested in serving their country as the money they could make in the private sector is significantly greater.
Once a team is assembled one must have the intellect to analyze information and then make proper decisions based upon the advice given. Bush is a "C" student at best while Obama is an "A" student. History has shown Bush didn't and still doesn't listen to those providing him advice. A good leader will listen to those who have superior knowledge and expertise because that is why they are there in the first place.
If one is naive enough to think one person is smart enough to make all the decisions while in the White House based soley on their own intelligence they can easily be swayed by a generic excuse or spin ," that person has no experience". I suggest one take a look at the choices the candidates have made in their public and private lives and then try to determine the reasons they made them. That will provide some insight on what type of leader they will make. Prior to making up my mind, I plan to do the proper due dilligence. If Obama is the one I will vote for him. I will not cast my vote for a lesser candidate because someone says my choice can't win.

Obama is half white and half black, no matter how he looks. I'd like some demostration on his allegiance to his mother and all the close white relatives he must have. The white side of his family raised him…… his father abandoned him. If he's for all the people, how about giving equal time to all the people , since he's a part of all of us….

Did someone say "experience?" Senator Obama has substantially more experience in the federal government than Abraham Lincoln had. Or George Washington, or Woodrow Wilson, or Teddy Roosevelt, or… I hope you get the point!

What I am finding interesting is that all the smears and innuendos that Republicans (and Democrats) are hurling at Senator Obama are not sticking with the voters. This includes that old, tired, irrelevant saw, "He's inexperienced."

Maybe Obama can even handle and survive the inevitable GOP 2008 Swiftboat-style attacks.

And here is a counterpoint to the article from Newsmax listed above.

Is NewsMax Corrupt?
Using the standards NewsMax itself applies to the New York Times, absolutely.

By Terry Krepel
Posted 9/6/2002

For an organization whose journalistic values hover pretty close to those of its Florida tabloid neighbors, NewsMax sure does get all hot and bothered about the journalistic standards of others.

An Aug. 20 article takes the New York Times to task for allegedly distorting comments by Henry Kissinger to make it appear he is against the apparently imminent war against Iraq. It's actually a compilation of three other articles on the subject: columns by Russ "Mugger" Smith in the New York Press and syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer and an editorial in the Washington Times. It starts with a quote from Smith that "It's only a slight stretch to state definitively that the New York Times is a corrupt institution" and goes from there in the direction you'd expect.

The Washington Times excerpt touches on its accusing the New York Times of "willful misrepresentation" and "intellectual slovenliness." NewsMax then summarizes: "Noting that the New York Times is the pre-eminent newspaper in America (and probably the world), the Washington Times said that it has 'a singular responsibility to get its stories right.'"

The WashTimes criticism, of course, rings rather hollow in the wake of its own intellectual slovenliness with its willful misrepresentation of the National Education Association's suggested lesson plans for teaching about the events of Sept. 11 (which the Daily Howler and Spinsanity have dissected). Then again, no one's accusing the Washington Times of being the pre-eminent newspaper in America, let alone Washington, so any "responsibility to get its stories right" is apparently not a high priority to folks like Times employees and NewsMax editors. (And, wouldn't you know it, Laura Ingraham parrots the WashTimes line in her Aug. 20 NewsMax commentary.)

The NewsMax article concludes by saying "it's no stretch at all" to call the New York Times corrupt. Which begs the question: If distortion of another's views is all it takes to be a "corrupt institution," what does that make NewsMax?

So corrupt it's the poster boy for a journalistic RICO statute.

Proof? Let's take a quick tour of the ConWebWatch archives:

It distorts reality by running only negative news about its political enemies and avoiding bad news about its political friends.
it spent a lot of time misrepresenting Judicial Watch press releases as NewsMax stories.
NewsMax CEO Christopher Ruddy presented tabloid rumors as fact in stating the Clintons were selling their house in New York. Today, long after the story can be calling nothing but false, it remains on NewsMax, and it has never published a correction or apology. (Even the New York Times issued a clarification of its Kissinger article. When was the last time you saw NewsMax correct anything?)
NewsMax tried to distort reality even more than usual immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks by ham-handedly denouncing anything that could be remotely construed as criticism of President Bush with terms starting with "anti-Americanism" and going all the way to "treason."
NewsMax's use of willful misrepresentation (that phrase is getting a workout here, isn't it?) continues as we speak in its distortion of remarks made by Bill Clinton to plug its latest anti-Clinton book. One recent headline promoting the book on NewsMax's front page declared, "Clinton Blamed America, Christians for 9-11." He, of course, did no such thing; he cited unpleasant events in American history such as slavery and the taking of land from Native Americans as an example of the long history of terror even as he expressed his support to President Bush's antiterror refforts. Even the Wall Street Journal defended Clinton on this, sort of. NewsMax would rather sell books than tell the truth.

NewsMax is so consumed by its biases and distortions that it no longer sees them for they are, if indeed it ever did. An example of this is a Sept. 3 column by Ruddy in which he notes that "A left-wing magazine recently made some snide remarks about NewsMax, noting that we are the heirs to the ideological legacy of Ronald Reagan." (What, Ruddy is suddenly offended by snide remarks?) The commentary to which Ruddy refers appeared in February in the American Prospect, and Ruddy distorts it horribly. That commentary, by Brendan Nyhan, never declared NewsMax "heirs to the ideological legacy of Ronald Reagan"; it cites NewsMax as proof that "the right's cynical exploitation of Ronald Reagan's legacy has always been something of a race to the bottom" and adding that "it's certainly questionable that (Reagan) would endorse NewsMax … as the key to his legacy."

Then there's the occasional actual legal question involved, as with its recent overenthusiastic promotion of the re-election of New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith. NewsMax toned it down considerably in recent days (not that ConWebWatch is taking credit…), but the "intellectual slovenliness" it employs in the service of its ideology is apparently too inbred to be stopped.

The lead of a Sept. 1 story gushes that "The latest statewide poll in New Hampshire shows U.S. Sen. Bob Smith in a virtual tie against challenger Congressman John Sununu." That's the last we hear of that poll in the story, the rest of which is dedicated to describing Smith's latest ad campaign. The poll statistics nor the poll's conductor are never mentioned.

Wherever it was conducted, it wasn't in a New Hampshire that exists in this particular universe, if another poll is any indication. This one, conducted in conjunction with New Hampshire's top TV station, puts Sununu a whopping 22 points ahead of Smith.

NewsMax is journalistically corrupt, all right — but in an incompetent, John Gotti Jr. kind of way.

Long time liberal lefty, I think Hillary is too mean and too centrist to inspire the left, but she does a great job at ticking off the right. I think she is a lose/ lose proposition.

If Obama was 100 years old like McCain, then he'd have the same amount of experience.

i dissagree clint has alllllllll of what is needed to run this country

you're probably right Lynn, but it's up to us to not let that become an issue. We are today's society and we can make the changes as long as we don't let issues like that get over the top of our heads. I'm not sure who I'm voting for, but if i do end up with Obama, I will not let that get in my way.

I was very pro Clinton until I learned the history of the Bush's family and regime. Now Bill who I had much respect for has buddied up with Daddy Bush. That makes me uncomfortable. I will be voting for Obama because the Clinton's and Bush's have the same goals. A New world order.

The Republicans are praying that Obama gets the election, they know they can get their southern base and the radical racists out in record numbers to vote, I believe he would make a outstanding president but also believe he can not win in a general election today….John Edwards is the onbly viable option in today's world for the democrats to win the white house.

OBAMA WHO ?????

Why would the republicans make all this talk about Obama if they're really not feeling the pressure from him? All of a sudden, all republicans are talking about "change", and they can't finish a sentence without the word "change" if their lives depended on it. By the way, most of you are right; Hillary is the true candidate they don't want to go against; they truly won't want to go against someone that would cry them to sleep… if she's crying now, imagine when things get tougher down the road.

For you nitwits that believe you dont need experience in governement or foreign policy to run the USA..Here is a stupid question why is it you need experience when applying for a management position in any corporation or need good grades to get into Med school or law school?? ..Hey libs stop trying to lower conditions and standards and stop pandering to blacks as well..He needs experience in governing he has none.I dont trust some grassroots activist, one year in the senate to run the country especially with open borders which your democrat congres failed to do, a surging war that continues.this guy has no clue

There are white people who are racist, that does not mean whites as whole r racist, and Obamas campaign and appearances show just how much the people are willing to change their own views to unite for a common cause. Dr. Wright never once said in what you posted that he hated white people, or that he was racist. He simply stated his concerns and/or beliefs that white people are racist against blacks. Stop seeing what you want to see, but what's actually written. I will admit that his comments about 9-11 were very short-sighted. However, if Obama was completely loyal to this man and if he completely embraced everything this man said, then why wouldnt he let him speak. He knows Dr. Wright's comments would affect the election, yes, but in the way i interpreted it through this article and through Obama's campaign as a whole, he does not embrace the fact that its 'just blacks'." He embraces the church but he has faith in the American people to prove Dr. Wright and the other followers that this country is bigger than that. The views of a handful of white people are not the views of the rest of the country. In saying that, the views of a handful of black people are also not the views of the rest of the country or, more importantly, Mr. Obama.

"This country will NEVER elect a black, muslim president. I am black and a christian and would NEVER vote for him if he is truly muslim. I don't know if that is a rumour or truth."

No, you know that it's a lie, which is why you're trying to help spread it. There is no uncertainty, Obama is a devout Christian.

OBAMA = CHANGE yeh if you like high taxes, decreased military spending, not balancing the budget open borders..Look people he is a liberal no matter what color he is he is , he is still the enemy ..I watched cnn the debates and loved what he said reminded of Bush…

Charlie Gibson: Senator Obama , if you had intelligence to the fact you knew where OSAMA BIn Laden was at and ,that intel claimed he was held up in Pakistan would you ask Musharaff for permission to wage war???

Obama: No i would go right in and kill everything in sight.

Well sounds like a preemptive strike to me and guess what charlie gibson agrees to and avid liberal supporter…The guy( Obama) is an empty suit..he has no clue he is just alot of words and emotions his rel job should go to hollywood and become a singer or something.

P.S. There's two Ls in Hillary. Mah bad.

I suppose I don't really have a horse in this race as I am a Canadian. However, after watching CNN coverage this weekend (including the ABC debate), I can see much of the media is "doing it again". They gave GWB a pass in the 2004 election - they're doing the same with Obama. No tough questions for him at all (although it is difficult to ask questions of someone who never appears other than in a stump speech).

If he becomes the Dem nominee, I hope he's ready to cope with the Republican attack dogs - they will be at him with everything they've got.

The word "experience" (just like "change") is worthless without context. Politicians love to use people's ignorance to their advantage… and they do it well.

That being said, though, we should all take a moment to think of the other side of the coin. Just what have "experienced" people done for us lately? That Rumsfeld guy sure had a lot of "experience." Remember Tom DeLay? Dick Cheney has so much "experience" in his head, there's no more room left to learn about gun safet… nevermind.

Think of some of the more remarkable leaders throughout world history. Only a portion of them had all this political experience that's supposed to be the asset that is more important than any other. Some examples?:

-The first Queen Elizabeth surely didn't have any experience being in charge of what would become the most powerful empire in the world, but had PLENTY of knowhow when it came to dealing with PEOPLE. Obama shares that trait, among his other qualities.

-George Washington knew much about many things, but had he ever run a brand new country with a brand new type of government before?

-Did MLK or Ghandi ever have previous experience leading gigantic peaceful civil rights movements directly against violent opposition?

I'm not trying to say that experience isn't a valuable asset. I'm just pointing out that it should be considered among, and equal to, a dozen other criteria. Like I pointed out earlier, there's plenty of idiots in Washington who have political experience.

Obama has plenty of experience in dealing with many different things, but he just hasn't been a politician at the federal level for as long as she. A weak point if you look at the whole picture.

Hilary is pushing this because Obama simply outshines her in several other catagories.

Hey Dems and Gop: U think that these ones in Iowa and NH just dont like their candidates as in the dem party and why he is gettng the attention..remember one thing 50%%%% dont care to much for Hillary, ok. and , yes he is going to do well in the next 4 primaries but , he has nothing for the repubs the guy is all speech and nothing more than that..

Regarding Obama: the whole "inexperience" complaint is really–for lack of a better word–lame; what it comes down to is our country needs a new leader altogether (our failure in Iraq suffices, though, if time allowed, I'd add quite a few more reasons why it's time for a Democrat to be in the Oval Office), and that Obama doesn't have the most padded resume (or however you want to phrase it) is not enough to legitimately undermine his other accomplishments and good potential presidential-traits. He's got that Andrew Jackson "common man" quality about him and I think he definitely can win over more than just Democrats if he ends up being the nominee. And, to call a spade a spade, our next president is going to be either Hilary or Obama, so everyone really has to put an end to this "America's not ready…" catch-phrase. By this point in the game I think it's fair to say that argument has been rendered null and void.

OBAMA ALERT: Read this fellow republicans i seen this interview on 60 minutes

Barack Obama's Racist Church
If Sen. Obama rejects the Rev. Wright’s warped view of this country, why does he continue to attend his church?

Monday, January 7, 2008 10:16 AM

By: Ronald Kessler Article Font Size

Imagine if Mitt Romney’s church proclaimed on its website that it is “unashamedly white.”

The media would pounce, and Romney’s presidential candidacy would be over. Yet that is exactly what Barack Obama’s church says on its web site — except in reverse.

“We are a congregation which is unashamedly black and unapologetically Christian,” says the Trinity United Church of Christ’s website in Chicago. “We are an African people and remain true to our native land, the mother continent, the cradle of civilization.”

That’s just the beginning. The church has a “non-negotiable commitment to Africa,” according to its website, and its pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. subscribes to what is called the Black Value System.

While the Black Value System includes such items as commitment to God, education, and self-discipline, it refers to “our racist competitive society” and includes the disavowal of the pursuit of “middle-classness” and a pledge of allegiance to “all black leadership who espouse and embrace the Black Value System.” It defines “middle-classness” as a way for American society to “snare” blacks rather than “killing them off directly” or “placing them in concentration camps,” just as the country structures “an economic environment that induces captive youth to fill the jails and prisons.”

In sermons and interviews, Dr. Wright has equated Zionism with racism and Israel with South Africa under its previous policy of apartheid. On the Sunday after 9/11, Wright said the attacks were a consequence of violent American policies. Four years later, Wright suggested that the attacks were retribution for America’s racism.

“In the 21st century, white America got a wake-up call after 9/11/01,” Wright wrote in a church-affiliated magazine. “White America and the western world came to realize that people of color had not gone away, faded into the woodwork or just ‘disappeared’ as the Great White West kept on its merry way of ignoring black concerns.”

In one of his sermons, Wright said, “Racism is how this country was founded and how this country is still run!…We [in the U.S.] believe in white supremacy and black inferiority and believe it more than we believe in God.”

As for Israel, “The Israelis have illegally occupied Palestinian territories for over 40 years now,” Wright has said. “Divestment has now hit the table again as a strategy to wake the business community and wake up Americans concerning the injustice and the racism under which the Palestinians have lived because of Zionism.”

Obama says he found religion and Jesus Christ through Wright, whom he met in the mid-1980s. He has been attending Wright’s church regularly since 1988.

The church occupies a tan building on West 95th Street near a public housing project and railroad tracks. Since becoming pastor in 1972, Wright has seen the church’s membership grow to more than 8,500. The church is the largest congregation in the United Church of Christ, a predominantly white denomination known for its liberal politics.

In 1991, Obama joined the church and walked down the aisle in a formal commitment of faith. Wright later married Obama and Michelle Robinson and baptized their two daughters.

The title of Obama’s bestseller “The Audacity of Hope” comes from one of Wright’s sermons. Wright is one of the first people Obama thanked after his election to the Senate in 2004.

But Obama’s life does not exactly support Wright’s thesis that blacks in America are oppressed. A Harvard Law School graduate, Obama married a black Princeton graduate who also has a degree from Harvard Law School. Obama is a U.S. senator from Illinois; his wife is a vice president of the University of Chicago Hospitals. With his wife, Obama has been making more than $1 million a year.

On a few points, Obama has sought to distance himself from Wright’s teachings or explain them away. While Wright is his pastor and friend, Obama has said, they do not see eye to eye on everything. In particular, Obama has said he “strongly disagrees with any portrayal of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that advocates divestment from Israel or expresses anything less than strong support for Israel’s security.”

As for Wright’s repeated comments blaming America for the 9/11 attacks, Obama has said it sounds as if the minister was trying to be “provocative.”

Just before Obama’s nationally televised campaign kickoff rally last Feb. 10, the candidate disinvited Wright from giving the public invocation. Wright explained: “When [Obama’s] enemies find out that in 1984 I went to Tripoli” to visit Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, “a lot of his Jewish support will dry up quicker than a snowball in hell.”

According to Wright, Obama then told him, “'You can get kind of rough in the sermons, so what we’ve decided is that it’s best for you not to be out there in public.'” But privately, Obama and his family prayed with Wright just before the presidential announcement.

To his credit, Obama so far has avoided race-specific appeals as part of his candidacy, accounting in part for his widespread appeal.

Obama “has taught the black community you don’t have to act like Jesse Jackson, you don’t have to act like Al Sharpton,” conservative commentator Bill Bennett said on CNN on Jan. 3. “You can talk about the issues. [Obama has] great dignity.”

But if Obama rejects Wright’s warped view of this country, why does he continue to attend his church, raising the question of whether Obama secretly agrees with his friend and mentor? At the least, Obama’s membership in Wright’s church suggests a lack of judgment and an insensitivity to views that are repugnant to the vast majority of white Americans who are not bigots.

That same lack of judgment has shown up in Obama’s gaffes—threatening to invade Pakistan and offering prompt negotiations with anti-American despots. More frightening, Obama voted last August to give Osama bin Laden and other terrorists the same rights as Americans when it comes to intercepting their overseas calls in order to pick up clues needed to stop another attack.

Jen Psaki, a spokesman for Obama’s campaign, has tried to paper over the candidate’s support of the Black Value System by saying that Obama “believes its basic tenets of commitment to God, to community, to self-discipline and self-reliance continue to have applicability not only to the African-American community but to all people.”

But that is not what the Black Value System says. One can only imagine the outrage that would erupt if a white presidential candidate like Romney subscribed to something called the White Value System. Yet while Obama has been referred to in the media tens of thousands of times in the past month, only one story in the Concord Monitor in New Hampshire offhandedly mentioned Obama’s church’s “unashamedly black” slogan.

In contrast, in an exquisite example of the double standard they apply to Democrats versus Republicans, the media love to focus on Romney’s religion, which is not relevant to how he would perform as president. Close to half the media references to Romney refer to the fact that he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Very few of them mention that he is both a Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School graduate, credentials that are relevant to how he would perform as president.

When Romney’s father ran for president, his religion was not an issue simply because the media rightly recognized that it was not pertinent to his candidacy. Today, as part of their coverage of Romney, the media run denigrating quotes about Mormonism that they would never dare to run about any other religion. At the same time, the media have largely ignored or downplayed the clearly racist slogan of Obama’s church and the anti-American and anti-Israel stances of its pastor.

In two exceptions to the media blackout, Tucker Carlson of MSNBC described Trinity as having a “racially exclusive theology” that “contradicts the basic tenets of Christianity.” Sean Hannity of Fox News confronted Wright on TV and asked how a black value system is any more acceptable than a white value system.

If a white presidential candidate’s church had a similar statement and “you substitute the word black for white, there would be an outrage in this country,” Hannity said. “There would be cries of racism in this country.'”

“If your spiritual advisor makes outrageous statements, it’s incumbent on you as a leader to denounce those statements,” says Brad Blakeman, a former Bush White House aide who heads the conservative Freedom’s Watch. “Silence is an admission that you agree with what your spiritual advisor pronounces.”

If his church membership calls into question Obama’s judgment, the dichotomy in the coverage of his and Romney’s religious affiliations spotlights the media’s double standard and how its skewed reporting influences who will become president.

But media bias or not, if Obama is his party’s nominee, his Republican opponent will rightly be able to make use of Rev. Wright and his radical teachings as effectively as supporters of George H.W. Bush used Willie Horton’s furlough to help Bush win the presidency.

Ronald Kessler is chief Washington correspondent of Newsmax.com. View his previous dispatches and have them sent to you free via e-mail. Go here now.

© 2008 Newsmax. All rights reserved.

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I pity you SRB. Obama will be the Democratic nominee and he will be President of the United States.

Barack Obama is not a Muslim. Go read his website, or any of the other millions of websites that have discussed this right-wing hate radio myth to death. Please, people, get some accurate information!

im so sick of hearing these comments about Obama's church and religious ideas. The fact that he is apart of a church that takes pride and pledges allegiance to its own people does not mean that this man is a racist, nor does it mean that if elected we will see all black advisors, or any other situation you people are portraying. I'm a white Lutheran, but that doesnt mean I hate Catholics. Basically, you people are saying that its good to belong to a church, but not one that takes pride in black values. That line of thought is what has brought this country down. Granted, not necessarily totally blacks vs. whites but being divisive. Republicans vs. Democrats, blacks vs. whites, and now Religions vs. Religions treasuring the values of its own people. You all need to grow up and realize that it does NOT have to be blacks vs. whites anymore. And, with Obamas campaign, it no longer has to be Republicans vs. Democrats, this man is unifying the country and hes not even in office yet. Look at his speeches, his appearances, you see blacks and whites, Republicans and Democrats and even Independents standing together putting differences aside and the past in the rear view mirror. Obama is inspiring, and i believe he has ALREADY made this country better. This is a special time to be an American, cant you just accept it and unify with the rest of the country?

If Obama can do this to Hillary, just image what he can do to the lying Republicans.

BARACK THE VOTE!!

Both parties have spent the better part of 25 years running on whatever dirt they can find on their opponent. It doesn't take a "Liberal" to spend more, or produce a bigger government. Being a "Conservative" doesn't mean you don't care about people. Being a Democrat or Republican is about rewarding your friends. Talking Heads in the media and politics try to add more issues by saying Iowa has to much control and little diversity to be first. I think the past years have proven we have as much to do with picking the winner as any other state. New Hampshire or any other state doesn't follow our lead they choose by what is important to them. The media and politicians need to figure this out. Barack will do well because he is truly out to change the way things are done. I see a lot of insults thrown both ways here. We need to get out of the mode of winning and into the mode of what is good for the country as a whole.

Let the republicans relax…its only One state Victory.
Wait till we knock down NH, SC and Navada, you'll know what the Mo is all about.

So far, they have just a few minor issues as brought up in this article but little did they know that Obama and his campaign are going to dig up every dirt on the republicans,
they will look ugly and embarrassed when we unearth their mess…

Thanks for the report CNN by "annonymous". Was it "annonymous" who reported that Kucinich and Richardson were sending there supporters over to Obama as second choices at the Iowa caucuses or Obama's "pure as driven snow" campaign organizers?

Obama doesn't need to resort to negative campaigning - he's had his wife do it for him from the get-go, so he can smile and play nice. I beleive he did get his nose in it when he "piled on" with Edwards et. al. during some of the debates and for some time after that until Oprah rescued him from the more obvious dirty politics as usual of which he is so innocent.

I'm sure the Republicans would love to see him win the Democratic elections so they can have a field day with him. Hillary is a seasoned and tough nut for them to crack.

As far as Iowans go, who pride themselves as having evolved from their pitchfork days, it seems that they have replaced those pitchforks with television sets, as has much of the rest of this nation, as they sit in front of these tubes mesmerized by poltically corrected images, gleened personalities and lofty rhetoric. What do they know about inner city tensions, ghetto mentalities, the violence and crime, the attitudes? Does Obama promise to unite us on that front as well or just the republicans and democrats.

I'll take Hillary's crummy personality any day. At least it's real. Her run for the office may have historic or gender overtones but her main concern is the state of this nation. She and Bill have worked their butts off as public servants and there is a genuine concern about the mess we're in now. Her bid is to try to correct that mess and it is scary to think what a novice like Obama could do even if he does win against a Republican war monger.

"annonymous" in NYC

I have been so delighted to see Barack Obama in the lead for the Democratic Party. Though I am a registered Independent, I will keep praying for him to be running for his party and winning the nomination. He will be getting my vote for sure and I am so proud to say that. He is truly the candidate for the change this country is desperate to finally attain. Good luck to Senator Obama and his beautiful family.

Obama is well versed, he is a people person, sincere about bringing a positive change in America, and has the voice of the people. America is terrified that we might have a black man leading our great USA! Go Obama GO!!!

This country will NEVER elect a black, muslim president. I am black and a christian and would NEVER vote for him if he is truly muslim. I don't know if that is a rumour or truth.

good points yet when one breaks down any national poll against any of the front running republican candidates Mr. Obama does not even break John Kerry’s numbers with Hispanic voters *(when you look at the cross tabs). The Hispanic vote is something the dems need to take advantage because republican’s xenophobia this election cycle. Mr. Bush won in 04 because he increased his vote totals with Hispanics by 11 points verves his 00 numbers. Also, I don’t see Mr. Obama being able to pick up the rural vote in Ohio or Pennsylvania because of his strong liberal views on the 2nd amendment

I am an independent voter. I am from Chicago and am really excited about Obama, however he simply does not have the experience to lead our nation. If he were to run in 2012 with 4 more years of Senate experience, then I believe that he could sweep the elections and sway independents like myself to his side. He would be a perfect Vice President. Mitt Romney appears too polished and too pro-corporate/big business and will probably lose to Obama or Clinton in the General election. Republicans need to elect someone who can win in the General Elections. I feel that McCain is the only candidate with the experience and honesty that we can trust to lead our country. He is the only Republican that can win in the General Election.

I am a Hillary Fan all the way! How realistic is it for a Top Republican official to "announce" that Obama would be the only person to beat the Republicans in a General Election if it were true? I truly believe irregardless of the Democratic nominee the democrats will win the next Presidential Election. I vote for Hillary but I wouldnt mind Obama. Just dont give us Edwards, UGH!

Let me know when Michael Bloomberg enters the race.

It's going to come down to McCain vs. Obama

Obama will win the popular vote.

McCain will win the electoral vote.

Let's face it people, none of the candidates democrat or republicans are appealing! Who are they kidding. They are all controlled by powerful lobbyists. What chance do we have of really getting what we need. Take your pick. Who is really going to represent the common person? Is personality what we are looking for?

I want to see Romney and Obama in a one on one debate. Obama won't know what hit him.

If John Edwards is so concerned about the middle class and the veterans sleeping under bridges, why does he continue to live in a mansion? Why hasn't he given the vast majority of his fortune, won in court cases, back to the people who need it more? I can understand keeping a couple of million for himself and his family, but why not give back the vast majority?

I would really enjoy hearing his answer to this question.

Clinton may want change from the Bush adminsitration, but I don't believe she wants change in DC. Her "experience" has her so entrenched in the political norm of DC, she is lost to the reality of life for the majority of Americans.

Obama seems to be the most in touch, the newest kid on the block, without the life of luxury to shield him from the reality of American life. Sure, he has no doubt had a windfall over the past few years with his books and new found famed, but I believe strongly that he understands life in middle America, and hasn't forgotten what most American's endure every day.

Obama…for America!

A recent WSJ poll showed that 69% of Caucasian Americans feel that America is ready for an African American president.

What party do you think that 95% of the remaining 31% belong to?
It's not like their vote was ever in play.

Given that, trust me, the Republicans are very worried about running against Obama.

In regards to experience! It's amazing that all those republican and democratic presidential hopefuls with all the so-called experience,NEVER agree!!! One would have to believe that since they have all the experience and Obama has none, then they would all be together on the war, universal health care, and all our domestic problems. Unfortunately, we know that's nowhere near the truth. Let's give him a chance.

You have my vote!!!!
OBAMA 08!

i think Obama is exactly what this country needs…i feel bad for all he will have to endure to get to that goal…I hope he can keep his vision and passion throughout the race,,,,

Don't worry about Obuma. Worry who we will choose as a republican candidate. As long as Hitlery isn't elected on the lib side. Go Mitt!

all the rhetoric is great… but the people are beginning to let their will be known. OBAMA '08!

Lance in Monrovia: America is the greatest nation on earth? Oh PU-LEEZ…look around buddy…limited or non-exsistent health care; poverty, extremely high crime rates/high profile mall-murders, 70% black americans children born to one parent families; rampant ignorance; racial intolerance; terroist attacks; political corruption and disorganization; unlimited arrogance and narcissism….etc…etc… YEA…nice place! HA! I will NEVER visit America. NEVER.

THAHK GOD FOR OBAMA.

Very few people vote tactically (thank goodness). Sometimes they can have the oddest reasons for casting their vote a particular way; but generally, people look at the candidates, talk with their friends, and then vote for the candidate they truly believe in.

The candidate who inspires them, unifies them, and shows that he cares more about them than about himself, is likely to get their support - despite any amount of dirty tricks, racist attacks, and accusations of inexperience from people who spent a lot of time in the corridors of power, without an achievement they could call their own.

Age and experience are good things, but they aren't everything. It often happens in life, that the right person for the job is intelligent and energetic, but also relatively young, inexperienced, and idealistic - such a person is more likely to search for solutions to the problems, rather than simply bleating that 'experience shows' there's NO solution, no chance of change, no hope.

I want CHANGE… I just don't think that Obama is the right man for the job. I don't vote in primaries or general elections based on a candidates charisma, buzz-factor or ability to "wow" crowds.

Stop squabbling over Clinton and Obama and click below to read about REAL change… the John Edwards way.

http://www.johnedwards.com/issues/

Change that is achievable, without fluff and rhetoric- without Oprah and without a cent of PAC money!

People want change but want things to remain the same….want peace but killing everything different…….Think they are Right when they are dead wrong……Want mercy but can't pronounce it when it comes to others……..People are only scared when they think of what they have done to others…….why should I be scared I haven't done a thing…….This country isn't ready for change not until it goes through a little more…..it needs more so that eyes can turely awaken and light can truely come in…….If OBAMA did win I mean really became President, I think this country would make it the most disasterous presidency of all time..even it someone had to blow up something or make a deal with the enemies of this nation…..I don't believe this place is ready…….its still too racist to produce anything decent…….People are so ungodly sometimes it make me wonder why I fight to keep it all alive………maybe it should be gone and done away with so a new day can flourish where todays ideas of race, color, and status is silly, selfish and basically unintelligent………Alot of us suffer from (MBD) minimal brain dysfunction to believe some of the stories our mothers, fathers, and friends tell us about one another………its sad when a few can speak for 30 Million nowadays…….This place needs so much more than a President!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It needs divine intervention……Mercy and change is what we need………we need to show mercy to others and create change from within……….A President that does that will possible be destroyed because people are so evil and bitter in this world……….I Pray for You OBAMA this place is not ready…………….It forgets how all great nation begin…With murder, lies, deceit, distruction, and hatred……but our greatest lesson will soon be learned………..Oh why we insist on learnin the hard way, but we will learn! Its so much more than what people are caught up on…….the change comes from within…….

Joyce Said : January 7, 2008 10:07 am ET

"Please check out the church that obama belong to when he was a muslim and how it only allows blacks to become members. The information on this church is on the internet. I think it is something that needs to be address."

Will you people PLEASE knock this crap off. HE HAS NEVER BEEN A MUSLIM. His father was a atheist and his mother a Christian. He has always been a Christian.

I am so sick of people talking about Mr. Obama's inexperience. We supposedly have some of the most experienced people in power at the moment. And what of it? Having recently spent two years in a European country that is supposedly one of our allies, I can tell you that the world's opinion of America in general has greatly diminshed due to the irreprehensible behavior of the current administration. I have been volunteering for Obama, and let me say, he may not have all the experience of a Cheney or an Ashcroft, so what? All I can do if he is elected is thank my lucky stars he doesn't.

I think Obama has what it takes to lead this great nation into prosperity.After all, there is a drop of all of us in this great man

I am stunned that so many on here are so willing to believe in these ridiculous media conspiracy theories. If you don't think that Obama's victory and fantastic speech had an impact on both sides, just listen to Tony Blankley who referred to him as a cross between JFK and MLK (TB is as far from being a liberal as you can get). Anyone who discounts his chances is simply burying their head in the sand.

In my humble opinion, I think those most opposed to Obama are those who wish to continue to grind the same axe that has been at the wheel since about 1992. Namely, they are not satisfied yet and want to draw even more blood from their "opponent". The Dems want justice and retribution from the wrongs that were committed against the Clintons, Bush's arrogance, etc. The Republicans want blood after the treatment of Bush, the lies of Clinton, etc. Obama is the main candidate who says that we need to move past this and come together. Sure, 10-20% will remain on the fringe left and right, but the rest can find common ground.

Obama is not perfect, but I think he is exactly the type of man that we need to move us past this ugly period of hyper-partisanship into a period where we can all see ourselves as Americans once again.

THE TIME HAS COME!!! This guy holds much promise for our country. I have never been this excited about a candidate nor have I had so much respect for one. As a past republican, the time has come!!! Go Obama!

lol…"Republicans fear Obama"??? Hardly. THIS here "Republican" supports Mitt Romney as his 1st choice, and Obama as his second choice.

I'd suspect that other than the *usual* religious bigot (anti-Jew/Catholic/Mormon), racial bigot (white supremacist) crusaders on the extreme Right, and the commie/jihadi Ah'smadatDad/Hugo/Castro/Putin loving, Jew/Christian/American/democracy hating extreme Leftistas…MOST people want a SANE person such as Obama/Romney/Thompson!!!

Go Mitt. But if you don't get in, I'll be quite content with Obama in your place ….cheers to all you leftistas…. have great year, eh.

Those that don't trust this article and believe it's the GOP trying to fire up Obama's base because he's more beatable than Hillary in the general: you're thinking about it too much.

I'm an Obama fan, and I believe this anonymous GOP staffer completely. It's clear that Obama is far more electable than Hillary. The Hillary Hate machine is gigantic, and Obama just doesn't have anywhere near that much negative baggage nationwide. He will be our next President, and the GOP has good reason to be scared at this point.

Barack and roll!

To Lance in Monrovia:

Your comments mirror my own. I'm waking up each day feeling refreshed, revived and energized and the main reason is that I'm now beginning to see HOPE where there was NONE in the past 7 1/2 years.

Our nation, once again, has the opportunity to regain its position as the greatest nation on earth…in the real sense of the word!!!

Many of you chide Obama for his inexperience. I chide the rest of you for your ignorance AND "experience". Many Americans will agree that our country is not headed down the right path, and that is because of "experience". Many people never once cared about Obama's short time in Washington before campaigns brought it up, and that is because of ignorance.

We know how people like Hillary Clinton will operate; she is a member of the old guard. I do not want this country's executive to be in control by two families for the better of 20 years. I would rather roll the dice with someone who I know nothing about, because if "experience" got us in this position, I do not want "experience".

I'm so tired of hearing people say things like: "Obama has no chance in the general election against the republicans". That's total hogwash. They also said that he had no chance in defeating Hillary, my how that's changed as of lately. People always doubt visionaries, it comes with the territory. I'm just psyched that I for one can see past the propaganda that comes out of the Clinton camp. I feel bad for those of you who can't, and who still look up to the Clintons, even as she acts immaturely and desperately while attacking Obama. Give it up people, it's time for real change. No more of this Bush -Clinton- Bush- garbage. We've all been duped long enough. OBAMA '08!

Who says Iowa whites are the same as Southern whites??? Don't be foolish.

I continue to wonder why democrats in this forum say Obama has the best chance against the republicans. Just like the left leaning mainstream media wants Huckabee or Mcain to the the republican nominee to give the democrats the best shot, the right wing media wants Obama because there is no chance in hell he wil win against Rudy or Mitt Romney.

Come on guys, be realistic, anyone honestly believe Obama will win any southern/midwestern state?

Once he comes the official candidate, wait for the right wing media to shred him to pieces.

When the country is not doing good, people rally behind people who inspire them with talk and that's why Obama is winning the democratic nomination and people get too emotional with people who can talk inspiringly even if they lack the credentials to back up.

Being a democrat, I was hoping for Hillary/Biden ticket, and now with that seemingly not possible, I would vote for Rudy Guilian if he is the republican nominee.

Woo-who!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Obama!!!!!!!!!! We need you so bad!!!

It is time to wake up and smell the coffee. Vote for John Edwards, or risk extending the republican tenure in the white house.

I'm sorry someone from my area is so close minded. A "non-white" person just won the Democratic Primary in Iowa–a state that is what, 92% white? If not now, when? I wouldn't assume that the Republicans have a sure shot at all.

It doesn't matter if a frog goes into the White House, it'll be business as usual if the american people are not involved in issues that affect our everyday lives. On Obama's lack of experience-obviously not much is needed, since the current prez won two elections, oops, I mean one! ( with one being stolen) On Obama not being able to beat a republican-Who is the judge? God is the judge!!!!

Let's keep it straight America
Obama in 08!

Chris wrote:
I went to this website and I couldn't find anything that anyone other than a racist would find objectionable. As a Catholic I find most Protestant faiths a bit perplexing, but I don't find any of the beliefs stated on their website objectionable. Part of my territory (I'm a salesman) includes the southside of Chicago, and if you haven't been, I can tell you that it is overwhelmingly African American. However, all of the business people that I deal with there have been fantastic to deal with and I haven't felt particularly insecure in that environment. It is not surprising to me that this Church, with such strong ties to their community, would want to promote concerns that are unique to their community. Shouldn't Churches be actively dealing with local concerns? So, David, I am wondering what specifically on that website is so concerning to you? Is it strictly doctrinal or is it merely because they used the word Black?

Chris,
Thanks for the response. I too am a practicing catholic but I am not a racist. I have listened to Obama on several occasions and though I disagree with his views I listened to him as a man, not a black man. This is why I found his church message to be the racist player in this. Perhaps you should go back and read their message again.

I believe every community church should address local concerns. No church can sustain in a community without doing so. The problem here is not that the community is mostly black, it's the fact that they promote it to be. If they are truly christians then there message should be for all, not for just black, support of black roots, and the liberation of blacks. Racism would not be an issue today if the races of this country would quite playing the race card. This website is proudly playing theirs for all to see.

Also, Joyce, Sen. Obama is not nor has he ever been a muslim. Stop believing that right wing disinformation B.S. !!

What HRC and many of her supports fail to see is what "change" voters are really looking for. Obama provides hope that it doesn't always have to be politics as usual dominated by back room meetings, lobbyists and special interests. Obama is for open government and bringing power back to the people. Mrs. Clinton can put the word "change" in her slogans all she wants, but she can't offer to change the way things are done because she is a product and proponent of those exact tactics.

The Republicans will be locked and loaded if Obama gets the nomination. They will attack his record in the Senate and his general inexperience. They will more than shatter this so-called aura that has been created.

And please, stop comparing this man to JFK and Reagan — it is sickening!

I'm a Republican, but the one thing I can guarantee is this–if Huckabee wins the nomination I'll be voting outside party lines for Obama!! Huckabee's nomination is the one thing that would cause me to vote for a Democrat.

Some of the comments on this article highlight exactly why we need change in America right now. A non-white person can't become the leader of our country? Get real. I guess racism never really died in some parts of the country,

This article is a joke. The republicans are the least worried, on the contrary, they are the ones bankrolling Obamas campaign.

The republicans know their party is done, and they know Obama just doesn’t stand a chance! The strategy is to tilt the scales in their favor so that they turn around and crush the poor guy. They are so scared of HILLARY!!!!! She is their STRONGEST opponent and the only one that can beat them.

Thankfully, all this obama hype is almost at its end…The nation will speak on SUPER TUESDAY….hence, anyone with half a brain knows, IT WILL NOT BE obama

I have nearly always voted Republican. I will be supporting Barak Obama (short of anything odd) as long as he is still in the race. Here in California, I had to switch parties in order to vote for Obama in the primary. Before now, I have always been in the Republican party and plan to return ASAP.

In the National election, I will vote for Obama if he is there; if not, I will almost certainly vote for the Republican candidate. We'll see whether the Democrats will settle for the Clinton machine the way Republicans settled for the Bush machine in 2000. (I supported McCain in 2000.)

The last time I voted for a Democrat was in the 1990 election for Governor of Massachuetts. I voted for Democrat John Silber over Republican William Weld. (I'm not sure that counts, since most Republicans voted as I did.)

Matthew S
Scotts Valley, California

President Barack Obama. His name ALONE will ease some of the processes of foreign policy; show a more diverse and willing America; an America with the ability to accept change. An "all inclusive" America. His name alone incites a country that desires unification with peoples all over the world.

Inexperience….Please. How many of our past great presidents were inexperienced?

Voice of a CNN reporter:

"President Barack Obama and the FIrst Lady traveled to Iraq today…

President Obama…GET USED TO IT!!!

OBAMA '08!!!

Obama's experience is irrelevant. No President decides anything without advisers–if you can prove Obama's advisers will be inexperienced, you may have a point.

It's especially irrelevant if he picks the right VP candidate, perhaps a Wes Clark who has progressive credentials and significant military experience and is also a Rhodes Scholar and strategist.

I get a kick out of all the posts claiming the Republicans are trying to prop up Obama and hope he's the candidate because they'd fare better and win against him in the general election. Please! As things stand now, the Republicans have a very slim chance against Hillary in the general election. Against Obama, they'd have no chance at all, unless there's some hidden Gary Hart type scandal in Barack's past.

Who among the Republican candidate stiffs would beat either Hillary or Obama? None of their candidates are even remotely close to them in fundraisng; McCain for example, has hardly any money at all in the coffers, and some are saying he might emerge as a front runner. Fred Thompson doesn't seem even remotely interested in the job, Mitt Romney doesn't appeal to evangelicals, and Huckabee, while a nice guy, is not presidential material, nor does he have any backing from top Republican donors.

Obama would garner much of the independent vote along with the soccer moms, whom he tracks very favorably with. He also turned out huge numbers of young voters in Iowa, which is always a challenge for any candidate. And, he of course would receive great support from all Democrats and African Americans in the general election as well. All of these factors would spell doom for any of the Republican candidates.

For all of you saying this whole thing with Obama is some sort of Machiavellian plot by the Republicans that would assure a Republican victory, I call major B.S. That's beyond ridiculous especially when you look at the stiffs on the Republican side vying for the nomination.

Here is the bottom line;

Hillary Clinton is a cash cow to the Republican party. For months they've had nothing else to rally around except her.

Now they are scrambling, because they have no credible attack to use against Obama. Their only defense against him for months was to be mum on him, to say nothing and hope that the lack of public knowledge on Obama would make him go away.

Iowa blew away the issues of experience and electability on Obama's part.

He has proven that he can whether the storm of the Republican right, diffuse the Republican anger at the Clintons and the left in general, and bring respectability and openness back to government.

Obama is the most exciting thing to happen to the political world in the last fifty years, hands down.

His election will be a revolution in itself. He is a once in a lifetime talent and his words, his past actions and his record speaks for itself.

I'm elated by his presence on the political scene. Already he has forever changed the way the election process works.

For once, we're ignoring what the political pundits and big media has told us and we're thinking for ourselves.

The advent of the internet has made this possible. It's allowed us to take a minute by minute look at the race and get detailed information on the candidates in ways that the main stream media would like to control but no longer can.

Barack Obama is the choice of America and every day confirms that more and more.

Thank God for Barack Obama.

I'm proud to be an American today, more proud than I have been in many years.

Lance

I support Barack Obama.

Any one who buys the idea that Obama's nomination is a done deal does himslef a great disservice. I you support Obama, act as though the race is down to the wire and will be decided by a very few votes. If you support another candidate, keep giving your candidate your support and your vote until that candidate officially declares withdrawal. Don't let the press make your deicion for you.

Looking forward to voting for Obama myself, I do not think anyone can seriously think the machine won't destroy Hillary in a long general election campaign.

It's not even an open question in my mind.

He's my choice if Ron Paul doesn't get the Republican nomination…

One of our nation's greatest presidents… Abraham Lincoln… had almost exactly the same level of experience that Barack Obama has when he became president. I think people need to remember that it's not *only* experience… that makes a good leader. How you listen to others, analyze your courses of action, and craft your policies goes a long way. Bush for example… only surrrounds himself with *yes* people - people who will tell him what he wants to hear. He also ceeded true power to Dick Cheney at the start of his presidency - and look where that's taken our nation. When we look at a candidate we need to look at their role relevant to the constitution - Are they likeable? Will they be able to effectively negotiate treaties with world leaders? Are they a quick study? Are they open-minded and willing to rely on experts for opinions… or just their own? All this counts.

Obama/Biden 08

Change, Change, or remain the same (getting Worst)…..The world needs to see the words America holds so true and dear to themselves…The message it spreads across the globe….Freedom, Equality, Justice for all those kinds of things…..how can they be real when we have had the same people in office for ever…….it seems a little unfair and one sided I think…..and who's to say inexperience spells disaster I didn't hear any of that when Bush ran for office…….and who knows how many others…….OBAMA "08″………..Don't let fear make your decision for you…….people have been using fear to steer the course of many peoples decisions and they know it………don't be afraid……..Fear only comes from bullies……..learn to love and communicate and the fear is gone……..We all at the end of the day want the same things……education, jobs, benefits, and the insurance of our future……..it is only those with the hidden agendas that are causing so much trouble……..keeping so many secrets from the ones they are if you want to think protecting…..I think fresh meat is what this country has needed for years, and until then lets watch and see the same people make the same mistakes, creating the same disasters, and ultimately sending this great nation to its knees until we are forced to make friends who hate us all……..OBAMA, OBAMA, OBAMA, "08″……….he could never do worst than a Bush!!!!!!!!

Does anyone actually want to vote for someone who can RUN THE COUNTRY.

You just stick anyone in power because they are 'riding a wave' .

Its all fun and games to go 'yay' I hate Hillary and I hate McCain or Guilani . So yay i got Obama elected. Whoopie.

You also realize he has no MAGIC POWER to do anything the others cant do.

You realize that he is a politician. You all just want to talk about things that DONT MATTER . Election tactics. Speeches. Blah blah.

You fully realize you are sticking this guy in power to make ENORMOUS decisions he isnt qualified to make for our country . He has NO EXPERIENCE to become president of the united states.

In you zeal to hire someone 'not like the others' you are also stuck with him and his forest gump resume ?

Ever think you might need some EXPERIENCE and qualifications to be prez?

If you all HATE Hillary so much, VOTE FOR JOHN EDWARDS. He has the experience to run the country if we can get him elected at LEAST.

He has a chance to beat the republican candidate at least. All the TAP DANCING in the world will NOT get Obama elected.

If the Republicans get their way, Obama will be the dem candidate. STUPID STUPID STUPID .

Scott in Madison, WI speak for yourself. Hilary is the only one that can win this election for the Democrats and hit the ground running. I would hope that most voters are like myself and take at least 3 to 4 hours researching the position and voting records of each candidate. Obama talks a good talk, but this will go down as the biggest set up in American Politics, if Obama was to win the nomination the very next day the Republicans will drop the bomb on him, I have never seen them so excited about a democratic candidate because they know that democratic voters will screw it up everytime and they know that he could possible defeat their only competition, but at the end of the day when those curtains are drawn on election day, will people reallly vote for this man? Mark my words it will go down as the biggest set up in American Politics.

Scott in Madison, WI speak for yourself. Hilary is the only one that can win this election for the Democrats and hit the ground running. I would hope that most voters are like myself and take at least 3 to 4 hours researching the position and voting records of each candidate. Obama talks a good talk, but this will go down as the biggest set up in American Politics, if Obama was to win the nominatio