CNN

yes we can, yes we can, fired up, fired up, yes we can, yes we can, fired up, fired up....yada, yada, yada. All talk, no action.

Question/comments:

(1) If Barack's dad was a goatherder, what was he doing at the University of Hawaii? Do they offer goatherding as a major? His father was a student, not a goatherder. When he returned to Kenya, he was not a goatherder, either. Check your goatherding facts!

(2) Would you pay off your student loans any earlier than necessary? No!!! They come with low interest which you can write off. You'd be stupid to pay them off early. The smart thinking would be to invest at a higher rate. The poor-pitiful-me take on student loan payback just doesn't work.

I want to vote Democrat, but I have trouble reconciling myself to vote for a man I perceive to be a total fake.

obama, only you can change america. only racist and naive people are caling you names.clinton is good but the presidency is not an empire.from bush to clinton and clinton to bush and bush to clinton again? this is not a royalty. we are far from that america.

Barack Obama NEEDS to be the next President of the United States. He's a Uniter, not a divider!! YES WE CAN!!!

Economics 101

Understanding how the self-absorbed and self-destructive Clintons helped to build and then initiate the destruction of the US economy to this day.

1. Every intelligent mind should know by now that THE UNPROVOKED & ARROGANT BUSH WAR IS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF THE PRESENT DESTRUCTION OF THE US ECONOMY?

2. The huge depletion of the US treasury gives rise to inflationary pressures, weakening of the dollar and a huge loss of confidence in the fundamentals of the US economy by business people THE WORLD OVER.

3. Every alert American must have known that bush wasn't qualified to lead the nation, and that Al Gore would have continued the successful economic policies of his and the Clintons' administration.

4. So why were the American people so careless and mindless in allowing the bungling bush over Gore?

5. The American people allowed the bungling bush over Gore because they were disgusted by the Clintons misbehavior, which fouled the White House, destroyed what marriage they had and undermine the US Presidency.

6. That self-destructive behavior by the self-absorbed Clintons is what initiated the undermining of the US Presidency and allowed the bungling bush to get a chance to mindlessly wage a foolish, UNPROVOKED war that subsequently empty the national treasury and destroyed the US economy.

7. Only the most ASLEEP/careless Americans would want/wander into another round of the Clinton destructiveness. NO CLINTON THIRD TERM! END THE SELF-DESTRUCTION OF AMERICA!

Hillary is not the right choice. Not because she is a woman, but because she is disingenuous. Every single move she's made has been to become president.....she is part of the entrenched establishment. Her marriage is undoubtedly a marriage of political convenience–do you honestly think she would put up with continued public scrutiny and embarrassment from her husband unless she wanted to ride his coat tails into politics? She is probably the most hated candidate within Republican circles and will thwart Democratic efforts to gain the presidency. OBAMA and EDWARDS for 08! We need new leadership. For those of you worried about experience, that is why you bring in a talented cabinet. We need someone who everyone can get behind to repair our country...someone who instills pride...someone who can garner respect. That person is Barack.....

Oh trust me he is right. I am a community organizer in the THIRD most dangerous city in America known as Flint, MI. And the pay....well, I'm just lucky I get paid at all. You have to love what you do. Being a community organizer is by far a better piece of experience at uniting people.
Go OBAMA!

Enough about Obama, I am sick of having this man forced down my throat. I want to hear about the issues. I'm from Minnesota and we have had alot of people move here from Chicago WHY? because, Obama and the others in Chicago have done nothing for them. WAKE EVERYBODY HE HAS NOT UNITED US HE IS DIVIDING US EVEN MORE THEN WE WERE.

Do we need CHANGE?

Yes, we do!

Can we pay our BEST politicians like the best corporate CEOs?

If the CITZENS pay their salaries from tax money, their CEO politicians will be liable to their CITIZENS.

As long as top corporations "sponsor" our politicians, how can they NOT BE LIABLE TO THOSE FROM WHOM THEY GET PAID?

If an employee get paid by his company, is he not to work for that company?

This kind of CHANGE would be meaningful and would be a fair basis of performance judgment for any politician elected by the PEOPLE (not the corporations)

Can BHO cause such cahnge?

If you want your sons and daughters dying in IRAQ for the next five or more years ELECT HILLARY or one of the Republicans other than Ron Paul. Obama and Paul are the only two that have the sense and convictions to get us out of that NEOCON created mess immediatley. Also as far as courage and conviction are concerned. Don't you think it has crossed Sen Obama's mind the danger he is in from radical racists that permeate our society, or for that matter the real controlers of our government the Multinational corporations. He is risking his very life to improve our country and lead it out of decades of corporate bought darkness. For this alone he has my support, prayers, and I think he is the only hope this country has to get back on the right path.

Well, well, well – if Obama is not using the race card – why is he using the phrases that have emotional appeal to his race and clearly suggest it's about "his people" pulling together – "yes we can" because "they said we couldn't do it" and people are trying to discount their "hope". WHAT???!!! The allusion is to the fact that they're oppressed and their time has come!!! He even uses MLK's cadence and inflections in his speeches!!! He clearly understands if he gives these emotional speeches directed to his race, he can win with just THEIR vote. He has a record of voting "present" over 100 times while in the Senate (just 2 years) - that means he didn't bother to take a position on the issue at hand. Very serious about the job he was elected to do, right? Some record ... some candidate!!! Guess now he has a "reality vs rhetoric" answer - it's required for the part he's playing. It's show biz. Be careful, everyone. THINK!!!

Vote for you will vote for, but do not try to convince others to vote for your candidate by bashing his/her competition. By doing so, you are missing the trees (issues) for the forest (mudslinging). Form your own opinion and cast your own vote.

This is America and the candidates are giving us what we want. He said, she said. I have always been told, there are three sides to a story, your side, my side, and the truth. Why don't look for the truth instead of he said, she said.

I know who my candidate is going to be and if asked I will give reasons why, but I will never force my vote on someone else.

We as Americans state every election that we want change, but do we truly? If we did, why label candidates Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, whatever. In the end, what will the candidate do to further my prosperity, improve my future?

The question of who is more experienced is moot. Do you think Washington had all the experience needed to lead a newly formed country? Or that Lincoln was experienced to unite a nation at civil war? Roosevelt to take us out of the Great Depression? Or that even GW Bush was experienced enough to deal with 9/11?

The endorsement of the Culinary Union which has 60,000 members was won by Senator Obama. What a lot of the mainstream media is not reporting is the majority of this union is Hispanic - with birthplaces from like Mexico, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. That is good news because THEIR VOICES WILL GET TO BE HEARD, AND THEY BACKED THE CANADIATE THEY FELT BEST REPRESENTED THEM. The BAD NEWS is that many of the hotels in order to respect this exciting democratic process are going to give these hardworking people the weekend off so they can have a chance to VOTE. LAS VEGAS HAS BEEN A POWERFUL ECONOMIC MACHINE BUT IT WOULD NOT BE A POWERFUL MACHINE WITHOUT THE PEOPLE THAT DO THE JOBS THAT SUPPORT THEM. The SUPPORTERS of THE CLINTON CAMPAIGN HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. It is a shame with ALL the power the Clintons have that they would try to silence the workers by doing something like filing suit. PLEASE CALL ON ALL THE SUPPORT YOU CAN SO THAT PEOPLE FROM OUR COMMUNITES CAN BE HEARD IN BOTH CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA. LET THEM KNOW WHAT HILLARY CLINTON IS DOING TO SILENCE THEM. Richardson IS RIGHT TO TELL THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY TO RUN FROM THE CLINTONS. NOBODY WANTS THE CLINTONS IF THEY ARE SMART, HARD WORKING PEOPLE. THESE PEOPLE WILL CONTINE TO SPLIT THIS COUTNRY ON RACIAL, GENDER, AND ANY OTHER LINE THEY CAN FIND!!!

Those of us who came from poverty, substandard housing, civil rights.....see you as someone who dreams of what it was like. You try to position yourself in this light because it is to your advantage now to do so. We see you for what you are. An individual seeking higher office, who will never know what low-middle income lives are like, but would have liked to. Please do not insult us. In the end honesty is what matters and your false pretenses will only hurt you long term.

The Clinton's have lived what we know. They understand. Do not distort their history, commitment and accomplishments with your "tiny" little stories that have no experience to back them up. Instead, stand above the fray and be true to yourself if no one else.

You may have a bright future....someday....but not today!

I respect all your comments and i do know that everybody has the right to say whatever they believe in. However, though Obama may be the candidate for change, like what others was saying, what kind of change? It's like constructing a house with no floor plans. True that change is good if you can show what kind of changes you will be making? I am a democrat and i respect Obama and Hillary but i want someone that can actually back up what they promise and what the slogans say. All i want to see is how these candidates will fix the current issues and if they will stick to what they say. It's like deciding who to hire, a person with less than 5 yrs experience who tells me that he will be this and that with no concrete proof of it versus someone with more that 10 yrs of experience with some good and not so good performances in the past.

Hillary will never be an example or role model for my women!
Any woman that puts up with what Bill did to her should never be the voice of women. And she never stayed with him because of her religious beliefs, her financial status or even for love..she stayed with him for her political career and that is not the message I want my daughter to hear!

I am 100% for Obama!

In fact, if even suspect she is close to wnning I will vote republican and the democratic party will loose my vote!

If Obama gets the Democratic Nomination I am voting for Republican presidential hopeful John McCain.

Great speech, he recently put out his ecenomic plan to get us out of recession, and he really does take the tax breaks from the rich and shifts it to middle class americans, also read the newsweek article about how the clintons have distorted some of the facts on barack, its unbiased, all facts, you can make up your own mind whether it was distorted or not

Hey everyone, I have a great plan for all of us- let's vote for Obama- in 2016 after his 8 years of being Hillary's VP!

Good job Obama.

Why do I hear so much negative talk about Obama. The most important question is what have we done for America? How have we changed are poverty communities?
The Clintons had their day in the sun and we still have 1 million or more men in jail. The juvenile system is full of young men. I think that is a question you all should have concerns for. Hello, Hello, we do need a change. Also, Bush and his father was experienced and look what happen to America? More important, if Obama ideals are only based on fairy tales. Is the American dream just a dream for all poor Americans? I hope the individual's that are speaking negative about Obama are not
christians

For those of you who say that Barack Obama has "no plan" and is simply blowing sunshine, just GO TO HIS WEBSITE and read the "Rhetoric vs. Reality" page. There, you'll find very SPECIFIC ideas and plans that address the issues of today.

Obama is the real deal, and that's why I'm voting for him.

Hillary is a divisive, unauthentic and conniving person who's into the presidency for her own personal glory alone. The country will descend into a series of polarized intra- and inter-party fighting. There will be no solutions, only more problems.

those who are fooled by barack obama are many! his wife has been consistently playing the race card and the press is blind to it. what she and a lot of americans can't see is that the man is green, however and would not accomplish anything in washington if he were to be elected president except popularizing the word "present" each day when he shows up in the oval office for foto ops.... and phoning in to Winfrey's show for a pat on the back. he is incapable of making a decision! wake up america.....you're on the wrong channel!

Common Hillary! Is there anything genuine about you? You take a poll before you do or say anything... How about all the PAC $ coming in from the FOBs across the country? Not again! No third term for the Clintons... NO THIRD TERM!

CNN is so for Hillary! I can tell by the commentary. they play her boring speeches and clips over and over and over again. I just change the channel. these so called reporters are so scared of the Clintons, they are doing their dirty work for them. Everything they bring up, CNN plays it over and over and over again. Hillary is a uniter...of the Republican party.

The Billay campaign has even had some union file a lawsuit about where the caucuses will be held in Nevada. these locations were decided last year and it didnt bother them when she was the "inevitable" candidate and she thought she would get their endorsement. Now that she has competition, they have gone negative. Everyone that wants a place at the Clinton table is coming out negatively. I just hope Barack stays above all of the negativity; he has more class than that. they have brought up race at every turn a now that it's backfiring, they claim Barack is using it. Not once has he asked anyone to vote for him because he is African American. But she has used the gender card; we all saw what she did in NH.

Also, the Billary camp claims she has 35 yrs experience. During her time in the White House, she didnt even have a security clearance. She had a failed health care plan. the sex scandals. do we really want to go back to that. The only thing she has fought for 35 years are Bill's other women! The Clintons are fakes and jokes!

OBAMA '08!

Hillary's use of gender, and the rah rah rallies based on such, is pernicious and can only divide the country further:

Identity politics and John Rawls on theory of justice:

According to Rawls, fair choice should be predicated upon beginning from a hypothetical original position with its veil of ignorance which essentially blinds people to all facts about themselves that might cloud what notion of justice is developed:

“No one knows his place in society, his class position or social status, nor does anyone know his fortune in the distribution of natural assets and abilities, his intelligence, strength, and the like. I shall even assume that the parties do not know their conceptions of the good or their special psychological propensities. The principles of justice are chosen behind a veil of ignorance.”

Ignorance of these details about oneself will lead to principles which are fair to all. If an individual does not know how he will end up in his own conceived society, he is likely not going to privilege any one class of people, but rather develop a scheme of justice that treats all fairly.

Hillary Clinton candidacy is nothing but an attempt at a third term for Bill Clinton. End of story.

I have been watching "Ballot Bowl 08" – where is the coverage on Obama? I haven't been watching continously but I have seen Clinton Edwards Romney McCain all more than once????

Obama does not even live large nowadys in comparison to the elite Clintons. These numbers speak for themselves. Even the Clintons can not hide from them.

Clinton approx. net worth: $10 to $50 million
Obama approx. net worth: $1 to $2.5 million

obama i look at facts…. we need experience and me being retired miltary, i see changes from sen.clinton. i see and hear our president saying that we need change and doing it ,not speaking of it ,to get votes. but telling us how to do it .yes i am for sen.clinton and she will go to the lengths to make it work , she has done it before . i think as an american who has been in the gulf war not awarded in anyway pay for everything and still working and with experience we will need to clean up the mess that we are in. she is for the people of the united states who will help put us back on track and not to be in debut to other countries.To have someone represent us and all that we represent is freedom and all that comes to america your tried ,your hungry , we should be able to take care of ours and the ones that come to and want to be apart of america.

Jose, he will probably use a Bible, since he is a Christian

Rico, there may be a gap between blacks and Latinos, but its fostered by a struggling economy, not some inherent inability to work together. I live in Compton – blacks and Mexicans work together everyday.

iBeam, you are so right! Bush won on the strength of being the "anti-Clinton" – after 27 years, its time to end the Bush-Clinton dynasty, which could result in a devastated America.

Vladimir, quit acting like the actions of an egomaniac (Russia) have ANYTHING to do with Barack. No cause for that, and none of his policies could stop Putin's egomania.

Everyone, don't let his foriegn name fool you....this man is for America.

He may not have the longest record in the US senate, but he's a man of courage and conviction. A man who has a beginning as a community organizer and has the skill and ability to motivate people to become productive in their lives and communities is definately capable of creating change in America. Remember, our politicians alone can't be solely responsible for our American dream. As a democratic republic, every citizen has a voice to change the current state of America.

Obama reflects JFK's "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country".

Evidently, he followed that statement with his humble beginnings as a community organizer.

So...let us not focus on his beginnings, but lets focus on all the positives he can bring to this country as president.

And in response to 270towin's comment....I hope you don't forget your roots or where your anscestors came from. They might have not been given the opportunity to the American dream based on your ethnocentric statement.

My mother is Caucasian and Native American, and my father is a Vietnamese immigrant. My parents have worked hard for the American dream, only to have it all taken away from them in the last 7 years, thanks to the Bush administration and neglect of the middle class.

In may, when my parents' house becomes foreclosed leaving them without ownership of a house, without healthcare, and certainly without pensions...we can thank the republican party for the greatest deficit and greatest neglect of the average middle class American in our nation's history.

Venita

obama i look at facts…. we need experience and me being retired miltary, i see changes from sen.clinton. i see and hear our president saying that we need change and doing it ,not speaking of it ,to get votes. but telling us how to do it .yes i am for sen.clinton and she will go to the lengths to make it work , she done it before . i think as an american who has been in the gulf war not awarded in anyway pay for everything and still working and with experience we will need to clean up the mess that we are in. she is for the people of the united states who will help put us back on track and not to be in debut to other countries when we should already be number one. remember we the people of the united states of america the constutition that people seem to forget is the one that upholds all that happens in america .To have someone represent us and all that we represent is freedom and all that comes to america your tried ,your hungry , we should be able to take care of ours and the ones that come to and want to be apart of america.

Oh yes he can! And will!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"The fact he needed Oprah, and I can't stand her, is to me the only way he could get elected. "
I agree with you Scotti. I may take her advice on books but not on my President, but then I feel that way about all actors endorsements. Anyone seen Chuck Norris behind his guy lately?

And the comment earlier about the 90 year old black woman and people in Harlem voting for Obama just because he is black any different than some redneck NOT voting for him just because he is black? Neither cares about ability, just skin color. Sure doesn't tie into MLK's request of being judged on content of charactor not skin color.
Barack is not my guy.
And if nominated we are going to again be an embarrassed Democratic party.
Same with Hilary.

That video clip of Obama speaking in Spanish saying he's going to 'change' America will be used over and over again in the general election as the Republican candidate slaughters Obama. White middle class America (the majority of voters) don't want their country to become the United States of Mexico.
-------------------------------
Like by nominating Giuliani?

“The final end result about becoming a citizen – you should be able to have to read English, write English, and speak English if you want to become a citizen” – Rudy Giuliani 01/04/08

“Soy Rudy Giuliani y apruebo este mensaje.” – Rudy Giuliani in his own commercial done entirely in Spanish 01/09/08

A look at many of the comments upthread suggests a lot of folks are coming unhinged. Those who claim "he has no experience" or "he gives empty speeches with no specifics" or "he will be the President of Kenya" or "culinary workers don't vote" or "how dare he speak Spanish in America"-you better get those Prozac prescriptions refilled because you're going to be deeply depressed for the next eight years.

Go Obama!

If Obama offers CHANGE....WHY IS KISSINGER AND other status quo war criminals of foreign policy on his advisory staff?

obama i look at facts.... we need experience and me being retired merchant marine chief engineer was in the union i see changes from sen.hillary clinton. as for the union i see them getting there back up ,as for the miltary coming home and the medical insurance for everyone in this united states of america . i see and hear our president saying that we need change and doing it ,not speaking of it to get votes but telling us how to do it .yes i am for sen.hillary clinton and she will go to the lengths to make it work , she done it for eduation for the young people . i think as an american who has been in the gulf war not awarded in anyway pay for everything and still working and with experience we will need to clean up the mess that we are in. she is for the people of the united states who will help put us back on track and not to be in debut to other countries when we should already be number one. remember we the people of the united states of america the constutition that people seem to forget is the one that upholds all that happens in america .To have someone represent us and all that we represent is freedom and all that comes to america your tried ,your hungry , we should be able to take care of ours and the ones that come to and want to be apart of america.

I feel like I am at pep rally, and I am not so fired up about it. Really we need to know the facts and issues leaders stand on and how the economy can improve. Less start talking about issues that create changes in the housing sector, health care, and foreign relations. We don’t need other Hollywood stars to build up fabricated dreams and hope. I’m fired up to know the issues.

That video clip of Obama speaking in Spanish saying he's going to 'change' America will be used over and over again in the general election as the Republican candidate slaughters Obama. White middle class America (the majority of voters) don't want their country to become the United States of Mexico.

Obama can't win the electoral college.

270towin

You know what's more pointless than verbally slamming a political candidate on this site? Nothing.

Everyone has an opinion, and everyone thinks that theirs is the most accurate.
Bottom line, you'll turn more people away from your little message than you will be able to convert for your candidate!

Oh, and A Democrat, you can't hate work ethic. Everyone has to start somewhere, and Obama just happened to earn his way into school, rather than those who were simply born into a college trust fund.

Wake up and become a global citizen.

Oh, and what is the deal with grammar these days? Do those who add comments check their posts for errors? Too hasty? Are the text messages taking control of your typing?

I wasn't living large," Obama told the crowd. "I had an old, beat-up car, had a little, tiny beat-up apartment. I was wearing raggedy, beat-up clothes. I got holes in the shoes, had holes in my car. You all've been there. You know what I'm talking about.

hip hop

Is it a Fairy Tale?
" I voted against the war"
Obama was NOT in Congress during the vote to go to war. He has in fact since his short time as a Jr. Senator voted to continue funding the war on each and every vote. There is no public record about his view on this vote or indication that he was even aware of such a vote. He has only been in the Senate since 2004 and for the last year has been on the campaign trail in his quest for President.

On foreign policy experience. "But you know, probably the strongest experience I have in foreign relations is the fact that I spent four years living overseas when I was a child in Asia — Southeast Asia." He left Asia at age 10. Do we want a President who received his foreign relations experience before the age of 10?

On Affirmative action...
In a television interview
Obama: Well, first of all, I think that my daughters should probably be treated by any admissions officer as folks who are pretty advantaged, and I think that there's nothing wrong with us taking that into account as we consider admissions policies at universities.
But in congress Barack Obama – “This administration sought to slam the doors of higher education in the face of African Americans and other minorities. It’s a sad day for the cause of equal opportunity when the President of the United States, the land of opportunity, calls for the Supreme Court to rule against policies that seek to open institutions for historically excluded racial minorities,”
What about disadvantaged white students??
On being raised in poverty and understanding it. " In his memoir, Obama describes his experiences growing up in his mother's American middle class family. He lived with his white mothers middle-upper class family in Hawaii, hardly by anyone's definition disadvantaged.
On Family Values" Of his early childhood, Obama writes: "That my father looked nothing like the people around me—that he was black as pitch, my mother white as milk—barely registered in my mind." The book describes his struggles as a young adult to reconcile social perceptions of his multiracial heritage. He wrote that he used alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine during his teenage years to "push questions of who I was out of my mind".
Racial Equality and Religion“We are a congregation which is unashamedly black and unapologetically Christian,” says the Trinity United Church of Christ’s web site 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.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. "

Fairy tale campaign or not. You decide. Or is Bill Clinton on to something?

Come on Dem's ....Experience does count and in your hearts you know it. Don't let the Republicans pull this off- they are pushing Obama for us as they know they cannot beat Senator Clinton. If Obama wins the nomination the Swift Boat ads will seem like childs play. They have access to all of this information and more, and we, once again , will have a Republican President.

I AM NOT A OBAMA SUPPORTER....ILL GIVE YOU THAT RIGHT UP FRONT..BUT I DONT HATE HIM. AND IF HE WINS THE NOMINATION THEN ILL SUPPORT HIM; HOWEVER I AM SO SICK OF HEARING YES WE CAN....CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN AND BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. HOW MANY TIMES MUST WE HEAR OF HIS MOTHER DYING OF CANCER. HOW MANY TIMES MUST WE HEAR HIS LIFE STORY OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. HE IS STARTING TO SOUND LIKE JOHN EDWARDS AND HIS FATHER WORKING IN A MILL AND BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH....MY GOD...LETS HEAR SOMETHING SUBSTANTIAL FROM THIS GUY WHO WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT. CHARM AINT GONNA HELP HIM IF HE WERE TO WIN THE PRESIDENCY.

THANK U San from CA

thanks for clarifying this. Obama supporter are really out to lunch. They are making Obama into this Mother Teresa. They are just making up fairy tale stories as they go along.

There is certainly evidence of use of power by Obama. Just imagine what all of his friends will be making if does make it far.
_____________________________________________________________
January 12, 2008 8:00 pm ET

Derrick,

I think you are wrong here and there is always the first time in life. If Obama was sincere, then

a) He wouldnt have influenced Michelle Obama's salary from 70K to 300K in one yr of getting elected to Senate.
b) He wouldnt have done deals with Rezko and paid less for a house. People are working 2 shifts to buy houses and he pays 300-400K less than the market price thru Rezko's wife.

No one refutes these facts. I can agree Obama is a good person overall but to paint him as clean is pathetic and insult to intelligent Americans. Obama is just another politician who has used the word change more effectively than previous elections. Remember every election, every candidate says "Change"!

The ones who have never voted in life, wont know this.

——

Derrick, Lompoc, CA January 12, 2008 1:25 am ET

Hey, A Democrat – get your facts strait.

He managed to go to that top school because he EARNED the right to go there. He didn't have the money to go there which is why he had all those student loans to pay off. – He is NOT a millionaire, in fact his net worth is the lowest of all the candidates right now – less than $1 million.

Don't tear someone else down because you are for a different candidate, but are too afraid now to admit you may have been wrong about them.

Barack Obama left College with tens of thousands in debt and chose to take a low paying job helping people. What have you done thats worth note?

I'm not sure which candidate I'm voting for yet, but I have a respect for all of them. They all have done a lot for this country and for the people – especially Clinton and Obama. They are all passionate about changing this country for the better and helping the people getting squeezed in the lower and middle class, and Obama strikes me as the most sincere and honest of the bunch, so far. And I have NEVER been wrong about judging a persons character.

Obama speeches are the same . Chanting yes we can with no substance. I can't believe people are voting on his chanting same phrase over and over. Almost sounds like a church sermon. He will have to do more then this to get elected.He states he came from nothing well so did the Clintons and half America. Isn't it the point if you work hard you can succeed. Lets face it to be successful you have to believe you can. He is not the only one that came up this way.

Sounds like a ploy to get in with the real low income workers........

Honestly I don't care ahout if he did or did not live large. All I want to know is what is his plan for American, I am tired of people saying go to his website. I feel that instead of giving those long boring speeches, because yes there BS to me he should talk about the economy, education, and his health plan. Too hell with Hope and Change, because as it stands know I will not vote for him.

I believe a true leader leads by example. He/she inspires people to do something not because it's easy, but because it's hard. Look at yourself America, have you become such bitter cynics that you can't open yourself up to genuine goodness? It's an irrefutable fact that Obama has started a tremendous movement the likes of which has never been experienced in recent memory. What can you Obama bashers say to that?

If he tells me to jump, I'll reach the stars. If he tells me to dig, I'll claw the earth with my bare hands. If he tells me to sacrifice for the greater good of the country, I'll do so with a happy face. I will do this because I believe in this man. I believe he has a good soul.

What have we become? This great nation of innovators, free thinkers, iconoclasts, and idealists has lost it's way. We've become content with mediocrity and the same ole, same ole... too entrenched with the past, because we're afraid of the future.

Hey you people

Please be real.

Do we want to see US in deep debt? No

If you really mean NO, don't vote HILLARY! Hillary would start war with Iran while Obama wants to discuss with Iran leader like Harry Truman did when he was president of US. Truman went to Russia to meet with Stalin (An evil Russian leader) and Truman learned a lot from him and then he destroyed Russia without hurt US's economy!

Obama could do something differently by have a meeting with Iran and improve the relationship with Iran without a war. No war means US in good debt!

Come on! Hey Obama? GO GO GO!!!

Ginger says-about Obama:

"I would follow him to the ends of the earth! He is so sexy and dreamy"

That kind of thinking (and mentality) is just what we need in selecting the president of the United States. God help us. We need Hillary!

When US Senator Barack Obama stole Caesar Chavez's slogan "Si Se Puede" or "Yes We Can" in a a self serving speech to Local 226 in Nevada he did not mention to the Hispanic/Latinos in America or in the crowd that he is condoning Hispanics in his own state of IL being prevented from filing race discrimination charges as we speak. The fact that Barack Obama will say and do anything to win Hispanic votes is bad enough but to use a man's words who can no longer fight for his people is disgusting. When Obama uses that powerful slogan of Caesar Chavez he is insulting those Hispanics that know for a fact why they can't file race discrimination charges in Illinois such as myself.
If Caeser Chavez were alive today I believe he would tell Barack Obama to his face "Yes WE (Hispanics/Latinos) Can Say Race Discrimination!"

This is the basic text of a letter that I faxed Jan, 10 2008 to Senators Harry Reid and John Kerry after hearing about his endorsement.

Notice, January 10, 2008
Regardless of the fact you US Senator Harry Reid are a longtime friend of IL US Senator Dick Durbin(as reported in the public domain). A record exists that shows you US Senator Harry Reid and you US Senator John Kerry in August 2006 were made aware by me,-----, that presidential candidate/Illinois US Senator Barack Obama and co-chair Obama 2008/ Illinois US Senator Dick Durbin had been placed on prior formal written notice that when I a Hispanic American citizen reported incidents of race discrimination towards me by Hormel foods Corp., UFCW, and Target Corp. the agencies the Illinois Department of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission(for instance, but not limited to) refused and are still refusing (even to this date) to afford me, a US American-born Hispanic citizen from the state of Illinois, the same full and equal protections under title VII, initially attempted to dissuade me from filing, continues to treat me in a clear biased, unequal, and discriminatory manner, is to this date continuing to cover up their misconduct, and intentionally misrepresenting what are the known true set of facts and circumstances in my particular situation. There can be no dispute that my civil rights are continuing to be violated, because I happen to be Hispanic. When non-Hispanics are allowed to assert race discrimination unimpeded. And todayyou US Senator Jhon Kerry endorsed presidential candidate/Illinois US Senator Barack Obama. I listened to your speech Mr. Kerry. You have made your discriminatory position on what is happening to me right now inIllinois abundantly clear. Unless you US Senator John Kerry, since you have full knowledge and understanding of my particular situation, pull your endorsement for presidential candidate Barack Obama. Immediately, you will be just as accountable & Guilty of racism against Hispanicssuch as myself in Illinois and elsewhere in this country. And to you US Senator Harry Reid I ask that you put aside your friendship/loyalty to anyone such as co-chair Obama 2008/ IL, US Senator Dick Durbin in the U.S. Senate to in fact investigate this clear & ongoing race discrimination against Hispanics/Latinos in the state of Illinois and finally do your job. You US Senator John Kerry should be exposing this racism right now so other US Senator colleagues will not be able to sell out Hispanics/Latinos. As you have in this election. This is a demand that no US Senator be allowed to endorse US Senator Barack Obama for the most important office in the US, unless they are first made aware of my particular situation. And that an endorsement for presidential candidate Barack Obama such as yours, US Senator John Kerry would be condoning this form of racism.
------

Chaos45i in Illinois

The kind of experience that Hillary Clinton brings to the table is " more of the same or worse". She is a lightening rod for all that is wrong with Washington , and every time Bill opens his mouth , its another vote for OBAMA......."thank you Bill".

Obama has a track record of crossing party lines and bringing people together to find solutions , and SOLUTIONS is what this country needs.

OBAMA 08

Did anyone see Bill Moyers' Journal on PBS last night? It's probably up on their website. What a great show– he interviewed a brilliant African-American political expert who discussed, for an hour, the effect of race on this campaign and, in particular, Obama's strategy. Obama cannot discuss his plans, because he will offend African-Americans (who feel he is treating Whites like they are not racist and are upset about that) or he will offend Whites (who don't want a challenging Black politician–they want a Black man who makes them feel good about being White and who "forgives" them for their racism)...hence Obama's empty preaching and appeal to each ethnic minority's catch phrases and dialect–including Whites!

Obama's childhood and history were also examined–the son of a White woman and abandoning, Black man, Obama has repeatedly tried to "fit in" with Blacks in order to feel a sense of history and culture, and has learned to manipulate Whites (now he's MLK, now he's JFK... who is he, really?).

This country is still a deeply racist country, unfortunately, and continually talking about "hope" and "uniting" everyone is the only way Obama can get people to overlook that, in their fervor to believe...

It was fascinating.

Go Hillary.

"Obama will be president and he will truly change our economy, not his sex life or his oil bank account!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

He has an oil bank account?

I am sure he will change our economy and the country, I am just mystified how he is going to change these.

Talk about buying a pig in a poke!

Sorry to all the Obama-haters out there, but Obama has worked hard to achieve success for himself and others. Obama could have gotten a much better and higher paying job coming out of an Ivy-league college, but chose to work as community organizer in the south side of Chicago. Many of these Obama-haters don't even know what a community organizer does. Obama chose to work at the ground level to try to make a difference in the lives of everyday Americans. Think about it coming out of an Ivy league college with honors and spending three years in the some of the worst neighborhoods in Chicago working for change. Who else on the campaign trail can tout this, especially on the Democratic side? Hillary? Please. I'm not trying to put Hillary down, only in her proper place. Hillary went directly from Ivy league undergraduate to Ivy league law school. And all the jobs and experience that Hillary obtained since then have been from a lawyer operating out of nice law office making a high salary. Hillary has never had to struggle like the everyday person. She fought for change alright, from the big time legal offices level and on the coat-tails of Bill Clinton rise from Governor to President.

OBAMA in '08!

AMEN Jack in NY. You couldn't have said it better! and you didn't have to write an COFFEE TABLE essay to make your point! Right on the mark dude! Change is action not words!

HRC in '08 PERIOD!

If only people will realize that you don't have to know everything to be a good leader... or to have lead for years to be a good leader. What do I mean? I don't think Bill Gates knows so much about business than most business guru's in America. However, Bill has proven that he knows how to manage those who know an awful lot about business.

Being a senator for donkey years does not make you an authority in world or domestic affairs. The president of any nation does (or should) not work alone, which is why they have special advisers, the senators and the likes.

For Obama to have organized such a formidable campaign team and manage it properly, it shows that he can very well lead the nation of America. As for Hillary, she is riding on the wings of accomplishments attributed to her husband when he was president. I can't see how Hillary's long stay at the senate has change the American nation for the better in any way... (I stand to be corrected)

When Bill Clinton was president of America, how many middle class and lower class families had health care coverage? Please CNN help us with that statistics. Because I am also waiting eagerly to hear Bill Clinton talk about Hillary advising him on a comprehensive health care plan that he didn't follow...

I am yet to hear of any comprehensive plan that Hillary has put forth to make America a better country when she becomes president. Instead all I have seen and heard is her tears (which means she has been watching CNN), and speech about how she has worked all her life to become America's president (so i wonder why she didn't contest instead of her husband back then. or was it a decision to take turns?)

My heart goes to Obama and I hope he wins the democratic ticket to the white house. He represents the American dream and am very happy that he never makes a case with race, gender, and the likes each time he speaks. I believe in my heart that he will make a great American president.

what is up with the chants?

How about every morning starts saying "pay my bills!!! pay my bills"!!!!! somehow it will get paid.

Want cup of coffee? Just start chanting " give me coffee!!! give me coffee!!!! some how cup of coffee will appear infront of you. LOL

Obama and his supporters are out to lunch. It is one thing to believe however be a DOER than a CHANTER

Does anybody really read this stuff?
If you take all the mean and outrageous shots some of these people take at the candidates of both parties and add them all up in one large book, the outside world would think all the candidates should either be deported or put in jail.
These candidates are profesional politicians. What is wrong with that?
Every one of them on either side are good decent Americans.
Why does race or religion or sexual gender influence their vote?

Derrick,

I think you are wrong here and there is always the first time in life. If Obama was sincere, then

a) He wouldnt have influenced Michelle Obama's salary from 70K to 300K in one yr of getting elected to Senate.
b) He wouldnt have done deals with Rezko and paid less for a house. People are working 2 shifts to buy houses and he pays 300-400K less than the market price thru Rezko's wife.

No one refutes these facts. I can agree Obama is a good person overall but to paint him as clean is pathetic and insult to intelligent Americans. Obama is just another politician who has used the word change more effectively than previous elections. Remember every election, every candidate says "Change"!

The ones who have never voted in life, wont know this.

--

Derrick, Lompoc, CA January 12, 2008 1:25 am ET

Hey, A Democrat – get your facts strait.

He managed to go to that top school because he EARNED the right to go there. He didn't have the money to go there which is why he had all those student loans to pay off. – He is NOT a millionaire, in fact his net worth is the lowest of all the candidates right now – less than $1 million.

Don't tear someone else down because you are for a different candidate, but are too afraid now to admit you may have been wrong about them.

Barack Obama left College with tens of thousands in debt and chose to take a low paying job helping people. What have you done thats worth note?

I'm not sure which candidate I'm voting for yet, but I have a respect for all of them. They all have done a lot for this country and for the people – especially Clinton and Obama. They are all passionate about changing this country for the better and helping the people getting squeezed in the lower and middle class, and Obama strikes me as the most sincere and honest of the bunch, so far. And I have NEVER been wrong about judging a persons character.

Abiskar,MA January 12, 2008 1:22 am ET

Obama Obama Obama…………………..I am tired of hearing all this, I want a change change change…………………………………..

Hillary08

-–

Exactly the sentiments. Just because Hillary has been in the national news, people say she is past and not change. Now Obama has been in the news for 2 yrs, so he is past and we need change.

Change from Barack Obama – Yes we can!!

Yes we can change from being led by a pied piper.

laverne January 12, 2008 12:59 am ET

i think obama would unite a world that is truly divided. if obama is elected president the united states would truly be U-N-I-T-E-D.

-–

World is not stupid enough to fall for politicians selling change. Every election, every politician sells change. What world wants to know is specific actions.

Obama was on your Foreign Committtee but he didnt do anything with us or Europeans. Not a single bill or initiative.

laverne January 12, 2008 12:59 am ET

i think obama would unite a world that is truly divided. if obama is elected president the united states would truly be U-N-I-T-E-D.

--

Laverne, the world is not as low in IQ as Americans are. We know what is fluff and what is substance. We know every politician sells change.

Rico January 12, 2008 4:23 pm ET

Culinary workers will get behind Clinton before Obama.
Reason being there is no bond between Hispanics and Blacks.

thats right rico keep up the division very patriotic and united you are!!!

http://www.tucc.org/about.htm This is Obama's church. Read the mission Statement. It will surprise all of you Obama supporters.

Tina ny, ny January 12, 2008 12:22 pm ET

Ok who paid for his Harward education if he was so poor.

he took out loans which he just finished repaying, get your facts right and stop the bashing, i think you are a hrc supporter!

Alex Rodriguez January 12, 2008 3:00 pm ET

Please, this phony pandering to me by using Spanish won't make a difference to me. His use of the Spanish phrase is particularly hypocritical since he voted for the border fence.

No tienes mi voto Barack.

for the record all the folks running for president voted for the fence, they did so because its for the good of our national security, any true patriot will never root for our laws to be broken!! it was a good call and a majority of Americans agree with him, get your facts right!

Kevin, the homeless girl that went to Harvard was at the expense of a newspaper (The New York Times, I believe). She wrote an essay for a scholarship contest they had explaining her upbringing and her extremely hard work to complete high school in something like a year or two. She was selected as a finalist and had her essay published. It drew huge attention to her and her upbringing. She ended up winning the contestith and got free tuition to Harvard. Unfortunately, she also chose to drop out and tour the country giving speeches about her life instead of getting her education, which was totally free to her.

As far as that goes, a 10-year-old girl living in a temporary shelter apartment in California wrote in a Christmas wish list that she wanted to go to college when she grew up, so one of the universities there awarded her a full scholarship when she finished high school.

To the Obama Supporter in Iowa: THANK YOU! Excellent advice to all undecided voters about going to the souce! The Obama website should help you make your own decision based on facts. To Mike..the man predicting holy terror from the swift-boat branch of the R. party. ...... Let us pray voters will ignore the sick version of partisan venom and will remain faithful to our best princples. Obama, '08!!!

more hot air no real solutions. please stop the cheer leading and give us some meat oh thats right Obama has no meat to feed us: you have to do time to be able to give real answers

As an African American I, too am still trying to determine if Obama is genuine. I haven't decided for whom I'll vote. But, if for Obama, and he's elected but turns out to be just another politician spouting rhetoric, I simply won't vote for him in '12. If he's elected and wants any of our votes in '12, it would behoove him to be sincere as well as effective.

I have been thinking that America has turned his back to his not glorious past of slavery and racism. This forum shows no change for America. For all the occupied minds, don't loose your time for the lost minds. The spirit maturity is far a way from some in America. I dare to believe in the possibility of the so called "Civilisation" for the better...
c.ilivuziman@hotmail.com

Obama's a very polished, articulate speaker and full of promises. His record, though, only indicates " It's not whether you win or lose, but how you place the blame." Not my fault for a slogan equates to just more of the same old stuff, just like Hillary's putting out.

To all of you OBAMA flakes: Where is the BEEF? While you are on here lecturing your support and basking in FAIRY DUST, Hillary is talking the talk and working for this nomination. AS AXEL said in CA "Can we live without BO? INDEED WE CAN.
BTW, BO, quit calling me "FOLK!"

HRC in '08!

I don't want a "changed America" – I want a better, true America with a competent president. By the way, has Obama stated what he will use if by a crazy chance he is elected president – koran or bible?

I will move to Canada before I live in a country where Hilllary is president!!!!!!!!!!

I usually vote republican- but I'm a registered democrat, so I can vote for the lesser of two evils in the primary.

I'm voting for Obama, I'm voting for Obama, I'm voting for Oabama, I'm voting for Obama.

P.S. I'll put Bill back in the whitehouse before Hillary

Follow the money!

How does or did each candidate generate her or his money?

Was it taking hand-outs from those who corporations that earn the most and the easiest from their deals and are influencing the law makers as their dependents: Was it arms, drugs, oil, pharmaceuticals, health care insurers?

Who paid or pays Hillary or Bill Clinton? The companies that benefit from a failed attempt to remedy health care laws?

Who paid or pays Barack or Michelle Obama? His books or which industry?

If you do not find dirty influence money on your candidate, Democrat or Republican, vote for her or him, but find the root of the money!

For international people, Obama might restore trust in the US as THE supreme nation on earth. It would again become an inspiring nation that makes the American Dream reality in the spirit of the Founding Fathers of America!

Can you show the world that the US is a united nation where religion, color, origin or wealth is secondary to the common good by voting for a non-corrupt candidate?

Who could be better positioned than an American man with vision, who is black and white at the same time, who lived in Asia and sponsors child education in his ancestral Africa?

Wouldn't Obama be a reconciler with Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus and Buddhists and others as it is RELIGION that seems to divide our world today?

Bill Clinton was a "novice when he became President." Why should Obama, a brilliant intellectual with a heart for the less fortunate, be less successful than Bill Clinton was?

Ask HOW is the candidate, not WHO is she or he?

Can you follow the MONEY – find out and then decide!

Barack Obama is not a part of the Washington fiasco as Hillary Clinton is and has always been. And if "experience" is what we have seen for the past seven years with our current President, then Obama's lack of experience is what our country needs to move forward. Obama offers a fresh start and not the same ole "status quo" such as Hillary. We currently have the Bush Dynasty in command and for the sake of our country we do not need to transition into the Clinton Dynasty–the same song and dance. She is not Bill Clinton–she is his wife. Being the wife of a former President does NOT make you qualified to become President yourself.

Hilliary was born with a silver spoon in her mouth translating into: her family had money. She has never gone hungry,worried about how to pay her electric bill, or had her home foreclosed on. She has never not had health insurance,been a victim of racial profiling, been laid off from a job,or lived with poverty literally in her backyard. Nor has she had a close friend fall victim to any of these harsh realities. She is not capable of empathizing or connecting with people victim to these situations much less feeling truly compelled to help them.

Obama was reared by a single mother and grandparents in a home of modest income. After college he choose to work for a grassroots organization that paid little money . He choose to work in the low income neighborhoods of Chicago helping the poor improve their quality of life. He did not chose a career as a high profile attorney making lots of money. Instead, he witnessed firsthand the multitude of issues poverty brings people and worked toward addressing those issues.

Barack Obama is OUR and OUR country's only HOPE. For the past seven years we have been failed as a nation by our goverment and lost the respect we once had with the rest of the world. With Obama, we can once again trust our President and have the eyes of the world once again view our country with respect and admiration. It is NOW time for CHANGE. We can no longer go with "business as usual". To vote for Hilliary is approving "business as usual". The doom and gloom will continue.

I am a white,middle-aged, college- degreed woman who fears for the future of my three children. I have worked for state government for the past 18 years and have seen firsthand the hardships people of low and middle income face daily. I am sick and tired of government neglecting them. Every person in our country, who is physically able to work ,should have access to a job that pays a salary allowing each to feed, clothe, and house themselves and their family; a government that provides health and dental insurance for all; a government that can assure us all,once we retire, there will be Social Security system in place for our final years.

I say NO to the Washington establishment and "status quo' and NO to "business as usual". Now is the time for NEW IDEAS and CHANGE. As a nation, we can not afford not to vote for Barack Obama as our next President of the United States. He is our only HOPE.

Alex Rodriguez January 12, 2008 3:00 pm ET

Please, this phony pandering to me by using Spanish won't make a difference to me. His use of the Spanish phrase is particularly hypocritical since he voted for the border fence.

No tienes mi voto Barack.

We second that Alex. Latino's for Clinton 08

That's one reason why I'm drawn to Obama: he had the opportunity to take any high-paying job in the universe, having graduated from Harvard and edited the Law Review, but instead he took a low-paying job working with communities.

I recently saw an interview with Michelle Obama where she explained that her and her husband just paid off their student loan debts a couple of years ago with the Senator's book profits. He definitely did not come from wealth, and he had to work hard to get where he is at.

I have spoken to many people in Harlem who will be voting for Obama this year. One 90 year old African American woman told me " I thought this day would never come."

It's too bad that somehow at this point in the campaign, posters here and elsewhere have gotten so nasty if you disagree with them.

So long !

Obama was Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Law Review. He didn't grow up in the worst neighborhoods, but he didn't grow up in the best neighborhoods either. Making only $12,000 a year as a community organizer and struggling to pay off student loas is relevant to his campaign because it shows that he has real life experience dealing with important issues facing Americans today. He worked as a community organizer in North Lawndale in order to help people, which shows a dedication to solving problems within America. He spent 7 years working well with Republicans in the Illinois State Senate while helping to reform the health care system, among other things. He has spent more time in Congress than Abraham Lincoln.

If you prefer Hillary, that's fine. But don't degrade a man who is obviously incredibly gifted, has always shown an ability to work well with others and has spent the majority of his adult life serving our country in one way or another. Obama's not going to be walking on water or bringing people back from the dead, as some of his supporters seem to believe, but I personally believe that if he is elected, he may end up being one of the greatest American Presidents. Disagreeing with me and believing another candidate is more qualified or more capable if fine, but anyone who says he is just some average scheming, lying political hack from a wealthy upbringing is either misinformed or a liar. I suggest people take a look at his record as a State Senator and read a little more about his life before spreading half truths, lies and baseless opinions.

Also, if he was "just a lecturer," he probably wouldn't have been elected to the State Senate and the senate, and he wouldn't have won the Iowa caucuses. Anyways, I can't possibly see how Obama having been a University of Chicago law school professor could ever be deemed negative.

For those of you who still think he's a horrible person, I'd like you to imagine having a son or daughter who has accomplished as much and has led the life that Obama has led. placeI can't believe there is a single person who wouldn't be proud of their child if that child were in Obama's .

Can we live without Barack Obama? Yes, we can.

Sorry, Barak, but your sad stories don't add up. Degrees from Columbia & Harvard Universities, Post -college job with a prestigious law firm where your wife-to-be was your intern adviser, paying off college loans, holes in shoes, ragged clothes, election to Illinois state government, then to senate (two years ago), and purchasing a million dollar plush "mansion."

In 1993, the same year Bill Clinton took over from George Bush Sr., our son graduated from the University of Houston business college. There were absolutely no jobs to be had, despite sending resumes to every local headhunter. He resorted to a landscaping job until the beginning of Clinton's 22 million jobs record kicked in.

With Barak's lack of inexperience, how long will he have to free-float until he comes online to proper handling of the nation's business and economy. Whate does he know about folks losing their homes to mortgage scammers who have flourished during the Bush administration. So the Clinton name is sacrosanct where the economy and jobs are concerned. With them, what you see and hear is what you get, and we can prove it.

Another thing, why are the Republicans falling all over themselves endorsing Obama? Sounds like a winning strategy for them to us.

If he keeps using Si se puede! as a tag line he will lose middle class American votes.
To say that he is going to bring change, peace and harmony is naive. Part of succeeding in the White House is knowing how to work Washingtom. Carter failed because he tried to "change things". Same with Bill Clinton in those first early days of trying to force change.
I don't know much about Baracks upbringing, most politicians nowadays try to stress the toughness of their youth. Whatever.
The issue is neither he nor Clinton can beat any Republican.
Not with catering to the extremists and the poor, quit telling folks what government can do for people, lets talk about what people can do for themselves.

If you want to see what Obama is going to do to create change, go to his website. It very clearly outlines a precise and exact plan. You can read what he wants to do. Just because he doesn't talk about it doesn't mean he hasn't thought about it.

Do not make political decisions based on the opinions of your friends, co-workers and the pundits. If you really want to feel good about casting your vote, do the research.

Who is afraid of change? And who is afraid of Obama? This is real guys. Neither the cynism or the opposition is going to prevent change. Obama is real and he is the best among all the candidats to give America the change we so desperately need. Go Obama....

Your Face!

You all are blind....Obama is the real deal, you all are so used to being lied to that you couldn't smell the truth if it was on your lip. HE HAS TOLD US HIS PLAN(2) OVER AND OVER AGAIN! He cares for us the working class. You want more white house sex scandels or false wars, go vote for Hilary or better yet vote Mccain......Obama will be president and he will truly change our economy, not his sex life or his oil bank account!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

d January 12, 2008 4:39 pm ET
My vote goes to Hilliary or McCain. Obama is a lecturer, not a politician!

AGREE 100%

obama believes in what he says and is the most genuine person running for president. he believes in the dreams that americans have and he has the courage to stand up against things that will hurt america like he did when he publicly opposed the war in Iraq, we want a president with foresight, not one that has not changed something while serving in washington for a longer period of time. keep up with the POSITIVE campaign!!!! i will be volunteering in south carolina. pass the torch to us nevada! YES WE CAN!!!!!!!

Hillary is a fake Obama is the real guy who can bring change. What did Hillary do in her 8 years ...Nothing.!!!!

Go Obama! Go Obama you are the answer to corruption in the White House.

Americans, you have an opportunity to fix and United your country, and more importantly improve your international image. Ask yourself a deep question.. will Hilary do that and what experience did Bill have before be became President.

Opportunity knocks... listen to Obama

My vote goes to Hilliary or McCain. Obama is a lecturer, not a politician!

The fact that Obama is chanting his weak slogan (yes we can) in Spanish is very disapointing. He is only doing it to gain votes and that makes me lose respect for him.

What happened to great presidents like T.Roosevelt that supported immigrants learining English? If we want to make America a better, more united country, we should be offering help and opportunities to immigrants so they can learn English, become productive citizens, and build their loyalty to America.

All of the politicians today are only out for themselves (and that includes Obama and Hilary). They dont really care about the Americans that want to see a united country with opportunities. They just want their own personal success and they will say and/or do anything to please any group of people to gain their vote. It is really sad.

Sorry, but Obama is not the solution to the issues in America. We all need to look up to God for guidance because he is the only one that can fix this situation we are in!

Tina ny, ny: I think we did.

YES WE CAN!!!

Culinary workers will get behind Clinton before Obama.
Reason being there is no bond between Hispanics and Blacks.

In respond to mr "A DEMOCRAT"
You must be one of those idiot that have nothing sensible to say..if you are sad because Obama attended a private school in Hawaii... havard graduate etc and you have lived below poverty before that is why you hate the man maybe you should go back to college, put in more effort and stop being a fool and idiot the worked to become an envy of the youths

I am not an American, never being to America. But i am a democrat "i love clintons and the other democratic candidates but what your country needs is "UNITY" A president that can unite the nation and get work done, someone that doesnt vote in the house to make name or follow the crowd like Hillary. All demt candidates are good but Obama is way better, the independent, republicant loves him. Hillary gonna have it tough as a president. You see what happened in iowa, NH would have bein same if nt cos of a political game applied by Bill and the crocks tears of Hillary! Politics shouldnt be a game! Dont be fool Hillary is not Bill and any president should have made name same like bill clinton in 90s not because clinton was good but because the economy was booming.

Another idiot pointed out the fact 'Obama granny lives in the village"Dommy! Does that make someone bad? I bet if you are senator Obama and your granny is living in a village in africa you will use your position to make them all rich or bring them to America. This is a man you can trust " He knows what poverty is? He's not opportunist. He's a president that will give America more respect outside world.

Experience? Ask president Bush if it really does make a candidate a good president.

Anyway! may the best candidate win. But Obama is an asset not because of who he is but because what God or whatever you believe in make him to be. You either love him or hate him hes someone to trust.

God bless Europe! God bless America!

Secretary Putin sends his warmest regards to his comrades in the western hemispheres! Smirnoff vodka for everyone! Russia is a premier country once again and will remain so if you clowns elect a loser like Barack Obama

We as America Voted for Bush Twice

Let not fear and doubt override our thinking

Change is the right choice

Hope is real

Hope for a better life is what drew people to america

Hillary said Hope and dreams do not promote change,,, Just hard work

I believe America is working hard right now for less.

Change is change, not more of the same blame game, saying people need to work harder.

Inexperienced and arrogant as well as condescending to Senator Clinton when Obama said, "you're likable enough."

Maybe in a few years but this man is not ready to lead this country.

To the Democrat who spoke about Obama's way of living, all I have to say is "did you live with him?" This person talks like they know for sure.

All I have to say is YOU GO, BOY! My prayers are with you, especially since you have to run against the Clintons!

As a Latina, I don't care if Hillary has the backing of Dolores Huerta (which might not even be true) or anyone else. I think its stupid to play follow the leader and go for someone just because other people are. I AM definately voting for Barack Obama because I feel he is the ONLY one that has the capacity to fix what's going on in the country.
Aren't you people tired of the same old people in the white house? What have they ever REALLY done for you? Experience? Experience screwing the American people over is what Hillary and all her people have!! Her health care plan failed in the 90's because she got a big check, so she preferred money over the people!
AND PEOPLE STILL TRUST HER??!! I am NOT risking my life in her hands! This is YOUR future people! Don't screw the country over!

OBAMA 2008!!!!! Edwards for vice president!!

Oh my God...Lets see how far we've come. Why is it that everything about Obama is about his race. Just give the man a chance like everyone else. Oh oops sorry he does have a Kenyan backround...Oh wait a minue they said the same thing about South Africa "the blacks are taking over", how stupid. I'm not an Obama fan, not because of his race but for his politics; however I will fight to the death to give him an opportunity like everyone else white or black if he or she is qualified to become President. Let's move on people. The world is and we're not. WE are about to loose our AAA credit rating in the world, we are becoming a second rate nation because we can't move on to the world stage as Leaders.
Let the man run and if the American want him as President fine otherwise vote for someone else. ELIMINATE RACE AS A CRITERIA. At least intelligent people do.

When Lou Dobbs goes on nightly about the wrongs of this country, he tells it like it is. Why are Governmental Officials not paying attention...act quickly to correct the issues. Instead ,they ignore the yelling and cries...of the people...Poor Mr. Dobb...he is what the governmental officials call "unfit" because he is "dead-on" right to voice his anger and disgust...too bad the Officials don't see it that way. Ms. C. Jugmohan

Hmm, I noticed that my comment from 12:19 today is still "awaiting moderation." Is that because I was critical of CNN?

"Together we will begin the next great chapter in American history starting with those three words: Si se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede! Let's go change America!"

THIS SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please, this phony pandering to me by using Spanish won't make a difference to me. His use of the Spanish phrase is particularly hypocritical since he voted for the border fence.

No tienes mi voto Barack.

For just about most of my adult life we have had a country governed by two families . Looks like some folks want to keep up the tradition . We are giving the British royal family a run for the money. The only difference is we vote for the king or queen of the united states and feel quite lucky if the election results aren't determined by the supreme court or outright stolen. Ya gotta laugh at this stuff!

It's a shame that ignorance a racism still reign supreme in America. Obama represents change in a much larger sense than small minded people whether they be Dems or Reps cannot seem to grasp. Who cares where he went to school or how much money he has now? What matters is vision, hope and commitment. Obama possesses the potential to unite people in this country on a common goal and restore faith in America accross the globe. So to "A Democrat" and "American Voter"...why hide behind false monikers, Say who you are; be real people in this debate. What are you backgrounds?

I, like Obama, was fortunate to have a great education and was given the chance to make it out of financially depressed situations, does that make my experience count any less?

Honestly, is this where we have come? Do we allow this class warfare to continue to stop progess in our country? Grow up! (in the politcal sense).

obama.....you are the biggining of change for america and for the mess world.
si se puede...si se puede...si se puede.

if you become a president ...America will be blessed for real....si se puede...si se puede.

I love democrat...i trust in obama.....si se puede.

long live america with the next president of U S A .....si se puede.

shottell....from vienna Austria....(orginaly from Ethiopia)

one love...one world

Why do you say Obama wants to include everyone except he looks at my border brothers different then Latinos here in the USA do ? I heard him talk about illegal immigration in a debate with the other democrats and he did not say to many promising things that latinos wanted to hear he sounded more negative towards Latinos so to bad his loss ! California for Hillary and I think we should spend are money in indian casinos in california and less in nevada !

roy asked:

"George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald reagan, Barack Obama: Great American Thinkers! Which name should be omitted from that statement! You know who."

Yeah, Ronald Reagan!

What a bunch of crazy loons are out today. You are so lazy and refuse to do any research on your own. You would prefer to be spoon fed lies by the Clinton over looking up the facts. Obama is a brilliant man. He got to go to great schools by hard work and student loans, lot of loans! The Obamas' have the lowest net worth of any of them on either side. They are worth $1.3 million and that is about $35 million less that than Clinton. BTY Clinton probably had less than 1 million back in the AK day but has made some ever famous stock and cattle transactions since then to amazingly increase their wealth. They have also made a ton of money from Bill's speaking tours. I would say politics have been very kind to them. If you don't care for Obama that is your right but please stop with the same old crap you read on the ticker or hear by rumor. Do the homework then shoot you mouth off.

Your comment is awaiting moderation. its been waiting all day?
Obama mother sent him to live permanently with his white grandparents in Honolulu when he was ten. He then began a new, elitist life that even he describes as "a childhood dream": surfing in Hawaii and attending the renowned private Punahou School, founded by Congregationalist missionaries in 1841 and known to local people as a school for the haole (whites). Its annual tuition today costs $15,725.

He went on to attend Occidental College, a perfectly respectable private liberal arts college in Los Angeles, but hardly an academic powerhouse; its present-day endowment is $377m. He transferred to Columbia University in New York and completed his degree there, and finally graduated with a degree from Harvard Law School at the age of 30.

"I wasn't living large," Obama told the crowd. "I had an old, beat-up car, had a little, tiny beat-up apartment. I was wearing raggedy, beat-up clothes. I got holes in the shoes, had holes in my car. You all've been there. You know what I'm talking about."

I wonder how his grand parents feel about these statements. They must be crying in shame that they did everything for this spoiled brad and he goes out to defame them.

Ok What about his grand mother in Kenya? Poor lady was working like an OX. How can he let her live like that.

Some experience! !

As her husband Bill said in 1992, (That type of experience is irrelevant)

As president, It is your supporting cast that makes a good admin. Actions surrounding your agenda.

More on Experience, Bidden and others should be in the lead, if that were the case. (Long good records)

People want Authentic Change. Not a week to week change as Hillary has done to win the campaign.

Obama empowers each American as having a role in this Movement for Change.

Same old congress promised change last year. Very little has been done.

Change requires working together with both parties. I see that more in Obama.

Early in Hillary campaign, all she would say is the republicans are out to get her.

We do not need a paranoid president,

We need change.

Although Hillary is a good candidate, she is not a beacon for authentic change. Or uniting the Democratic Party

Obama!

That was all fake because he is for and by the corporations if you ask me. After all, he charges these high fees for campaign events and is able to raise all of this money, which means he has to be taking corporate money. He says you can talk to corporations and it is because he wants their donations for president. He is a fake and a phony if you ask me. If you want someone for labor and for the middle class, you have Huckabee for the Republicans and Edwards for the Democrats.

to those of you who think that Obama was lying about not being well off – answer me this: WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD HE HAVE TAKEN OUT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN STUDENT LOANS? Wouldn't he have just paid for school out of his secretly deep pockets?

Obama in 08.

I can recall being dirt poor going through college and after graduation for the first few years. This is something I will never forget. Just like Obama I have worked to change those circumstances for the positive.

For those of you commenting, you dont know the specific circumstances that allowed him to get where he is today.

Stop hating and start supporting.

GO OBAMA!
Si se puede!

Regardless of Senator Obama's background, he speaks of bringing our country together, talking to people, working with people, extending ourselves to other nations, improving health care, improving economic possibilities etc. etc. etc.

My fellow Americans....let's look at the message when determining our next president.

I can't find one single positive comment here from a Hillary supporter.

It feels like some people are jealous of Obama's popularity, a la the star quarterback or the valedictorian. You can't stand to see him succeed, so you beat him down.

Obama's story is an American story. I am a mixed-race young adult, with two small children, working my way through law school. If Obama can be bashed for working hard, aspiring to greatness, and always pushing on to the next plateau, then what is there to tell our youth? Why should they put their necks out for this country and try to turn things around? He didn't engage in a real estate scandal, or sleep with his interns – yet you talk about him like he trained with al-Qaeda.

I don't have a grudge against Hillary. I think Barack would be a better President because he is a global thinker (read: Friedman's The World is Flat), he has the ability to inspire Americans to believe in his policy, and the policies he supports – fighting global warming, fixing health care, getting us out of Iraq – are policies we all have been crying for since 2003.

If you can only find negative, vile comments to regurgitate about Barack, then you are part of the problem we are trying to change.

AND WE WILL

California for Barack – Feb. 5 – FIRED UP, READY TO GO

SI SE PUEDE – borrowed slogan from UFW (United Farm Workers)

Too bad Sen. Clinton has the backing of THE Dolores Huerta – co-founder of UFW with Cesar Chavez..

I'm interested in seeing how the Latina/o vote will go in the southwest, given that Sen. Clinton has the backing of several Latina/o leaders (including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa) and Sen. Obama has the backing of unions rich in Latina/o members.

Less government, more personal responsibility! The freedom to make the most of your god given abilities and not rely on the government to do for you. The value of self reliance! Where are all the great Reniassance minds who could take an idea or thought and truly invent? Where? The Technological, internet generation that we currently exists will be the downfall of our once great country when you need a computer or a machine to tell you what to do because you do not know what to do and cannot think for yourself. I want a candidate who will be back the lost hidden value of self reliance as well smaller government and very controlled spending.

My MESSAGE SHOULD HAVE SAID OBAMA DOESN'T TAKE MONEY FROM PAC MEMBERS ONLY FROM THIER SPOUCES AND CHILDREN AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATES.

Why is it so hard for some people to believe that Obama has not led a "gifted life"? He has not had it made – he made his way.

He did not come into national prominence by strategically marrying a talented politician-turned-president, aka Hillary.

Hillary has been asking, "Where's the beef?" regarding Obama's supposed lack of experience. Luckily for her, Obama is running a positive campaign and has thus far refrained from turning that line back on her.

What has Hillary done??? WHAT HAS SHE DONE THAT IS SO GREAT?

She has had a lackluster Senate career. Being married to the president gives her no more insight into the skills needed for the job than any one of us who try to explain to our spouses / significant others what we do at work doing the day.

Do you think your husband / wife / partner, just be being with you, is somehow remotely qualified to do what YOU do on a daily basis?

Obama has spent more time as an elected official than Hillary! She is calculating, manipulative, and shape-shifting. The only "change" HRC brings to the table is the constantly changing campaign slogans her faltering organization rolls out on a frequent basis.

Hillary is a cancer and marks a return to the bitterly partisan years of the 1990's. The only policy that she has ever been in charge of, her health care plan in 1994, failed MISERABLY. And since then, she has shut her mouth on health care until now, as she has an arrangement with the health care industry lobbyists who generously fund her campaign in turn for her favors in the political arena.

What a joke Hillary is. I'm by no means against a woman for president. I'm just against THAT woman for president. God save our country if she somehow wins the nomination and even more miraculously then manages to defeat the resounding "anyone but Hillary" voters by barely enough to become president.

I'm a Republican who is proudly voting for Obama this year.

I agree with the need for Barack to start presenting more details about what he is going to do. I understand the hesitation on the part of those who may not want to vote for Barack.

Let me remind you that Hilary has proposed plans before (that is, healthcare plans) when she was the First Lady. Well, were the plans ever acted upon.

It is great to propose and present plans but you have to be able to convince others about your plans and get them to support them.

I encourage you to all vote for Hilary Clinton if you want another 4 years of partisan warfare. We cannot continue to do the same things and expect different results.

My prayer is that we will all be practical about our democracy and recognize that the 2-party system has not yielded any progressive benefits for the masses.

We need leaders that appeal to the issues that are important to all Americans and not just a bloc of Americans.

America has a chance, again, to be great if only we can eschew all emotions and personal feelings and act with common sense.

God bless America,

Lets be honest, any white candidate with Obamas qualifications would be picked on incredibly. Look at what is happening with Rudy and Fred Thompson. In our PC world no one is really putting him and his very very left policies to the test.
I am a democrat who can not afford another president who doesn't understand the difference between legal and illegal immigration.
And if it is bad for people to vote for someone just 'cuz they are white how excited can I get over Obama when most of the blacks running to him are doing it just because he is black?
I am tired of the double standard.
Of course if he gets elected does that mean we can stop hearing how tough it is for blacks? And then all the picking on and joking about white people can stop? Since that is the only group it is still okay to call names at.
Just wondering.

I live in Hawaii and Obama went to a school that is ery prestigious. As well, I do not know where his "single Parent upraising" thing came from but according to his story here he was raised in a two GRANDPARENT household.

His mothers parents raised him and took care of him the whole time he lived in Hawaii. His Father sort of dumped him here as well and only visited him I think one time. there is no doutbt that Obama has seen his share of personal sorrow, but that alone does not make a great leader. And Punahou, the very exceptional and posh private school he attended here does not give full scholarships that much. More or less his family would have had to pony up some dough for him to go there. And they had the money or he would not have gone....Punahou does not let you pay monthly. After all, this private school rivals many private colleges when it comes to how much they charge in tuition every year....its is at or over 20,000 a year to send a kid to that school.

regardless, i am still undecided and will have to wait and see whether any of these yahoos decide to step up their game or if they are just going to feed us the same rhetoric they have been feeding us for decades.

And as far as him paying off his student loans, well...good for him...maybe we all should be so fortunate to be able to do that in our LIFETIME...but it is doubtful, for many of us anyway.

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald reagan, Barack Obama: Great American Thinkers! Which name should be omitted from that statement! You know who.

I believe Obama's background, credentials, and outsider status make him the most likely candidate to bring positive change for our working and middles classes. Maybe the Clintons once cared about their constituency, but all they care about now is getting elected. You can see it in how theyre willing even to knock Dr. Martin Luther King in order to get ahead. Obama is for real change – Obama's got my vote.

I can only imagine that many of the response of this article are from people who have never worked as organizers. I don't personally know Obama, but his story sounds a lot like me and my friends. If any naysayers had read his bio, they would have learned that he went to Columbia University after attending a Community College. He worked as an organizer after graduation. After working as an Organizer, he went to Harvard Law School. After I graduated from college I worked several jobs(substitute teachers, temp jobs, and waiters.), because $19, 000 was not a livable wage when you have $45k in student loans and a car with 1988 toronado with no transmission. My grandfather had to cosign for my car because I was working as a volunteer on a local mayoral campaign. Make a little money now with a job I like, but I am not changing the world. Sometimes I wish I had hung in there and worked a few more campaigns, but everytime I look at my student loan debt and gas prices I think I made the right choice.

Give me a break, Obama.

You went to the most prestigiious prep school in Hawaii.

You had your pick of Ivy-league colleges.

You are a millionaire who now FAKES a southern accent just like George W. Bush.

The whole time you were "slumming it" you had standing offers to lecture at the University; your back has NEVER been up against the wall and how insulting of you to pretend it has.

I have lived below poverty level; I have been sick without health care; you don't know what the streets are, except that they're the place where some fellow Democrats came from – you had your team of lawyers force them off the ballot when they got in your way. I am successful now and it is in large part thanks to the Clintons, no thanks to you.

Working-class democrats don't believe you, that's why they vote for Hillary and you have to count on cross-voting Republicans and silver-spoon PhD's like you.

Quit faking; you are an uppity prep-school. You are televised; you are NOT the revolution!
What else to say now!

I hope the regular African-American (especially) women viwers of Oprah have taken noticed of the her newly made sure seen on screen sitting in the audience... African-American. Oh she's definitely (Orpah) playing politics on her show that's for sure.

Though obama got the union of culinary to back him, a majority of the member will be stll voting Clinton.o Hilary

NICE BOO HOO STOREY.

We all know it will take a heavy hitter like Hillary or Edwards to win back our dear
America.

THINK. Vote to win.

If Obama gets the nomination, the republicans will paint him as a drug-pushing philanderer who preyed on white women during his manipulitave rise to "power". The swift-boating will be worse than with Kerry. Look at what happened with Harold Ford in Tennessee- they painted him as a predatory black man lookin for a blonde. Hell- in 2000 the republicans even said McCain had a "black baby out of wedlock" and that his wife was a drug addict. You think they won't stoop to that level against the real enemy- a Democrat?? Hillary is battle tested and can withstand the trial. All she has to win is everything Kerry won and Ohio- thats it. Make no mistake- they will crucify Obama in a few states that matter, and they will bring the racists out in droves, from the pulpits to the television, their message will be of one single thing: destroy Obama at any cost.

Im an Australian I agree with Chris- the dutch guy...... Obama is the best person to set America on the right course and make use of the promise,hope and trust the world used to have in the USA.

The Clintons time has come and gone! While it was better than some it wasnt that great !

Time for someone else! I hope its Obama ! : )

George Bush is much smarter than Barack Obama.

hey when you put yourself out there to help others its not always the most rewarding financially, i do believe obama is a genuine and hardworking, candidate and should be given fair coverage to state his case!if i had all his education, believe me, id be on wall street!

Bimmer–

Sometimes comments get lost. I've had numerous pro-Obama messages not show up after I posted them. Not to mention the fact that they let through all those idiotic "Obama's an extremist Muslim!" posts. Your accusations are baseless.

I think I could take him in a fist fight.

Barack Obama is the "Masked Politcian." Can he win the nomination? He most certainly can. Can he win the Presidency? Not at this time especially if John McCain is the republican nominiee.

Unviel your mask Obama.

"Together we will begin the next great chapter in American history starting with those three words: Si se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede! Let's go change America!"

I am an American like OBAMA, I grew up in the Island nation of Antigua-Barbuda in the Caribbean, a British colony, now a British Commonwealth territory. You were taught to dream big, to think that nothing is impossible, to show confidence, to be humble and at all times show immense GRAITUDE. The secret of life is to HOPE and to LOVE. To always believe that nothing is impossible, to always believe that "whatever the mind can conceive and believe it will achieve."

I am smart, articulate, dearing and tell other's what need to be said, not what they might want to hear. My High School Motto from All Saints Secondary in Antigua is " From Possibility to Realization". This motto explains who and what OBAMA campaign has become, "From Possibility to Realization" that he can win the Nomination and become the 44TH President OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and the FREE WORLD. He is correct: "Si se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede!-"Yes, we can, Yes, we can, Yes, we can! Let's go change America and in so doing let's change the world!

If you believe SOAR like the AMERICAN Eagle, the sky is not the limit!
OBAMA 2008, and beyond!

Ok who paid for his Harward education if he was so poor.

Richmond – funny comment – I heard the same thing in New Hampshire! Bet you'll be WRONG AGAIN.

Read Shelby Steele, a black conservative on Barack Obama in a book entitled "A Bound Man." Maybe then we can see who is this man parading around as John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr and Stoky Carmichael is.

Barack Obama please stop imitating great leaders of the past in image and works and show us your true, authentic self.

Bimmer – I have noticed that as well! CNN – you'd better watch your "screening" – it often crosses over to censoring! And as for your television coverage – same thing – you had better start presenting the candidates in similar settings – if you show a clip of one giving a "speech", then show the other giving a speech – not just a sound bite clip answering a reporter's question. Show BOTH either answering questions, OR giving speeches – don't cherry pick to show favoritism!

From another lifelong Democrat - are we at the point where we want to compare who was/is poorest - please, the Clintons have done nothing for the working people of America. Everyone, every politician has never remembered the working poor - the ones who fall through the cracks. Make too much for any services, but too poor to survive from day to day.

We need someone new who will pay attention to everyone, and I am very willing to take a chance with Barack Obama because I already know what the old politicians can't do. Before Obama I felt like I was being left out of the whole process, and I was just about at the point of giving up. I really didn't want to because I have been heavily involved in the whole process for so many years. So, once again I am standing up and being counted for Barack Obama. Please, God make him what we believe him to be.

"Barry" Obama went to an elite private high school, college, and law school. This "I was poor man...vote for me" garbage has got to stop. What a fake- a "poser".

Why is all the talk about Senator Obama's history? Doesn't Senator Clinton have
a history herself? Does she only borrow from her husband those things only which give her value and intellect, while forgetting other unfortunate happenings?
Her own history is very foggy and obscure, perhaps "covered up". I would never vote for her. I would never vote for someone who cajoles and laughs (cackles) whiles aping the words of the "Clinton Machine," not her own. As I say, She has no words of her own. She has no ideas of her own.
I want Senator Obama to lead our country with his intelligenge and ability to reach across and gather people who will bring our country and world together and
foward. He looks foward. Senator Clinton, through no fault of her own, is stuck,
her ideas for this country based on the past. She is a nice woman. She doesn't
want to be President. She is just an feminist and activist, who way back since her time in college, has wanted to make a point. And you certainly cannot blame her fot that! But just has wanted to make a point, not be President! Mrs. Clinton, running for President is a dangerous way to satisfy your personal desire when the world is in such danger. Set aside your pride for the sake of our country!!

This is good for Americans of all persuaions......

THE BEST THING TO ARRANGE FOR IS AN OBAMA-HILLARY TICKET.
QUIT THE CHARACTER ASSASINATION BECAUSE YOU ARE POWERING THE GOP WITH THE ARSENAL OF THE PRESIDENTIAL FIGHT.

Dear Steven and other Obama supporters. You wrote the following: I wonder sometimes if you have honest concerns or are they just a cover for the racism and hate you have against Obama.

The minute you and others start with the Race-issue Obama is LOOSING. This is a major turn off for people that actually do like him.
Most people that vote for Hillary does not vote for her because she’s white but simply because she has a lot more experience than he does. As mush as you all wish, Obama does not stand a chance this time around. As cute as he is

i would follow him to the ends of the earth! He is so sexy and dreamy

-It is completely possible that Obama did live in relative poverty after graduating from Columbia University with a B.A. in political science and international relations. The maximum for student loans was probably around 10,000 at that time, and interest rates were quite high on those loans during the Regan years in 1983. Obama did not enter Harvard Law until 1988. He's talking about the five years after he graduated from college with a B.A. (code word for worthless degree). A college degree means nothing in this society. Look at me, I've got three of em', B.A., M.A. and Ph.D, and I make 25,000 a year.

Also, it is really necessary to point out that the simple distortion of facts on this blog seem indicative to me of quite a bit of nasty prejudice, especially from the repubs and the Hillary supporters (calling Lady Rothschild, I hear Hillary's coffers are running low!). Sure, Obama went to a muslim school (madrassa means school, as Islam means peace) for two years from the ages of 6-8. I'm sure the indoctrination took, especially because several news agencies have run stories on the moderate program of his school, i.e. science and math.

The Clinton have been in Washington for 8 years – not much have been done by them- no change has been seen – But during the last dems debate – Clinton said that she has been doing changes for 35 years... Could she show one of the great changes that she has done for this country? Also, for American of other roots not European roots, what Clinton have really done to unite the country and its people, what did they do for education, health care, etc. We should judge people on their results, for now I don't see any tangible results from the Clintons. During their mandate, a genocide has been committed in Rwanda and injustice in America did not decrease...
I hope they have memory of having done no thing to stop the genocide in Rwanda, etc.

c.ilivuziman@hotmail.com

In life change is always a good thing and it is something that we as a whole need to learn how to accept. When I came to the USA from France The Clintons were in office and they did an awesome job. Why can't we give another person a chance to really display their ideas for AMERICA. The Land of the Free! People come to the US from all over because they admire this country and our abilities and in return we are showing people how vicious we are... WHY? Why is there so much hatred towards a human being who wants to see change in his country? I would like to congratulate Obama and his wife for their accomplishments because where there is a strong man there is an even stronger woman. Their story is truly inspiring and I admire their success. I wish you both the best in life and Congratulations on your victory!!!!

-The Fosters

I am so tired of this Obama Drama that the media is creating! Hillary is up in most of the polls and is neck and neck in South Carolina by a poll that wasn't updated after New Hampshire, yet everyone is trying to write her off... implying that the end is near.... GIVE ME A BREAK! This country is speaking and it is not to the same tune as the media. Hillary will be our democratic nominee, you mark my words... She is the best one for our country! Stop the Obama drama and give me some newsworthy facts!!!!!! GO SENATOR CLINTON!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Clinton supporters are getting seriously desperate. They are starting to sound like the same people that voted for Bush. Dirty, Dirty politics.

I love OBAMA because He is very motivational and I believe he can make America what it ought to be.
OBABA '08

Go Obuma!

Senator: you need to stay in Illinois and gain more experience, two years in the Senate just doesn't make it. WAKE UP AMERICA! there's nothing there

Last night I watched Bill Moyers interview Shelby Steele, author of "A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win". Steele is the son of a white woman and a black man like Obama, and had some thoughtful analysis of why the platitudes of hope we're hearing are empty slogans. If he's right about why Obama can't win, it's way too soon for everyone to be endorisng a losing horse in a race that seems to be the Democrats' to lose.

Wake up America!....It's time for a change!..Open your closed minds and see what's happening around the world as well as in your own country.

Clinton can not make a change for she's too fake and a flip flopper!
Only Obama can give the country a fresh new start, nation wise and internationally as well!
Give the man a chance...Presidency is only for a short while after all !!!

Right. And Hillary represents the "working class" WAY more than Obama does. That'll be a nice consolation if she gets the nomination and then people are forced to vote for the "lesser of two evils" again (circa 2004). How about you nominate someone who is electable...just a thought.

Obama does take contributions from P.A.C. members but he doesn't refuse money from their spouses, their children and business partners and several ex-lobbyist's an hedge fund manager (FACTCHECK.ORG. Democratic debate April 27,2007) He did not grow up in poverty . When he finished Harvard he was working making a pay check. Collage graduates now a day have a hard time finding jobs and live with their parents, How may wish they could earn $12,000 ? Obama choose to work as an community organizer. He was working on his pathway to presidency.

Notice to fellow bloggers!! Those who read, study issues,candidates, political style and past political history as well as Obama's backgound know that he is one in ten million. WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE HIM PUT HIMSELF OUT THERE! cOUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, VOTERS,WE HAVE A GOOD SELECTION THIS TIME AROUND:THIS MAY NOT HAPPEN AGAIN FOR DECADES. VOTE OBAMA!!!

Was Obama in the military? Just curious.

Now that Obama is issuing these statements about how poor he was and how he wore "raggedy, beat up" clothes and so forth, I'm wondering about some earlier statements made by him and Michelle. A while back, when they implied that voters had better vote for him this time (or never), this is essentially what she said and he repeated: "Eight years from now we will have lost touch with ordinary people. We will be in a different orbit." It's pretty hard to believe that, if you come from humble beginnings or have faced a period of poverty in your life, you would ever be able to forget about it. So which is it? Can he now remember and recite details of his year(s) in poverty but in 8 years' time he will have forgotten, lost touch with ordinary people, and be in a diffferent orbit (which of course implies being very far above "ordinary" people)? Once you're poor and had to sacrifice and struggle to make it, you never forget. I know, I've been there and it is indelibly imprinted in my mind, heart, and soul.

In reading about Obama's earlier years, I have had the impression of a privileged young man. Pictures taken of him when he was a "community organizer" show a very well dressed Obama. In addition, I've noticed he repeatedly brings up that he and Michelle had to take out and then pay back student loans. I had to do the same thing, as did my children. I was one of many notoriously underpaid teachers, earning 3 to 5 thousand dollars in those years and truly struggling to pay bills, rear two children alone, and send in my student loan payments each month. Hundreds of thousands of us "ordinary" people have struggled with poverty, sacrificed, and paid back our student loans and we will never forget those years. I might add that there are still voters alive who were children during the depression, living in abject poverty and during World War II, when sacrifice was required and accepted by "ordinary" people. That was over 70 years ago and they still haven't forgotten. So, I think Obama would be better served to stress exactly what changes he will bring to our nation and exactly how he will go about making them instead of wasting valuable media coverage on contrived stories of his years as an "ordinary" person.

At one time I was excited about Obama and actually did think he was a candidate of hope and change. I've listened carefully and, sadly, can find nothing to back up his claim of bringing meaningful change to our nation. I'm sorry about this because I had so much "hope". Thank God, we have other choices.

THANK U STEVEN

Question for poster DONNE:

So for how long did they let you out of the looney bin?

Your posting sadly reeks of insanity.
There are people who can help you and Obama is not one of them.

Senator:

I believe in you, your family and your campaign. Good luck and you have my vote.

Bimmer,

That is not true that they are rooting for Obama, I have said straight facts about Hillary and those comments have been screened out too.

Steven,

I'm with you on those points. The vitriolic hate towards Obama by these HRC supporters is just a front for their racism. They are not concern about issues or about the direction of the country. They simply want one thing. Don't let the African American in the White House. What an insult that even many ignorant blacks have been calling Bill Clinton the first black president. How Ironic that even a buffon like G. W. Bush can appointment more people of color to real positions in the White House ( Colin Powell, Conde Rice ).

So what is this myth that Bill Clinton did so much for African Americans? A HRC administration would look like the last Clinton Administration, white, country club and corperate. So lets have it all out in the open. All you HRC supporters take take your hoods and reveal yourselves....at least online!

Hey, where is the person who posts the 24 inch item on Obama?

I've seen a couple interviews by Sheldon Steele lately. He was on again last night. On Charlie Rose.

He was talking about challengers and bargainers

Challenger: you are racist until you prove otherwise. Bargainer: I won't notice you are racist if you don't notice I am black. Bargainers have to ride a fine line. If they have too strong of an opinion, whites may be confused. If they don't voice strong opinions, blacks may be confused.

Steele states that Obama is a challenger. Who knows. I do know that
Obama's machine challengers have come out and dropped the race bomb. I noticed the machines focus on making him look black to get into South Carolina. He needs the black vote. I don't know about the great orator but I know great manipulation when I see it. It will be the voters who decide whether or not this will work.

Anyone want to bet the racism accusations stop as the machine moves away from South Carolina? Politics as usual. Disappointing.

Hillary latest comment to a group of Latinos – "No Woman is illegal" – Is she trying to create a Gender War in America or what?

The country is divided enough it does not need to be along anouther line.

Might as well get mad now. She's gonna lose.

I voted for Deval in Massachusetts because of his powerful and moving speeches. I now regret that decision. This week Deval Patrick announced that he would bypass legislation to provide illegal immigrants fee in state tuition and has also proposed raising taxes on meals and telecommunications, ect. I thought that he was going to help the middle class when I voted for him but he hasn’t done anything to help the middle class in Massachusetts. Asking middle class residents to pick up the tab for free tution during a recession is outrageous.

Here is a Conspiracy Theory for you. The banks of this country to include Countrywide Mortgage, Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, IndyMac have loaned billions of dollars to illegal aliens to buy homes in this nation as well as given them credit cards. Now who does not want them deported? The average citizen? or The CEO’s and the Congressman and Senators that get campaign contributions from these corporations. The lobbyist on behalf of Bank of America works harder for illegal immigrants and gets paid more than is given to funding for homelessness total in America. Is it starting to make sense now? Now you know why Romney did absolutely nothing when his was governor of our state.

Illegal immigration is not a victimless crime. The taxes paid by immigrants do not cover the cost of services received by them. (ie, public assistance benefits, public education, public housing, or any other taxpayer-funded benefits.) Those that are affected the most are the poor, children, veterans and minorities of the US – all of whom do not get priority over illegal immigrants when it comes to public assistance.

A DEMOCRAT - Excuse me, but you better make a better argument for the Clintons. Bill was a Rhodes Scholar. How quickly we forget.

Instead of focusing on tearing apart the Democratic candidate which you don't support, you should just focus on the positive aspects of your candidate. At the end, you would have to vote for the best Democratic candidate to face off the Republican side. As a Republican, I would even vote for a Democrat if the candidate can show that he or she can truly reunite the country and put forward the best plan to help all of Americans and not just for the Democrats.
All of these negative talks and hate messages are what really tearing this country apart. Slaming other candidates don't make your candidate look any better!

CNN is rooting for Obama and screening out comments submitted in the Ticker hat are unfavotrable to him.

Greg OH,

I guess Hillary is not fit to be president becuase she worked for WALMART. America should wake up, I like Obama but I think becoming the CinC of this country will take more than ability to give motivational speeches.

I am not a Democrat and will not be voting for one. I am also African American and will not vote for Barack Obama simply to say I supported the black candidate. I will say that most of the comments on this blog are some of the most illiterate statements I have ever read. Most of the people supporting Hillary Clinton are trying to get Bill back into the White House. She hasn't done anything for the Country as a whole just because she was married to a former President. She's not as experienced as everyone makes her out to be because she rode the back of her husband during his presidency.

The other point is this Country is not ready to see an African American as President simply because there is still too much racism. Even if the man had 10 to 15 years experience it wouldn't matter because the United States (and I use the word united very loosely), isn't to the point of accepting a man of color as the leader of America.

Third, although Condoleeza Rice is female and does a great job as the Secretary of State, Arab culture doesn't view women as leaders and if Hillary Clinton becomes President of the United States there would be more issues with trying to take care of the situation in the Middle East.

Thanks for your time.

x

A Democrat January 12, 2008 12:20 am ET

Give me a break, Obama.

You went to the most prestigiious prep school in Hawaii.

You had your pick of Ivy-league colleges.

You are a millionaire who now FAKES a southern accent just like George W. Bush.

The whole time you were "slumming it" you had standing offers to lecture at the University; your back has NEVER been up against the wall and how insulting of you to pretend it has.

I have lived below poverty level; I have been sick without health care; you don't know what the streets are, except that they're the place where some fellow Democrats came from – you had your team of lawyers force them off the ballot when they got in your way. I am successful now and it is in large part thanks to the Clintons, no thanks to you.

Working-class democrats don't believe you, that's why they vote for Hillary and you have to count on cross-voting Republicans and silver-spoon PhD's like you.

Quit faking; you are an uppity prep-school. You are televised; you are NOT the revolution!

Wow you don't sound too much like a Hilary Clinton schill! It seem like shes getting worried and sending you schills out with these crafty hit pieces.

The people can see through your facade.

Theres gonna be a recount in NH and then we'll see who really won (if you dont fix that too)

To "A Democrat":

Stop making ignorant judgements and try getting informed. Reading "Dreams from My Father" would be a good start.
Obama worked for everything he ever got. He wasn't born into a legacy like a Bush or a Kennedy. His family was in the dead middle of the income bracket at best, but worked hard to provide him with opporunities to go to a good school as a child. He then got into the ivy league schools through HARD WORK. You don't graduate at the top of your class at Harvard by simply coasting through.
But that is besides the point. The point is about the choices he as made. He could have made the real money you speak of, being a trial lawyer, (who does that remind me of?) or working for corporations, but instead chose to help out the disadvantaged. He and Michelle just recently paid off their student loans at the age of 46 and 42, respectively. If he was such a "millionaire", they would hardly have had any trouble paying those loans off.
Also, Obama does not have a Phd. I don't even want to know how you made that assumption. And from my research his net worth is not that much. In fact, it is literally 23 times less that of John Edwards. Now you want to talk about income and empathy for the human struggle?
How dare you question the integrity of this man. He has had opportunities yes, but not because they were hand-fed to him. They were achieved through struggle. He had the chance to make the big money like John Edwards or the Clintons, but instead fought the hard fight, for much less money. His wife Michelle didn't carpetbag to the South Side of Chicago like a Clinton, she was raised there, and is a self-proclaimed "lifer".
Any other questions you have for me?

OBAMA YES WE CAN MAKE THE CHANGE. OBAMA WILL UNITE THE COUNTRY
AND THE WORLD. WE NEED A POSITIVE VOICE IN THE WHITE HOUSE. WE NEED SOMEONE FRESH THAT HAS NOT BEEN IN THE WHITE HOUSE. I WILL PRAY FOR YOUR NOMINATION AND ULTIMATELY BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES

CNN's reporting has reaqched an all time low. You are quoting people completely out of context to gain sensationalism It is deplorable!!!!

You people KILL ME. I wonder sometimes if you have honest concerns or are they just a cover for the racism and hate you have against Obama. Before you leave another comment please research the history and stop living on Clinton talking points. Jason is right..Obama wasn't born rich his grandparents paid for his private schooling because it was the best school in the area. He is by no means a product of the upper level of soicety..even though it looks that way because he went to Harvard. His parents and especially grandparents were of modest means but sacrificed for his best education. Before going to Harvard he went to a college in California that I never even heard of because he wasn't sure what he wanted to do in life (as most youth are.) Only after going to Columbia and then getting accepted to Harvard he finally found something he was motivated in doing and he graduated the top of his law class.

I am not sure how many of you have been to the southside...but it is a tough place. Obama was basically poor but helping out others was the only payment he needed as a community organizer....ASK YOURSELF WOULD YOU HELP OUT OTHERS...ESPECIALLY FOR 12K A YEAR. I didn't see Hillary living and working amongst lower income people...she just talks about how she is going to help them...just like she did in the 8 years Bill was in office. and I didnt see any significant gains in the war on poverty then. I just shake my head when I see the Clintons pandering for African American votes...so tell me why is Bill considered the first Black president ( I am African American and still cant figure that out) I used to really like Bill and Hillary to be honest but all this attack machine has really made me not like the Clintons.

IF YOU LIKE HILLARY THEN LIKE HER, BUT ALL THIS OBAMA BASHING REALLY HAS TO STOP. YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT IF SHE WINS THE PRIMARY THE SAME PEOPLE YOU ARE MAKE ANGRY ( LIKE ME ) WHO SUPPORT OBAMA ARE THE SAME DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS YOU ARE GOING TO ASK TO VOTE FOR HER...AND TRUST ME THE MORE BASHING YOU HILLARY SUPPORTERS ARE DOING THE MORE YOU ARE TURNING THOSE OF US OFF WHO ISN'T IN HER CORNER RIGHT NOW.

I do not trust him yet. I have not seen any contributions he has made that would indicate he is the right person for the job but I do have experience with the character of Hillary Clinton. She is an infinately better choice and it is about time that we have a woman president. I don't feel Barack Obama is electable. He may be a "golden child" but it is that "golden child" label that worries me. He is young and inexperienced. I don't think he has the experience this important job requires.

Getting endorsements from career politicians is not credible to me. I give it no weight other than telling me that here is another Washington big-shot who knows how to play the play the game of garnering favors. In my observation, "players" generally get their influence due to a compromise of their integrity.

If the final election choices come down to McCain and Obama, I may have to jump party lines. McCain has a significant amount of experience and at least I would know what I would be getting.

You Hillary supporters are doing a terrible job of masking your racism towards Obama. But you're in good company,. You have Bill Clinton with his fairy tale comment, Hillary Clinton downplaying the rols of Martin Luther King in civil rights and New York's Attorney General Andrew Coumo saying that Obama can't "shuck and Jive". If this is what it means to be a Democrat then I'll vote McCain.

Do Hillary.....No you can't

Change....what change have you done so far?....No You can't

Do Ophrah..... Yes you can!

Mary,
I recall you saying that you're from New York, not Chicago. Well it makes sense to say that you're from Chicago if you want to act like some authority on Obama...

If people in this country don't get over themselves and vote for Obama we're toast of the brunt variety. Any political old timer who supports Hillary is only doing so to try to save their political hides. The change that will swept this country with an Obama victory will no doubt mean a change for them as well. They've gotten too comfortable. Obama causes them to come out of that comfort zone. And for any haters out there trying to sow negative seed on Obama's lot in life remember this: he did what he needed to do the right an honorable way. He's used his brains and common sense to become a better person and put himself in a better position in life. And unlike his chief rival he actually went home and helped his community by exercising his newly acquired knowledge and understanding so they too could become better people putting themselves in better positions in life so that they too could help others. No he's not perfect, but as far as politicans go he's the absolute best thing going. He's not an anger political trickster. He's a can do kinda guy. Just like the best of them who've ever "served" as president not seeking to simply to serve themselves. Wake-up people...The time is now!

It is precisely because of the all the low life racist bigots that the good people of America must unite and ensure that Obama is successful in his run for the Dem nomination and eventually as president of this great country. Call you friends and relatives and make sure they go out and vote for Obama. Just having good intentions will not be enough. YES WE CAN!

Obama is a millionare . search "obama truth" you will know the fact

HEY BEST FOR THE POOR & MIDDLE CLASS C Li NTON OR EDWARDS O8

Let's start by speaking Engilsh.

To all those of you bashing Obama because he has been to an Ivy League school. Give him a break. Inspite of his education and up-bringing, he CHOSE to work on the South side of Chicago even though he had other opportunities. Do not make rash remarks before doing your homework. And his education, intelligence, eloquence and commitment to causes he believes in can only make him a better president. Would you want a president who does not have these qualities?

And when we talk about experience. We can all get experience. What you have to look at and ask is – Does this person have all the ingredients of a good candidate. And yes he does.
"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve" (borrowed) We have to start believing that Obama can be president and take the race from there.

Yes we can.

Liz in Toronto

OUT OF ALL THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTY, THIS IS THE BEST THAT THE DEMOCRACTIC PARTY CAN COME UP WITH TO RERPRESENT THEIR BEST INTERESTS? THAT IS TRULY, TRULY SAD.

HEY BEST FOR THE POOR & MIDDLE

Everyone forget Hillary worked for Walmart for 6 YEARS? Does that not mean anything to you Hillary supporters? The same Walmart that pays little, has all it products from China, and moves into a town and runs the other businesses out of business. This should be clear enough.

If you think I am not telling the true, look it up

"I don't think the other countries around the world will get away with anything with her inthe drivers seat."

scotti, why is it that people like you feel that America has some kind of parental rights over the rest of the world? What gives America that sort of entitlement? We have had enough of the crap from Pres. Bush, I'm sure you need to be reminded of the mess in Iraq and the poor relations with countries that are not America's yes-men (Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, to name a few).

It's time for a president who would work to improve American relations with the rest of the world instead of bombing and sanctioning anyone who disagrees with you. Dialogue is the way to do that. Hillary has already said she won't be talking to Iran etc. and trust me, these heavy handed hegemonic policies is not going over well with the rest of the world. America seriously needs to improve its international image, and I just don't see that happening with Hillary as president.

Obama needs to get his positions on major issues in front of the American people. So far, I have not heard his economic plan to help the country through the forcasted recession. The only national politician with a plan, including our current Pres., is Hillary. She is a hard worker and a woman with a plan. She has my vote.

Give me a break all of you haters out there,. No matter what your political afflilation, you have to give this man credit for what he has accomplished!

Born in the sixties; mixed race; single parent; lower middle class; was accepted to Harvard not due to family wealth and status but through intelligence and academic abilities; worked as a community organizer; was a law professor; and now has a genuine chance of being the President of the United States: a living, breathing example of the American Dream.

These blogs, most often topics of trivia, character assassination, urban myths and ill informed comments, indicate the anger and divisiveness that is destroying America from inside and outside: the very characteristics this man is trying to challenge us to overcome.

Barack Obama has changed this election and challenged us to reexamine ourselves. I applaud him and wish him well no matter what his fate.

Humble origins are no guarantee that the candidate will identify with the lower and middle classes. Our best presidents came from a mix of backgrounds. Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, and John Kennedy were from patrician families. Lincoln, Truman, and Johnson were from dirt-poor families.

Also, the tendency to say all the right things and have all the right goals is no proof that the candidate will actually be able to govern. He or she has to be able to persuade or compel Congress and Business to accept the changes. Jimmy Carter had all the right goals and said all the right things, but he could not get the cooperation of Congress or the American people.

I personally think that any of the Democrats would be a better President than any of the Republicans, and I think the Democratic party is headed for a landslide victory. The most important thing is for the Democratic President to have a filibuster proof majority in the Senate, which I think is likely, so he or she can actually get some bills through Congress. And, hopefully, the current Democratic leaders in Congress will be replaced by other Democrats. The first female Speaker of the House has been a terrible disappointment.

Obama did work as a community organizer for very low pay; the facts are indisputable. He attended prestigious schools on scholarship based on merit and proven intelligence rather than on a family name.

I read these blogs and have read so much wrong information about Obama, including that he lacks substance. I challenge anyone making this claim to go to barackobama.com and read all his speeches on the important issues of the day. Or read his books. The man is all substance.

"aABH"..anyone, ANYONE BUT HILLARY" would make this a much better country. She is as misleading and phony as "W" Bush. Obama = uniter...Hillary = divider; Obama = uniter... Hillary = incredibly polarizing; polls show that Obama has a 70% likeability rating, while Hillary is about 10%. She pretends to care about lower & middle class, while taking lobby money from India and sending IT jobs overseas. We could write pages of examples as to why she is SUCH a phony...... not worth the time. We need a leader, not a phony misleading person that cries for votes.

I just googled rezko, everybody check it out! I hadn't heard much about this guy until I started this blog thing.

Mary–

I don't believe for a second you're from Chicago. If you are, you pay absolutely no attention to what goes on in your own city. Sounds to me more like you're claiming false cred to try and make your idiotic, discredited smears more appealing.

Barack Obama is clearly the right person for the job of president and if most Americans would simply tell the truth he would surly win. This is a new day and old time thinking is over, We need a new type of president, who is his own person and not beholding to others and that is Obama. Look America, if you want us back on course to be the best country in the world like we use to be , then I say elect Barack Obama and you will have no regrets. This is his time to save America from the know it alls who you cant talk to about progress in the right direction.

Barack Obama is closest thing we've had to JFK, MLK or any other great 3 initialed great leader that we've had. For once I really feel like a candidate has the American people's best interest at heart. His message of unity and bringing together the red and blue states is not only smart but also I feel is honest. He had to change his slogan of change to "Yes We Can" because Hillary has now tried to jump on the "change" bandwagon. The major difference between Barack Obama & Hillary Clinton in my estimation is that I feel Hillary is trying to sell me on her candidacy; I get the sense that she is trying sell whatever will work, be it "tears" or her new message of change and Barack has a true interest in making America a better place and restoring our reputation on a global scale. I just think Hillary is more or less about the power and the challange of being the 1st female president; I'm not sure she really wants to run the country.

Yes the time is here...

God bless America!..

You will always be a mirror for the whole world.

Obama..ride on!!

@ Donne.. do we knows us..your posting sounds very very suspicious to me, I hope my donation reached obama´s campaign, what you´ve just posted sounds familiar to me?:-)

dave

germany

A Democrat
You are the biggest hater!! My God. I guess it wouldn't be easy to change the country. When he talks about the "cynics say", he's talking about you hater. Your a cynic. Doubting Tom. You cynics are gonna vomit when he becomes President.

This is a reply to "A Democrat" 's comment above?

When has money or poverty prevented one from attending an Ivy league college in this country? The Ivy league colleges in this country had made it such that money will not be the deal breaker.

If you have the brains, you can go to any Ivy league college. They will rally round you and give you loans, grants, studentship, etc that will enable you pursue your dream.

I have friends who are currently attending Ivy leagus college and apart from the few hundred dollars they used to process their application, register for GRE, etc, they have not spend additional cent of their own and they will be graduating very soon.

If you took time to read the article about Obama, you will see that, according to the article they have just paid off their college loans. If he was so rich & futunate in life, he would not have taken a loan, also remember that he was raised by a single parent.

This is a great country, though Education might look pricey, but if you have the brains, you can also attend an Ivy league college or become a PhD.

Anyone else have a problem with starting a great chapter in America history with three words in Spanish? I guess that's OK, because we will end the last chapter with the words, "Mucho mess, el Presidente Bush. Buenos Dias." (Please excuse my lack of bilingualism.)

Interesting, reading all the comments above: I feel like they were written by barack's competitors campaigns....

Anyway, He was not born rich but he made it his way through college.. And he just paid off his student loand at age of 42! so what do you call that?

If you think Barack is corrupted or flip-flop, then I wonder what you will say when you check other candidates....

Yes We Can is being ripped from BOB THE BUILDER, hasn't anyone noticed ?

Why does this guy look like he's wearing lipstick all the time? He looks like something out of Vaudeville. Go to Vegas, you can get a job in one of the clubs.

Waite just a minute! This man has done nothing! Yes, he is a wonderful speaker, but it taikes experiance to be President. People are getting caught up in the hype and the good speaches. Yes he can move a croud, but for me I will take someone who can get the job done. Someone who has the experiance and who has stood for women, families and minorities all her life. My vote will go to Hillary. People better take a close looks at his credentials. We have had 8 years of on the job training and look what it has got up. We cannot stant another 4 years.

You don't need money to go to college. You just have to work hard and get scholarships. (except for Bush who didn't have to do either...and then there was alumni privilege). I think the argument that he is somehow not being honest because he took a moral course instead of the big bucks of wall street after law school is a balloney. But it also shows that his detractors are having a hard time coming up with dirt on him. If only all our leaders could say the same thing.

Yet another fairytale story from the Obama camp. Anyone with an ounce of common sense can see that this is nothing but an invitation to a pity party.

Nobody cares about the holes in your shoes, car, soul, or head. They're worried about going hungry, being homeless, or not being able to take care of their family. The gall to stand up there and say: "You know what I'm talking about..."

Nope. No, we don't. Because now, Mr. Obama, you're a millionaire. And we're standing here wondering when the next paycheck will come. So don't try to act like a man of the people when you're as far from it as you can get. Don't spread false promises of unity or hope that you cannot deliver on. There's nothing wrong with unity or hope on it's face, but you, Mr. Obama, are incapable of delivering it to the American people because you lack the experience. Not experience for experience's sake, but you lack the experience to realize that in this era, change does not happen overnight. This is not the 1960's. You would face such opposition that your administration would be rendered useless. You might as well charter AF1 to Fiji for 4 years. You're an ineffective, inexperienced leader who's just wrong for this nation.

I am from Singapore. As an outsider, I must say that the US has been given a godsend in the form of Barack Obama. Throughout history, the US have been blessed with many great presidents and I sincerely believe Barack Obama can be one too. He is really inspiring in his speeches. He has an approacheable and friendly demeanor. He shows assertiveness and have a an authoritave sounding voice. He can be the leader and uniter of the different parties and groups. I pray that he wins the presidential race and make contributions not only to the people of USA but also to the people the world over. Fight well and all the best to Barack Obama!

Barack Obama is simply dynamic! So far I have scrunitized his whole speechs, and I found him to be omnipotent, Unstoppable and Supreme. Imagine contending/competing with most affable America's former democrat presidents' family.......Astonishing ability. A man with a vision can beat millions with power! The question is, how persistence will he be??

Jean, you miss the point.

Obama is trying to appeal to those who have been less fortunate than he is by claiming he, too, has known hard times, and it's a complete crock.

Unlike probably many in his union-member audience, Obama CHOSE whatever hard times he has had. His student loans came as a result of his attending Harvard, not night classes at the community college. He took a position as a community organizer by choice, not because that low-paying job was the only one he could get.

And Obama's service in the Illinois state legislature can't have been about his great desire to apply his votes to make valuable changes in the lives of his constiuients, because he opted out of making so many of those votes.

Instead of using my IQ to buy myself a silver spoon as you suggest, I'm using it to question.

Currently, I'm asking how many of those votes Obama neglected would have positively impacted the lives of the very people he now encourages to hope for change. And I'm asking who on earth is advising Obama to jump on the "relate-to-me-because-I've-suffered-like-you" bandwagon.

The only answer I've come up with so far is that Obama is no less a charlatan than any of the others in the race.

Obama seems to be a lot of talk.
He'd make a lousy president with his inexperience, just like Bush.
I'm a Dem who'll sit it out if he's the nominee.

Obama, Aruba supports you too. You do a great job, and you will be excellent in uniting the U.S. and the World. May God bless you and guide you towards victory.

What a scam. He can't talk the talk. He just swagger.

"A democrat"

Obama never said his back was up against the wall. He graduated from Harvard... with VERY good grades. He could have done anything he wanted. He could have been paid VERY well at a high profile law firm. But he didn't go to a high profile law firm. He went to the streets of Chicago, and tried to make the world a little better. He turned down the high pay, and he lived on a meager salary helping others.

The fact that Obama has roots in the poorest part of the world does not mean he is not capable of doing the job. It is about time Americans forgot about color and use a sensible discretion to select a good leader. I mean a good leader not one who just take things into his own hands and go to war without any cause.

Obama, you have our support, you are a true savior for America just as Jesus Christ was. GO OBAMA! GO OBAMA!! GO OBAMA!!!

Jean, how can you consider Baracka Hussein Obama a gifted and talented leader? What has he led? He has never been a leader. He is just a public speaker, that's all. He has not served his constituents in Illinois.

As far as his ties to a poor country goes.... Obama is a multimillionaire while his grandmother lives in a shack in Kenya. This is a man you think is the golden child? He has turned his back on his own family.

No thanks. I'll cast a vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton.

He chose to live and learn at the bottom rung because he went to a prep school, because he went to Harvard. This is something people should look as a genuine effort to understand what it means to feel poverty and racial bias. When did Hillary ever forced herself to feel what it means to worry about the next meal? No matter how much you read or act to work with poor people, unless you live with them, you haven't even scratched the surface. Hailing from an affluent household, but from an underdeveloped country, I too was never exposed to poverty until I went and lived in the slum for a year to really see beneath the surface, all the turmoil, but still a sense of calmness.

Barack, even if you don't win, you have changed the American political scene for ever, just like what Tiger Woods did it for golf. Other black people have run before, and so did golfers...but Tiger and you have something in common.....the W (win)

Please tell me WHAT EXPERIENCE does Hillary have? As First lady, she headed up the failed healthcare initiative. As senator, well we hear nothing about that because all we here is Hillary say "when Bill was president, we...."

he wasn't born rich and thru hard work he made it! he is the right person for the job, and god I hope and pray he wins. I wonder for all of u obama haters, would u hate ophar if she ran? she went from rags to riches all on her own! she would be the most qualified person, but for only a couple of handicaps! She's a WOMAN OF COLOR!

OBAMA ALL THE WAY!

Experience is OVERRATED. Clinton is a nice women, but there's one way to get the republicans out on election night...and the democrats will lose with Clinton on the top of the ticket. Folks...wake up! Obama 08!

Barack Obama gives me hope for my country again.He has already brought about
A change in this country that most people could not believe.I truly think he is A
gifted and talented LEADER,who can get things done.I'm not knocking experience,
but you could be A Senator or A Business Person for 30 years and not be
electable.The only Presidents who have had experience as President are those who served A second term.

Now for all the Haters and Sourgrapers

If Mr. Obama has A silver spoon,he used his I Q and purchased it.
We live in The United States of America,
Use your I Q and you can purchase one too !!!

The fact he needed Oprah, and I can't stand her, is to me the only way he could get elected. This country is ready for a woman president the men have managed to screw it up for enough years. Women, for too long we have taken the back seat, here is our chance to be in the drivers seat. Hillary is capable and is a lady all the way. She has taken on these buffoons and has guts. I don't think the other countries around the world will get away with anything with her inthe drivers seat.

Obama is a yes man alright, his wife is a stiff, and poor he has never been poor, he is rich now and he will not work for the poor or help the poor. He has never uttered words that someone helped him, but all of a sudden student loans are paid up, how many of you out there are still paying off student loans. It is a debt that you never seem to get rid of. DId Oprah pay them for him. Her involvement to me was a scandal. She should stay out of politics and go to Africa and see about her own problems. When she comes out of the closet with Gayle, she will become real in my book. I do believe he is smart, and could win someday but we need Hillary now.

WHOA! He owned a car? Excuse me Rockafeller!l

You are all right! This guy is a fakey fakerson! He went to a prestigious school and then chose to help people? Who does that??? I don't know about you, but I don't want a civil servant in the white house! We need a former Wal-Mart board member like Hilary!!

Barack, you don't have to fake an accent to win the people over. Just talk your regular talk and be who you are. I'm Black, but for heaven's sake stay away from Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton – they will probably do more harm than good now!I've been rooting for you from the beginning.

Obama's viability comes down to the question of his foreign policy credentials, or ability to convince the American people he will create a network that is strong, but different that what is perceived globally as our willingness to colonize anywhere we are threatened militarily or can benefit financially.

for all those who are arguing that he cannot claim roots of poverty and yet attend the IVY league do your research. This country has always been based on the fact that nothing should hinder your rise from poverty, including poverty itself. Obama worked hard to get into boarding school, worked hard into the IVYs and works hard for the people. The votes he has missed have been votes that are not even close. They do take head counts before they actually vote so if he thinks that his vote wont make a difference then he doesn't need to come in to cast a vote. All the candidates on the trail have missed tons of votes on the hill so do cast it as an OBAMA thing. This IVYs have always given scholarships to those deserving but cannot afford the education, don't be upset that they rejected you or that you didn't do the work needed to attend. He has excelled at everything he has done and owes no apology for his successes in life. He has been at the bottom and has worked his way to the top never using race as an excuse. Yes his is biracial but I guarantee you that it wasn't until the 2004 Dem Convention that he was look at as by racial or maybe after her became head of the Harvard law review. He could have said we live in a racist world that won't votes for me like most of the pundits had thought. Today is the time and we are living in historic times. Imagine what Obama as president would do to the history books. Imagine what it would say for this country that blacks have gone from slavery to president. Just imagine for a second for what it would do for a generation of black men who look up only to the rappers but will now look up and say that I have no excuse for my situation. They will truly believe that anything is possible for a black man in America. We must look ahead or be left in the past. Obama is the future, embrace the change and together we will rise again.

So the Obama campaign took Roland Martin's advice huh?

Both Hillary and Obama went to Ivy Leage law schools. Both did not make a lot of money after they graduated. Both worked hard to make their communities better. Sure, Hillary could have accepted law firm offers but she chose to work for the Children's Defense Fund. Then she chose to follow her heart and Bill into Arkansas, where she organized a legal aid program for the poor. And they were living on $16000 a year.

I hope leadership in the United States of America is not discriminated based on gender,color or race.OBAMA is all about efficiency.
Let Hillery take some rest as she has been working for the last 35 years...

A democrat:

You sound sooo bitter:

Hillary Clinton is as fake as a 3 dollar bill, if you can't see that you are blind.

Its obvious Obama is the best candidate.

America needs change and Obama is most likely to bring it about. Sound character good judgement and an ability to communicate to all sections of American people are qualities worth supporting. Obama and Edwards know what it is to be poor and perhaps more importantly how to escape poverty. The dream ticket would be Obama and Edwards.

A democrat:

You sound so bitter.

You give the Clinton's too much credit. I am a working class person and I am not voting for Clinton. Hillary Clinton is as fake as a 3 dollar bill, if you cant see that you need glasses.

It is very obvious that Obama is the best candidate.

so if you were so poor Obama how did you manage to go to Harvard. As far as I know it is not cheap. I guess talk is cheap.

Obama's win as President will increse the brand image of the USA around the world.

Do we really want another four to eight years of philandering in the White House? Remember the 'good ole days'? That's the kind of experience this country can do without! Has nothing since 1980 taught us anything? Steer clear of the insincere.

Senator Edwards: "the agents of the status quo will always attack the agents of change."
Billie Holiday: "If you can't say anything real nice, don't say anything at all. That's my advice."

I read his two books and I am in love. His multi-ethnic heritage and diverse background gives me hope that he could bring healing to the massive divisions in America and the world. Barack in '08!

to "A Democrat" who's faulting Obama for going to Harvard after a childhood growing up in a single parent household and a two bedroom apartment .... shame on you. And where the heck do you think Hillary went to school (Yale, thank you). As the first African American president of the Harvard Law Review, Obama could have cashed out big time post law school. Could have gone straight to the Supreme Court Clerkship, then to the big law firm payoff. Did he? Nope. $12K a year for him. That takes guts when you've got law school loans piled up (trust me ... I know. I took the other route & went to the law firm & it still took me a decade to pay those loans off).

Obama knows what it is to work for very little. He's the only dem in the race who isn't a gajillionaire. He only just paid off those student loans. You think Hillary with her multimillion dollar book deals who sold her soul & kept her philandering husband for the sake of creating a political career understands the workingman's plight better ... well, you're an idiot.

It was not really mentioned in this piece but the phrase "si se puede" was used by Cesar Chavez during his time in the Farm Worker Association. Even at his speech in New Hampshire Senator Obama used the phrase making it seem as a new trade mark in his campaign, very much like he used the word change and made it seem original. Senator I would hope that as a minority and one that uses many of Dr. King's words as well, but gives him credit, that you would at least mention Cesar Chavez. Its not trademarked or anything but it is what gave his purpose hope. Just an aside.

Obama mother sent him to live permanently with his white grandparents in Honolulu when he was ten. He then began a new, elitist life that even he describes as "a childhood dream": surfing in Hawaii and attending the renowned private Punahou School, founded by Congregationalist missionaries in 1841 and known to local people as a school for the haole (whites). Its annual tuition today costs $15,725.

He went on to attend Occidental College, a perfectly respectable private liberal arts college in Los Angeles, but hardly an academic powerhouse; its present-day endowment is $377m. He transferred to Columbia University in New York and completed his degree there, and finally graduated with a degree from Harvard Law School at the age of 30.

Mary, you are right, I don't trust Obama from the beginning, he lied so many times. His SLOGAN OF FRESH AND CHANGE IS FLAKE, American voters are smarter than Obama. I don't trust him and John Kerry, they are crafty fellows.

I actually knew Barrack back in Chicago while he was an organizer, I don't know how much he was making but I do know $12,000 per year was not an unusual salary for an organizer back then. I can tell you even then, the qualities we all see in him now were there. Obama is the real deal, knowing him from afar as long a 25 years ago makes me know he is the real deal. So we all should really stick with him, particularly women. He is the only one in the field of candidates who can help us make this country truly respectable again.

Why is someone a fake because they succeed? What sort of ignorant comments are those? I like Obama because he shows that, with the right effort, one can do what they set their minds to. That is why so many people like him. I want my kid to hear that kind of message rather than someone with a chip on their shoulder telling her what she can not do. No matter how large or small her goals may be. I want a president who believes in this country and believes that the citizens take an active part in where it goes. Go Obama!

obama has lived a life that even the upper class would consider privleged. He is going around with this "common-man" persona to garner votes, and it is sickening. He doesn't realize that the "common-man" is way to smart, too hard working, to sick of his talk, to buy into his used-car salesman tactics. Only disillusioned youth, who are easily swayed by talks of "hope", and desperate women, fall for this. America is too smart to elect someone so inexperienced, so ridiculously unprepared.

Experience matters. Talk won't save the world. Protect your family, protect your country. Vote for experience. Obama is a total fake.

Donne doesn't know Sarkozy is a right-winger and a man! Lol.

P.S Mary... Dont let me catch yiou supporting Hillary directly with your campaine negative emails... I might spoil the fun too early

Jay and Mary...Are you Bill Clinton because now you're lying also. LOL

Go away, people see through your tricks!

Bye

P.S. Go Obama 08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Donne your a nut.

How does only completeing 4 years in the us senate make obama qualified? And truely how has he really experienced suffrance and poverty

@Jay. Read before you make comments. Obama just said Michelle has recently just paid the student loan he took while going to school.
I am a Dutch National following the American elections and strongly believe Obama is a better candidate to unite the world and restore the image that Americans had.

Go Obama
From The Netherlands.

To "A Democrat," (first response to blog)

"you had your team of lawyers force them off the ballot when they got in your way."
-Who? Stephen Colbert??

"I am successful now and it is in large part thanks to the Clintons, no thanks to you"
-I know who this is; you're Kenneth Starr!

Obama 08!
Yes, We Can!!!!
Obama is the One!!!!

Hope that doesn't make Hillary cry for my vote, because she isn't getting it!!!

(Bill) clinton yesterday gets hammered for using the term "fairy tale" when describing Obama's misleading statements on the campaign trail. The real issue that Clinton was addressing is applicable here to, namely, where is the critical reporting of this guy, Obama, who wants to be President?

In the case, once again, the reporter parrots the jive that the Obama's just recently were able to pay off their college loans and that they are just one of us, poor working stifs. What crap.

I wonder when the press will ounter these absurd contentions AS THEY ARE MADE with the facts that the OBAMAS make millions, yes millions of dollars a year. Their tax returns recently filed with the FEC show that they make the dough and that Michelle Obama, makes $300,000 per year as a ublic relations administrator for one of the largest heathcare providers in Illinois. What she does to earn that money has always been a puzzlement.

I as a working man, hope the truth gets out about the hypocrite that Obama is. All we need is another loser in the Whitehouse.

At least with Hillary, you know what you are getting. The press has little reluctance to bash her.

Hmmm. I am retired, today is 12/12/2008, and MY income is just a tad above $12,000.00 a year. Give me a break Barack.

I find Baracks up-bringing and life as a youth undoubtably genuine. With his current ties to his family from one of the worlds poorest nations, I don't see how anyone could see him as a silverspooner! Now, shall we get back to the issues and filter this applicant pool and see who's really got our best interest.

Obama, an inexperienced and green-horn politician surely won't get my vote. USA needs Hillary Clinton as President – a very experienced and a very talented person!
GO HILLARY!!!

For a nuetral & non Emerican, I think Americans have an opportunity to elect for themselves a leader who will unite the country behind causes that would serve to make the earth and in particular America a much place to live.Do us Proud you Democrats, YES WE CAN!

It's not a 'fairy tale' only in America can even regular, unconnected persons realized their dreams. Can America become a untied country where nothing is impossible? Yes, we can. Can American truly become the beacon of hope and world leader, again? Yes, we can!
Mr. Clinton the black community stood by you when white america was fleeing you and you called the hope that a bi-racial candidate inspires in your people and all of us non-americans (like Ronald Reagan did by inspiring his people and a world) that love your country and would even fight for her a fairy tale like the word 'is' is what you meant had nothing to with Mr. Obama's war vote but what you meant is that he is the biggest fairy tale that you had ever seen but what you have 4gotten is that only in America can fairy tales come true. YES, WE CAN!

There is no way that Obama is even a US Citizen because his dad was an illegal alien. Now I guess the US Voters should give the country to the Blacks and Latinos and the heck with the Whites who have made us the number one Nation in the world. I will vote for Hillary or a Republican before I vote for Mr Bama.

Why do u idiots think the media are crucifying Clinton and giving Obama a dream run? He may be a great candidate but since when has the media ever supported a truly Liberal candidate?! THINK PPL! The media want Obama elected as Dem. nominee so they can ruin him when he runs against the Republican Nominee. All anyone in America should be thinking now is who is the most electable democrat so we can beat the republicans and it easily goes likes this;
1. Edwards (most electable by a long shot)
2. Clinton (divisive but probably electable)
3. Obama (will not stand up to the scrutiny of a Rep/Conservative media attack machine, once its underway).
And you guys are thinking of running Obama against who will likely be the Rep. nominee, Huckabee?! Wake up. The best contest against Huckabee would be Edwards, the only nominee who could have broad appeal and get the inner city liberal and conservative working class votes for Dems.
Obama would be decimated by Huckabee in rural and suburban America. WAKE UP AMERICA. Pick an electable candidate and beat the republicans

it just very hard to put this one down!know the man obama and you cant help but love him go obama ! may god bless you in your journey to make a difference i belive it will be great to see the u.s united

Obama is the change, Those whos claim is 35 years experience forget that they did it by taking a step when they started. Obama voteted nagative against the war, but voted in surpport of finance, This is a trrue politician, knowing that the lives of the soldiers in Iraqi are at stake,as sinator Because U dont favour an issue does not mean U forget Ur responsibility to UR poeple. Bill take note, He did it without lying not even on outh

Sure, you weren't living large, Senator Obama... attending Harvard Law School isn't living large??? Please.

I went to Duke University and was POOR there – but i would never claim that I wasn't living large (even though at times I didn't have money to buy medicine for myself). I would never be so arrogant as to claim that I wasn't living large even though I was attending a top university.

People who work two jobs and have holes in THEIR shoes are the ones who struggle.

Boo hoo.

Obama whines about how was down and out when he CHOSE to work as a community organizer = a job one can pursue only when well educated and one takes when he is willing also to live off the low wages that come with it for a while.

Now in a flimsy effort to relate to the working poor and those less educated than he is, Obama sticks on his phoney southern drawl, draws upon his Martin Luther King -like oral cadence, and recounts his little experiment with walking in a poor man's shoes...his fling with life on the other side of the tracks?

What's next? Stories about how he lived 3 weeks off a pound of rice or about how he parted the Red Sea?

I like obama,because is a man sent by God to provide change and unite the american people,and the rest of the world.vote and support barack obama for president.

Give me a break "A Democrat" you sound somewhat uninformed!! I think you need to do a little research into the backgrounds of candidates. I wonder where you get your info on the candidates.

He lived in the most prestigious school in HI and he went to Ivy league school somehow means he's rich? DO you know there's such a thing called Intelligence?
Obama family only paid off the debt and bought a big house after he wrote TWO best selling books. To me that's hard earned money, give the man a break instead! He was the first black president of Harvard Review, graduated the top law school, and he now only have assets equivalen of 1.3million dollars, that's 20 some years after he graduated. Because he's a true American, and statesman that actually cares. I know how it is to be poor myself, if you been poor he understands what need to be done to help. Join the movement Obama 08!

I like obama becos he profeses change for america and the rest world.let support obama for president. Peter(england).

Who are you really? When will the media begin to ask you the real question and stop being afraid of being called bigots or racist. I find it incredible that there has been such a disparity in the treatment that you have been afforded and that of Hillary Clinton. I am sick of the poor rags from poverty to look where I am today that both you and John Edwards continue to spout. We all know Hillary Cinton's story when are we really going to hear the real Barack Obama story. I believe that you have potential but as of now all I see is the book with an incredible cover but filled with blank pages

CNN are you Pro Obama. You deleted the comment I posted.

******************************

Obama: "Together we will begin the next great chapter in American history starting with those three words: Si se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede! Let's go change America!"

Another empty speech. HOW WILL YOU CHANGE AMERICA? SHOW US YOUR PLAN. You are just preaching.

You know it's a real shame when people shoot their keyboard off with out educating themselves first. Like the first guy- A DEMOCRAT.

Everyone has things in their lives that can be construed in different ways.

Obama is no different from anyone else

Make no mistake, the Republicans have researched this part of Obama's life and they have the dirt they can bring to bear, or twist, to suit their message.

Yes, you say you weren't , "living large", but I'll bet there's someone out there who will dispute that claim...anyone want to bet?

To commenter #1: Look, as someone who just graduated from Yale in 2007 with $75,000 of loans, I will tell you now that it's not just "go to ivy league school then have tons of money" automatically.

If you choose to go into public service (like Obama did, and like I do), you will not make a lot of money. You will make an average of 28,000 a year, which is probably like Obama's 12,000 back then. I make 24,000 and pay off $370/month in loans. I live in a small studio for $300 a month where the shower is actually in my bedroom. So don't think that just because Barack went to an Ivy League school, he's faking how poor he was when he got out.

He's not faking it. For ivy league graduates, it's either pick the rich corporations and have a large paycheck, or serve the community and have a small one, no matter what school you went to.

Thanks,Blog-meister!..for the "free press"!

Does it really matter that someone grew up poor? Any one these guys/gals all went to college at some point and they ALL are rich now so the point in mute for people to make a decision based on how someone grew up.Someone can be rich and still be grounded enough to see struggles, its how one is raised not how one was fed (silver vs wooden spoon). I look for their ability to lead and have the smarts to run this country and undo all the bad doings of the last 8 years. There are many great leaders that didnt live on the streets and yet were great leaders domestically and internationally. I am not saying I am right or wrong. Its my opinion. Whats next, shall we judge based on boxers or briefs?

Blog-Meister!! I have given you two positive comments on Obama.
If you want a negative remark on my chosen candidate you won't
get one from me! Barack Obama gets out the voters in huge numbers.
He gets the money in and in huge amounts and he is getting a
rousing response from all segments of the population.YES, HE CAN!

Si Se Puede!

A Democrat – so what? Does he need to be blue collar in order for you to vote for him?

If i have to choose between clinton and Obama, i'l shurly vote for Obama, he is more honest and would make some Change. Si, se puede!

Obama things the won the competition on 'who brings most change' and now he is competing on "who was the poorest". Pathetic clown. When is this guy starting to tell voters what is he going to do? Make sure Mr. Barack you take Edwards' plate too!

Barack Obama is our hope for the future; a lot of us who are old have
seen this country go from bad to horrendous.Obama has the power
to inspire, he has the right background to understand many kinds of people and he is able to get them OUT TO VOTE!

Give it up, Clinton lovers! Obama is the revolution, not the SS HRC. Enough of the Bush-Clinton dynasties. Time for a real change!

When you want to help poor and bring change, it includes family. Has anyone wondered or asked how his grandmother still lives in a hut in Africa? Charity begins at home.

Vote for real change in 2008! Vote for John Edwards!

I will not moderate the comment above. I have given my comments
only three times and have never said these words although others may have. .surely have World Press, you have the capacity..now look me up!!!

Obama is the man of the hour and maybe of the century,
He has succeeded in coming out of a very difficult life and
into a much larger world.. We need hope and we need
heroes;now we have both! Yes we can! And yes we will!
Thanks to this brilliant, compassionate and inspiring
leader.

How recent is "recently paid off his student loans"? Obama may have been poor back when he first started in public service, but I don't think that he's been poor lately.

I think that Abraham Lincoln came from Humble beginings. Taught himself law and became president. Not because he was a man from a rich family. Not because he was wealthy or handsome. Not because he made false promises of what he could do for America. Abraham Lincoln was known as Honest Abe. He was an honest man that worked hard for his presidency when the country was divided. Through those tumultuous times he was a leader that brought change to the american people. It is only once in a lifetime that we, a generation of hopeful citizens, can but see a great Leader rise from among us like Barack Obama!

I truly believe that Barack Obama can Unite this divided nation of diferent races and bring them together as Americans. We are not just a grouping of minorities working for a majority. We are a part of the greatest nation on Earth. We have only begun to cultivate our greatness because we have stood divided for too long on the basis of color and economic status. Of tradidtion and folklore. we have been weakened by hatred and animosity. Some of us have been told that our dreams were not possible because of social ignorance. I must then Proclaim "YES WE CAN. YES WE CAN BE FREE of THE IGNORANCE THAT LIMITS US".
Go Barack Go!!!!

Senator Obama is the most qualified to unite America. Like Al Gore, he will get the most votes but will lose because there will be fraud. There was fraud in New hampshire just as there will be in all the coming states, because now they know that we the people can win with Senator Barack. The Clintons, with the help of the media and the GOP, will steal the elections. The republicans want Hillary, because they know they will beat her. Especially now that they have her on tape crying in fear of loosing, talking about how hard it is to run for elections. The republicans will win again, thanks to the Clintons. Go Obama/Edwards

Obama, you are a real hero, you can win and can lead not only US but whole the world. goodluck to you.
-Dinesh Chandra Panthy
Nepal

Donne is a classic example of brain washing. No mortal will tell me what God thinks, except the one that came in flesh 2007 years ago.

It's funny to watch all the candidates try to out-poor each other. How bizzare.

I like Obama because he is new. I used to vote republican,NEVER AGAIN...... go OBAMA!

United by bring Jihad to our country.

Yea, I am sure you know very well how Obama was raised. I am certain that you are fair in your assessment of him as a man. I mean the TV is certainly all you need to see to know how he truly was raised and lived. I'm glad your spreading such a powerful message. I am sure many around the country will read that and be very swayed.

He sure DID live a prestigious life. Who all has been to PREP SCHOOL?

BTW, endoresment mean not much.
Kerry endoresed Obama, will it help Obama? dah ..

My world?
OBAMA is the president.
War in Irak is Over in 6 months.
A national health program is established.
Bush is impeach and found guilty of war atrocities, genocide, torture, lying and corporate corruption. The same with Cheney, Halliburton and Blackwater.
USA signs Kyoto and join the world in one task: save the planet.
All lobbyst are BANNED in Washington.
You can carry a GUN if you are a Licensed Hunter. If not, EVERYONE with a gun have to face the law.
Recession is avoided giving ALL TAX EXCEPTIONS to the middle class and the poor. Big corporations pay more.
Confidence comes back, and suddently, affter all this, the world looks America with admiration, once again.
This is my world.
But everything starts with Obama.

Im in Nevada. The culinary UNION (upper management) endoresed Obama, but many the TRUE culinary workers won't vote for Obama.

Yes we can si se puede
ganarle a Obama

obama you are really and truley in my prayers , america will be a much better place to live because your steps are ordered by god, and he do'nt make mistakes so be of good cheer because he has overcome the world , so the world and everthing in it is yours for the asking, god bless.

who would osama vote for? maybe he might belive in obama's hope story, but i somehow doubt it.

YEAH VOTE FOR THE FORMER REPULICAN HILLARY.. The suburban kid who went to wellesley .. Please ....She is not even from ... New York Just moved here so she could be Senator then run for Pres... The former first lady is just another political opportunist.. who will do anything to get elected....

Hillary had 8 years in the White House to make change. She got nothing done!! No Health Care!! Remember her cause "Health Care". She gave up!! Wake Up!!

From what I've read, he's lived quite well. He won't get the support of the working class and middle class. Did they all go to prep school?

I have voted for the Clinton in the passed. And worked on BIll's campaing. I cannot back them this time. It is the wrong time for Hillery. The far right is going to cause her so much grief. It will be spy gates all over again. We need a man who can jump start this country on the right track. And that is Obama.He will bring everyone together. ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the way to the white house Obama gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. save america

peace

Hey "Democrat"

Several of Obama's colleagues will attest to his humble beginnings in southern Chicago. Don't criticize on the basis of assumption. After a few years, Obama began teaching Constitutional Law in Chicago. With his scholastic background and reputation of organizing, he was an obvious choice for the Illinois State Senate. He showed his ability to unite Chicago's underprivileged to take collective steps toward an improved life.

Need further proof? Read "Dreams of My Father" written by Barack Obama. His current rhetoric holds true in his literature from the small times. It offers a vision of self sacrifice to benefit the greater good. Tell me "Democrat", where would the world be today without able-bodied people sacrificing for the greater good?

How did u manage to go to Harvard Obama .You are just a fake.
NO YOU CAN'T.

I live in Chicago. Mr.Obama promised Chiagoans and the people of Illinois great things in future, "Change," when he stood for U.S, Senator election. He won and became a Senator from Illinois.

Now Ilinois and Chicago are in the big mess. Mr.Obama has not done very much, as far as I know, while he is in the Senate. He missed votes while promoting (tour) his book. Now he has not even finished his term as a senator, he heads for the presidency, ignoring his promises to the people of Illinois. He failed to deliver whatever he promised to do.

You (Obama supporters) may come to know Mr.Obama's scandal involving his former fund raiser, a very shady character, named Antoin "Tony" Rezko. You can google typing in "Antoin "Tony" Rezko " and see Chicago Suntimes article. Rezko's trial will begin soon and unfortunately, I am sure, Mr. Obama's name will surface in the trial. Also more scandals involving in Michelle Obama and University of Chicago Hospital(she was appointed as a vice president) right after Mr. Obama was elected as a Senator and scandals Michelle becoming board members of corporations and supposedly making together millions around that time as well.

I do not trust Mr. Obama.

great going obama ,i am in new york and will vote for you we need a change .no more bush-clinton-bush clinton.people have to realise that the clintons and bushes are playing gulf sorry golf together.no more hiding in the bush(camouflage) for the clintons

To ...A Democrat
I could have not said it any better than you did!! Congratulations for telling the truth to these people. Unfortunately, not enough people know the truth. I like Barack, but he is NOT betraying himself and his life experiences accurately.

I'm not sold on any of the remaining Democrats.

If experience matters to voters, what the hell happened to Biden?

To A Democrat: What southern accent? Sounds midwestern to me. I am from Kansas just like his grandparents who raised him. We all talk like that.

I believe Barack went to a public school and only went to the Eastern colleges because he won scholarships. What's wrong with that? Even so, he obviously didn't get any all expense deal. He is 46 and just now paying off college loans like so many middleaged Americans. Do you call it slumming because he chose to remain poor in order to help people in the inner city?

I understand his net worth is like one million. The Clinton's have holdings worth about $60 million. Don't let her fool you. They could personally do a lot more to help. Just what did they ever do for you...or anybody for that matter? I'd like to know. No one ever says. It's is like this big positive rumor.

She was a Goldwater girl {Republican] when younger. It really doesn't all go away. She has some of the worst friends imaginable and has done in others. Don't be naive. Or as she would sternly say..get a reality check.

Obama's wife is an idiot. She told a crowd of poor women that they needed a manicure. I guess Harvard lowered the bar (no pun intended) to let her in.

Obama is sinking fast.

"A Democrat" ... a few years ago there was a homeless girl who ended up going to Harvard or one of those prestige prep schools. Would you you say her back was never against the wall too?

I would guess that most of us have been in a "bind" at some point in our life. Even if he had all this backing you are referencing to, if he choose to live how he describes that still gives him personal insight into that lifestyle.

You can observe from the outside, or choose to live it and learn, he choose to learn.

Amazing how people are sometimes.

I wish the Clinton staffers would stop writing their hate emails on Obama. Why can't they admit that she is out of her league. She has to result to dirty tricks, her husband's record, only to good stuff, not the scandles, impeachment, and who can forget the blue dress, to win a vote. I wish she would focus on issues her record as an elected offical, and her record as a lawyer. Does she has a resume? Or is it something she cries over too? Let's not forget the burning flag in college! Now that's patriotic!

What ever happen to helping a family afford health care? Oh she could not get her way when she fought for that either. What ever happend to working together and being positive? Oh that's right, certain people give you false hope, it's really all one big fairy tale.

Guess what! I believe in hope! I have a dream! I believe in my dreams! I wish that political bashing would go away, so we could sort through and determine the meaning of what someone is saying without silly distortions of the truth. I'm tired of the same of stuff. Oh well, at 60, that's the only game in town for someone with the same kind of experience. Thirthy-five years of really no real change!

Good luck Barack! Good luck Hillary! I know in the end God will make sure the person who is supposed to win the nomination will win.

Alex,
I'm also yours...for better for worse!

Does CNN publish only the comments complimentary to Obama?

Alex,
I'm yours...for better for worse!

I think that Obama knows how to speak, but nothing is specific. If he is elected, his policy will not different than the current one.

Not to get negative: but coming from the Ron Paul camp in contrast: this sounds like a parody of half-hearted political campaigns.

"YES WE CAN!"?

Reminds me of Evan Baxter from "Evan Almighty" shouting "CHANGE THE WORLD!"

I'm picturing a marketing drop out with a posse of eager to please interns with stupid grins standing next to him sitting in front of a white board with "EMPOWERMENT" written on it underlined and circled: sliding a copy of "The Little Engine that Could" accross the table to Obama while the interns eagerly anticipate a sign of approval.

The above "a democrat" sounds pathetic and without any actual facts about our presential candidates. I am a democrat also and let me assure you we all do not believe as you do! Obama does not know what the streets are?? Excuse me have you heard of a little state called Illinois and all the work that he actually did on the streets?? I am sorry you were not given the opportunity to go to a good college and you were at one time "below the poverty level" but his life has not been the "ideal" that you seem to be bent on believing. He was raised by his white mother after his father left at age 2. You have no idea what someone else's shoes are like until you walk in them, I have looked at his record and what he has stood for on many political issues and I for one am actually impressed. This is a smart man with drive and dedication. Hey if you think that things are good you want to continue to go in the same direction with our country, then by all means vote for Clinton. I on the other hand am a 41 year old white woman who wants CHANGE!
Although as a woman I admire Hillary Clinton I cannot take the chance on her because as she has said herself- over and over- she has been at this for 35 years and excuse me but I want results and a new perspective because to be quite frank her help isn't helping! GO OBAMA!

YES HE CAN? Can what?

I'm still trying to figure out where this guy stands on the issues, and what he will do to accomplish all the things he says need change.

Change is good when you know where the change is headed to, but in this case, "change" for the sake of change, is frighteningly vague. He says let's change from, not let's change to...

Sure, anyone can make a great speech, but let's get real here, the guy has NO track record to examine and we don't have an idea on what he is or who he is, other than he is a black man with a dream.

Well, I too have a dream, but it doesn't include Obama.

si, se puede

Seriously, how can anyone vote for this: http://www.xpress4me.com/images/08/01/09/hillary_01_5.jpg

All of America is falling in love with Obama, some of them are just playing hard to get......Obama '08....Si se puede......Yes we can.

A Democrat has it right: stop talking, start proving.

If he was living on $12K/yr after graduating with an ivy league education then it was purely by choice and not by necessity. That or he's not that bright.
I want a pic of him in holely clothes and shoes. Right.

I agree, Laverne, that the world is truly divided. But I don't think any one presidential candidate has the ability to do what you think is going to happen. If you honestly think that Obama is going to be able to skate through the Republican front unscathed as President, think again. People will fight him to the end. They will do their best to render him ineffective in order to put themselves back in office after his first 4 years are up. A united United States has never existed - read your history. The gains we have made we have made through continuous struggle, compromise, hard work, blood, sweat, and many tears. Things will be now different for Obama if he is elected. He'll work just as hard as every president has worked since George Washington - every single last ever loving one of them.

He's the son of a goat herder.

He's from more humble beginnings than any of the candidates.

Barack, I speak success over you and your campaign. I release the angels of God to go before you and silence your enemies. Stand firm! Fight the good fight! In the end, we shall have victory! YES WE CAN! And we will!

Really ! Barack Hussein Obama had a private school upbringing in sunny Hawaii after his education in Indonesia in muslim madrassas.
A phony politician with a spectacular deficit in achievement – a 1/2 page resume.
I am a committed Democrat- but I will vote GOP if he is the nominee- in these perilous times- we cannot afford a rookie- especially an arrogant one who would not even learn !

Hey, A Democrat – get your facts strait.

He managed to go to that top school because he EARNED the right to go there. He didn't have the money to go there which is why he had all those student loans to pay off. – He is NOT a millionaire, in fact his net worth is the lowest of all the candidates right now – less than $1 million.

Don't tear someone else down because you are for a different candidate, but are too afraid now to admit you may have been wrong about them.

Barack Obama left College with tens of thousands in debt and chose to take a low paying job helping people. What have you done thats worth note?

I'm not sure which candidate I'm voting for yet, but I have a respect for all of them. They all have done a lot for this country and for the people – especially Clinton and Obama. They are all passionate about changing this country for the better and helping the people getting squeezed in the lower and middle class, and Obama strikes me as the most sincere and honest of the bunch, so far. And I have NEVER been wrong about judging a persons character.

Obama Obama Obama.......................I am tired of hearing all this, I want a change change change.........................................

Hillary08

Barack is not a millionaire you fool at the top! His net worth is approximately $450,000 to $650,000. You are probably richer than he is! He worked on the streets making poor neighborhoods a better place to live for most of his adult life!

Hillary is the solution to your poverty Obama!

OH BROTHER.... HERE COME ALL THE ILLEGAL ALIENS.... WE ARE WERE GONNA HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL THE SOCIAL SERVICES. "SI SE PUEDE" MEANS YES WE CAN... YOU BET THEY CAN

THERE IS A FINANCIAL STATE OF EMERGENCY IN CALIFORNIA ...WE HAVE A 10 BILLION DOLLAR ILLEGAL ALIEN PROBLEM. IT SEEMS OBUMMER IS GOING GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT.... OUR MONEY

GOOD GRIEF. MY DAUGHTER HAS TO PAY FOR COLLEGE AND THEY GET A FREE RIDE.

I ADORE this man.

Hillary Supporters – Bill was a very good president with you at his side. You will
be a very good president with Bill at your side. You have 8
years in the white house together.

Obama supporters – Yes we can ! Yes we can!

Ummm.....do what? How? With his MIGHTY 2 years in
washington. He is going to FORCE those hardened
VETERAN Republicans who dont agree with his policies
and think he is a PUNK to do what Obama says?

Just how is it that Obama plans to STRONG ARM them all?

Talk about the BLIND LEADING THE BLIND.

"I wasn't living large," Obama told the crowd. "I had an old, beat-up car, had a little, tiny beat-up apartment. I was wearing raggedy, beat-up clothes. I got holes in the shoes, had holes in my car. You all've been there. You know what I'm talking about."

Is this our next President? Noway!

This is the biggest attempt of reaching I have ever seen. Obama, COM'ON, can't you do any better then that. every thing was beat-up except him of coarse.
Obama for President of KENYA.

I don't live in Nevada. It may be true that many, or all, culinary workers don't vote (although I'm not a big fan of generalizations). But I don't appreciate the last comment you made, Shaun; please show some respect.

Yes, you can vote for Obama and not expect anything different in the administration then you are getting from GW Bush and the republicans running.

there are some truly bitter democrats like for example A Democrat. And who is fake? Hillary faking tears? No? I wonder what else she fakes?

Barack marry me!

i think obama would unite a world that is truly divided. if obama is elected president the united states would truly be U-N-I-T-E-D.

Yes God has done it. No man can blocked you now that Americans of all classes have embraced change. Obama , you are golden, great , wonderful. intelligent, masterful, potential and you are qualified.

You are running as an American , not across party line, not across color line, not across divided line ; you are running as the peoples" president. YES WE CAN.

Be not afraid , fear not , let your light remain on. YES WE CAN.

You had marriage with poverty, sufferance, and tears but being anointed child , YES WE CAN.

The best leaders are those who had experienced poverty and sufferance as you have done .YES WE CAN.

You have got what a good leader needs, YES WE CAN:

Americans of all ages embraced your candidature YES WE CAN.

Over the years such has never happen ,YES WE CAN.

Borrow a leaf from SAKOZY french president during debate with her greatest rival and do gently worked towards helping Mrs Clinton to show to the American people the weaker side of her personal life. Her impatience,her lack of will and her demeanor.YES WE CAN.

Those who claimed that you are a risk, fair tale and might win , are like the Biblical salt that has lost its taste and as such become tasteless.. YES WE CAN

OBAMA YES WE CAN:YES WE CAN:YES WE CAN: How I wish my family and I are Americans! !!

For so long bitterness, hate , color and party has divided America and Americans. , Now great change has come to America and to all Americans , Americans no longer speak on the past but YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN !! YES WE CAN!!!

Fly you Eagle fly, clap your wings and fly .God is with you.

Donne does not know Obama and is resident in Germany.

I am sure that it is important to notice that we have all had hard times but it dosen't answer the question how Obama is going to fix the republican mess! Hillary will get the pros and we will be sitting pretty!

Barack is real. He IS America. We have to elect this man!

Is Obama a smoker?

It tells a lot in someones character and dedication to the people for Barack to have declined big offers for high paying law firm jobs after completing law school in Harvard and instead take up the difficult terrain in community organization to help the underprivilleged.

Thats self sacrifice for the common good. He has a deep rooted conviction and vision.
Thats why I support Obama.

Did he organize community events for $12,000 because he could not get a higher paying job?

A lot of people I know here in Canada and the US (where I lived) work for free in community events to get the experience before applying for a job.

Nothing inspiring and spectacular there!

Very strategically rolled up his sleeves. Where's the lofty suit worn in NH? I guess it happens in all camps.

This is someone who is embarrassed by the religion of his own father.
What is that tell about his character?
Media is trying to portray him as Martin Luther King.
But I’ve never heard of him talking about difficulties faced by blacks based on race.
May be he’s embarrassed about his race too.
Or too busy working on to get white folks into the wagon.

I live in Nevada. The culinary workers, don't vote. They just talk and clap from the wrong ends of their bodies.

Go Obama...work for every vote!

Si Se Puede!

Give me a break, Obama.

You went to the most prestigiious prep school in Hawaii.

You had your pick of Ivy-league colleges.

You are a millionaire who now FAKES a southern accent just like George W. Bush.

The whole time you were "slumming it" you had standing offers to lecture at the University; your back has NEVER been up against the wall and how insulting of you to pretend it has.

I have lived below poverty level; I have been sick without health care; you don't know what the streets are, except that they're the place where some fellow Democrats came from – you had your team of lawyers force them off the ballot when they got in your way. I am successful now and it is in large part thanks to the Clintons, no thanks to you.

Working-class democrats don't believe you, that's why they vote for Hillary and you have to count on cross-voting Republicans and silver-spoon PhD's like you.

Quit faking; you are an uppity prep-school. You are televised; you are NOT the revolution!

Obama: "Together we will begin the next great chapter in American history starting with those three words: Si se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede! Let's go change America!"

Another empty speech. TELL US HOW. SHOW US YOUR PLAN. You're just preaching.