By Nitya

Apr 9, 2008 8:47am

“We Need More White People”

At a Michelle Obama event, reporters from the Carnegie-Mellon University student newspaper "observed one event coordinator say to another, ‘Get me more white people, we need more white people.’ To an Asian girl sitting in the back row, one coordinator said, ‘We’re moving you, sorry. It’s going to look so pretty, though.’

"’I didn’t know they would say, "We need a white person here,"’ said attendee and senior psychology major Shayna Watson, who sat in the crowd behind Mrs. Obama. ‘I understood they would want a show of diversity, but to pick up people and to reseat them, I didn’t know it would be so outright.’"

(For those who would criticize this blog for relying on a college newspaper, please recall how much the Obama campaign in its TV ads relied upon the support for his health care plan by the college newspaper the Daily Iowan.)

In any case, that Michelle Obama advance staffer just summed up the candidate’s issues in Pennsylvania. They do, indeed, need more white people.

- jpt

User Comments

Wow, this is another slip up that won’t help Michelle Obama’s already dubious reputation on these issues.

Posted by: An Opinion | April 9, 2008, 9:03 am 9:03 am

Were they looking to seat more “typical white people” ?, or just the pretty white people at the event? Mrs. Obama is worse than her husband.

Posted by: Jim | April 9, 2008, 9:04 am 9:04 am

Beware
Somebody’s trying to make a silk purse out of a pig’s ear!

Posted by: Surelock Homes | April 9, 2008, 9:11 am 9:11 am

Hey Patrick, welcome to our world. Everytime Hillary sneezes it gets negative coverage. The attacks on Obama will intensify as he seals the nomination.. get ready, Bud. Hell is gonna break loose.

Posted by: an Opinion | April 9, 2008, 9:14 am 9:14 am

This is truly amazing as a report. Here we have a standard procedure for political events of this kind: create a mixed audience as the speaker’s entourage. Everyone does it, as every reporter knows.
First Ben Smith at Politico reports on it, Matt Drudge creates a link with a ‘telling’ headline (great opportunity o combine the words “Michelle Obama” and “white people”!) and now you Jake run it as well.
I seriously think this story is a fine indicator of what part of the MSM is doing during this campaign: creating and fueling a fire where they see some steam that COULD be presented as smoke.
At Hillary events there’ll be ‘we need more black people’ whispers everywhere, and so we still see black people backing her up as she speaks. Which is much more interesting, for they are hardly to be found among her voters anymore. And yet, sure, the campaign is right to want and have them there. Hillary wants to be the President of ALL Americans, just as Obama and McCain.

Posted by: herta | April 9, 2008, 9:16 am 9:16 am

Who cares…they are framing a photo and I can quite honestly say I would not think twice if McCain or Hillary said we need more young people in the photo op…or men…or black people or handi-capped.
Every pol wants to mix up the picture behind them…like making sure that a red white and blue banner is behind them…
It’s part of their message. I would be more concerned if they didn’t try to encourage that message.

Posted by: dl | April 9, 2008, 9:18 am 9:18 am

What’s wrong with needing more white people? I don’t get this story or An Opinion’s perceived slip up by Michelle Obama.
An Opinion, please explain how this is a slip up?

Posted by: Kevin | April 9, 2008, 9:18 am 9:18 am

Well do they really think voters don’t know this with only 12% black they will have to have a lot of white voters and since more white older women vote they need us they just won’t admit it and since we are pissed guess what.And they stage them all.

Posted by: Bishop | April 9, 2008, 9:19 am 9:19 am

This was a campaign coordinator not NOT
NOT NOT Michele saying this.
I am sure tat the coordinators of the other Politicians do the same thing
Let just promote more racial divide. People need to read thia article very carefully . So hey do not jump to conclusions.

Posted by: Lauren | April 9, 2008, 9:20 am 9:20 am

The Obamabot blog squad to the defense. It is a big story. It shows the lack of diversity among Obama supporters.
I guess they no longer need the fainter and water boy.

Posted by: geevill | April 9, 2008, 9:21 am 9:21 am

Jake: “They do, indeed, need more white people.”
AFAIK they would only need more white WOMEN, Jake, for Hillary is trailing already when it comes to white men.
BTW, they certainly do not need more white people as much as Hillary needs more black people, or American people for that matter, for she is the one who is losing this race and the popular vote.

Posted by: hencken | April 9, 2008, 9:22 am 9:22 am

Kevin,
It’s not really, it’s just something that some people will take wrong. Campaigns don’t need that coverage now They all do this, by the way, picking and choosing the photo ops.

Posted by: An Opinion | April 9, 2008, 9:23 am 9:23 am

Once again the double standard. Imagine if you would Clinton or McCain staffer saying “We need more black people”.

Posted by: geevill | April 9, 2008, 9:25 am 9:25 am

You all are so funny…did you see his rallies in Iowa uh New Hampshire…
They were looking for hispanic, asian and black people at those… so were Hillary and Edwards…and all the others.
Every comment on here that looks at this is just trying to take dirt in whatever form mix it with hype and make bread.
Funny actually.

Posted by: dl | April 9, 2008, 9:26 am 9:26 am

Isn’t this racism at its most blatant? I attended a Hillary Clinton event in Indiana and I can positively tell you that there was no “staging” of the spectators at that event. For someone who claims to transcend race, the Obama campaign sure spends a lot of time trying to skew it to their advantage!

Posted by: HoosierSue | April 9, 2008, 9:26 am 9:26 am

Hilliary’s boy comes through again. I’ll miss you when you go work for her admistration. I’ll have to go back to reading the New York Times or watch Fox news to get my blood boiling again.

Posted by: ha! | April 9, 2008, 9:26 am 9:26 am

It is called marketing. It is part of the campaign. They do need white people in PA. I live in PA. I am a 31 year old white female. Born in Pittsburgh, lived in Harrisburg and now I live in a rural town in PA. I am voting for Obama. But I can tell you that many are not. I have no doubt that Hillary will win PA and I honestly beleive it is based on race….which is sad for 2008. The local paper here is full of editorial comments from people who are against Obama based on race or that they think because of his middle name he is a terrorist. It is very sad and frustrating to me.

Posted by: Marie | April 9, 2008, 9:28 am 9:28 am

An Opinion
How is this a Slip on Michele ? She did not say this.
Ask Hill if they do the same thing and your answer would be YES.
Hillary is and has always set it up for the Media .
So tell her she slipped up.

Posted by: Lauren | April 9, 2008, 9:28 am 9:28 am

Geevil
It would be expected… we want diversity in our canidates… I am sure that happens…did you see the change in McCains “stage group” after that one speech where he had a bunch of old people up there…the next day…it was like a bunch of young people who had been promised that Dave Matthews was coming out to perform afterward.
You all are looking like you’re are grasping. this story is being covered with a laugh…more at the funny responses from Hillary supporters.

Posted by: dl | April 9, 2008, 9:29 am 9:29 am

Hoosier Sue they staged them for Hillary in NH I can tell you quite positively… …when she was still trying to get the “other” demographic outside white women and men over 50.

Posted by: dl | April 9, 2008, 9:33 am 9:33 am

Seah
Just to remind you, Bill Clinton, when he was runnignf or office in 1992, frequently said his campaign needed more black voters. This issue is not any different that Hillary saying in Texas that she needed more Hispanics to turn out. I mean, how stupid do you have to be to see any iota of racism in a comment as harmles as “we need more white people” in the audience. Please tell me, exactly against whom is this perceived racism?

Posted by: Kevin | April 9, 2008, 9:33 am 9:33 am

There have been complaints of this type of “staging the white people” at other Obama events. What does Obama expect, he has disowned his white mother and white grandmother by his membership in and all black, African centered, racist church. If this had happened at a Hillary event, “we need more black people” it would be the top news story of the day and MSNBC would be running it every 5 minutes and calling for Hillary to quit the race.

Posted by: calli | April 9, 2008, 9:33 am 9:33 am

dl,
Everytime the Obama people get caught in something, the response from your folks is the same everyone does it. We know Obama is nothing more than the same old slick corrupt politician, but thanks for pointing it out.

Posted by: geevill | April 9, 2008, 9:35 am 9:35 am

Lauren,
I was thinking the exact same thing about Kevin.

Posted by: Marie | April 9, 2008, 9:36 am 9:36 am

A vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote for the “good ole boys”/”status quo” if Hillary Clinton steals the nomination from Obama.

Posted by: Lookup | April 9, 2008, 9:36 am 9:36 am

It’s amazing how many people here are condemning Michelle Obama for the words of one of her staffers. People please the article first then post your comments. Michelle Obama did not have anything to do with what was said. It was one of her staffers people are so ready to criticize her and based on what. Are we to criticize the Obama’s based on what their banker says, what’s next?

Posted by: nitty64 | April 9, 2008, 9:37 am 9:37 am

We live in a democracy, well at least the last time I heard— not a dictatorship, yet the superintendent (perhaps some board members) have decided for all the students in South Bend, IN that they can listen to Obama and not Clinton or McCain. The message is revolting especially for a school. I am not voting for McCain, yet I would offer him all the respect in the world as he is a war veteran (he fought and offered up his life to make this country a better place for us to live in); I haven’t decided about Clinton, but she was the “first lady” of our country for many years and should still be respected, and her academic credentials speak for themselves. I have decided NOT to vote for Obama because of his 17 year ties to the criminal Rezko; and the latest in the trail showed that Rezko gave another person a large amount of money to donate to the Obama campaign in 2003, so that the giver’s name would be different —breaking federal laws. Are there more of these cases, we will not know until the trial is completed —but the pattern alarms me! Also Obama’s 20 year relationships with a church whose philosophy is built on black supremacy. I do not think that there should be “race” supremacy, black or white. We live in a nation, a melting pot, of people of all races and creeds. We need to get along and work together to build a great America. I am extremely disappointed in the school system in South Bend.

Posted by: Anne | April 9, 2008, 9:37 am 9:37 am

Obama is a slug. You can tell by the slime trail he leaves behind.

Posted by: Aston | April 9, 2008, 9:38 am 9:38 am

Kevin I stand corrected! Sorry. My bad.

Posted by: Marie | April 9, 2008, 9:38 am 9:38 am

Jesus lauren
I never said Michelle Obama was racist. I was only saying that those that think this issue will have an effect on the campaign, have to reach those following conclusions, which are idiotic conclusions. Seriously, do you folks in here know how to read. I am an ardent Obama supporter. Wow, folks in here just respond to blogs without first reading them thoroughly. As an Obama supporter, i find it disturbing that his supporters have such a ridiculous reaction.

Posted by: Kevin | April 9, 2008, 9:41 am 9:41 am

The Clintons are morally and politically bankrupt.

Posted by: Lookup | April 9, 2008, 9:42 am 9:42 am

You people don’t think that this stuff is all planned ahead of time. Especially since she has so much controversy around her they (campaign staffers) probably thought that might be a good idea to have more white people at her rallies. I am sure they have discussed it with her. Even though I think she is a hateful bigot racsit herself – I will give her the benefit of the doubt.

Posted by: Frank- South Hampton | April 9, 2008, 9:42 am 9:42 am

Michelle Obama is a racist. She told us in her thesis.
“I hoped that these findings would help me conclude that despite the high degree of identification with whites as a result of the educational and occupational path that black Princeton alumni follow, the alumni would still maintain a certain level of identification with the black community. However, these findings do not support this possibility.”

Posted by: geevill | April 9, 2008, 9:45 am 9:45 am

Hillary Clinton is all tears and runny nose who wants a “cry baby” for President.

Posted by: Lookup | April 9, 2008, 9:46 am 9:46 am

To jac13 you say ‘all politicians do this”, did you forget that Obama is running a campaign based on the Politics of Change? Where is the change? The change is that he and his campaign are dividing the democratic party by running an extremely negative, sexist campaign against Hillary. If this happened at a Hillary event Keith Olbermann would have to give a “special news report” and call for Hillary to quit the race.

Posted by: calli | April 9, 2008, 9:50 am 9:50 am

POSTER BARTON. You are so transparent. Face it, Obama cannot win the general election. He probably could not even obtain a security clearance.

Posted by: mj | April 9, 2008, 9:51 am 9:51 am

Its not uncommon to seat people behind a candidate or surrogate for effect.
What is uncommon about this is the way they went about it.
The Obama campaign makes sophomore mistakes all the time. The press hasn’t picked up on them and it hasnt effected the Primary but it should. it will kill his campaign in a general election, along with a lot of other things.

Posted by: s.b. | April 9, 2008, 9:52 am 9:52 am

KEVIN
PLEASE ACCEPT MY APOLOGY. I SHOULD PRACTICE WHAT I JUST PREACHED . THANK YOU FOR CORRECTING ME . I WILL READ MORE CAREFULLY .
I WAS WRONG.

Posted by: Lauren | April 9, 2008, 9:53 am 9:53 am

HIllary would be blasted if she was caught doing this. Obama panders. Obama lies. Obama is not authentic. Obama is a typical politician – maybe even worse than most. Obama is guided by old style godfather Chicago politician. No change. False hope. Puppet to the forces behind his scenes. Now Corey Booker is someone with a lot more substance, record, achievements, work ethic, integrity. Compare Obama to a Corey Booker- No comparison, Hands down Booker is so much more qualified and presidential and his patriotism would not at all be called into question. Obama supporters need to rethink their “once in a lifetime leader” candidate.

Posted by: this election counts | April 9, 2008, 9:55 am 9:55 am

Obama looked so green and young and unpresidential at the hearings yesterday.

Posted by: this election counts | April 9, 2008, 9:58 am 9:58 am

This is a good thing not a bad thing… we want to present more diversity in the face of our American president. All of the candidates who ran want to make sure that all of America’s peoples are in the picture. To put up a picture of one culture as he speaks would be like leaving up the school flag and not replacing it with an American Flag.
…yes …they all do it and it is not even close to bad… to pick the best photo they can that represents what the candidate speaks for. …and obviously Obama has a lot of white voters (iowa, washington, NH…)
This is a non-story besides the people who are showing what they want to argue about as an issue… If you think this is racism…you really don’t know what racism is.

Posted by: dl | April 9, 2008, 9:58 am 9:58 am

Hey it reminds you of Deans comments. This was a Racist comment and Obama should be called onto the carpet about it!

Posted by: Notolibs | April 9, 2008, 9:58 am 9:58 am

Kevin, I use Merriam-Webster for my online dictionary which defines racism as “racial prejudice or discrimination”. You’re apparently living in the past where racism meant prejudice against those in a minority. Or you’re listening to the old liberal sociology professor at your college who is telling you that minorities can’t be racist. The enlightened view accepts that racism is racism regardless of color. Though whites hold the majority population in America today, we will within decades be in the minority so far as skin tone goes. So will you then be telling me that today’s racist whites won’t be racist then, in fact can’t be since they’re in the minority?

Posted by: HoosierSue | April 9, 2008, 10:03 am 10:03 am

Blog,
Those that know me know I’m a diehard Hillary Clinton supporter. However, I think this is a non-story. If you were bringing us a story of a surrogate saying this, that might be a problem, depending on the context. Ufortunately, there is still a racial divide in America, and so the fact that someone is saying this merely reflective of reality. I don’t think the problem with the Obama campaign has anything to with racial politics. I think Obama (and his wife) are elitists, that are out of touch with the working class Democrats.
========================================
Obama, out of touch!
========================================

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | April 9, 2008, 10:03 am 10:03 am

this election counts
Did you see how tired and stressed hillary looked. Wow she must be burning or worring she will lose.

Posted by: Lauren | April 9, 2008, 10:03 am 10:03 am

Obama Supporters,
Your team is getting their chops busted daily, and true to form you are trying to deflect the media attacks by pointing at Hillary Clinton. If you don’t recognize that your tactics are transparent you need to cut your koolaid dose in half so it doesn’t continue to blur your vision.
========================================
Obama, the transaparent one!
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Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | April 9, 2008, 10:08 am 10:08 am

Politico’s ‘Clinton leadership a study in missteps’ article today tells me lot more about where we are in this campaign than a college newspaper quoting some sevent coordinator, I must say.

Posted by: hencken | April 9, 2008, 10:09 am 10:09 am

Michele and Barack know what it is like to pay a mortgage and pay off student loans …Just like regular folks.. Betcha Hillary doesn’t? Did Chelsea have to apply for student loans? The only reason why Bill and Hill would have to pay off a mortgage is for tax purposes only their 109 million.
Bill and Hill are the ELITIST .

Posted by: Lauren | April 9, 2008, 10:10 am 10:10 am

I want Obama supporters to take a moment and think about what they would be feeling if todays article showed that Clinton moved people around to ensure it looked diverse. People would be all over her demanding an apology to different ethnic groups, but Obama gets a pass. Racial double standards do seem to go both ways don’t they.

Posted by: Nick | April 9, 2008, 10:12 am 10:12 am

I agree with you dl.
I don’t claim to be an expert but I don’t think that most people know what racism is anymore.
I looked up “racism” in wikipedia and it said that racism “usually denotes race-based prejudice, violence, discrimination, or oppression, the term can also have varying and hotly contested definitions.”

Posted by: Hube | April 9, 2008, 10:13 am 10:13 am

I’m white and I’m not voting for Obama. If Obama, Clinton, and McCain are all this country has to offer its people for President, then we are in sorry shape.

Posted by: Lee | April 9, 2008, 10:14 am 10:14 am

Lauren,
Sounds like you are incredibly hopeful that Hillary is too tired to continue. Yesterday you were saying the race is already over and your candidate has already won were you not? If that’s the case, I don’t understand why you are blogging as well. It seems like you can give it a rest for a few months while Obama seals up the deal. Please, you deserve a rabbit nap.
I will interpret your continued blogging as indicative of the fact that you are fearful of the fact that Hillary Clinton may overtake Obama. You can interpret my continued blogging as indicative of the fact that Hillary Clinton is still standing, she will continue to stand up for all voters, and we’re heading to the finish line.
I’m sure there will be plenty of coolaid for all the nappers, just short of the finish line.
========================================
Obama has it won, no doubt, right?
========================================

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | April 9, 2008, 10:14 am 10:14 am

Lauren, I know there was no staging at the Hillary rally I attended because I saw it with my own eyes. Of course she didn’t need it. She had a very diverse group of people – every age, sex, and race was represented. It was a beautiful thing to see. And it’s funny, from the media, I assumed her crowd would be mostly older white women. Not true at all. Imagine that!

Posted by: HoosierSue | April 9, 2008, 10:14 am 10:14 am

HoosierSue
Maybe you should then check the definition of the words “prejudice” and “discrimination” since it seems clear to me that you don’t know what they mean. After you find out what those words mean, then explain how a campaign staffer saying that she needs more white people in the audience, is racist. After you do that, explain how Michelle Obama is racist because the “racist” campaign staffer works for her. Then after that, explain how Obama himself is racist because he is married to a “racist” wife who eomploys a “racist” campaign staffer. If you can do all this, i will call you “the man” and sacrifice a goat in your honor.
Of course i will not let you get away with the fact that you conveniently ignored the “truest” definition of the word, racism, which was the first definition you saw, but chose to ignore because it doesn’t fit into your broad, silly, flimsy perspective. Racism is a feeling of racial superiority towards another race and the discrimination part of it is the discrimination that results from such feeling of superiority. If there is no feeling of superiority, then technically, it is not racist. Why don’t you ask a college professor. Your argument is flawed on so many levels, you should be locked up for even daring to make it.

Posted by: Kevin | April 9, 2008, 10:15 am 10:15 am

I’m white and I’m ready to vote for Obama. The tickets for these Obama rallies are really hard to get. I guess I’m a little slow.

Posted by: Jim B | April 9, 2008, 10:17 am 10:17 am

Hencken,
Hillary Clinton owes me nothing but gives me plenty. She inspires me with the knowledge that there is one of these candidates who has not lost track with the Democratic base which is made up of working class Democrats. Obama gives me no hope whatsoever, he’s an empty suit. McCain gives me assurance that he is a 3rd term of Bush.
I really don’t care if Penn gets paid, the guy was a jerk, I blogged about that long ago, good riddance, and if anything, he needs to return funds to the Clinton campaign. =======================================
Hillary stands up for all voters!
=======================================

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | April 9, 2008, 10:19 am 10:19 am

It’s no different than Hillary the other day telling people to get behind her at the podium to make it appear as though there were a lot of people there. In actuality, attendance for her is also going down.
I’m white and a proud Obama supporter. =-)

Posted by: Melissa | April 9, 2008, 10:22 am 10:22 am

WE need more white people — maybe his typical white grandmother can come and he can find the “sweetie” IN PA to sit in. With the Rev Wright scandall, I guess they want to make sure they look mixed.
this is sad — if this had happened at a Hillary event it would all be over.
makes me sick — this is not a non-issue.

Posted by: Hank in PA | April 9, 2008, 10:22 am 10:22 am

HoosierSue,
I agree wholeheartedly with you. The Clinton’s have promoted diversity for a lifetime. It was not until the Obama campaign came along that they began to be tagged as divisive. This is nonsense and another transparent tactic by Obama to try to claw his way into power.
=======================================
Only Hillary stands up for all voters
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Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | April 9, 2008, 10:23 am 10:23 am

Newsflash, the people behind a candidate are almost always staged. This is a fight for the presidency. You think it’s coincidence when a black surrogate opens in a black area for Hillary, even though there may be a more influencial white surrogate.
Wake up America, it’s call politics.

Posted by: Right on Day1 | April 9, 2008, 10:23 am 10:23 am

If a white candidate’s coordinator was to say “get me more black people. We need more ‘Uncle Tom’s’ here”., they would have been fired. If you cannot see how racists the Obama campaign is, you need a new pair of glasses.

Posted by: MM | April 9, 2008, 10:23 am 10:23 am

Obama said”we are one nation one people”
he also said”my grandma is a typical white person , she is a racist”
today , they need more white people not Asian .
can you tell me what is racist?

Posted by: joke | April 9, 2008, 10:23 am 10:23 am

Lauren,
Think about it! The Clinton’s weren’t born into wealth. Check your facts. Plus, the Clinton’s are nearly twenty years older than Obama. If you look at the path Obama is taking, I’m sure in twenty years 109 million will be a drop in the bucket for him. Is this really your agrument for Obama is that he understands regular people.

Posted by: Melvin | April 9, 2008, 10:24 am 10:24 am

It seems to me that “they” have plenty of white people. They are winning, after all.

Posted by: jock59801 | April 9, 2008, 10:26 am 10:26 am

Lauren, please take a moment to educate yourself on the life of Hillary Clinton. She came from a middle class upbringing and did indeed have student loans to pay off. Neither she nor Bill were wealthy or elite. Obama seems to want us to believe that he was from a disadvantaged background when, in fact, he attended a private school in Hawaii with a current tuition of approx. $15,000. Michelle was from a middle class background as well.
I don’t know if Bill and Hillary have ever had a mortgage, but do know that Hillary understands the hardships of the middle class. In fact, that’s one area she and I don’t agree on. I don’t pity people who are caught in the sub-prime mess as I feel they had as much greed as the lenders. But I understand that a failing housing market does our economy harm.
On the other hand, I’m sure you know that Barack and Michelle were able to afford their dream house in Chicago due Tony Rezko. I don’t think the common man struggling with a mortgage can identify with that.

Posted by: HoosierSue | April 9, 2008, 10:28 am 10:28 am

OMG. Need more white people – I am hopeful that they are hanging out somewhere else….I want white people to be in the presence of people who can say with feeling “I’m proud to be an American” and have been proud all my life. Not just one moment when it suited Michelle Obama. God Bless America – today and always.

Posted by: dixiecharms | April 9, 2008, 10:29 am 10:29 am

Hank in PA.
this is sad — if this had happened at a Hillary event it would all be over.
It has happened and nobody made an issue out of it.
Barack is for all just like Hill.

Posted by: Lauren | April 9, 2008, 10:29 am 10:29 am

I am absolutely not an Obama supporter but I’ll defend the Obama camp on this to some degree. I’ve been at a number of political rallies, including Clinton, and you can tell that they take into consideration what the crowd scene will look like on the local or national evening news and strategically place people of color behind the candidate if the crowds predominantly white and scatter whites behind the candidate if the candidate is a person of color. I don’t think this situation is all unique to the Obama camp. It’s like when your employer decides to do their company brochure and they round up every person of color to be in the brochure to show their diversity, looks good, but really isn’t representative of the makeup of the company. Is it a total turn-off regardless who does it, of course. There is a problem for the Obama camp though if they aren’t pulling enough whites into their rallies but I would assume that Michelle is less inclined to draw a large white crowd in comparison to Barack. I’m assuming Barack isn’t having a problem drawing whites to his rallies based on his numbers in the polls and if he is then there’s more to the story than the polls we see.

Posted by: alpaig | April 9, 2008, 10:33 am 10:33 am

This is a non-issue. If you’ve ever seen any of Hillary Clinton’s events (especially since South Carolina) she is SURROUNDED by a sea of African Americans. That is not random it is by design. All candidates do that.

Posted by: Melissa Cibowoski | April 9, 2008, 10:33 am 10:33 am

hey folks..wake up…every candidate did this…McCain seated blacks too…
Hillary in NH….why did only the Obama story make headlines…..?

Posted by: cindy | April 9, 2008, 10:34 am 10:34 am

Why color specific?
Why don’t they just want voters behind them?
Obama is supposed to be above the race issue.
Why can’t they get get voters with their policy instead of trying to get them to follow other white people?
The fact they are concentrating on this tells you something doesn’t it.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 10:35 am 10:35 am

Hoosier Sue
How did Bill and Hill afford their Great Big Nice House ? In their affluent neighborhood? If you are looking and reading through the years you know as well as most Americans Hill And Bill have been associated with Slimmy characters as well. Shall we say Mark Penn Shall e say Tata consultancy Service.
Those who live in glass houses should never throw stones.
Isnt there a curt case coming up in Cal. soon? Where Hill and Bill had a corrupt dealings?

Posted by: Lauren | April 9, 2008, 10:36 am 10:36 am

HoosierSue….the Obama’s are multi-millionares…..and Obama’s grandparents mortgaged “the farm” to get him a good education, just like most of us middle class peons…

Posted by: cindy | April 9, 2008, 10:39 am 10:39 am

Mrs. Clinton’s rally in NH was not staged in any way. I was there on the eve of her win in N.H. at the Manchester Airport from beginning to end. I was looking for it & there were NO STAGING at all.

Posted by: br | April 9, 2008, 10:40 am 10:40 am

HoosierSue….Sorry I mean aren’t multimillionare…of course we know that….but the Clintons are. Why do you think they witheld their taxes so long….?

Posted by: cindy | April 9, 2008, 10:40 am 10:40 am

I do not think that wanting to place more white people or asians in the crowd behind a canidate is prima facie evidence of racism! What is indicative of is the use of race for political manipulation of what reality is. The reason that the staffer was asking for more white people is represents a reality that Obama is having problems getting white working class support in PA. If one only sees black people sitting in the audience behind Michelle then the image presented would be that his appeal in Pa was mostly to black people and thus go against the image that they have tried to portray that he is a politician who transends race and thus can bring all americans together! This little episode only underscores the problem that Obama faces not only in PA, but in In,WV,KY and elsewhere where there are large numbers of white working class people. Hillary has the same problem in states that have a large segment of african americans,like in NC where I am sure they are doing their best to stage the audience behind her! I guess that one could say that Obama should not be doing this because he says that he is a different kind of politician and such manipulation is one of the oldest political tricks in the books and therefore does tend to make him look like any other politician which is opposite to the image that he tries to portray! You see that even this different politician image is a manipulation just like the crowd manipulation, the truth is that like all politicians he is willing to do what ever it takes to win, that is not a criticism it is a fact! The lesson is to look at these canidates not as they wish us to but for us to see them as they really are, sometimes with all the media bias and manipulation that is hard to do!

Posted by: russell | April 9, 2008, 10:41 am 10:41 am

I am quite certain most political rallies involve some sort of ‘staging’. Have you ever looked at the group of people assembled behind a candidate? They try to make the groups look as diverse as possible. As long as the people are already in the crowd and not being pulled in off the street, I don’t see it as a big deal–annoying to those being moved, perhaps, but not a big deal.
And Loretta–the monkey comment–I guess you just don’t get it. While the speaker may have genuinely just meant it in reference to the children being in the tree, African-Americans have been called monkeys, gorillas and apes in this country for many years and don’t think its a cute reference. I won’t buy my son a shirt with a monkey on it for that reason, I know people who can’t stand Curious George, my grandfather refused to let my mother watch Tarzan. Call us sensitive if you wish, but its not racism. Its a response to a situation in which we’ve been placed.

Posted by: MrsJones | April 9, 2008, 10:41 am 10:41 am

JJ, Jr said that Obama doesn’t need your vote.
Apparently, JJ doesn’t need or want your vote. He wants Obama to go it alone. Didn’t President Bush have a “go it alone” problem too? Bush, he was another elitist novice, just like Obama.
========================================
Obama, another novice for the White House
========================================

Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | April 9, 2008, 10:41 am 10:41 am

Emilaina…stop putting words in Obama’s mouth…..he NEVER said to dropout…..

Posted by: cindy | April 9, 2008, 10:42 am 10:42 am

The underline here is any way you want to slice it is show the white faces on TV so that white folks would say all well there you see lost of smart looking people are voting for Obama is that it? Does that mean forget about the black vote it’s a given or they look too poor too raggedy.Is this some kind of a staged election. Nobody is good enough for the Obama’s but the Obama’s with their sick mind to divide the country not in half but in peices. This is sick,sick sick ,sick, sick infectous.
Sickos.

Posted by: ruthmatters | April 9, 2008, 10:42 am 10:42 am

Obama needs more of “those typical white people” to fill out his rallies.
Come on white folks. Come out from under that bus grandma, I need you now.

Posted by: hopesprings52 | April 9, 2008, 10:43 am 10:43 am

Staging events during a political rally when diversity of support is an issue may not be inherently racist but it is certainly deliberate and manipulative. They are trying to subvert the truth about the new Obama appeal with a contrived image they want us all to see. It feels desperate and they got caught.

Posted by: br | April 9, 2008, 10:44 am 10:44 am

For all of you right wingers that jump on this story. Do you really think that our troops appreciated being used as props by Bush for 8 years?? Bush and Cheney have done this crap since mission accomplished to General Petraeus.

Posted by: bushrots | April 9, 2008, 10:45 am 10:45 am

So? This is kind of a non-story. If our society wasn’t so inherently racist, which we all know it is, then they wouldn’t have had to do this.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 10:48 am 10:48 am

wcm
I am afraid that she will win. Americans are afraid . We worry what she will do to this country. How many more jobs will be outsource? how many mor will be added to the NAFTA agreement.
That BILL passed?
How many more wars will she support?
How many more scandals will occur while she is in the WhiteHouse? How much money will it cost Americans while they investigate her again?
so wcm you are right. WE the People are Afraid. ALL AMERICAN SHOULD BE VERY AFRAID
BARACK IS THE ONLY OPTION FOR THE DEM. PARTY

Posted by: Lauren | April 9, 2008, 10:48 am 10:48 am

Ha!!!! The reason why they need more WHITE PEOPLE for show is because they are loosing the votes of white america. White America is learning more and more about him. He is just all talk and no substance. William Ayers, Khalidi, Larry Sinclair, Wright, Farrakhan and Frank Marshall Davis and probably a few more. It’s just a matter of time that the media will wake up and expose him for the man he truly is. OBAMA’S WORDS AND ACTIONS IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM THE CAREFULLY CRAFTED IMAGE THAT HIM AND HIS CAMP IS PORTRAYING. Hillary Clinton might not be perfect but she is the best candidate that will turn this country around.

Posted by: bpatz3 | April 9, 2008, 10:51 am 10:51 am

I am an African-American woman and I would vote republican before I would Vote for Obama. He has made all people of every color look racist. My entire family if for Hillary (with the exception of an uncle) because we have worked to hard to have someone with an agenda make all people of color look like they are racist, just so he can move ahead. This guys does not represent my beliefs. I would never attend a church where the Rev. spoke such hateful words. He has not earned the job of President and will never win.
Hillary 2008 or McCain if need be!!

Posted by: Laura | April 9, 2008, 10:51 am 10:51 am

Obama definitely needs more white people considering he only carries blacks in the polls now.

Posted by: Marc | April 9, 2008, 10:52 am 10:52 am

So what? McCain did the same thing on Martin Luther King Day and Hillary has been doin this with the mexicans since the 80s…………..

Posted by: enaudnella | April 9, 2008, 10:52 am 10:52 am

HAS ANY NOTICED SINCE HILLS AND BILLS TAXES CAME OUT NOW WE KNOW THAT THEY ARE MILLIONAIERES. THAT THE HILL SUPPORTERS ARE NOW CALLING OBAMA’S ELITIST??
MAYBE CAUSE THE VOTERS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH HER CAMP.RHETORIC
HILL AND BILL ARE THE ELITIST
WITH THEIR MULTI- MILLION DOLLAR FRIENDS.. LOANING BILL THEIR PRIVATE JETS

Posted by: Lauren | April 9, 2008, 10:53 am 10:53 am

Again we have a “wright” or a “staffer” not actually Barack or Michelle involved ………..When can Hillary people find something damaging on the actual candidate…………..I dont have to even start diggin Hillary’s grave

Posted by: enaudnella | April 9, 2008, 10:55 am 10:55 am

As an American citizen of the United States of America, I am sick of the hyphenated-Americans racism and blatant hate. What can we expect from the Obama campaign next… special seating today, ballot stuffing tomorrow?

Posted by: Bill | April 9, 2008, 10:56 am 10:56 am

It makes me want to puke when I read idiotic statements from so-called “democrats” who petulantly (with their bottom lip stuck out) and rightously proclaim that they will vote for McCain before Obama (when Obama gets the nomination). Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face! They would hand over our country to Halliburton and the rest of the war mongers just because their candidate didn’t win. That is so childish, petty and small-minded that it amazes me. I’m for Obama, but if Hillary wins she wins my vote. To do otherwise would go against every fiber in my being.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 10:56 am 10:56 am

Obama lost my vote not just after the Rev. Wright thing but when I found out that he supported the Black Panthers (on his website). We do not need a President of any color who supports such extremists.
Hot for Hillary!!

Posted by: Sam | April 9, 2008, 10:59 am 10:59 am

“We Need More White People”
I can gaurantee everyone that this phrase won’t be uttered at the Republican Party Convention this Summer.

Posted by: The Commander Guy | April 9, 2008, 10:59 am 10:59 am

From beyond Chron:
Once I started looking at the votes Obama actually cast, I began to hear his rhetoric differently. The principal conclusion I draw about “change” and Barack Obama is that Obama needs to change his voting habits and stop pandering to win votes. If he does this he might someday make a decent candidate who could earn my support. For now Obama has fallen into a dangerous pattern of capitulation that he cannot reconcile with his growing popularity as an agent of change.

Posted by: greenfun | April 9, 2008, 11:00 am 11:00 am

Was an Obama supporter, no, sorry, you never were and you can’t fool anyone (except another fool). If this made you change your mind you are too simple to vote.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 11:00 am 11:00 am

Senator Jay Rockefeller (WV) supports fellow Democratic Sen. Barack Obama for president!

Posted by: Frigid | April 9, 2008, 11:01 am 11:01 am

Don’t all campaigns want diversity shots. Why is that news?

Posted by: Maritza | April 9, 2008, 11:04 am 11:04 am

And this isn’t racism????

Posted by: Kris | April 9, 2008, 11:04 am 11:04 am

It really makes me laugh at how “surprised” & “shocked” former Barack Obama supporters are acting when they finally realize what a total phoney baloney their candidate is. This moving of “typical white people” to stand in camera shot of Michelle Obama is no suprise at all to me. It is the LITERAL example of how Senator Obama has succeeded in manipulating voters of ALL races to support his campaign. If he ends up getting the nomination and wins the election in November [a HUGE "if"] those that voted for him have only themselves to blame for jumping on his insincere, unearned pied-piper style political bandwagon.

Posted by: PhillyPaul | April 9, 2008, 11:04 am 11:04 am

OK, so a staffer for Michelle Obama was overheard and observed staging the backround people carefully to include more “white people”. This seems to have raised the eyebrows of some readers.
Why???? What do you think Hillary’s staff’s been doing very carefully from the beginiing herself? If the news companies had the time or interest. I bet they would be somewhat surprised to see how the seated crowds appearing behind Hillary as she speaks, has changed over time. In the beginning of the campaign when her campaign staff believed she had the nomination sewn up by appealing to souly to women, only women appeared behind her, neatly coreographed. Now that white males are so important for her goals in PA, you will see a liberal sprinkling of white men appearing behind her as she is shown on the CNN (and other outlet)newsbits. She is the master of the coreographed appearance, not Obama.

Posted by: Yardo | April 9, 2008, 11:05 am 11:05 am

I am a Hillary supporter because I feel she is the best candidate. I also like Obama and am really sorry that race is being brought into this. I guess my dream that at some point in my lifetime we will start to all feel that we belong to the human race is never going to be fullfilled. It is very sad that race and gender still define people.

Posted by: JAR | April 9, 2008, 11:05 am 11:05 am

ll – That is too funny!

Posted by: LOM | April 9, 2008, 11:05 am 11:05 am

At the rate the dems are going McCain will have a cake walk this November!

Posted by: david | April 9, 2008, 11:07 am 11:07 am

I can’t get the “pledge of allegiance” picture out of my head, where Obama did not have his hand over his heart. I am not convinced he loves America. I am not convinced that he doesn’t despise white people after his church of choice was revealed. OBAMA IS WRONG FOR AMERICA….WE NEED HILLARY TO FIX THE MESS BUSH AND THE CORRUPT REPUBLICANS ARE LEAVING US. WE ARE IN TROUBLE AND NEED RESPONSIBLE EXPERIENCE LEADERSHIP AND THAT IS HILLARY

Posted by: Dee White | April 9, 2008, 11:08 am 11:08 am

was an obama supporter……glad you finally saw the “light”…..Hillary 08….you can join our team!

Posted by: david from texas | April 9, 2008, 11:08 am 11:08 am

JJ, jr. Ohhhh…black power? Is that the reason why you are voting for Obama? You think if he wins you will have the power…This is one of the reasons why people are getting turned off by Obama…Arrogance.

Posted by: bpatz3 | April 9, 2008, 11:09 am 11:09 am

Honestly, I don’t think is really news. Staging diversity is what everyone does. To assume otherwise is foolish.
Although, if someone asked me to move because I was Asian, I would leave.

Posted by: LOM | April 9, 2008, 11:09 am 11:09 am

Cindy,
Obama made the headlines because he makes the case that he nutral in this area.
Evidently he is not.
He calls Hillary, Bill, and Ferraro racist for making comments about race, then tries to play to the white voter with this kind of stuff.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 11:09 am 11:09 am

Was an Obama Supporter ===============
You ‘ve just shown how shallow-minded you are.
You want us to believe that you are changing your mind about who will be the next US president because someone said “We need more white people”.
You are the biggest joke of this election. Just get lost!

Posted by: Geldo | April 9, 2008, 11:10 am 11:10 am

Carnagiy Mellon is a fine University and has campuses throughout the world, even in Riad, Saoudi Arabia.

Posted by: ruthmatters | April 9, 2008, 11:11 am 11:11 am

I keep hearing this term “elitist”, Aren’t they all elitists. If your for one to say the other is, is completely hypocritical. If they weren’t elitist do you honestly think they would be where they are (AT THIS POINT). Just chill with that term, it really doesn’t make since in this case.

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 11:12 am 11:12 am

Obama should have never allowed his surrogates, fellow democrats, to accuse the Clinton’s of racism. By his silence on this issue, given the Clinton’s pro-civil rights record, Obama has proven to do anything in order to win this nomination. Most real democrats will not tolerate maligning the administration of the last 2 term elected Democratic President. Give me a break Obama!

Posted by: br | April 9, 2008, 11:13 am 11:13 am

I am Asian. My family, my friends, my people in this small town have pledged that: will not vote for Obama at all costs! Michelle Obama should not ask to reseat Whites and Asians to show of diversity because she has never had that idea before. She is all for Blacks people, Black value, Black community, Black organization, Black church, Black oh Black and more Black…..One thing she should do: just invite Whites and Asians to attain her famous Trinity Church so they can listen the old tapes from her radical pastor Wright. There will be cheering and laughing from Blacks in these tapes echoed with the shouting of Wright’s song “GOD D AMERICA” At that time Whites and Asians begin to cry and run out of the church!

Posted by: Asian | April 9, 2008, 11:14 am 11:14 am

Where do you want me to sit?
OBAMA ’08

Posted by: WhitePennsylvanian | April 9, 2008, 11:15 am 11:15 am

The haunting image that I’ve been getting is of late on election night in November. Louis Farrakhan and Jeremiah Wright are sitting in Wright’s $1.6 million “retirement home” toasting the election returns. Farrakhan: “Jeremiah this is a great day. You have groomed this young man so beautifully. Now we have OUR president.”

Posted by: hopesprings52 | April 9, 2008, 11:15 am 11:15 am

I AM A HILARY FAN, BUT I MUST ADMIT THAT OBAMA HAS BEEN THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO HAS HAD THE COURAGE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF RACE ELOQUENTLY (BEFORE OR AFTER THE WRIGHT ISSUE, THAT’S BESIDE THE POINT). I ALSO FIND THIS TYPE OF REPORTING QUITE UNPROFESSIONAL AND SPECULATIVE. I WOULD DEFINITELY PREFER OBAMA OVER MCCAIN. WE HAVE HAD 8 YEARS OF REPUBLICANS’ DISASTROUS GOVERNANCE. IT HAS BEEN A DARK PERIOD FOR AMERICA.

Posted by: a concerned mother | April 9, 2008, 11:16 am 11:16 am

You only have to read the comments day after day to know that racism and bigotry are alive and well in America. I will say this again – Americans of every race, color and creed helped to build this county and defend it. We need to unite to move this country into the 21st century! WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT AND IT’S TIME TO ROW TOGETHER IF WE ARE GOING TO SAVE OUR NATION. We the common people must find common ground and the media should be helping us by staying on the issues. It doesn’t matter what Obama says, does or doesn’t do – there is always a racial slant for attack. We have a very important election which concerns ALL Americans and I suggest the press/media try to stay on task of bringing us the news instead of creating it!

Posted by: white mountain | April 9, 2008, 11:16 am 11:16 am

The people in Pennsylvania had better check Obama’s stand on gun control. I am sure they will not like it.

Posted by: nancy | April 9, 2008, 11:16 am 11:16 am

Mrs Obama has done more damage to Sen Obama’s campaign than Rev Wright.
Questionable issue: repeated reference to the burden of student loans. I submit if the Obamas had student loans they took them out for other expenses than tuition, fees, and books.
Princeton and Harvard are the most heavily endowed universities in the United States. They also have an agressive diversity policy. Why would these universities require the Obamas to pay their way?

Posted by: Kathryn | April 9, 2008, 11:16 am 11:16 am

Well, if he’s just moving people around that are already there to get a more diverse shot, then it’s safe to assume that the white people were there to be moved around. He’s got the support…so what’s the big deal? He said “white people”? whoop-dee-doo! You people are entirely too hung up on skin color. “White people this, black people that…” Who cares? Judge a man by his character, not his pigmentation. I’ve also got plenty of friends that say dumb things, but that doesn’t meant that I always agree w/ them. Just because he knows people that may have race issues, doesn’t necessarily mean that he does. I know this from first-hand experience. If his wife has issues, then let’s be glad she’s not the one running for POTUS. Lord knows that I’ve disagreed w/ my wife many times and (somehow!) we are still together.

Posted by: Dave | April 9, 2008, 11:18 am 11:18 am

MrsJones,
Are you saying that Obama is a typical politician. His campaing retorich says that he is new and different. He doesn’t play the same misleading games that other politicians do. He is going to bring a change about politics.
What have we seen from him.
Same old politics.
His words are just that words.
Not backed by action as his career has shown.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 11:20 am 11:20 am

geevill – yeah, well it was a campaign supporter. And I am sick and tired of the Obama campaign making me feel like I’m racist merely because I voted for and support another candidate.

Posted by: mm | April 9, 2008, 11:21 am 11:21 am

snake oil salesman?
I do not care who you vote for bud!!!!…..
You should be happy senator Obama is reaching out to you in the first place…….
Just keep in mind that when anyone looks “at a glance” and see nearly 232 years of all white men as president and VP…….that alone gives a false sense of superiority….So, this pacifying and/or appease obviously is necessary for some folks, namely, you, who think they are better than others…
Remember: no race of people are superior; as no race of people are inferior…..But those who think otherwise have a sick mind….

Posted by: tony | April 9, 2008, 11:21 am 11:21 am

this story has just opened the racial floodgate more than the rev. wright did for obama, plus, once again, his wife is involved. this will hurt obama’s electability. let the vetting begin!

Posted by: david from texas | April 9, 2008, 11:25 am 11:25 am

Anybody who feels it’s a big deal that event coordinators (not Michelle or barack Obama) said “we need more white people” should get lost.
Just vote for Hillary or whoever you want and stop wasting our time over nothing.

Posted by: Geldo | April 9, 2008, 11:25 am 11:25 am

A lot of people in these posts seem to be saying they don’t want to hear the truth about Obama and his wife’s obvious racial pandering that dominates Obama’s campaigns. If anyone questions Rev. Wright’s blatant racist and anti-American sermons the people say this should not be a mark against Obama as he said he did not hear the those specific sermons. Opps, Obama admitted later that he did hear some of those sermons but stayed in Wright’s church anyway. Think about it. If Wright was white and preached sermons in a similar vein but used the word “black” instead of “white” would anyone even consider voting for Obama? I think not.

Posted by: Sam | April 9, 2008, 11:26 am 11:26 am

Let’s agree it did happen as reported.
OK, so a staffer for Michelle Obama was overheard and observed staging the backround people carefully to include more “white people”. This seems to have raised the eyebrows of some readers.
Why???? Let’s not be naive!
What do you think Hillary’s staff’s been doing very carefully from the beginiing herself? If the news companies had the time or interest. I bet they would be somewhat surprised to see how the seated crowds appearing behind Hillary as she speaks, has changed over time. In the beginning of the campaign when her campaign staff believed she had the nomination sewn up by appealing soley to women, only women appeared behind her, neatly coreographed. At that time her campaign reasoned she did not need support from men…especially white men.
Now that white males are so important for her goals in PA, you will see a liberal sprinkling of white men appearing behind her as she is shown on the CNN (and other outlet)news shows. To accomplish this coreographing, Hillary’s staff do the same as what’s reported here….Only they make sure they don’t get caught at it. (They carefully pre-plan it)
Hillary (and Bill who we all know…will always be there as well) is the tru master of the coreographed appearance, not Obama.

Posted by: Yardo | April 9, 2008, 11:26 am 11:26 am

That is not surprise me. Obama’s major substance are sensational speech, exiciting rally, looking good, which are not bad thing. But, when comes to a real issue he always mutter. It seams he is going to run out word.

Posted by: li | April 9, 2008, 11:27 am 11:27 am

Let’s remember that Obama picked that particular church and minister – out of the hundreds in the Chicago area – for a reason. Then he continued to sit in the pew and support the “Reverend” Wright with tens of thousands of dollars – for 20 years. He and his wife are fine with bringing up their children to nod and smile when a minister shouts, “God damn America!” So who is the racist?
No matter how slick the speech explaining his affiliation with this church, Obama either lied the week before – when he said he “never heard those words” – or during the speech when he said “I was there…. I did hear those words.” So we now know he’s a racist and a liar. What else do we not yet know that the Republicans will dig up for the campaign in November??? Scary, isn’t it?!
-Red Rocks in DC

Posted by: Linda Mahoney | April 9, 2008, 11:27 am 11:27 am

I’m sitting her laughing at the Obama supporters who is mad at Jake about this story. Hillary has been getting nothing but negative press and Obama was the “golden” boy of the media. As someone said, “what goes up, must come down”. Obama is coming down and in a BIG way! It’s about time that the truth about him and his true ideals are coming out. I agree with david from texas……this will opene a floodgate of racial tension once again in the obama campaign….Mr. Obama, America is tired or you……drop out!

Posted by: jogger | April 9, 2008, 11:28 am 11:28 am

Anybody who feels it’s a big deal that event coordinators (not Michelle or barack Obama) said “we need more white people” should get lost.
Just vote for Hillary or whoever you want and stop wasting our time over nothing.

Posted by: Geldo | April 9, 2008, 11:29 am 11:29 am

MM-
When did the Obama campaign EVER try and MAKE you fell like you were a racist for not supporting him.
He NEVER said such a thing. Nor did anyone in his camp.
Supporters are different. He can’t control what supporters say. His supporters are all over the U.S., so he can’t be held accountable for what his supporters say.
You sound just like John McCain blaming Barack for something Liberal talk show host Ed Schultz said. Ed Schultz wasn’t asked by Obama to speak at the fundraiser. Obama wasn’t in the room where the comment was made. Ed Schultz isn’t apart of Obama’s camp. But yet he was pressured to apologize for something he didn’t have anything to do with.
Stop blaming Barack for things that other people say and do!

Posted by: Ms. Pisces | April 9, 2008, 11:30 am 11:30 am

HoosierSue — I live in Louisiana and due to the school system, most of the parents send their children to private school. My child did not get a scholarship for tuition, but I don’t care, if I have to work another job on the weekends or my husband works an extra 8 hours in overtime. If his mother and grandparents did the same to ensure that he received a excellent education, that’s great. From the things he has said about his mother, she was an intelligent woman who wanted her child to be his best. ie waking up earlier in the morning to go over his English. If more parent would do that we wouldn’t have to worry so much about failing schools.

Posted by: Belly | April 9, 2008, 11:32 am 11:32 am

Concernedmother,
He only had the speech to cover his own butt. He lied about hearing the racist comments of his pastor and then overshadowed the mistake by giving the totally disingenuis speech.
The media ate it up because they are just as far left as Obama.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 11:34 am 11:34 am

As a white university professor, I, along with my children and grandchildren, am honored and privileged to be part of this great history in the making and vote for Sen. Obama. Now, will America rise to the occasion and embrace this great change and truly unite, showing the world that ONLY in America this can happen, and that it really is the land of the free? Or, will those whose better judgement is clouded by petty prejudices and misconceptions continue the divisive tradition of ‘Us’ and ‘Them’, propagated by those politicians who firmly believe in their politics of divide and rule and public deception?

Posted by: unite | April 9, 2008, 11:34 am 11:34 am

UNITE – BRAVO!

Posted by: wow | April 9, 2008, 11:36 am 11:36 am

The “Republican blogging as Democrats” strategy must be in full force this morning. Democrats you are arguing with Republicans that are trying to make you hate BOTH candidates. Don’t be dumb.

Posted by: WeKnowWhatYou'reDoing | April 9, 2008, 11:37 am 11:37 am

Big the hell deal. I hardly think this is the first time a campaign has sought to place their candidate in front of one group of people or another. It happens alls the time.

Posted by: squeenter squillo | April 9, 2008, 11:37 am 11:37 am

Ms. Pisces – you asked when Obama and his campaign ever made me feel like I was racist for supporting another candidate. I tell you HIS SPEECH… when he referred to “typical white people”. AND…when her referred to his campaign staff worker who told her parents that she liked mustard sandwitches just so her mom wouldn’t feel bad” and how he laid blame for that act on Umm…. who ??? In that speech he slapped the faces of all – including hard working blacks. Ms. Pisces, he often refers to black churches and black “this” and black “that”. Well, we don’t have “white churches”. We have CHURCHES. We don’t have “black colleges”. We have COLLEGES. Where all people regardless of race are welcomed to attend. Such is not the case with the Obama campaign. They support segregation at every turn as long as it BENEFITS the black community.

Posted by: MM | April 9, 2008, 11:38 am 11:38 am

We may agree it did happen almost as reported.
OK, so a staffer for Michelle Obama was overheard and observed staging the backround people carefully to include more “white people”. This seems to have raised the eyebrows of some readers.
Why???? Let’s not be naive!
What do you think Hillary’s staff’s been doing very carefully from the beginiing herself? If the news companies had the time or interest. I bet they would be somewhat surprised to see how the seated crowds appearing behind Hillary as she speaks, has changed over time.
In the beginning of the campaign when her campaign staff believed she had the nomination sewn up by appealing soley to women, only women appeared behind her, neatly coreographed. At that time her campaign reasoned she did not need support from men…especially white men.
Later, when Texas was very importent to her, we saw a liberal sprinkling of Hispanic listeners appearing behind her as she lectured.
Now that white males are so important for her goals in PA, you will see a liberal sprinkling of white men appearing behind her as she is shown on the CNN (and other outlet)news shows.
To accomplish this coreographing, Hillary’s staff does the same as what’s reported here….The difference is that it’s Hillary’s professional campaign staff not an eventsperson from a school)and Hillary’s staff makes sure they don’t get caught at it. (They carefully pre-plan it in private)
Hillary and Bill (who we all know…will always be there as well) are the true masters of the coreographed appearance, not Obama.
This is the truth, Yet they would deny this…Because, as we all know, they are also…the Masters of Disguise.

Posted by: Yardo | April 9, 2008, 11:39 am 11:39 am

Oh, now that it’s an Obama supporter it’s ok, but if a Hillary supporter says or does anything it is automatically a negative for Hillary.
Whats matter, not enough white people showing up and is the Asian vote not important?
Maybe if Michelle Obama liked America more and didn’t blame all the problems in America and white people, more white people would show up.

Posted by: lucci8 | April 9, 2008, 11:39 am 11:39 am

Obama groupies,
Why is it Hillary is responsible for everything a supporter says or does, but he is not?
IE Bill and Ferraro?
Both called racist when they have done more for blacks then Obama ever thought of.
All they did was speak frankly about race the same way Obama did in his speech.
Double standards!

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 11:40 am 11:40 am

unite, are you saying we should vote for Obama because he’s black?

Posted by: HoosierSue | April 9, 2008, 11:40 am 11:40 am

The staffer works for them. They don’t work for the staffer. Hence the name “staffer”. Okie-dokie?

Posted by: Mack | April 9, 2008, 11:40 am 11:40 am

If they need more white people, maybe they should include them on the Obama website under People. For someone who isn’t a racist, he is very good at categorizing people on his website. Unfortunately if you are a white, male you don’t make the list under People. I guess you don’t count. Maybe if he wants that vote he should consider white males as people too!

Posted by: illini | April 9, 2008, 11:41 am 11:41 am

Michelle Obama doesn’t believe in the American Dream: “The truth is most Americans don’t want much,” Obama said. “Folks don’t want the whole pie. Most Americans feel blessed to thrive a little bit — but that’s out of reach for them.”
NOTHING IS OUT OF REACH if you work hard enough. That is the American dream and she is trying to change it. Folks don’t want the whole pie? We feel blessed to thrive a little bit?

Posted by: Jenny | April 9, 2008, 11:41 am 11:41 am

HoosierSue – Any State’s Senate records are public domain and accessible by anyone who wants to do the research. Do you actually think that the Clinton sabotage machine hasn’t pored over those records looking for ammuntion. Be realistic, if that is not possible, at least don’t be dumb.
Also, you forgot to mention that Obama put everything out there on his taxes before the primaries, not 3/4 of the way through the game when the majority of blue-collar workers who would be disillusioned by the million$ would be conveniently already counted.
Wanna ‘nother cup of kool aid?

Posted by: holycow | April 9, 2008, 11:42 am 11:42 am

The issue is plan and simple here.
Many have stated that Hillary or John doe the same thing in their campaign.
Fine, so they do.
The thing is neither of them are misleading the people by saying they are going to change politics and act as though they are above it all.
Obama is selling that load of dung.
He has proven time and time againg they they are going to use any tactic to when just like every other politican.
SAME OLD POLITICS!!!!
He is a deciever don’t be a believer!

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 11:44 am 11:44 am

The Obama campaign made it crystal clear in the early days that their aim is to promote anything and everything to do with blacks, and with “the young.” Being neither, I didn’t hand them my vote. His crazy church cinched it. All black, all the time. My my. I’d vote for a resurrected Richard Nixon before I’d vote for the black-centric newbie from Chi-town. And I’m a Democrat.

Posted by: ShishBoomBah | April 9, 2008, 11:46 am 11:46 am

“uh” is Obama’s favorite word. He said it 23 times in a 7 minute questioning yesterday on Capital Hill! He has NO IDEA what it takes to be President!
LMAO!!!!!

Posted by: jogger | April 9, 2008, 11:46 am 11:46 am

I went to see Michelle Obama yesterday in Winston Salem, NC. I’ve been to see Hillary Clinton as well. Yes, the Obama campaign seeks a very diverse audience but isn’t that a good thing? I don’t see the other candidates even caring about the diversity of their audiences. White people, black people, asian people-they ALL should be concerned about the diversity and appeal of their audience. I don’t see a problem-oh I forgot-people keep trying to create them. Is this petty stupid stuff all people have on Obama?

Posted by: Kimberly | April 9, 2008, 11:47 am 11:47 am

… and Hillary and Bill are looking for ‘more black people’.
Politics never change…

Posted by: kathryn | April 9, 2008, 11:47 am 11:47 am

And it is wrong of you ABC to try to indicate with your headline that Michelle Obama herself said this – SHE DID NOT SAY THIS!
One of her staff was quoted by a third party source to have said it.
Obama 08!

Posted by: David | April 9, 2008, 11:47 am 11:47 am

Jenny – you’re absolutely right. But, as history of this primary attests, Obama is doing just fine, and not even wins in PA, KY and IN can save the disillusioned wench.

Posted by: SoThereJenny | April 9, 2008, 11:47 am 11:47 am

The Obama people have basically said: “We hate white people and the United States but vote for Obama anyway.”
Good luck folks, I needed a laugh this morning.

Posted by: jijalagi | April 9, 2008, 11:49 am 11:49 am

Why would anyone expect anything better from the obama campaign? His campaign is scripted and staged. He is scripted and staged. Everything that obama is doing is phony, everything his wife is doing is not only phony, but an attempt at intimidation.
Anyone voting for obama is foolishly throwing away a precious vote.
In the event of obama’s stealing the presidential election, John McCain will be elected president. Hussein Obama has not chance.
We need more white people indeed. How about if either of the other candidates stated that they need more blacks in the background, how fast would obama jump on that and play the race card along with the victim card.
Drop out obama you are embarrassing the nation. Race Card and Race Victim, great qualifications to run the United States. Give us all a break.

Posted by: Lou | April 9, 2008, 11:50 am 11:50 am

I’m voting “none of the above” again.

Posted by: Bill Smith | April 9, 2008, 11:50 am 11:50 am

There are only a few ways Hillary and Obama differ.
Hillary is a women, and has arguably been playing the sexism card a lot. And Obama is half-black and arguably been playing the racism card a lot. Supporters of both sides would argue their their candidate has not been playing this card but that their opponent has been using it against them. So either way, nobody should allow sex or race issues, or comments and reports relating to this influence their decision.
Hillary has more experience than Obama. I dont know why experience matters so much to everyone. George W Bush was considered to be experienced and im sure most people who have commented in this forum would have made a better president than Bush. I would consider experience detrimental to a candidate because it generally means they have been in washington long enough to become a representative of special interests. Note that Hillary, while having raised less money than obama, has proportionally recieved WAY more from special interest groups and not individuals. And I hope that everyone here would recognize that someone that represents special interests generally is a the type of candidate that would do something like invade Iraq.
Obama was against the Iraq war. To me this seems to be the thing that differentiates the candidates more than anything. Obama has proven that he will make the right decision rather than the popular one, whereas hillary has shown that she lacks clear judgement entirely. Because either she recognized that is was a bad idea and supported it because it was popular. Which is dangerous. Or she actually thought that invading iraq was a good idea, which is even more dangerous. Anyone with the slightest bit of understanding bout the world and the middle east in 2002 knew that invading iraq was completely idiotic and that we would end up where we are now.
Finally, all you Hillary supporters. It’s fine if you support her, but I hope you will vote for Obama this fall. Hillary won’t and can’t win the nomination. Even if she wins PA, Idaho etc. If you look at the numbers, Hillary has to convince almost every superdelegate left to choose her if she wants to win the nomination. Obama only has to convince about half. And in the past 6 weeks Obama has recieved a bunch of endorsements and hillary almost none. And she doesnt have a strong enough argument to win over all the superdelegates. She doesnt even have the popular vote… and the way the polls are changing in PA, she wont be able to win the popular vote. This means that even more of her superdelegates will defect.
To you Obama supporters. Don’t get too excited about the rest of the primaries unless your state has yet to vote. Only some serious error, or sacrilegious story about obama could end his nomination. But so far he has shown that quite a bit of immunity to attacks and criticism. The worst that has happened to him is that his ex-pastor said some bad things, or maybe that hillary ran a 3 AM add. You can dig up way more dirt on hillary. So just watch the primaries and enjoy, cuz obama will win.

Posted by: thoughts.... | April 9, 2008, 11:50 am 11:50 am

So, this is news why??
That’s how every TV channel does things (believe me I should know…)
@tejasoutlaw: Oh that’s right, the Clinton machinery is NOT DECEPTIVE… hahaha…
OBAMA promises real change and will deliver on it, as he is the only presidential candidate who does not take money from lobbyists!
I don’t care what color you are, black, white, brown, even green: Let’s all come together this year and vote OBAMA into office! He is the only candidate who will bring about CHANGE!
OBAMA ’08

Posted by: outragious008 | April 9, 2008, 11:51 am 11:51 am

Jenny
Michelle Obama also said, “America is just downright mean.” Everyone said she hated America. Ummm … did you happen to see the video of the little girl being repeatly beaten by her schoolmates. That happens everyday, so the kids who did it, their parents who are justifying it, the media who replays the video over and over, yes, America is downright mean.

Posted by: Belly | April 9, 2008, 11:52 am 11:52 am

P.S.-Barack Obama is half white. He is not a racist. What is wrong with the people on this blog? As far as his crazy church, his church is 8,000 members strong and he {Wright} has been praised by the Clintons and invited to the White House by them. Rev. Wright is an AMERICAN VETERAN! Why don’t some of you learn the truth and stop trying to smear him. He hasn’t smeared Hillary or McCain. All of you could learn from OBAMA!

Posted by: Kimberly | April 9, 2008, 11:52 am 11:52 am

All of you who claim to know “this kind of thing” goes on in every campaign (Obama supporters, evidently) are once again rationalizing for yor candidate. HOW do you know every rally is staged? or are you just reacting because your man gets some negative coverage? It’s really pathetic because we ALL know, if this was said about the Clinton campaign, you’d NEVER let us forget it! Seeing Obama at the Petraeus hearings yesterday brought on a little deja vu: his little swagger around the event looked exactly like the thing Georgie Bush did (does) and we know how THAT turned out. I also must say that of the three candidates, Obama (like Bush) looked the most unpresidential and inexperienced. When questioning Petraeus, his remarks could have come from any high school newspaper editor – not commanding or knowledgeable at all. Like Hilary says, we’ve seen this before with Bush and now we want to do it again?!!

Posted by: druggstohr | April 9, 2008, 11:52 am 11:52 am

Aston….Obama is against the 2nd Amendment, the right to bear arms. Thats why he will lose in Pa.

Posted by: david from texas | April 9, 2008, 11:53 am 11:53 am

LOVE THE SKIN YOU IN….
and go to work people!!!!
stop complaining about this issue…
We are all part of the human family…
say something kind to someone who does not look like you…..and see how you will become better……

Posted by: tony | April 9, 2008, 11:53 am 11:53 am

Holly cow! Someone raise Rosa Parks from the Dead and let her know who wants people to sit in the back if they aint white.The Asian community as well as the true African American community are owed an apology by the Obama campaign. and stop reversing the charges. This time you’re caught in flagrant offence.Discrimination. the Obama campaingn are confusing real life and movie making. Fire your director.

Posted by: ruthmatters | April 9, 2008, 11:55 am 11:55 am

I love the latest slip up see….that is what happens when even you have no experience coordinating a political rally. We in the Clinton side are just sitting back just waiting for another mistake to happen and in which it did.
“We Need More White People!”
Remember people every little political story will count from here on end.
Go Hillary Go !!!!!

Posted by: Raymond | April 9, 2008, 11:55 am 11:55 am

Let us see if MSNBC and CNN will run this controversy 24/7 just like they run any the controversy re Sen Clinton.
May “karma” befall those who promote injustice.

Posted by: politicsIsdirty | April 9, 2008, 11:56 am 11:56 am

To Kimberly…..
P.S.-Barack Obama is half white. He is not a racist. What is wrong with the people on this blog?
So, does this make Obama an “Oreo”? Chocolate on the outside, white on the inside? lol…be for real!

Posted by: jack | April 9, 2008, 11:57 am 11:57 am

What’s wrong with some people?
Obama is as white as he is black. Why do people prefer to focus on his black side?
Can’t we just rise above this racial level?

Posted by: Geldo | April 9, 2008, 11:58 am 11:58 am

Everyone here making comments need to check their grammar and spelling. America is a supposedly free country, so let it be. We really need to here all this stuff so we know where you all stand. I am praying for you all. MUCH LUV ooh! and, OBAMA in “08″!

Posted by: RITA | April 9, 2008, 11:59 am 11:59 am

It’s funny because Obama scripts his campaign, Hillary is re-inventing herself on a nearly daily basis, and Bush is the ultimate in scripting except from seeing his speechs he lacks the ability to even deliver a script.
I’ll give McCain,Obama and Hillary credit. At least they can read the words on the page and it isn’t “my pet goat”.
Other than that I am not sure I really see the difference anymore.
McCain want to keep troops there for “100 yrs”. Obama says he’d pulled them tomorrow and Hillary is waiting for the latest poll.
Reality is that they will have to come down slowly over the next few years. No matter what they say reality on the ground is what matters. There is an awful lot of oil in Iraq and a large potential the mess will spread across borders where there is even more oil. That is the reality whether we like it or not. Idealism is lovely but it doesn’t heat the house or move the car.

Posted by: sillyreally | April 9, 2008, 12:01 pm 12:01 pm

Everyone here making comments need to check their grammar and spelling. America is a supposedly free country, so let it be. We really need to hear all this stuff so we know where you all stand. I am praying for you all. MUCH LUV ooh! and, OBAMA in “08″!

Posted by: RITA | April 9, 2008, 12:02 pm 12:02 pm

Hey Jake, maybe you should mention in your article that all the campaigns do this instead of just trying to smear Michell Obama, hmmm? The same thing was said about Bill Clinton in South Carolina. If you looked behind him on TV he was surrounded by African Americans but when the camera panned to the audience it was a sea of white faces. All of the campaigns carefully select audience members to stand behind the speaker so that CSPAN has a nice diverse backdrop.

Posted by: Disapointed | April 9, 2008, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

this article is worthless. they do this at every political event. if you don’t think everyone is trying look diversified you’re an idiot. don’t blame obama or clinton or mccain. this is just a worthless shock media ploy on a slow news day for people who want to make race a bigger deal than it is.

Posted by: dan | April 9, 2008, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

Why WOULDN’T they want more whites? As a matter of fact, I think it is fantastic that a candidate of color is intent on bringing all races together. GO OBAMA!

Posted by: dano | April 9, 2008, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

Bagthebillster,
Name one thing that Obama has done politically. Something that he voted for. Not just something he said.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 12:03 pm 12:03 pm

Neither Obama nor McCain will ever have my vote. I am sick to death of the media’s bias against Hillary. ABC has done nothing but promote Obama and tear down Hillary in every way possible (thanks Lou Dobbs for calling out the media on this!), but Obama cannot win in November. If he gets the nomination and loses to McCain, then people will deserve what they are stuck with for choosing Obama in the first place.

Posted by: Cardsgal | April 9, 2008, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm

Obama should bring his Mr. Wright to convince Pennsylvanians that they need more white people. To reseat people to place a white face behind his wife??????? This is pathetic, beyond phony.

Posted by: boneheaded, chicago | April 9, 2008, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm

Obama’s association over a twenty year period to a black liberation theology based church says he is not really interested in diversity. The premise of black liberation theology is whites are bad , blacks are superior to whites and blacks should ultimately overthrow the white establishment. Read the writings of the founder of black liberation theology, James Cone, for more info on this subject. In any case, Mrs. Obama’s attempt to appear that she is interested in “diversity” by placing some “typical white people” behind her podium, is just window dressing as in reality if she and her husband really believed in diversity they would not have been a member of Rev. Wright’s church for twenty years. A church that loudly expounds the teachings of black liberation theology.

Posted by: Garfield | April 9, 2008, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm

Dana,
So it is ok to move an Asian to put in a white?
How is that diverse?

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm

I heard that the real story is that the Asian was really tall and seated in front a white midget. The re-seating was done for courtesy as the munchkin couldn’t see.

Posted by: WhatReallyHappened | April 9, 2008, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm

That’ll never happen but we won’t be staying at home! We’ll be at McCain’s!

Posted by: Jim | April 9, 2008, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm

All campaigns “stage” diversity for video shoots. The people are AT THE EVENT, they just need to set up the shot. This is how it works. Nice try though. An no where was the word “typical” in these statements.

Posted by: JJ | April 9, 2008, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm

I support Obama all the way! But this is funny, and I can see how this will just feed fuel to anti Obama nuts. May be Obama should just keep Michelle at home until he is elected in November lol!

Posted by: IndieVisible | April 9, 2008, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm

Why do white people go and sit in these Obama meetings? His grandmother whom i thought was insulted by Obama by being reffered to as “typical white person”.
Now her grand mother has come in an ad of his. How low can she fall? I am sure most of the white people care more for obama’s grandmom than obama himself.
Obama is just cheating her by saying he loves her. We need to make sure that she gets this message. This is very important so that we can make hillary win. This is one of the most important issues in an important race like a presidency race.

Posted by: Sandy | April 9, 2008, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm

What does Obama expect, he has disowned his white mother and white grandmother by his membership in and all black, African centered, racist church.
1. Obama did NOT disown his white mother or his grandmother.
2. His church isn’t racist. White people worship there.
Either you don’t know what you’re talking about or you’re lying. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and go with you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm

News flash people. This goes on everywhere with every candidate. Anytime they get national coverage trust me the people you see behind the candidate were chosen for a exact subliminal message it sends to the viewers. Bring on the real news not this B.S. about the color of somebody’s skin.

Posted by: m | April 9, 2008, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm

What’s wrong with some people?
Obama is as white as he is black. Why do people prefer to focus on his black side?
Can’t we just rise above this racial level?

Posted by: Geldo | April 9, 2008, 12:13 pm 12:13 pm

Can anyone tell me anything about Obama’s relationship with Father Michael Pfleger? I’d really like to know. Thanks.

Posted by: Just curious | April 9, 2008, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm

This is outrageous and racist,of course no one will pay any attention since the media is all in the tank with Obama.His arrogant speech on his “foreign policy”experience,double standards on Iraq,NAFTA wink wink,Rezko land deals,poor judgement on Wright,non existent work as a senator since he was too busy running for president,political expediency in the IllINOIS LEGISLATURE have all been forgotten and forgiven behind a huge smoke screen.Voters are clearly seeing through this but it may be too late.

Posted by: vik | April 9, 2008, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm

…NO..no don’t reseat them, just throw them under the bus like Obama did to his grandma!

Posted by: Alex | April 9, 2008, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm

A Fixed Election. Obama claims that he is transparent more than other candidates, yet the records from his tenure in the Illinois State Senate have not been made available to the public because of the on-going trial with his criminal, political friend, Mr. Rezko?

Posted by: Anne | April 9, 2008, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm

Obama’s grand mother is weak. I am disgusted by the news that she is campaigning for obama.
Anyways why cant people vote for the most qualified person? Hillary?
Go hillary.

Posted by: matt | April 9, 2008, 12:18 pm 12:18 pm

Yes and if Hillary said, ” We need more black people?” Oh the media would be in an uproar and it would be the headline story.

Posted by: mona | April 9, 2008, 12:19 pm 12:19 pm

Calling All White Folks: Obama’s Rainbow Coalition

We need more white people from Political Punch reports that this goes beyond Barack Obama’s campaign poll numbers when broken out by different voting blocks – but that it extends as well to seating arrangements at events to max out

Posted by: PAXALLES | April 9, 2008, 12:20 pm 12:20 pm

Marie -
It’s okay that 97% of the blacks in Maryland said they voted for Obama because he’s black?! Who are the racists?!

Posted by: Linda Mahoney | April 9, 2008, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm

mona -
The only time Mrs. Clinton says ‘we need more black people’ is when the help is short at the Clinton mansion.
Obama 08

Posted by: sotheremona | April 9, 2008, 12:21 pm 12:21 pm

The Asian asked to move has been named…Roy-san Parks… no BS

Posted by: itstru | April 9, 2008, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm

We need hillary to win. Obama is going to make a worse president than george bush. I read forums where people said he will kittens when he goes to white house. I wouldnt be surprised.

Posted by: mike | April 9, 2008, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm

All elections try to show a wide diversity of people that viewers can see to represent them. Grow up.

Posted by: Kim | April 9, 2008, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm

To say you “Need More White People” in my opinion is to be honoring White Folks who are attending their rallys. And, I’d like to say congratulations to all white people who are looking to seek the best and ignoring color. CONGRATULATIONS YOU DESERVE THE SEATING PREFERENCE!!

Posted by: Jerry | April 9, 2008, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm

To say you “Need More White People” in my opinion is to be honoring White Folks who are attending their rallys. And, I’d like to say congratulations to all white people who are looking to seek the best and ignoring color. CONGRATULATIONS YOU DESERVE THE SEATING PREFERENCE!!

Posted by: Jerry | April 9, 2008, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm

What about panama John’s “Free Ride Lobbiest Express”?

Posted by: BlueJersey | April 9, 2008, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm

For the person that said he feels that “Blacks are waaaay more racist than Whites.” I wonder why that is. With that being said, Obama is far from a racist, and so is Clinton, and McCain. If anyone could even be considered someone racist would be McCain for his vote against MLK being a holiday, even then people change, they see things differently as time passes. I don’t feel that he is a racist. I’m tired of all the race discussions. Yes his pastor said some racially motivated things, but in my opinion they still were not racists. He honestly spoke from his heart. This country has been run on the thought that white is right for the longest time. He was definitely racially enraged during those clips. But he’s right, white people haven’t had to endure what our people had to endure. They weren’t taken from their homes and made into slaves, and afterwards released into the woods with no way to survive (figuratively speaking). The placed into ghettos like animals in a cage, because they had to do something with them. I’m well aware that things aren’t like that now, but people still harbor those feelings. Most of us have been told these stories by our grandparents that lived in the 50′s and 60′s. Many of you may have forgotten those times, becuase it didn’t play a major part of your life. What I don’t understand is why whites still hate blacks. Our people didn’t do this to your people, they did it to ours. This is like telling a rape victim to get over it. Its like telling a rape victims parents that its time to forget. It doesn’t happen like that. Imagine if the roles were reversed. Imagine if your child was raped and urinated on and the person that did it walked out of the court room without setting foot in a jail. Imagine if your brother/sister were killed and hung and people partied around them. Yes it’s time to get past it, but it is still going to take time. We as adults need to start promoting love of everyone, no matter what. This is what i was taught in my home by my parents. I don’t even allow my children to describe a person by race or color. I learned this by a white teacher in Tennessee when i was 4th grade (I’m now 30yo) it has stuck with me all of my life. The race of a person doesn’t matter. But it still doesn’t mean we cannot be educated about it. Instead of getting fired up by Mr. Wright’s words take a moment to actually think about what he said actually take them in. These times were over 50year ago, but in retrospect that is not that long ago, when it comes the pain and agony and suffering that those people endured. IN AMERICA no other people suffered the way blacks did, IN AMERICA.

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm

What’s newsworthy about an advance person doing his/her job, i.e., arranging for an appearance of racial/ethnic diversity behind the speaker. “Pretty,” in this case, meant diverse. No news here.
Here’s news: Hillary Clinton’s talk of opposing the Columbian Free Trade deal is suspect and then some: Bill Clinton is raking in hundreds of thousands (if not
millions) by supporting it. She’s enjoying life on this windfall — while campaigning as an opponent of the deal. Yeah, sure.

Posted by: peggy bruton | April 9, 2008, 12:31 pm 12:31 pm

This is just another example of the reverse racist, double standard that the media has allowed Obama to get away with, and has even tried to cover up to help him. If anyone on Hilary’s staff said “We need more black people” that swine Chris Matthews would be talking about it for an hour on his “I Love Obama Show.” I live in PA, and let me assure you, the USA Today Poll is much more accurate than the skewed polls the media outlets want you to believe. Isn’t it funny how in every state they try to say Obama is catching Hilary, when the results come out, it turns out he didn’t gain at all on her – OH, CA, and NH. The same thing will happen in PA.

Posted by: Tom | April 9, 2008, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm

i find it singularly amusing that the anti obama nuts feel they are qualified to judge a man with a law degree from harvard, one elected as the president of the harvard law review, a professor of constitutional law, one who has shown his organizational and management style by running an almost flawless campaign.
why don’t we start posting our credentials with our opinions<
mariannne thompson

Posted by: marianne thompson | April 9, 2008, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm

men are men and women are women, people are people. get rid of the labels please..as long as people label themselfs in groups we will always have have problems following directly behind the labeling.

Posted by: greazemonkey | April 9, 2008, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm

Lieing and cheating does not make
a “flawless” campaign.
I’ve never been less proud of this
country.

Posted by: bob | April 9, 2008, 12:38 pm 12:38 pm

I can’t believe that I live in a country that is so torn by race still. From all of the posts I have read in this blog, sadly race is still an issue in America. It’s been over 40 years since the Civil Rights movement in the sixties and I thought we were past this. I wasn’t even thought of yet. All of us here live in the freest and most hated country in this world. We have opportunities here that the other 6.5 billion people on this earth don’t. Every one of us takes this for granted. We don’t realize the freedoms we have. If you are willing to work hard for what you want, you have that opportunity in this country, and If your poor and want to change that for you and your family you can do that here. Of course you’re going to have to work extremely hard and make other sacrifices in your life to achieve your goals but that’s better than any other country in this world and at least you have that opportunity. I won’t be voting for either Obama or Clinton but it has nothing to do with the color of one’s skin or the sex of an individual running. It’s based on issues and my beliefs. I personally think that both of them are going to have an adverse effect on this country. I say we as the people of the United States take power the power that our government has and put it back where it belongs and was intended to be by our founding father’s, WITH THE PEOPLE! Both Obama and Clinton are Socialists that want to empower government and make you all believe that the government is the answer to everything. It’s not and the more we as the people of this country let this happen the closer we become to fading into the past……

Posted by: Chris | April 9, 2008, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm

as a black female supporter of hillary
Obama has run on being a uniter
someone saying the old way of politics is over-and he is bring something new
because the people want change.
But the obamas have been the most divisive black people I have seen in a long time.
Yes, we need to address the question of race in this country-but not with it being peppered with the likes of rev. wright-we do not need their kind of uniting.
Now to the comment about the clintons and hiring black people in their mansion
I have found over all the years-and I am 53-the clintons seem to have a healthy and quite correct attitude toward race relations. they have tried to help when they could. They do not live in a mansion-and I would bet you if they employee black people at their house-and you could talk to the people yo would find they are treated fair-and do not feel taken advantage of.
It is a shame how fickle black people haave become during this election-not vetting obama enough, spitting back in the clintons face the goodwill they have tried to show to black people.
what bill clinton said in sc was not racist. but the obama people and the media made it so.
I have been at public staged events before-and I can assure you Michelle obama knew the staffer would be saying such as she said about needing more white people
If the obamas were the uniters they claim they are-they would not be needing to have more white people-their message would naturally have people of all colors there.
and now since I have heard they are calling for needing more white people
the obamas must know that black people are voting for them blindly-and not asking anything of them-or vetting them at all-and this is right-because they just want the votes-but to me it smacks at politics as usual-they don’t care how they get the votes just get them.
the obamas are not ready to be the first family of this country
and shame on the people who put them up to this-when our country is in the shape that it is in.
and Just as hillary has been saying all along-this is not a game
but axelrod, dean, kerry, bradley and co
have made it so.

Posted by: jgaw | April 9, 2008, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm

So you are telling me that whites don’t hate blacks? A don’t take out of context what I mean either. What about that man that was chained to a truck and dragged in Jasper, Texas. I’m not saying that blacks don’t hate whites, but don’t say to me that whites don’t hate blacks. If you really believe that, your as stupid as they get, or just blind and deaf. People on both sides still teach hate of the other people, and only we as adults can begin a change by teaching our children.

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm

If Hillary or one of her staffers would have made such an outlandish statement; obama supporters would have crucified her. Get real.

Posted by: I love the rain | April 9, 2008, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm

What if you were not responsible for any of this. Not even your ancestors were yet you were told you were evil and held down the black people. What if that is all a load of BS to you because you can trace your family back and they held no part in slavery. Some were not even in the country befire the 20th century!
I ask you, why should I be held responsible? Why should I be told I am evil and caused all this?
Jesse Jackson and Al sharpton are now doing something to me by telling me I am at fault. By saying I owe blacks something because I am white? That is RACIST. You have lumped me into a group that I am NOT associated with because of my skin color/race!

Posted by: John | April 9, 2008, 12:48 pm 12:48 pm

race is NOT the issue – Obama just
raises it whenever somebody points
out his weaknesses…. Only racists
talk about racism so much!

Posted by: bob | April 9, 2008, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm

Flawless campaing?
Well maybe he should get a job as a campaign manager for someone.
He is not qualified to be president.
Just because I did not go to Harvard does not make me a blind idiot.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm

Jgaw – excellent description of the real Obama and his surrogates. Thank you.

Posted by: bpatz3 | April 9, 2008, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm

Someone posted: “At Hillary events there’ll be ‘we need more black people’ whispers everywhere, and so we still see black people backing her up as she speaks. Which is much more interesting, for they are hardly to be found among her voters anymore…”
So color *is* making the choice rather than charecter, deed, and to do lists.
It’s all marketing. All of it. Makes for a very difficult decision.

Posted by: jakz | April 9, 2008, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm

Asian, actually my ancestors were dragged over here in chains in the bowls of a fowl-smelling slave ship.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm

as for the media allowing obama to ‘get away with’ anything.
fact: obama has won 28 states, has 132 more delegates and is ahead in the popular vote but the media acts like this is a dead heat… who is getting the preferential treatment?
if the situation was reversed he would NOT get the time of day.

Posted by: marianne | April 9, 2008, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm

You should just listen to yourselves-articles like this just bring out the worst in everyone! We need the media to stay on task – the issues! We cannot afford a divided America, this is a critical election! We are all Americans!
We need to focus on the war,economy, jobs, inflation, recession, education, healthcare, social securtiy, our borders and homeland security! While you are all calling each other names our country is going to hell. We need to work together if we are going to salvage our nation for the next generation! We have already handed them a 2 trillion dollar debt and the support of the baby boomers! Get it together folks or their won’t be anything left to fight over.

Posted by: white mountain | April 9, 2008, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm

Any of these candidates are electable but because Obama’s campaign is full of special interest money he will win the election, by purchasing it. The Obama campaign mastermind runs a media company – AKP Media. He also runs a Public Opinion Company ASK Public Strategies. The media company has relations with plenty of Lobbyists, Corporations and Politicians. The website spells it out. The Public Opinion group knows all about how to sway public opinion. You put the two together and you’ve got yourself the next President of the United States. We are a country feeding off of reality tv. We prefer things handed to us. We like to hear certain words, spoken to us a certain way. The words sound appealing. It’s a brilliant campaign, the candidate has no substance, but the words are spoken eloquently.

Posted by: Joe Brown | April 9, 2008, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm

Obama did not “win” those states
he manipulated the caucus process.

Posted by: bob | April 9, 2008, 12:56 pm 12:56 pm

If that was directed at me, it wasn’t my attempt to put you in a category. My point was directed to the person that said that blacks were more racist than whites. I know that everyone didn’t play a role in that time. My point was to say that people still teach hate off all blacks, and of all whites. My other point was to make people understand that it doesn’t just go away like that. People can’t just make blanket statements without actually understading where it comes from.

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 12:57 pm 12:57 pm

Dina-lee – it does not matter..you think you are better than us because speak, spell better and have a better comman of the English language. I’m sorry but do you know another language? Some of these people that you are insulting because of their grammar are multilingual.

Posted by: asianamerican | April 9, 2008, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm

It doesnt matter what happens in this election, the turn out will not be without drama. if Obama loses, somone will throw a “black card” and if Hillary loses somone will throw the “femanist card” and if McCaine wins it’ll be “whitey wins again”. and honestly i don’t believe either Hillary nor Obama are fit for the position. this is only my opinion of course.

Posted by: greazemonkey | April 9, 2008, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm

I don’t understand the double standard.
Black’s can be mad at whites for the events of the past, but whites can’t be mad about blacks actions today?
It’s just rediculas.
Most of us are just trying to make a living and raise our kids black, white, yellow, or brown.
I do have eyes and can see the problems.
The problems in the poor communities has more to do with economics then race.
I know there are a lot of blacks in this category, but there are more and more whites moving into those neighborhoods because of ecomomic and social issues like drugs.
Which brings up my point.
Some of the problems for blacks are brought on by their own actions.
No one put that pipe to their lips, they did. I am not lumping any group into this. I am pointing out the larger issue here. Not one race is responsible for how screwed up things are. Responsibility needs to be taken on all sides.
I am discouraged that it seems almost all the black vote is going to one candidate because of his color. I don’t think this helps the cause, though I believe many black voters do.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 1:01 pm 1:01 pm

Anyone who selects a preacher like his and sticks with him definitely does not have the same views on life as most of us.

Posted by: jakz | April 9, 2008, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm

help wanted: full time As United States President No experience necessary. will train. Good salary and all expenses paid. Apply within

Posted by: ruthmatters | April 9, 2008, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm

Obama looked utterly incompetant during yesterday’s Senate hearing.
He looked like, well he looked like a junior Senator.
Now, he’s got his grandmother in a television ad he’s running in PA.
Whatever works I guess.

Posted by: sherr | April 9, 2008, 1:08 pm 1:08 pm

White mountain,
this is an issue because Obama made it an issue.
He has stated hundreds of times he would not use the same old political ploys to get votes. It would be on merrit. This is more proof that his words are just words.
Had he not tried to put himself above the frey this would not be an issue.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm

Obama will never win and one of the main reasons is Michelle Obama. She will have to be locked up until Nov 4 for him to have a chance to win. I have not checked any of the other news outlets but I imagine this is the only one reporting this. Thanks Jake for doing your job.

Posted by: Tina D | April 9, 2008, 1:10 pm 1:10 pm

I’LL be watching for this story on the EVENING NEWS!! HAHA!!!!

Posted by: Richard | April 9, 2008, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm

tejas,
I understand what you are saying, but you really have to look at the percentages. While I too agree that blacks are voting for Obama because he’s black. However, remember blacks are the third majority in this country (NOW) 50% of blacks don’t even give a damn about voting, 10% are republicans. I’m not sure the split but then you have to consider the split between he and Hillary. Somebody has to make up the rest of those votes. People really believe in him whether. And alot of them (the white vote) are understanding that people don’t change their churchs because a pastor said something stupid. They also understand that people have different views. For someone to change churces, is almost like giving up your GOD. He’s not racist and most people know that, those people are just attempting to sway other people’s votes. I believe in him, not because he’s black, but because with the way this country is going, we need a different face. That is also the reason I also support Hillary. I think they both will be a great face lift for this great nation. I’m not a blind Dem follower, I’m more of a moderate. I do believe though we need a Dem in office to fix our country.

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 1:11 pm 1:11 pm

White males for Obama,
Did you see yesterdays article by this guy.
Obama groupies where all over the fact Bill and Hillary are on different sides of the fence on an issue.
I had never seen more hateful comments on any blog.
Your just a day off.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm

rick your comment is correct-an as a black woman I cannot stand the thought of rev. wright visiting the white house after hearing some of what he preaches in church. I can just see the three of them in the white house-in their own privacy-laughing their heads off at how they pulled this one off.
________________________________________
and white males for obama
if you are for real-what you just said about the asians is shameful
and we can see what affect the uniting obamas have had on you and your group.
please._
_______________________________________
solve the economic problem and you wil begin to solve the race problem
and only hillary has a plan to solve the economic problem
obama only copies.

Posted by: jgaw | April 9, 2008, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm

I thought maybe one of the reasons we had not seen Michelle in a while is because she was attending charm school, but I guess not.

Posted by: Ken FL | April 9, 2008, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm

I’d like to see just how many pretty white people they were able to find. It’s not about race, right Michelle? LOL

Posted by: Deb in RI | April 9, 2008, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm

White males for Obama,
He was educated in the UK or somewhere similar. Americans drop the u in color. We do not spell colour, favour etc.
We use color and favor as the standard spelling for words such as that they do not in UK schools.

Posted by: SILLYREALLY | April 9, 2008, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm

Jason, I hear you, but I still don’t see how voting based on a race is going to help the situation. It seems that everyone wants to justify the racism.
I truly believe that if Obama truly believed this he would talk more like Bill Cosby and put more responsiblity and accountability on the minorities to make the right decesions. He has not done this because he I think he is afraid to lose their vote.
To me that is same old politics. If you don’t do something you should just to get votes it is the same as doing someting stupid like this article pointed out to get them.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm

herta is right. ALL politicians want to encourage undecided voters to believe people ‘just like them’ are already supporters. So they want a diverse crowd in the background of the photo shoots? Hardly news.
And yes, rainbows are pretty.

Posted by: Tom J | April 9, 2008, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm

African Americans for Hillary!!!
Plagiarized speeches don’t make presidents. You have to have convictions. Words don’t do it.

Posted by: SO | April 9, 2008, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm

Coe on Jason you said he shouldnt change churches because his paster said something stupib! Would you stay in a church if you found out it teaches commusist idealogy if you are not one or say you are not one? Rirard Wright the writer is the one who wrote those words GDA in his book “black boy”. Jeremiah Wright repeaded them in his sermon, learning from his fine collection of reading. Richard Wright was a known communist. He died in 1960 in France where he became a citizen there. So what you read influences your thinking does it not? and if youre willing to hear it for 20 years, well you got something to be debated. there.

Posted by: ruthmatters | April 9, 2008, 1:32 pm 1:32 pm

Re: African Americans for Hillary!!!
Plagiarized speeches don’t make presidents. You have to have convictions. Words don’t do it.”
LOL! How about lying about landing on an airstrip with your teenage daughter (on several occasions) under sniper gunfire and having to run for cover?

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm

It’s Carnegie Mellon without the hyphen, Jake…
Anyway, CARNEGIE MELLON FOR CLINTON ’08!!!

Posted by: observer | April 9, 2008, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm

Obama clearly needs more white people to win the general election. His problem with whites is why he loses in head to head match-up polls with McCain in states like PA, OH and FL, while Hillary Clinton beats McCain in these same match-ups.
I doubt that Obama can overcome the problem. Particularly since he started his campaign be promising to transcend racial divisions and the proved to be a huge hypocrite on the issue. You can call me typical..you can even call me pretty, but this white person will never buy what Obama is selling.

Posted by: NJH | April 9, 2008, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm

All the people who know Reverend Wright say he’s not a racist, nor does he hate America.
Who are you going to believe, the people that have known him for years, or Rush Limbaugh and anonymous bloggers?

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm

Bagthebiller:
He did what was politically useful to him. I would say that is a negative except that all of the candidates have done it on one issue or another.
Throwing people under the bus is a very common political campaign strategy family or not. Nothing new there unfortunately.

Posted by: sillyreally | April 9, 2008, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm

Tejas
I agree with you 100% minorities should develop a more independent attitude (like mine). And you are right again about listening to Bill Cosby more than Sharpton and Jesse Jackson(I added those). As far as voting again you are right blacks should not vote because he is black. No my turn to be right! People shouldn’t not vote for him because he is Black also. I’m not going to do the numbers because I don’t have a clue, but I’m sure there are just as many people for him because he’s black as there are people not for him because of that same reason. There was a poll done that said that 28% of Hillary supporters would vote McCain if he wins versus only 15-17% if Hillary wins. I don’t understand this. Their plans and policies differ only minimally. I’m not saying all or even most are doing it because because he’s black, but I’m sure there’s a pretty good number. As far as blacks. Most blacks actually like Clinton. And in the beginnin most blacks said that they wouldn’t vote for Obama because, America wouldn’t support a black man against a white man. Obviously that has changed because many white Americans have been actually supporting him.

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm

Aren’t Asian (along with Hispanic) people the reason Obama lost in California?

Posted by: John | April 9, 2008, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm

Well Hillary Clinton does the exact same thing all the time with ‘black people’ for her photo ops and rallies. Whenever you see her photo ops and rallies she makes sure she has that one or two token blacks right behind her, or even on stage with her, it’s just she doesn’t let you hear her say that, or her campaign.

Posted by: RuthieM | April 9, 2008, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm

President Carter said the biggest issue in this country is not the race divide, it is the economic divide. While a number of contributors have voiced their racial views, the major oil companies are jacking up the price another few cents. While the writers are spending time commenting on each other racial the presidents of the oil companies are counting how much money is in their account. While we are trying to figure out if the candidates are racist, the presidents of the mortgage companies are looking for another hand out from Congress.
People get a clue

Posted by: Darryl | April 9, 2008, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm

Hey White male “THIS IS AMERICA…FREE AMERICA WHERE PEOPLE CAN EXPRESS THEIR FEELING AND THOUGHTS.
You are conflicted with your own statement. This is a free country and I can say what I believe in! Why you are so angry about this? Get over it! I said the real facts from my own community and the true hurts right? Don’t worry, we already voted for Hillary. We went door to door to pick up our people to go the voting places, we helped to register for the ones who never vote before and many more..so don’t need to tell us what to do!

Posted by: Asian | April 9, 2008, 1:55 pm 1:55 pm

ruthmatters
I personally don’t care what church he goes to. What I care about is that I know he doesn’t share those views that the Rev. shares. And if you think that because you’ve seen the video of the Revs rant, you know what he says everyday in his church you have problems. Its church, not a black panther party. I’m not religious, and I’m one that believes church should be separate from politics. The mormons didn’t even allow black people in their religion for crying out loud. But alot of people support Mitt Romney. So honestly I could careless about religion. All that matters to me is how we can make this country better. I believe everyone’s religion is right and wrong. I won’t chose a religion because religion is Way Too Hypocritical.

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm

The Obama campaign has written its own epithet, if not for the primaries, definitely for the general election.

Posted by: rs | April 9, 2008, 1:58 pm 1:58 pm

WE needs more white folks, and there ain’t no black folk in Iowa, just now proud to be an American… I thought Obama had Michelle locked up and duck taped in his basement..what an idiot!

Posted by: Mark | April 9, 2008, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm

Hey Lauren,
Michelle and Obama know what it is like to pay a mortgage. oH yes for there very very pricy house which there thief of a friend helped them buy because Obama went to seek his advise on buying a house. If Obama doesn’t know how to buy a house what is he doing running for President. If you read Michelle’s thesis – the theme is very angry and racist. My stomach turns when ever I look or hear her big mouth. No thanks – I will not vote for Obama ever. He is too much of a divider and he calls that race card everytime he need to play it. Just like that race speech which should be called save my own as#! speech.

Posted by: Frank- South Hampton | April 9, 2008, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm

jgaw:
Mormons since sometime in the 70s I think have allowed African americans to join. I don’t think as a whole they have been encouraging it, but they no longer actively refuse it. Not that that is a great endorsement.
I live in MA. Romney had pluses and minuses. I am a life long Dem, but voted for him for gov of MA. I would not have done so for President, mostly because he remade himself from one extreme(liberal to moderate Rep) to the right wing Republican candidate. It tells me he goes where the wind blows him and will do what he needs to win only.

Posted by: sillyreally | April 9, 2008, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm

Well here in Pa Hillary is doing really well and guess what OBama is going to need more white people to win Pa. and if you see him in the high school in Bristol it is because that is were most AA go to school so thier will be white people needed.To stage it I went to a Hillary rally in Ga and they staged it also Pa. is much like Ohio

Posted by: Bishop | April 9, 2008, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm

Is it a fair question to ask Michelle Obama :
If a white person DOESN’T support your husband….do you feel the same rage as your Rev.Wright ( AKA Obama’s surrogate Uncle,) towards that white person?….
or has your hatred for any race different from yours subsided with all that money that you are making now…….
Money makes the race issue disappear….

Posted by: carpenter.nyc | April 9, 2008, 2:03 pm 2:03 pm

Everything is so RACIAL with the Obama’s; it’s sickening!!!

Posted by: Cindy | April 9, 2008, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm

I love it when all of these socialist Europeans chime in about our elections and that they support Obama. But let’s take a short trip over to Europe and check out their parliaments, their Prime Ministers, their cabinets, their Presidents, their POPULATION! ain’t no black folks to be seen! I lived in Europe for 8 years and talking about racists! Mississippi in 1950 ain’t got nothing on them

Posted by: Mark | April 9, 2008, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm

Mark, where speicifically did you live in Europe (a pretty large, diverse place) and could you be specific about racism? Thanks.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm

The double standards just keep going and going. Is it possible that this will be covered on MSNBC or CNN? If Obama is all about the politics of hope and change, why is his campaign the same old stuff, with extra racism and sexism added for offensiveness. Why the media continues to pander to this candidate is baffling, but there must be very big powers that be that want Obama as our next president, no matter what the “white”, “latino”, “asian”, “native american”, “jewish”, “catholic” and any other ethnicity thinks. Let’s see if the media covers the womens’ demonstration in Times Square Friday morning 8am. When will there be a debate focused on Womens’ Issues. There have been 20 debates, and how many, at least 5, were sponsored by African American interests. What about women?? Do the democrats think they will win in November without our votes?

Posted by: calli | April 9, 2008, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm

I liked the comment about Michelle being in charm school, she certainly could use some education from a charm school. How can they unite when they are so racist themselves?

Posted by: Kay | April 9, 2008, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm

Bagthebillster:
Interesting statistics. I would say it is almost too close to call in both cases. @ points difference is usually within margin of error. That seems to give McCain an advantage for both.
Both polls where ever the source have them both essentially even with McCain with a bit of an advantage to Obama.
A question no one has asked is what would the Republican machine do to Obama. We know what they would do to Hillary. How would they go after Obama? I have little doubt that they would play race whether explicitiy or implicity. How will Obama survive those attacks. He wants to play it clean. He’d better be prepared to get down and dirty because that is how Reps have fought in the last few elections.

Posted by: sillyreally | April 9, 2008, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm

calli – Perhaps the “powers-that-be” really want a McCain Administration so they promote the weaker candidate to ensure a McCain victory in November.

Posted by: MM | April 9, 2008, 2:20 pm 2:20 pm

Obama supporters are in for a rude awakeningif he gets elected.He and his wife are both hidden racist.As mu;ch as they try to hide it they slip up every now and then.

Posted by: roncraw | April 9, 2008, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm

Unless you’re brain dead, you’ve become aware that every campaign has learned to be very careful about who sits behind the candidate on national T.V. Remember the big one where they had McCain standing up with a bunch of really old geezers behind him? They don’t do that anymore do they? This is about television. This is why advertising agencies make so much money in this country. There was nothing wrong with being careful to fairly represent the diverse groups of America in the on television seating. The wording was unfortunate, but the fact was business as usual for all candidates and all campaigns everywhere.

Posted by: karela | April 9, 2008, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm

Kay said,
How can they unite when they are so racist themselves?
Prove that their racists, or stop lying.

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm

“Stop talking about Rev. Wright that’s the past. We are trying to get the country back on its feet.”
It is the Obamas always talking about the past. Excusing the hate and racism of those like Wright.

Posted by: geevill | April 9, 2008, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm

has anyone noticed that the clintons, mark penn, wolfson, et al. AND bush are all pushing for the columbian free trade deal?
anyone think that there is a bit of ‘complicity’ going on?
sure, hillary really cares about all those jobs going off shore.
the nafta queen speaks with ‘forKed tongue.
here we go again… i hope the voters in pa are smarter than those in ohio.

Posted by: marianne | April 9, 2008, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm

Excusing the hate and racism of those like Wright.
The people who know Reverend Wright say he’s not a racist. Stop slandering people you don’t know.

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm

Hey Bagthebillster:
George Allen who ran may beg to differ with that idea.
I doubt they would come out and be overtly insulting. There are ways to kill with kindness and play on people’s hidden subliminal fears. The ones no one will acknowledge but that everyone on either side has.
I would like to think you are right. I am not so sure that the subtle jab won’t do him great damage.
Hillary is easy because many people hate her and have no idea why.It is Ok to attack her. But Obama is much harder to attack but they will and I suspect it will be effective.

Posted by: sillyreally | April 9, 2008, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm

i remember all of those black people that voted for obama in iowa. oops, gee, um, that can’t be right… iowa is 94% white.
well now, i wonder… how did that happen?

Posted by: marianne thompson | April 9, 2008, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm

Aren’t we whiteys just having a grand time calling all those black folks “racist”!!!!! Great lines for the KKK!
Give me a break!
Obama 2008 — Yes, WE CAN!!!

Posted by: Jackt51 -- Vietnam Vet and Proud Liberal | April 9, 2008, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm

I don’t know why so many think that if you do not support OBAMA you are a racist. Did you ever think we just don’t believe one word he says? He is as slippery as they come, changes his message to fit each state, cries fowl like a child, pretends to be what he is not and lies on just about everything he is caught on.

Posted by: Bob | April 9, 2008, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm

Marianne,
Iowa was the first state, and many where fooled by his retorhic. I would like to see a vote there now.
Things have changed.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm

akaDad
I am a black person and I will tell you this
the obama have famous supporters that teach blacks should seperate from whites
here is one of obama’ prominent supporters quotes
“If I had one hour left to live-I would want to spend it with my hands aroung the throat of a white man-choking him to death”
another quote for you
“what we need to do is get rid of all this whitness-white people are the misery of the world”
now you judge for yourself
and I am sure in the ge when it comes out obama will do as he always does and say I never heard those comments or I am not aware of that.
the quotes were from rev.james cone
a collegue of rev. wright. all supporters of obama
now if you are white and you are ever at some function of obamas and you have a chance to stand and hold hands singing we shall over come-you can believe-if it is the hand of one of these guys followers-you can bet the overcoming you are singing about-will not be the overcoming they are singing about.
obama sure is a uniter. NOT

Posted by: jgaw | April 9, 2008, 2:40 pm 2:40 pm

Joe Brown-
If you watched the entire 2008 DNC Primary
scheduling voteinstead of just snippets from the internet, You’d see and hear that Kathleen Sullivan(Hillary Clinton supporter) Rep from NH spoke out against “front-loading” the primaries (against Nevada, S. Carolina and especially Michigan for voting early) and stated that Bill and Hillary Clinton supported her position (No early primaries); Stephanie Tubb Jones (Clinton supporter)
spoke out in favor of the DNC’s decision
to allow only Nev and SC to vote early and to penalize those who defied the schedule that passed with an overwhelming voice vote. Donna Brazile stuck by her guns with FL but repeatedly reminded the Rep from FL that the DNC would assist them in accomplishing a FL primary if they sheduled it on or after Feb 5 as agreed upon. BTW 100% of the FL state Dems voted for the early FL primary as well ( not just the Reps)– Just thought you;d like to know. Its clear to me that misinformation runs rampant among those who have convinced themselves to believe these despite all evidence to the contrary.
-posted by IntelliWhitFeminiWoman
-posted by IntelliWhitFeminiWoman

Posted by: Laura | April 9, 2008, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm

No one voted for Obama in Iowa. It was a caucus.

Posted by: geevill | April 9, 2008, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm

If the words Rev Wright used were said at a white meeting it would be called a klan meeting.

Posted by: roncraw | April 9, 2008, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm

jgaw, please provide the names an supporting documentation about the claims you make. Simply, it’s hogwash.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm

America is a racist society. Whether obama is a racist or hillary stirred up racism, it all transalates to the same thing – americans are easily divided over race.
Lot of countries in the world has women in power, minorities in power. Ofcourse americans wouldnt know that because they dont know japan from iraq.

Posted by: Royalcanadian | April 9, 2008, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm

Also jgaw, because you “claim” some goofball who support Obama, does that mean that this is what Obama believes? It’s simple and irresponsible of you to throw this garbage out there in a forum that’s already have crazed with racism.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm

dinalee
google rev. james cone
I agree it is hogwash and it will never unite this country.
this country needs someone who has been listening to a spiritual leader who teaches forgiveness and brotherly love
and self-determination, and accountability
obama is not accountable for any of his own remarks-and he certainly will not at first admit to hearing remarks such as those by his mentors.
james cone, and the black seperatist movement

Posted by: jgaw | April 9, 2008, 2:45 pm 2:45 pm

America is a racist society. Whether obama is a racist or hillary stirred up racism, it all transalates to the same thing – americans are easily divided over race.
Now that obama’s white grand mother has campaigned for him, it should be interesting to know how people who “loved” her more than obama react.

Posted by: Outsider | April 9, 2008, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm

jgaw
A colleague of Wright’s saying that makes Wright a racist? Has Wright said he hates white people? No.
I want the lies about Obamas, his church, and the Reverend to stop.

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm

The Obama summed up the end of the Obama campaign very well, and the end is near…

Posted by: rs | April 9, 2008, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm

I hear people claiming that Obama Complains and pulls the race card. Not once has he complained about anything that has been thrown at him. Not once has he pulled the race card. Anything that has not gone her way, Hillary has complained. Media, bias against her (look at this article and you tell me who this artcle is against, it sure insn’t Hillary). He was faced with a Racial issue in his own camp, what did he do, he faced it head up. He denounced what the Rev said in those short clips that the world has seen. Everyone waited to see if he would drop his church, and like a true man he didn’t. People have been calling for Clinton to quit, he flat out said that he welcomes her challenge. Just because he is black doesn’t mean he is going to pull the race card. He also isn’t going to cry foul when things don’t go his way. He has been straight up. The race card is being pulled by the people in this room, who can’t get past the point that he is black and he’s doing so well. Even if he doesn’t win, this great country has shown that WE THE PEOPLE ARE MOVING FORWARD, and that is a BEAUTIFUL THING. With that being said let us stand up and Give He and Hillary a Great Round of Applause because they truly deserve it. I LOVE BEING A DEM AND A DEM I WILL ALWAYS BE. DEMOCRATS FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT 4 YEARS I DON’T CARE WHO IT IS. AS LONG AS IT’S ONE OF THEM.

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm

dinalee
I assure rev. james cone is not considered a “goofball” in anyones book
and if you think he is you are just in denial.
What the obama people have done in my black community is shameful
I have heard and seen uniters
and I tell you
obama is no uniter
just another politician out for votes

Posted by: jgaw | April 9, 2008, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm

AKADAD,
How many racist remarks?
How many racist ralleys?
How many recist friends like Louis F.?
Just what is it you have to do be racist?
If your white like Bill or Ferraro it doesn’t seem to take much, but if your a black pastor in an all black church it takes more then what I mentioned above.
So do I have to live with the guy before I can make a judgement about him.
I will go ahead and make my judgement on what I have seen and heard, not what his friends tell me.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm

“jgaw
A colleague of Wright’s saying that makes Wright a racist? Has Wright said he hates white people? No.
I want the lies about Obamas, his church, and the Reverend to stop.”
Too bad. It’s not gonna stop. It’s not lies, it’s the truth. OBAMA, HIS WIFE AND WRIGHT ARE RACISTS.Louis Farrkhan is a racist.The Black Panthers are racist.I have an “Obama is a racist” poster in my front yard.

Posted by: Observer | April 9, 2008, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm

I just wonder how the front-seaters felt after being asked to move back.
I assume they earned their front seats by paying more for a ticket, staying much longer in line, etc..

Posted by: magda | April 9, 2008, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm

Jason,
Obama has used race the entire campaign.
Just because he had lessons from the best on how to use the race card without showing it from the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, doesn’t mean he wasn’t using it.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm

Observer
This is what’s great about America. You have the right to lie and I have the right to point out your lies, and then call you a liar for spreading those lies, like you just did.

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 2:55 pm 2:55 pm

I’m still waiting for a legitimate answer.

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 2:56 pm 2:56 pm

gjaw, please list, in specific detail, all the horrors that you say Obama has done in your black community. I don’t know rev. James Cone but if he, a so-called man of God speaks of strangling people then he is, a goofball in my book, big time. And while you are googling haters please also google Adelfa Callejo, a controversial Clinton supporter. And guess what? I’m not going to judge her by what what one of her supporters says, because that would be stupid. It’s stupid to judge someone because someone else support them.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm

and akadad and dinalee
who were obama influences that shaped who he is today
His mom was a marxist-
his dad was a muslim-(I know he left when he was 2)
his preacher is a black seperatist.
if we are going to keep saying “just because this or just because that
it does not mean he is”
if not influence by mom,preacher
then just who did help shape and mold obama and his beliefs?
you cannot just keep dismissing things we know about this young man-just because you cannot justify.
He was either influenced by his mom all the way or not
he was influenced by his preacher of 20 years or not.
it is this kind of thinking we get when people follow blindly and do not investigate. it makes no sense

Posted by: jgaw | April 9, 2008, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm

tejasoutlaw
Obama’s church isn’t an all-black church. Try teh google, it works.

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm

Gosh – who cares:P
So the volunteer plays the political game:O this is just an excuse for people to cry racism and ignore the important issues.

Posted by: Dan Schultz | April 9, 2008, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm

“and akadad and dinalee
who were obama influences that shaped who he is today
His mom was a marxist-
his dad was a muslim-(I know he left when he was 2)
his preacher is a black seperatist.”
You sure are throwing around a lot of labels. You must know these people personally. Too bad both parents are deceased and can’t defend themselves. From what I’ve read his father was an atheist and mother Catholic. I have attended UCC churches and know many (white) UCC ministers who would disagree with you about Rev. Wright, and in fact, don’t disavow him either. HIS FATHER WAS NEVER MUSLIM (but if he were, so what? I don’t discriminate against Muslim people either, they are also God’s children).

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm

Ok Jason,
Calling Bill Clinton a racist for his comments regarding Jesse Jackson and South Carolina.
Calling Ferraro a racist for her candid comment regarding his situation in this election.
He may not have got up and said it to the world, but his campaign sure did.
He seems to think he has no responsibility for his campaign reps, or his friends and associates, or even his grandmother. He is only responsible for what he meant to say.
As you know he as retracted statements that gets him in trouble and he says that he mispoke. From what I have seen and heard, he does not take much responsibility for anything.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm

If there’s white people in the “Racist” Rev. Wright’s Church (I know it is mostly black) what does that make them. I’m dying to hear this answer.

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm

Obama is a racist.

Posted by: Observer | April 9, 2008, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm

jgaw said:
He was either influenced by his mom all the way or not
he was influenced by his preacher of 20 years or not.
Has Obama ever made a speech that shows they had a negative influence on Obama?
He always talks about bringing everyone together to solve problems.

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm

AKADAD,
Splitting hairs are we.
99.99% of the people attending that church are black.
Come on and get real.
It seems that Obama supporters seem to have a issues with getting real.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm

Once again I want a legitimate answer!! Even after the Rev Wright incident, he has still gathered numerous supporters, including white politicians and superdelegates, what does that make them???
His campaign has not called any of those people racist. Hillary herself condemned those words.
Give me an honest answer!!!

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm

Re comment: “AKADAD,
Splitting hairs are we.
99.99% of the people attending that church are black.
Come on and get real.
It seems that Obama supporters seem to have a issues with getting real.”
Assuming you even bother going to church, how many members of your church are black?

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm

Obama can’t win with the Wright issue. Either he sat there for 20 years and took his daughters there because he agree with what was being said… Or he never heard a thing, making him dumb as a stump… Or he was just using the black community to gain a political foothold – or is it the white community he’s using now for political gain?

Posted by: HoosierSue | April 9, 2008, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm

Sorry people, but it’s just simple-minded to believe that any preacher sat there for 20 years and preached hatred. That would make a preacher 100 percent bad. You need to go a little deeper and see what else Rev. Wright is about then the negative out of context garbage out there. If you are capable of it. It’s intellectually lazy to just pass judgement without knowing the full story.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm

What can you expect from a largely media driven campaign – there’s an old expression that’s apt here: “window-dressing – but nothing on the table.”
That pretty much sums up the Obama campaign – no solid experience, big promises – media adoration. In short, and “empty suit”.

Posted by: s. valenti | April 9, 2008, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm

AKADAD,
You said it, all he does is talk.
His actions and the actions of the people surronding him tell a different story.
To use the words he put in Hillary’s mouth.
Are all the Clinton Supporters Delusional?
We are just seeing what we want to see?
She must somehow be pulling the wool over our eyes.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm

I can prove he’s a racist and a liar
You haven’t so far. Nothing they’ve said “proves” that their racist.

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm

This is politics people. Every campaign does it. Clinton tries to get young folk and black folk to sit behind her.
Obama tries to get a diverse group behind him.
Almost everything these candidates to is caculated.
There is no story here … unless you are new to politics and didn’t know they did this.

Posted by: carlos | April 9, 2008, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm

Anybody who believes Obama’s empty rhetoric speeches well I have a used car to sell you, you are probably the same people that think you get things for nothing.
Of Course obama is not going to come out and say the truth about what he thinks or wants to do, his career would be over.
But the facts are fact and know that we know that the man who is NOT only his preacher but his Father Figure Mentor Reverend Wright showed Obama and taught him, everything falls into aspect, that Obama is a Hate America groupie who got money from a Billionaire partly responsible for the war in Iraq, a terrorist and a slum lord and worse. Who belongs to the Black underground movement, ties to the terrorist group the Black Panthers, he is not proud of America and so forth.
These are all facts!!
What does his speeches really say!! NOTHING and they are hypocritical at that! First he is for this then against this, he says what he thinks you want to hear!!

Posted by: spock | April 9, 2008, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm

We are a congregation which is unashamedly black and unapologetically Christian,” says the Trinity United Church of Christ’s website in Chicago. “We are an African people and remain true to our native land, the mother continent, the cradle of civilization.”
That’s just the beginning. The church has a “non-negotiable commitment to Africa,” according to its website, and its pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. subscribes to what is called the Black Value System.
Replace “black” with “white”
Racist church, racist congregation. Last time I checked, Hussein Obama contributed over 20k last year. He is a “member” of the congregation, yes? He was married there, had his kids baptised there?
Yup, Racist.

Posted by: Observer | April 9, 2008, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm

Can anyone explain to me how bringing black, white, brown, yellow, red, and purple people together to solve problems, is racist?

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm

“We are a congregation which is unashamedly black and unapologetically Christian,” says the Trinity United Church of Christ’s website in Chicago. ”
Geez, I suppose they should have said they are ashamed of being a black congregation that practices Christianity. That would make a lot of you happy.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm

DinaLee,
I think your a stupid b!tch!
What do you think of me now?
If it looks like crap and smells like crap, it probably is crap.
You probably don’t like me very much now. Do you think you will have to interview may friends and family, or research my whole life so that you can think otherwise?

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm

Why no press coverage of what Michelle Obama says? Is there some sort of gag order?

Posted by: David H | April 9, 2008, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm

DinaLee,
AKADAD says that they are not a black church. The quote you just used proved my point.
Thanks!

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm

akadad
I will say this and I must go-but I wil be back this is where I comment all the time
does is speeches show the neg influence
do you remember the lines of these speakers before the camera
“I am not a crook”
“I did not have sexual relations with that woman”
speeches do not make the man-but the total influence of your mother and your preacher does.
Obama can tell people until the cows come home he was not influence or didn’t hear any of the things we have heard from wright. but we all know he did.
and for dinalee
what has happened in my community
if you are a supporter of hillary
you had better keep it to yourself
because the obama supporters call you a traitor and everything else
what has happened in my community since obama the uniter showed up is
the commUNITY has been distroyed and it looks like we will be left with the
COMMie. obama and his handlers have hijacked the dem party.
we all know moderation in all things
but what we had last time out is the far right trying to take over the rep party. and this time around we have the far left taking over the dem party

Posted by: jgaw | April 9, 2008, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm

Those are not the fact’s once again, it is SPECULATION. If he is a racist, a Hate America Groupie, how does he continue to pull the white politicians, to support him.
Give Me Facts Not Speculation.

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm

This is funny, racisum in reverse. According to the polls Obama campaigners should just rent a bus, get a keg of beer, and drive to a local University. Then drive the bus full of white students to the next meeting – telling them not to drink the beer until after the meeting. Camera’s from the News Media will be happy because they can sell another “story” to the public. Free advertizement at minimual cost. Nowdays you can buy the Presidentcy with the best news stories and the most money. Who cares about reality.

Posted by: Deputy Dawg | April 9, 2008, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm

Obama has disowned his white mother and white grandmother with his membership in the African centered, Black Theology Church. Maybe that’s one of the reasons Americans are so upset. Either Obama is very internally conflicted about his racial identity, or he just has major anger and hatred towards white people, and it towards the white women closest to him. It would seem that a candidate that promises unity, and bringing people together from all races, would have spent 20 years in a diverse church with a pastor preaching what Obama claims to be practicing. Obama’s actions speak much louder than his speeches. Obama’s speeches are written for him, so they do not reflect the real candidate. Obama is a puppet candidate with many puppet masters in the DNC and big business pulling his strings.

Posted by: calli | April 9, 2008, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm

Obama’s words and actions prove that he’s the polar opposite of a racist.
This racism lie is all his critics have, since he has little baggage and he’s not a rhetorical bomb-thrower.

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm

You know I read these blogs and just shake my head… Obama is not a racist but I’ll tell you what he is which won’t get him my vote… He sympathizes with our enemies their cause and culture as opposed to his own American culture which he believes is seriously flawed, he believes America is the cause of the turmoil in the middle east, he believes the victimization mentality of many African americans, and believes that reparations need to be made, he is anti corporate and thinks the government can fix all the problems with more money meaning higher taxes… Now maybe you think those are the qualities our president needs… I think they are an extremely negative outlook and not the views of a leader

Posted by: Nick | April 9, 2008, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm

jgaw, when you come back please post all this about Obama destroying your black community. I’m really interested.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 3:21 pm 3:21 pm

In fact, Obama was in attendance at the church when these statements were made on July 22. …..
Wright’s strong sentiments were echoed in the Sunday morning service attended by NewsMax.
Wright laced into America’s establishment, blaming the “white arrogance” of America’s Caucasian majority for the woes of the world, especially the oppression suffered by blacks. To underscore the point he refers to the country as the “United States of White America.” Many in the congregation, including Obama, nodded in apparent agreement as these statements were made.
Yup, racist.

Posted by: Observer | April 9, 2008, 3:23 pm 3:23 pm

“DinaLee,
AKADAD says that they are not a black church. The quote you just used proved my point.
Thanks!”
The UCC is not a black church. Rev. Wright’s particular church is comprised of a mostly black congregation. Do you understand the difference? If not, trying reading over and over again, slowly.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm

Another lie, he did not disown his white grandparents. He made a point that his grandmother was one of those women that made racist comments that made him cringe. His grandparents raised him because his mother left him to be raised by them.
STOP TELLING LIES, AND GIVE ME LEGITIMATE ANSWER!!

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 3:24 pm 3:24 pm

if you want race relations to go backward elect obama
if you want more war elect mccain
if you want this country on the right track again elect hillary

Posted by: jgaw | April 9, 2008, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm

Nick
Are you psychic? How do you know what Obama believes or feels?
I’ve never heard him say he believes what you claim. Perhaps you could point us to a reference for said claims.

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm

really gotta go
but dinalee i just saw your post
I will tell when I get back
but while i am gone go to the situation room-yesterdays story
how black clinton supporters are being silenced
and just for ref
sheila jackson lee
stephinie tubbs jones
and mr. john lewis who was forced to change from hillary to obama because
the people he represents threatened to vote him out. never mind he had been a good rep all these years.
also google black seperatist movement

Posted by: jgaw | April 9, 2008, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm

clinton will be better for this world. She can bring all of us together. Im’ a aa. and proud of the things she has done in the past. She is a winner and I will do all I can to help her in PA. You go girl!!!!!!!!

Posted by: lionell bell | April 9, 2008, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm

I wanna know where you got that so I can see it for myself.

Posted by: Jason | April 9, 2008, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm

Folks, this is all about an advance person doing his or her job. Everyone doing this job, in every campaign, is tasked with setting up a diverse-looking crowd behind the speaker. If they didn’t do this, they’d be derelict, and probably replaced. This is garden variety every day campaign work.
The only thing exceptional here is that someone who heard what was said thought it was worth reporting.
On another topic altogether: I live in a western state where there are very few “black people.” Obama beat HRC by about 2 to 1.

Posted by: peggy bruton | April 9, 2008, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm

DinaLee,
You just proved my point.
You make a judgement on me based on one or two comments.
Yet, we should give Wright the benifet of the doubt.
I really don’t think that about you, I just wanted you to see how one comment can change your opinion of someone.
Good deeds and bad deeds don’t necessarily cancel each other out.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm

Jason
Obama referred to his grandmother as a “typical white person” after he claimed she had said racial slurs in his prescense.
His comments about her were far worse than Ferrarros comments that were largely edited because they make her sound condecending to Blacks.
Obama said nearly the exact sme thing that Ferrarro said in 2005 only he did not mention women.
The double standard is that the media daily vilifies Clinton while making Obama a saint…
And Obama’s campaign constantly points out perceived bias and racism in it’s political rivals while refusing to acknowledge it in the candidate himself.

Posted by: Jackie | April 9, 2008, 3:42 pm 3:42 pm

Peggy Bruton,
I agree this person was just doing their job.
The problem is that Obama claims he is going to change the way politics are done, and that race is not a factor.
This action by “His” staff he has to take responsibility for.
This sure sounds like same old politics to me. They need more white votes so they move an Asian out of the way.
That pokitics as usual anyway you slice it.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm

“Obama referred to his grandmother as a “typical white person” after he claimed she had said racial slurs in his prescense.”
Woo, now THERE’S an insult! The next time my husband calls me a typical woman I think I’ll slap him silly and accuse him of misogyny!

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm

Dina Lee,
I felt the same way about Wrights comments regarding whites.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 3:45 pm 3:45 pm

Obama the orator. I don’t care what color a person is as long as he/she can lead this once great country out of the mess this current administration/congress has created.
And guess what…Obama “ain’t” the man. No matter how inspiring his speeches, there is just no substance to him. So those of you who believe his is the next JFK, you better do some research and not let your emotions sway you.

Posted by: whitehousewatcher | April 9, 2008, 3:47 pm 3:47 pm

Just to set the record straight -
Obama’s grandmother confessed a fear of passing a black man on the street the day after she had been threatened by a black panhandler at the bus stop. This is Obama’s own story from his book.
Obama himself is trying to confuse the voters when referencing his church. He says it’s the United Church of Christ with a 90% white congregation – rather than a UCC that references Black Liberation Theology and has a nearly 100% black congregation.

Posted by: HoosierSue | April 9, 2008, 3:52 pm 3:52 pm

Obama’s words and actions prove that he
is a racist.

Posted by: bob | April 9, 2008, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm

Missteps Mar Clinton’s Competency Message
Hillary Rodham Clinton wants voters to decide the nomination based on who can coolly and competently run the country. She had better hope they don’t study her recent campaign too closely for the answer.
Clinton has overseen two major staff shake-ups in two months. She has left a trail of unpaid bills and unhappy vendors and had to loan her own campaign $5 million to keep it afloat in January. Her campaign badly underestimated her main adversary, Barack Obama, miscalculated the importance of organizing caucus states and was caught flat-footed after failing to lock up the nomination on Super Tuesday.
It would be easy to dismiss all of this as fairly conventional political stumbling – if she hadn’t made her supreme readiness and managerial competence the central issue of her presidential campaign.
But since she has, a growing number of Democrats are comparing the Clinton and Obama campaigns – their first real exercise in executive leadership – and rendering harsh assessments of her stewardship.
In twin columns in Tuesday’s Washington Post, left-of-center columnists Peter Beinart and E.J. Dionne Jr. condemned Clinton’s overall management of the campaign and inability to build a durable message and infrastructure. It’s a common theme in Democratic circles these days.
“Any time you are involved in a long campaign, there are going to be major substantive and procedural gaffes,” says former Democratic Rep. David Bonior, an uncommitted superdelegate who served as the campaign manager to John Edwards. “The question is how a campaign handles those gaffes and how a candidate handles them. And I think it’s fair to say that Sen. Obama has handled [his] problems better than Sen. Clinton.”
Obama can rightly claim he has run a more consistent, disciplined and technologically savvy campaign. While Clinton has blown though nearly a half-dozen campaign slogans and failed to put concerns about her credibility to rest, he has clung to essentially the same leadership and governing message he outlined in his 2004 speech at the Democratic convention. There has been little drama inside his operation – or at least if there was, it has been kept largely concealed.
“In every campaign, the strategy is important and the day-to-day management is important. And in Obama’s case, it’s hard not to argue that they have run a great campaign,” said Steve Elmendorf, deputy campaign manager for Kerry’s 2004 bid and a Clinton supporter. “It’s been one of the best-run presidential campaigns in the last 20 years. I think they are focused and disciplined and on message. … The test of a good campaign is having a plan and keeping an operation on track to execute a plan.”
Put simply, Obama has shown he can offer a compelling vision, execute a complicated strategy to convey it and, all the while, keep the ledger in the black. That’s not a bad first step to becoming a strong leader.
There is no question he has stumbled in ways that will haunt him in the general election. His handling of the Tony Rezko affair was exceptionally clumsy. It’s still puzzling why he was so cozy with a known influence-peddler and why it took so long to make all of the details clear and public.
His relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright – his pastor who railed against America and accused the government of purposely spreading AIDS to kill blacks – is a ticking general election time bomb. For now, though, many are praising his efforts to defuse it and move forward.
“Under different circumstances, that would wreck a campaign if not handled right. And so far, it’s not been a mortal wound,” said Dennis Johnson, professor of political management at George Washington University. “It seems to me it’s been a much smarter-run campaign.”
The Clinton campaign, by cntrast, has been marked by strategic missteps, financial uncertainty and personnel drama. Its strengths – a supremely disciplined candidate and remarkable fundraising – have been undermined by other aspects of the enterprise, such as a headstrong, factionalized staff and a spendthrift approach. The conventional wisdom once held that it was Bill Clinton who was chronically improvisational and unable to run a tight ship. That flaw, it seems, runs in the family.
Strategist Mark Penn’s ouster was the latest staff dispute to unfold in the media, accompanied by a surplus of finger-pointing and a divulging of private details by aggrieved insiders. The pattern was a familiar one, having surfaced after Clinton’s Iowa loss and right before Clinton jettisoned Patti Solis Doyle as campaign manager.
Howard Wolfson, a top Clinton aide, acknowledges that in a campaign, blame ultimately resides at the top. But he also contends that it’s important to appreciate the value of a candidate who has the self-confidence to allow dissenting voices within the leadership structure and who accepts responsibility for tough choices – such as ousting longtime friends and advisers when they become ineffective.
“It is fair to say that every candidate is ultimately responsible for what his campaign does or doesn’t do,” said Wolfson. But, he noted, “The number of times that I’ve read [of] Sen. Obama blaming his staff for problems in his campaign, I can’t even count.”
In interviews, several veteran Democratic strategists said the business of running a campaign offers limited insight into a candidate’s performance in the White House.
And Clinton’s defenders argue that the relatively smooth-running Obama operation obscures the reality that the first-term Illinois senator is an untested, naive politician who showed little spine or genius during his unremarkable four years in the U.S. Senate. Clinton loyalists think the Obama story has a predictable conclusion: He gets torn apart by a ruthless GOP and crushed in the general election.
All of this could be true. But it is also true that a fair measurement of the candidates’ leadership skills is their management of their campaign. Easily the largest enterprise they have run in their lives – in February alone, Obama had 1,280 paid employees, at a cost of $2.61 million; Clinton had 935 employees and a monthly payroll of $1.63 million – the campaign reveals flaws and strengths that will only be magnified in the Oval Office.

Posted by: The Independent | April 9, 2008, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm

Greg,
I am sure that Chris Mathews and Keith Oberman are more your speed.
They bash Hillary with every word regarding this campaign. When they are not bashing Hillary they are bashing Bush. That part I don’t have much of a problem with though.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm

jason I guess we can get off Wright and start with Farahkan.

Posted by: roncraw | April 9, 2008, 4:09 pm 4:09 pm

Jason,
He had the speech to cover his own butt from the lies the told the two days before when he denied ever hearing stuff like that from his reverend of 20 yrs. I even showed you where he played the race card earlier.
He and his campaign called Bill racist just before the election in South Carolina. He called Ferraro racist for saying the same thing he did about gender in politics in 2005, and guess what. It was just before the election in Mississippi. You really think it is by chance they called key players in the opponents campaign racist just before elections in states with a large black population?
Wake up and smell the coffee.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm

DinaLee
Obama-Hagel Bill S.1977
“to provide for sustained United States leadership in a cooperative global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, stop the spread of nuclear weapons and related material and technology, and support the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear technology.”

Posted by: AkaDad | April 9, 2008, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm

calli, you are making assumptions based on something you know nothing about and your own personal experiences. You can’t speak to the relationship between anyone and their own mother. It’s presumptuous and ignorant. And unless you had your bottom sitting in the pew of Wright’s church you are also basing your understanding on propoganda and inuendo. I’ve read what’s in the media and I can’t judge him, because I’ve not heard him speak for himself. And and I said earlier, being an “unapologically black church” isn’t offensive. Should they apologize for having a black congregation? If so, then 99% of churches in this country need to apologize because 11:00 on Sunday is the most segregated hour in this country.

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm

Here’s a fact in a debate Hillary had to push Obama to denounce Farahkan. Why would he try to avoid doing such.

Posted by: roncraw | April 9, 2008, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm

He himself has not said any of these things. Don’t let other people speak for him. As far as Bill, who I love and wish could be president until the day I die, he flat out said that Jesse Jackson pulled SC, so he would have been surprised if Obama didn’t. I mean that about Bill, he had his moments but he was a great Pres. But once agains Obama never said that bill was a racist. In fact Obama joked about Bill when asked, if he thought Bill was the first black Pres, Obama said he would need to see Bill’s dance moves.

Posted by: JASON | April 9, 2008, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm

“Obama-Hagel Bill S.1977
“to provide for sustained United States leadership in a cooperative global effort to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, stop the spread of nuclear weapons and related material and technology, and support the responsible and peaceful use of nuclear technology.”
LOL! That sure sounds racist to me!

Posted by: DinaLee | April 9, 2008, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm

I have never had problem with races, black, white,yellow or whatever.
In my state we don’t really have race problem, people respect each other.
The only I feel now because of this election , race things become more outrageous.
I wonder after this election our nation will gets unified or divided.

Posted by: crisis08 | April 9, 2008, 4:20 pm 4:20 pm

Show me a major campaign that doesn’t do this.

Posted by: JedReport | April 9, 2008, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm

From the looks of these blogs Obama is more polarizing and divisive than George Bush

Posted by: Nick | April 9, 2008, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm

if you want race relations to go backward elect obama
if you want more war elect mccain
if you want this country on the right track again elect hillary

Posted by: sally | April 9, 2008, 4:28 pm 4:28 pm

Chris Mathews and Keith Oberman — always wet their lips before they talk about Obama….
Never seen such gushing from “Newsmen” on T.V…. their voices turn to rasps of partial words as they hyper-ventilate between each sounds…. OH BAH MMA…. OH BAH MMA…. OH BAH MMA…. eeek Rev. Wright— now where did this come from….. swweeep it under the rug…… we’er scared to report that kinda of stuff…. Anderson on CNN can’t talk about Rev.Wright either….. Is this the Type of White Male Votes that took Obama over the top?……. Where are all the backbones to these reporters??
Back to the Article…. my fav quote ‘We’re moving you, sorry. It’s going to look so pretty, though.’…pretty sad.

Posted by: carpenter.nyc | April 9, 2008, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm

380 comments… after a hearsay report in a college newspaper that has not been verified… American primary season 2008…

Posted by: greg | April 9, 2008, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm

To Roncraw:———— To answer your question….. Farrakhan may have said some very racist and antisemetic things. But, a lot of people in tha AA community admire him. Look at how many AA’s showed up at the Million Man March (A Farrakhan event in which Bill Clinton spoke)!!! Obama like any other people who has an ounce of understanding and knowledge of the AA community knows that a lot of AA’s admire Farrakhan for his work on trying to improve the race in this country. It wasn’t Farrakhan’s honor he was worried about, but the millions of AA voters that hold him in a positive light. But somehow, I suspect you knew this already.

Posted by: Democrats United | April 9, 2008, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm

Jason,
Obama did not call Bill racist, just his campaign.
Once again Obama is not responsible for anything. It happenend just before two major elections with large black population.
Look at the facts.

Posted by: tejasoutlaw | April 9, 2008, 4:46 pm 4:46 pm

This isn’t anything new. I guess no one has noticed the MASSIVE number of young people that are standing behind McCain now? Please. Give us a break. People pander and politicians especially pander. It’s called politics people and the only thing that can hurt someone worst than being seen or visiting a hooker, is a bad photo-op.
Dale

Posted by: Dale U. | April 9, 2008, 4:52 pm 4:52 pm

Another thought about Obama’s staging:
Has anyone else noticed that in his stump speech, he always notices the “Obamican” in the audience at exactly the right moment in exactly the same spot?

Posted by: cappamore | April 9, 2008, 5:02 pm 5:02 pm

The underline here is any way you want to slice it is show the white faces on TV so that white folks would say all well there you see lost of smart looking people are voting for Obama is that it? Does that mean forget about the black vote it’s a given or they look too poor too raggedy.Is this some kind of a staged election. Nobody is good enough for the Obama’s but the Obama’s with their sick mind to divide the country not in half but in peices. This is sick,sick sick ,sick, sick infectous.
Sickos.

Posted by: ruthmatters | April 9, 2008, 5:03 pm 5:03 pm

Cappamore:
Please find me an unstaged politician. I would vote for him or her on that fact alone.
At least I would know what I was getting.
Why do we argue the same things each election rather than the real issues? Race is an issue as is gender certainly.
However the economy and the war have my immediate attention as both are truly critical.
I wish some journalist would make them get back to the real meat rather than the filling. I haven’t seen that from any of the three candiadtes actually. It would be refreshing.

Posted by: sillyreally | April 9, 2008, 5:07 pm 5:07 pm

that’s like when rosa parks was told to go to the back of the bus she should have told them go to hell and left

Posted by: mik | April 9, 2008, 5:08 pm 5:08 pm

Obama is a set up for McCain.
So far we know:
Obama’s middle name is Hussein
Obama’s father is a Muslim. Even though Obama wrote a book about his Father, he said he didn’t know his father was a Muslim.
Obama’s pastor is a radical racist. Enen though Obama didn’t know it.
Obama’s friend Anton Rezko is a criminal. Even though Obama didn’t know that he was involved with crimes.
Obama’s staff spoke to the Canadian government about NAFTA. Even though Obama didn’t know about it.
Obama’s church supports anti-Semetic, radical leader of Nation of Islam, Louis Farrakhan. Even though Obama didn’t know it or denounced it.
Michelle Obama didn’t like being an American, but she didn’t mean it
Obama feels words are important “words..just words” speech. But when it comes to his pastor those words don’t matter.
Obama insists he wants a clean campaign. That’s why he has every staff member make remarks for him.
This guy is a real con. Wake up America. It’s a set up for McCain to win the election.
There is no way that Obama can stand up to McCain. All of the above are what McCain will say about Obama.
Wake up and support Hillary!

Posted by: Alice from NJ | April 9, 2008, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm

Alice from NJ
I have to agree with some of what you say and say so what to the others.
His middle name is Hussein.Mine is Ann who cares. If Barak as a name didn’t clue people in that his name is of foreign origin then Hussein won’t really help or hurt I’d say.
His church and pastor are an issue, whether he believes it or not. This is a political campaign. What he ate for breakfast 20 years ago is an issue.
It’s just how it works. To cry racism over people dredging up dirt of any type is silly. That how it works. This is hardball Obama is playing. He’d better learn to duck or hit the pitches, otherwise he’s going to get hit by the ball a lot.
His friend/associate/manager etc is a criminal. Find me a politician who isn’t somehow associated or friends with a present and/or past criminal. They seem to go together from what I can see.
His wife is an issue. She comes across in interviews on camera as angry and bitter. Whether that anger is or is not legitimate people do not like their candidates and wives especially in a Presidential campaign to seem bitter.
They want them to seem together and presenting a hopeful tone. Especially with war and a bad economy even more so.

Posted by: sillyreally | April 9, 2008, 5:34 pm 5:34 pm

The point is that Obama lovers are no longer talking about ‘new politics’ and hope and change.
He has been exposed as the same dirty politician as the rest. Obama lovers appease themselves that this is ok because he is ahead and its too late for him to lose.
They forget in the general election, he has to start from scratch, and will NOT benefit from a media shield, caucus’s and a squeeky clean image.
He is unelectable.

Posted by: tomdavie | April 9, 2008, 5:35 pm 5:35 pm

More facts that the media will not give coverage to. WHY NOT? Let these facts speak for themselves… be fair.Check this out……….Palestinian activist and Islamist Ali Abunimah, who was a close friend of Obama’s, attended an Arab fundraiser at which the late Edward Said–plagiarist, fabricator, and prominent PLO/Arafat advisor–was the keynote speaker, and at which the Obamas were notably in attendance.
Yup.

Posted by: Observer | April 9, 2008, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm

If u think it is dirty now, wait until the Republican Attack Machine gets started…
***Back when EVERYONE was watching the S Carolina debate to find out if Sen. Obama was real change from the politics as usual…
Obama on his first big money supporter, Tony Rezco, “I only worked for five hours for him as a client as a junior lawyer.” (NO BIG DEAL) and then later, “He helped my buy my house and saved me $300,000 and gave 250k to my campaign” and then, “he never asked me for anything.”
What’s up with that ??? Is he lying or naïve?
Plus
His spiritual mentor for 20 years Pastor Wright said America is responsible for 9/11 and “god d@#$ America”, wouldn’t most Americans stand up and walk out….
How can a US Senator Take that…
Obama said, “I was never there in the pews”, and then later “I was there” …
***the Republicans are going to dismantle Sen. Obama …if he wins the Nomination.
a disputed meeting earlier this year between Obama’s senior economic adviser Austan Goolsbee and Canadian diplomats over NAFTA.
In that meeting, which the Obama campaign initially denied ever took place, Goolsbee reportedly told the Canadians that Obama’s tough rhetoric on NAFTA was mere political posturing. After Canadian officials leaked a key memo that called into question the Obama campaign’s repeated denials, the campaign acknowledged the meeting but denied Goolsbee ever said any such thing.
“Again, this story is not true. There was no one at any level of our campaign, at any point, anywhere, who said or otherwise implied Obama was backing away from his consistent position on trade.” Obama Spokesperson Burton said.

Posted by: greg | April 9, 2008, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm

Obama’s involvement with Jennifer Mason, whom he says is also a member of the Nation of Islam. Mason is Obama’s Director of Constituent Services in his U.S. Senate office and is also in charge of selecting Obama’s Senate interns.

Posted by: Observer | April 9, 2008, 5:40 pm 5:40 pm

sillyreally; I also would like to be talking about the issues, because my candidate (Clinton) is really strong on them. However, this staging topic is relevant when assoicated with the supposedly new politics and transparency of the Obama campaign.

Posted by: cappamore | April 9, 2008, 5:44 pm 5:44 pm

Cappamore:
Unfortunately you are correct.
Since the swiftboating of Kerry it has become a science and the Rep machhine are masters at it.
As I stated in another post Obama had better get used to it and get on with campaigning. Hillary also.
I like and voted for her in our primary but I do not want to hear about unfairness(I believe she has some points) still get on with it all of them.
I agree Obama has gone to politics as usual. I can’t say I’m surprised. To survive whether people like it or not dirty politics works.
It is simply reality. An unfortunate one most certainly but that is politics as it stands, and it is unlikely to change.

Posted by: sillyreally | April 9, 2008, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm

Mr. Obama’s placement of Cynthia K. Miller, a member of the Nation of Islam, as the Treasurer of his U.S. Senate campaign.

Posted by: Observer | April 9, 2008, 5:51 pm 5:51 pm

Earth calling Alice,….can we get back to real issues and not talk about everybody that a candidate knows! If a politician is to be judged on that then they are ALL going to Hades with gasoline drawers on!
Lets keep our eyes on what truly matters!

Posted by: Andre J. | April 9, 2008, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm

Zack:
ABC is a media outlet. Are their rules about you siting material from other sources that has not been approved and hence the moderator is taking down your stuff.
If the author does not give explicit permission to site his stuff you may create a legal liability for abc even if the post is not offensive. Politico is a site I have heard of . I am not very up on these sites as a whole, so I would assume the moderator is pulling your references for that reason.

Posted by: sillyreally | April 9, 2008, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm

For the person who commented that Obama is a puppet of the DNC and an empty suit, nothing could be further from the truth.
He is a brilliant, dynamic, self-made man. I am reading the Audacity of Hope right now, and he is a great writer. He writes very honestly and eloquently. For a politician, that is particularly impressive. Hillary Clinton’s books, for instance, were written by ghostwriters. The speech on race that he gave he wrote all himself.
He did not have the easiest or most conventional childhood (his father left him when he was 2, he moved around a lot, he was raised by his grandparents for some time), but he worked really hard and overcame the odds to get where he is today. His life story IS, as he says, something that could only happen in America, the land of opportunity. He was finally able to pay off his college loan recently.
In case you forget, Hillary Clinton started out with the name recognition, the massive fundraising advantage, all the democratic party’s inside connections, and the media at her feet. Obama had to create his campaign from scratch, and he’s succeeding despite having a funny name, being half-black, having vicious smears circulated against him, and running against the CLINTON MACHINE. Everyone wrote him off in the beginning. Hillary Clinton HAD EVERY POSSIBLE ADVANTAGE YOU COULD HAVE HAD in the beginning!
She has run a thoroughly dysfunctional and incompetent campaign, and now she is whining about everything being so unfair, when her campaign made many avoidable mistakes.
She had no plan in place to compete well in the caucus states. She had no plans after Super Tuesday. She wasted precious donor money by spending lavishly on hotels in Las Vegas, big parties, expensive catering.
Meanwhile, Obama has been frugal and shrewd in managing his campaign finances, relying on donors for office space, supplies, among other things.
Clinton has mismanaged her campaign’s finances so greatly that she is not paying her staff’s HEALTHCARE COVERAGE!!! How ironic, for the candidate for whom which health coverage is supposed to be of the greatest concern. Think about it, if anyone on her staff gets really sick or suffers an accident, they won’t be insured.
To those of you who say that Obama is beholden to big businesses, you’re wrong. 90% of the 55 million he raised in February came from an AVERAGE donation of $100. Well over 1 million people have donated to his campaign so far. Clinton has taken more lobbyist money than any other candidate, democrat or republican.
You tell me which is more American, having great masses of the American public fund your campaign, or having the wealthy elite few fund your campaign.

Posted by: Chrissi | April 9, 2008, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm

Gee and Obama says this election is not about race. Why don’t they keep Michelle Obama locked away like she has been for weeks.
I am sure if this was a Hillary coordinator they would be asking for apologies and who knows what else from her campaign.

Posted by: J | April 9, 2008, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm

To Observer 5:36 and other readers: There are pictures of Obama and michelle in attendance at that event, looking very happy to be there. Obama seems to have many Arab friends.

Posted by: rs | April 9, 2008, 6:52 pm 6:52 pm

Kevin
This is not Bill clinton in 1982.
This is Obama in 2008 who constantly damns anyone saying anything about race. and calling them a racist.
It is just to show how stupid Obama is and his race card is.
The Black community is the largest group that harbors racist in thier hearts and uses racism against everyone.

Posted by: seah | April 9, 2008, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm

If u think it is dirty now, wait until the Republican Attack Machine gets started…
***Back when EVERYONE was watching the S Carolina debate to find out if Sen. Obama was real change from the politics as usual…
Obama on his first big money supporter, Tony Rezco, “I only worked for five hours for him as a client as a junior lawyer.” (NO BIG DEAL) and then later, “He helped my buy my house and saved me $300,000 and gave 250k to my campaign” and then, “he never asked me for anything.”
What’s up with that ??? Is he lying or naïve?
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4480868&page=1
Plus
His spiritual mentor for 20 years Pastor Wright said America is responsible for 9/11 and “god d@#$ America”, wouldn’t most Americans stand up and walk out….
How can a US Senator Take that…
Obama said, “I was never there in the pews”, and then later “I was there” …
***the Republicans are going to dismantle Sen. Obama …if he wins the Nomination.
a disputed meeting earlier this year between Obama’s senior economic adviser Austan Goolsbee and Canadian diplomats over NAFTA.
In that meeting, which the Obama campaign initially denied ever took place, Goolsbee reportedly told the Canadians that Obama’s tough rhetoric on NAFTA was mere political posturing. After Canadian officials leaked a key memo that called into question the Obama campaign’s repeated denials, the campaign acknowledged the meeting but denied Goolsbee ever said any such thing.
“Again, this story is not true. There was no one at any level of our campaign, at any point, anywhere, who said or otherwise implied Obama was backing away from his consistent position on trade.” Obama Spokesperson Burton said.

Posted by: greg | April 9, 2008, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm

I just pray typical white woman come out in force for Hillary in PA.

Posted by: Ken FL | April 9, 2008, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm

This “typical white woman” will be voting for Hillary on April 22nd as well as the other 3 typical white women in her family.

Posted by: J | April 9, 2008, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm

j, I know two woman in FL who would like their votes counted. Lets hope Hillary can pull it out in PA.

Posted by: Tina D | April 9, 2008, 8:01 pm 8:01 pm

This is so funny, it’s sad. While I am certain that all the campaigns prefer to back their candidates up with a mixture of races, ages, etc., it is amusing that someone got caught saying something like this. If Hillary’s campaign got caught saying something like this, I’m sure she’d be labeled as a racist by Obama’s surrogates.
Ever since the media, even the more liberal cable news networks, marched all of us to war for Bush, I question everything they say. It is interesting to note, however, who they are marching us to support this year.

Posted by: sarnorton | April 9, 2008, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm

Well, Oprahma, we prefer the respectful term ‘Caucasian’ and I wouldn’t vote for you if you were the only candidate. Pretty despicable playing both ends of the race card, denying any culpability in the flap with Hillary over ‘race’, and now openly pandering ‘White votes’? So many allegedly want this guy as a Presidental candidate? God help us all.

Posted by: TheRockofAges | April 9, 2008, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm

Oh no Obamas people want more whites in the camera shots. Go figure…and here he and his people arent racist in any way

Posted by: girlinvt | April 9, 2008, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm

“We need more black people” See who could get away with that statement. There seems to be more racism from blacks than whites these days, doesnt matter what you say, a black person can just say it was racist and your life is over. Its all just words people, we have the right to be offended. Thats part of our freedom.

Posted by: Troubled | April 9, 2008, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm

They need more white people, but after the racist, race-baiting campaign they’ve run they’ve alienated far too many to ever recover. Add those to the LGBTs, working-class and older people they’ve tossed aside along the way and the Obama campaign has shot themselves in the foot in a serious way.

Posted by: Buffy | April 9, 2008, 10:27 pm 10:27 pm

Wow classic slip of the tongue, its up there with Mrs Obama’s “For the first time in my adult life, i can say i am proud to be American” and Mr Obama “Typical white person” Keep it up both of you guys, the sooner you sink the better.

Posted by: Persio | April 10, 2008, 2:14 am 2:14 am

“Cappamore:
Please find me an unstaged politician. I would vote for him or her on that fact alone.
At least I would know what I was getting.”
Really? How about Ron Paul? If ever there were an “unstaged politician,” it’s Dr. Paul.

Posted by: Brian | April 10, 2008, 2:19 am 2:19 am

A delegate from Chicago talked to her neighbour’s children who were climbing in a large tree in their front yard with no parent to be seen. She called to them and asked them to quit playing in the tree like “little monkeys”. The children’s mother called the police on her. Obama’s campaign office called her and demanded her resignation from being a democratic delegate. Why? Because the children were black and she was white. She received a ticket for disorderly conduct. (see Chicago Sun Times for complete details)
Obama, overzealous political correctness and a sign of the future. Be black or keep your mouth shut.

Posted by: StopAndListen | April 10, 2008, 3:03 am 3:03 am

Oh my GOD! I can’t believe Obamas people are doing this. Obama needs to leave the race NOW. More and more is coming out about this guy that shows him for the liar he is. Nothing is what it seems with Obama. He is a fraud.
And Kevin wrote what’s wrong with needing more white people? WOW!!! If Hillarys people had said we need more black people you Obama cult people would rip her head off. This is an outright racist comment. And lying to the world about who is truly backing Obama in PA. Now the world knows the truth. Thank you ABC for telling the truth about this Obama event. Please tell us more truths very few media outlets are.
I was in SC during the primary there. And Obamas people also staged there. Behind Obama at a event I went to I saw people that worked for him going through the crowd trying to find whites to go up on stage. I knew exactly what they were doing. But no one in the press reported on it. Obamas people cherry people based on their color to stage events. It is a con by a dirty Chicago politician. This outright racist lies are stomach turning. And Obama pretends like he cares about everyone. His actions prove he does not. We don’t need another stage liar in the WH. Does anyone else remember Bushes people staging events so Bush looked like people agreed with his polices. It is a lie for Bush and it is a lie for his little cousin Obama.
And more and more voters are seeing you for the lying con you are. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

Posted by: starbuck1979 | April 10, 2008, 4:47 am 4:47 am

StopAndListen
Thanks for the story. I saw it on FOX this morning. I haven’t seen another news media outlet talk about it. Have you? Another Oh my GOD moment concerning Obama.
I have been saying for months that Obama will have all of America walking on egg shells. And now he is cracking the eggs right over his own supporters head. She did nothing wrong. As a kid I was called a monkey for climbing trees. That is what monkeys do. I wish I could say that Obamas actions were shocking but I saw it coming months ago.
If your not black watch your words carefully. Obama and his people are looking for any reason to call you a racist. Shame on Obama and his people for ruining this poor ladies reputation. Labeling her innocent words racists and in turn labeling her a racists is sick, wrong and a lie.
Obama should call her to say he is sorry for lying about her actions. Shame on Obama. I can’t believe anyone would vote for a person like that.

Posted by: starbuck1979 | April 10, 2008, 5:00 am 5:00 am

Between the comments of the Hillary fanatics and the Obama fanatics, I’m starting to want to get out of the democratic party. Both sides remind me more of fanatical brain-washed cult members than rational supporters of a political candidate. I am going to be very angry if I have to vote for McCain!

Posted by: Jenny A. | April 10, 2008, 7:52 am 7:52 am

My family and I are tired of walking the racist tight rope. It seems everything that is said by a white person can be interpreted as racist from the blacks but, they are seem to have immunity as a birth right. I do not want to see this country walking on pins and needles for the next 4 years because of this so, this family of 7 will not be voting for Mr. Obama.

Posted by: Tim | April 10, 2008, 8:00 am 8:00 am

What the do the DNC has to say about Obama ties to William Ayers? DNC money and winning the Whitehouse are not everything when it come to protecting our country. We need to connect the dots on Obama. The question is now being asked do we know enough about Obama’s root. I hope the FBI is researching Obama’s connection with these people. We did not connect the dots before 9/11 but we have time to research Obama’s root.

Posted by: ConnectDots | April 10, 2008, 8:10 am 8:10 am

I am Africa American and I do want an Africa American for President. But, I do not want Obama. I strongly feel that Obama has been planted in our political system for a reason. A reason that we do not know and I feel is not good for African American and America. All of my family and friends have never heard of this BLACK VALUE SYSTEM or talked so negative about White people. Now, some of my friends are thinking that Obama and his pastor are telling the some new and they should include it into their thinking.
Also, I heard that William Ayers has been mentored to Obama since 1994 and William Ayers was responsible for Obama’s success to the Illinois senate seat. The media outlets need to do their job. In the past, I had never look at FoxNews for my daily news. Now, I look at FoxNews for information on both candidates. If you want to find out more information about the candidates, go to FoxNews. FoxNews may talk harsh about Hillary or Obama but you will get more details about Hillary’s or Obama’s past. Information that you will not get from any other news media outlets.

Posted by: bobby | April 10, 2008, 8:31 am 8:31 am

Imagine a country with 280 million (okay 300 million if you count the illegal invaders from the south) and the best we can come up with for presidential nominees are the “3 Stooges”?

Posted by: IronMike | April 10, 2008, 8:58 am 8:58 am

I am so tired of you all trying to connect Obama to racism just because of who he hangs around with. That would be like thinking David Duke, Adolph Hitler, Senator Byrd were all evil racist men because of the association they belonged to or the guys they would pal around with. Grow up.

Posted by: ironmike | April 10, 2008, 9:43 am 9:43 am

Is it enough? Absolutely not! In fact what Obama has said and done is going totally in the wrong direction! Excuses! Rationalization! Continued allegiance! If it had been Clinton’s or McCain’s white pastor who preached not just 5 snippets but rather week after week, month after month, year after year that another race with in America is the enemy and America is not our friend because that race controls America do you really think what Obama has said and done to date would be enough if it were Clinton or McCain? Absolutely not! If Clinton or McCain’s pastor had written supporting Hamas and had visited terrorist states in support of those terrorist states and we found that out would what Obama has said and done be enough if it were Clinton or McCain? Absolutely not! If we heard this white pastor was a part of there campaign team and had been there spiritual adviser for 20 years and was still continuing to be there chosen spiritual adviser would we be OK with that? Absolutely not! If they were still attending that Church when 24 other churches of the same exact faith are within the same driving distance would it be acceptable with the American public? Absolutely not! If Clinton or McCain had thrown there grandmother under the bus but not the pastor, especially if that grandmother was of the race that the pastor weekly’s innuendoes called the enemy would we think that was the right thing said and done? Absolutely not! Americas answer should be a resounding absolutely not to Obama! In fact it is not even close to being enough right words, action and attitude! If it had been Clinton or McCain’s involvement with this kind of pastor and spiritual adviser the cry from the public and the media would be non stop as it absolutely should be. Obama’s handling of this issue should absolutely not be enough for any TYPICAL AMERICAN citizen of any race, creed, color, age, gender, or sexual orientation.

Posted by: Roger | April 10, 2008, 10:00 am 10:00 am

What is amazing to some of us outside the united states is that in spite of some huge faux pas by obama, i.e, rev. wright and now this statement (which is as racist as you can get),credited to one of his campaign staff, americans still appear to love the guy! If obama eventually wins the u.s presidential elections, it would be because white people voted for him. that will be a shame becasue i think he is a racist. by the way i am an african.

Posted by: clement adegbnero | April 10, 2008, 11:44 am 11:44 am

This is ridiculous. I know for certain that Hillary depending on what she wants to have people see puts black people around her. Stop this. Yes, Obama in PA needs the white vote. The writer of this is a jerk.

Posted by: John Blyth | April 10, 2008, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm

Roger: You are correct. I am black. If my grandparnets were White and they rasied me, I would have walked out of any Church that talk down against my grandparents becuse of the color of their skin. Let someone talk about the mother, grandma, or any one in my family.

Posted by: cookie | April 10, 2008, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm

thank goodness,
It looks like some of my people of color are coming out of the obama-fog
now if we could just bring our left-leaning libs back to the middle
maybe this country will have a chance
I thought the goal was to get a dem back in the white house
obama cannot win
you may say the rep. machine is broken
watch and see how quick it will be up and running again
mcsame and crew are going to run all over obama and the lib dems
they should have checked this guy out more.
pa and all left to vote
if you want a dem back in the white house
hillary is the only choice

Posted by: jgaw | April 10, 2008, 2:02 pm 2:02 pm

Everyone stages people! Hillary does it all the time. Have a black man stand on stage with her in camera range, she has a little black girl stand with her as she speak in North Calorina. Has a hispanic baby in her lap when she needs the “Brown” vote. Obama Staff was doing the same thing…Dtaging to appeal to the white hope. It is apart of working the number….But notice they only reported on Obama doing it. The only person that is not staging is McCain…because he feels he doen’t need the white or Hispanic vote.

Posted by: Kisia | April 10, 2008, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm

the point is if obama is the uniter his campaign claims-they would not be needing to run around asking for more of one type person or another.
and it smacks at deception;
lets pretend to the tv audience we have more white support than we really do/
Believe me the black people there supporting hillary are there because they really want to be.
and if they were smart if they live near
or in a black community-they would not want their face on tv. for fear the black obama supports might see them
obama cannot win

Posted by: jgaw | April 10, 2008, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm

jgaw: You are right. Not all black people support Obama and his pastor’s way of thinking. It is a shame that the black Hillary’s supporters can not talk about their support for Hillary without being cut down by some of the black Obama’s supporters in the black communities. I have been a democrat for over 46+ years but I will not Obmaa in the general election. I am sorry but I feel he is not good for all of us.

Posted by: suzy | April 10, 2008, 2:54 pm 2:54 pm

You can’t tell me that all candidates don’t do this or at least cautiously selecting participants who agreed with the candidate or the party to which they belong to be at these functions.
This doesn’t bother me at all.

Posted by: Michael | April 10, 2008, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm

jgaw: You are right. Not all black people support Obama and his pastor’s way of thinking. It is a shame that the black Hillary’s supporters can not talk about their support for Hillary without being cut down by some of the black Obama’s supporters in the black communities. I have been a democrat for over 46+ years but I will not vote Obama in the general election. I am sorry but I feel he is not good for all of us.

Posted by: suzy | April 10, 2008, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm

its just so hard to believe the american people are not moving away from those racial slum talk. Its a changing world, even the climate is changing. Give the mr. obama a chance to do what he has to do to save the american people from outsiders who simply hate any words beginning with Amer***. Grow up ppl, change those ridiculous racial slurs. the man is not a racist, what does he need to do to prove that to you. he was raised with a white family. quite ridiculous for persons brinning up this rubbish

Posted by: Sean | April 10, 2008, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm

Michelle will never draw many white people because we don’t want to hear her tear down our country.I’m surprised Obama lets her out of the house.
Can you imagine her as first lady?It turns my stomach to think about it.

Posted by: Arthur Villarreal | April 10, 2008, 3:44 pm 3:44 pm

NOW BACK TO THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL — SUDDENLY — THEY NEED “WHITE” PEOPLE!
UNTIL NOW, OBAMA HAS TRIED TO BE TOTALLY “BLACK”. HE NEVER MENTIONED HIS WHITE HERITAGE UNTIL HE GOT INTO TROUBLE.
NOW THAT THE POLLS ARE DROPPING — HE DECIDES TO PUT HIS “TYPICALLY WHITE GRANDMOTHER” IN HIS LATEST AD!
HIS WIFE’S TEAM MOVED ATTENDEES AND PUT WHITE PEOPLE IN THEIR PLACES.
WHAT A TYPICAL, HYPOCRITICAL, LYING POLITICIAN!
HE HAS RUN HIS ENTIRE CAMPAIGN ON “LIES”.
HILLARY ’08.

Posted by: PROUDAMERICAN | April 10, 2008, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm

This is an election for our next president, it should not be an election about race. It is so unfortunate that that is what it has become about!
If Obama waffles one more time on where he stands on things, we all are going to be dizzy. I need someone in office who is going to move things, not talk pretty about it, and keep changing his mind, or sees what the other person is going to do first!
Come on, this is our lives and our childrens lives, we have to get serious!!

Posted by: CAROLINA | April 10, 2008, 4:23 pm 4:23 pm

The influence of the black liberation theology of James H. Cone ( mentor of Rev. Wright and author of Black Theology and Black Power) appears in the political philosophy of Barack Obama as well as in the recent controversial statement about national pride made by Michelle Obama. Barack us the softer, social justice side of black liberation theology, Michelle is the harder anti-white-supremacy side.The media has focused on the religious beliefs of Huckabee and Romney, a much more substantive faith element has been at work in the Obama campaign, the media either hasn’t noticed or if it had, hasn’t commented.

Posted by: jp,michigan | April 10, 2008, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm

n 2000, Rashid Khalidi, a former PLO operative who justified Palestinian terrorism as contributing to “political enlightenment,” threw a fundraiser for his friend……..
Barack Obama.
Khalidi has direct ties to Obama.
Before getting his job at Columbia University Rashid Khalidi was a Middle East professor at the University of Chicago, where he befriended none other than US presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama.
In 2000 Khalidi held a successful fundraiser for Barack.
Barack also played a role in getting funding for Khalidi’s Arab American Action Network during his tenure on the board of the Woods Fund. That is another unexplored black hole.
this is what Rashid Khalidi has to say about Palestinian terrorism against Jews:
On Palestinian violence. Khalidi glorifies anti-Israel violence as contributing to “political enlightenment”[vii] and unsurprisingly admires those who carry it out.
His loyalty to Palestinian terrorist groups run so deep that he actually dedicated his 1986 valentine to the PLO, Under Siege, to “those who gave their lives … in defense of the cause of Palestine and independence of Lebanon.”[viii] The book whitewashes PLO violence against Israelis and Lebanese, as well as the Syrian occupation.

Posted by: Observer | April 10, 2008, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm

I don’t know why so many think that if you do not support OBAMA, you are a racist.
Did you ever think we just don’t believe one word he says? He has lost credibility with all his lies.
He is as slippery as they come — changes his message to fit each state, cries fowl like a child, pretends to be what he is not and lies on just about everything he is caught on. He and his wife are both hidden racists. As much as they try to hide it, they slip up every now and then.
Obama supporters are in for a rude awakening if he gets elected.

Posted by: 1VOTE | April 10, 2008, 7:25 pm 7:25 pm

TO ALL WHITES, BLACKS, AND ANY CITIZEN OF THE USA. THIS ELECTION IS NOT ABOUT BLACK,WHITE,MALE,FEMALE,DEMOCRATES, OR REPUBLICANS. INSTEAD, THIS ABOUT WHOM WILL BE THE BEST PERSON TO TAKE THE HIGHEST SEAT OF THE NATION, AND BRING US OUT OF THIS RECESSION,WARS,HIGH GAS PRICES,AND ALL OF THE EVILS THAT ARE UPON THE USA AS OF NOW. AND SUCH PERSON SHOULD HAVE SOME PRIOR EXPERIENCE, OR HAVE BEEN CLOSLY AFFILIATED WITH ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE PAST, AROUND & ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE. AND MUST REALIZE & FACE THE RAW FACTS THAT BARACK OBAMA SHOULD NOT HAVE EVEN BEEN IN THIS RACE. IT IS OBAMA WHOM IS CAUSING ALL PROBLEMS IN THIS RACE. NO. IT IS NOT HILLARY, NOR JOHN MCCAIN. TAKE OFF YOUR BLIND FOLDERS FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND ACCEPT & SEE THE TRUTH. IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK OF ANY GOOD TRUE AMERICAN CITIZEN THAT LOVES & CARES ABOUT THE REAL FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY?? YOU MAKE THE CALL…….

Posted by: BLACKGIRL1966 | April 10, 2008, 10:43 pm 10:43 pm

Maybe, if we put a lie from Obama, and a lie from Clinton together…..well…it would add up to another lie eh?

Posted by: Jean | April 11, 2008, 11:23 am 11:23 am

What they really need is more white people to vote for him.

Posted by: dgh | April 11, 2008, 11:59 am 11:59 am

NOT A BIG DEAL!!!!!
All campaigns do this. It’s all PR. Just because he is a Black democrat running for prez now there is a problem with it. But Hillary running around with staged token Blacks and Latinos standing behind her in her campaign speeches is ok. Talk about double-standards! This is why I changed my support from Clinton to Obama. White liberals are no different than Republicans. If they can’t have it there way, they will have temper-tantrums and vote for McCain if Obama is elected.

Posted by: joel | April 11, 2008, 12:08 pm 12:08 pm

The issue here is how Obama continues to say this should not be about race yet his camp purposely moves the crowd around so that it looks like he appeals the same to everyone. Clearly if they have to do this then they are playing a racial game.

Posted by: Joseph | April 11, 2008, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm

It’s all a BIG SHOW. The college crowd will never get it until it is over.

Posted by: SO | April 11, 2008, 2:33 pm 2:33 pm

It’s all politics. No harm done…greg

Posted by: greg | April 13, 2008, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm

The most annoying thing about this being, of course, that event coordinators aren’t hand-picked by candidates. I have been to one of these things – they deal with any number of guests/clients, and they mainly worry about how well the event goes for their own purposes.
Fact in point – I went to an event that was coordinated separately from the person I went there to see (a somewhat-family musician.) Because it was a popular enough musician, my friend and I – two very “normal joe” type people – were moved further back from the stage. Even though we’d gotten in on guest passes, the event coordinators immediately replaced us with a group of gorgeous females all along the front row.
Keep in mind that this musician got me the guest passes in question. When I later joked/asked about the shuffling around, he said rather frankly that he doesn’t have anything to do with it. Seating arrangements are the province of the venue or of the company organizing the event. It’s all PR+event coordinators who decide “what looks best.” And they will, in fact, move people around to best project what they feel the event needs. I happen to know this musician would’ve rather had my friend and I up in the front row, and expected at least to be able to see us from where he sat.
As the event coordinators that Hillary Clinton is currently stiffing for unpaid services can tell you, they have enough autonomy to decide how the audiences look. Consider it very irresponsible to try to pin this on the Obama campaign, instead of on the event coordinators.

Posted by: paganmist | April 14, 2008, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm

How can you over look all the lies of hillary clinton. how can we trust her to run the country when hill and bill are taking money from columbia. take off your blinders people. All you hillary women its okay to wear pants and feel so powerful. She is not the right person she is a liar. Answer this the republicans want hillary because the gop have so much dirt on her dirty self her approval rating for trust is at 39% please stop the madness

Posted by: julie | April 16, 2008, 7:10 pm 7:10 pm

How can you over look all the lies of hillary clinton. how can we trust her to run the country when hill and bill are taking money from columbia. take off your blinders people. All you hillary women its okay to wear pants and feel so powerful. She is not the right person she is a liar. Answer this the republicans want hillary because the gop have so much dirt on her dirty self her approval rating for trust is at 39% please stop the madness

Posted by: julie | April 16, 2008, 7:10 pm 7:10 pm

I seem to recall some of the early McCain press conferences after being chosen as the republican nominee that looked like
a casting call for Depends. One or two mentions on the cable news shows, and voila, the next time he was trotted out it looked like the Young Republicans convention had gathered around him.

Posted by: chuck | May 7, 2008, 10:03 pm 10:03 pm

Posted by: Maritza …..
“Don’t all campaigns want diversity shots. Why is that news?” ……….. Because O’boy claims he is “CHANGE”. ….. He is not really change now is he?

Posted by: Johnny at Work | June 18, 2008, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm

LOL! I see white people!

Posted by: SWAMI | April 15, 2009, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm

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