Obama Considers Sponsoring Sprint Cup Car in NASCAR Race
EmailABC News’ Sunlen Miller Reports: Presidential gentlemen, start your engines! Sen. Barack Obama is considering sponsoring a race car in a forthcoming NASCAR series.
"We get a lot of good ideas every day but there are no such agreements in place at this time," Obama spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters — not exactly stopping the news as first reported by Sports Illustrated in its tracks.
In an article on their website, SI.com reported "Barack Obama’s campaign is in talks to become the primary sponsor of BAM Racing’s No. 49 Sprint Cup car for the Pocono race on August 3. Details of the agreement are expected to be worked out over the coming days."
Obama, D-Ill., opted out of public financing in the general election campaign — breaking a campaign pledge allowing the presumptive Democratic nominee to raise an unlimited amount of cash in his battle for the White House against Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
The Illinois Senator’s fundraisers boldy predicted he could raise $100 million dollars in June but fell far short raising a respectable $30 million — $8 million more than McCain, who had his best month of fundraising to-date, hauling in $22 million.
According to SI.com, a July 23 press conference is scheduled to reveal the details of the arrangement that will put Obama and "racing sources claim one of the options being considered would allow individual campaign donors to get their name on the race car for as little as $100."
No word yet on whether McCain will respond in kind — making the Pocono series truly the first race of a tight turning campaign.
But is Obama wasting his time trying to steal McCain support from hard core NASCAR fans? Sprint Cup race driver Jimmie Johnson told U.S. News & World Report as much. "I think our core fan base being strong Republicans like they are, that’s going to be the first choice. I also think his credits in history and what he’s done for our country, certainly for our country, a lot of those things will be fully noticed by our fan base," says Johnson.
Not surprisingly, RNC spokesman Alex Conant agrees. "Barack Obama’s words – whether they’re at a San Francisco fundraiser or on the hood of a car – will not get him to Victory Lane.".
Obama wouldn’t be the first Dem to pull it off. Let’s not forget that back in 2001, former Virginia Governor Mark Warner sponsored a car at a NASCAR race with historic results.
UPDATE: Just before midnight, Obama campaign spokesperson Jen Psaki tells ABC News’ Sunlen Miller: “The Obama campaign will not be sponsoring a car in the Sprint Cup series, though we continue to look for ways to reach out to voters and convey Senator Obama’s message of change.”
ABC News’ Jake Tapper contributed to this report.
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Is this political pandering at its best? There are a lot of NASCAR fans out there. Maybe, he thinks this is a way to buy more votes.
Posted by: Mary | July 11, 2008, 6:50 pm 6:50 pm
Please McCain. Do not even dignify this NASCAR idiocy with a response.
A predictable Obama ploy. From a vow against to a private funding extravaganza.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7004223.stm
Posted by: zeke | July 11, 2008, 7:05 pm 7:05 pm
This is the the height of stupidity.
Posted by: Bill | July 11, 2008, 7:10 pm 7:10 pm
People see through this kind of pandering. I would not recommend this. Obama would be better served just going and enjoying the race.
Posted by: Ben Straub | July 11, 2008, 7:10 pm 7:10 pm
Ahh Mary, zeke, chill….I think this is hilarious.
Posted by: jmengate | July 11, 2008, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm
mary i’d call it getting the biggest bang for your buck.
Posted by: linda n carolina | July 11, 2008, 7:12 pm 7:12 pm
McCain, please sponser Kyle Bush, he will win for sure.
Posted by: Bill | July 11, 2008, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm
This one makes me smile and shake my head.
Posted by: LongT | July 11, 2008, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
Somewhere there is a scrabble champiomship, can Obama spell.
Posted by: Bill | July 11, 2008, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
Just read elsewhere that W did this in 04–ya’ll still consider this stupid or pandering
Posted by: Pax | July 11, 2008, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
Monster trucks?
Posted by: Mack | July 11, 2008, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
Pax; Really? W sponsored a NASCAR race car in ’04? Don’t remember hearing that.
Posted by: LongT | July 11, 2008, 7:39 pm 7:39 pm
Very cool!!!
Posted by: Sandy | July 11, 2008, 7:39 pm 7:39 pm
Those cars run on gas not kool-aid.
Posted by: Mack | July 11, 2008, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm
Obama’s sponsoring a race car is silly indeed. And I’m saying that as a strong supporter of Obama.
The idea of putting donors’ names on cars so obviously offensive that I strongly doubt the “source” claims that such a scheme is actually being considered by anyone in the campaign.
At this point, even chucking the sponsorship idea and just showing up at a race would fall flat. Obama should just leave this alone and stick to the issues.
Posted by: ToastOnDayOne | July 11, 2008, 7:44 pm 7:44 pm
Maybe before the race he can make a speech to the fans about the importance of conserving energy.
Posted by: Mack | July 11, 2008, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm
Caroline, did you see this? Isn’t he just like your Father? Caroline, you know Jackie would have broken your Father’s kneecaps before she’d allow him to stoop so low. Caroline, what are you doing running around with this slick marketing guy posing as a serious presidential candidate? Caroline? Caroline? You’re not the Caroline we knew.
Posted by: Mandelay3 | July 11, 2008, 7:49 pm 7:49 pm
You would think that an elitist like him would be more into Formula 1 racing.
Posted by: Mack | July 11, 2008, 7:52 pm 7:52 pm
LongT–reread the SI story–W did not pay for it–looks like it was a freebie–kinda like welfare
Posted by: Pax | July 11, 2008, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
Hello? We are in an oil crisis here, trying to make it through $4 plus a gallon gas (Just the beginning of bad, mark me, it’ll be far worse come fall.) and he wants to make a show of himself through NASCAR? How ignorant! And I’m no McCain fan either… So first we have McCain crew saying we’re a bunch of “whiners” and now we have Barrack blowing money on NASCAR and frivolous, wasteful oil usage? Good grief, TPTB have NO CLUE! NO CLUE! NO CLUE!
Posted by: LH | July 11, 2008, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm
one last comment–the race is about to start–putting his name on a Toyota will get lots of vote here in Michigan–for McCain–dumb
Posted by: Pax | July 11, 2008, 8:00 pm 8:00 pm
Is he serious? Won’t this be seen as a really lame attempt to win over red states? Certainly won’t reap much benefit from it, right?
http://www.political-buzz.com/
Posted by: matt | July 11, 2008, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
Ok, please tell me Obama is just showing us his comedic side. I can think of 10 things off the top of my head that would serve his campaign better, while raising money.
Posted by: Bea | July 11, 2008, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
This guy is ONLY about games and gimmicks. Can anyone be serious in thinking this is a candidate for president? This is laughable, and the party establishment now realizes this, but it is far too late.
Posted by: benvictor | July 11, 2008, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm
Pax, reread the SI story (Sports Illustrated?)? I never read it to begin with. Just never heard of it before. You got to admit this is pretty transparent – even comical.
Posted by: LongT | July 11, 2008, 8:12 pm 8:12 pm
I have to laugh when I think about all those lower and middle class supporters who scraped together $10 and $20 for this guy. At least you’ll know your money is well spent.
Posted by: bb | July 11, 2008, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
LOl…I think Nascar is a waste of gas, but I think even I would buy tickets for it. I’d like to toss beer bottles at his car even though I don’t even drink. I don’t think Obama the dummy has thought things through again. I realize he wants to sponsor the car in Pennsylvannia in a dumb attempt to try to buy votes again, but has he noticed the rednecks that cling to their religion and guns that tend to go these things and what they do to drivers they don’t like? Perhaps he should ask Jeff Gordon.
Posted by: chattyway | July 11, 2008, 8:29 pm 8:29 pm
This is ridiculous.. I am in disbelief over obama (he is desperate) and turning this into a joke at best. HE WON’T AGREE TO PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES TO DISCUSS SERIOUS ISSUES WITH JOHN MCCAIN… but he will play race games? How absolutely pathetic.
I am jumping party lines, will vote heart and soul for John McCain.
Democrats are losers.
Posted by: ML | July 11, 2008, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
Obama’s driver is already out of this weeks race………and sure to be out early in the August 3rd.
Posted by: chattyway | July 11, 2008, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
Oh, but wait.. in a few weeks he will regret his decision.
Posted by: ML | July 11, 2008, 8:34 pm 8:34 pm
Obama will really fit right in. Just like he would if Obama went hunting.
Posted by: ralph | July 11, 2008, 8:39 pm 8:39 pm
Will the Obama girls show up
Posted by: pooh rank | July 11, 2008, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
read more about this…and find out who he would sponsor:
http://thevote.abc13.com/2008/07/start-your-engi.html
Posted by: tom abrahams | July 11, 2008, 9:00 pm 9:00 pm
Hey everybody, I have it on good authority that Barack has watched at least two NASCAR races before.
Posted by: LongT | July 11, 2008, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm
This is a hoot!
Barack “gorebal warming kool-aid drinker” Obama is going to get into Cup racing. That clown probably thinks they run ethonal, have catylic converters to meet emissions, are ‘green’ and only make the same horsepower as their streetable versions. He has no clue that they have zero emissions, burn Sinoco race fuel and make gobs of horsepower and consume gallons upon gallons of that fuel. I love it!
It would be oh so sweet if of the second green lap, someone puts that car in the wall on turn 4. Got to let them get up to racing speed first so it totals the car.
It would be even cooler if Obama was driving. He’s young enough and thinks his stuff doesn’t stink. Get behind the wheel and ‘prove’ your worth! Then wreck him!
Posted by: pander monkey | July 11, 2008, 9:06 pm 9:06 pm
i have tryed to post a comment and you never post it..just let me say i thank the dim.party has lost it,,this has been a disgrace to usa—bill and hillary go you are the best…mccane 08
Posted by: sue | July 11, 2008, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
Maybe Obama should sponsor a golf tournament. Maybe he can bring all those rich republicans over to the democratic side. Nascar isn’t a Real Sport anyway.
Posted by: pt | July 11, 2008, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm
All of those small so call
donors must really like to see how he is spending the money
Posted by: William Moore Plano Texas | July 11, 2008, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
And when Car # 49 loses the race, how on earth will he fit that darn race car under that crowded bus of his???
Posted by: Lee | July 11, 2008, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
Barack obama is certainly not NASCAR material. Lol.
Posted by: JULIE | July 11, 2008, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm
It all comes down to whether or not you think we should continue the bush policies. If you think the war should continue indefinitely, while we spend $12,000,000,000 a month, and you think that bush has done well with the economy then mc-more-war is your man. If you think that it’s time we start to get out of iraq and do some positive things for the average American instead of just the top 1% then vote for Obama.
Posted by: pt | July 11, 2008, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm
julie,
Let’s all be thankful that the next President of the United States is not NASCAR material.
Posted by: pt | July 11, 2008, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
How will his contributors feel about his pouring their hard earned money into naming rights for a car?
Obama is truly delusional.
Posted by: s. valenti | July 11, 2008, 9:41 pm 9:41 pm
LOL!!! This is TOOOO Funny. Looks like all the white trash neocons are getting ruffled. What’s the matter, is a black man invading your territory?
Posted by: JP | July 11, 2008, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm
Obama’s up with a harsh response radio ad (.mp3), attacking McCain for airing the (very thin) claim that Obama had voted to raise taxes on people earning $32,000 a year.
The script:
MAN: Oh man — he’s starting already …
WOMAN: What now, honey?
MAN: John McCain. He’s got new ads attacking Barack Obama on taxes.
WOMAN: Well, that’s not new. Bush, McCain, Karl Rove — that’s how those guys work.
MAN: Oh yeah, but this is shameful. He’s just makin’ stuff up.
WOMAN: Yeah?
MAN: But get this. Independent sources are putting McCain in his place. I went to FactCheck.org. They said, quote, “It’s not true.”
WOMAN: Huh.
MAN: And look what Time says. Quote, “It makes sense that McCain is returning to the old playbook. But that doesn’t mean he can just make up his own facts.” End Quote.
WOMAN: Yowza! So what’s the truth?
MAN: Obama’s plan cuts taxes on the middle class — and won’t raise taxes on anybody making less than two hundred fifty thousand a year. But McCain wants billions in new corporate tax breaks … and no way to pay for it.
WOMAN: Hmm. Sounds like George Bush all over again.
MAN: Guess that’s why they say: John McCain — McSame as Bush!
WOMAN: Uh-huh.
Voiceover: On taxes, get the facts. Visit BarackObama.com.
Obama: I’m Barack Obama, candidate for president, and I approve this message.
Posted by: JP | July 11, 2008, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm
Hey if Jamaica can field a bobsled team……… Sorry everyone, I’m just so humored by all this.
Posted by: LongT | July 11, 2008, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm
How could this possibly be pandering? He ‘s not offering them anything. It’s just advertising.
Posted by: jeremy | July 11, 2008, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
Pt….pssss, you may want to know that democrats have more billionaires than the republican party sweetie…..it is just that the dems have such uneducated supporters that don’t have any common sense that they have you guys completely baffled.
Posted by: chattyway | July 11, 2008, 10:01 pm 10:01 pm
The price of gasoline has doubled and risen from and average of $2.10 a gallon to $4.00 a gallon in the last two years since the Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats took over Congress . Just today Nancy Pelosi has blocked any new drilling off shore or in ANWAR. Obama and the Democrats are lying to the people by claiming that the oil companies need to take advantage of existing sites before opening up new sites. The facts are that the geologists have told the Democrats that there is not enough oil in the existing sites too make it worth their effort to drill or the terrain makes it too difficult to get to. Obama is pandering to the Nascar fans because if Obama really cared anything about helping the plight of everyday people, he would be doing everything he could to drill, drill, drill, and thus bring the price of gasoline down to the level it was before the Democrats took control of Congress.
Posted by: tim | July 11, 2008, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm
good grief–obama may become a redneck—-must be his other half coming out–now what will they complain about.
Posted by: rodney | July 11, 2008, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm
Isn’t Obama supposed to being paying Hiliary? He’s got her what $100,000 of the $10 million he promised her and now he is spending money trying to buy rednecks (as if they are going to forget the clinging to religion and guns comment). He should have used the money to pay off Hiliary before he has another problem with his airplane.
Posted by: chattyway | July 11, 2008, 10:04 pm 10:04 pm
tim
one more time –oil is sold on the world market—the price will not change.just make big oil billions more
Posted by: rodney | July 11, 2008, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
Obama claims he is related to Irish, Italian, Asian Cousin, Black father, White mother, candian brother-in-law and claims he has nothing to do with Hamas, William Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Louis Farrakhan, Al Qaeda etc.,
Of course, I don’t believe in anything that comes out of his mouth.
Posted by: Roger Miller | July 11, 2008, 10:07 pm 10:07 pm
Yes oil is sold on the world market with India and specifically China using up gobs especially before the Olympics…………but still about $60 of each barrel is do to spectulation—–just passing the regulation to open the coasts will force oil prices down (atleast till the likely war between Iran and Israel with us becomes more public). Open the coasts and Rockys, we have the tech to get it and do environmentally friendly.)
Posted by: chattyway | July 11, 2008, 10:18 pm 10:18 pm
pt, Would you rather the US be dealing with two Middle Eastern powers, Iran and Saddam still in power in Iraq, threatening the US with nuclear weapons? In case you are not aware of it, 200 tons of yellow cake were recently found in Iraq and US intelligence found documents from Saddam that showed Saddam had every intention of starting his WMD development program since he did not think the US had the N### to invade him. Two of Obama’s big selling points are that showed good judgment by being against invading Iraq and being against the surge since Obama did not think the surge would be successful. Looks like Obama was wrong in both cases. An Iraq with Saddam still in power and with nuclear weapons would now be a great threat to the security of the Middle East and the US. The surge is successful forcing Obama to flip flop on his call to immdediately withdraw from Iraq . Obama does not have the N### to take any action that would be in the best interest of the security of the US. Obama is all talk, has poor judgment, scant experience and a lot of unsavory friends who hate America in his background ie. Rev. Wright, Ayers and Rezco too name just a few. Anyone who votes for Obama is N###s.
Posted by: gary | July 11, 2008, 10:19 pm 10:19 pm
Population controll, controll of illegals, and refraining from buying cheap Chinese and Indian products will help controll their demand for oil.
Posted by: chattyway | July 11, 2008, 10:20 pm 10:20 pm
rodney, wrong, oil prices will go down if there is more oil in the world wide market. It is all about supply and demand. The more supply the lower the prices. The other massive amount of oil the Democrats are blocking from being produced is in Montana and North Dakota where there are billions of oil shale that would fuel the US for 130 years. Yes the Democrats are blocking the development of this vast amount of oil. Shell Oil has come up with an environmentally safe way to extract oil from the oil shale in Montana and North Dakota and the Democrats are blocking it. The US has more oil than all of the Middle East combined and the Democrats are blocking us from getting it. Why anyone would vote for a Democrat is beyond me unless you want gas to go to $12 a gallon like Obama said it would today.
Posted by: tim | July 11, 2008, 10:25 pm 10:25 pm
will the Obama seal adorn the car?
Posted by: ch | July 11, 2008, 10:28 pm 10:28 pm
Obama wants to be a Super Star……
He is all Hollywood Hoopla, showmanship and mind conditioning speeches.
What has happened to half of Americans minds………..Are they that damn desperate to think about taking a scam artist as a president?
How much more before you open your eyes and minds back up. Or Have you been sucked to far into the abyss to get yourself free?
Posted by: seah | July 11, 2008, 10:31 pm 10:31 pm
Tim, I agree with you, Obama and the Democrats must what to squash the the life blood of the US economy, oil, by refusing to drill for the vast amount of oil everyone knows is there for the taking in the US. Instead the Democrats promote alternative energy such as biofuels. Biofuels are just another example of the failures that are rampant when the top down do as I tell you dead hand of government takes over and rings the life out of the free market. The justification used for giving up control of the people’s free choice to decide what fuel they use in their cars, trucks and planes over to the dead hand of government is the hoax called global warming. Facts don’t count for the global warming fear mongers and huge mistakes like biofuels which have caused food riots in third world Nations, make no difference. After all, the real agenda of the global warming fear mongers is to reduce the size of the human population anyway, since they view humans as trespassers on the planet earth who are spoiling their utopian vision of a pristine earth. Consider this. NASA has data that now confirms that the hottest year on record in the continental 48 was 1934, not 1998. The Arctic ice cap may be thinning but the in contrast the Antarctic ice cap is expanding. As of February last winter the Northern Hemisphere had the coldest temperatures on record in decades. In May, German climatologists reported that global warming was taking a decade long world wide “vacation”. They went ahead and predicted that the so called global warming “vacation” would end in 2020, but admit that they are basing this on a computer model so they really don’t know what will happen in 2020. What is apparent is that all of the dooms day predictions of global warming destroying the planet are not based on the scientific method, they are based on computer models that have already been proven to be inaccurate. If these models were correct, the earth would already be facing catastrophe as we speak and instead the US 48 is cooling and the world as a whole as taking a global warming “vacation., and is not warming as the models predicted. Bottom line, politicians like Obama and the rest of the Democrats want all of us to do penance for the successes and prosperity the free market brings to the people.
Obama says, we can’t drill for more oil, oil is bad it may actually bring down the price of gas and reduce our dependence Middle East oil. no no no.
Obama says We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK…. That’s not leadership. That’s not going to happen.” By the way one of Obama’s major special interest campaign contributers are the biofuel industry.
Posted by: mary | July 11, 2008, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm
Obama Special Discounts on “Super Super Jumbo” Home Loan. Today, a group that investigates government corruption has filed separate complaints with the Federal Election Commission and the Senate Ethics Committee against Barack Obama for allegedly accepting a below market rate loan mortgage not available to the general consumer. http://www.onenewsnow.com/Election2008/Default.aspx?id=173266
Posted by: Willie | July 11, 2008, 10:48 pm 10:48 pm
Next gimmick. Obama in space. (the one up there)
Posted by: Mike | July 11, 2008, 11:05 pm 11:05 pm
This is becoming a hysterical joke. Is there anything professional about this guy or is his secret fantasy of becoming a Hollywood celebrity finally coming true? I think he needs to do some maturing before aspiring for the White House.
Posted by: Ex-democrat | July 11, 2008, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
MLK Niece Affirms: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Was A Republican. Niece states: “My grandfather, Dr. Martin Luther King, Sr., or ‘Daddy King’, was a Republican and father of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who was a Republican.” http://www.trustedpartner.com/docs/library/000143/Alveda%20King%20article.pdf
Posted by: Willie | July 11, 2008, 11:13 pm 11:13 pm
What great idea!
Obama just got 5 million dollars worth of free publicity! AND He successfully baited a truck load of ole boys to fall all over themselves speaking against it. He doesn’t have spend a dime and he associated McCain with the pig wrestler from deliverance.
Awesome.
Posted by: blogofacoboy | July 11, 2008, 11:15 pm 11:15 pm
Why don’t we just have Obama pay money to sponsor a happy meal at McDonald’s?
Talk about cheapening the American experience.
Posted by: beth | July 11, 2008, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
WELL AS A NASCAR FAN – I FOUND THE COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG FUNNY! Tell me folks, do you find this any more “stupid” than McCain’s wife and McCain being seen daily in front of giant flag banners plastered on every stage … with his flag pin and his NAVY hat. DON’T WORRY JOHN, we know YOU are the most patriotic … and your checkered shirt and “townhall meetings” make us feel like we’re sitting next to Johnboy on Walton’s mountain …. OOPS we forgot about the billionaire wife … where should we put her. HEY – she could be MISS WINSTON! If Obama sponsored Dale Jr.’s car – I’d give him $100 to put my name on it! SEE – it works. careful who you call stupid … you forget that the cameras pan the stands for those of you smashing beer cans on the side of your head with your shirts off screaming “WHOOOOOOOOOOOW!” We’re there too. MCBUSH IS SUCKING AWAY MY RETIREMENT TO PAY FOR HIS PARTY LIFE WHILE THE ECONOMY GOES THE DOGS … BUSH HAS NEVER RUN A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS … EXCEPT THE ONE CALLED SCREW THE MIDDLE CLASS! So grab your beer huggie at the next race and cheer for the boy who can’t bowl … Bush wouldn’t look normal at a race either, but he’s tried – face it, they would be caught dead sitting on one of those seats. Their pants cost more than a 4 pack of weekend tickets with pit passes!
Posted by: year2023 | July 11, 2008, 11:25 pm 11:25 pm
Doing anything to win.
Posted by: rafraf | July 11, 2008, 11:40 pm 11:40 pm
Obama is deceiving again, in daily honeheaded mistakes that he will have to explain it tomorrow.
Posted by: fools | July 11, 2008, 11:43 pm 11:43 pm
It would be nice to see him drive the pace car….way to go OBAMARACER
Posted by: studenlawyer | July 11, 2008, 11:43 pm 11:43 pm
I am a Republican who will vote for Obama, but this ad is a mistake. NASCAR has to either die, shift it’s emphasis from either speed racing to MPG contests, or over to electric / fuel-cell racing – get out of fossil fuel emphasis altogether. The fastest dragster in the world now is all-electric. If Obama was sponsoring a car of that ilk, what a difference that would make! As far as Presidential mandates, he should give big tax incentives for all companies capable of converting to 10-hr shift 4-day workweeks, & staggered start-times, to do so. This would cause an immediate drop of at least 15% in national highway fuel consumption, via the dropped travel day and far less rush-hour congestion. Such moves would send shock-waves throughout the Arab, oil-speculator, & terrorist-sponsoring world! No other act he could do would cause such a fast sea-change for righting our listing ship-of-state. It would have minimal impact on our economy to boot – probably positive, actually. Then, he should take John McCain’s “100 ‘Nucular’ Fission plants”, & use the money instead to create the world’s first viable Nuclear Fusion plant – unlimited potential energy!
Posted by: Yes1fan | July 11, 2008, 11:48 pm 11:48 pm
When Bush does it it’s cool. When Obama does it it’s pandering. Neo-Cons don’t even bother trying to hide their hypocrisy any more. Well, I’m gonna go back to my imaginary recession now.
Posted by: ElodieStClair | July 11, 2008, 11:49 pm 11:49 pm
Tell BhO to put “Boneheaded Voters needed by the Bonehead” on his car.
Posted by: Jesse | July 11, 2008, 11:49 pm 11:49 pm
I don’t know what is the more stupid, Obama or the poor liberals that are in here to somehow try their level best to defend Obama. ROTFL
C’mon, you liberals can’t be serious with your pathetic feeble rips on NASCAR can you?!?
If it makes you feel better to somehow pick on the fans of NASCAR, by all means.
Posted by: wedge | July 11, 2008, 11:56 pm 11:56 pm
Crash@*&%#!!!**#
Posted by: Jesse | July 11, 2008, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
YOU CANNOT TRUST THIS PHONY, MAN.
Posted by: Jesse | July 12, 2008, 12:18 am 12:18 am
He’s obviously playing the RACE card.
Posted by: Tim | July 12, 2008, 12:28 am 12:28 am
If Americans actually elect this totally empty suit, then this country will get a hard lesson that it richly deserves.
Posted by: Vituperator | July 12, 2008, 2:06 am 2:06 am
Perhaps he could try professional wrestling like Jesse Ventura. Has Obama lost his mind?
Posted by: Dennis | July 12, 2008, 2:08 am 2:08 am
Perhaps if elected, he can rename the White House as the Nextel White House. Isn’t there supposed to be some dignity associated with a POTUS candidate?
Posted by: Dennis | July 12, 2008, 2:16 am 2:16 am
Everyone posting after midnight on this idiotic blog obviously didn’t read that Ms. Miller and Sports Illustrated have made up the story (in fine print at the end if you cared to bother). Please move on to the next idiotic blog.
Posted by: 1percenter | July 12, 2008, 2:25 am 2:25 am
Look, he only wants his name on the car (no big deal) not to take our precious NASCAR away from us. If it had not been for the fact he considered sponsoring a race car I wouldn’t have known who Obama is.
Quite impressive young man!
Posted by: JD | July 12, 2008, 3:10 am 3:10 am
Obama is the Madonna of politics, constantly reinventing himself. Change you can believe in? Yes, if you are a fan of constant metamorphosis.
Posted by: Asia2PA | July 12, 2008, 6:07 am 6:07 am
Uh…..apparently none of you read the article – he’s NOT sponsoring a car. You CAN read, right?
Posted by: 12_angry_men | July 12, 2008, 6:35 am 6:35 am
Angry Men; Not yet, but that is the plan according to what I read.
Posted by: LongT | July 12, 2008, 6:42 am 6:42 am
you are not supposed to bring up W’s nascar advertising because it only associates him to McBush. Maybe if Obama sponsored Jeff Gordon we could move up his inauguration day to November 6? I wonder if he has a Glock? OBAMA ’08…..rock on
Posted by: dr1321 | July 12, 2008, 7:01 am 7:01 am
Major pandering. Trying to get in with the bitter gun and religion clingers? Better leave the arugula at home sweetie.
Posted by: ECT | July 12, 2008, 7:53 am 7:53 am
For all you idiot Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity wannabe suck-ups who posted regarding this issue, it turns out that cash strapped BAM RACING representative, Rhett Vandiver, was the one who APPROACHED Senator Obama’s campaign as well as that of McCain and a third party candidate with a proposal to sponsor. The sad part is all who twist facts into fiction, but of course, that’s the Republican party today. Pure fiction, maybe like McCain’s Green Bay Packer line.
Posted by: devilkev | July 12, 2008, 8:51 am 8:51 am
Hmm well I guess he didnt get the reaction he wanted so he’s not gonna do just like he is not gonna use his presidental seal anymore. His whole campaign is so underhanded and noone is reporting it, they are trying to unseat Mrs Clintons delegates before the convention, one right here in Wisconsin they are trying to unseat cause she said she would vote for McCain. That is here right. Stop trying to silence the people. Be a big Boy Barack and let there be a vote in Denver and the let chips fall where they may. If you truly have the democrats support then you have nothing to worry about!
Posted by: rachel | July 12, 2008, 9:01 am 9:01 am
He is buying advertising. That is much different than pandering. Pandering, to me, is J. McCain changing his POW story to appeal to voters in Pittsburgh, or taking credit for legislation he voted against, i.e. veteran’s benefits. While I may agree with that NASCAR fans may by and large be decided voters, that doesn’t mean he should stop thinking about them. He isn’t like McCain who only thinks about women when it’s expedient by sending Fiorino to talk a good game while he votes completely contradictorily. I also think that pandering is more aptly applied to situations in which a candidate offers an energy and economic policy that is ‘mostly psychological’ in effect because the decline of conditions in our nation is all in our heads. The only people suffering from a mental recession in this country are those who don’t have the courage to open their eyes and see the state of disarray the republicans and their partyliner ‘maverick’ have cast this country into. McCain’s campaign has done nothing positive and is focusing, as expected, on attack ads which according to independent fact checkers are mostly if not outright lies. Which brings me to the rumor mill that race and party have fired up. It’s shameful and outright pathetic for you to be acting this way. However, what is even more shameful is the media’s coverage of this campaign. McCain is something of a media darling, whereas Obama bears the brunt of outrageous campaign news releases with the grace and humility that is born of strength and self-assurance. Each day that goes by that we fail to redream America another little bit of it dies. Have the courage to see the ills of this country alongside its glory and we can not fail.
Posted by: mummblemouth | July 12, 2008, 9:10 am 9:10 am
It’s just another advertising method. What’s the big deal?
Posted by: Cosmo | July 12, 2008, 9:19 am 9:19 am
So why be so worried about the Nascar? According to Phil Gramm, its all in your head anyway.
Posted by: Kassy | July 12, 2008, 9:43 am 9:43 am
NASCAR in Somali garb…
I am sure that every NASCAR fan will be running to support the car whose driver stops the race for evening prayers to Mecca…
What a joke…
Posted by: Jayhawk | July 12, 2008, 10:11 am 10:11 am
I hope Obama puts on a racing helmet and climbs inside a race car.
It will certainly be his Dukakis moment.
He looked out of place bowling, drinking a beer, and feeding a calf.
The NASCAR crowd will see through Obama’s pandering. They know he’s probably never had oil or grease on his pretty hands.
Posted by: riley | July 12, 2008, 10:17 am 10:17 am
For all you idiot Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity wannabe suck-ups who posted regarding this issue, it turns out that cash strapped BAM RACING representative, Rhett Vandiver, was the one who APPROACHED Senator Obama’s campaign as well as that of McCain and a third party candidate with a proposal to sponsor. Why aren’t you idiots slamming the McCain campaign or the third party candidate who was approached with the same offer? The sad part is all who twist facts into fiction, but of course, that’s the Republican party today. Pure fiction, maybe like McCain’s Green Bay Packer line.
Posted by: devilkev | July 12, 2008, 10:19 am 10:19 am
Obama seems to be so embarrassed to be an American I guess a little more embarrassment wouldn’t hurt!
Posted by: Ross | July 12, 2008, 10:52 am 10:52 am
Obama flip flops on everything.
Posted by: hillary1st | July 12, 2008, 11:22 am 11:22 am
Let’s see, this is part of Obama’s “detailed plan for jobs creation” that only his True Believers seem to think even exists.
Posted by: ragnar30066 | July 12, 2008, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
Obama is pandering for votes. He is disgusting. How can anyone think of voting for him?
And just for the record….NASCAR is a high-tech industry and is the largest spectator sport in the US. Those who belittle NASCAR simply don’t know what they are talking about.
Posted by: David, Charlotte, NC | July 12, 2008, 7:50 pm 7:50 pm
My husband is a huge Race Fan – and he would NEVER vote for obama – actually, neither would I. Don’t waste your time obama – we don’t trust you, don’t even like you and will NOT vote for you.
Posted by: Molly | July 12, 2008, 11:56 pm 11:56 pm
Sunlen Miller, the least you could have done is perhaps taken a look on the Nascar website before writing such a blatant falsehood. You’ll find the press release clearly stating BAM racing approached not only Obama, but McCain and an undisclosed third party candidate with this proposal. Obama hadn’t even mentioned it until approached. Geez! get your facts straight, you’ve got the Sean Hannity and Limbaugh suck-ups all shook up.
Posted by: devilkev | July 13, 2008, 1:13 am 1:13 am
I heard McCain’s going to dance on Soul Train next!
Posted by: tminu | July 13, 2008, 2:13 am 2:13 am
Obama can spend as much as he wants.
It’s not going to force people to vote for him in November.
He’s a con from Chicago. The world knows it.
Posted by: Al from NJ | July 13, 2008, 7:22 am 7:22 am
More poor judgement.
Cocky or what?
Posted by: Al from NJ | July 13, 2008, 7:23 am 7:23 am
Obama thinks so selfishly it’s embarrassing:
“Everyone loves me.
I am the one.
Now is the time.”
Obama should get over himself.
Posted by: Rick from Pa | July 13, 2008, 7:25 am 7:25 am
Obama is like a chameleon. Both can change within 20 seconds to match their mood and surroundings.
Posted by: ereed | July 13, 2008, 8:02 am 8:02 am
You know, there’s no winning with some people. If Obama reaches out, he’s pandering. If he doesn’t reach out, he’s standoffish and elite. Obama’s team realizes that he cannot win the White House with only the Black and educated liberal White vote so therefore he’s trying to reach out to all segments of the population. I call that smart marketing.
Posted by: Keith | July 13, 2008, 3:26 pm 3:26 pm
No, it is pandering.
Do you honestly think that anyone that is in to NASCAR is going to vote for Obama just because he suddenly sponsors a car???
Not a chance. We know his true hatred for anything that burns fuel. These cars aren’t built for mileage. We know full and well that Obama would love to have the communist authority to axe NASCAR. And the scary thing with that is so would all of the little parrot liberals. Scary because you would be willing to turn communist just to get your way. Don’t even try to deny it, we know you better than you know your self.
Obama should just stay out of the most patriotic sport ever played. As well as the most supportive of our troops. Nothing liberals have even diserves to stand in the shadow of NASCAR.
If Obama really wants to attempt to impress us, drive. Get a car, and drive one whole race. That is as long as your car is still deemed race worthy by the officials. We love wrecks. So there you go Obama, come to one of the Super Speedways and wreck for us. If you do a good enough job, maybe someone might vote for you.
Posted by: The One Eight Rocks Again | July 13, 2008, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
So Mr “New Politics” is Pandering
to NASCAR Fans Now!
What’s Next? A Hunting Trip?
This guy is Starting to Make the
Clintons Lokk Like The Truth Squad!
Just Say No to Obama! No You Can’t!
Posted by: reaganfan | July 14, 2008, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
Car and Driver has at least gotten a lot of publicity for their Nascar April Fool’s stunt; the question is — is bad publicity better than no publicity at all?
Posted by: caffeine head | April 4, 2009, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm