Declining a seat on Oprah Air

A very smart move. Don't give those nasty reporters something to talk about for weeks while they ignore the real issues such as "THE WAR THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION STARTED," and all the other bad decisions made by "George Bush and his notorious group."

So, coming up this November is an election. Soon after, we will begin to see a deluge of political ads and campaign 'news' in yet another run for the Presidency.

As usual, the Republicans will run someone whom they feel unassailable, and it won't matter if they are, either. Everyone who supports that candidate will step in line and start to sound the same. The tyrrany of loyalty.

And the Democrats will step up, licking eight years' worth of wounds, and inevitably try to employ the same stunt, ultimately shooting themselves in the foot.

For the love of this country, Sen. Obama should be the Dem's only choice. Read his book, listen to the man. Character is not a skin you wear to merely look like a leader, it is, rather, the soul that fills it.

Frankly, I believe it is time to place the mantle of authority on one who would be reluctant to accept it. And I believe Sen. Obama is made of that stuff. It isn't important that he's on a trip, it is in how he acts.

A good leader, a leader I would enthusiastically follow, is one who would know that his service is owed to the people who chose him, not to those who paid him. One who would be sure that his country would want for nothing, so that eventually, no one else would either.

Perhaps a leader who actually prefers the dictionary definition of Democracy over the popular version discussed by pundits, radio personalities, and comedians.

Why doesn't Senator Obama ever visit his mother's side of the family or the places they're from?
Barack Obama was born at the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii to Harvard University-educated economist Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a native of Kenya and a Muslim. His mother is Shirley Ann Dunham, of Wichita, Kansas. When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced. His father eventually returned to Kenya, and he saw his son only once more before his death in 1982. Ann Obama then married his stepfather, Lolo Soetoro from Indonesia. In his early childhood while growing up with his mother, Barack used the name 'Barry'. The family then moved to Jakarta. When Obama was ten he returned to Hawaii under the care of his grandparents, (Madelyn Dunham) and later his mother.

After the money he has made by on his books (mostly bought by large donors and then given to people). Between that and his campaign fund, he has enough money to pay for the trip.

My question Jeff, did you sit on his lap on the airplane?

I couldn't agree more on Obama's character and general brilliance - and that he is exactly the sort of man that should be president.

However, I recently saw an interview from him in Men's Vogue in which he said,"My attitude about something like the presidency is that you don't want to just be the president. You want to change the country. You want to make a unique contribution. You want to be a great president."

I think Obama's humility is one of his best characteristics - his willingness to acknowledge that he was, until very recently, nothing more than a local community organizer. He'll be the first to admit that he has a lot to learn before being the "great president" that so many people agree he will one day be. I don't think 2008 is the time for him. That said, if he runs I will sell all of my possessions and volunteer for his campaign.

In the meantime, check out Wesley Clark's bio on www.securingamerica.com. I think he has the same moral character and integrity (and intellectual capacity) as Obama but with the added bonus of 35 years of military experience. In that time, as a 4-star general and Supreme Commander of NATO Allied Forces - Europe, he oversaw and executed the war in Kosovo without a single combat casualty. I can't think of better credentials for a president at this moment in history. If you like Obama you will be as impressed as I am by Gen. Clark. Be sure to read the "career highlights" especially.

Hey Lauren, that whole Wesley Clark for president thing worked out REALLY well the last time he tried it. Try and get a straight anwswer out of him about why he was removed as NATO Supreme Commander, too.
I tend to agree with General Norman Schwarzkopf who had this to say about Clark:

"I think the greatest condemnation against him . . . came from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff when he was a NATO commander. I mean, he was fired as a NATO commander.”

I wonder if Oprah had one of her Crash-Hermes moments when Obama turned her down.

Fantastic photo ops!!!!! Our golden boy, looks so sincere.

Hey Obama, where were you during the Black Panther Street Sign when we asked you for help? Oh wait... you were busy with your book, and doing signings.

What a minute. Is he novelist or our Senator????

I was disappointed to read that Sen. Obama's second senate bill was to give $100 to automakers for EACH automobile they produced that complied with specific hybrid standards.

Sounds a little Republican to me.

Enough rhetoric on his fine character. Let's look at his short record. And see how he matures in his job. I too want a moral being in the White House NOW, but there's too much hype on this young man.

I have always thought that Obama was about as inspiring (but not quite as politically effective) as a bowl of tepid Cream of Wheat.

Now that I've learned that he's Oprah's buddy I have even less respect for him. JEEZ, I didn't think that was possible!

Ive had the distinct pleasure of meeting Senator Obama, and had taken a class with him at U of C. Impressive are his credentials and his desire for change. However, I am not convinced of the groundswell of support for a presidential candidacy. Seems a bit strange to me.

Ive had the distinct pleasure of meeting Senator Obama, and have taken a class with him at U of C. Impressive are his credentials and his desire for change. However, I am not convinced of the groundswell of support for a presidential candidacy. Seems a bit strange to me.

Renee, you can't blame Obama for staying away from the black panther sign thing, that would be political suiside. But, all these other lefty nitwits on this blog already have him in the WHITE HOUSE, probably with Oprah as the V.P.
If that ever happens....get ready to pay way,way,way higher taxes and go buy a gun because that will be your last line of defense. Obama would run to the worthless United Nations and ask them for a resolution on the enemy to stop bombing our cities and invading us! Of course France would vote no.
Paulo

I admire the senator,all though, I can"t see why he is so interested in his father who left him instead of the people who raised him and gave him a great life.
He has a long way to go,before being president
Start visiting your white family, or you might not get many white votes. Why is it that so many people try to do so much for those who do nothing for then , and so little for those who do so much

Paulo, that is shallow thinking, if you can't find anything to discredit the man don't speculate on what he would do if he became president.

Pat, how do you know he never visits his "white family"? Just because it has never been covered in the media doesn't mean he doesn't do it. It seems to me that you are turning this into a black and white issue and it could be that you have a hard time picturing some one with black ancestry in the White House.

And about the "doing so much for those who do nothing for them, and so little for those who do so much" That's what true leaders do. We don't send people in the White House to reward those who contributed to their campaigns and ignore the people who "did nothing" for them yet those are the people they are in office to serve.

All of you seem to be either lauding or lampooning a man you all know of through the media's eyes. I applaud him for not hopping on the Oprah express to Africa.

As for the rest, I'll wait and see what happens... the lot of you need to step back and realize that you are discussing a man none of you know personally, yet you feel the right to dissect his motivations, what he would or would not do if elected to the White House. It's never as simple as black, white, brown, politics or promises, its all about perception and from the looks of it you all have made your decisions about a political future thats two years in the distance.