Obama still tries to put best light on perceived gaffe

Wow!!! you must be kidding. Every one said that Clinton made a big mistake by going after Barack on that and Barack fought back so hard that she changed her view. Are you a 1st year journalist in a university that rank 500 among the top tier. gosh

I can't believe you pundicts will call this a gaffe. Truly, you pundicts must be out of your mind if you think "conventional thinking" can get us out of this mess of Iraq and Iran.

I bet press and pundicts are part of the conventional thinking that is killing American.

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 11, 2001
Statement by the President in His Address to the Nation

"America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining."
_____________________
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 17, 2002
President Outlines War Effort

"This transformation is a powerful testimony to the success of Marshall's vision, and a beacon to light the path that we, too, must follow."

_____________________
Bush: 'Violent Islamic radicalism.... doomed to fail''
by Mark Silva
Dedication- Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington.

" The men and women who designed this memorial could have chosen an image of repression for this space, a replica of the wall that once divided Berlin, or the frozen barracks of the Gulag, or a killing field littered with skulls. Instead, they chose an image of hope -- a woman holding a lamp of liberty. She reminds us of the victims of Communism, and also of the power that overcame Communism.

"Like our Statue of Liberty, she reminds us that the flame for freedom burns in every human heart, and that it is a light that cannot be extinguished by the brutality of terrorists or tyrants. And she reminds us that when an ideology kills tens of millions of people, and still ends up being vanquished, it is contending with a power greater than death. (Applause.) She reminds us that freedom is the gift of our Creator, freedom is the birthright of all humanity, and in the end, freedom will prevail. (Applause.)

_____________________
President Bush Announces Major Combat Operations in Iraq Have Ended
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 1, 2003

"Yet all can know, friend and foe alike, that our nation has a mission: We will answer threats to our security, and we will defend the peace. (Applause.)"

Apparently John Kennedy concepts are quite popular with Bush too. Or, anyone else who wants to evoke and ride the greatness of dead guys, no disrespect, before they had a chance to do something great themselves. The quicker picker upper Kennedy.

Oh no, another Jimmy Carter? Another neophyte gomer who thinks he can accomplish anything through diplomacy and give-aways. And we're still paying for it because of Carter with the loss of Iran, the disaster of the Panama Canal, the screw-up between Arafat and Begin, the enabling of Muslim radicals and on and on. And thousands of American small businessmen lost their firms due to Carter's 22 percent interest as he stood helplessly by. The problem with Obama is like that of Carter: He doesn't know how much of a rookie he really is.

"Obama still tries to put best light on perceived gaffe"

I don't see it this way at all, I think Obama is doing just what he should be doing, campaigning on his message, campaigning on his policies. Why in the heck Frank James went all the way back and posted this negative headline, and it is, is so typical of this Obama-bashing that's going on. I don't think Obama 'tries' anything or that he is still 'trying to put best light...'. This is awful. Of all the headlines, you Obama-hate writers, this is all you could come up with, instead of simply "Obama Puts best light in new New Hampshire Ad" because that's just what it is!

Why keep pointing out what most of us already nkow that Obama is clearly in over his head. He would be better served to just let it go instead of reminding everyone just how unqaulified he is for the job.

Not his only gaffe. On the last tv debate, he said he understood why others voted the way they did on the Iraq issue because of the cooked & twisted intelligence. Soooo, Mr. Obama, you have just excused Hillary Clinton & Edwards by that comment. You'd think he would review the tape by now & give us a rest, as he has gone back to the same old refrain.

I don't like Obama. He's one of those intellectual types, always backing his arguments up with sound reason and analysis. Can't I have a candidate that appeals to my more primitive and baser instincts? I want someone who talks tough and likes fast cars.

Did I not see the Russian president meeting with the Iranian president on TV last week?
Will you call that a gaffe?

Barack needs to hammer Hillary/Bill about her 360 degree retreat from her position on meeting with Iran during the July debate. Here's a quote from Yahoo News Oct 12 07: "Standing with him on stage, Clinton said she would first send envoys to test the waters and called Obama's position irresponsible and naive.

But asked about it Thursday [Oct 11] by a voter, the New York senator said twice that she, too, would negotiate with Iran "with no conditions."

"I would engage in negotiations with Iran, with no conditions, because we don't really understand how Iran works. We think we do, from the outside, but I think that is misleading," she said at an apple orchard.

The supposed "gaffe" by Barack played in all the media for at least two weeks with all of the pundits joining Hillary/Bill in claiming him naive for taking a bold position. It turned out that he had not made a gaffe. Interesting enough one of Hillary/Bill's supporters Gen. Wesley Clark has advocated the same thing for months.

The comparison to Barack to JFK is another media concoction. America does need the inspiration in his message of hope. His "light" is to show the way out of the extreme divisions that exist in United States today, out of the misery this war is causing, and improving our image in the World.

Why keep pointing out what most of us already nkow that Obama is clearly in over his head. He would be better served to just let it go instead of reminding everyone just how unqaulified he is for the job.

Posted by: Vinny | October 22, 2007 3:23 PM

Nice try Gomer,

Prez 24% and Chainsaw Dick had plenty of "experiance" and look at the fine mess those two Bozo's have made.

Obama's percieved gaffe would be labeled as brilliant if Bush said the same thing.

There is a new Gallup poll that shows Clinton with a 50% to 21% lead over Obama with those likely to vote in the Dem primaries. No candidate has ever had such a big lead and not won the nom. So you Obamites can try and spin it any way you like but you are all just in denial of the fact that Hillary WILL BE the Democratic candidate for President in 2008. Obama ran too early in his career. It is really shocking to me that someone who has never really done anything of note would just up and run for President w/out any kind of a record. Seems that the vast majority of the country agrees that he does not have what it takes to be President at this point in his career.

"Another neophyte gomer who thinks he can accomplish anything through diplomacy and give-aways"

Yeah, stupid diplomacy! War, that's the answer, right?

Gaffe? You have to be kidding. This is one of the key reasons I support Obama.
Who hasn't prayed for the day that we would have dialogue and DIPLOMACY instead of war?
When will the MSM realize that they are losing all credibility by these thinly vailed attempts to swing the election? I only hope that in the end the American people will not be marketed into another disaster by you people.

There is a new Gallup poll that shows Clinton with a 50% to 21% lead over Obama with those likely to vote in the Dem primaries. No candidate has ever had such a big lead and not won the nom. So you Obamites can try and spin it any way you like.

Posted by: VInny | October 22, 2007 3:32 PM

Yeah, that's what President Howard Dean said too.

"I don't like Obama. He's one of those intellectual types, always backing his arguments up with sound reason and analysis. Can't I have a candidate that appeals to my more primitive and baser instincts? I want someone who talks tough and likes fast cars."
Okay - you are awesome. Thanks for the laugh!! How sad is this, though- maybe I've been reading too many frothing right wing blogs (or statements by Vinny) but I actually thought this was a legitimate comment at first. Anyway, nicely done!

On the Demo side it seems like Bill Richardson has the most relevant experience.

It is really mind boggling that you the "pundits" are talking about this again, as if CLinton has already changed her position on this. SHE Said exactly what Barack has said in July and you are still reporting as if Barack has made a mistake. Instead, it would have made you a good learner if you started to report how right OBAMA was in July and in hind sight and after thinking a lot, how wrong CLinton was on the subject. However, you chose to continue to say OBAMA has a gaffe....this shows that you are still in your conventional thinking and even worst, you are not able to learn from your mistake. WOW...Clintonista all over again. I thought we will be done with her after 3 month after electing Barack .... but I guess we have a lot more work cut out for us, teaching you how to think better and learn quickly, before people die.

Daniel, Desmoines, IOWA

Ya, if 'unqualified' means possessing a strong character, being able to think rationally, engage in diplomacy, possessing intelligence and vision--yes, I guess you're right--Barack is really
'unqualified.' There are millions of us out there who want this 'unqualified' man to be President. We are here, so get used to us!!!

Other candidates have to pay money to get their ads out. All Obama has to do is phone his shills at the Swamp, and his ads are spread across the nation at Tribune Co. expense.

Obama holds his position, meanwhile Hillary plays a soundbyte Hamlet:

Cubs/Yankees?

Airstrikes/Talks?

The only place Hillary is decisive is about whether to take money from:
Hsu, Blackwater, Well-heeled Dishwashers, and Monsanto.

And Obama's promise to negotiate was a gaffe?

wow!you guy are still calling that a gaffe?why? you know what, if obama does not win this election( that's a big IF),you all are going to reget it. he uses his common sense.how do people work things out if they're not talking? thats common sense.

You Bama lovers gotta be kiddin'. He ain't got the experience; he ain't got the character; yeah, he's a cutie; but he's just another backroom politician from Chitown. Go look up Rezko. God love ya all. If he's our saviour, we're all in deep trouble.

"Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign is continuing to make a virtue out of necessity following what many still view as a gaffe he committed during July’s YouTube debate when he said that as president that he’d meet without preconditions, with leaders of rogue states hostile to the U.S."

well a lot has happened in five months, actually-- including Mrs. Clinton changing her view once again to meet Mr. Obama's.
Here is another point of view of what you are describing:
http://thehill.com/dick-morris/sen.-clintons-campaign-commits-big-time-goof-2007-08-01.html

"The fact that his campaign feels it necessary to go up with this commercial, indicates its continuing concern that Obama is having trouble closing the deal with a lot of voters because of that July comment and what it symbolized, again, for many, his newness to global affairs."

Well, another interpretation here Frank, is that the campaign might feel it necessary to go with commercials because that is a very good way to reach your constituency in politics.

Please give examples of decisions that Mrs. Clinton has executed on the international scene since being senator in New York and being first lady in the White House. I'm not being facetious, I am curious.

Thanks!

Obama holds his position, meanwhile Hillary plays a soundbyte Hamlet:

Cubs/Yankees?

Airstrikes/Talks?

The only place Hillary is decisive is about whether to take money from:
Hsu, Blackwater, Well-heeled Dishwashers, and Monsanto.

And Obama's promise to negotiate was a gaffe?

joie,

To answer your first question, Mr. Obama's got over 20 years of experience working with people at many levels of society--

community organizing in poor neighborhoods on southside Chitown, practicing civil law, teaching constitutional law, state senator for three terms, US senator for over two years..

As for 'Rezko' don't just gossip, check it out for yourself:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/124171,CST-NWS-obama05.article
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/184540,122306obama.article

A man willing to admit his missteps out in front doesn't strike me as the 'backroom politician' you portray.

Would you like a president who pretends they're perfect, or a president with working experience in helping diverse groups meet common goals?

What part of perceived gaffe don't you people understand?

It's amazing how little is found when folk try to dig into Obama's dirty laundry..

Good grief. There was no gaffe!!!! Does anyone honestly think it helps us when we refuse to even talk? Following that line of reasoning, Kennedy would not have spoken to the Russians during the Cuban missile crisis, Nixon wouldn't have gone to China and Reagan wouldn't have spoken to Gorbachev.

I guess scheduling foreign visits would be a lot easier if we only met with the British and maybe the Canadians, but it sure wouldn't advance the interests of the USA very much.

Obama was right during the youtube debate and he's right now. That's why you hear Hillary trying to co-opt the message about icreasing diplomacy.

Vote Obama!

this swamp people are racists.always attacking Obama probably because you know he is gonna be the next president of the united states.I am giving him my vote!!!!!

Barack might actually get 60 votes in the Senate every now and then.

This country is going to have a serious case of buyer's remorse of we elect Hillary.

I'd take Mike Huck, Richardson, possibly even McCain over her. But Barack would be best for uniting this country.

Other candidates have to pay money to get their ads out. All Obama has to do is phone his shills at the Swamp, and his ads are spread across the nation at Tribune Co. expense.

Posted by: bruce | October 22, 2007 5:45 PM

Bruce get some new material. Weak propaganda!

Hilary should return the money she took from the illegal immigrants in chinatown and also money collected from the chain of child-trafficking businesses in china before she can become the president.

She is selling out America and she shold not be trusted or believed. she will do anything or say anything that she thinks people want to hear just to advance her political ambition. l do not buy those lies.

Obama will use diplomacy and not war! war is not the answer, we have not even finished the war we started in Iraq and now we are thinking of going into Iran. our kids, fathers, mothers, boys and girls are dying eveyday in Iraq and yet we are thinking of our political advancemnet (Hilary Clinton).

We need Barack Obama for peace, diplomacy and good Judgement.

No more war all you Hilary supporters!

I think this is a great comment. And i'm actually very afraid of people(read Hillary Clinton) saying that we need to know what other countries want and are going to do for us before we even bother to talk to them. How are we being an example to the rest of the world by acting like a bully? Obama talks about bringing people together, then he delivers. I love his judgement, his experience, and his attitude.

Obama 08!

It was only "perceived" to be a gaffe in the eyes of the ignorant.

This headline certainly seems unprofessional, if not unethical.

Frank James: Please explain how this is an unbiased framing of the story. Thanks.

Hillary has experience? What experience? A wife is not a president. Does your wife know how to do your job? Does your husband know how to do you job? What experience does she have? Not any more than Obama. Period.

Right after the CNN/Youtube debate where the pundits claims Obama committed this "gaffe", the participants of all the focus groups agreed with Obama. Even the focus group put together by FOX NEWS all agreed that Obama was correct, and all the focus groups said Obama won the debate. Yet the Washington establishment and the pundits came out in full throttle the next day, telling us Obama committed a "gaffe", and hammered away at it for weeks on end, so of course the "perception" became reality. Anyone notice how fast the media killed the story of Hillary saying she would negotiate with Iran with no conditions?

The fix is in, people....the corporate estalishment candidate Hillary is being backed by the media, so only the people can take this country back.

Mr. James,

I don't know which election you are looking at but it can't be this one because your information is simply erroneous.

First, the only person who unequivocally said his comments about meeting with leaders were a gaffe was Hillary Clinton. Don't confuse what Clinton, the media's darling, says, and what your vaguely stated "many" say - because "many" - and they do have illustrious names, agreed with Obama.

Secondly, so much was it NOT a gaffe, that foreign policy gurus like Brzezinski agreed, and joined his campaign.

Moreover, Mr. Obama has continued to repeat his stance. Not something one does with a so-called "gaffe."

And if this demonstrates bad judgement, then Nixon should never have gone to China.

As for your contention that Obama reacted to perceptions that he made a gaffe by going against conventional wisdom: he has gone against conventional wisdom all his life, and talked about it, too. It isn't merely a crutch he adopted to defend his "gaffe," as you seem to suggest.

If Senator Obama made such a terrible gaffe, why is Billary now saying that she would talk to Iran? Seems to me like she is the one that made the gaffe by calling Senator Obama naive and irresponsible.

This is so old and so inappropriate. Everyone who disagreed with Senator Obams now agrees with him. You have to communicate with people even if you don't like them. If you want to know how the candidates think go to the Des Moines Register site to the Insight section http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071020/OPINION/71017035/1001 and see the question responses of each of the Presidential candidates. You can really see who is a flexible thinker and who is not. This world needs flexible and creative thinkers who can solve big problems. Senator Obama actually listens to the questions and give real, thoughtful and flexible answers. It's a great idea. Swamp should try the same thing.

How obvious do you have to be. Just come out and endorse hillary as your choice, but try not to be unintelligent about it.

How many times has this been covered already? How many experts stated that Senator Obama was right.

Im tired of cowardly jounalist who fake objectivity instead of just telling the truth.

Frank James, I find it unfortunate that someone so uninformed can consider himself a journalist. No one but you is still calling Barack's perspective on diplomacy with Iran a "gaffe".
In fact Hilary, months after calling Barack Obama "naive" for his views, is now endorsing the same perspective. Funny, how everyone, BUT YOU, is aware of this.

For the sake of professionalism, please do a little research before you run off with the big kids and try to write something. Might actually make you relevant next time.