by John McCormick
DES MOINES -- Now that Jan. 3 has been set as the date for the Iowa caucuses, there will be questions of campaign etiquette on how many days to stay off the campaign trail to observe the holidays.
Sen. Barack Obama weighed in Thursday evening during an interview with the Tribune aboard his campaign bus.
"My gut tells me don't be calling people on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve," he said. "I think Christmas and Thanksgiving are family affairs and I intend to spend them with my family."
Asked whether a two-day blackout of campaign activity would be enough around Christmas, Obama said he wants to keep some flexibility.
"I will find out what the staff thinks," he said. "But I think it is important, and I know [my wife] Michelle agrees, that, you know, we let people enjoy their family time because, you know, I'm not the only one who doesn't get to see their families around here."
The full story from the Tribune's Obama interview is linked here.







Comments
From Obama: "My gut tells me don't be calling people on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve," he said. "I think Christmas and Thanksgiving are family affairs and I intend to spend them with my family."
His gut tells him? My gut tells mt it's a nonstarter, that NOT campaigning on Christmas and Christmas Eve is the thing to do and one doesn't even need to think about it or check his gut.
Posted by: John D | November 9, 2007 9:33 AM
John D-
Can I check your gut on a couple of things?
Is it good etiquette to torture someone on Christmas or Thanksgiving?
If I'm going to waterboard someone on those days, should I do it with a nice warm cider instead water?
Finally, what's an appropriate Christmas present to send a dear ally who is busy this holiday season crushing democracy in his country? I know beating your own citizens, arresting the political opposition, and conspiring with the terrorist you claim to be fighting can take alot out of a guy, and I'd like to get him something nice just for him.
Posted by: George W. Bush | November 9, 2007 9:50 AM
Fortunately for Hillary, Christmas and New Years are not holidays for her fundraiser, Norman Hsu...providing he's out of jail by then.
Posted by: Seneca | November 9, 2007 10:16 AM
Does Barack call people during Ramadon???
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | November 9, 2007 10:27 AM
Qatar doesn't recognize these holidays so Rudy will still get his check.
Posted by: kg123 | November 9, 2007 10:48 AM
Dear Mr. Bush pretender: It depends if torture is OK on Christmas and Thanksgiving. If a big, bad terrorist is captured and that big, bad terrorist has information about a dirty bomb being detonated in Chicago, then waterboarding the big, bad terrorist is Ok. But now that I think about it, there are tons of corrupt Democratic politicians in Chicago and Crooked County and tons of incredibly ignorant liberals who vote for those corrupt Democratic politicians in Chicago and Crooked County, so perhaps letting that dirty bomb explode is a good thing!! Might also help clean up the Chicago Tribune. We just have to make sure John Kass is on vacation, that's all.
Another John D. post you Lefties can save and trot out a year or two from now, huh??
Posted by: John D | November 9, 2007 11:30 AM
Man I hope the Feds are swarming John D. right now for wishing a dirty bomb to take out the Tribune. All it takes is for John D's split personality JD to take control of his actions and before you know it this sometimes comical often times offensive character is mixing chemicals in his grandmothers bathtub and putting together a pipebomb. What is funny about terrorism? You are just too stupid and mentally unstable to be brushed off as a pranskster.
Posted by: jethro | November 9, 2007 12:01 PM
John D
If you hate this place so very much, why do you post here?
Posted by: nisleib | November 9, 2007 12:01 PM
John D is by far the best fiction writer around. He is Stephen King.... or a twelve year old with an abundant amount of hate, imagination, and time on his hands. We might not need to save this comment, but the CIA might want to look into it because it is not that different than Chu's narratives. And, well we like to keep the public safe from nutty men.
Posted by: The Left | November 9, 2007 12:03 PM
You know if there was ever a rumor of a dirty bonb in Chicago, Mr. "Tough on Terror" John D would be curled up on the sidewalk in the fetal position sobbing, wetting his pants and paralyzed with terror.
John D is motivated by fear in all his beliefs.
Posted by: AJF | November 9, 2007 12:18 PM
John D drives a Nissan Murano. Anyone know where he works? He needs to be taken in for questioning. He may have information.
Posted by: a concerned citizen | November 9, 2007 12:33 PM
Jethro, AJF, "The Left": You folks are very, very funny!
Oh and Jethro, me, John D., and JD are two, totally different people. No split personalities. I, he, we are not John E., and others who post as countless other people.
Posted by: John D | November 9, 2007 12:37 PM