Mellow, outdoor afternoon with Obama

I don't blame Obama for not talking to reporters. Could you imagine being Brad Pitt walking down the street. The next day they will say you had a gun in your hand. Obama realizes the media is nobody's friend and won't let them ruin his chances. He is a smart guy and he should just keep doing what he's doing. Obama needs to get this nomination done with because John McCain is marching around with black people and if we don't watch it, McCain is going to take it in November. Clinton WILL NOT beat McCain, no way no how will the republicans let her take the whitehouse. VOTE OBAMA 08!!!!!!!!

Minus the life-coach style rhetoric in big crowd speech, Obama just doesn't sound all that impressive when getting up close. Oh, and please spare him by not asking him for his plans (for anything). He could turn the table on you, and accuse you of not staying on issues.

I had read a while back that Senator Obama did not talk to the reporters who travel with him. They even stated that that was usual. Candidates usually talk and take questions from the traveling press. I think part of his strategy has been to orchestrate his appearances into a speech, then leave so he will not have to answer so many questions. That's why it took us so long to learn about wright, ayers, etc...

This guy's message control is awesome.

And I was looking at his campaign's internal projections which leaked out on February 6th, and their predictions have been awesomely accurate. For each primary, they projected very closely to the final result not only the winner, but the percentages for both candidates, and also the numbers of delegates that would be won by each. Only they predicted a slight loss in Maine, which they instead won. Their prediction for Pennsylvania was Clinton 52%, Obama 47%; Clinton 83 delegates, Obama 75 delegates.

We'll see.

I want this person as President. He might be the best executive who ever ran for the office.

Let us HOPE this is a very close race in PA. We Democrats need some emotional energy left for the campaign against McCain. His comments in Alabama indicate the style of his future campaigning.

I really hope Obama wins PA. I have a good feeling that he will. I personally had ENOUGH of the silly season politics that Hillary and her supporters do. I was a Hillary fan in the beginning; but Barack is right. It time for CHANGE for the tabloid political tactics of yesterday. I’ve grown to love Obama because it feels good to see and hear my son (who's a jock) and all his teenage friends talk about Obama, super-delegates, and listen to debates. Thanks to Obama, they are really engaged in this politico process.

Obama has really started a movement; and I pray that it comes to fruition.

Eric

If the 83 to 75 delegate count comes true, only a difference of 8, then I think it prevents any hope of Billary catching up in the delegate count. But I also think this was true 2 months ago. But Billary does have a point of Obama NOT winning any big Blue states, while he has won many Red states which the Republicans are almost certain to win in the GE. So... suppose Obama stumbles, Billary does well, and comes up with only 100 - 200 delegates behind Obama at the convention. Will the SUPERdelegates vote for Billary based on her latest surge, or vote for Obama because he leads in the delegate count ? No one knows. But do you think black voters and other hard-core Obama supporters will actually vote for Billary in the Presidential Election if she wins the nomination while being behind in voter-elected delegates ? I think black voters will be enraged and desert the Dems in droves in the Presidential Election. whether by voting for anyone-but-Billary or simly sitting out the election because they feel that Obama was "cheated" out of the nomination. And they might very well have a good moral case for it. Either way it plays out, I just don't think that Obama or Billary can win the Presidential election.

I'm a Libertarian and will not vote for McCain nor ANY Democrat.

I think Obama should make a point of courting the press. Sure there's the risk of an off-the-cuff remark getting played up, but there's also the risk of the press people not feeling like he's giving them their due.

Look at McCain, who cozies up to the press and gets favorable treatment in return. They give him donuts for crying out loud.

Sadly, the press has become very important in our political process, not because they unveil the truth, but because they create it. If the press doesn't like you, you get portrayed as an unlikable person. Just ask Al Gore.

GOd forbid he should answer questions. The terity of those reporters, anyway! Remember what happened in Texas? They actually asked questions (these were Chicago reporters, who weren't at all impressed by His Highness) and expected answers. And he RAN from the room, saying something like, "c'mon guys, I already answered, like, 8 questions." Yeah, and they had at least 8 more... But Obama baby didn't want to answer them. He'd rather have drolling, idolizing masses who think he's perfect.

Why are we even discussing this? Don't you know that the big news is all three presidential candidates will appear on WWE Raw tonight?
http://www.wrestlezone.com/article.php?articleid=210816154
Yes, this is what it has come to.

Know matter what i will support either one of them, but i do hope Obama wins. He seems more honest and has more in common with the average person. This is the first time i had ever voted and only did so because of what our country is facing. He will work with all parties to achieve what is best for this country. And not what is best for the republican or democratic party. He will become America's President. For all Americans.

The media already had its chance during the debate. And the media asked him questions about Rev. Wright and flag pins and other questions that were relevant only to morons.

Real Americans want answers to real questions.

no matter how mellow obama is , hillary WILL be on the attack - she will continue to play negative politics and that is bad for this nation

she will continue to play the race card and then pretend she does not - THAT IS ALSO BAD FOR THE NATION

she will continue to pander and make false promises and she will continue to lie - all BAD for our country

NOONE who LOVES the USA should VOTE for HILLARY for ANY reason

but there is HOPE - remember that even if hil-LIAR-y wins 70 to 30 tomorrow (and she will NOT because in the history of contested democratic primaries, only obama has ever won one by that margin), hillary will still be down by a big margin in delegates

since she will STILL be LOSING as of this time in 48 hours from now - FOR CERTAIN, then you can definitely expect MORE "sniper" stories and more race baiting etc. - why ? because that is who she is - in fact, that is all she is

A vote for Hillary tomorrow is a vote for McCain. Period.

Any PA democrat who votes for Hillary tomorrow is saying either 1) I'm not really a democrat; or 2) I'm a complete idiot and don't realize that all I'm doing by voting for her is helping the other side.

Please, PA dems ... don't be stupid.

ANOTHER CLINTON ADVISOR QUITS:

One of Clinton's top experts on China has resigned becuase of Senator Clinton's increasing dramatic talk about China.

Richard Baum, a political science professor at the Center for Chinese Studies at UCLA, resigned in light of what he called "grossly misguided accusations" made by Clinton about China.

"As a lifelong Democrat, it saddens me that Sen. Clinton has chosen to take the low road in her effort to gain our party’s presidential nomination," Baum said

Clinton has slammed China on everything from Human Rights to its currency.

Over the past three or four months, Baum said, the group held several telephone conferences with the campaign. During those calls, a few members advised Clinton to avoid what they considered "gratuitous China bashing," particularly on inflammatory issues such as human rights violations, the trade deficit, currency valuation and the loss of American jobs to China.

According to Baum, the group suggested that China is more likely to respond to hands on talks instead of "finger pointing".

There goes another Clinton advisor with less than happy things to say about the candidate.

I don't understand why she bothers to form a group if she is just going to ignore their reccomendations.

this is important on many levels. First it illustrates a huge difference between Clinton and Obama. His diplomacy skills are far superior to hers. Second, it's just another example of people inside the Clinton camp that simply can't tolerate her anymore. Third, it sets a tone of level-headed reasoning with respect to China from someone with the credentials to discuss the topic.

I'd like to see the people calling Obama a "coward" run for office and reach out to thousands of strangers a day while under threat of assassination, or did you forget he's been risking his life to serve? I'd like to hear what these cowards claim he hasn't answered, and send them 10 or 20 video-recorded responses they either missed entirely, or just maliciously claim he hasn't answered anyway. You want to give the White House back to the pharmaceutical companies that have paid 10 BILLION DOLLARS IN BRIBES TO LOBBYISTS, then go right ahead and vote for Hillary. Eight corporations, one of which is AUSTRALIAN for pete's sake, run our news AND sit on those pharmaceutical boards, so get ahead and buy the hype if you want another 4 or 8 years of getting shafted. If you finally want to kick those filthy lobbyists out of the White House and put "Foreclosed" signs on K Street - and boy would I love to, seeing all the foreclosure signs on my street - vote for Obama! Make those lobbyists get a REAL job!

"But he [Obama] also said he would not seek to raise the gas tax if elected president. "Consumer just can't bare it right now," he said."

Typical Obama evasion of the question. Very Clinton-like, actually.

He only promises not to "seek" a gas tax hike. If he was serious about opposing gas tax hikes, he'd promise to VETO any gas tax hike.

""Consumer just can't bare it right now," he said."

"at his more ruckus political rallies"

"Reporters and photographers slightly trampled a Sept. 11 memorial garden to get into position to photograph Obama after the event, and to try to ask him a few questions."

Reporters may want to try checking their spelling before hitting "post", and watching their step. Sheesh.

"Candidates usually talk and take questions from the traveling press. I think part of his strategy has been to orchestrate his appearances into a speech, then leave so he will not have to answer so many questions. That's why it took us so long to learn about wright, ayers, etc..."

Candidates usually have traveling press with them on the plane or bus, on and off, but only occasionally go to the back of the plane or bus to talk to them - Clinton and McCain have been the same way over the course of the primary season, regularly going several days in a row without rubbing elbows with the press corps seated in the back. This is not unique to the Obama campaign - both Obama and Clinton are probably getting pretty worn out at this point, and the whole 'heat in the kitchen' line is manufactured spin that doesn't tell you anything about reality - just the 'reality' the Clinton campaign hopes you'll buy into without question; in fact the whole Clinton campaign depends on voters 'buying' what they say without knowing the facts on their own.

His advisors don't want Obama to answer questions because without cue cards, pre-planned press releases or "borrowed" speeches, Obama's vagueness and inability to be concrete about outstanding issues become all too transparent. He's like the PIped Piper whose voice and eloquent, but unsubstantive, speeches lure the unwary toward an unknown destiny. Unfortunately, too many Americans are too willing to be lured by the promise of hope and are not listening to the lack of substance in the message. Hillary is America's best bet; for all her flaws, she is genuine in her desire to lift up this nation as did her husband after the first Bush fiasco when the economy was plunged into hundreds of billions of dollars in deficit spending. For her, it will be a greater challenge, but one she is ready to take on.

Obama is a child playing an adult game where the rules would change in his playroom, "the Oval Office " because the Presidency is not his to own - too many IOU's change the rules of the game.

He will not change business "as is" in Washington because he is and will continue to be another purveyor of business "as is" in D.C. AGAIN, HE DOESN'T OWN THE RULES.

If anyone who doesn't think Obama has plans and policies, understand issues or answer questions well hasn't looked into it. I hadn't even heard one of Obama's speeches when he became my favorite just from what I'd found about his experience and choices the last 20 years, reading or watching old interviews, small town hall or specialty meetings, his statements on the state and US senate floor about bills, questions he asked in Senate hearings, articles by people who worked with him, his professors, his students. It is funny, he was so bright, thoughtful, hard working and just decent that I was hoping he'd have more charisma than Kerry so we could get a guy that smart in the white house. Then I heard him speak.
Now because his speeches are so good people say that's all he has. Watch town halls on cnn.com or something, love it when he gets an unusual question.

I wanted to like Hillary but there were more problems when I researched her as I did Obama. Her "35 years working for change" sounded good until I saw 15 years of it was at the corporate Rose Law firm and it started feeling dishonest. Really honesty is part of it. I fact check everything from all the sources I can find...and too often found problems.

It really bothers me when she uses what she knows are lies and distortions to attack the guy who might be our nominee and makes me sad. I thought she's run a lot better campaign and not gone dirty. I assume that's part of why he isn't talking to reporters. They'd ask and report on those same distractions

The other day Russert was asking a journalist who has followed Obama's campaign from the start why he wasn't hitting Hillary harder on Bosnia and several other things, wasn't it bad politics to just let it go? The journalist said he knows it sounds like just a motto but he uses a new kind of politics because he really believes in it. It was good to hear. He's been like that since started public life and may he continue and change the face of politics

With Obama the more fact checking and research I do the more impressed I am. (I admit I have a bias for honesty) I am not a kid, I'm Hillary's best demo, white woman over 50 and have been into politics since I could vote. Obama is a unique chance for us and I'll vote with pride FOR someone and not just for the least worse choice for the first time in a very long time.

"I think calling what we're doing with the terrorists a 'war on terrorism' is a big mistake," the man said. "They're criminals and we ought to be going after them as criminals, not giving them the status of a foreign nation."

I see Senator Boy Wonder has adopted Bill Clinton's method for handling terrorists - that really solved the problem.

I see Senator Boy Wonder has adopted Bill Clinton's method for handling terrorists - that really solved the problem.

Posted by: Terry | April 21, 2008 8:34 PM

Yeah TerriTard, especially since Republican Prez George W Doofus's so-called "war on terror" has been such huge success.......NOT!

http://citizenchris.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/10/30/george_bush_as_cheerleader.jpg

His advisors don't want Obama to answer questions because without cue cards, pre-planned press releases or "borrowed" speeches, Obama's vagueness and inability to be concrete about outstanding issues become all too transparent.
Posted by: the truth | April 21, 2008 7:33 PM

They all have to be scripted. The press is combing through everything they say in hopes of making a caricature out of some remark. Good grief, the man can't even scratch his face without it being made into a scandal.

Junior Casey can't help from embarassing himself and his party every time his lips move.

This guy's message control is awesome....I want this person as President. He might be the best executive who ever ran for the office.
Posted by: cettel
====

Oh, really? And what other chief executive did we have in the White House who was so good at NOT talking to the press because he couldn't be trusted unscripted?
Yeah, The Uniter I. The Uniter II is who you want? Best executive? He's already said, also like Bushie, that he can't he find a piece of paper he puts down, so OTHER people will be running the office for him.

I guess you want a Preacher in Chief.

This guy's message control is awesome....I want this person as President. He might be the best executive who ever ran for the office.
Posted by: cettel
====

Oh, really? And what other chief executive did we have in the White House who was so good at NOT talking to the press because he couldn't be trusted unscripted?
Yeah, The Uniter I. The Uniter II is who you want? Best executive? He's already said, also like Bushie, that he can't he find a piece of paper he puts down, so OTHER people will be running the office for him.

I guess you want a Preacher in Chief who doesn't deign or dare to talk to the press and lets others do the heavy lifting.

"If anyone who doesn't think Obama has plans and policies, understand issues or answer questions well hasn't looked into it. I hadn't even heard one of Obama's speeches when he became my favorite just from what I'd found about his experience and choices the last 20 years..."
joyn

That's as far as I read, because apparently you got all that from the campaign website. If you'd really looked into Obama's past you'd have found that he's never even won a campaign except by his opponents getting knocked off the ballot (thus, the pressure for Hillary to just "quit") and that his long "resume" of "bills passed" were GIVEN to him, stolen from the orginal authors and lawmakers who worked on them and given to Obama by King-makers who wanted to make him a national figure. That one fact alone, that he fraudulently claims credit for others work, makes him unfit for the presidency (or any office), and according to the Washington Post, he's doing the same thing in DC...horning in and including himself as if he worked on bills he had nothing to do with.

No wonder he hides from the press and is afraid of debates. He's done nothing except break his promise to his constituents that he wouldn't run for President...he didn't even hold meetings for his one committee the one year he pretended to serve before starting his national cult. And he's missed over 1/3 of his votes because of it. Some resume.