Clinton, Obama: Dueling for voters: The Swamp
 
The Swamp
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Posted April 16, 2008 8:30 AM
The Swamp

by Mark Silva

Tonight, they will face off.

On the day of the one televised debate between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in Pennsylvania, the candidates also are delivering their own televised messages to voters attempting to discern which one of these Democrats really is in touch with their goals for America.

They play off of Obama's comments about the bitterness of working-class voters, with Clinton's ad claiming that Obama is out of touch -- an ad that employs at least one offended voter who isn't really registered to vote in Pennsylvania, as the Morning Call's Josh Drobnyk has reported here in the Swamp today.

Obama responds by accusing Clinton of playing the "politics of division."

It's a debate that certainly will play out live tonight, at the National Constitution Center, in Philadelphia. ABC News will run and air the debate, the first one since Feb. 26 in Ohio and last one before the Pennsylvania primary on Tuesday. ABC's Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos will moderate the debate, running from 8 to 10 pm EDT.

The Swamp will be live-blogging on it.

Both of the TV ads, Clinton's above, Obama's below, are here for your viewing -- and, of course, your commentary. And the Swamp's Spin Room on the debate will be open for your comments all night long.

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Obama's named in Rezko trial

FEDERAL COURT | Senator Obama attended bash for Iraqi crook Nadhmi Auchi
April 15, 2008

BY NATASHA KORECKI, CHRIS FUSCO AND TIM NOVAK Staff Reporters
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama was again drawn into Tony Rezko's corruption trial on Monday, when the prosecution's star witness placed Obama at a party for an Iraqi-born billionaire who was later barred entry to the United States.
Stuart Levine testified under cross-examination that Obama and his wife, Michelle, attended the April 3, 2004, reception for Nadhmi Auchi.

The government's star witness testified Monday that Sen. Barack Obama (left) attended a party four years ago at the home of Antoin ''Tony'' Rezko (top right) that was held to honor Iraqi-born Nadhmi Auchi


RELATED STORIES
Rezko's billionaire buddy 'CI4' -- the mystery figure who helped jail Rezko Gov's fundraiser got loan from Iraqi billionaire Obama's answers about Auchi from a March 14 Sun-Times interview Eye on Rezko Updates from our blog

An Obama connection?
News reports and now court testimony have linked presidential hopeful Barack Obama with Iraqi-born billionaire Nadhmi Auchi through Tony Rezko. Here's a rundown:
March 11, 2004 -- Obama met Middle Eastern bankers at the Four Seasons hotel in Chicago at a reception hosted by Rezko, who was courting potential investors for a 62-acre South Loop development. Auchi later took control of that project but did not attend, sources say.
April 1, 2004 -- Auchi flew in to Midway Airport on a private plane and attended a Four Seasons reception hosted by Gov. Blagojevich. Rezko planned the event and was there. Obama was not.
April 3, 2004 -- Auchi attended a dinner party at Rezko's Wilmette mansion. Obama and his wife, Michelle, also were there, according to testimony Monday at Rezko's corruption trial. The Obama campaign's response: "Senator and Mrs. Obama have no recollection of attending any such event."
Oct. 11, 2006 -- Charges against Rezko announced.
Jan. 28, 2008 -- Rezko was jailed for withholding details of his finances -- including a $3.5 million payment from an Auchi company in April 2007.
Auchi -- who lives in London -- had been convicted of fraud in France in 2003. After visiting Chicago and Detroit in 2004, he wasn't allowed back into this country in 2005, according to a prosecution filing in the Rezko case.
The April 3, 2004, gathering for Auchi took place at Rezko's mansion in Wilmette, with about 100 people attending, Levine testified.
"Mr. and Mrs. Obama were there, were they not?" Rezko's lawyer, Joseph Duffy, asked.
"Yes, sir," Levine said.
Later Monday, Obama campaign spokesman Ben LaBolt said: "As he has said previously, Senator Obama does not recall meeting Nadhmi Auchi at any time or on any occasion, and this includes any event that may have been held for Mr. Auchi. Senator and Mrs. Obama have no recollection of attending any such event."
But according to two sources familiar with the gathering, the Obamas attended the Wilmette reception, which came less than a month after Obama's Democratic primary win for his U.S. Senate seat. Rezko had been a key fund-raiser for Obama, who has since given to charity nearly $160,000 in Rezko-linked contributions.
Levine testified he was invited to the reception after meeting with Rezko and his family days earlier, during a spring vacation in Puerto Vallarta.
Auchi couldn't be reached Monday. His lawyer, Alasdair Pepper, told the Sun-Times in February his client "has no recollection of meeting Senator Obama." Auchi is appealing his French conviction. His 15-month sentence is suspended as long as he commits no new crimes. He is not accused of wrongdoing involving Rezko.
Obama is not accused of any wrongdoing. But his relationship with Rezko -- who is accused of demanding kickbacks from people seeking Illinois government business -- is under a microscope as he seeks the presidency. Obama particularly has drawn fire for buying property from Rezko's wife -- a strip of land adjacent to Obama's Kenwood home -- at a time Rezko was already known to be under federal investigation.
Levine testified Rezko had to leave Mexico early to host Auchi. So Levine chartered a private jet to fly Rezko's wife and children -- as well as his own family -- back to Chicago on April 3, 2004.
That night, Levine testified, he attended the reception, which was arranged to interest Auchi in investing in Illinois.
Gov. Blagojevich hosted a separate dinner party for Auchi two days earlier, at the Four Seasons hotel in downtown Chicago, the Sun-Times has reported.
Auchi was named by prosecutors in the January court filing that led to Rezko's bail being revoked and his being jailed. Last April, an Auchi company wired Rezko $3.5 million in connection with a valuable 62-acre South Loop site, which Rezko didn't disclose to authorities. Auchi's General Mediterranean Holding now controls the land at Roosevelt and Clark.
Prosecutors said Rezko appealed to the State Department in November 2005 to allow Auchi to enter the United States, after Auchi was unable


Is it a bit misleading to highlight that one of the random people used in the Hilary ad that the Obama operatives and their media friends tracked down hadn't yet registered to vote?
The guy just moved there.
Pennsylvania is in the can for Clinton, per the polls I find reliable.
What's up in Indiana? North Carolina?
The Obama ops there are blogging up a storm to tell us their spin.


Should be a spirited debate. Barack ("Barry") Obama the self made elitest from a single parent home, married to the UBER-RICH daughter of a a pump operator at the city water plant. Her father, went to work every day despite multiple sclerosis.

Mrs Clinton the newly minted gun enthusiast and Royal Crown aficionado, espousing the virtues of DUCKBLINDS, which were such a big influence in her youth.

Yep the South-side of Chicago sure had plenty of Starbucks back in the day!!! Lattee liberal my a%s. Hillary is in for a real WAKE UP CALL!!!


Hillary's 3:00 am
CALL OF DUTY
Mission Bosnia...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GscDb3W0_5M


In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.
In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.) The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery.
For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation. What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/ sailor, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father.
Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections.
Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat the system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something or those who merely talk about their love of the country?
After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America's biggest cities.

This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ.


Gun Lovers take note:
Mr. Obama also backed a total ban on handguns, a move his campaign now says was the result of a rogue aide filling out a questionnaire. But Mr. Obama's own handwritten notes were found on the questionnaire, calling into question the campaign's version of what happened. Source: Wall Street Journal


Hillary funds her campaign with illegal foreign donations. Why would anyone be suprised that her ad uses a non PA voter?
Contrast that with the positiveObama ad.
The She-Weasel is a Bitter, Lying, Nixonian Racist Thug.
The debate will be more entertaining than watching Blind Rollerderby!


To prepare for this next debate, Obama bowled a frame and Swillary downed another shot and a beer!


Obama says they must stop the politics of division. Again his judgement is flawed.
Obama is like a guy who started a 10 car pileup and then says what's the matter?
Obama went into the lives of every small town voter in America and called us everything but a redneck.
It's like his statement I don't want my daughters penalized with a baby or sexually transmitted diseases.
Obama is on steroids period.
Everybody I talk to socially are disgusted with his condescending manner and elitist behavior.
Then he says I'm not elitist.
He doesn't know that he is a Harvard Ivy league snob with an agenda far removed from the Norman Rockwell small towns where most of us live.
In short we are mad he called us bitter. Obama is bitter about race his white grandmother's attitude since she's a typical white person so he knocks her down to raise Jeremiah Wright up the anti white racist.
Speaking of Wright did you know that he went on a rant about Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Fox News at Judge Pincham's funeral. I bet his family didn't want to hear this junk at their relatives funeral.
It is a time for healing and peace not for a sermon of the people Wright hates.
When we as Americans got this guy Obama we really got a loony tune who lacks good taste and poise the constant prancing with a microphone has worn us all out.
This law school instructor talks down to everybody.
To tell you the truth he makes me sympathize with Hillary for putting up with him.
The drivebys hid his true character for 15 months from the day he came to the Old State Capitol and compared himself to Abraham Lincoln.
One thing is for sure he's no Lincoln that's for sure. Jerry White, Springfield, IL


"He doesn't know that he is a Harvard Ivy league snob with an agenda far removed from the Norman Rockwell small towns where most of us live."
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Unreal. This is what these bitter little gun toters think; We live in a Norman Rockwell world.
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But at least from Jerry's posting we can see what the talking points will be; All emotional culture war NewSpeak, topped off with N.R. sweetness.


Obama is a smug, smirking con man. Nothing more.

Hope. Change. Hate.
Obama '08


People, are the issues no longer relevant - Health care, education, economy, Iraq war?

To the Media - are there no journalistic principles or code of ethics when reporting?

Do we have to keep reading all this non-issue TRASH!

Move on! Let us leave a better America to our children!


Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Fox News

Manny, Moe, and jack. The pep boys of the right. These losers are the worst of the worst. What gall these opportunists have. They call themselves "great" Americans as they earn a living dividing Americans. Sean Vannity makes Faux News a joke. These people who call themselves "great" Americans don't have a clue to what America is. Not a one has served his country, and yet calls all that don't agree with their views the most vile of names and question peoples partiotism. That is the lowest form of pond scum I can think of.


Man, Jerry's not "bitter" at all. And he's clearly mad at those "ivy-league snobs" in government. (Bush, etc.) I guess we all can be upset at the use of the term "bitter", but can we really argue against Obama's point?

Are we happy about the way this country is going? Are we happy about the current state of the economy? Are we happy about the mortgage crisis that the current government's hands-off policy helped to create? Are we happy about the current state of politics?

Maybe we should all accept that people across this country (in small and big towns) are angry right now (I'll refrain from using bitter because it is a charged word). We have a right to want change, and why are we now fighting someone who is trying to make that change happen?


The Bush familey is "owned" by the Saudis & the oil industry.

The Clinton "family" (using the term loosely) is "owned by the Chinese, mining, Hollywood, ...

Both "families" are crooks.


Hey, offended as I was at the frat boy chortling out my name the other day to beat up HIlary with---I'm not an NRA member!
I only hunted to pay mama's mortgage and support myself (back when there were plentyof animals around and no tofu).
Pick a handle somebody else isn't using, okay?
Oh! And some of us are upset Barack voted present instead of keeping ALL THOSE GUNS OFF CHICAGO STREETS.
what an opportunist.
Okay, back to spinning in mygrave.


To be honest with you, I am sick of both of them and really sick of 24/7/364 campaigning. For the love of God, is there no end to this crap?


Why is Clinton trying to paint Obama as uppity? Talk about a racist strategy! Who has behaved the most elitist? What a joke to paint Obama as seemingly more elitist than herself. He earned what he has achieved, true grit


MY FELLOW BITTER, STUPID, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.

YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT, TOO :-(

If you think like Barack Obama, that WORKING CLASS PEOPLE are just a bunch of BITTER!, STUPID, PEASANTS, Cash COWS!, and CANNON FODDER. :-(

You Might Be An Idiot, Too!

If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

You Might Be An Idiot, Too!

If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot, Too!

If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

You Might Be An Idiot, Too!

If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

You Might Be An Idiot, Too!

If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot, Too!

If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary’s than they had ever been before or since.

You Might Be An Idiot, Too!

If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot, Too!

If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

You Might Be An Idiot, Too!

If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)

Best regards

jacksmith... Working Class :-)

p.s.

If you don't know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering...

You Might Be An Idiot, Too!

You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year. :-)

Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. And I could go on, and on...


The debate blowback on ABC is complete. Maybe next time journalists should get an okay from team Obama on what questions they're allowed to ask. Two journalists do their jobs, and the all out whining reaches crescendo to a contagion of head explosions. As if these questions shouldn't have been asked before. As if Barack Obama shouldn't have had answers to these ready and waiting. Can you say not ready for the general election?

Yes, they were tough. They were pointed. They brought up uncomfortable subjects. Wake up to scrutiny, something Hillary Clinton has taken for over 16 years.


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