Barack Obama: Newsbits and Bio

[GenocideAlive]

This thread is for those that wish to discuss Barack Obama's candidacy for President, and any particularly attractive newsbits or up-to-the-minute information. Please keep comments regarding various competitions or races to specific threads, if applicable (Dems vs GOP, Hillary v. Barack, etc).

Barack Obama

Father: Kenyan
Mother: American

Born: August 4, 1961 (46 years old)
Career: Lawyer (Harvard)
Political Position: Senator, Illinois

Religion: Christian

Platform: Iraq War, Universal Healthcare

[Anoiktos]

Some general introductory information about the candidate:
(note: Barack Obama's legal history seems nonexistent, despite his education background as a lawyer. This may be because he worked only as an associate attorney before running for senate.)
Wikipedia Page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_edwards)
Official Campaign Website (http://www.barackobama.com/)
Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/barackobama)
Voting record (http://http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/o000167/)
Campaign contributions (http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.asp?id=N00009638&cycle=2008)
Official positions on issues (http://ontheissues.org/Barack_Obama.htm)

[Protosschick99]

Alrighty since this is the Obma thread--Anyone see the complete un-American CRAP that his Pastor is spewing out??

The other night, Stephen and I both were eating dinner together watching Fox News when all this stuff about Pastor Wright came out. I told Stephen that Obama's affiliations are gonna get him in trouble. Because honestly would we as American ppl [Especially those of us here at CF] want a man as President who sits under the pastorship of someone who says "GD America!!!" ?? An America hater? And Obama's wife! She wasn't patriotic UNTIL her husband ran for president. So what's gonna happen if Obama doesn't win? She's gonna change her mind and be like, "I HATE AMERICA!"

If you don't like it--Then get out! >.<

I could care less what color Obama is or Hillary or McCain. I liked Obama in the beginning, and then all this crap about his affiliations came out. And it was BAD affiliations. First it was terrorists, and now his Pastor is goin' crazy on this Hate America sermon stuff, etc etc.

__________________________________________________

This is why I do not want Obama in the Whitehouse:


#1: Obama would not wear the American Flag lapel pin on his suit.

#2: Obama would not put his hand over his heart and not say the pledge allegiance to America.

#3: Obama's wife has stated that America is mean and hateful, and says that only now for the first time she is proud of America, only because her husband is running for President.

#4: Barack Obama has close associations with Bill Ayers, a known terrorist member of the "Weather Underground Association", which blew up bombs in the Pentagon and other buildings in 1970, 1971, & 1972; Furthermore Obama has visited this man's house as a rite of passage when he started politics, and their children go to school together and they are on good speaking terms.

#5: Barack Obama's pastor has made flaming statements invoking God to damn America. Calling America the "U.S. - of - KKKA" And other objectional Anti-American statements.

It's not hard to connect the dots and do the math about how Obama is influenced about America. I come from a family of patriots. We all are PROUD to be American. And I am insulted that a man who obviously thinks he can even enter the White House acting like that. If he was PROUD of America and hung out with ppl who were PROUD to be American--Then fine dude--I'm all for you. But all this? No.

At least McCain actually fought for our country and Hillary has been in the White House before.

Obama has sat under Pastor Wright for over 20 years. Obviously the theology of Pastor Wright is influencing Obama and how he would run the country.

Do you want a secretary of defense to preside over the military whose beliefs echo those of his anti-American pastor and those of Anti-American terrorists?

In this post 9/11 world, can we afford to be naive about presidental candidates and who they would bring into the White House to lead the country through that President's administration?

Obama's affiliations are NOT the kind of ppl who I would want in office. Who Obama chooses to associate and affiliate with, reflects back on his personal judgement. So it absolutely has EVERYTHING to do with his capabilities as a leader.

Turning a blind eye to the potential Terrorist threats is the kind of naivety that got the twin towers blown up on September 11th.

I'm sorry, but I REALLY don't want Obama in the White House.

[femoimal]

Protosschick, I thank you for summing up most of the issues thrown at Obama. If you allow me, i could give my answers/opinion to those questions, as a foreigner. I mean no personal offence whatsoever in the process.

#1 how does wearing a stupid tiny flag does make you unfit for president ? WHERE ELSE in the world do you see presidents wearing little flags? Well, perhaps in some central-africa or central asia dictatorships. With medals, stripes and ribbons.

#2 Right, Obama could very well be voted by a majority of Americans to rule the country, keep the nuclear force keys, bring peace to the middle east, ratify world ecological agreements, declare wars and end ones but by Not Pledging Allegiance he is a pagan Traitor ? Where does this ritual come from ? Less ritual, more substance. Again, cultures locked up in ritual are the less democratic and progressive ones.

#3 Being critical of your country is loving it. When 80% of the rest of the world say the same thing, you could get some nice perspective by accepting your defaults and seeking to change them. Living in the WonderLand is nice if you are Mary Poppins. If protesting against your own country was against the law, the US would still be in Vietnam. Fighting the Chinese and piling up millions of victims to contain communism.

#4 more terrorism hysteria. When are we going to see on FOX the news about the New Unholly Church Of Satanic Terrorism ?

#5 you always have friends that talk rubbish. Whether you are Giulianni, Clinton, Bush or anyone. You cannot control your entire entourage. You should show a synthetic ability to retain the sound ideas and reject the more radical approaches. God might very well hate america, or america damn itself in anti-christian behavior. My fuck-o-meter does not even oscillate a little.

Hillary was just married to the guy, she was not elected. Its a blow-job that got her support, for god's sake. Neither did she have security clearance, neither did anything she tried to accomplish resulted in anything. Look at HillaryCare. Compare with the Titanic and the Hinderburg. At least those had a small ride. It would be a great blow to democracy if after electing families, the US people went on electing Spouses.

Many courageous soldiers fought for America. Many died, many survived, and many went into politics. Being a soldier does not bode well as a citizen civilian president, i think. Being drilled to obey orders and living in macho-land super hierarchized environments is not what i am looking up to in a president. Clemenceau said the last early century "war is too serious a matter to be left in the hands of the generals". I could add that presidency is even more so.

Just look at the simple numbers about the terrorist threats, victims, damages and how it relates to the ones linked by wars, climate change and ecological destructions. Then think again: do you want some neo-maccarthysm to rule the way you think or do you want to rise to the challenges of the future in that new earth in crisis we are living in ? Do you want to bring forward positive uniting thinking or be captive in a paranoid police state ?

It is a shame i do not live in the US right now, just so i could cast my ballot in for Obama. Even though i am very critical of many of the traits of the US society, I deeply envy this unique opportunity the US citizen have to prove they are ready to go beyond their fears. Never had they so much of a choice, I feel. Its the past versus a chance at the future, as uncertain it might be. I'd vote for the future.

PS: unfortunately, I think the odds of a black president surviving the impact of several 5,56mm bullets in his chest at point blank range rather slim. I'd buy him a flak jacket.

[IrishDutchman]

un-American CRAP

The idea that 'un-American' is per definition a bad thing illustrates my problem with your thinking perfectly. As if America is some utopia where everything is good and green.

Honestly, who cares if your present parttakes in some stupid rituals or adorns himself with flags. Will doing that make him a more capable leader? Hardly.

If you're not PROUD of your country, it means you acknowledge the problems it has and are able to do something about it. What does being PROUD give you? Not much.
In America politicians blatantly abuse and advertise how PROUD they are of their country, and how PROUD you should be. In Europe, it's not really a topic of discussion. There are no pledges of allegiance or other ceremonies, no flags on every corner, no pins with patriotic symbols on them. And does it bother us? Nope. Why should it bother you? What is the direct benefit of conforming to these homeland-loving rituals?
If people want to do it, fine by me. But it gets me if they won't vote for a perfectly capable canditate because he won't.

[Protogod]

The thing is, you're chastising someone for recognizing problems in America.

Don't you want a leader that can see and fix problems? Don't you want someone that will actually make our country better? Or would you rather have someone who will take lots of pictures, smile really big, and talk shit about how perfect our country is?

I don't know about you, but I want someone who can fix our country, not sit there smiling while we sink into obscurity.

[Protosschick99]

Protosschick, I thank you for summing up most of the issues thrown at Obama. If you allow me, i could give my answers/opinion to those questions, as a foreigner. I mean no personal offence whatsoever in the process.

#1 how does wearing a stupid tiny flag does make you unfit for president ? WHERE ELSE in the world do you see presidents wearing little flags? Well, perhaps in some central-africa or central asia dictatorships. With medals, stripes and ribbons.

#2 Right, Obama could very well be voted by a majority of Americans to rule the country, keep the nuclear force keys, bring peace to the middle east, ratify world ecological agreements, declare wars and end ones but by Not Pledging Allegiance he is a pagan Traitor ? Where does this ritual come from ? Less ritual, more substance. Again, cultures locked up in ritual are the less democratic and progressive ones.

#3 Being critical of your country is loving it. When 80% of the rest of the world say the same thing, you could get some nice perspective by accepting your defaults and seeking to change them. Living in the WonderLand is nice if you are Mary Poppins. If protesting against your own country was against the law, the US would still be in Vietnam. Fighting the Chinese and piling up millions of victims to contain communism.

#4 more terrorism hysteria. When are we going to see on FOX the news about the New Unholly Church Of Satanic Terrorism ?

#5 you always have friends that talk rubbish. Whether you are Giulianni, Clinton, Bush or anyone. You cannot control your entire entourage. You should show a synthetic ability to retain the sound ideas and reject the more radical approaches. God might very well hate america, or america damn itself in anti-christian behavior. My fuck-o-meter does not even oscillate a little.

Hillary was just married to the guy, she was not elected. Its a blow-job that got her support, for god's sake. Neither did she have security clearance, neither did anything she tried to accomplish resulted in anything. Look at HillaryCare. Compare with the Titanic and the Hinderburg. At least those had a small ride. It would be a great blow to democracy if after electing families, the US people went on electing Spouses.

Many courageous soldiers fought for America. Many died, many survived, and many went into politics. Being a soldier does not bode well as a citizen civilian president, i think. Being drilled to obey orders and living in macho-land super hierarchized environments is not what i am looking up to in a president. Clemenceau said the last early century "war is too serious a matter to be left in the hands of the generals". I could add that presidency is even more so.

Just look at the simple numbers about the terrorist threats, victims, damages and how it relates to the ones linked by wars, climate change and ecological destructions. Then think again: do you want some neo-maccarthysm to rule the way you think or do you want to rise to the challenges of the future in that new earth in crisis we are living in ? Do you want to bring forward positive uniting thinking or be captive in a paranoid police state ?

It is a shame i do not live in the US right now, just so i could cast my ballot in for Obama. Even though i am very critical of many of the traits of the US society, I deeply envy this unique opportunity the US citizen have to prove they are ready to go beyond their fears. Never had they so much of a choice, I feel. Its the past versus a chance at the future, as uncertain it might be. I'd vote for the future.

PS: unfortunately, I think the odds of a black president surviving the impact of several 5,56mm bullets in his chest at point blank range rather slim. I'd buy him a flak jacket.

No personal offense taken :D At least you addressed ALL my points. Everyone else only covered the PROUD to be American part. Okay, let's take the proud part out--I honestly don't want someone running our government who does not like America!! If he doesn't like it, he won't take care of it!

I understand America has problems--Oh yes believe me I do. I use to live in California and our economy is basically going down the drain. As well as the rest of our country. The cost of gasoline is rising, homes are foreclosing...It's getting bad.

But you all are missing the point.

The point is, Obama has been influenced by people who HATE America. Ppl who think America is a s*** hole. Ppl who promote all this anti-America crap. He's been INFLUENCED!!!! Not only that, he barely has any experience in government.

I am not comfortable with Obama's affiliations. PERIOD. If Obama was elected president, obviously his advisors would be ppl like Pastor Wright--A man who HATES America. I don't want someone who HATES this country giving our President advice.

Imagine this....What if we had a big terrorist threat. Someone who is threatening to send off nukes in Chicago, L.A., New York, D.C., and Denver. What are the ppl going to advise?

"Oh let them blow it up! God hates America in the first place--Let God's judgement rain down on this harlot! Because it is going to hell!!"

That's the kind of crap that comes from Reverend Wright's mouth anyways.

[Protogod]

PC99, the fact that you represent most americans frightens me.

The way you've blown this out of proportions, and the way you've turned "disapproving of" into "hate" makes me fear for our future. This is the thinking that got us into iraq. It shames me to live in a country where starting a sentence with "in the post 9-11 world..." makes you right.

Stop invoking 9/11. Its over. Its done. It had nothing to do with iraq. It has nothing to do with this election. It has nothing to do with obama.

Really, I'd like to see some more mature focus on the issues, and not your he-said-she-said patriotic blindfold.

[femoimal]

i think presidents can disapprove of their country's position, status, governance and image, at least until they get elected. After all, they are the only ones who can get a shot at changing all those.

- As for being influenced, look at Bush. He's an alcoholic spastic who can't even read or talk properly. Influenced is all he is. He just reads what he is told to, and the people behind him tremble every time he's got to answer questions. All major politicians are influenced, by their money makers and some idealists who make them think they can make a difference and change the world (read neo-cons). Can you compare what a pastor used to say to what Dick Cheney and Karl Rove gave as instructions ? Cmon !

- Anyway, as a pessimist note, i'd like to add that i feel that's its Northrop Grumman, Shell, Exxon and other such companies that influence more the presidency than any pastor on the planet.

- You are right about the experience point. Sadly enough, Hillary is a zero too, and I would not pick a fear-mongering republican in any case. Its almost a duty to alternate ruling parties so as to clean up the slate and decrease corruption and sleazy deals. Look at the pork barrel projects. Anyhow, self-regulated capitalism has floundered, and government has to clean it up and preserve the citizens from paying the bank's benefits. Only law can do that. Its sad, unwieldy, depressing and enraging but its like that. Democrats are better at that.

- Protogod says something I feel is crucial. 9/11 is dead: the threat never materialized, and Bin Laden won anyway: it polarized, distorted, influenced american thought and politics for years, and its time for it to fade-out. 9/11 presidency must not happen anymore. What's the 9/11 legacy ? Foolishly badly-planned wars that sucked the economy, the self-esteem and dignity dry out of America. It destabilized Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Lebanon etc... 9/11 was indeed a milestone in how government clamped down on citizen rights (no more seventies, man, gone), but just that. Its a police matter, at the end.

- The real threads are ecology, sea levels rising, pollution, oil disruption, russia (say hello to my old friend, with his three thousand nuclear warheads). The post 9/11 is going to turn into the post economical-crash of 2008. Its less doomsday like and romantic, but compare the ravages of a crash and "terror" and you got your nemesis.

I think it is deeply ironical for an american average family to support war on terror, and see its government borrow from the Chinese, the Saudi, the Qatari to finance it, and finally see their house taken from them not by a bomb, but by an american bank. Who's the real foe ?

[Prozerran]

Alrighty since this is the Obma thread--Anyone see the complete un-American CRAP that his Pastor is spewing out??

The other night, Stephen and I both were eating dinner together watching Fox News when all this stuff about Pastor Wright came out. I told Stephen that Obama's affiliations are gonna get him in trouble. Because honestly would we as American ppl [Especially those of us here at CF] want a man as President who sits under the pastorship of someone who says "GD America!!!" ?? An America hater? And Obama's wife! She wasn't patriotic UNTIL her husband ran for president. So what's gonna happen if Obama doesn't win? She's gonna change her mind and be like, "I HATE AMERICA!"

If you don't like it--Then get out! >.<

I have to say I'm a little surprised at your reaction. I think Obama's speech reacting to the comments made by Reverend Wright speaks for itself. Here are some of the more important snippets for you to consider:

...
I can no more disown him {Reverend Wright} than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother -- a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe.


These people are a part of me. And they are a part of America, this country that I love...

It becomes more and more apparent to me that he DOESN'T buy into the rhetoric of Wright's position, but he UNDERSTANDS where it comes from, and that's more important in judging one's ability to lead. You don't have to approve of one's position, but you NEED to UNDERSTAND IT.



I could care less what color Obama is or Hillary or McCain. I liked Obama in the beginning, and then all this crap about his affiliations came out. And it was BAD affiliations. First it was terrorists, and now his Pastor is goin' crazy on this Hate America sermon stuff, etc etc.

Bad affiliations? Seriously? This is why you don't like Obama? This is, of course, your right. I, for one, hope your criteria for judgment is more informed...

...
For the men and women of Rev. Wright's generation, the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years.
That anger may not get expressed in public, in front of white co-workers or white friends. But it does find voice in the barbershop or around the kitchen table. At times, that anger is exploited by politicians, to gin up votes along racial lines, or to make up for a politician's own failings.
And occasionally it finds voice in the church on Sunday morning, in the pulpit and in the pews. The fact that so many people are surprised to hear that anger in some of Rev. Wright's sermons simply reminds us of the old truism that the most segregated hour in American life occurs on Sunday morning.
That anger is not always productive; indeed, all too often it distracts attention from solving real problems; it keeps us from squarely facing our own complicity in our condition, and prevents the African-American community from forging the alliances it needs to bring about real change.
But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races.
In fact, a similar anger exists within segments of the white community. Most working- and middle-class white Americans don't feel that they have been particularly privileged by their race.
Their experience is the immigrant experience -- as far as they're concerned, no one's handed them anything, they've built it from scratch. They've worked hard all their lives, many times only to see their jobs shipped overseas or their pension dumped after a lifetime of labor.
They are anxious about their futures, and feel their dreams slipping away; in an era of stagnant wages and global competition, opportunity comes to be seen as a zero sum game, in which your dreams come at my expense.
So when they are told to bus their children to a school across town; when they hear that an African-American is getting an advantage in landing a good job or a spot in a good college because of an injustice that they themselves never committed; when they're told that their fears about crime in urban neighborhoods are somehow prejudiced, resentment builds over time.
Like the anger within the black community, these resentments aren't always expressed in polite company. But they have helped shape the political landscape for at least a generation.
Anger over welfare and affirmative action helped forge the Reagan Coalition. Politicians routinely exploited fears of crime for their own electoral ends. Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism.
Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle-class squeeze -- a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many.
And yet, to wish away the resentments of white Americans, to label them as misguided or even racist, without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns -- this too widens the racial divide, and blocks the path to understanding.
This is where we are right now. It's a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years. Contrary to the claims of some of my critics, black and white, I have never been so naive as to believe that we can get beyond our racial divisions in a single election cycle, or with a single candidacy -- particularly a candidacy as imperfect as my own.



One reporter from the New York Times remarked that Obama's speech in reaction to this incident with Reverend Wright should be studied in schools across America, because it eloquently states the viewpoints of every side. I really do hope you will read this speech before buying into more of the rhetoric so many others will buy into - hook, line, and sinker - and make a decision for yourself based on CREDIBLE information. I don't know of a candidate EVER who so thoroughly explained himself (or herself) in such a way.

You can go to http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/18/obama.transcript/index.html?imw=Y&iref=mpstoryemail for the full transcript. I encourage you to do so before you post again, because I feel there's a LOT you're missing and a WHOLE LOT MORE you're probably assuming on the basis of propaganda.

-Proz

EDIT: Didn't see this...

The point is, Obama has been influenced by people who HATE America. Ppl who think America is a s*** hole. Ppl who promote all this anti-America crap. He's been INFLUENCED!!!! Not only that, he barely has any experience in government.

I am not comfortable with Obama's affiliations. PERIOD. If Obama was elected president, obviously his advisors would be ppl like Pastor Wright--A man who HATES America. I don't want someone who HATES this country giving our President advice.

Imagine this....What if we had a big terrorist threat. Someone who is threatening to send off nukes in Chicago, L.A., New York, D.C., and Denver. What are the ppl going to advise?

"Oh let them blow it up! God hates America in the first place--Let God's judgement rain down on this harlot! Because it is going to hell!!"

That's the kind of crap that comes from Reverend Wright's mouth anyways.

I think this whole notion of "hating America" is completely misunderstood. What is America but a group of individuals in a group of buildings making decisions that affect the rest of the world, not to mention our own daily lives? You seem to think that any strong disagreement with this group of PEOPLE constitutes a HATRED of our country. This is entirely false. It isn't even reasonable to believe that this is what Reverend Wright means when he says what he does. The whole point of Wright's sermon is that the policy-makers in Washington aren't looking out for the interests of the citizenry, they are making choices against the Christian ideology on which this nation is built, and if that is their decision, then GD America. Do I agree with him? No. I don't think everyone in Washington is functioning for their own self-serving reasons, I even think Bush had the best of intentions to end terrorism.

Your point is moot in the face of the implied message, and Wright's views, like many other extremists, shouldn't play a role in the election of our next leader. God help us if it does.

[Oblongato]

There's nothing wrong with watching Fox News, at least as long as you are careful to remember that there is a political agenda behind everything reported. The same, of course, can be said about any mainstream news outlet - CNN, New York Times etc. The danger in getting one's info from any of these sources is the fact that there is invariably a slant. To have any idea what is really going on, you've first got to identify the slant and compensate. It is dangerous to place your trust in a major new network, because they are there to persuade, not report. Watch all the networks; the truth probably lies either somewhere in between, or, perhaps even more likely, somewhere completely off in left field.

I was also pretty impressed by the way Obama handled the race issue after the statements of his preacher came out. Race truly a thorny issue, and Obama's perhaps the only major public figure I have ever heard address it with any kind of honesty and accuracy at all. Of course it's true that he didn't have much choice. It would not have been very convincing for him to denounce the guy after sitting in his sermons for 20 years. But I know very well that vague sense of unease when I am out with friends who are black (I'm white) and the topic of race comes up. Suddenly, there is a different set of rules. There are things that I am now allowed to say, words I am not allowed to use, things I would be best off not mentioning because I haven't lived the racism. Everybody's got it in them, the stereotypes, the biases, the generalizations. And these things never go away because they never get exposed to the light of day. After reading his speech, for the first time I almost had some hope that things could be talked about, be worked out, get better.

In any case, I think it is only fair to recognize that not every American has had experiences that would turn them into gung-ho patriots. For those who haven't had it so easy, how can we begrudge them the right to draw their own conclusions? These people know about problems we haven't been truly exposed to; otherwise, we would understand very well where they are coming from. And if these problems are ever going to be solved, we are going to have to work with the people who have lived them. After all, they are not (as a rule) calling for the destruction of the U.S., they are calling for its problems to be solved. And the problems they want solved truly exist.

As for pride in one's country... I'm not even sure that it is a good idea to be proud of anything beyond the degree of one's own direct achievement. I certainly can't be proud of the things the U.S. has done that I thought were wrong, nor do I feel in any way responsible for those things; I didn't start it and couldn't stop it. (I'm thinking of the Iraq war in particular.) I like the U.S., I like a lot of people there, I like a lot of the principles it was founded on, I like the landscape. But proud? I didn't bring about those things. I'm pleased when things happen that I consider good and distressed when things happen that I consider bad, but again - proud? Isn't being proud of being American just like being proud of any other thing that we had nothing to do with? Being tall, being beautiful/handsome, coming from a rich or influential family - I would argue that it is a form of self-deception to be proud of these things. Sure, we should appreciate them. But we had nothing to do with them. It's the same with being American. Luck of the draw. I say: appreciate it, but take pride only in your own individual accomplishments. In my view, it's a whole lot healthier.

[Protosschick99]

Interesting video I found about Obama that I think ya'llz should watch. I am very interested in your comments on this.

http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?RsrcID=2036

There are some crazy things I NEVER knew that I know now.

[Prozerran]

Interesting video I found about Obama that I think ya'llz should watch. I am very interested in your comments on this.

http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/video.aspx?RsrcID=2036

There are some crazy things I NEVER knew that I know now.

If you believe you know anything after watching that video, you likely know nothing about Barrack Obama. No offense.

But it's cute of Lorne to take little snippets (some ENTIRELY out of context) and create a propaganda video on the internet that tries to connect Obama to Marxism and Socialism via the statements and beliefs of his pastor. By the way, do you agree with EVERY WORD UTTERED by your pastor? EVERY WORD? Probably not.

But, of course, Obama agrees with every utterance made by Wright. He has to, because he doesn't have a mind of his own, right? Propaganda is the new craze on the internet. I think I'll make a propaganda video of my own on John McCain. We can stack them all up together and measure them based on how much shit we can pack into each. Here's where I'll start...

"There's a lot you probably know about John McCain, but did you know this?

JOHN MCCAIN EATS BABIES!"

Yeah, it'll be the best damn propaganda film out on the net.

[ChimTheGrim21]

First off, if a last person's name is Corleone, does that mean they are a mafia member? Clearly, no.. the vast majority of Italian-Americans are not mafia members. This whole name business is irrelevant seeing that Obama met his father 2 times in his entire life.

Second, I love the foundation that this country was built on, but we do need to go a different route than a corporate run America. If you are proud of this country, then you're proud of the things we've done in the last 5 years--which is morally wrong. We invaded a land for Oil, and everyone knows it. I am not proud of my country anymore.


I love the fact that Obama called his grandmother a "typical white person" because it's TRUE. I am white, and I listen to my parents talk about things in such a way. Hell, i even talk like that sometimes. I don't blame anyone for it. That's just how it is.

[Anoiktos]

I thought Obama publicly denounced his pastor, and previously stated that he did not agree with all of his pastor's opinions.

I mean, tying him to his pastor's opinions like this is kind of like calling some guy who goes to a church in which the priest was suspected of pedophelia a pedophile. It just doesn't make sense.

[Neo]

I thought Obama publicly denounced his pastor, and previously stated that he did not agree with all of his pastor's opinions.

I mean, tying him to his pastor's opinions like this is kind of like calling some guy who goes to a church in which the priest was suspected of pedophelia a pedophile. It just doesn't make sense.

Shhhh, you speaketh the logic.

Obama is the only candidate out of the two (i dont count hillary anymore) that has any sort of logical stance on tech-related issues.

So yeah. He's got my vote.

-Neo

[Prozerran]

Let me shed some light on the health care issue and the platform that Obama and Hillary are running on in their campaigns. There exists this "concern" that Obama and Hillary both want to "socialize" the health care community. The reality is far different than the concern people seem to have. For the last twenty years, Johns Hopkins has been ranked as the finest hospitals nationwide, with several locations throughout the U.S. The examples I will be referring to are all compared to the pricing of Johns Hopkins. The ratios/percentages are based on what it costs the hospital against what the hospital charges for treatment. Information is available at www.hospitalvictims.org.

Let's take a hospital in the Tampa Bay Area in Florida (where I currently live). Bayfront Medical Center is one hospital that is fairly well-known. Are they priced fairly? According to this source, Bayfront charges 3.4 times (http://hospitalvictims.org/hv_hosp_main.asp?mpn=100032) what Johns Hopkins charges. Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, Florida is charging 4.1 times (http://hospitalvictims.org/hv_hosp_main.asp?mpn=100213) what Johns Hopkins charges. Let's check out another area hospital, Brandon Regional Medical Center. They charge 5.2 times (http://hospitalvictims.org/hv_hosp_main.asp?mpn=100243) what Johns Hopkins charges. These hospitals are all in relative proximity to one another, each charging between 300% to 500% more than Johns Hopkins hospital, and making a lot of money off of people in the process.

What's worse? Most health insurance companies, in order for their insurance to be "accepted" by hospitals, must agree to pay a certain percentage of these charges. If an insurance company decides it cannot afford to pay these inflated rates, the charges fall on the individual policy holder (who has no idea how to go about getting these charges reduced). This is how someone with insurance can still end up being billed $20k, $30k, $50k, or more by hospitals. Take a look at this pdf to see some of these charges (http://www.hospitalvictims.org/doc/HospitalVictims_Results1.pdf) and how they were either reduced or flat out removed by the Fairness Foundation.

Regardless of what you think you know about the problems associated with health care, the one, undeniable principle of all of this is that hospitals ARE NOT REGULATED, and they ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE CHARGES prior to admittance to the hospital. Now, in a life or death situation, who has time to shop around for a hospital? Obviously, immediate care is needed, so whether a hospital discloses the charges or not fails to solve the problem. What is necessary is REGULATION so that hospitals, like insurance companies, Medicare Supplements, and any number of other regulated services cannot take advantage of the public. We have a department of financial services in almost every state that governs such matters as health insurance premiums and coverage, auto, accident, life, as well as numerous other agency-related services. Hospitals have no such department, nothing that regulates this price gouging, or facilitates an equilateral exchange between the corporate entity and the consumer.

And this helps to hold hospitals accountable for other things as well, like Medical Malpractice if Doctors are working extremely long hours or are working in conditions not conducive to the highest care possible. There are a number of issues that can be resolved with such regulation that doesn't necessarily create a "socialist" state at all, and all it takes is public awareness to understand this. So, I hope I've helped in that regard.

[Anoiktos]

Heh. So, Prozerran, what you're saying is that capitalism doesn't apply very well to a semi-service-based, time-critical and decietful organization with little to no accountability to its customers? That accountability and socialistic practices are likely necessary to ensure a satisfactory level of health care?

For shame, man! You must be a communist! Too bad I don't have my flint and tinder ready. Care to hold still for long enough for me to go find two pieces of wood to whittle together until I can burn you as a blaspheming heretic?

[Ahzz]

Haha. That propaganda video PC posted cut out the most important parts of the quote someone already posted in its entirety. Quite funny how it already proves what that video backs itself up to.

As for his wife 'hating america until now'

Heh. Maybe she was one of the fewer people who actually recognized that the country had numerous problems it was not about to fix. When her husband seemed like he had a chance, of course she's proud since things might be getting better once that is done.

As for saying that 'because his pastor is like that, he is too' is ridiculous.
Your father is an alchoholic. You too, are total shit and should be thrown to the mud and cut out of your privildges right? Well, no, not if you ask me.

He will be able to see every side of the discussion, improve things which people have been blind to before instead of thinking we live in a happy teletubby land.

As for refusing to put his hand on his heart on the national anthem and a pen like that, we cannot possibly know the reasons behind it just because of one propaganda video.
Well then, PC99, since you're so sure about this, I'd like your view. (No offense, nothing personal, I just want your view since you're against obama, pretty much) Why is it that he didn't do it? What's your point of view? Because he hates this country? Why would he apply as a president then, and why hasn't he moved out before or something? Personally, I cannot see a reason why.

[Darmago]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wcy5XS68_Bc

In all seriousness, I revoke all personal support from Obama after that blatant act of terrorist support.

[Protosschick99]

Terrorist Fist Jab?? What the crap?

Okay now that's just STUPID.

Just because he did that doesn't make him a terrorist. Freak'n dumb. I may not support Obama--But I don't like to see someone with good intentions get crucified by the press just because they don't like him.

That was stupid--I'm sorry. I can't believe Fox News stooped that low >.<

[RavenCrusade]

Get used to it, they often do behind the scenes. Pathetic if you ask me.

To me it's all bullcrap, really. I mean this whole thing about how Barrack Hussein Obama somehow sounds like "Iraq Hussein Osama" and how that should have ANY effect on his candidacy at all makes me want to punch somebody. It's pathetic.

[Ahzz]

if he had high-fived he'd be called a punk or something and they'd just blame it on something else. Ridiculous.

[GenocideAlive]

http://images.icanhascheezburger.com/completestore/2008/6/23/racistinexperie128587233880829536.jpg

[GenocideAlive]

Oh, c'mon nobody has a sense of humor? Geez.

[Neo]

i laughed when fox news did it, sorry.

-Neo

[GenocideAlive]

Meh, I don't watch TV. That sucks. So much for being original.

[Neo]

heh, I was trying to be a smartass.

from what I understand (I don't watch much tv either), Fox has been going pretty crazy over obama.

lol @ colbert dissecting obama's supposed "terrorist fist jab"

-Neo

[Dark_Magneto]

That was stupid--I'm sorry. I can't believe Fox News stooped that low >.<

They do this crap all the time.

That's nowhere near as bad as some of the other stuff they've done.

Check this out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trWcqxrQgcc).

"We just payed 3 billion dollars for these television stations. We'll tell you what the news is. The news is what we say it is."

[Darmago]

Has anyone seen a specifically obama commercial attack McCain? Not like a "this ad paid for by the blah foundation" but an I'm barack obama and I approved this message ad.

[Neo]

nope, not personally. but I thought that was one thing he promised not to do?

-Neo

[Darmago]

nope, not personally. but I thought that was one thing he promised not to do?

-Neo

Well we all know how promises go when it comes to election time.

[Sikawtic]

Obama has my vote.