Spin Cycle

This is against Obama's promises that he will not run a dirty campaign, and that he will not twist the facts. Obama accused Hillary of twisting the facts in early February and late January.

Now Obama's campaign has fallen into its own trap!!!

Go Hillary 08. You are my Hero! You are the solution for America!!

Obama says he is honest, Obama says he is not those kinds of old politician, Obama says Clinton's campaign wants to win at all costs.

NOW, WE ALL SEE HE WANTS TO WIN AT ALL COSTS.

When will be wake up to see this guy is a hypocrite and a dirty politician

I never thought that Obama was clear coated. I was always under the impression that it was Obama's campaign that started the race issue to make it look like it was Hillary's campaign. I also feel that it is the media that made Obama a rock star. Obama could not have done that on his own. It is about time that Obama should be challanged and held accountable.

Why does Obama feel that he needs to start negative attacks by making false statements? If he is going to make an attack at least make it factual. Is he afraid that his lack of experience, lack of voting record, lack of knowledge, questionable voting record, will hurt him politically? It hasn't yet.. His rhetoric has carried him far. Is he getting nervous the Americans will see the real Obama behind the rheroric. It becomes clear each day that Obama's claim of hope is only based on the hope he gets the job in the White House at everyones cost. If he has been truly a messenger of hope and positive change, why haven't we heard of him until now? I hope the Americans will see the lack of positive results, lack of positive change, lack of experience, lack of knowledge, lack of voting, lack of honesty is not want the country needs at this time. We do not want a President that wants to gain the control of America at any cost The Americans should not be willing to gamble on change. They should be able to look at the accomplishments of those that have a record of positive change and know how to accomplish change. I am tired of people that just talk talk talk. I have seen over and over people explain why they can't do something in the same amount of time to do the project. Just talk, talk, talk. I want a hard worker that takes action. Hillary and McCain can both provide that. They don't just talk talk talk.

Steve

Wow.....Barack Hussein Obama is a Politician after all! Who knew??

The last time i saw him, the main stream media was anticipating his walk on water.

His followers should be aware they are getting what they vote for.

And yes he loves the race card. The Clintons didnt start a race issue, it was there way before this contest of 2008.

What Barack Hussein Obama is doing however, is hiding behind the race card to win. Any one who tries to bring up his issues, gets called on as racist.

Now black superdelegates are stepping in. Go Figure.

I think it is apparant that obama is no saint like the media made him to be. Once apolitician always a politician. However it is worst when you claim your type of politics is pure and it turns out it is not. It is the rseposiblity of the media to find out more about obama that we the public did not know before it is too late. This election is very important for us to be fooled by mere speeches.

It's hard to blame the Obama campaign for accurately quoting Newsday. What you neglect to mention in this article is that the mailer prominently displays the exact excerpt from the Newsday article, making it clear where the word "boon" comes from.

So first Newsday misrepresented Senator Clinton's position on NAFTA, and now it's misrepresenting Senator Obama's mailer. I guess that makes it even?

It's unfortunate, but time and time again, we are reminded that politicians will always articulate ideas in a manner that is beneficial to their own bottom line. This should come as no surprise.

What is a surprise---and what has been long over due--is that Sen. Obama's campaign is being taken to task on their efforts to slam Hillary Clinton. I agree with the other comments that suggest that Sen. Obama has benefited from the Race Card. People are so fearful of being viewed as racist that they won't challenge him on his lack of specifics, or naive idealism that he spews about "crossing the aisle". As a black man, I think this thought process is misguided and dangerous. I also think that many white democrats (note Obama has a lock on well off, well educated individuals) are dealing what some view as guilt over the marginalization and oppression of African Americans in the USA. If that how we finally get a black man into office, I don't want it that way.

Sen Clinton has been consistently challenged on her positions and the level of sexism that is woven through the media coverage of this campaign is profound and disheartening.

Rarely do I speak to an Obama supporter who, when asked why they support the Illinois Senator, don't go all glassy eyed and jabber on about change. It is about time to for us to consider what is realistic and what "change" really means.

When is Newsweek, or any other media going to report about these allegations against Barack Obama from Larry Sinclair? Why has Senator Obama NOT denied this man's statements? If this video is true, then Obama is definitely NOT president material. It's shocking:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sVeFVtcdSYY

People wake up and spell the coffee. This man is the False _ _ _ _ _. Do not follow him. It is frightening.

I've been following closely these two people (Clinton & Obama). Obama uses words that evokes emotion, his inspiring words can make anyone totally hypnotized. Once the euphoria of his speech has faded like every words of great orators, you're left with nothing of substance; only word you'll remember is "change" you can't remember what words after that.

Hillary in her speeches, goes into detail, how she'll get things done and how to do it; she's a policy wonk. You'll leave the stadium after listening to her with a lot of information & substantive that will help you make the right decision how do you want this country to move forward to benefit all of us.

Many years ago, before any of us were born, there was a man who was inspirational, millions of people applauded him, some even cried including children. He became "father of the nation" . His followers became fanatics, no one question him, whatever he does was acceptable to his people.

His words was inspiring, the ground he walk on was laden with blood and tears of people when it was over; his name was ADOLF HITLER.

I cannot believe the people of this country are so stupid/blind to the fact that Obama is all talk and no action. It scares me to think we are going to have another useless president in the White House!! Sure his speeches are uplifting and inspiring but he himself has no substance!! We need someone experienced like Hillary who can start her new job on the first day and begin to put this country back on the right track.Wake up America, it's the future of our children and grandchildren at stake here!!

Slowly but surely...what lies beneath will be exposed...and the changeman, he shall sinketh into the water...I do not want to be preached at...I want to be listened to...HILLARY IS THE CHANGE AMERICA NEEDS!!!

Sen. Barack Hussein Obama represents words that give no substance. His inspiration comes from his blind desire to step in to the role that he doesn't have any experience to prove his worth to such. HILLARY is unquestionably the right person for the job, at the right time, at the right place. God bless America.

They say Hillary is the past, She is OUR FUTURE!!!!!!!!!

Gooooooooooo Hillary

You would have never thought that Sen. Obama would do this given all the holier than you speeches!!! It's just going to show that no one is a saint here. I agree with the earlier comments that we are getting tired of being preached at. Either give us substance or ...

I often wondered in this campaign why Sen. Clinton's supports all seem a little timid and embarrassed to admit that they support this great candidate. Some comments I read here certainly have shed some light on that one.

You would have never thought that Sen. Obama would do this given all the holier than you speeches!!! It's just going to show that no one is a saint here. I agree with the earlier comments that we are getting tired of being preached at. Either give us substance or ...

I often wondered in this campaign why Sen. Clinton's supports all seem a little timid and embarrassed to admit that they support this great candidate. Some comments I read here certainly have shed some light on that one.

And yet, Obama claims that her ads saying he won't debate her are attacks? As I see it, them's facts, folks. THIS is "old school politics." He's a fast learner, that Obama.

Obama, ever heard of karma?

Hillary is the ELECTABLE candidate. She is the one who pulled together a winning coalition of Democrats, Independents and Republicans to beat back the brutal Republican Attack Machine twice, winning 58 of 62 counties in New York including the reddest in upstate New York. Obama beat um, Alan Keyes.

If we want to win in November, we need Hillary as our candidate. As TINA TURNER sings - She's simply the best, better than all the rest.

Hillary is smart, funny, caring and tough. And she has the support of real super stars - General Wesley Clark on National Security, Madeline Albright on International Relations, Robert Rubin on the economy, and Bobby Kennedy, Jr on energy and the environment.

Why is this information not being told on National News. The american people need to know the true facts. We need to make the choice not have the choice made for us. I think we know all there is to know about Hillary someone needs to tell us about Obama.

uk...that's because Obama lies.

He said he wouldn't play politics of the norm but he has been using their play book.

What do you expect? Obama hired in 2004 the guy who left the Kerry campaign to form a secret organization with Gephardt people "to take out Howard Dean" and was the guy who ran those Osama/Dean attack ads. He went to work for him right after giving that speech at the Kerry Dem Convention. They knew what they were doing for years.

This is almost mild compared to the attack mailer he did in California using the Republicans old smear from 1993 "Harry and Louise" to attack Hillary on Universal Health Care. Besides being dirty to scare people and lie, I guess this is also an indication he has no intention of even trying to get Universal Health Care for all if he's attacking her for it.

Silence Is Assent: What the Democratic Party Apparently Thinks of Women
Posted February 15, 2008 | 10:52 AM (EST)

Who could have predicted how much a presidential race in the 21st Century would damage women's progress? When Betty Friedan and I taught classes together in the mid 1990s, she'd moved beyond The Feminine Mystique to what she called "the second stage," a time when men and women would reconcile their differences so all might benefit.
Were she alive today, she'd be shocked and furious at the deplorable way in which Hillary Clinton's campaign is being used by the media as an excuse to slap women back into what my very much "steamed" 83-year-old mother-in-law, Connie, described yesterday as "our supposed place." Were Betty around now, she'd be shouting before even entering my car, asking me why my generation wasn't doing more. Why we're allowing this to happen?
Part of the problem is that Hillary is running against a very popular Barack Obama. To stand up against media demeaning of his opponent takes a level of sportsmanship by his supporters we're willing to teach our children in soccer and baseball but apparently unwilling to expect of ourselves. "I'm for Barack Obama, so I must be OK with despicable attacks on Hillary" is how too many people think. These, no doubt, are the same people who will expect a rush to Barack's side by Hillary supporters should he win the nomination. They'll be saying, "Put it behind us and let's move on. Get over it."
Not so fast. During a recent radio interview I said that were Barack to win the nomination, he'd have my vote. But with each day the Democratic Party is losing its appeal. And I'm far from the only one thinking this way. Where are senior Democrats calling for civility at least from their own members? How about a letter from them to the corporate media culprits? Where is Howard Dean? Why didn't Ted Kennedy bother to give a noticeable nod to women and their struggle to see one of their own become president before his ecstatic leap into the Obama camp? Wouldn't he have acted differently if he'd thrown his support the other way? Why does it take people outside the party and even opposed to Clinton to decry insults to her body, her face, and her every move?
I'd like to know, too, if Barack Obama really stands for change, why this Democratic race is more of the same in terms of demeaning women so men might advance. There are times when silence is assent -- and this is one of them. I'm not suggesting he come to Hillary's aid. I'm suggesting he comport himself as the agent of change he so confidently claims to be.
Barack isn't to blame for the nastiness. But he's hardly denounced it. Many of his supporters revel in it. I've written about political courage, most recently in the Harvard Business Review. And this isn't it.
Corporate owned media flinging vile attacks at Senator Clinton should elicit from Senator Obama as much disdain as corporate lobbyists do. But he gives the former a pass at great expense to women -- those who notice and those who haven't yet.
Each rung of the ladder onerously constructed and climbed by women in the past and present is being damaged by the current Democratic presidential race. I knew things weren't perfect -- that we weren't in any sense solidly in the second stage. I just didn't think vile media attacks on Hillary that resonate for all women would go largely unchallenged by the Democratic Party -- that people supposedly on the side of equal regard for all would be, by their silence, little better than those on the attack.
If a vote for the Democratic Party means condoning incivility toward women and giving the most vile in the media and ones who take their lead from them free, unchallenged reign, then the Democratic Party is a shadow of its former self -- and may indeed be deservedly so in numbers before the vicious game they've condoned is over.

Dr. Reardon blogs at bardscove.com

Oh, speaking of Obama and lies.

Not just did he claim he wouldn't campaign this way and that he is attacking Hillary on something she didn't even say, but the hypocritical liar is USING HIS OWN WORDS HERE WHEN HE SAYS HE IS ALL FOR FREE TRADE AND ISN'T WORRIED ABOUT US BEING ABLE TO COMPETE ANY WHERE ON EARTH WITH AMERICA WORKERS"

REALLY? THank goodness Hillary does.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/obama-on-free-trade/3789045062

Amen to Dr. Reardon! I for one am reconsidering my vote in November if Sen Clinton is not the nominee. The Democratic Party leadership has not stood up so far

Obama employs totalism as his base for getting others to go along with his jargon.

Obama will say or do anything to win. He voted for the extension of NAFTA, so why his he touting? He wants attention. He is using the same tatics he claims to be so against. There will be no change with Obama.

Hillary has been and will continue to be a leader for change. She knows you have to work for it. You can just say and it will be. If you think that, then you need to back to the classroom because you have not learned a thing.

You can spew change all you want but what I got to say is Yes We Will help Hillary get the democratic nomination! She is a true blue and a proven leader.

Obama is Joe Liberman-II He will not hesitate to betray his party.

Why is it Obama refuses to debate Hillary in Wisconsin? Is it because he is afraid he might have to be accountable for all the 'distortions of truth' that he has told over hundreds of speeches during this campaign? He reminds me of another person who hid behind the media and used the pundits to transmit lies in order to push through his personal agendas. Oh who was that guy? Hold it-give me a moment-- Oh yeah! It was GEORGE BUSH!

I must concede that there is one great distinction between Bush and Obama--Bush is SMARTER. Even Bush wouldn't admit, on stage in front of millions of people, that he can manage his way out of a paper bag. Oh, I know that isn't EXACTLY what Barack said, but its close enough for you folks in Obamaland.

Obama claims that he is the 'Great Uniter', but, let's face it--lies--divide. Obama has about as much integrity and substance as a cardboard cut-out. I can only hope that his supporter wake up from their haze, because I really can not stomach 8 more years of "I told you so!!"

If I was African American, I would really be weary of someone who makes such claims in the name a group of people. How disgraceful Sen. Obama. Shame on you!

I agree with the person saying obama will betray his party as Joe Liberman did because he repeatedly says that he will remember he is the democrat for republicans, well democratic issues are not something republicans agree with. I hate msnbc at this point, we have Tim russert on today talking about what happened in SC where the black vote was split but then Bill Clinton made those remarks. Well you know this is so obvious to see, the media made SC a big deal and said that it was a must win for Obama because he had lost two states in a row. The media msnbc especially has been outright campaigning for obama and they had to do something about this and they did. They went as far as to slander the Clintons name and call them racist to get the black vote to change and it worked. They knew that would be the only thing they could do to change black voters mind to play that race card. They played a clip of Bill's speech were he said the idea that obama is purely against the war in iraq is a fairytale they took that and played those three words over and over not letting the viewers hear the full tape because if we did then we could clearly see what he was talking about but instead they interjected their own words the pundits did and said it was about Bill saying obama’s campaign was a fairytale he said nothing like that at all. Do the clintons have a slander suit on their hands? They were called racist this damaged their career their stature everything. The race card was played in order to help Obama out and they did try to make it look like the clintons were doing it, they outright said it was and if your not smart i guess a lot of people are not they bought into the bull. The super delegates are supposed to be above this ridiculousness of the media influence but it appears that some of them are not. I am an african american but i still was not blinded by their ploy. It was obvious what was going on there. Even about the words on jessie jackson, they were true. Black voters were told the clintons were racist and were made to feel guilt if they did not vote for the black candidate. I do want the pundits determining what happens within the democratic party, they are now trying to tell super delegates what they need to do. And this article has proven obama is just another politican despite his lying words but I already knew he was misrepresenting Hillary's words because I hear it with my own ears every speech he makes.

I meant i do not want the pundits determing what happens in the democratic party. They are trying to change the rules regarding the super delegates in the middle of election season. How does that make sense? They are trying their best to get people all upset on the issue saying it would cause a riot i'd bet no one would care its the process no one cared in the past its the way it goes. If its an issue now all of a sudden then the democratic leaders should work on changing it for next time.

Everyone should remember Obama is half white his Father was Black and his Mother was white why do we never hear about that. Hillary you have my vote keep fighting for us.

Yep. No shock. Obama has been twisting Hillary's words and making many misleading comments. Has been for a while. Go here for more http://facts.hillaryhub.com/ and share with friends and around the web! We need to shed the light on the truth before it is too late! We know Hillary's stances and her past etc and she is still standing and fighting to win!

People before you start jumping all over Obama, Remember that Obama's camp got this quote from the Newsday. So if you are level headed enough blame Newsday not Obama. They mis-represented Hillary's position. Now they are mis-representing Obama. This quote was created by Newsday not Obama and the Obama;s camp are using it now. People get you Facts are. To me, most people here seem just to hate this man may be because of his race. But as for me I am a proud white democrat and still both these candidates appeal to me eventhough I am leaning more towards Obama.

People before you start jumping all over Obama, Remember that Obama's camp got this quote from the Newsday. So if you are level headed enough blame Newsday not Obama. They mis-represented Hillary's position. Now they are mis-representing Obama. This quote was created by Newsday not Obama and the Obama;s camp are using it now. People get you Facts are. To me, most people here seem just to hate this man may be because of his race. But as for me I am a proud white democrat and still both these candidates appeal to me eventhough I am leaning more towards Obama.

JBVoter to me you seem to be a biased person if not a racist. If you say that if you were "African American you would be ashamed of what ever Obama said". well I am a white guy, so should I be ashamed of what BILL CLINTON said about Obama after the loss of Hillary in SC refering him to Jessie Jackson. OR should I be ashamed of all the Bush cheney policies that have got us into this mess because they are white like me. Come on buddy get a life. Stop posting your biased view.
People be rationale enough, don't bring your hatred on the board. Look at substance here. Well Hillary has said that she is in the solutions business and that Obama has no solutions, I find that to be misleading because everytime I have heard Obama speak, he has presented his case and what his solutions would be. SO ALL HILLARY SUPPORTER CHECK YOUR FACTS FIRST. SHE CLAIMS TO HAVE A BETTER HEALTH CARE PLAN. BUT HER PLAN WAS REJECTED WHEN BILL CLINTON WAS PRESIDENT. SHE IS NOW BRINGING THE SAME PLAN BACK. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THIS TIME IT WILL GO THROUGH. ARE THOSE THE SOLUTIONS SHE IS ADVOCATING FOR. WELL TO ME THAT FAILED SOLUTIONS. IT IS NOT NEW AT ALL.
OH PLEASE PEOPLE TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HERE ARE ANALYZING THROUGH WHAT THEIR CANDIDATES SAY. LISTEN PEOPLE HILLARY HEALTH CARE PLAN GOT KILLED IN THE HOUSE CONGRESS, IT WILL GET KILLED AGAIN.
As an independent I believe that we need a coalition in both the house and senate to get good proposals through, AND ONLY JOHN MCCANE OR OBAMA will bring this change we need.

JBVoter to me you seem to be a biased person if not a racist. If you say that if you were "African American you would be ashamed of what ever Obama said". well I am a white guy, so should I be ashamed of what BILL CLINTON said about Obama after the loss of Hillary in SC refering him to Jessie Jackson. OR should I be ashamed of all the Bush cheney policies that have got us into this mess because they are white like me. Come on buddy get a life. Stop posting your biased view.
People be rationale enough, don't bring your hatred on the board. Look at substance here. Well Hillary has said that she is in the solutions business and that Obama has no solutions, I find that to be misleading because everytime I have heard Obama speak, he has presented his case and what his solutions would be. SO ALL HILLARY SUPPORTER CHECK YOUR FACTS FIRST. SHE CLAIMS TO HAVE A BETTER HEALTH CARE PLAN. BUT HER PLAN WAS REJECTED WHEN BILL CLINTON WAS PRESIDENT. SHE IS NOW BRINGING THE SAME PLAN BACK. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT THIS TIME IT WILL GO THROUGH. ARE THOSE THE SOLUTIONS SHE IS ADVOCATING FOR. WELL TO ME THAT FAILED SOLUTIONS. IT IS NOT NEW AT ALL.
OH PLEASE PEOPLE TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE HERE ARE ANALYZING THROUGH WHAT THEIR CANDIDATES SAY. LISTEN PEOPLE HILLARY HEALTH CARE PLAN GOT KILLED IN THE HOUSE CONGRESS, IT WILL GET KILLED AGAIN.
As an independent I believe that we need a coalition in both the house and senate to get good proposals through, AND ONLY JOHN MCCANE OR OBAMA will bring this change we need.

Independent, it looks like you need to look at the facts. I think you will find us Hillary supporters live in the Reality world and very much look at the issues.

I think YOU need to start doing that. Obama supporters want to ignore the facts and wish to claim he sounds good and is a symbol for change when every you talk about his record and poor policy.

Hillary is about real change on real issues the people face daily.

We know Obama is aware of the Republican attack, because he used the same on in Californnia, which also shows his lack of desire in having a Universal Health Care if he wants to attack Health Care for all.

And what Republicans did in 1993 is not exactly a reason to not provide what most Americans consider a RIGHT. If you want to use that as a basis for doing or not doing anything, shoot, we might as well not try for Peace because a Republican started a war of choice and manipulated intellegence aproximatelly 963 times to do it.

Why try to save our planet from Global Warming, there's already CO2 in the air.

Get the point? You're sounding like a defeatest Republican.

Do you know Obama's record and policy?

I'm shocked how many people who supported Obama actually think he voted against the War. He wasn't in the US Senate to even have a vote. And when he did arrive over 2 years later, he spent the next 2 years he was in the Senate voting for to keep the War going. He even voted against Senator Feingold/Kerry's one Bill to redeploy our troops and end our occupation. June 2006.

And the war and the "injustices of the Patriot Act" were his 2 main campaign themes in 2004 to get elected....so, he of course went right ahead and VOTED TO REAUTHORIZE THE PATRIOT ACT.

Predatory lending? Too bad he was silent went it mattered most. He received the backing of the Financial Industry in 2004 and he voted in favor of their most important, He voted against capping the amount of interest they could charge.

Exelon(Nukes) and Coal are good to Obama. We all know he voted for the Cheney Nuke and Oil Energy Bill making his donors happy, but he also pushed a 2nd time a Lobbyist pushed, tax payer funded Liquified Coal Bill that would have added so much more pollution and speed up Global Warming as environmentalist were screaming at him to pull it for 6 months. It finally lost support a 2nd time.

Yes, you will find, we do care about the issues.

As Larry Sinclair had also claimed -- BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA is still a drug addict even working in the state of illinois.. It's not true that the drug addiction of BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA was only in his youth. BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA is already lying to all american people. Plus all his rhetoric speeches and talks, do you really beleive this BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA?

For all the people in WISCONSIN, TEXAS, OHIO, PENSYLLVENIA, HAWII, and all states that are still going to have a primaries, pls do america a favor... vote for the right candidate..

http://therightperspectivepodcastblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/larry-sinclair-interview-excerpt.html

What a biased set of readers and how distasteful are most of these comments. Do you really need to slander a candidate to make your point? Hillary should and would be ashamed of her supporters' accusing her opponent of being a drug addict, repeating his middle name as if that somehow makes him un-American, bringing up his mixed heritage as if it is something suspect instead of something that gives him a unique perspective as a unifier (as far as I am concerned), and continuing to repeat the nonsensical charge that Obama is all talk when he has clearly defined his positions. As a female (and an older one), I find Betty Reardon's comments hyper-reactive -- the irony is that Hillary and her team can attack Obama but as soon as she is the target of the normal rough and tumble of politics, it becomes somehow demeaning and gender bashing. Give me a break. I have observed many elections abroad where women have been candidates. They don't shrink from the fray and can give back as good as they get from the guys. By the way, the point of the article is: Has Hillary supported NAFTA? Yes (because after all Bill promoted it). And by the way I support NAFTA myself but all of us who work on such issues know that it has had certain deleterious effects on sectors in BOTH Mexico and the US so those who have been adversely affected by free trade should blame those legislators who passed it at the time.. Voters really need to assess the issues - not based on who is black, who is mixed, who is white, who is a woman. Long Island may be Clinton territory and I do not find it to be exactly progressive on racial matters but surely people can still think logically. If you really want change, and want to get away from machine politics, vote for Obama as I will. But hey, people have other reasons for voting for Hillary and I respect that. But can't the discussion be conducted without these slanderous accusations of drug use etc.?? Jeez!

http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/02/16/no-he-cant-because-yes-they-will/

Look at this one folks. This is what will come out on Obama should he, god forbid, be handed the Democratic nomination.

Let's try that again. Click on the url associated with my name.

The whole corporate media is bashing Hillary daily and leaving Obama's record and history completely out of the picture--that is, until, god forbid, he should win the nomination. Then the patina will be more than scratched. There is a lot of dirt that they are keeping back--for now!

Just click on my name to see a sample.

Further, this guy's record is a sham. He has done nothing but gut legislation after first talking a big game. He's a conciliator of the worst kind.

Let's make the Florida delegates count if they want to change the rules about the superdelegates!!!

Make Florida Count--don't disenfranchise Florida again!

Where were any of you with your so called logic, discernment and suspicious recall of the time line when Nafta was actually signed? I am asking both sides of the aisle in here?

Were any of you taking any responsibility as a citizen and looking at the policy being critical of it then and communicating to your representative not to vote for it?

NAFTA was a Ronald Reagan proposals from the 1980s that had been worked on as the NORTH AMERICAN ACCORD (Reagan's Original proposal) through Reagan's terms and Bush Sr.'s term

It had been signed by Bush Sr. under his fast-track prerogative along with Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mexican President Carlos Salinas Gortari in December 1992, if I recall correctly.

Provisions providing for worker saftey and environmental policies were added by Bill Clinton, weak as they were.

A little historical perspective would help correct historical myopia with who did what, when.

Blessings to all
Rev. Strickler

"Hope is a useless fuel for change unless sided by accurate Knowledge coupled with right action and the Courage and Commitment to bring about the required type of change that corrects the inequality produced by policies structured by aid of information imagination unchecked by the use of reason

Obama on Rumsfeld 2001

www.politicalamnesia.blogspot.com

BRObama gives speaches, HILLARY runs governments....BRObama helps republicans and wealthy HILLARY helps middle to lower america, BRObama lets nuclear waste seep into the ground your kids play on, HILLARY wants health coverage FOR your kids...and you. BRObama is just another liar....DO YOU REALLY WANT ANOTHER LIAR IN OFFICE....HAVEN'T WE HAD ENOUGH LIES IN 8 YEARS???

HILLARY WE LOVE YOU...09'

as i said before i heard hannity on fox say he would do anything to get hillary out of the race/well the media has managed to put obama on a pedestal with a free pass by prortaying the clintons as racist which we all know that they have always helped and loved the african american and all people .i'm disapointed that the black community turned there backs on the clintons when in there hearts they know there wrong .i understand they are proud of obama because he is black but hillary is by far the most qualified,experienced,and will deliver to the people her promises of tackling healthcare,economy,bring are brave soldiers home safe with a plan/the republicans ,independents,will vote republican again in november that is there plan/so i wish people would come out of there daze before it;s to late/and look more closely at obama /he is not ready he will be a puppett for someone/

Both Sen. Obama and Clinton are good but imperfect people.

When will the media finally begin doing it's job? Political manipulation by all 3 major cable outlets is sickening.

Go to US Senate website to find what a candidate actually voted for or against (or did not even show up or stand up for.) I believe in hope and faith. I think it's great and in fact, important to dream, but without action, it's just a nice feeling. Read the bills and who voted for what (or just sat on the sidelines that day).

Since the media has not done it's job in vetting ALL of the candidates, I hope the electorate is sharp enough to do their own homework. Success is 1% inspiration...but also 99% perspiration. That is just a fact of life

Acting politically safe does not equal someone who is qualified to unite an electorate; it's just someone who is very careful...perhaps so that they can get elected. Knowing how to compromise AND how to stand up when it counts means that someone has a backbone. If having a backbone is now an outdated value, good luck to those of you in life who believe you can lead without one.

Remember, Bush looking into Putin's eyes and seeing his "soul" didn't actually make things better...in fact we're again bordering on a cold war because of a young, inexperienced person who thought he could persuade others. Of course the American people helped him believe that by voting for him twice...and now, here we are.

It's a bit mind boggling to see many people buy a president with less caution then they would use to buy a car or food or anything else.

Isn't anyone just a little curious as to why Hillary gets all of the media heat-no matter what she has accomplished? Who is determining your vote?

Do your own homework. You may be surprised. As someone who worked with move-on.org until they pre-endorsed a democratic candidate, it was easy and satisfying for me to resign from move on since their anointed one didn't even stand up for them and vote to support them during the "Betray-Us" debacle.
Clinton stood up for move on. Obama did not. Clinton voted against Cheneys energy bill. Obama voted for it.

No candidate is all rosey but at least check the actual record.

Hillary Clinton on Nafta; on the record 1 year ago in Time Magazine.
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1584649,00.html

Thursday, Feb. 01, 2007
Hillary: "I Have to Earn Every Vote"
By Karen Tumulty/Washington
A few days after returning to Washington from her first campaign visit to Iowa last weekend, former First Lady and Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton sat down for an interview with TIME's Karen Tumulty. Excerpts from their conversation:

TIME: What surprised you about this first trip to Iowa? Is there anything you want to do differently the next time you go out?

CLINTON: I was really excited by the intensity of feelings that I encountered in all of the events, large and small, and the energy that people brought to the events they came to. People were really geared up. It felt more like a week before an election than a year before an election. There was that much emotion and intensity and energy. I was delighted with the whole weekend. I though it went extremely well, thanks to all the hard work that everybody put into it, and I was pleased that I got to go to so many different places, and not just stay in one place, and obviously, I'll go to many more when I go back over the succeeding months.

One thing that surprised me were the number of questions I got about No Child Left Behind. I know that's a problem for people, but this was more intense than I had expected.

And I will bring a warmer coat next time. (Laughs.)

You know, just thinking about it, the other thing, have you ever been to the Drake Diner? Well, every time I'm in Des Moines, which has only been —what? —like three times in the last seven or eight years, but every time I go, I go to the Drake Diner, because it has great chocolate milkshakes, which this is like the only place that I have one. And I was sitting in a booth there, and I was so touched by all the people who came up—this was before I had done anything; this was Friday night around 6 o'clock —and I was just so touched by all the people who came up to talk to me and to welcome me to Iowa and tell me how happy they were. And some even to tell me that they were supporting me. And you know, the young women who came wanting autographs or wanting to tell me they were teachers or they were students or they were nurses. It was really touching to me that there was so much personal outpouring toward me, especially since I hadn't been there in so long.

TIME: Could you describe how you decided to run? Was there one last thing that put the decision over the edge? Was there one thing that you finally had to work through to decide that you actually wanted to do this?

CLINTON: Well, I spent a lot of time with my family over Christmas, and Bill and I went away for a few days over New Year's, and that gave me the space—the psychic space—to really think it through because I hadn't focused on it with the level of seriousness it needed until after my election [to the Senate]. I mean, I knew I was going to think about it, but then it came to actually have to think about it, and we were still working in the Senate. I was receiving a lot of advice from people—all kinds of people who wanted me to run, who had ideas for me, but I needed the quiet space to really talk to myself about it.

Really, right after the first of the year, I decided I did want to do it, that it was the right thing for me to do and that I thought I would win. So I made the decision and told my staff that it was a go and we needed to get ready.

TIME: Was there any last doubt?

CLINTON: Well, there were lots of doubts that I worked through from the November election, until I made the decision. But those are the kinds of concerns anybody who is going to enter into this high-stakes political election would have to ask. So I went through and just thought to myself, do I really —. I sort of started from the back. Do I believe I would be the best person to be President in January, 2009, to undo the damage of the last years, and to put us on the right path? And I really believe I would be. And then, believing that, can I put together a campaign that will win the nomination and win the general election? And I believe I could do both of those. And then finally, do I really want to do this? Is this how I want to spend the next two to 10 years of my life? And the answer is, yes, that I've invested an enormous amount of time and energy and commitment in trying to do what I can to help my country and I'm really heartsick about the direction this President has taken us, and I don't want to be just on the sidelines. I want to try to influence what we do going forward.

TIME: Let's talk about the war. There is this strain of very angry people in the Democratic electorate. This is the thing that all of your competitors are coming after you on, whether it is John Edwards saying you're not being strong enough. Joe Biden's taking shots. Do you think that as you're talking this out with voters—and you did that a lot this weekend—can you feel that you're making any progress with the people who are upset and just want you to say, I was wrong?

CLINTON: I've gone through this, certainly in New York. I had a primary that was all about the anger and frustration people legitimately feel about the war this President launched and the way that he has conducted it. And I feel the obligation to talk and listen to people about it as long as they want to engage with me, because I want them to know what I think and what I believe should be done. And I believe that as people actually hear me and meet with me, they understand that this is a complex issue that I'm trying to provide leadership on and work our way through.

And as I said in Iowa, this is George Bush's war, and he's the one who needs to extricate us from it. He has really engendered so much anger and outrage in the electorate, and I understand people's deep desire to have it end. There this idea that, somehow, we should just end it, and we are trying in the Congress to come up with means to influence this President. But the reality is, we have very few tools that we can use to to force him to change, because he always can veto anything we pass and this President has a history of ignoring what we pass anyway, even after he signs it into law. So our job is to continue to build political opposition to his policy. And certainly, that's why I'm so strongly against the escalation and would do everything I can to prevent it from going through or try to limit it and up the political pressure on him doing whatever is necessary to begin the end to this war as soon as possible while he is still President.

TIME: But there does seem to be a strain of Democrats who just want you to say the three words: I was wrong.

CLINTON: Well, I've said over and over again, knowing what I know now, I would never have voted for it. The President was the one who was wrong. The President led people to believe that he would be prudent in the exercise of the authority he was given. That proved not to be true. I think keeping the focus on the President and Vice President about what they did and didn't do, the mistakes they made, is really where it needs to be, because he's the only one who can reverse course.

TIME: Listening to you talk about health care, you seem to be a lot more open, at least than I can recall you being, to single payer, the kind of government-run system they have in Canada. And I was also struck on one of your stops, about an employer mandate, where you said that if employers were required to provide health care to their employees, a lot of employers would say goodbye. In 1994, people argued that, and you didn't seem to believe that was the case. Could you talk about your own evolution in your thinking as to what is the right policy here? Obviously, this is still a work in progress with you.

CLINTON: What I'm trying to do is to outline clearly for people what our options are. And I think at one of those events I said, really, there are three big ways, either individually or in combination, that we can get to universal coverage, and universal coverage my goal, and I think increasingly, there's political consensus for it, which there wasn't back in 1993 and 1994. There wasn't even the means of getting there. There wasn't really an agreement that we needed to go there. And that has changed.

So what I'm trying to do, in a straightforward way, is say, look, I know how difficult this is. Probably nobody knows better how complicated the politics are. I'm ready to get out there again. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and work with people. But this time, I want to be sure that we have a political consensus about what we can accomplish together, because there will be a tremendous amount of pressure from those who don't want to change the system as we know it, because they do well by it. So we have to go into this with our eyes wide open and with sufficient political will to be able to overcome the opposition.

I've watched what happened in Massachusetts, and what is now happening in California. That's why I think it's exciting that the states are serving as laboratories of democracy. So I'm not going to be saying, here's the only way to get there. I want to set the goals. I want to set the principles that I believe have to undergird the achieving of those goals and I want to set forth the different means of realizing them, and then really have it be part of the conversation, and as I go forward, talking about what I think would work better than other options to get where we need to be. But this is more about setting the goal and mustering the political will that will enable me to hit the ground running in January 2009, with I hope an even bigger Democratic majority in Congress to try to actually get it done.

TIME: I noticed that when you polled your audiences on the three different approaches to get to universal coverage, both times I saw, single-payer won, hands down. Would that have been the case if you had asked that same question in 1993?

CLINTON: I don't think so. Back then, when I used to speak about health care, there were a lot of people who honestly didn't know Medicare was a government program. I remember being stunned by that the first time I encountered it, and then it happened on several occasions.

People know a lot more about how health care is delivered now. They know a lot more about what they pay. People were insulated from costs in many instances, because it was just something their employers did, and they weren't really even asked to contribute much and global competition wasn't that big a deal for well-paid, well-insured workers. So the last 14 years has caused a lot of serious thinking by all kinds of folks. The number of doctors who come up to me and say, I wish we had done what you wanted to do back in '93 and '94. There's an openness to considering different approaches that never would have been viewed as viable before.

TIME: The other thing I wanted to talk to you about was trade. You describe yourself as not a free trader or a fair trader but —

CLINTON: smart, pro-American trade.

TIME: But your husband was a free trader..

CLINTON: Uh-huh

TIME: What's this evolution about?

CLINTON: I think it's about the changing world in which we find ourselves. I believe very much in trade. Trade on balance has been very good for America. But I don't see how anyone can look at what's happened in the global economy and not ask yourself, what are we missing here? Why is it that we have such a huge trade deficit with the world, particularly with China? Is it all because we can't compete? I don't think so. Is it because the rules are not being enforced? Is it because most other governments in the world take actions that maximize the positive impact of their trading relationships for their workers? I think so. And it's not just China, which is just the most egregious example.

I issued a report earlier this year about some of the problems we have with Canada, our very good neighbor and ally along our border. We have trouble getting New York agricultural products into Canada. And I believe that it's because the federal and provincial governments of Canada, they protect themselves. They protect their farmers. They are not going to just open their borders regardless of what NAFTA says.

I voted against CAFTA [the Central American Free Trade Agreement], because I looked at the facts and I thought we have no environmental or labor standards—something that I believe is within the rubric of free trade. Free trade doesn't mean trade without rules. It doesn't mean a race to the bottom. It's supposed to be based on comparative advantage, so the trading partners all improve their standard of living. If you don't have some rules that will create conditions for employees to be treated fairly, the money is all going to go to the pockets of the elite. I heard the other day that in Mexico, they are importing cheap labor from Central and South America. Meanwhile, you have all of these ambitious, motivated Mexicans leaving their country to get a better life in ours. There's something wrong with this picture.

TIME: Do you think NAFTA [the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed by Bill Clinton] was the right thing to do?

CLINTON: I think NAFTA was, in principle, a good idea to try to create a better trading market between Canada and the United States and Mexico. But I think the terms that it contained, and how it was negotiated under the Bush Administration and the failure to have any tough enforcement mechanism, like pollution on our border with Mexico, for example—

TIME: That was your husband's Adminstration, wasn't it? Because I recall a lot of debate about it not having labor standards and environmental standards.

CLINTON: But it was inherited. NAFTA was inherited by the Clinton Administration. I believe in the general principles it represented, but what we have learned is that we have to drive a tougher bargain. Our market is the market that everybody wants to be in. We should quit giving it away so willy-nilly. I believe we need tougher enforcement of the trade agreements we already have. You look at the trade enforcement record between the Clinton Administration and the Bush Administration, the Clinton Administration brought more trade enforcement actions in one year than the Bush Administration brought in six years.

For me, trade is who we are. We're traders. We want to be involved in the global economy, but not be played for suckers.

As we look at trade today, I don't think we can look at trade separate and apart from how we fix health care. I don't think we can look at it separate and apart from how we incentivize and pay for education, so we keep trying to improve the skills of our workforce. And I think that the budget deficit has mortgaged our future and the holders of the mortgages are governments like the government of China, so then it makes it even more difficult for us to get tough when it comes to trade. So we've kind of walked into this vicious cycle and we need to break it.

TIME: So is there anything else you can tell us on how you cope with the campaign?

CLINTON: Well, I love to campaign, so for me being out there, it is very invigorating.

It is physically tiring, because there are long, long days, but I felt great all weekend. I thought, this is so much fun and I felt good about the reception I was getting.

The other thing I understand is that voters in Iowa take their responsibility to shop very seriously, and I respect that. And I intend to do this, as I kept saying over and over again, the Iowa way. I will go back. I will answer people's questions. I will make them feel more comfortable and open to me. And hopefully, get a positive response. You know, I know I have to earn every vote. None of that worries me.

I'm going to take a warmer coat next time.

Based on his positions in Illinois and the United States Senate, the National Journal concluded that Sen. Obama was "the most likely presidential candidate to support further trade liberalization." Sen. Obama opposed an amendment that would have prevented the weakening of laws that protect against unfair trade practices. (Hillary supported the amendment.) Sen. Obama also supports fast track authority.
And in 1992 it was noted that HIllary was against NAFTA and didn't want her husband to vote for it.

Hillary supporters crying? why are you guys crying so much? Obama will win and Hillary will lose, accept it. If you want to go as far as switching parties on November, then go ahead this is America. I will write this though, Obama, Hillary, and that George Bush lover are all politicians. Being that they are politicians they are going to blow a lot of hot air about stuff they will do but in reality will not be able to do. Either if Obama or Hillary wins the office, no matter what, the main issue they will end up dealing with is the war. By the end of the first four years they will forget what they promised.

I think Obama's goal is just to get the nomination he is not looking for general election.This kind of negetive toward fellow democrat he will loose 49 state to McCain.

Come, come Clinton supporters, your gal is just as dirty. Her whole "heartfelt" wind-up from the last debate was stolen from Bill. Smell the roses, she's no angel either.

I find it very disingenuous of Newsday to accuse Obama's campaign of being misleading when THEY are the one who used "boon" in their description of her feeling on NAFTA. It's like they're saying, "Yeah, we may have misrepresented her position but he shouldn't have relied on our reporting."