Obama Takes First Steps To Unify Dems

Washington Post: Campaign Seeks To Win Over Superdelegates As Clinton Gives No Hint She'll Surrender

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Shailagh Murray and Perry Bacon Jr..

---

Sen. Barack Obama began taking the first steps to unify the fractured Democratic Party for a general-election battle against Sen. John McCain, even as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton continued to insist that she has the backing of a broader coalition that could carry the party to victory in November.

Returning to Washington yesterday, Obama was mobbed by well-wishers as he walked onto the House floor. But behind the scenes, his campaign worked with a light touch to win over uncommitted superdelegates and allies of Clinton, mindful of not appearing overconfident and of the fact that they would need the backing of the candidate, her husband and their supporters in the fall.

With numerous prominent Democrats believed to be waiting in the wings to endorse his candidacy, Obama appears poised to win the pledged delegates and superdelegates he will need to claim the Democratic nomination as early as May 20, when Kentucky and Oregon vote. But although he appeared to lock down his lead on Tuesday with a strong win in North Carolina and a narrow loss in Indiana, he won only two new superdelegate endorsements yesterday, from Reps. Rick Larsen (Wash.) and Brad Miller (N.C.). Many other unaligned lawmakers said they are likely to remain on the sidelines for the time being, in deference to Clinton.

"Superdelegates understandably would prefer not to be seen as the deciding factor," Obama told reporters between meetings at the Capitol, brushing aside the suggestion that a mass endorsement is in the offing. "I think they respect the process, they respect Senator Clinton and myself."

As Clinton campaigned in West Virginia, which will hold its primary on Tuesday, her backers were also calling superdelegates, encouraging them to remain uncommitted until after the final two primaries on June 3 and touting poll numbers suggesting that Clinton would be a stronger nominee in key states such as Florida and Ohio. "Some people don't agree, but most people respect the argument," said Steve Grossman, a member of Clinton's national finance team.

In Charleston, W.Va., yesterday, Clinton argued that the coalition of voters backing her would make her more viable than Obama against McCain. "The delegate math may get complicated, but the electoral math is easy: We need 270 electoral votes to win in November," she said at a rally.

Clinton is expected to win the state by a hefty margin. Yesterday, she repeatedly referred to her appeal among "hardworking Americans," including "Catholic voters, Hispanic voters, blue-collar voters and seniors -- the kind of people who Senator McCain will be fighting for in the general election." She did not repeat the term "white voters," which she used in a USA Today interview published yesterday.

She also gave no hint of surrender in a letter to Obama about the delegate impasse involving Florida and Michigan. "Your commitment to the voters of these states must be clearly stated and your support for a fair and quick resolution must be clearly demonstrated," she wrote.

After Tuesday's primaries left Obama the clear Democratic front-runner, McCain's campaign refocused its attention on the senator from Illinois, preparing to question his experience on national security and his credentials on reform issues. Clinton, meanwhile, had become an afterthought for the presumptive GOP nominee.

"After I've been saying for a year, 'Don't count the Clintons out until they're out.' People are laughing at me," said Charles Black, a McCain campaign adviser. "I don't see how she does it."

Mark Salter, a senior McCain adviser, struck back sharply after Obama said on CNN that McCain was "losing his bearings" when he suggested that Hamas preferred that Obama be elected. Salter said Obama used the phrase "intentionally, a not particularly clever way of raising John McCain's age as an issue. This is typical of Obama's style of campaigning."

In Chicago, Obama's team worked to accelerate a transition to general-election mode that began weeks ago, only to be shelved as the primary showdown continued. In addition to competing in the six remaining contests, Obama will mix in stops to battleground states in the coming weeks, advisers said.

"We're not going to wake up in the morning after we become the nominee and be unprepared," said campaign manager David Plouffe.

The team is beginning two major grass-roots programs. "Vote for Change," a voter registration drive aimed at signing up millions of Democrats over the next six months, will begin tomorrow with 100 events in all 50 states. An army of "Organizing Fellows" is also being recruited -- full-time volunteers who will be deployed to swing states.

Obama spent the day in Washington courting uncommitted lawmakers. Former senator Thomas A. Daschle (S.D.), who helped organize the one-on-one and small-group sessions, said Obama is in striking distance of overtaking Clinton in superdelegate support, and may hit that mark in the next few days.

Obama's only public appearance was a lap around the House floor. He headed to a corner to visit Rep. John P. Murtha, the dean of the Pennsylvania delegation and a Clinton supporter, and Keystone State Reps. Mike Doyle, Paul E. Kanjorski, Jason Altmire and Robert A. Brady, all of whom are uncommitted.

Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher (Calif.), a Clinton supporter, waited her turn to shake Obama's hand, and uncommitted Rep. Bart Stupak (Mich.) chatted with the senator for a few minutes. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (Md.), also officially neutral, hugged Obama.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) shrugged off the fuss, noting that "senators come to our floor all the time. Some attract more attention than others. I'm sure if Senator Clinton came, she would attract a great deal of attention, as well."

Obama advisers said a number of Democratic lawmakers are ready to sign on but want to speak with Clinton before making the leap.

"The writing is on the wall. They think he's the nominee, so there's no reason to rush," said one prominent uncommitted Democrat, referring to other lawmakers in the same situatin. "Then you don't have to offend anybody. The voters will issue their verdict soon enough."

Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Del.), a former presidential candidate, said he will remain neutral. "I'm hopeful that there's some accommodation pretty soon," he said carefully. "The sooner the better." Sen. Ken Salazar (Colo.) said he will hang back, as well. "Let it play out," he said. Sen. Mary Landrieu (La.) said she will continue to "contemplate things" over the next few weeks.

Clinton supporters also urged restraint. "It's three more weeks, okay?" said Sen. Maria Cantwell (Wash.). "We want to have a very united party in November, and I take Senator Obama at his word when he says he doesn't want to do anything to tell her to get out of the race."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) said she spoke with Clinton by phone for 15 minutes yesterday morning, with Clinton doing most of the talking and sounding "very collected" in her determination to stay in the race. "She doesn't believe it's time," Feinstein said, adding that Clinton feels a bond with those who have supported her and does not want to let them down.

Said Daschle: "We're not going to pressure her in any way." If superdelegates express concerns about offending Clinton, "we respect those," he said, adding: "I don't know that anyone is getting any pressure to come forward."

Staff writers Paul Kane and Peter Slevin in Chicago contributed to this report.

[jack3213]

WHY THE HECK IS EVERYONE SO AFRAID OF THE CLINTONS- AND OFFENDING THEM?! THAT IS SUCH ***. IF SHE WERE A MAN THEY WOULD CERTAINLY BE SAYING OUTLOUD "TIME TO QUIT-NOW!" BUT- BECAUSE OF THEIR CRIMINAL PAST AND FOR SOME GOD FORSAKEN REASON THEY FEAR THE- THEY TIPP-TOE AROUND THEIR FEELINGS AS IF THEY DESERVE THE RESPECT- MY GOD, PEOPLE- GET A BACKBONE!

[rowdytexan2]

Nobody''s afraid of the Clinton''s! Everybody wants a win in November, and Obama can''t pull it off!

It''s that simple.

[jack3213]

WHAT A HYPOCRITICAL STATEMENT" "OBAMA UNIFYING PARTY" HE CAN''T EVEN UNIFY HIS OWN PEOPLE.

[jack3213]

HEY ROWDY- WE KNOW YOU LIVE IN A BUBBLE- BUT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF THE CLINTONS. I CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND THAT REASONING- COWARDNESS, PERHAPS- LIKE ALL THOSE WHO WANT A DEMOCRAT TO HOLD THEIR HAND INSTEAD OF BEING THEIR PERSON. IF A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS HAS PROVEN NOTHING TO YOU IN THE LAST YEAR AND HALF- WHY THE HECK WOULD YOU WANT MORE DUMMO-CRATS! LOL

[bennyblack1]

Hillary;
Member of World Order Society
Supports interdependance rather than sovereignty
Supports the dilution of the US Dollar by over injecting it into the world''s systems
Supports the influx of illegal aliens and the use of welfare to support them
Supports the use of illegal aliens for jobs that "no one else will do." Hog wash!
Fronts her support for Black America for votes, but only uses them to further her agenda
Lies about her experiences make her seem like a more worthy candidate (I''d just as soon vote for Cheney. At least he was honest in the hunting accident).

[rowdytexan2]

HEY ROWDY- WE KNOW YOU LIVE IN A BUBBLE- BUT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF THE CLINTONS. I CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND THAT REASONING- COWARDNESS, PERHAPS- LIKE ALL THOSE WHO WANT A DEMOCRAT TO HOLD THEIR HAND INSTEAD OF BEING THEIR PERSON. IF A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS HAS PROVEN NOTHING TO YOU IN THE LAST YEAR AND HALF- WHY THE HECK WOULD YOU WANT MORE DUMMO-CRATS! LOL


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by JACK3213 at 09:02 AM : May 09, 2008

You need your hand held, Jack? Figgers!

[taotxzen]

(CONT)

The reality that the media has acknowledged giving McCain a pass and the huge scrutiny of Obama and everyone he might have been in contact with (see Rev. Wright fixation) aside%u2013since I%u2019ve already acknowledged that Carlson and Scarborough do not live in reality%u2013how much more patronizing and ridiculous could their characterizing could be?

TC: It%u2019s gonna be%u2026It%u2019s gonna be such a great election.

JS: It%u2019s gonna be awesome. Especially when you have the media loving one candidate as much as they love Barack Obama.

TC: It%u2019s more than love. It%u2019s the kind of love that%u2026anybody who%u2019s been a ninth grade boy understands, this species of love. Do you know what I mean?

MB: Wow.

JS: No, it%u2019s true. It%u2019s all-consuming.

TC: It%u2019s red-in-the-face, think-about-you-when-I-go-to-bed, too-embarassed-to-stand-up, sealed-with-a-kiss love. It%u2019s puppy love.

MB: Wow.

JS: It really is.

MB: What are you guys talking about?

JS: No, seriously. The media%u2019s love affair with Barack Obama is all-consuming. It is..it is%u2026no, it really is. It is a ninth grade love affair, where if you say anything about their love interest, they get very red-faced, angry, and emotional. They can%u2019t really think logically about it.

[taotxzen]

(CONT)

On a similar note:

Morning Joe: Scarborough and Carlson Call The Media%u2019s Love of Obama A %u201CNinth Grade Love Affair%u201D

By: Nicole Belle @ 5:30 PM - PDT

Sweet Jesus, I hate Tucker Carlson. And Joe Scarborough isn%u2019t exactly far down that list either. However, this exchange between the two of them was so far outside anything that that we in the reality-based community could recognize that I actually have to ponder out loud what color the sky is in their world. In discussing the gas tax proposal made by John McCain, Carlson and Scarborough conflate liberals with the media once again (because we all know the media is liberal, right? Not according to these two) and claim that the media is so in love with Barack Obama that they can%u2019t criticize his stance against the gas tax.

(CONT)

[rowdytexan2]

Obama can''t unify a *** thing as he''s already shown!

The party is SPLIT!

I hope the DNC goes to convention and pulls out a per forma candidate that CAN unify the party!

BECAUSE of Obama it''s split! Just like he intended! And he can''t win it. Obama goes hand in hand with the Neocons to insure there''s not a democrat in the White House.

[taotxzen]

Jon Stewart Puts McCain on the Hot Seat
By: SilentPatriot @ 6:20 PM - PDT

Jon Stewart proved again last night that he is one of the best, if not the best, interviewer on television. Although the first part of the interview was very cordial and weak, the second part heated up quickly. Stewart quizzed McCain on the Hagee endorsement, his seemingly detrimental connection to George Bush, his campaign%u2019s disgusting implication that Hamas endorses Obama, and a few other things.

Stewart: %u201CWill you take the opportunity to repudiate and denounce President Bush?%u201D

The media double-standard when it comes to McCain is sickening. Barack Obama had to jump through hoops in order to distance himself from Rev. Wright. Yet John McCain is allowed to stutter and stammer through his excuses for holding onto the endorsement. I%u2019m sure this is just a taste of things to come.

(CONT)

[taotxzen]

More Doule-Standards:

We%u2019ll %u2018never%u2019 see the McCains%u2019 tax returns?
By: Steve Benen @ 4:40 PM - PDT

The Obamas released tax returns for both Barack and Michelle. The Clintons released returns for both Bill and Hillary. But when John McCain released his tax returns a few weeks ago, Cindy McCain%u2019s tax documents will remain private.

It%u2019s not too hard to understand why. The McCains are extraordinarily wealthy %u2014 one might even be tempted to call them %u201Celites%u201D %u2014 and Cindy McCain%u2019s assets are estimated to be about $100 million, including a private jet, which her husband has been borrowing at a reduced rate.

Given the other candidates%u2019 disclosures, and McCain%u2019s own alleged commitment to transparency, will we ever see Cindy McCain%u2019s returns? She was asked on the %u201CToday%u201D show this morning, and said, politely, %u201CNever.%u201D

[taotxzen]

(CONT)

And third, there%u2019s just the shameless hypocrisy of it all. In 2004, the Republican National Committee spent quite a bit of time and energy demanding that the Kerry campaign release Teresa Heinz Kerry%u2019s tax returns. The candidate%u2019s wife resisted, but after pressure from the GOP and the media, she eventually gave in and made the materials publicly available.

The situation is exactly the same. John Kerry made less money than his wife, who inherited most of her fortune. McCain is practically broke, and relies on his wife%u2019s millions, which were also inherited.

In other words, if we hold the McCains to the standards set by the Republican Party, they owe the public some additional information. The press hounded the Kerrys on this; we%u2019ll see if the media chooses to give the McCains equal treatment. I%u2019m not optimistic.

[riptide213]

Thats one small step for a man; one giant leap for mankind level of impact on todays barren and distant from the people American political moonscape.

The time is right for folks to really exercise forward thinking and act now to embrace an emerging 21st Century political scene.

Don%u2019t dwell in the past and yesteryear.

A truly new vision needs new energy, a fresh face to carry the party flag and rally the troops.

History in the making.

Now is the time for risk taking. Be bold. See the writing on the party wall.

Lead, follow, or get out of way.

Obama Express has left the station. Next stop Denver, then ....

Crescit eundo; it grows as it goes.

[taotxzen]

Why Care Aout the McCain''s Tax Returns?

First, John McCain, for all of his talk about the importance of transparency and disclosure, has gone out of his way to ensure that all of his assets are in his wife%u2019s name. And as Kevin recently noted, %u201CThere%u2019s only one reason for a politician to make sure that all his assets are in his wife%u2019s name: it%u2019s to make sure that no one knows anything about his assets. It%u2019s not as if McCain is the first pol to try this, after all. Is the press really going to let him get away with this?%u201D

Which leads us to the second reason this matters: McCain has always relied on his wife%u2019s wealth, and has always %u201Cmixed business and politics.%u201D If the point of releasing tax returns is to offer voters a chance to get a better sense of the candidate, then it%u2019s incumbent on the McCains to stop acting like they have something to hide.

(CONT)

[prinzowhales]

I don''t really care which Rockefeller candidate wins. People silly enough to vote for either of the three Rockefeller-backed Demopublican candidates under the delusion that they will somehow get "change" will deserve what they get...just as they did when they voted for Bush...just as they did when they imagined Pelosi and the Democrats to be a real alternative to the Republicans.

Enjoy! Keep filling the Rockefeller''s coffers with gas whose price has been driven through the roof by them...Keep paying farmers not to plant and export jobs...Americans deserve to pay through the nose for a New World Order...and that is exactly what they will do when they put another Demopublican arse-puppet into office.

[craigh9]

Obama and Hillary are not that far apart in most of their ideas for moving the country forward. However, those views are considerably different than those of McCain.
ANY reasonable person that truly embraces the philosophy of the Democratic Party would support the democratic nominee once the inital disappointment of their candidate not capturing the nomination.
Therefore, anyone who has supported Obama or Hillary during this process that now states they would vote for McCain versus the democratic nominee is just showing their ignorance as far as political process if concerned and just solidifies the fact that they are prejudice regarding blacks or females holding positions of authority.

[abmitus]

RowdyTexan2

Probably said that he would not be the nominee either. He will be the next POTUS, simple as that! Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha,. This is so much fun. Watching racist eat crow. Ha, Ha, Ha,!!!

[omega39-2009]

From Rasmussen...

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows Barack Obama attracting 47% of the vote while John McCain earns 44%. This is the fourth straight day that Obama has had at least a one-point advantage over McCain. While it is not a statistically significant lead, it is the first time Obama has led McCain on consecutive days in two months. The last time Obama outpolled McCain for four straight days was in mid-February

In the race for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, Obama holds a 50% to 42% advantage over Clinton nationally. That%u2019s the first time Obama has reached the 50% level of support since April 15

Among all voters nationwide, McCain is viewed favorably by 49% and unfavorably by 48%. (see recent daily favorable ratings). Obama%u2019s numbers are now a bit better than McCain%u2019s%u201451% favorable and 47% unfavorable. That%u2019s the third straight day that Obama%u2019s favorable ratings have been higher than McCain%u2019s. Prior to these past three days, that hadn%u2019t happened since March 10. For Clinton, the reviews are a bit less flattering--45% favorable and 53% unfavorable.

[mudrose-2009]

Yeah, he''s taking everyone out to Starbucks for a Lattee. Next week he''ll be going out to McDonalds so he can get those gun toting, religious clinging, antipathetic blue collar workers on board.

[greenfun]

After the relentless media bias towards our candidate, and the vile behavior from Obama supporters. I will never vote for Obama-I actually despise this arrogant under-qualified, overly ambitious amateur.
I will watch with pure joy when he crashes and burns in the general. He can''t win without Clinton supporters or Florida voters, and a movement has already begun to vote against him.
He can thank his own arrogance and the shortsigted behavior of his supporters.
How can I be of help Senator McCain?

[craigh9]

How can I be of help Senator McCain?

Posted by greenfun at 09:55 AM : May 09, 2008

By remaining pig headed

[truthspeake2]

It%u2019s not too hard to understand why. The McCains are extraordinarily wealthy %u2014 one might even be tempted to call them %u201Celites%u201D %u2014 and Cindy McCain%u2019s assets are estimated to be about $100 million, including a private jet, which her husband has been borrowing at a reduced rate.

Given the other candidates%u2019 disclosures, and McCain%u2019s own alleged commitment to transparency, will we ever see Cindy McCain%u2019s returns? She was asked on the %u201CToday%u201D show this morning, and said, politely, %u201CNever.%u201D



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by taotxzen at 09:29 AM : May 09, 2008



...and she''ll "never" see the White House either. One has to wonder why McSame is even running, other than to be the "martyr child" for the GOP! I guess when all is said and done, when you have money, the only achievement left is power...

[truthspeake2]

How can I be of help Senator McCain?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by greenfun at 09:55 AM : May 09, 2008



...donate $11 million dollars to Hillary''s campaign!

[banders6]

With all his recent baggage if the primaries we held today he won''t even be in the race. If he was the demi committee first choice he would have the delegates Now! He is twisting many arms and praying to ali... he may make it but he''s clearly not the first choice.

[craigh9]

It will be alot of fun reading this post on November 5th after Obama wins the state of Florida.
So many stubborn people still think Obama was to blame for the Florida fiasco which is nonsense. They also have no concept of why Florida voted the way it did - without an ability to campaign Obama had no shot at getting people to know him and the recognizability of the Clinton name drove the elction numbers. Every other primary across the country started out with Hillary with considerable leads that dissolved once Obama campaigned in those states - it would have been the same story in Florida.

[nolalou]

Nobody is "afraid of the Clintons''! That''s a load of BULL! Obama and his supporters know they will need the Clinton''s support in the general election, so for now, they will let her do what she needs to do and then bow out of the race on her own terms.

[mbcsmith]

God bless America, not Godda** America.
President McCain, get used to it.

[prinzowhales]

McCain, Obama or Clinton...Everyone likes vanilla!

There is not much difference between these three candidates...if you want open borders, exported jobs, obscene gas and food prices and war...vote for them! We''ve had two Congressional elections and one presidential election since the 9-11 false-flag attacks...YOU have supported one side or the other of the Establishment''s Demopublican Party in each instance.....How''s that working out for you?

[jld1959]

Ahmed Yousuf, Hamas%u2019 top political adviser in the Gaza Strip, delivered his endorsement in an interview with WorldNetDaily and WABC Radio in New York.

%u201CWe like Mr. Obama, and we hope that he will win the elections,%u201D Yousuf said.

%u201CI do believe [Obama] is like John Kennedy, a great man with a great principle. And he has a vision to change America, to [put] it in a position to lead the world community, but not with humiliation and arrogance.%u201D

Obama was not talking about McCain''s age. He was refering to the underhanded and cheapshot McCain took at him by trying associate Obama with the Elected Terrorist Party Hamas. The meaning to me was that McCain is stooping beneath Sen McCain''s morals. When I remember that Sen McCain says at every chance that Sen Obama is to inexpierienced, I question why is McCain age not an legitimate issue? He is 71 yrs old and has ideas and attitude from a previous era, maybe that explains why Mccain is against Legal abortion and has stated that he intends to put 2 Supreme Court Justices on the bench to overturn Roe v Wade,The continuation of the Iraq war, No plan for the US economy and no healthcare plan etc. You can''t teach an old dog new tricks! This petty whining from McCain campaign is just a diversion from the real issues of America.

Democrats United 08

[jld1959]

I don''t think Democrats will cross over to McCain. When the passions of the Democratic Nomination dies down, common sense will prevail and dems will unite to tackle the important issues of the Country

[kstar42]

I will watch with pure joy when he crashes and burns in the general. He can''''t win without Clinton supporters or Florida voters, and a movement has already begun to vote against him.
He can thank his own arrogance and the shortsigted behavior of his supporters.
How can I be of help Senator McCain?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by greenfun at 09:55 AM : May 09, 2008

I would have to agree with you on this...I will never support Obama...or McCain I will sit this one out and I know alot of others that will too....or jump ship to vote for McCain...I have know faith or trust in Obama....Barack will not be able to unite the dems to vote for him...20 years of Rev looney Wright and William Ayers, Rezko...hello sounds kinda fishy to me.

[abbe91]

President McCain, get used to it.
Posted by mbcsmith at 10:06 AM : May 09, 2008

"Couric: Some of your opponents, Senator, have said that you are the equivalent of a third Bush term. How can you convince voters that you''re not going to be more of the same?

John McCain: Well, obviously, a view of my record, which there has been differences on climate change, or the war, or spending."

And you want this as a president ? Somehow he always disagrees with Bush but each time you have to have to choose between flip or flop.

[kstar42]

I don''''t think Democrats will cross over to McCain. When the passions of the Democratic Nomination dies down, common sense will prevail and dems will unite to tackle the important issues of the Country


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jld1959 at 10:10 AM : May 09, 2008
WANNA BET?

[prinzowhales]

McCain''s drug-addled wife is the daughter of major player in the Kemper Marley mob in Arizona as an Anheuser-Busch beer distributor. They, like other distributors, were major beneficiaries of Prohibition.
Small breweries were put out of business and when it was lifted, only a few of the big boys could get back into the business...Brewing became a corporate enterprise rather than a family tradition...But, Americans enjoy drinking pi*s, almost as much as standing in the yellow rain. Vote McCain, Clinton or Obama...Keep a Rockefeller arse-puppet as your leader.

[omega39-2009]

Posted by jld1959 at 10:10 AM : May 09, 2008
WANNA BET?

Posted by kstar42

There will always be a small percentage of Hillary whiners that will cut off their noses to spite their face but the fact is that Obama has already gotten more votes than both Hillary and McCain. In an earlier post I showed Rasmussen polls trending upwards for Obama over multiple days for both favorability and projected vote totals.

Dems who wont vote or Obama are simply racist dogs who dare not admit it mostly. The others are outright racists who make Rev Wright''s remarks prove truthgful

When I remember that Sen McCain says at every chance that Sen Obama is to inexpierienced, I question why is McCain age not an legitimate issue?
Posted by jld1959 at 10:08 AM : May 09, 2008

Well that''s a pretty absurb statement don''t you think? McCain''s age ALONE doesn''t mean that he is inexpert, untried, untested, unproven ...whereas inexperience means exactly that.

[omega39-2009]

Dems who wont vote or Obama are simply racist dogs who dare not admit it mostly. The others are outright racists who make Rev Wright''''s remarks prove truthgful

Posted by seems2me

I believe some of the Hillary supporters have made this totally about feminism and race doesn''t really enter into it so much. They see Obama as a hindrance to their perceived ascension. I have no doubts that we would be hearing the same threats and slams about disreputable ambulance chasing if Edwards were in Obama''s place.

[dante805]

The only unifying he will do is with Eggheads and Blacks. Whites are fleeing in record numbers, watch WV and KY.

[craigh9]

Obama and Hillary are not that far apart in most of their ideas for moving the country forward. However, those views are considerably different than those of McCain.
ANY reasonable person that truly embraces the philosophy of the Democratic Party would support the democratic nominee once the inital disappointment of their candidate not capturing the nomination has worn off.
Therefore, anyone who has supported Obama or Hillary during this process that now states they would vote for McCain versus the democratic nominee is just showing their ignorance as far as political process if concerned and just solidifies the fact that they are prejudice regarding blacks or females holding positions of authority.

[joe1022joe]

I would like someone to explain to me why when blacks vote 90+% for Obama it is not racist, but when whites vote 70% for a white candidate it is racist.

[chitown639]

I don''''''''t think Democrats will cross over to McCain. When the passions of the Democratic Nomination dies down, common sense will prevail and dems will unite to tackle the important issues of the Country


----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
------

Posted by jld1959

I wish I could express the same optimizism you have for the Democrats. I honestly hope as you do that those that call themselves Democrats would use their common sense and put there petty differences aside and unite behind the Democratic Nominee. But, race is involved in this election, and in many democratic circles, race and religion trumps common sense. In fact, there is a large portion of the Democrats that will never vote for a black president. Race is just to big of a issue to be overlooked by many democrats. They would rather cross party lines and vote for the white candidate, before they would ever vote for a black candidate. Race is just a hurdle that many Americans just cant overcome.

[omega39-2009]

Hillary is challenging Obama to another debate in OR.

Hahah.

Posted by melchg

James Carville and Bill Clinton can be co-moderators.

[truthspeake2]

Obama and Hillary are not that far apart in most of their ideas for moving the country forward. However, those views are considerably different than those of McCain.
ANY reasonable person that truly embraces the philosophy of the Democratic Party would support the democratic nominee once the inital disappointment of their candidate not capturing the nomination has worn off.
Therefore, anyone who has supported Obama or Hillary during this process that now states they would vote for McCain versus the democratic nominee is just showing their ignorance as far as political process if concerned and just solidifies the fact that they are prejudice regarding blacks or females holding positions of authority.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by craigh9 at 10:35 AM : May 09, 2008



Well said!

[oscarez]

jld1959 true Democrats won''t but the south is full of so called "independents". White men that are independent so they can vote for the white man.

[aldon61]

I don''t know if this party can be unified. Both candidates have shredded the other''s reputation. If I am John McCain, I now have a smile it will take a team of undertakers to remove upon my death.

White America hates the truth/ They honor the ethnic cleansing and denial of human rights in this country''s past while condemningf others. And then proclaim freedom, yet when anyone expresses the truth they must be denounced and rejected. Go jump in a trashcan where you belong

[In-Correct]

"Dems who wont vote or Obama are simply racist dogs who dare not admit it mostly. The others are outright racists who make Rev Wright''''''''s remarks prove truthgful"

Spelling Problem?? I am not racist. I do not believe in racism AT ALL, And I of course support Hillary... so anybody that agrees with the above statement about Hillary supporters being racist is WRONG.

Once again, People against Obama are NOT racist!!

And Obama can NOT unify the Democratic party, and certainly is not an influence to young people. I am one example. I know of many others that are also young and against Obama. McCain needs to do more campaigning against Obama.

[wdrussell1]

The Obama campaign has made only one real mistake.
They made an assumption that American voters were mature freethinking adults.
Bush in office has proven that to be wrong.

[element51]

While there are many important issues in this campaign that need to be addressed, the thing I find most troubling is the nomination of judges to the Supreme Court. In the next four years there will likely be three openings and the sitting president will nominate to fill those positions. McCain has already stated the kind of judges he will nominate and if this happens there will be a dramatic shift in the court. If the court is allowed to shift entirely to the right there will be a turn backward that will change the landscape of America. Keep in mind that these are LIFETIME appointments so what you get you will have to live with for a long time. I don''t want to see a one sided court. I want a balanced court that will decide issues in an intelligent way. Not just along party lines. This is something that people need to condider.