June 23, 2008
Obama Seeks To Reintroduce Himself
Washington Post: Presumptive Dem Nominee Moves To Shape Campaign, Answer Questions About His Biography
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Obama's Seal Of Approval
Sen. Barack Obama unveils a new public logo to mixed reviews, while Sen. John McCain has more women showing up at his campaign stops. Harry Smith talks to political analyst Laura Schwartz.
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Clinton Rallies For Obama
Hillary Clinton may play a huge role in uniting the Democratic Party after a lengthy primary. And, as Thalia Assuras reports, she's already making headway.
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Obama, McCain Reps Face Off
Bob Schieffer speaks with Carly Fiorina, an advisor to presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain, and Gov. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), who endorses Democratic presumptive candidate Barack Obama.
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Photo Essay
Obama Claims Nomination
Barack Obama secures the Democratic presidential nomination in historic race against Hillary Rodham Clinton.
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In-Depth
VP Hot Sheet: Obama
CBSNews.com ranks the top contenders to be Obama's running mate.
From Our Partner:
In the opening weeks of the general-election campaign, Sen. Barack Obama has moved aggressively to shape his campaign and offered a clear road map for the kind of candidate he is likely to become in the months ahead: an ambitious gamer of the electoral map, a ruthless fundraiser and a scrupulous manager of his own biography in the face of persistent concerns about how he is perceived.
Obama's early maneuvers suggest a clear understanding within the campaign of his strengths and weaknesses. He bought air time in 18 states, a sure sign that he hopes to expand Democrats' traditional electoral map. He opted out of the public campaign-financing system -- revealing his determination to press his financial advantage, even at the cost of handing his Republican opponent the opportunity to raise questions about the sincerity of his rhetoric on reform.
And with a first ad that delves into his biography, Obama acknowledged ongoing concerns among his advisers that voters do not know whether he shares the values and beliefs of ordinary Americans, a potentially critical vulnerability. The ad speaks to the reality that enough questions were raised about Obama through the long nomination battle that he needs to address them. The campaign's concerns include both taking on misinformation -- such as the persistent claim that he is Muslim when he is in fact a Christian -- and framing a biography unlike that of any nominee in the modern era.
"Any of the attempts to describe him inaccurately he takes head-on with the new commercial," said Valerie Jarrett, one of Obama's closest friends and confidants. "You begin a new campaign with an introduction. You can't presume that everybody was paying attention during the primary season. So let's start with basics. He describes his roots, his philosophy, his love of country. That's a really good start."
Jim Margolis, Obama's media adviser, said that, despite the long primary season, Obama still is not well known to voters in many parts of the country. "They don't know the full story," he said. "They don't have a complete sense of what motivates him, what are the biographical points of his life that have made him the person that he is today and what he wants to do as president."
Margolis said the campaign is primarily working to fill an information vacuum, but he acknowledged that combating rumors that could endanger Obama's candidacy is also part of the motivation behind the opening ad.
"There are just a lot of big holes there for a lot of people," he said. "But, to be sure, we live in a different world than we lived in before. This campaign is only possible because of the Internet, because of the technology, because we could raise a couple of hundred million dollars [from] 1.5 million Americans who on average gave less than $100 each. Could not have happened 10 years ago. On the other hand, you're constantly dealing with the misinformation that can spread quickly, where in 24 hours you can get millions of hits."
Even as the campaign seeks to take control of Obama's image, hammering home the message that his is a thoroughly American story, the decision last week to opt out of the public financing system -- and forgoing more than $84 million in campaign funds -- added a new dimension to his profile as a politician. And it appeared to immediately cut both ways. Sen. John McCain pounced on the decision, questioning Obama's character. "He has completely reversed himself and gone back, not on his word to me, but the commitment he made to the American people," McCain told reporters Thursday, citing Obama's initial pledge to stay within the existing campaign finance rules.
Yet Obama's advocates also argue a positive lesson about their candidate's character can be drawn from the decisin: that Obama is willing to take political risks in order to win. His toughness as a politician was often questioned during the Democratic primary, as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton cast herself as the only Democrat able to do hand-to-hand combat with Republicans. "People and commentators have been saying we know Barack is hopeful and that he appeals to a broad cross section of the public," Jarrett said. "But perhaps people didn't know how tough he is. He's been saying all along, don't confuse hope with naivete."
If some Republicans rue the swift and calculated nature they say characterizes Obama's early steps, his campaign advisers say they have needed to move quickly to make up for the months spent waging the extended primary race. They cast the decision on public financing, for example, as motivated partly by timing, with just four full months left until Election Day to provide voters with the vision of Obama they hope to establish.
The scope of Obama's first advertising buy sent an unmistakable signal to McCain and the GOP that, at least initially, the senator from Illinois will invest money in states no Democrat has won in years, including Georgia, Indiana and Alaska. A recent poll for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee showed Obama within two points of McCain in Alaska, although well below 50 percent. Obama campaign manager David Plouffe predicted that Indiana "is going to be a dogfight" in the fall, even though Obama lost the primary there in May.
The content of the ad drew plaudits even from some Republicans for its focus on values, tax cuts and welfare reform. "He is not trying to cobble together the old Democratic coalition of interest groups and get 48 percent like John Kerry," Alex Castellanos, a Republican media consultant, said in an e-mail message. "This is not three yards and a cloud of dust. This is an aggressive leap across the 50-yard line to play on Republican turf."
Throughout the past week, other elements of Obama's aggressive outreach were on display. Shifting increasingly toward general-election issues, he met with military officers and a newly formed national security working group. He hit McCain over a secret meeting the Republican held with Hispanics in Chicago -- a hit that is part of his effort to win over a group that backed Clinton overwhelmingly in the primary and could be key to helping him reshape his electoral opportunities to include Western states.
At his meeting with 16 Democratic governors on Friday, the participants, including some of Clinton's most politically important backers, gushed about the degree to which his campaign staff had sought their input, inviting them to Chicago for dinner, putting them onstage with Obama at a briefing and asking each governor to bring in a top political aide who can be involved in planning as the campaign progresses.
"This isn't about 'I'm coming to your state, and can you go do a photo op,' " said Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Another Democratic governor, Jennifer M. Granholm of Michigan, said the level of contact from the Obama campaign has surpassed any she has ever received from a presidential candidate. "We've never been reached out to in this way," said Granholm, a former Clinton supporter.
Given that he is running in a yearin which the political climate is as favorable for the Democrats as it has been in any year in recent memory, one question the Obama team must grapple with is why the presumptive Democratic nominee does not have a more substantial lead over McCain in early polls.
Top advisers point to several factors. First, they acknowledge that the long nomination battle has left scars within the party. Right now, polls show that Obama is winning a smaller share of Democratic support than McCain is winning of Republican support. Campaign officials expect that to change as the summer progresses.
But they also acknowledge that McCain runs better with independent voters than anyone else the GOP might have nominated. By the fall they hope to have drawn enough distinctions with McCain to make those independents think twice about their support for him.
Finally, they argue, they have not yet begun to compete for Republican support, particularly among women who favor abortion rights or GOP voters disaffected with President Bush. In the end, they believe that whichever candidate wins the highest percentage of voters in the other party is likely to be the next occupant of the White House.
By Dan Balz and Anne E. Kornblut
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See all 649 CommentsWhen you figure out WHO THE HELL YOU ARE maybe 20-30 years down the line when you GROW UP! Try introducing yourself again!
After reading 10-15 articles this weekend on your race-based campaign and and yapping at Americans about race, good God, that''s getting OLD!
This man is going off the deep end.
So far, he does not seem to stand for any CHANGE which I see has much HOPE for the America most of us love and respect.
This is campaign of air. "Faith, hope and change" are all they have to offer, with no hint of why we should have faith in them, what we can hope for and how they will change things.
The emperor has no clothes.
Gotta love it!
"For the first time in my adult life, i''m really proud of my country." - Michelle Obama
Which of these people is running for president?
Posted by ricinboerne at 11:30 AM : Jun 23, 2008"
I guess your option then is to vote for the guy who has has flip flopped on ALL of his issues, some of them in a matter of days.
vote MCCAIN.
-as what? the Messiah? ROTFL
Posted by NoPacifism at 12:39 PM : Jun 23, 2008
You''re fairly NEW to this FASCISM are you sparky!! You need to get into a Nazi Youth Group, sharpen your skills a little!! ROFLMAO SIEG HEIL BUSH!!
LOL, nobody has to pray for it, it''s already happened, thanks to the Repubs.
His high school nickname was "The Punk", he graduated 5th from the bottom at Annapolis, and he crashed 3 fighter jets. They put it off to his "maverick" ways. How about he was just an arrogant screw-up?
Posted by TruUSA at 12:40 PM : Jun 23, 2008
I think at this point, she''d rather have the money to help pay off her ill-spent campaign.
Now it seems he wants to change his image.
Presto-chango.
Nothing but politics-as-usual from the Democrats.
Do you think that is a good, patriotic quality to have?
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Posted by ddhinnyc at 12:58 PM : Jun 23, 2008
On the other hand, the republicans are hoping for some terrorist action so they can raise the warning level to "red" again--probably in mid-October.
Posted by nanc12 at 01:02 PM : Jun 23, 2008
Remember the election in 2006? Well, based upon that, you might like to read the following:
A little over 1-1/2 years ago :
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon
3) The unemployment rate was 4.5%
Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we have seen :
1) Consumer confidence plummet
2) The cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3.50 a gallon
3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase)
4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate
(stock and mutual fund losses)
5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars
6) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure
America voted for change in 2006, and we got it! Remember it''s Congress that makes law not the President. He has to work with what''s handed to him.
Ok, the article is about him going on a biographical tour, just like McBush did a month or so ago. Whoopee. Ok, I guess we don''t need to comment further, because no one saw anything to criticize about McBush doing it. CBS might as well close down the comments.
Posted by ddhinnyc at 12:59 PM : Jun 23, 2008
He has to let his followers know that he is indeed their long awaited Messiah.
Posted by NoPacifism at 01:04 PM : Jun 23, 20
Who is "bashing" who?
Some people are stupid enough to think we may believe their slandering of Obama--Ahhh but, most of us are smart enough to know he has been investigated by every agency available and if there were something to be found, they would have found it by now!!
You are only "masking" you bigotry with words, like "muslim", we all know you really mean "black".
You''re a bigot and not big enough to admit it!
Posted by NoPacifism at 01:06 PM : Jun 23, 2008
Well DAZZLE us Swastika Breath. OVER, WAY OVER, 70% of the people on here want this nation taken in a DIFFERENT Direction and what has McSame Proposed?? IF he''s not going to listen to the NATION and it''s PEOPLE, he DESERVES to be attacked. IT''s OUR job as CITIZENS!! I''m so tired of you ONE Issue, IDIOTS who think you can ONLY be an American IF you support YOUR views!! I see NO difference between McSame and BUSH on EVERY issue that''s important to me... Maybe YOU think I''ll sit here a NOT let him and my fellow citizens KNOW that?? SIEG HEIL BUSH
Posted by One-American
LOL - everything that Congress has tried to do has been vetoed by the shrub. They don''t have a large enough majority to override a veto.
Posted by MCVet at 01:10 PM : Jun 23, 2008
maybe he will inspire you to walk off a cliff like the other lemmings.
Seig Heil yourself, goose-stepping moron.
I have changed churches , I know longer attend a racist, anti-american and pro-hamas church.
I have quit involving myself with the ISM and have put all my support for Isreal.
I will work hard to make sure that I am not the most liberal senator in congress. I would like to give that honor to Kennedy.
I repudiate any friendship I had with Bill Ayers and no longer serve on the board with him. Bill is a known terrorist and no friend of mine.
I now know that Rezko was a crook, and will be careful next time I deal with shady characters to not get caught.
I will no longer support my cousin in Kenya who is a ruthless ruler who wants to overtake the goverment and place Muslim SHaria Law.
I will no longer appease Hamas or Iran. And will not run from Terrorist.
It is time America see the New and Improved Barry O''bama, an Irish Gent.
PAID FOR THE BARRY O''bama Campaign
Posted by One-American at 01:10 PM : Jun 23, 2008
You need to change your name to "One-Lame American--you know as well as anyone with an IQ higher than their shoe size--the Dems are STILL out voted by the Repukes.
AKA God D_A_M_N America!
Listen all, Jews and Christians, and beware of the practice of the Muslim faith!
Sura (8:12) - "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them"
There is some cool beheading videos online for those who want to see first hand experience of Muslim people who read the Koran that follow the path of the way of the beheading bliss?
The blade goes around your throat as you cry out for this not to happen? You begin to grasp for air as the Muslim cuts deeper and deeper into you throat. You realize that in a few seconds your head will be removed for the purpose of Islam. The last thing you notice is the eyes of the person who is cutting into your bone. You shriek your final breath as you know that time cannot go backwards for this not to happen to you!
This is the Muslim way to a better way!
Do you think Decapitation is the Wright way to have Damnation with Obamanation?
Listen all and practice!
If Obama is not a Muslim let him renounce it the way a Muslim would renounce it!
Posted by One-American at 01:10 PM : Jun 23, 2008
It''s EMBARRASSING enough to actually think you''d POST this, KNOWING that it was the REPUBLICAN PARTY that blocked EVERY attempt by the Democrats to do what the PEOPLE sent them there to do!! Please don''t make a complete Nazi out of yourself by asking I vote FOR a party that took a balanced budget AND a surplus, turned that into RECORD Debt and RECORD deficits THEN borrowed the Money to give TAX CUTS to the Rich from CHINA!! You have to be absolutely NUTS to vote for people who are THAT INCOMPETENT!! Sieg Heil Bush
Posted by nanc12 at 01:14 PM : Jun 23, 2008
If anything that the Democrat congress tried to pass made sense, the President would sign it.
But the House recently passed a full funding of the Iraq War, and also a terrorist surveylance bill while protecting the telcoms, so at least the Dems are STARTING to wise up.
Posted by One-American at 01:10 PM : Jun 23, 2008
.......................
Every one of these events are due to Bush / Repub policy so quit pasting this garbage every week, no one but the weak minded believe it.
The question is if we want a man in the White House who will regularly give his ear to the likes of a Reverend Wright, his and Sabeel%u2019s replacement theologies, and pro-terrorist propagandists like Ali Abunimah on a regular basis? In one sense, Obama could be considered the ISM%u2019s Manchurian candidate given his wide connections to ISM activists and campaign movements such as the Wheels of Justice Tour, Joseph Carr a.k.a. Joseph Smith, Hannah Mermelstein, Anna Baltzer and others.
CIC is a civilian post, not military--it is in the Constitution. Look at Presidents who have military experience vs those who did not--does not matter a bit in who makes a better CIC.
Posted by ddhinnyc at 01:13 PM : Jun 23, 2008
Won''t do you any good!! Out here in the REAL World Sparky the Fascist Republican''s have taken this nation FAR off course and we aren''t even close to being the people of our fathers!! Our Fathers would NEVER see their Government give tax breaks to Company''s to move to OTHER Country''s with their Neighbors Job!! I KNOW my Dad would NEVER have sit still for that and WE''ve got to stand up like real American''s... we MUST do what is right here!! Sieg Heil Bush
www.youtube/video3.=loseObama.irhgh.com
Posted by fstop100 at 01:14
My sides are splitting---and if you voted for BUSH what did you offer us?????
Trillions of dollars in debt
over 4000 American troops murdered
Over 100,000 civilian Iraqis murdered
Over 2 million Iraqis displaced
lie upon lie regarding the invasion of an unarmed country
That idiot in the white house didn''t even know gas was at $4.00 a gallon.
You sir, will be getting a heII of a lot better than the rest of us got these past 8 years---
You embarrass yourself, but you''re not smart enough to realize it, MCVet.
Sure if a lie is enough for you. Funny people who dislike Obama have a hard time finding anything bad to say about him that is true or factual... that alone says a lot.
Posted by One-American at 01:10 PM : Jun 23, 2008
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What I find interesting is that before Democrats took control , we had 2.00 gas.
After 2 years of Democrat Control we now find ourselfs with 4.00 Gas, even after the Polisi promised to lower gas prices when they were 2.00.
The Democrat controlled congress has failed and they failed big time.
Time to put aside our diffrences and become a country who relys on our own energy. Its time to Drill.
Question:
Obama never served in the military. Should he be commander in chief?
Yes - You are a hypocrite
No - You are an honest person
Posted by ddhinnyc at 01:16 PM : Jun 23, 2008
What is it with you FASCIST??? Have any of you actually READ the Constitution?? THE LAST thing the Founders wanted was a REQUIREMENT put on ANY AMERICAN to be Commander in CHIEF that wasn''t called for in that Document!! You Nazi''s will do or say just about anything won''t you... can''t address the issues so??? You challenge the right of a Civilian to be Commander in Chief when the very SOUL of this nation is about THAT being a reality!! IF we''d have had someone who didn''t LOVE War, as McCain does, in power, maybe we''re not in this mess called IRAQ?? SIEG HEIL BUSH!!
Neither has AWOL BUSH or 5 DEFERMENT Cheney--as a matter of fact---not many Repukes in Washington have served their country!
Obama is going to flip flop to try to remake himself for the General Election.
Kind of like NAFTA? In the Ohio primary Obama ridiculed it as failure. But now, he says, maybe not so bad...... ''Course, he lied. He says it was just politics. Well, that makes him more interested in getting elected that in America as he may have done harm.
He can not "remake" himself. It is too late after $200M spent on advertising.
over 4000 American troops murdered
Over 100,000 civilian Iraqis murdered
Over 2 million Iraqis displaced
lie upon lie regarding the invasion of an unarmed country
That idiot in the white house didn''''t even know gas was at $4.00 a gallon.
You sir, will be getting a heII of a lot better than the rest of us got these past 8 years---
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Already has been proven it wasnt a lie. Dont you think you should be mad at the democrats as well. It seems like most of them wanted to go to war as well.
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