Obama On His "Sense Of Obligation"

CBS Evening News: Democratic Candidate Opens Up On Election Anxiety, Campaign Insults

(CBS)  CBS News anchor Katie Couric talked with Sen. Barack Obama in Columbus, Ohio, Sunday about - among other things - one of the fears of some voters that if he wins, both the White House and the Congress will be controlled by the Democrats. What follows is an extended transcript of their conversation.

---

Katie Couric: Let's talk about single-party rule for a moment. Some critics describe it as all accelerator and no brakes. There are fears that perhaps an unbridled, unchecked, filibuster-proof Democratic majority will overreach and move the country too far to the left. How do you assuage people's concerns about that?

Barack Obama:Well, look, I mean first of all, I think it's important to point out that the critics who make this claim are Republicans. (laughter)

Couric: But you know, against one-party rule.

Obama: I understand. I understand. But they weren't making those same complaints a few years ago. On the other hand, we've seen the example of a Republican Congress and President overreaching …

Couric: And a Democratic one in the Clinton administration.

Obama: And so I think the concerns are legitimate. Look, the benefit of having a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress will be that hopefully you can actually move on some big issues like energy or healthcare that have been sitting there for decades. We know they're huge problems. We know we've got to change how we do business there. But we just haven't been able to round up consensus to get it done.

The flip side of it is if Democrats come in and say to themselves, "it's our turn and we're just going to go crazy doing whatever it is that we feel like - I think then their majority won't last very long.

Couric: The Economist, while endorsing you, has also said there are some legitimate criticisms of you that John McCain should be focused on. They say that you are one of the least business-friendly Democratic candidates in a generation, that you have no experience in the business world aside from year as a consultant, and that you're too close to unions and trial lawyers.

Obama: Well, it is The Economist. And the fact that they endorsed me, how about reading all the good stuff they said about me? (laughter)

Couric: Well, that's in another issue. (laughter) That's later.

Obama: You know, I think there's a reason why people like Warren Buffet have endorsed me. I think that if you look actually at our business support, it's pretty remarkable. People like Eric Schmidt, the head of Google who … has said that, you know, I understand how the global economy works, how we have to adapt to a new 21st century competitive environment. Now, what is also true is that I think our economy works best when it grows from the bottom up, when everybody's benefiting. And that's one of the lessons I think of the last 16 years. We really had an experiment. We had Bill Clinton who was, you know, accused of, you know, raising taxes on business and so forth. But, in fact, what happened was the whole economy grew at every sector.

And businesses did well because their customers were doing well. On the other hand, you had George Bush who figured let's cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans. Let's deregulate to the hilt. And, you know, what we now see is that when Main Street is hurting, when its wages and income isn't going up, then businesses are hurt as well. So I actually think that the approach that I take is very business-friendly.

I think that capitalism and the free market is the best economic system ever devised to create wealth. But I also think there has to be some basic rules to the road. And, you know, we have learned that lesson during this latest financial crisis.

Couric: What are you most afraid of on Election Day?

Obama: You know, I have to say that I feel pretty good about the fact that our campaign has done - has made a good of case for change as I think we could have. I mean, I have been a highly imperfect candidate. But our campaign as a whole, I think, has delivered on its promise to reach out to people who hadn't been involved in politics; to go into places that hadn't traditionally looked at a Democratic candidate.

But ultimately it comes down to a bunch of people making their own individual decisions in that ballot box. And so I'm sure what I'll feel is great interest in terms of how it turns out. (laughter)

Couric: Great interest?

Obama: Great Interest.

Couric: Come on.

Obama: A little bit of anxiety.

Couric: Are you going to be a nervous wreck?

Obama: You know, I am sure that I won't be sleeping in on Tuesday morning. Let's put it that way.

Couric: Or maybe not sleeping much on Monday night.

Obama: That's exactly right.

Couric: There's been a debate about the Bradley effect, which as you know, in essence, is when some respondents lie to pollsters and say, "Sure, we'd vote for an African American candidate," but on Election Day they just don't do it. A lot of people say it's a phenomenon that's outdated, overstated and misunderstood. Having said that, do you think we'll see evidence of that on Election Day?

Obama: You know, I have to tell you, I'm in the camp that says it's outdated and overstated. I mean, the fact of the matter is that people have been worrying incessant about whether or not I'm hampered because I'm an African American since we were campaigning in Iowa. The reason I'm sitting here two days before election as a Democratic nominee is because the American people ultimately care about whether or not you can do the job.

Couric: The Pennsylvania Republican Party is starting to run an ad in that state that features your former minister Jeremiah Wright saying quote "God Damn America." Do you think they would have run that ad without the approval of the McCain Campaign?

Obama: I think the McCain campaign has generally been pretty restrained on that front. And I think they deserve some credit for that. And on the other hand, I don't know there's anybody in America who hasn't seen those videos that they're running. I don't think that's what the American people are thinking about right now.

Couric: What is the biggest mistake you think your campaign has made?

Obama: You know … I've gotta tell you, the mistakes that we made were mine and mine alone. My team has just been rock solid. I'm so …

Couric: What's the biggest mistake you made then?

Obama: Well, I think it was … that bitter comment in the fundraiser, only because as the irony was that what I was trying to describe was that Democrats hadn't reached out to people and had allowed themselves to get trapped in these, you know, social wedge issues and divisions. And it ended up being Exhibit A of Democrats saying something that made people feel like they were being insulted. And I think it was … it was a stupid mistake on my part. And, but, you know what? Over the course of two years, you know, hopefully you get better over time.

Couric: What did the McCain team do in the course of this campaign that made you the angriest?

Obama: You know, I think that, you know … a lot of the stuff that has made me angry hasn't directly come from the McCain campaign. I mean, I do think that … there is a Republican or right-wing media outlet -set of media outlets - that went after my wife for a while in a way that I thought was just completely out of bounds. And I, you know, frankly I, you know, I would have never considered or expected my allies to do something comparable to the spouse of an opponent. I just feel like family are civilians. And they don't sign up for this stuff. They support … their spouse. But generally, you know, they're really should be bystanders in this process, even if they're campaigning for you. You know, they're saying nice things about their in this case, their husbands. I mean, that's what you expect. And that doesn't make them suddenly targets.

Couric: If things go your way on Tuesday and you become this nation's first African American president, what does that mean to you personally?

Obama: There are times when you're shaking hands after a rally and you look out over the crowd and people are telling their stories. "I lost my job" or "my wife has ovarian cancer but she's out there campaigning for you." Or, you know, "my son for the first time has decided that he wants to apply himself in school because he was inspired by what you're doing." You hear those stories and, you know, you feel an enormous sense of obligation and responsibility to really just work your heart out for folks 'cause they're investing a lot.

Obviously there's a historic dimension - you know when a 90-year-old African American woman just grabs my hand and won't let go and says, you know, "I am so proud." You know, you think about what an African American woman's gone through over the course of her 90-year life, and that will move me. Deeply. But it's not just a sense of the history made because of race. There is also just this overwhelming feeling of humility and gratitude where you say "Boy, I really … better come through for folks if I win this thing. Because they really need it."

[econcrisis]

Causes and Consequences of the Global Economic Crisis

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Genesis_of_the_Credit_and_Economic_Crisis

Causes and Historical Perspectives
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usvG-s_Ssb0&feature=related
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLLlZQJQrFY
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RZVw3no2A4&feature=related
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1vSqF9Hm7A

Consequences
In every generation, every decade, recent history is replete with the consequences of politicians and other authority figures who prey on suffering, selling hope to those who would listen while peddling influence to those who would pay, advocating accountability but abdicating responsibility while casting blame, and promising unity but creating division, employing violence - be it verbal, emotional, psychological or physical - to set one party against another to further a cause. The result is always the same, however well-intended the cause. People are divided. Humanity suffers.

[albertw40]

I thank God for Obama''s sense of obligation. We need a president who will really care about the Middle Class. Millions are without jobs and others are about to lose their jobs. Retirees have lost Trillions in value in retirement funds. People have lost homes, pensions, health care, the ability to afford to send children to college/vocational school. Meanwhile CEOs have gotten rich. McCain''s adviser Firoina got a 40 million dollar golden parachute for laying thousands of people off. Even now, corporation executives are scheduled for 70 Billion Dollars in bonuses THIS YEAR AFTER THE BAIL OUT. In other words, the Bush-Cheney, McCain-Gramm philosophy of make the rich super rich and the Middle Class jobless has worked. Many are jobless and struggling. We need someone who cares for the Middle Class and will actually work to put the Middle Class back to work, and that someone is Barack Obama.

Obama is a man of unusual and exceptional character. Tell you the truth, and this is ironic in the context of the incessant whining of the McCain camp, America does not deserve a leader who evidences such superlative character and such superlative moral reasoning. I predict a frankly remarkable change in the trajectory of this society in 2009 and thereafter. The Republicans are finished: victims of their own arrogance and presumptuousness and especially victims of their unrelenting economic WAR against the majority of American families.

[lisa_40-2009]

pgh_sammy: It is sad that Katie Couric was all smiles and batting eye lashes and could not ask any tough questions to Barack Obama as she did on Sarah Palin.

You mean, something really tough like, "What magazines and newspapers do you read every day?"

Katie Couric is an exemplary newscaster who has dealt with personal and professional tragedy and success with courage, grace, and professionalism.

And wait a moment, I thought Tuesday was the day for Democrat voting, and Wednesday/Thursday were both set aside for Republicans?

[lisa_40-2009]

pgh_sammy: It is sad that Katie Couric was all smiles and batting eye lashes and could not ask any tough questions to Barack Obama as she did on Sarah Palin.

You mean, something really tough like, "What magazines and newspapers do you read every day?"

Katie Couric is an exemplary newscaster who has dealt with personal and professional tragedy and success with courage, grace, and professionalism.

And wait a moment, I thought Tuesday was the day for Democrat voting, and Wednesday/Thursday were both set aside for Republicans?

[lisa_40-2009]

pgh_sammy: It is sad that Katie Couric was all smiles and batting eye lashes and could not ask any tough questions to Barack Obama as she did on Sarah Palin.

You mean, something really tough like, "What magazines and newspapers do you read every day?"

Katie Couric is an exemplary newscaster who has dealt with personal and professional tragedy and success with courage, grace, and professionalism.

And wait a moment, I thought Tuesday was the day for Democrat voting, and Wednesday/Thursday were both set aside for Republicans?

[econcrisis]

Causes and Consequences of the Global Economic Crisis

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Genesis_of_the_Credit_and_Economic_Crisis

Causes and Historical Perspectives
1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usvG-s_Ssb0&feature=related
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLLlZQJQrFY
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RZVw3no2A4&feature=related
5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1vSqF9Hm7A

Consequences
In every generation, every decade, recent history is replete with the consequences of politicians and other authority figures who prey on suffering, selling hope to those who would listen while peddling influence to those who would pay, advocating accountability but abdicating responsibility while casting blame, and promising unity but creating division, employing violence - be it verbal, emotional, psychological or physical - to set one party against another to further a cause. The result is always the same, however well-intended the cause. People are divided. Humanity suffers.

[virg12365]

Since Obama says we are a nation of laws that have to be followed, why don''t you ask him why he waited until he ran for president to pay the 17 parking tickets he acquired while at Harvard in the 80''s.I do recall a quote of a Martin Luther King who said not to judge a man by the color of his skin but the content of his character. So why was his entire political career supported by a convicted felon and why did he take money from him to pay for his house and why does he feel that a woman''s right supercedes the life of a child. Animals have more rights and are treated better than children who are aborted.

[newsthought1]

America is fed up with all the scandals from Republican crooks, liars, perverts, lawbreakers, and used-car salesmen hucksters that have trashed this country over the last eight years:

Bill Frist
Randy "Duke" Cunningham
Jack Abramoff
Tom DeLay
Mark Foley
Larry Craig
Ted Haggard
Bob Ney
Trent Lott
Alberto Gonzales
Donald Runsfled
Scooter Libby
*** Cheney
George Bush

Lying about reasons for going to war with Iraq (Uranium, false claims about Iraq''s supposed weapons of mass destruction.)
Torture in Abu Ghraib.
The treasonous exposure of a CIA agent by White House officials. (Plamegate)
Halliburton%u2019s overcharging and outright fraud for services in Iraq
Enron
Katrina
Illegal wiretapping
Political influence peddling
*** scandals
Election tampering
Ballooning federal debt
Economy in a tailspin

And these are just for starters%u2026

Enough is enough, America is ready for change!

[rational_1]

I predict a frankly remarkable change in the trajectory of this society in 2009 and thereafter. Posted by kgainer at 08:01 PM : Nov 03, 2008

Ya that trajectory will be the one blazed by all the companies (and our jobs) heading overseas when the Dems start to tax the cr ap out of them (you just know they won''t be able to resist spreading the wealth around once they get started). The naivete of socialists has always amazed me. Businesses always look for better deals elsewhere (like tax breaks and subsidies) and there''s an accountant in every company who knows exactly when it''s more profitable to move than stay. So let''s make them pay their ''fair share'' and see what happens. The Chinese and Taiwanese are just licking their lips in anticipation.

[mediaspy_nv]

For months now I have been reading the political comments posted by readers online and I have noticed that the extreme conservative Republicans are especially hateful, and most of them fill their comments with Rush Limbaugh sound bites. Rush Limbaugh has had way too much "freedom of speech" during these last 8 years, encouraged and allowed to do so by the Republican administration. Limbaugh has poisoned a large bloc of Republican citizens, keeping them trapped in an attitude 25 years out of date. He stokes their fears and amplifies their worst characteristics, driving them to see an enemy in everything out of the conservative box. This prevents these people from accepting the changes and advances of 21st century America, isolating them and making it harder and harder for them to live productive and happy lives. It is my hope that the Obama administration will rein in the poison conservative talk show faction, and the people who follow it and live by it can be healed of their unwarranted hate and bigotry.

To these people I say: there is no reason to be so hateful and fearful! Rush has it all wrong! This is a great country, full of good people, patriots all, and great possibilites for a happy and prosperous life. That neighbor whose views differ from yours is not a terrorist or a socialist or a communist, he''s just the fellow American next door. Learn to feel love and hope and generousity. Stop fearing and hating. God bless America!

[hypnotoad72]

http://weblog.infoworld.com/realitycheck/archives/2008/02/the_three_presi.html

John McCain
"I will continue to support H-1B visas, but, I%u2019m telling you, the American peoples priority is, either rightly or wrongly, and we live in a democracy, is that we secure the borders first."

Barack Obama
"We can do better than that and go a long way toward meeting industry%u2019s need for skilled workers with Americans. Until we have achieved that, I will support a temporary increase in the H-1B visa program as a stopgap measure until we can reform our immigration system comprehensively."


With all the job losses nowadays, America doesn''t have enough skilled laborers at this point? Read Obama''s words; he''s being wishy-washy. And insulting. Ironically, for those who have lambasted him, McCain has the upper hand on this issue as he''s been flat out to the point.

[lila356]

I thought it was interesting and surprising that Katie interrupted him just as he was about to address the overreaching of powers by Bush. Seeing we have had an illegal dictatorship run by criminals and republican rule for the past 8 years, isn''t it time for a change to balance thing a little?

[t_bunson]

Seriously, why doesn''t some moderator shut people like ''CBSisPravda'' the hell up? I support tolerating different opinions, even nasty ones, but when someone flat out LIES they need to unplug their freakin'' keyboards.

If Obama''s going to bankrupt coal, SO WILL MCCAIN. John McCain favors a cap-and-trade program almost exactly like Obama''s, which would have the EXACT same impact on conventional coal plants. No matter who wins, the coal industry is going to be in trouble. Maybe after the election we can all stop pretending otherwise.

Shame on you GOP pawns for your slothful, deliberate ignorance and ruthless tactics. It will be such a relief to finally put you all in your place tomorrow night.

[f77111]

After tomorrow all of these Rethuglican Troglodytes can crawl back into their caves. I''m hoping for mass suicides ! Sewercide is more like it.

[nursehope]

STOP THE HATE.....VOTE FOR REAL CHANGE....LET US BRING RESPECT BACK TO THE USA. OBAMA ''08

[neederbaur]

I THINK OBAMA IS OBLIGATED TO KARL MARX.HE SHARES ALL HIS IDEALS.CASTRO AND KIM JUNG ILL WILL BE PLEASED.From Dreams of My Father: "I ceased to advertise my mother''s race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites."

From Dreams of My Father: "I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother''s race."

From Dreams of My Father: "There was something about him that made me wary, a little too sure of himself, maybe. And white."

From Dreams of My Father: ; "It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names."

From Dreams of My Father: "I never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn''t speak to my own. It was into my father''s image, the black man, son of Africa, that I''d packed all the attributes I sought in myself, the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, Dubois and Mandela."

From Audacity of Hope: "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

[kcpatrice]

It is sad when we live in a country where animals are treated better the people. There are more animal shelters then there are homeless shelters, people shell out thousands of dollars a year to help animals, but don''t want to pay a little more in taxes to help people who need it, and I realize that animals don''t have a voice or a lot of choices, but sometime neither do homeless people. There are some who would like to have a job and a home, but wait they lost there jobs that were shipped over seas and there homes are being foreclosed on because there not many jobs out there right now. I have never understood why if you make more money you pay less taxes? Call me crazy, but shouldn''t you pay more if you make more?
And why should I not have the choice to do with my body as I please no matter what the choice? Why would I or should have to bring a child into this world, just to have to ask you the help of people who would rather save a dog from being homeless the a person. For the first time in my life I can honestly say to my son and daughter that if you want to you can be President, if you work hard and live a good life. I owe that to Barack Obama and also Mrs.Clinton

[libra127]

why does he feel that a woman''s right supercedes the life of a child.

Posted by virg12365 at 09:09 PM : Nov 03, 2008

As you say, we are a nation of laws, and a woman''s right to choose whether to bring a pregnancy to term is the law of the land. It is based on a Constitutional right to privacy, to be free of government interference in a decision that is rightly made only by the woman in question in consultation with her doctor.

The law does not require YOU to have an abortion; it merely requires that you not impose your priorities on another human being.

And, by the way, your statement that Obama took money from a convicted felon to pay for his house is simply not true. A Republican fabrication.

[libra127]

CASTRO AND KIM JUNG ILL WILL BE PLEASED

Posted by NEEDERBAUR at 11:04 PM : Nov 03, 2008

You are very confused and ill-informed. Obama''s values and ideals could not possibly be farther from those of Castro and Kim Jung Ill.

[dburfears]

McCain = World War III

He will get all fidgety and erratic when something happens in the world, and will make another "Sarah Palin" type decision that will start a nuclear war or drag us into another "100 year war" that he so desperately seems to want.

McCain thinks that crashing 5 fighter planes and getting captured is "experience"(my father saw 10 times more action than this clown and never got shot down). McCain is definitely "experience" we can "live" without.

[dburfears]

The one thing that traditional GOP supporters can look forward to after their massive losses coming this November:

The removal of the Karl Rove and Fanatic Far Right influence on the GOP.

It''s sad that the once-great Republican Party has become so beholden to the fanatics, slime merchants, and radical theological right. It seems that these people will accept anything the Republicans do to the Constitution and Bill of Rights so long as they toe the Fundamentalist Right line.

Republican politics has devolved to a bunch of gorillas thumping their chests to see who gets to become alpha-gorilla. Reagan and Goldwater on a bad day were 10 times better than any of these dangerous fools.

Barry Goldwater: "The Republicans are selling their soul to win elections. Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the party, and they are sure trying to do so, it''s going to be a terrible d*mn problem". "Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. The government won''t work without it. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can''t and won''t compromise. I know. I''ve tried to deal with them." "Public business - that''s all politics is- is often making the best of a mixed bargain. (The new social conservatives practice) the politics of absolute moral right and wrong. And, of course, they are convinced of their absolute rightness."


Party of Lincoln? Hardly.

[targaray-2009]

- CHOOSE HOPE OVER FEAR, AMERICA - VOTE FOR CHANGE - 2008

[dburfears]

McCAIN- NOT READY TO LEAD- LITERALLY!!!!

As the 2008 campaign nears its conclusion, the presidential transition efforts of the two major candidates have become a study in contrasts: Sen. Barack Obama has organized an elaborate well-staffed network to prepare for his possible ascension to the White House, while Sen. John McCain has all but put off such work until after the election.

The Democratic nominee has enlisted the assistance of dozens of individuals -- divided into working groups for particular federal agencies -- to produce policy agendas and lists of recommended appointees. As evidence of their advanced preparations, officials provided a copy of the strict ethics guidelines that individuals working on the transition effort are required to sign.

John McCain, by contrast, has done little. Campaign spokespersons did not respond to requests for elaboration. But one official with direct knowledge, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, expressed concern with McCain''s approach. The Arizona Senator has instructed his team to not spend time on the transition effort, according to the source.

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

McCain DID, however, appoint William Timmons to HEAD HIS PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION TEAM.

Timmons aided a lobbying effort on BEHALF of IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN to arrange a deal to sell Iraqi oil. Timmons would have shared at least $45 MILLION if the deal went through. At the time Washington declared Iraq a ROGUE ENEMY STATE and a sponsor of TERRORISM.

[neederbaur]

HIS OBLIGATION TO KARL MARX IS OBVIOUS.From Dreams of My Father: "I ceased to advertise my mother''s race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites."

From Dreams of My Father: "I found a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance and animosity against my mother''s race."

From Dreams of My Father: "There was something about him that made me wary, a little too sure of himself, maybe. And white."

From Dreams of My Father: ; "It remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names."

From Dreams of My Father: "I never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn''t speak to my own. It was into my father''s image, the black man, son of Africa, that I''d packed all the attributes I sought in myself, the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, Dubois and Mandela."

From Audacity of Hope: "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."

[talaan77]

Posted by NEEDERBAUR I think you should post or people should read the surrounding chapters of your qoutes and put them in context, but I am sure you won''t do that it wold defeat your purpose

[talaan77]

Posted by NEEDERBAUR unless you are mixed and understand the inner conflicts it creates don''t judge and how about you talk about your candidate and what makes him so great instead of trying to tear down Obama

[talaan77]

as a conservative democrat, i voted for the vietnam vet, pow john McCain. i have no use for obama, or his communist ways, or the merry band of homos, lesbos, commies, crossdressers, and abortionists who love him.
on another note, i just heard the new US dollar coin does not have "in god we trust" on it. if this is true, i would advise not using it.

Posted by tech77usa

I just love your post and how it shows christians as judgemental, who are so caught up in others sins they can''t see how there behavior that is vode of compassion or love is so un-chrislike

[newsthought1]

America is fed up with all the scandals from Republican crooks, liars, perverts, lawbreakers, and used-car salesmen hucksters that have trashed this country over the last eight years:

Bill Frist
Randy "Duke" Cunningham
Jack Abramoff
Tom DeLay
Mark Foley
Larry Craig
Ted Haggard
Bob Ney
Trent Lott
Ted Stevens
Alberto Gonzales
Donald Rumsfled
Scooter Libby
*** Cheney
George Bush

Lying about reasons for going to war with Iraq (Uranium,
false claims about Iraq''s supposed weapons of mass destruction.)
Torture in Abu Ghraib.
The treasonous exposure of a CIA agent by White House officials.(Plamegate)
Halliburton%u2019s overcharging and outright fraud for services in Iraq
Lack of body armor for troops
Enron
Katrina
Illegal wiretapping
Political influence peddling
*** scandals
Troopergate
Travel fraud
Election tampering
Ballooning federal debt
Economy in a tailspin

And these are just for starters%u2026

Enough is enough, America is ready for change!

[talaan77]

I am very much a christian, but I leave the judging to God only he has the right to, e gave us free will to follow him or not, Jesus told people te truth then leave it up to them to decide, why do we believe that we should force people are we better than or mre holy than God

[eroosevelt08]

In the last eight years poor leadership has created a big mess. Senator Obama is well aware of the mess. A President needs to know what the issues are, know how to negotiate and find and convince quality people to work with and beside him with the skill sets needed in each particular area. When I look at the candidates, Senator Obama has all of those qualities while Senator McCain does not. Senator McCain talks of fighting while Senator Obama talks about working together. With Senator Obama there seems to be hope again. America needs that.

[universalblu]

Why should the rich pay more taxes? Since they make more money they already pay more taxes! Anyway, 40% of this country doesn''t pay TAXES, so who are they to complain! Perhaps the rich got a tax break because of the Republicans, but it was the Democrats that gave the poor a $700 billion dollar tax break in the form of subprime mortgages.....

[universalblu]

Obama speaks about all of this change but he has no proof he can accomplish anything. I have some beautiful land in the mountains for sale for $ 1,000,000. Want to buy it without seeing the pictures. Believe me, it''s gorgeous -like Heaven! Really.......

[ttmo2]

This is a very reassuring interview. Barack Obama will be a fine president, and I really do beleive that despite the fact that he is left of center, he will not allow congress to run wild. He will work with both parties to build consensus and keep congress focused on the big picture to solve this nation''s most important challenges. He is a natural leader and motivator and he will rally the American people to force congress to act in the best interests of the country. Please vote Obama/Biden; we must be brave and embrace change at this pivotal time in our country''s history, rather than take the risk of continuing on our current course.

[talaan77]

Posted by universalblu as least he has new ideas, we have no idea if any of the candidates will be able to deliver what the promised. I could never take the chance of Palin having to step in as President, The lack of proffesionalism that McCain has shown in his campaign, I''llchoose calm and rational

[ttmo2]

40% of this country doesn''''t pay TAXES
Posted by universalblu at 02:30 AM

----

Wrong! 40% of workers that will receive tax credits under Obama''s plan do not pay INCOME taxes, but they are lower and lower-middle income hard-working Americans who DO pay taxes--payroll taxes that all workers pay for SS, Medicare etc. Obama''s plan will give them a modest tax credit to offset a small percentage of their payroll taxes. Either you have fallen for the McCain/Palin campaign of deception or you are complicit in the deception. Voters, please do not be hoodwinked by this nonsense. Obama is not giving tax credits to people who don''t work.

[riptide213]

"What the naysayers don''''t understand is that this election has never been about me. It''''s been about you."

Barack Obama

[sayfud-deen]

you did pretty good TECH 77 USA,judging from your tone,you are either a murtadd,or you studied alittle islam at some point! let correct you on a few things. first of all obama is not muslim! period! so he can''t be a khalifa. acccording to sound hadiths the next khalifa will be from the direct blood line of the prophet(sas). for many reasons obama can''t be a khalifa too detailed to go into here. a khaliafa does not establish punishment for crimes. a islamic courts do that according to what the quran says the punishment should be. discretionary lpunishment is only allowed when it''s not set forth in the qur''an or sunnah! zakat(islamic tax) is paid onc a year and is 2.5% of you disposable income so it does''nt only come from the middle. disposable income is whatever you have at the end of the year that you don''t need! organize jihad against non-muslin lands if they prevent dawah is not true. like any other nation jihad is used against attack. a non-muslim country is given a choice pay the islamic tax,come into islam or fight! that is if the country makes aggressive moves!

[pakaal]

sayfud-deen: "you did pretty good TECH 77 USA,judging from your tone,you are either a murtadd,or you studied alittle islam at some point! let correct you on a few things. first of all obama is not muslim! period! so he can''''t be a khalifa."

No need to go further than that, though the rest of your response is well-reasoned. The last-minute attacks from these folks are hardly unexpected, desperate though they transparently are.

That being said, inquiring minds want to know; is Tech77USA actually a murtadd?! The evidence is substantial.... ;-)

[targaray-2009]

- TIME TO HEAL A GREAT NATION - VOTE FOR CHANGE - 2008

[lucilioness]

WE''VE HAD TO PUT UP WITH EIGHT YEARS OF GEO BUSH, AND HIS BULLIES. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE. GO OBAMA/BIDEN!!!!

[tigerrram9]

America it is time to heal the wounds of the past, it is time for our nation to heal and prosper into the next century. America First, our country always. Vote for the future of America, vote for the future of our children. Vote for Senator Obama for president of The United States of America. Let''s show the world that we are a new and changed nation. A nation where all Americans trust and help each other. We are not like Joe the Plumber, We are Americans that when we see people in need we help them. We share our blessings because it is God''s way, it''s America''s way. Vote OBAMA 08..God Bless America and God Bless ALL Americans.

[tigerrram9]

America it is time to heal the wounds of the past, it is time for our nation to heal and prosper into the next century. America First, our country always. Vote for the future of America, vote for the future of our children. Vote for Senator Obama for president of The United States of America. Let''s show the world that we are a new and changed nation. A nation where all Americans trust and help each other. We are not like Joe the Plumber, We are Americans that when we see people in need we help them. We share our blessings because it is God''s way, it''s America''s way. Vote OBAMA 08..God Bless America and God Bless ALL Americans.

[tigerrram9]

When the republicans call spreading the wealth a bad thing. I call it helping other Americans in need. We are Americans, if we cannot help our own Amercicans, what are other countries going to think of us. We are Americans, it is in our nature to help people in need. Why are we listening to all the Joe the Plumbers in McCains''s ads? They aren''t even plumbers and they are giving the honest hard working plumber a bad name. It is all because of McCain-Palin obsession with Joe the plumber. Come on America we know who the real Joe the Plumbers are, it is the people making under 100Gs. We are the driving force in the economy, we are the foundation of the economy, we are the foundation of this country. God Bless America and God Bless ALL Americans.

[mzarowitz]

But Katie, you forgot the most important question - "what newspapers do you read?" I mean, if you''re going to ask a governor, you should at least ask someone who is only a senator.

[libh8er]

Obama On His "Sense Of Obligation"

He doesn''t have any sense......

[bobnjersey]

["Boy, I really %u2026 better come through for folks if I win this thing. Because they really need it." ]

this is the understatement of the day.

[bobnjersey]

[He doesn''''t have any sense...... ]
[Posted by LibH8er at 03:49 PM : Nov 04, 2008]

how do you explain where he''s at on this day in 2008?

[atrail99]

[When the republicans call spreading the wealth a bad thing. I call it helping other Americans in need]

I give more than 10% of my after-tax dollars to charity. How about you? Paying more in tax is not a "charitable" contribution. It will simply be squandered on whatever Obama deems necessary to squander it on. And that will mean, giving to people who will keep him and the dems in power for as long as possible. If you want to be charitable, let me send you my address and you can send your money to me! I have 3 kids (2 teenage girls) I could use it!
BTW, it is not necessary to enact laws of higher taxes on everyone in order to give money to the government. Did you know that you can send all that you want, payable to the US Treasury? Feel free.......

[onarollagain]

Wall Street is continuing to pull out...serious investors know to take the profit now and only pay 85% cap rather than what Osama wants to increase the tax to on cap gains...the middle class has been duped and are going to get seriously hurt under this socialist.

So hold on to your hats; history was really made...the worst ever loss after a presidential election continues today....wise American investors know what he is going to do to them so they are getting out!! The facts speak for themselves....suckers!! America has been duped!!

Year Dow S&P Nasdaq President elect
2008 -5.05 -5.27 -5.53 Barack Obama
2004 +1.01 1.12 0.98 George W. Bush
2000 -0.41 -1.58 -5.39 No decision: G.W. Bush v Al Gore*
1996 1.59 1.46 1.34 William Clinton
1992 -0.91 -0.67 0.16 William Clinton
1988 -0.43 -0.66 -0.29 George H. W. Bush
1984 -0.88 -0.73 -0.32 Ronald Reagan
1980 1.70 1.77 1.49 Ronald Reagan
1976 -0.99 -1.14 -1.12 James Carter
1972 -0.11 -0.55 -0.39 Richard Nixon
1968 0.34 0.16 --- Richard Nixon
1964 -0.19 -0.05 --- Lyndon Johnson
1960 0.77 0.44 --- John Kennedy