Ok, maybe I have had more kool-aid then I should have. But, to tell you the truth, Hillary is not our democratic friend. There is no political reason for her to continue on. There is no reason for her to do as she is doing. Well, that is, unless she wants another shot at the POTUS position in the 2012 race.
Oh, my friends, what to do? I propose to you, the general masses, a question. I have put together an Obama meet up/ fund raiser. I have put together everything needed to have an Obama gathering. The place, the entertainment, a congressional presence, specials from the restaurant, and an attitude of success from those involved. Sound good? I think so.
Now, here is the problem that I need a response from everyone, are you ready? Here we go. I was told that what I proposed to do, (a meet up that would have a place, music, Congressional appearance, and an overall motion for a pro-Obama fest), didn't work with the Obama campaign.
I was told that what I had put together was nice, but that that local campaign wanted to focus on getting people to get out the vote. Now, my good friends, I am a believer in getting out the vote. Have no doubt in this. And, my massive friends, I am telling you nothing new and crazy, when I say to you that I am a person whom plays well with others. Yet, we are talking, on the part of the local Obama people, that it is better for me to do nothing (and not have this), then to do it.
The final push, which I was told was more important, was getting people to canvass for Obama.
Now, of course the last thing I want to do is screw with that which has worked well for Obama to this point. But, the thing I could not understand was that the local campaign felt that what I had proposed (and had put together) distracted from their goal, which was getting people to canvass for Obama.
My main confusion, which could never be explained by the “leaders” of the Louisville Obama office, was how what I was doing, drew away energy from the final push for Obama in Kentucky. To be honest, it as if they would rather I did not do this, for fear of pulling people away from canvassing.
This is an event that is geard towards people who would not do anything in the first place. Getting them to come out, alone, is a victory.
The gathering I am putting together only hopes to get random and uncommited people to show.
Even when I explained and told the “contact” person John, what I was doing, I was told that it just didn’t seem to work for the campaign. Now, I must say that I made them aware of what I was doing 2 weeks prior to this whole thing. And the only thing that that really would have an issue with is the congressional presence that I garnered on my own.
I guess what really, at least for me, that came across as inefficient and wasteful, is a very simple thing. Their way or the highway was the commentary. There was no attempt to merge what I was doing and what OUR candidate was doing.
Look, I want us to win everything, win it strong, and win it clean. But, to be told by the local Obama people, that do to my ability to do something better then they can do it, I am causing problems, makes me feel useless…hell, uselessly used. This is not Obama’s way of bringing people together. At least not the way that I read and see our guy.
For heavens sake, when I told them that I got our local congressman to come and spend a few minutes, the local Obama people looked at me as if I did not really know what I was saying. I had to explain to them that I went directly to our congressman and told him what I was doing.
Now, to be fair, I am not you average fella. I am a person who grew up in Washington, DC. A person who also grew up with 65 countries represented while I was in school. A person who drank the water like there was no tomorrow, and has more friends from more countries then I have chicks in my black book (I don’t have a black book, but you get the idea).
What am I to do?
My friends, you have read my blog post’s, and if you haven’t you still understand what I am talking about.
So, mi amigos, give me some input. What do you think?
In spirit and in deed,
Matthew
http://themcgovernminute.blogspot.com/
When it is all said and done, and the numbers are put into the books, Sen. Obama will gain about 214,000 more popular votes and 8 delegates more then Hillary Clinton. So, where does that leave us, my friends? During the lowest point in the Obama campaign, there was no stunning victory in Indiana, as was predicted by the Clinton campaign. After reeling from the loss in Pennsylvania, and having to deal yet again with the never-ending Rev. Wright situation, Sen. Obama beat Hillary Clinton handily in North Carolina, and only lost in Indiana by about 18,000.But, we must realize that these are only numbers. The leader of the popular vote, the number delegate vote, or even the leader of contests won, makes no real difference. What really matters in this primary race is one thing; Hillary thinks she would be a stronger candidate. Pass me more kool-aid please.After Pennsylvania and the Clinton campaign’s 10 million dollar donation boost, which by the way helped them to make up for being 9 million in the hole, all looked liked the Clinton comeback kid status had kicked in. They touted that such a flood of donations proved that they were supported by the people. And they told us that over and over again. But wait, as it turns out, she loaned herself another 6.4 of the 10 million. That brings her personal loans to her own campaign to 11.4 million.Not bad for a “working class” woman of the people. Imagine how much she might have loaned herself if she were an elitist. It’s as if she quietly has become the Mit Romney of the Democratic Party.But, do not fear, she claims that she is staying in until the end. Be that the end of this primary race, or the end of the Clintonian Era.
What else can Barack Obama do? What else can the man say? What can he do to separate himself from “the preacher” and his blathering? Nothing, I would suggest, and he shouldn’t have to do another thing to distance himself from the hate filled and divisive rhetoric. He has done all he can do, and it is sad enough that the Traditional Media will not focus on issues that really matter to the American people.
The one thing that really has gotten pushed by the Traditional Media the last couple of days is the questioning of whether or not Sen. Obama has waited too long to respond about Rev. Wright. Is it too late for Obama, they ask.
But wait; hold on for a sec, what was the Philadelphia speech all about? Did he not answer the Rev. Wright question then, and do so in a most presidential way, standing high above the fray and discussing topics that others would treat as a political 3rd rail. Yes he did, for 5 weeks he did this, but it seems that the Traditional Media was not listening.
But now, after coming out and denouncing and distancing himself, yet again, from the man he had already denounced and distanced himself from, it seems it might not be enough. All the while, I imagine Sen. Obama wishes he had lied, in such a bold faced way to America and the world, about running for cover under threat of sniper fire. That is, lied knowingly to the American people, in an attempt to bolster a theoretical claim to 35 years of presidential experience. If he had, the story would have lasted a week, and then it would have gone away.
What else can the man do, when it appears by all rational standards, that the Traditional Media will not let it go? They have ignored the chance for an honest inquest into the character of a person running for the highest office. A person who admitted knowingly lied to the American people was let off the hook without a peep. A person, that the majority of the American public, does not trust in the first place.
A person, who has sided with the McCain camp, allowed the opposition to attack one of their own while standing silently by, and has at every turn distorted truths to win a position that they obviously feel entitled to, gets a nod, and is allowed to pass on by.
And the Traditional media, which until this last outburst by Rev. Wright, as been the only contributing factor to the Obama-Wright story, now asks if Obama has waited too late to speak about his former pastor. Does anyone else see the insanity of this?
We have trusted the 4th Estate to keep the focus on the government, to bring about issues that truly matter to Americans, and to do so in a fair and impartial manner. They have failed, for the most part, in the keeping this trust secure. They have become complacent, lazy, fearful, and above all political. They have become the lowest form of journalism; Yellow.
Matthew McGovern
http://matthewmcgovern.blogspot.com/
the.mcgovern.minute@gmail.com
"Today I am pleased to announce my support and to offer my endorsement to Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States. I have listened to this man, I have met with him and like many of you, I am inspired by his message of change and of hope for our future. But more importantly, I am convinced Barack Obama will provide the steady hand and leadership we need to chart a new path for our nation.
In these tough economic times, when many in our nation and right here in Kentucky are struggling to make ends meet and to provide for their families, too much is at stake for us to do nothing. I hope all Kentuckians and citizens throughout the nation will join with me in firmly supporting Barack Obama to lead our nation to a better future and to a place of respect for our country around the world."
Said Obama: "I am honored to have the support of Congressman Ben Chandler. As a Congressman, Ben has been a tireless fighter for working families and seniors, our troops in Iraq and our veterans at home. When he served as Kentucky Attorney General, he fought to pass Megan's Law and protect women and children, and he took action to protect the elderly from patient abuse and neglect. I look forward to working with Ben to strengthen our middle class and to keep our sacred trust with our past and present servicemen and women.”
Congressman Chandler is Senator Obama’s 244th Superdelegate endorsement. Senator Obama is now 288 delegates away from winning the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
MSM: What is to be done?
http://www.matthewmcgovern.blogspot.com/
The.McGovern.Minute@gmail.com
The Indiana and North Carolina contests are almost upon us, and how can I express my excitement and anticipation, over the finding out of who will win. Will it be Sen. Clinton, and her 35 years of super-First Lady Experience? Or, could it possible turn out to be the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, with all his over-and-over again played clips, calling out certain issues that might face America?
Beyond all the excitement however, there seemed to be something missing. Something, that no matter how hard I looked at these two über candidates, I could not put my finger on. Then it hit me, that thing that seemed to be so elusive to me, and which had also turned out to be so elusive to the Main Stream Media, was that it wasn’t Rev. Wright that was running against the Clinton/McCain machine. And to make me feel even more out of touch with what was more important to America, it turned out that it was this other guy.
It was actually some guy named Sen. Barack Obama. I vaguely remember this guy from the news media. There seemed to be some question about whether he was a Muslim, or was it a Muslim who converted to Christianity, so that he then could take over America.
Or, maybe it wasn’t that, but that it was that I should question this guy Obama’s intentions because his middle name was Hussein. Hell, even his last name rhymes with that guy that brought us into the war on terror, that guy Saddam. No, that wasn’t it; it was this cave dwelling guy with bad kidneys, Osama. Yea, that was the guy. I even think they said on Faux News that they are distant cousins. Or, was that a guy named Cheney?
The media, with whom the Clinton administration had complained and whined about, until the MSM did away with any semblance of parity and went full tilt toward Reverend Wright and his former parishioner, has no complaint these days. They are quite happy to march lock step with the McCain camp, in both actions and silence while never standing up in defense of her fellow Democratic Party members, when the Johnny Mac and GOP attacks come a flyin’.
Now, with the never disappearing Rev. Wright, and his recent self-centered and egotistical publicity rounds, the MSM feels even more emboldened to keep the focus on the non-issue banter going. In all honesty, why shouldn’t they? It really is our own fault. How long have we allowed, hell trusted, the media to keep us informed on what is going on? What are the important things to focus on, and even what the important things that the general public should focus on? How long have we sold our souls for the convenience of the easy thought?
What does the Main Stream Media tell us currently is important? Listen to them, to them all. They tell us that Sen. Obama was a member of this guy Wright’s Church. That he was Sen. Obama’s pastor. That he spent 20 years sitting in the pews. Of course, we have all seen the 15 seconds or so contained in the 3 most played video clips, but what the hey, we all get the idea. Obama cannot be allowed to be the POTUS of the future, due to Rev. Wright, and those 15 seconds.
When the Main Stream Media, (ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, Faux News) decides to look upon an associate of a political candidate that is one thing. But, when the same media comes to the end of whatever it was that made it a newsworthy story in the first place, and then continues to keep the subject of such an inquiry alive in the media when the only new aspect of the story is whatever it is that the MSM themselves has introduced, then there is within the media a problem.
Did he ever lie about the length of time that Rev. Wright was his pastor? Did Obama ever lie to the American public about Bosnia, in an attempt to bolster his perception of toughness and world experience, only to remake such a history into a misstatement? To admit that he knew that he intentionally told what he knew was not true. No, of course it was not Sen. Obama that said such things; it was Sen. Clinton. How long did that story stay in the media? Maybe that would have made journalism something that it isn’t these days.
How can they justify the continuation of such a news inquiry? Sen. Obama has addressed the issue of Rev. Wright, yet due to the media attention that the Reverend has sought, and been given, the story is still front and center. “He sat in the pew for 20 years”, I can hear them say over and over. The simple answer is that they cannot justify such behavior, and they cannot continue to call what they pretend to do journalism; for it is better known as yellow journalism.
So, the paper which prints all the news that’s fit to print, has finally seen the error of their ways, and printed some old news. The New York Times, the paper which has endorsed Sen. Clinton, now says that, “By staying on the attack and not engaging Mr. Obama on the substance of issues like terrorism, the economy and how to organize an orderly exit from Iraq, Mrs. Clinton does more than just turn off voters who don’t like negative campaigning. She undercuts the rationale for her candidacy that led this page and others to support her: that she is more qualified, right now, to be president than Mr. Obama.”The candidate, who claims that what we need are solutions, and not just speeches, is the same candidate who is now emphatically declaring that she has more votes then Sen. Obama. That is, if you listen past the quick phrase, “of all those that have cast votes.”The math she is using to get to this “more popular vote total” is that ultimately if all Michigan votes for Hillary are counted, and NONE are allotted to Sen. Obama, then she has more votes. And that includes votes from Florida as well. Can she get any more outlandish?We know what she is implying with her slippery verbosity. Besides her attempt to play the old style political “change the game midway through” strategy, what she is truly showing us, is that she is the same person she has always been, a purveyor of misleading and questionable linguistics."I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base", said Clinton on numerous ocassions, and early in the morning. By now, we all have either seen the media or the Youtube video’s, of her rush for safety under sniper fire arrival, while greeting people and having a poem read to her by a little girl. All she seemed to be able to muster in defense of her outright lie, was, “I misspoke”.She said she had a "different memory" about the landing. She also said, "So I made a mistake. That happens. It proves I'm human, which, you know, for some people, is a revelation."However, when the Senator with already questionable trustworthiness, was asked about her Bosnia statements during the questionably “unbiased” Philadelphia presidential debate, she responded, “On a couple of occasions in the last weeks I just said some things that weren't in keeping with what I knew to be the case and what I had written about in my book. And, you know, I'm embarrassed by it.” Embarrassed for being caught in a lie? I don’t know about you, but I would have been ashamed.To cap off her dismissal, of what was obviously known to be a lie, she states, “It just didn't jibe with what I had written about and knew to be the truth.”What we have here is a testament to the integrity and honesty of a candidate that has already demonstrated her desire to play old school and republican politics. A candidate who will tell the people, whose votes she needs to maintain her insurmountable deficit, that even though she has received more PAC and Lobbyist money than any other candidate, that she will not let them influence her more than the American people.Now, you may ask yourself where the 4th Estate is. Where are those journalist and talking heads that have let this one individual incident go truly unquestioned? Why are there no questions in the Main Stream Media about her honesty? Why have they let this just slip into the past, like so many other Clinton misstatements and unfounded statements? Why are we still hearing about Rev. Wright over and over again, even after Sen. Obama has publicly spoken so many times about it, and not a peep about Bosnia? What about Bitter-gate, but not about her lying without even admitting it directly.The answer to these questions could be many, but the one thing that would be hard to disprove, is that the longer this un-winnable contest for Hillary Clinton continues, the pundits will have more to talk about, and the networks will make more money.These convenient omissions of parity on the part of the MSM are battles we must fight against. With that, I STRONGLY encourage you to take a stand in defending our candidate, and our movement toward a new, and more transparent, style of government. We must show the MSM that we are watching, and that we are not happy with what they are doing. If you have any doubts about what they are up to, take a listen to Joe Scarborough, and the way he continuously calls Hillary his, “girlfriend”, or when he cannot say enough how much he, “just loves Hillary.” You think I am kidding? Just watch the show one morning.And while you are doing that, make a note of the advertisements that you see. Those are also people you can write to express your displeasure at the commentary by the MSM pundits. Tell them, that until things change that you will be boycotting their products, as well as urging your friends and neighbors to do the same.Write often, but always attempt to be as civil as possible. Overtly, and abusively angry letters, are not given as much credence as those that seem to be rational, serious, and steadfast. These are the times we need to secure honesty and parity from the Main Stream Media.Act Now! Go Obama!In thought and in deed,Matthew McGovern
http://www.matthewmcgovern.blogspot.com/The.mcgovern.minute@gmail.com
An excerpt from Seth Grahame-Smith
The Huffington PostPosted April, 21st 2008
Ten Things to Remember on Tuesday Night
1. Remember that there's no way Hillary can become the nominee without a super-delegate coup -- which would alienate a generation of young Democrats and dangerously fracture the party.
2. Remember that her campaign leaked internals showing an eleven point lead (as a means of firing up her supporters and getting out the vote). Therefore, any win smaller than eleven points should be considered a disappointment by her own assessment.
3. Remember that every time Hillary begins a sentence with "you know," or "my opponent," the next thing out of her mouth is a lie.
4. Remember that when Clinton surrogates say "this proves Obama can't win the big states," they're ignoring the fact that he actually won more delegates in Texas -- not to mention twice as many states as she has.
5. Remember that when the pundits argue that Obama can't win in white rural areas because they broke for Hillary, they're ignoring the fact that he won (in alphabetical order): Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
6. Remember that when Hillary talks about who will be "better against John McCain in the fall," she's talking about the fall of 2012.
7. Remember that Hillary's campaign is $10M in debt, while Obama's has more than $40M in cash on hand.
8. Remember that Hillary's lead in Pennsylvania was as a high as 26 points only a month ago.
9. Remember that Hillary's late Pennsylvania rebound was forged in the fires of negativity and fear-mongering.
10. Remember that the only manufacturing job Hillary ever brought to Pennsylvania was the manufactured notion that she was a middle-class, whisky-swilling duck killer, and not an anti-union multi-millionaire.
When a presidential candidate will do anything and whatever it takes to win the nomination for the highest job in the land, what does that really mean? When a presidential candidate will give the allusion to doubts of an opponent’s religion, and put the interests of their own Party aside, in the pursuit of a position that would change the lives of every American, where would it stop?
We have seen a campaign run by a candidate that has changed with every whistle stop. Be that a change coming in the form of saying that their opponent’s qualifications are nothing more than a speech, to answering during a national debate, when all are listening to the same question, a definitive, “Yes! Yes! Yes!”
What are we to think? What are we to believe?
When a candidate, who has taken more money from the special interest groups, PAC’s, and Lobbyist’s, that have plagued Washington for years, and helped allow the very few to govern the American many, what are we to think. Especially so, when the candidate has voiced publicly that they will continue to take these money-with-strings donations.
When a candidate will say one thing today, and another tomorrow, all in pursuit of a vote that will only keep them in a race that will be decided by, yet again, a small and selective group, what are we to believe?
What are we to believe when a candidate, who had previously agreed to accept the sanctions made by their own party on Michigan and Florida, when they felt that they were a shoe in for the presidential nomination, only to change and decry the Party sanctions when the chips were down. And then, try and tell the American people that they in fact have the majority of the popular vote, even when in a state like Michigan her numbers would include votes for her, and nothing for her opponent.
Win by any means necessary? What does that really mean? Any reasonable American can see what is going on. Any reasonable American can easily understand the problems that would be created by just such a person, with just such a character.
Judgment and wisdom seems to be something that people with feelings of self entitlement do not usually hold. And in this case it seems quite evident that this holds true. This can even be seen when a candidate would take such a serious vote to go to war, so lightly that they would not even read the main committee report on the legitimacy of such a war, before they cast such an important and life changing vote. Seriously, what are we to believe about such a candidate?
In this world, when you cannot and do not know what the future will hold, can you really take a chance on someone who you at least know to be untrustworthy and a person not of their word, but of their word for a vote? I would rather go with a person who will bring together a country torn apart by a president beholden to the same old day to day special interest’s, PAC’s, and Lobbyists, than a candidate that will tell me what I want to hear today, so they may do as the please tomorrow.
The.mcgovern.minute@gmail.com
Dear Guam Friends and fellow Obama supporters,
I just wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Matthew McGovern, and I have been inspired by the good Sen. Obama since his now historic introductory speech at the Democratic convention. As of this last Wednesday, I was able to see and hear Sen. Obama twice, and meet him once. I cannot express the wonderful joy I had in being able to see him live and upfront, as well as being able to feel the same enthusiasm that he conveys when one watches him on the television.
His historic opening of a campaign headquarters in Guam is just another example of what this man understands deep inside himself. He knows that all Americans are the intended recipients of the American dream. Not just the PAC's and Lobbyists, or the special interest groups that own Hillary Clinton, but every single American citizen. When we chant, "YES WE CAN!", it is the "WE" that is the heart of our chant. It is quite different the chant that the opposition loves to shout, "YES SHE WILL".
We all understand that this is not just another election, an election that will continue the comings and goings of the special interests groups that have plagued Washington for far too long, but an election to straighten out and reset the U.S. Government back to the agenda of being a government for the people and by the people. The people, you and I, not just another president beholden to PAC's, Special interest, or Lobbyists. Not just another president, and in this case one who feels entitled to the job, but a president who has worked for Americans at every level. From organizing laid off steel workers in the south side of Chicago, to having the wisdom to understand and know the error of going into an unjustified war with Iraq.
Anyway, there I go again, talking all that silly talk that the opposition would refer to as nothing more than "just a speech". It all comes down to you and I in this election. This is our election, and time, in which to tell the old school politicians that the day has come when we will allow the few to govern the lives of the many. Our time is now and our day has come. Yes We Can!
All that is left to do, is to make it happen. We all need to give where we can. be that to volunteer to register others to vote, make calls to family and friends, help out in your community or at the Obama for America headquarters, to wearing your Obama gear or putting your Obama sticker on your car bumper. If your time is hard to come by and scarce, then make that donation of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, or whatever you can give. When it all comes down to it, a burden heavy to one, is always carried lightly by many.
Be well, fight the good fight, stand strong, and do good things!
Dear Friends and fellow Obama supporters,
I just wanted to share a little about the Town Hall Obama rally held in New Albany, Indiana. In a state where 187 delegates are at stake in the May 6 primary, there was no lack of enthusiasm, hope, and faith in the possibility of a new and transparent form of government. The positive energy and smiling faces could be seen everywhere.
After having attended the Cincinnati rally (Feb. 25th, 2008), and being truly amazed that so many people, of so many ages and hues felt as I do, and even more so, could be drawn together and unified under a new political ideology, I knew I could do something more. At this particular event, I volunteered for the campaign as a “people mover”. It was a wonderful way to add even more to my joy at being at an event.
It was a beautiful and sunny day. After we broke into groups, received our badges, did our screening and took our posts, we waited for the gates to be opened. They ended up letting people into the event earlier then the stated 10:45 opening. The crowds entered smoothly with a noticeable excitement. Everyone knew a fun time was at hand.
After the attendees had been seated, and the crowd primed by Floyd Co.’s own Randy Stumler, the crowd began our signature chant, “Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Yes We Can!” The electricity was apparent, and the crowd was ready to blow.
When it seemed as if it could get no louder, the chants grew deafening, and then there he was, the man himself. Sen. Obama took the stage after shaking a few hands, and spoke to those in attendance about the importance of being able to do something real about our economy, healthcare, education, and other major issues. He emphasized that there is a difference between a candidate who has taken more PAC and Lobbyist money then anyone else, and a candidate, who has been completely funded by individual Americans. The difference, between a candidate who will be beholden to those many PAC’s and groups that the lobbyists represent, and a candidate that has always been the one to fight for the individual American.
After speaking on the issues for about 40 minutes, Sen. Obama did the town hall thing, and answered various questions from the audience. He answered these questions openly and honestly. They ranged from questions about the economy and American workers and their jobs, to the state of our governments educational system, AIDES, and the Ryan Whites foundation. Throughout the Town Hall meeting, Sen. Obama was open and candid, bringing the crowd into the ongoing conversation.
It was a great day, not just for me and the others that volunteered, but for the American people. Yet again, we were able to see and here what a true and trustworthy candidate sounds like. A candidate who understands and knows what it is that it will take to bring America back from the brink of even deeper problems, to it’s prominent place in the world.
I would urge everyone, young and old, Black, White, Hispanic, and Asian, gay and straight, to volunteer in one fashion or another. Contact your local Obama for America headquarters and find out what can be done. There are so many things that can be done by volunteers. There is answering phones, making calls, canvassing, voter registration, and beyond. There will always be something that you feel comfortable doing, so do not feel apprehensive in giving a little time. Remember, this is for ALL of us, and the future of America.
North Carolina activist David LaMotte just got a push poll call from the firm of Geoff Garin, the new head of Hillary Clinton's campaign team. It wasn't as bad as asking "would it change your mind if you knew John Kerry actually bought his Vietnam medals off eBay." Or "How do you feel about John McCain's illegitimate black children?" But it was a push poll nonetheless, even if it also had elements of information gathering and message testing. This isn't the first time that the Clinton campaign or their allies have had pollsters offering positive information about Clinton and negative information about her opponents--they did it on the eve of the California primary and in South Carolina. (And firms linked to the Giuliani campaign made highly negative push poll calls against Mitt Romney in Iowa and New Hampshire) But it's a disturbing practice precisely because it tries to spin the recipient under the pretense of merely asking about their views.
Here's LaMotte's story, below, and you can listen to the actual call here -- it's pretty amazing:
Press the play button to listen
(Go hear it yourself: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-loeb/is-hillary-clinton-push-p_b_98446.html )
A guy named Ed called from Akron, Ohio, and when I asked what polling outfit he works for he said Garin-Hart-Yang, based in DC At first I was delighted to be polled, as I've been interested in the race and following the rest of the nation's polls closely throughout the campaign.
The questions started out normal enough, but got progressively more ridiculous. Early in the conversation Ed asked my preference among the Democratic candidates and I told him I was an Obama supporter.
Then the questions turned to long Hillary-praising and Barack bashing policy statements with the response options being "Do you consider that a very strong, strong or weak or very weak reason to support her candidacy for president?" which is kind of an unanswerable question, and clearly not the point. At the end of the conversation they asked "Now based on everything we've discussed, who would you vote for?"
The questions were often based on statements that I wouldn't agree with in the first place. It's classic push polling as I've read about it, though never experienced it before. The questions are of the "Are you still beating your wife?" variety. No way to answer with any sense of veracity and integrity.
Toward the end of the conversation it occurred to me to record it on my old-school tape-based answering machine, so the following is a verbatim transcript of some of the content:
"Hillary Clinton knows that people are being squeezed by the rising costs of everyday items, especially the cost of a gallon of gas. People have been paying through the roof and at the pump, and she thinks it is time the oil companies paid their fair share. She wants to end their special tax breaks and use that money to invest in alternative energy that will create millions of new jobs. As president she will launch a full-scale investigation of the oil companies' price rigging. Upon taking office as president she will lower gas prices by taxing the excess profits of the oil companies and use that money to cut gas tax.
Do you consider that a very strong, strong or weak or very weak reason to support her candidacy for president?"
It goes on a bit later:
"I'm going to read you a few criticisms opponents might make about Barack Obama. For each one please tell me if they give you very major doubts, fairly major doubts, some doubts or no real doubts about supporting Barack Obama for president. At a time when we need leaders who are clear, strong and decisive, Obama has been inconsistent, saying he would remove all troops, but then indicating that he might not, and pledging to renegotiate NAFTA, but then sending signals that he would not actually do so as president. He supported George W. Bush's 2005 energy bill which payed six billion dollars in subsidies to the oil and gas industry, nine billion dollars in subsidies to the coal industry and twelve billion dollars in subsidies to the nuclear power industry. It was called 'a piñata of perks' and 'the best energy bill corporations could buy. Would that leave you with major doubts, some doubts or no real doubts?"
And how do I answer that question, given the fact that I dispute some of the premises laid out?
Didn't they already get embarrassed about push polling in the Midwest early in this campaign and didn't she repudiate the practice? I find this kind of thing pretty shocking, and I think people should know it's going on. It's demeaning and disheartening, especially given the fact that my civic pride was piqued by being called in the first place, only to realize I was being manipulated.
When it seemed as if it could get no louder, the chants grew deafening, and then there he was, the man himself. Sen. Obama took the stage after shaking a few hands, and spoke to those in attendance about the importance of being able to do something real about our economy, healthcare, education, and other major issues.
He emphasized that there is a difference between a candidate who has taken more PAC and Lobbyist money then anyone else, and a candidate, who has been completely funded by individual Americans. The difference, between a candidate who will be beholden to those many PAC’s and groups that the lobbyists represent, and a candidate that has always been the one to fight for the individual American.
After speaking on the issues for about 40 minutes, Sen. Obama did the town hall objective, and answered various questions from the audience. He answered these questions openly and honestly. They ranged from questions about the economy and American workers and their jobs, to the state of our governments educational system, AIDES, and the Ryan White foundation. Throughout the Town Hall meeting, Sen. Obama was open and candid, bringing the crowd into the ongoing conversation.
It was a great day, not just for me and the others that volunteered, but for the American people. Yet again, we were able to see and hear what a true and trustworthy candidate sounds like. A candidate who understands and knows what it is that it will take to bring America back from the brink of even deeper problems, to it’s prominent place in the world.
Dear Friends and Obama Supporters,
So, the paper which prints all the news that’s fit to print, has finally seen the error of their ways, and printed some old news. The New York Times, the paper which has endorsed Sen. Clinton, now says that, “By staying on the attack and not engaging Mr. Obama on the substance of issues like terrorism, the economy and how to organize an orderly exit from Iraq, Mrs. Clinton does more than just turn off voters who don’t like negative campaigning. She undercuts the rationale for her candidacy that led this page and others to support her: that she is more qualified, right now, to be president than Mr. Obama.”
The candidate, who claims that what we need are solutions, and not just speeches, is the same candidate who is now emphatically declaring that she has more votes then Sen. Obama. That is, if you listen past the quick phrase, “of all those that have cast votes.”
The math she is using to get to this “more popular vote total” is that ultimately if all Michigan votes for Hillary are counted, and NONE are allotted to Sen. Obama, then she has more votes. And that includes votes from Florida as well. Can she get any more outlandish?
We know what she is implying with her slippery verbosity. Besides her attempt to play the old style political “change the game midway through” strategy, what she is truly showing us, is that she is the same person she has always been, a purveyor of misleading and questionable linguistics.
"I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base." By now, we all have either seen the media or the Youtube video’s, of her rush for safety under sniper fire arrival, while greeting people and having a poem read to her by a little girl. All she seemed to be able to muster in defense of her outright lie, was, “I misspoke”.
She said she had a "different memory" about the landing. She also said, "So I made a mistake. That happens. It proves I'm human, which, you know, for some people, is a revelation." However, when the Senator with already questionable trustworthiness, was asked about her Bosnia statements during the questionably “unbiased” Philadelphia presidential debate, she responded, “On a couple of occasions in the last weeks I just said some things that weren't in keeping with what I knew to be the case and what I had written about in my book. And, you know, I'm embarrassed by it.” Embarrassed for being caught in a lie? I don’t know about you, but I would have been ashamed.
To cap off her dismissal, of what was obviously known to be a lie, she states, “It just didn't jibe with what I had written about and knew to be the truth.”
What we have here is a testament to the integrity and honesty of a candidate that has already demonstrated her desire to play old school and republican politics. A candidate who will tell the people, whose votes she needs to maintain her insurmountable deficit, that even though she has received more PAC and Lobbyist money than any other candidate, that she will not let them influence her more than the American people.
Now, you may ask yourself where the 4th Estate is. Where are those journalist and talking heads that have let this one individual incident go truly unquestioned? Why are there no questions in the Main Stream Media about her honesty? Why have they let this just slip into the past, like so many other Clinton misstatements and unfounded statements? Why are we still hearing about Rev. Wright over and over again, even after Sen. Obama has publicly spoken so many times about it, and not a peep about Bosnia? What about Bitter-gate, but not about her lying without even admitting it directly.
The answer to these questions could be many, but the one thing that would be hard to disprove, is that the longer this un-winnable contest for Hillary Clinton continues, the pendants will have more to talk about, and the networks will make more money.
These convenient omissions of parity on the part of the MSM are battles we must fight against. With that, I STRONGLY encourage you to take a stand in defending our candidate, and our movement toward a new, and more transparent, style of government.
We must show the MSM that we are watching, and that we are not happy with what they are doing. If you have any doubts about what they are up to, take a listen to Joe Scarborough, and the way he continuously calls Hillary his, “girlfriend”, or when he cannot say enough how much he, “just loves Hillary.” You think I am kidding? Just watch the show one morning.
And while you are doing that, make a note of the advertisements that you see. Those are also people you can write to express your displeasure at the commentary by the MSM pundits. Tell them, that until things change that you will be boycotting their products, as well as urging your friends and neighbors to do the same.
Write often, but always attempt to be as civil as possible. Overtly, and abusively angry letters, are not given as much credence as those that seem to be rational, serious, and steadfast. These are the times we need to secure honesty and parity from the Main Stream Media.
Act Now! Go Obama!
In thought and in deed,
US Newspaper List
USNPL*
Newspaper Mailing Addresses 3900+ Mailing Addresses for US newspapers.
Dear North Carolina Friends and Obama Supporters,
She said she had a "different memory" about the landing. She also said, "So I made a mistake. That happens. It proves I'm human, which, you know, for some people, is a revelation."
However, when the Senator with already questionable trustworthiness, was asked about her Bosnia statements during the questionably “unbiased” Philadelphia presidential debate, she responded, “On a couple of occasions in the last weeks I just said some things that weren't in keeping with what I knew to be the case and what I had written about in my book. And, you know, I'm embarrassed by it.” Embarrassed for being caught in a lie? I don’t know about you, but I would have been ashamed.
Newspapers Click ( A ) for Newspaper address Click ( C ) for County summary Ahoskie Roanoke-Chowan News Herald (A) (C) Albemarle The Stanly News & Press (A) (C) Andrews The Andrews Journal (A) (C) Asheboro The Courier Tribune (A) (C) Asheville Asheville Citizen-Times (A) (C) Asheville Mountain Xpress (A) (C) Asheville W. Carolina Business Journal (A) (C) Black Mountain Black Mountain News (A) (C) Boone The Mountain Times (A) (C) Boone Watauga Democrat (A) (C) Bryson City Smoky Mountain Times (A) (C) Burlington Times-News (A) (C) Carolina Beach Island Gazette (A) (C) Cary The Cary News (A) (C) Cashiers Crossroads Chronicle (A) (C) Chapel Hill Chapel Hill News (A) (C) Charlotte Business Journal of Charlotte (A) (C) Charlotte Charlotte Observer (A) (C) Charlotte Charlotte Post (A) (C) Charlotte Charlotte Weekly (A) (C) Charlotte Creative Loafing (A) (C) Charlotte La Noticia (A) (C) Charlotte Mecklenburg Times (A) (C) Charlotte Peri (A) (C) Charlotte Que Pasa (A) (C) Charlotte Rhino Times (A) (C) Clayton The Clayton News-Star (A) (C) Clemmons The Clemmons Courier (A) (C) Clinton The Sampson Independent (A) (C) Columbus Polk County News-Journal (A) (C) Concord Independent Tribune (A) (C) Creedmoor Butner-Creedmoor News (A) (C) Denton The Denton Orator (A) (C) Denver News@Norman (A) (C) Dunn The Daily Record (A) (C) Durham The Herald-Sun (A) (C) Durham The Independent (A) (C) Eden Daily News (A) (C) Elizabeth City The Daily Advance (A) (C) Elizabethtown The Bladen Journal (A) (C) Elkin The Tribune (A) (C) Fayetteville Acento Latino (A) (C) Fayetteville Fayetteville Observer (A) (C) Forest City Daily Courier (A) (C) Franklin Macon County News (A) (C) Franklin The Franklin Press (A) (C) Fremont Wayne Wilson News Leader (A) (C) Fuquay Varina Fuquay-Varina Independent (A) (C) Garner Citizen News & Times (A) (C) Garner The Garner News (A) (C) Gastonia The Gaston Gazette (A) (C) Goldsboro The News-Argus (A) (C) Greensboro Carolina Peacemaker (A) (C) Greensboro The Business Journal (A) (C) Greensboro The News and Record (A) (C) Greensboro Yes! Weekly (A) (C) Greenville The Daily Reflector (A) (C) Hampstead Topsail Voice (A) (C) Havelock Havelock News (A) (C) Hayesville Smoky Mountain Sentinel (A) (C) Henderson The Daily Dispatch (A) (C) Hendersonville Times News (A) (C) Hickory Hickory Daily Record (A) (C) High Point High Point Enterprise (A) (C) Highlands The Highlander (A) (C) Hillsborough The News of Orange County (A) (C) Huntersville Huntersville Herald (A) (C) Jacksonville Jacksonville Daily News (A) (C) Jamestown The Jamestown News (A) (C) Kannapolis Independent Tribune (A) (C) Kenly The Kenly News (A) (C) Kernersville Kernersville News (A) (C) King The Stokes News (A) (C) Kinston The Free Press (A) (C) Laurinburg Laurinburg Exchange (A) (C) Lenoir Lenoir News Topic (A) (C) Lexington The Dispatch (A) (C) Lincolnton Lincoln Times-News (A) (C) Lincolnton Lincolnton Tribune (A) (C) Locust The Weekly Post (A) (C) Lumberton The Robesonian (A) (C) Madison The Madison Messenger (A) (C) Marion McDowell News (A) (C) Mebane Mebane Enterprise (A) (C) Mocksville The Enterprise-Record (A) (C) Monroe The Enquirer-Journal (A) (C) Mooresville Lake Norman Times (A) (C) Mooresville Mooresville Tribune (A) (C) Morehead City Carteret Co News-Times (A) (C) Morganton The News Herald (A) (C) Mount Airy Mount Airy News (A) (C) Mount Olive Mount Olive Tribune (A) (C) Murphy The Cherokee Scout (A) (C) Murphy The Cherokee Sentinel (A) (C) Nags Head Outer Banks Sentinel (A) (C) New Bern Sun Journal (A) (C) Newland Avery Journal (A) (C) Newton Observer News Enterprise (A) (C) North Wilkesboro The Record (A) (C) North Wilkesboro Wilkes Journal-Patriot (A) (C) Oriental The Pamlico News (A) (C) Pittsboro Chatham Journal (A) (C) Princeton Princeton News Leader (A) (C) Raeford The News-Journal (A) (C) Raleigh News and Observer (A) (C) Raleigh Que Pasa (A) (C) Raleigh The Raleigh Chronicle (A) (C) Raleigh Triangle Business Journal (A) (C) Reidsville The Reidsville Review (A) (C) Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald (A) (C) Robbinsville The Graham Star (A) (C) Rockingham Richmond County Daily Journal (A) (C) Rocky Mount Rocky Mount Telegram (A) (C) Roxboro Courier Times (A) (C) Salisbury Salisbury Post (A) (C) Sanford The Sanford Herald (A) (C) Shallotte The Brunswick Beacon (A) (C) Shelby The Shelby Star (A) (C) Siler City The Chatham News (A) (C) Smithfield The Smithfield Herald (A) (C) Southern Pines The Pilot (A) (C) Sparta The Alleghany News (A) (C) Spruce Pine News-Journal (A) (C) Statesville Statesville Record & Landmark (A) (C) Swansboro Tideland News (A) (C) Sylva Herald and Ruralite (A) (C) Tarboro The Daily Southerner (A) (C) Taylorsville Taylorsville Times (A) (C) Thomasville Thomasville Times (A) (C) Troy The Montgomery Herald (A) (C) Tryon The Tryon Daily Bulletin (A) (C) Wadesboro The Anson Record (A) (C) Wadesboro The Express Newspaper (A) (C) Wake Forest The Wake Weekly (A) (C) Warrenton The Warren Record (A) (C) Washington Daily News (A) (C) Waynesville Smoky Mountain News (A) (C) Waynesville The Mountaineer (A) (C) West Jefferson Jefferson Post (A) (C) Whiteville The News Reporter (A) (C) Wilmington Star-News Online (A) (C) Wilson Wilson Daily Times (A) (C) Winston Salem Que Pasa (A) (C) Winston Salem The Chronicle (A) (C) Winston Salem Winston-Salem Journal (A) (C) Wrightsville Beach The Lumina News (A) (C) Yadkinville The Yadkin Ripple (A) (C) Yanceyville The Caswell Messenger (A) (C) Zebulon Eastern Wake News (A) (C) College Newspapers A & T State The A & T Register Appalachian State The Appalachian Chowan College Chowan Connections Davidson College The Davidsonian Duke Univ The Chronicle E. Carolina Univ Greenville East Carolinian Elon College The Pendulum Guilford College The Guilfordian Lenoir-Rhyne Lenoir-Rhynean Mars Hill College The Hilltop Montreat College The Whetstone NC Central University Campus Echo NC State Raleigh Technician Online Univ NC Asheville The Blue Banner Univ NC Chapel Hill The Daily Tar Heel Univ NC Charlotte The Niner Online Univ NC Greensboro The Carolinian Univ NC Pembroke The Pine Needle Univ NC Wilmington The Seahawk Univ NC Winston-Salem The Kudzu Gazette Wake Forest Old Gold and Black Western Carolina Univ Western Carolinian Magazines Statewide Appalachian Highways Statewide Up & Coming Weekly
The candidate, who claims that what we need are solutions, and not just speeches, is the same candidate who is now emphatically declaring that she has more votes then Sen. Obama. That is, if you listen past the quick phrase, “of all those that have cast votes.” We know what she is implying with her slippery verbosity. Besides her attempt to play the old style political “change the game midway through” strategy, what she is truly showing us, is that she is the same person she has always been, a purveyor of misleading and questionable linguistics.
"I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base." By now, we all have either seen the media or the Youtube video’s, of her rush for safety under sniper fire arrival. All she seemed to be able to muster in defense of her outright lie, was, “I misspoke”.
What we have here is a testament to the integrity and honesty of a candidate that has already demonstrated her desire to play old school and republican politics. A candidate who will tell the people, whose votes she needs to maintain her insurmountable deficit, that even though she has received more PAC and Lobbyist money than any other candidate, she will not let them influence her more than the American people.
Indiana Newspaper email addresses!
Write early! Write often!
Alexandria The Alexandria Times-Tribune (A) (C) Anderson Anderson Herald Bulletin (A) (C) Auburn The Evening Star (A) (C) Batesville The Herald Tribune (A) (C) Bedford Bedford Times-Mail (A) (C) Bloomington The Herald-Times (A) (C) Bluffton Bluffton News Banner (A) (C) Brazil The Brazil Times (A) (C) Brookville Brookville American-Democrat (A) (C) Brownstown Jackson County Banner (A) (C) Chesterton Chesterton Tribune (A) (C) Cloverdale Hoosier Topics (A) (C) Columbia City The Post & Mail (A) (C) Columbus The Republic (A) (C) Connersville News Examiner (A) (C) Corydon The Corydon Democrat (A) (C) Crawfordsville Journal Review (A) (C) Crawfordsville The Paper of Montgomery County (A) (C) Decatur Decatur Daily Democrat (A) (C) Elkhart The Elkhart Truth (A) (C) Elwood The Call-Leader (A) (C) Evansville Evansville Courier (A) (C) Evansville News 4U (A) (C) Flora Carroll County Comet (A) (C) Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Journal Gazette (A) (C) Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Reader (A) (C) Fort Wayne Ink Newspaper (A) (C) Fort Wayne The News-Sentinel (A) (C) Frankfort The Times (A) (C) Franklin Daily Journal of Johnson County (A) (C) French Lick Springs Valley Herald (A) (C) Goshen Goshen News (A) (C) Greencastle Banner-Graphic (A) (C) Greenfield Daily Reporter (A) (C) Greensburg Greensburg Daily News (A) (C) Hartford City Hartford City News-Times (A) (C) Huntington Herald Press (A) (C) Indianapolis Indianapolis Business Journal (A) (C) Indianapolis Indianapolis Star (A) (C) Indianapolis Indy Outlook (A) (C) Indianapolis Nuvo Newsweekly (A) (C) Indianapolis The Indianapolis Recorder (A) (C) Indianapolis The Southside Times (A) (C) Jeffersonville Evening News and Tribune (A) (C) Kendallville Kendallville News-Sun (A) (C) Kokomo Kokomo Perspective (A) (C) Kokomo Kokomo Tribune (A) (C) La Porte Herald-Argus (A) (C) Lafayette Journal & Courier (A) (C) Lebanon The Daily Sun (A) (C) Lebanon The Reporter (A) (C) Linton The Daily World (A) (C) Logansport Pharos-Tribune (A) (C) Madison Madison Courier Online (A) (C) Marion Chronicle-Tribune (A) (C) Martinsville The Reporter Times (A) (C) Merrillville Gary Post Tribune (A) (C) Michigan City The News-Dispatch (A) (C) Monticello Herald Journal (A) (C) Mooresville Mooresville Times (A) (C) Muncie NewsLink Indiana (A) (C) Muncie The Star Press (A) (C) Munster The Times (A) (C) Nashville Brown County Democrat (A) (C) New Castle The Courier Times (A) (C) New Harmony Posey County News (A) (C) New Paris The Farmer's Exchange (A) (C) Newburgh Newburgh Chandler Register (A) (C) Noblesville Noblesville Daily Times (A) (C) Noblesville The Noblesville Ledger (A) (C) Noblesville Topics Newspapers (A) (C) North Vernon Plain Dealer & Sun (A) (C) Paoli Paoli News-Republican (A) (C) Peru Peru Tribune (A) (C) Plainfield The Flyer Group Newspapers (A) (C) Plymouth The Pilot News (A) (C) Portland Commercial Review (A) (C) Princeton Princeton Daily Clarion (A) (C) Rensselaer Rensselaer Republican Newspaper (A) (C) Richmond Palladium-Item (A) (C) Rochester Rochester Sentinel (A) (C) Rushville Rushville Republican (A) (C) Seymour Seymour Tribune (A) (C) Shelbyville Shelbyville News (A) (C) South Bend South Bend Tribune (A) (C) Spencer Spencer Evening World (A) (C) Terre Haute Journal of Business (A) (C) Terre Haute Tribune-Star (A) (C) Tipton Tipton County Tribune (A) (C) Versailles Osgood Journal (A) (C) Versailles Versailles Republican (A) (C) Vincennes Vincennes Sun-Commercial (A) (C) Wabash Wabash Plain Dealer (A) (C) Warsaw Times-Union (A) (C) Zionsville Times Sentinel (A) (C) College Newspapers Anderson Univ News and Events Ball State Univ News Butler Univ DawgNet DePauw Univ theDePauw.com Goshen College Record Indiana State Univ Indiana Statesman Indiana Univ Bloomington Digital Student Notre Dame Observer Purdue Univ Exponent Purdue Univ Calumet Chronicle Purdue Univ Indianapolis Sagamore Wabash College Bachelor Magazines Indianapolis Indianapolis Online Statewide Indiana Tourism Statewide Inside IN Business Statewide Special Edition Monthly Statewide The Hype Magazine Statewide The Ryder Statewide VisitIndiana.net
