To those who want to know what Barack said regarding accusations from opponent, the following articles might be helpfull:
FOXNews: No Arrogance Here, Says Obama
Associated Press: Obama accuses McCain camp of cynicism, not racism
Chicagotribune: Obama says shift on drilling is practical step
Associated Press: Obama opposes reparations for slavery
Back in the early days of primary season, Obama said that he will take a high road for his campaign. He did just that whenever his opponent try to pull him down. Here is one more example how he chose to take a high road when he was asked to comment on racial issues:
Obama: McCain camp is not racist, but cynical
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Saturday called rival John McCain's campaign cynical, but said he did not believe comments by the candidate and his aides were based on racism.
--full article--
I think, this is a very important message. An individual should take her/his responsibility for pursuing her/his own goals.
Barack Obama Remarks At Titusville Town Hall Meeting
...
In the end, that's all most Americans are asking for. It's not a lot. You don't expect government to solve all your problems. You want to be self-reliant and independent. You want to be responsible for your own lives and take care of your own families. But what you do expect is a government that isn't run by the special interests. What you do expect is that if you're willing to work hard, you should be able to find a job that pays a decent wage, that you shouldn't go bankrupt when you get sick, that you should be able to send your children to college even if you're not rich, and that you should be able to retire with dignity and security.
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It's a simple story. He was asked to resign from his own party that he joined for 25 years because he donated $250 to Obama campaign. It seems simple but it shows that this man has guts! He knew exactly what he's doing and he stood by it! May God bless you, Sir!
DELAWARE: Ting loses GOP post for supporting ObamaBy Sean O'Sullivan • The News Journal • August 1, 2008
WILMINGTON — The man who was the Delaware Republican Party's standard bearer in the race for U.S. Senate in 2006 has been expelled from his position in the state Republican Party.
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The following Op-Ed from Frank Rick is worth to read. It gives a good summary of what's happening in one-week, during Obama international tour. There are relatively details of comparison. The lead of the Op-Ed:
How Obama Became Acting President
By FRANK RICHPublished: July 27, 2008IT almost seems like a gag worthy of “Borat”: A smooth-talking rookie senator with an exotic name passes himself off as the incumbent American president to credulous foreigners. But to dismiss Barack Obama’s magical mystery tour through old Europe and two war zones as a media-made fairy tale would be to underestimate the ingenious politics of the moment. History was on the march well before Mr. Obama boarded his plane, and his trip was perfectly timed to reap the whirlwind.
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The following article tells Obama's response from crtics who said that his tour was a 'premature victory lap'. I love his arguments.
Obama Disputes He's on a 'Premature Victory Lap'By Dan Balz and Karla AdamLONDON -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama wrapped up his weeklong foreign tour Saturday, meeting at length with past, present and possibly future British prime ministers and rebutting charges from Republican John McCain's campaign that the trip amounted to a "premature victory lap" by an overly confident candidate.Obama argued that McCain had long ago urged him to take a foreign trip and now was complaining because he had done so. "John McCain has visited every one of these countries post primary that I have," Obama told a scrum of reporters on the driveway outside No. 10 Downing Street, where the prime minister lives and works."He has given speeches in Canada, in Colombia, Mexico, he made visits," he added. "And so it doesn't strike me that we have done anything different than the McCain campaign has done, which is to recognize that part of the job of the next president, commander in chief is to forge effective relationships with our allies."
Sen. Obama decided to drop his schedule to visit injured soldiers in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany. It started from Sen. Obama's good intention;that is, to avoid injured soldiers and staffs of this institution being involved in the cross-fire between campaigns.
I believe that his intention is genuine and surely wise, there are policies in the US Defense Dept that prohibit military personnel and military facilities from any association with partisan political campaigns and elections.
But then, it is him, Sen. Obama, who was wounded by the opponent because of this decision.
One good article regarding this issue is Obama defends scrubbing visit to wounded troops from REUTERS.
For me, this is a good lesson to learn. In political world, good intention and decision would never be enough. There would be winds and dusts that are ready to follow.
Obama's foreign trip: Mission accomplished (REUTERS)
Excerpts:
"Obama passed the test, which was to show he can handle himself with foreign leaders and avoid a major gaffe," said Steven Schier, a political scientist at Carleton College in Minnesota.
"Obama was auditioning for the job of president this week, and I think he showed he is up to it," said Simon Rosenberg, head of the Democratic advocacy group NDN. "It has been a big week for Senator Obama and his campaign." "His trip had good pictures, good video, good sound bites. I have to admire their work," said Gaylord, a McCain supporter.
"I don't think McCain's counter-programming worked, but I'm not sure there was anything they could do but hope it all goes away and pray for better times," Gaylord said. "There are some things you can't fight."
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This sweet and condence article was written by Frank Schaeffer in Hufftington:
Obama In Berlin: A New Day, A New HopeAs I write these words a huge throng is gathering in Berlin to hear Senator Obama. They are sending America a message: Elect a leader the world respects and we will show you that America is still loved.How ironic that in our greatest hour of need since the Civil War, following the worst presidency in the history of our country it is a young black American who has stepped forth to lead us all back into the light. The persecuted have come to the rescue of the persectuors. Good has been returned for harm, forgiveness for transgression. Dr. King, are you watching? You won sir.Hope! Change! Respect!We are watching history unfold. This life-long Republican white man is moved, humbled and changed.Tens of thousands of people who have been highly critical of our country gather to hear an American political figure. They are not burning our flag. Instead they wait, as we do, for the new day.God bless you Senator Obama. Thank you.
link to the original article
One good article regarding Obama's tour overseas. It gives a relatively clear analysis how Obama takes a challenge and makes it as his advantage in international policy:
Obama takes McCain's trip dare leaving McCain on defensive
WASHINGTON: In one of the most telling and ironic weeks of the presidential campaign, Democrat Barack Obama accepted Republican John McCain's dare and went to Iraq — and far beyond, a foreign expedition of carefully staged photo opportunities that left the Arizona senator both at home and on the defensive.
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The last paragraph of the article is worth to be a reminder to us all:
"Ultimately, the strategy is to make voters doubt Obama's character," said Merrill, noting that modern campaigning plays not to real issues but to voter fears, emotions and visceral judgments.
Obama tour at Tiergarten, Berlin
How does Barack Obama do it? Does he stay up all night learning his lines and then practising them in front of his bedroom mirror? That can’t be the case, and yet, somehow, he manages to remain clear, sharp, fluent, more or less flawless in his diction.
Obama world tour strikes gold ... read the article ...
Obama's Travels: Some Good News and Some Risks ... read the article ...
Obama Visit Leaves Good Impression on Israelis, Palestinians ... read the article ...
Obama in Berlin and meets Merkel read more
World wants America it can look up to again read more
Clarence Pagein Chicagotribune.com argues that one important reason for media to give Obama more coverage than JM is not merely bias for the Obama's advantage, but being more of consumers driven. That is, viewers as well as readers of the media are hunger for big stories and it turns out that stories about Obama has been proven to match with what they want.
Read more ...
Steven Lesser in his article published in OpEdNews.com webiste gives a good argument for unbiasedness of Obama coverage. He said because Obama is a better 'product', the Obama coverage is not bias.
He makes a good point in the last sentence of the article:
"Senator McCain, if you are a terrible candidate and run a terrible campaign with no new ideas, you aren’t going to get a lot of coverage running against someone who is a good candidate and running a good campaign. You can whine about it all you want, it isn’t going to help. Worse still, every time the cameras turn to you, it’s just in time to watch you put your foot in your mouth. Sorry, Senator McCain, when it’s a better product, it’s not bias, and Senator Barack Obama is a better product."
Read more
In an interview with Karen Tumulty (TIME reporter) while he flew from Amman to Tel Aviv, Obama was asked the following question
Was there anything that you saw on this trip that changed your mind? John McCain, as you know, is saying, "Well, he already knew what he was going to think before he got there."
Obama's answer is brilliant and it says all:
Well I thought John also suggested that I'm always changing my mind, so he's got to make up his mind about what he says about my mind.
read more
I found that reading some positive and uplifting articles about Sen. Obama is very helpful for me to have a positive tone in the discussions in the blog. At least, it works for me.
Based on this experince, I would try to find, read and post these kindof article to start with before getting aftive in the blog.
Today I found that following article are good enough to start:
Carl Leubsdorf: Obama on right side of political winds
If a picture is worth a thousand words, Barack Obama's overseas trip became a success on the very first day when he sank a three-pointer on a basketball court in Kuwait.
But as the Democratic standard bearer heads for Europe on Thursday after visits to Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel and Jordan, he already has gotten even more from the trip, both visually and substantively.
Obama on tour to prove he is a man of the world
BARACK Obama arrives in Europe later this week, carrying the hopes of the continent on his shoulders.
The crowds expected to turn out to meet him in Germany, France and the UK are unprecedented for an American presidential candidate, and one who is by no means certain to triumph in November. Beginning tomorrow at a rally at Berlin's Tempelhof airport, he moves on to Paris the next day before arriving in London on Saturday, to meet Gordon Brown and David Cameron for the final date of his eight-nation tour.
YESTERDAY morning was Iraq, Jordan the afternoon and Israel last night. France, Germany and Britain lie ahead. Barrack Obama's brief international tour is nothing if not hectic.
He even found time to speak to soldiers of 4th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland, deployed to Basra.
But for someone who is not even president, by and large those receiving him all hold rank more in keeping with a visit from the US Commander-in-Chief. From King Abdullah of Jordan to the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, important figures in the Middle East peace process were more than pleased to receive him.
Forget the myth-making. Obama is just what the Middle East needs
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With Ross at his side, Obama is signalling that we should forget the myth-making: an Obama presidency will be about active, engaged diplomacy, between Israelis and Palestinians, between Israel and Syria, and beyond. And if anyone doubts that this is what the world desperately needs after the past seven and a half years, then they haven't been paying attention.
Blomberg's article of Obama Uses Cash Edge Over McCain to Hire Campaign Operatives by Kristin Jensen and Jonathan D. Salant shows how effective Obama campaign in using its resources. With the same level of spending ($26m) on June, Obama campaign is able to be more focus on organizing campaign operations throughout the country compare to those of JM's.
article: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aPZzNGekYAYk&refer=home
For me, it shows his ability to use resources in effective way, and this is one important leadership quality required to run the country.
Here is Nancy Pelosi (House Speaker) remarks to to the Huffington Post regarding disaffected backers of Hillary Clinton to support Barack Obama's choice for vice president:
"I don't think we should be making an issue after the primary is over about who should be vice president. That would have been up to Hillary Clinton and would have been up to Barack. And it is up to Barack," said the Speaker, when asked about the possibility. "The only one thing important right now is party unity. None of us can afford the luxury of 'my candidate doesn't win the nomination' or 'my candidate wasn't chosen as vice president, I'm taking my marbles and going home.' The future of our planet is at stake: our budget, the constitution, the safety of our troops, everything is at stake in this election."
This is important reminder for us all for always remember to keep our eyes to the big prize in this election.
Full article can be read at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/21/pelosi-on-veepstakes-obam_n_114041.html.
I find the article Bush Failures May Force McCain, Obama to Make Like FDR in 2009 is worth to read. Excerpt from this article says:
The next White House occupant will inherit the deepest housing recession in a generation, growing fears of bank failures, a sinking dollar, $4 gasoline and an economy bleeding jobs. He'll confront wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, mounting tensions with Iran and the U.S.'s flagging international reputation.
Full article available at http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aKIkmrDcRKv4&refer=us
