Organizing for America | Altamonte 4 Obama Group

Altamonte 4 Obama Group

Professionals who are willing to support a major change for America, especially here in Seminole County, Florida.

Why are we in this financial fiasco? The short answer.

By Euri - Nov 17th, 2008 at 12:27 pm EST

Also listed in: 10 groups

Why are we in this financial fiasco today and why is more not being done? Here is the short answer.

America cashed in on its noble laws for the social equality of opportunity. Capitalistic endeavors took purpose of those laws without the social responsibility through which they were endowed. And, after the fact is already patent, they continue to act with the same disregard when they make false promises so as to cause legislative action that may otherwise be used to better suit their interests and not those of the public (the bailout).

It is clear that this was the mother of all temptations - to mislead the public that it was ok to borrow under laws so poorly defined that their purpose was taken out of context as if it was a fire sale. Now, those responsible wash their hands and show that their abuse is not complete without further twist of words, smoking mirrors all, and posturing which only resulted in words and the empty promises they carry. You are correct to worry when you as about the government that we inherited from the genius of our forefathers. You should worry because it is up to the people to use those tools our forefathers created for us; you must realize that our forefathers provided a structure where ideas met with words were brought to reality by the brave will of free men. And this is where we have floundered.

Our forefathers through our Constitution gave us three branches of government to protect us from tyranny; the executive and its regulatory bodies, the judicial who must bring to justice those lending institutions and executives whose compensation was based on taking risk and pushing loans that should not have been extended abusing the ignorance of those dreaming that the American dream was theirs at last, and the legislature comprised of the Senate and House of Representatives who passed the laws to relax regulation and allow unqualified borrowers o receive loans they could not afford believing they had balanced the financial theater for those not favored by the salaries their jobs command.

And as free people we failed. We failed by being gullible and allowing the executive sentinel of the masses lay asleep enamored by the poisons provided through the empowerment of those not accountable to our judicial system; the results are the misguided efforts of a naive legislature befriended by the evil that provided the anvil which forged the means for the respective positions of power they occupy (Fannie, Freddie, hedge funds, and the companies who traded bad debt as good collateral and continue to lobby the legislature today to exert their will). This will continue to be the case even if we learn to trade the instant gratification of spending for a more stable future, because the problem is not that we do not know how to be frugal - the problem is that we were told we no longer had to be frugal and we were not provided the transparency necessary to challenge those conceptions. We trusted those who were 'blessed' by the executive, the legislature, and the judicial to say so.

If I may be so bold as to remind you of the words of our Declaration of Independence, the very same that demands that this remain the land of the free and the home of the brave as our National Anthem expounds where all men are created equal with equal rights to exert their thought to preserve their right to be happy - "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

Be heard, be informed, be engaging, live, and be happy. We had forgotten the responsibilities enabling the comforts we all enjoy as free men and women. Come onto the action and do not allow the legislature to decide for you once again while you just watch the news and argue with a television. Do something and contact your legislature. The clock is ticking.

Euribiades Cerrud II, Esq.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Future be foretold...

By Euri - Nov 4th, 2008 at 11:46 pm EST

Also listed in: 9 groups

The healing of this nation may be held in the trust which was once granted to the common man. To hold steadfast to the principle that all men are created equal such that no man shall rule by the color of his skin or the purse that he may hold; instead, that the measure of that trust be one that his efforts and character forge in weight amongst his peers. The healing of this nation may be held in the once prevalent standard that this is a government by the people and for the people such that the transparency in the halls of justice and the execution of sound resolutions of this great nation’s elected officials rise in hope for all to embrace. And so, this hope brings forth much needed change. The message by Barack Obama.

The true essence of this land of opportunity is that which thrives in the hopes of the impossible, the adaptability of judgment to accept the truth, and the evolution of that far cry of fairness from oppression by the elite. This land of opportunity casts before it the possibility that descendants of slaves uprooted from their homeland and rejects exiled by despotism from our ancestral nations may prosper to become the leaders of that world which once kept them in the misery of their shadow. This land of opportunity beckons that maturity which seeks beyond the obvious - to choose with the modesty our forefathers acknowledged, and showing, that they were not wisemen but that in the unity and tolerance of the multitude of principles enshrined in the union of the peoples of our states - there must be hope.

Hope; so much as though this great nation seeks it - so many other countries see this nation as a symbol of hope. It is hope that shall heal this country, for it brings about the strength necessary to carry about change - the message by Barack Obama.

Hope and need is what drove our forefathers to kiln the miracle of our nation against seemingly insurmountable odds - a concept only known as opportunity. And so, upon the election of Barack Obama, let this great nation be known not as the land of opportunity but as the land of hope that it no longer be the mirage of an ideal but the common reality of our way of living. It is all we need; it is what we have misplaced.

It is the misplacement of hope that leads to the destitution and despair we see in our morale and our economy this day. It is the misplacement of hope that lessens our care for nature and the environment thinking there is nothing to save for future generations. It is the misplacement of hope that make us think about today without regard for tomorrow. It is the misplacement of hope that has made us believe that we have all there is to be had and that there is no need for hope.

And so, it is today that we need hope the most. It is today that we need a chance to rise once again. It is today that we need opportunity once more.

It is today that we return what was once lost to the people only eight years ago - its government.

It is today that we bring about change in that same spirit which saw that great american eagle rise onto a gleaming sky with a cadre of arrows of strength in one claw and branches of hope in the other - that it may impart with justice hope for all americans.

It is today that we bring about the healing of our nation from financial disrepair, feelings of helplessness, abuse, racism, hate and greed.

It is today that once more we rise to the occasion to show the world that this is the land of opportunity where the impossible is made reality - that we stand once more as an underdog to ourselves believing in the strength of our people and the spirit of our forefathers such that those who, without question or understanding, resolved in the discharge of their duties to face the end of their days that others may have better ones, that liberty may be had, and the american dream prevail.

It is this day that we stand behind he who has faced all odds and lights the way rejoicing in the challenge to bring about the much needed change and chants YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!

It is today that we elect as our President, a great man, a symbol of hope - future be foretold - that America is truly the land of the free and the home of the brave.

It is today that we elect as our President, Barack Obama.

Euribiades Cerrud II, Esq.
cerrud@mac.com
407.758.6100 v
407.386.6570 f

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Florida Early Vote EXTENDED statewide

By Kristen Psaki - Oct 28th, 2008 at 3:32 pm EDT

Also listed in: 281 groups

Early Voting for the entire state of Florida has just been extended.

Every Early Vote location in Florida will now be every day from 7am-7pm up through November 2.

Please pass along this great news to everyone you know who will be voting in Florida. Click here to find your nearest early vote location.

Here's the release:

GOVERNOR CRIST EXTENDS EARLY VOTING HOURS
~~ ~Ensures maximum number of Floridians can exercise right to vote~ ~~
October 28, 2008
Contact:
GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE(850) 488-5394
TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist today signed Executive Order 08-217, extending the hours for early voting during the current General Election. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through Friday, October 31, 2008, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2008.

"I have spoken with the Secretary of State and members of the Florida Legislature and have concluded that it is always the right thing to do to give voters every opportunity to cast a ballot," Governor Crist said. "I have a responsibility to the voters of our state to ensure that the maximum number of citizens can participate in the electoral process, and that every person can exercise the right to vote."

Prior to the 2008 General Election, Florida has seen historic numbers of Floridians registering to vote for the first time. In addition, record numbers of voters have chosen to cast a ballot during early voting.

Early voting began on October 20 and runs through November 2. Current Florida law allows for early voting to be conducted eight hours per day on each weekday, and for a total of eight hours during both weekends during the early voting period. Floridians can contact their county's Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations of early voting.

Florida voters can also request absentee ballots to be mailed to them until October 29.

Please see the attached Executive Order 08-217.

STATE OF FLORIDA

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 08-217

WHEREAS, early voting is scheduled to end November 2, 2008; and

WHEREAS, early voting turnout has already reached record levels and is forecast to continue with record turnout. There are only 267 early voting sites throughout the state and long lines have formed at many of the early voting sites; and

WHEREAS, a historic number of Floridians have registered to vote for the first time in this election; and

WHEREAS, new voting equipment is being used in 15 Florida counties;

WHEREAS, as a result of this unique combination of circumstances resulting from the historic voter turnout in this election, there is a possibility that election officials will be unable to conduct an orderly election, and thus residents in our state could be deprived of a meaningful opportunity to vote; and
WHEREAS, because of the existing and continuing possibility of an emergency occurring before or during the regularly scheduled election, and in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process, and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to exercise their right to vote;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHARLIE CRIST, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution, by the Florida Elections Emergency Act, and by all other applicable laws, issue the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:
I hereby declare that, based on the above-described conditions, a state of emergency exists. It is hereby found and declared to be necessary to extend the voting hours during early voting. Accordingly, I order the Supervisors of Elections to open early voting sites from 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. through October 31, 2008 and open early voting sites for a total of twelve (12) hours between 7 a.m. November 1, 2008 and 7 p.m. November 2, 2008.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 28th day of October, 2008.

GOVERNOR
ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (2) | Report Objectionable Content

27 Days and counting. This isn't gonna be pretty.

By Josh from Oviedo, FL - Oct 8th, 2008 at 11:41 pm EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

Its like when I big ship sinks outright there are lots of moaning and groaning and dirty sounding cries and that is exactly what is happening to the Mccain campaign ship right this minute. They are scared and tactless and have no responsibility because they no they are not going to win so they will say anything they will do anything and its so pathetic. I cannot imagine a place with this man as the leader . He couldn't lead a kindergarten line without making the whole class cry and cry. I am so infuriated and whenever I read the fact check on CNN I get even more frustrated. AT least Barack knows how to keep his head up and stay positive. I give him mad respect for being able to focus on the issues ahead of us instead of focusing on one SMALL Problem *(Mccain). I mean really who is showing better leadership capabilities here? Who is more mature. Who is less likely to die in office? Who has a questionable health record? Who Is The LIAR here. JOHN MCCAIN! LIAR LIAR LIAR! I cannot express how low and sad it is to see someone with a respectable past stoop to such lows. He belongs in a mental institution. Good Luck Barack! I support you! I Want Change!

-Josh

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (1) | Report Objectionable Content

Im watching the debate...OMG what a toolbox..I am not your "Friend" buddy.

By Josh from Oviedo, FL - Oct 7th, 2008 at 10:26 pm EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

Im sitting watching the debate and I am furious about being called John McCains' friend every 5 minutes. Personally offended that he would assume that I would ever be his friend much less that vote for him. Visibly he is old and offensive not fresh and full of ideas, He constantly tries to change the mood by litigating with a negative tone. I feel that he is the wrong idea and the wrong person to lead our country. Honestly I don't see how he even made it this far. I can imagine our future with Barack, and whenever I try to imagine the future that holds John McCain anywhere close to it, I invision him in a "home" talking about his days when he was almost president. I give him that he did make it this far, but its time to let someone young and freshly originated with positive ideas to step in and command our countries future the right way, the smart way.

That's all for now. I will be back soon.

Josh Edwards.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (2) | Report Objectionable Content

Welcome Joe!

By Kristen Psaki - Aug 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 am EDT

Also listed in: 181 groups

It's official, Barack sent out the email this morning, did you get it?

Friend --
I have some important news that I want to make official.
I've chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate.
Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois -- the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago.
I'm excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can't do this alone. We need your help to keep building this movement for change.
Please let Joe know that you're glad he's part of our team. Share your personal welcome note and we'll make sure he gets it:
Welcome Joe

Thanks for your support,
Barack

Send Joe a note! Welcome Joe!

Make sure to turn on your TV at 3:00 p.m. to join Obama and Biden in Springfield, Illinois. Or, watch online at http://www.BarackObama.com.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (6) | Report Objectionable Content

What a night for Change.

By Nativeeyesarewatching - Jul 27th, 2008 at 12:52 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

I couldn't have said it better myself..

Wimpy McMummy and his merry staff, can't talk straight on the Crooked talk express.

They have resorted and stuck to crying like kids when they don't get any attention.

The tantrums and hissy fits are so immature.

Everytime McShame makes a Gaffe, the GOP goes into spin mode to quickly turn it around and Blame the other guy for something.

McShame is running the worse possible attempt at a campaign since Bush.

McGaffe has resorted to giving who will ever listen with fragile minds, a take on what could be your fears of hate, put a face on it, that is not his.

The Smear campaign he promised he WOULD NOT do by running a self prclaimed CLEAN CAMPAIGN was truly his way of saying, I'll LIE, CHEAT, DISTORT, MISLEAD AND KEEP LYING to get into the WH.

He really thinks that this is what Americans wants to see from a REPUBLICAN after ALL the LIES, CHEATS, DISTORTIONS, MISLEADS AND MORE LIES that comes from BUSH.

I just want to thank McBush for coming back to Gaffe highway and reality..

We Democrats, Inpendents, some Republicans and other organizations formed with US, are ready to pounce, once the REAL DEAL begins..

Thank you McBUSH for all the silly ads you are using. How does that person still have a job is beyond me.

McBush couldn't wait for Obama to leave the Country to go on the dumbfounded Attack.

The ads have been the worse attempts at a Real Candidate I've ever seen. lol!!

I really get a kick out of them.. I can't believe someone really thinks these dumb ads up!!

Obama blamed for the Gas hikes was so funny I had to run it over and over with comical astonishment and amazement.

If I was a normal everyday Republican, would I think this to be true?

That's scary!!

I was like " Boy what moron allowed this to run" Then I thought, is someone out there in the US really going to think this could possibly be true? Then I thought, do they think someone will really believe this? To me they're calling people dumb. The ads are truly insulting to even the most staunch Republicans and conservatives.

I've recently talk to people whom say they are conservatives.

They told me, they don't like the guy(McShame) and wish the GOP picked someone else to run for POTUS.

I had to ask them this one, lol!! How do you really feal about his many recents Gaffes?

They all told me with a smile, "He is Bush in a smaller frame" or "We didn't pick him, "We picked Huccabee or Romney". Then I ask them this, " Are you going to still vote for him?"

All 10 of them laughed out loud and said, are you serious? I smiled and said " Is that a NO?" Almost in sequence "Hell to the NO?" " Hell no" " You must be crazy" "We will be back in 8 years" "That guy gots to retire from Politics" "He is making a fool of himself at our expense?

I said, " Do you think it's his age?

All 10 of them said, "YES" "He needs to retire and relax, He's 72, 65 is retirement age right" "He's Rich, why is he out there doing this to himself?" They told me "Republicans they've all talk to, have said the same thing". I am now tickled laughing inside..

One of the guys said "His time has passed" "We need new blood" "Bush hurt the Republican Brand name for years to come"

I almost coudn't contain my laughter, So I had to let it go.. Baaawaaaaaa!!

I asked them? " What do you think about Obama?" They all told me " I hope he is what he says he is" " I think he is sincere" "He's is a smart guy from what I read" "I think he will be a ok President" "He's speech's are great and I listen to them cause of my wife and kids." "They like him a lot" "Dude what is up with the Crowds for him" " They are going crazy for him"

I asked" What do you think about his Words of Change and what he will do for America? I can't repeat them all, let just say, they where positive.

So you know I had to smile my Native American Butt off, lol!!

Then I got real bold, lol and asked, "Why not vote for Obama this year to give yourself a part of History to tell your kids?" 8 of them mostly stated that, "They are thinking or thought about it, since it would be cool to say that they Voted for the 1st Black President even though they don't see eye to eye" The others all agreed.

The other two said that "People at their employment are pressuring them to be a independent thinkers and to think about what is best for the Country, not just what the Government needs"

So I had to buy 10 Cops two rounds of drinks after my grilling. One ask me if I had any Obama buttons?

I went to my car and took out the 4 I had. I said that will be $2. I sold all 4 to the Cops. 3 of them put them on right there. The other guy said, "I will give this to my wife, maybe I'll get lucky tonight"..

lol!!

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/opinion/27rich.html?ref=opinion

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (2) | Report Objectionable Content

MEDIA LIKES BARACK, BUT SILENT FOR MCCAIN

By Nativeeyesarewatching - Jul 22nd, 2008 at 9:53 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said “Iraq” on Monday when he apparently meant “Afghanistan”, adding to a string of mixed-up word choices that is giving ammunition to the opposition.

Just in the past three weeks, McCain has also mistaken "Somalia" for "Sudan," and even football’s Green Bay Packers for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Ironically, the errors have been concentrated in what should be his area of expertise: foreign affairs.

McCain will turn 72 the day after Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) accepts his party’s nomination for president at the age of 47, calling new attention to the sensitive issue of McCain’s advanced age three days before the start of his own convention.

The McCain campaign says Obama has had plenty of flubs of his own, including a reference to "57 states" and a string of misstated place names during the primaries that Republicans gleefully sent around as YouTube links.

McCain aides point out that he spends much more time than Obama talking extemporaneously, taking questions from voters and reporters. "Being human and tripping over your tongue occasionally doesn't mean a thing," a top McCain official said.

But McCain's mistakes raise a serious, if uncomfortable question: Are the gaffes the result of his age? And what could that mean in the Oval Office?

Voters, thinking about their own relatives, can be expected to scrutinize McCain’s debate performances for signs of slippage.

Every voter has a parent, grandparent or a friend whose mental acuity declined as they grew older. It happens at different times for different people — and there is ample evidence many people in their 70s are as sharp and fit as ever.

In McCain’s case, his medical records, public appearances and travel schedule have suggested he remains at the top of his game.

But his liberal critics have been pouncing on every misstatement as a sign that he’s an old man.

Already, late-night comics have made McCain’s age an almost nightly topic, with CBS’s David Letterman getting a laugh just about any time he says the words “McCain” and “nap” in the same sentence.

Last week, McCain tried to defuse the issue by pretending to doze off during an appearance with NBC’s Conan O’Brien.

Republicans would like to make the case that McCain is seasoned and Obama is a callow newcomer to the public stage. But that’ll be harder if he keeps up the verbal slips, which make it easier for comedians and critics to pile on.

“First Gaffe of Obama Trip ... Goes To McCain,” blared Monday afternoon’s banner headline on the left-leaning Huffington Post, accompanied by a photo of McCain appearing to slap his forehead.

That referred to an ABCNews.com posting asserting that McCain appeared to confuse Iraq and Afghanistan in a “Good Morning America” interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer, who asked whether the "the situation in Afghanistan is precarious and urgent.”

McCain responded: “I'm afraid it's a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq/Pakistan border," McCain said. The ABC posting added: “Iraq and Pakistan do not share a border. Afghanistan and Pakistan do.”

Unfortunately for McCain, that wasn’t an isolated slip. Among the other lapses:

• “Somalia” for “Sudan”: As recounted in a reporter’s pool report from McCain’s Straight Talk Express bus on June 30, the senator said while discussing Darfur, a region of Sudan: "How can we bring pressure on the government of Somalia?"

Senior adviser Mark Salter corrected him: “Sudan.”

• “Germany” for “Russia”: A YouTube clip from last year memorializes McCain referring to Vladimir Putin of Russia — following a trip to Germany — as “President Putin of Germany.”

• This spring, McCain said troops in Iraq were “down to pre-surge levels” when in fact there were 20,000 more troops than when the surge policy began.

• Also this spring, McCain twice appeared to mistake Sunnis and Shiites, two branches of Islam that split violently.

• In Phoenix earlier this month, McCain referred to Czechoslovakia, which has been divided since Jan. 1, 1993, into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He also referred to Czechoslovakia during a debate in November and a radio show in April.

• In perhaps the most curious incident, McCain said earlier this month that as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, he had tried to confuse his captors by giving the names of Pittsburgh Steelers starting players when asked to identify his squadron mates. McCain has told the story many times over the years — but always correctly referred to the names he gave as members of the Green Bay Packers.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

WHY WE WANT HIM, AND THEY DON'T

By Nativeeyesarewatching - Jul 22nd, 2008 at 12:07 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Arianna Huffington

BIO Become a Fan Get Email Alerts Bloggers' Index Tell Me Again, Why Is Obama Being Popular With Our Allies a Bad Thing?stumble digg reddit del.ico.us news trust

Posted July 21, 2008 | 06:20 PM (EST)

I understand why John McCain's campaign is desperately looking for negatives in Obama's overseas trip. But why have so many in the media internalized the McCain campaign's claptrap?

Here is the McCain line on Europe, delivered via Politico by a nameless campaign aide: "I don't know that people in Missouri are going to like seeing tens of thousands of Europeans screaming for The One."

And here was Gloria Borger on CNN, responding to Wolf Blitzer's assertion that Obama seemed to be on top of his game by pulling out the Straight Talk talking points (and leaving logic and rational thinking in a pile on the studio floor):

...as the McCain campaign points out, he can't appear to be seen as running for the president of Europe. He's going to be really cheered in Europe, he's going to give a huge speech. He's going to have a lot of support there. But he's running for the president of the United States. And so they have to walk a very, very fine line here because they don't want to be seen having too many adoring people after him in Europe because he's running for president of the United States.

What do Borger and the McCain campaign think would play better in Missouri, Obama getting off the plane in Germany and having the locals throw tomatoes at him? Would that endear him to the people in Middle America -- who, in McCain World, are like an insecure girlfriend, panicked by just the thought of someone else finding their guy attractive?

Sadly, this absurd line of thinking is spreading fast. Here is the L.A. Times' Michael Finnegan:

In Europe, where he is highly popular, Obama plans a speech in Berlin on U.S. relations with allies. He will probably find a warm, even rapturous, reception -- which poses its own challenges. 'There's such a thing as being too popular overseas,' said [William] Galston, now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. 'And that may create some misgivings here at home.'

The Baltimore Sun's Washington bureau chief Paul West ominously warns: "European adulation for Obama will make him the continent's poodle."

And even Maureen Dowd appears to have bought into the McCainites' Euro-phobia, suggesting Obama "can't be seen as too insidery with the Euro-crats" lest Obama-wary Americans "wonder what he's doing there, when they can't pay for gas, when the dollar is the Euro's chew toy, when Bud is going Belgian and when the Chrysler Building has Arab landlords." And don't forget all those German cars on our roads. Which we can't afford to drive because gas is too expensive (for which, according to McCain, we can blame Obama).

Of course, at no point does the McCain campaign or anyone in the media point out what, exactly, is the danger to America if our closest allies actually, you know, don't hate us.

They also fail to mention that along with being our allies, the European countries Obama is visiting are also democracies -- so it's a lot easier for their leaders to make nice with us if their constituents don't view our president as an object of disdain and ridicule.

And, as Jason Linkins points out, George Bush keeps giving them reasons for ongoing disdain and ridicule. As does McCain. Is it really better for America's standing in the world to have a president who doesn't know that Czechoslovakia no longer exists and who thinks there is a border between Iraq and Pakistan?

Iraq has shown us what an essentially go-it-alone war looks like.

And the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan -- resulting in more U.S. troop fatalities there in May and June than in Iraq -- is a tragic reminder of the consequences of a U.S. military spread too thin, and of not having our allies fully backing our efforts.

Given a recent poll showing the German public prefers Obama to McCain 67 percent to 6 percent, it's no surprise that McCain would try to spin his opponent's popularity there as a black mark on his record. It's also no surprise that McCain isn't willing to admit that our allies' antipathy toward Bush and his policies -- exacerbated by the contempt the Bushies always seemed to delight in directing at them (see Rummy on "Old Europe") -- has cost us dearly in blood, treasure, and goodwill. But it is a surprise that the media are so eagerly parroting the "popular is a problem" meme.

Thankfully, most Americans understand that having a president who is lauded around the world is infinitely better than having one who is loathed.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Some Reason's why I support Obama

By Nativeeyesarewatching - Jul 17th, 2008 at 2:25 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Obama did all this in 1 year in the US Senate!

Imagine when he becomes President with a Majority Democratic Congress!! WOW!!

The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate. McCain was against it.

Obama endorsed and fought for the
The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, - became law.. McCain was against it. Why did McCain vote against it? What was he hiding when the Law passed didn't cost the tax payers a dime and it would clean up Washington from the ground up!!

Obama not only help introduce this Bill, he fought and got it passed.
*The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill. McCain was totally against it, even after his Keating 5 corruption case entered the minds of the Republicans as he is running for POTUS.

Obama's pledge to start cleaning up Washington along with this Bill that became Law.

Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law.

Both McCain and Bush were totally against this bill. McCain didn't want his taxes exposed along with his wife's even though they file separately.

The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became law..

This is stop the US and other Countries from dealing or trading on Nuclear Enriched Material to produce Dirty or conventional bombs.

The UN adopted this resolution shortly after.

That's is why the US Senate and McCain wanted Obama to head and be the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee's 11-member Subcommittee on European Affairs.

At his CHAIR of the Senate's Subcommittee on European Affairs, which has some oversight in Afghanistan through NATO.

Obama is calling for more Troops there which is what they need badly.

That's Foriegn Policy trust for you!!

Now that's getting it done right!

Does this show Obama cared once he hit the US Senate? HECK YEAH!!

That's why they called him, the most liberal left.

Because he was totally thinking about America and the World, not Politicians, Lobbyist and Special interest.

I got 100's other reasons why I vote for Obama, but it will take more bandwidth to post it all.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Best week ever!!!!!!!!!!

By Nativeeyesarewatching - Jul 10th, 2008 at 8:46 pm EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

BIO Become a Fan Get Email Alerts Bloggers' Index The Week That Should Have Ended McCain's Presidential Hopes stumble digg reddit del.ico.us news trust

Posted July 10, 2008 | 04:39 PM (EST)

Read More: 2008 Election, Iraq, Iraq War, John McCain, McCain Iran, McCain Iraq, Media Coverage Of 2008 Election, Phil Gramm, Phil Gramm Mccain, Politics, Politics News
Show your support.
Buzz this article up. Buzz up!

Show your support.
Digg this article.

Like this story? Get Alerts of big news events. Enter your email address

This is the week that should have effectively ended John McCain's efforts to become the next president of the United States. But you wouldn't know it if you watched any of the mainstream media outlets or followed political reporting in the major newspapers.

During this past week: McCain called the most important entitlement program in the U.S. a disgrace, his top economic adviser called the American people whiners, McCain released an economic plan that no one thought was serious, he flip flopped on Iraq, joked about the deaths of Iranian citizens, and denied making comments that he clearly made -- TWICE. All this and it is not even Friday! Yet watching and reading the mainstream press you would think McCain was having a pretty decent political week, I mean at least Jesse Jackson didn't say anything about him.

But let's unpack McCain's week in a little more detail.

1. McCain unambiguously called Social Security "an absolute disgrace." This is not a quote taken out of context. John McCain called one of the most successful and popular government programs, which uses the tax revenues of current workers to support retirement benefits for the elderly "an absolute disgrace." This is shocking - and if uttered from Obama's mouth would dominate the news coverage and the Sunday shows, as pundits would speculate about the massive damage the statement would cause him among retirees in Florida. 2. McCain's top economic policy adviser calls Americans a bunch of "whiners" for being worried about the slumping economy. Words cannot fully explain how devastating this statement should be from Phil Gramm. You would think it would be enough to sink McCain's campaign. Of course McCain only thinks that the economic problems are psychological.

3. Iraqi leaders call for a timetable for U.S. withdrawal, McCain gets caught in a bizarre denial and flip flop. The Iraqis now want us to begin planning our withdrawal - McCain however wants to stay foooorrreeevvveerrrr. So what does McCain say - First, he refuses to accept Maliki's statement as being true. Then he concedes that it was an accurate statement, but was probably just a political ploy to curry favor with his own people and WOULD NOT influence his determination to keep US troops in Iraq indefinitely. Yet, McCain in 2004 at the Council on Foreign Relations said that if the Iraqis asked us to leave, we would have to go. No matter what. But that was apparently a younger and less experienced John McCain.

But let's just look at his comment that Maliki's statement is "just politics." If that is true, then it must also be true that the American military presence in Iraq is so unpopular with Iraqis that the government is forced to push for a timetable in order to survive at the ballot box. That's a reason to stay for 100 years.

4. McCain's economic plan to cut the deficit has no details and is simply not believable. There are so many things here. McCain pledges he would eliminate the deficit by the end of his first term (the campaign latter flip flop flipped about whether it was four years or eight years), but does not provide any details about how he would do it. Economists on both sides of the political aisle said that this was simply not believable, especially given McCain's other proposals to a) cut individual and corporate taxes even further, b) extend the Bush tax cuts and c) massively increase defense spending on manpower (200,000 more troops) and d) maintain a long-term sizable military presence in Iraq.

5. McCain's deficit plan includes bringing the troops home represents a major Iraq flip-flop. Speaking of the long-term military presence - a story that has gotten absolutely no attention is that McCain now believes the war will be over soon. The economic forecasts made by his crack team of economists predict that there will be significant savings during McCain's first term because we will have achieved "victory" in Iraq and Afghanistan. The savings from victory (ie the savings from not having our troops there) will then be used to pay down the deficit. The only way this could have any impact on the deficit in McCain's first time is if troop withdrawals start very soon. So McCain believes victory is in our grasps and we can begin withdraw troops from Iraq pretty much right away -- doesn't sound that different from Obama's plan does it. Someone should at least ask McCain HOW HE DEFINES VICTORY - and why he thinks we will achieve it in the next couple of years.

6. McCain campaign misled about economists support. In the major press release the McCain campaign issued to tout its Jobs for America economic plan that would balance the budget in 4 years, it included the signatures of more than 300 economists who the campaign claimed to support the plan. Only problem is that the economists were actually asked to sign up to SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. Um, hello?

7. McCain makes a joke about killing Iranians. Haha... that's just McCain being McCain. I am sure that is exactly how it is being reported in Tehran. This guy is running for President not to become a talk radio pundit. Yet according to the AP this was just a humanizing moment between candidate and spouse - I am not sure when joking about the deaths of civilians became humanizing.

8. McCain denies, flatly, that he ever said that he is not an expert in economics. Are you kidding?

9). McCain distorts his record on veterans benefits in response to a question from Vietnam Veteran, who then proceeds to call McCain out on it.
10.) McCain demonstrates he knows nothing about Afghanistan and Pakistan. McCain said "I think if there is some good news, I think that there is a glimmer of improving relationship between Karzai and the Pakistanis." Pat Barry notes how crazy this comment is..."Just what "glimmer" is McCain talking about?? Maybe he's referring to President Karzai's remarks last month, which threatened military action in Pakistan if cross-border attacks persisted? Or maybe McCain is talking about Afghanistan's allegations that Pakistan's ISI was involved in a recent assassination attempt on Karzai? Maybe in McCain's world you could call that a silver-lining, but in reality-land I'd call it something else."

Any one of these incidents and comments would dominate the news cycle if they came from the Obama campaign. Yet McCain barely gets a mention. The press like to see themselves as political referees - neutral observers that call them like they see em'. But they want this to be a horse race and so all the calls right now are going one way. How else can you explain the furor last week over the Obama "refine" comment - which represented zero change in Obama's position on Iraq - and the "swift boat" mania over Wesley Clark's uncontroversial comments (psss... by the way McCain exploits his POW experience in just about every ad - yet he says he doesn't like to talk about it).

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (1) | Report Objectionable Content

BARACK OBAMA'S PLEDGE TO NATIVE AMERICANS

By Nativeeyesarewatching - Jul 2nd, 2008 at 11:15 pm EDT

Also listed in: 6 groups

BARACK OBAMA'S PRINCIPLES FOR STRONGER TRIBAL COMMUNITIES

"Perhaps more than anyone else, the Native American community faces
huge challenges that have been ignored by Washington for too long. It
is time to empower Native Americans in the development of the national
policy agenda." Barack Obama

The hundreds of Indian tribes in America face a unique set of
challenges. Issues like sovereignty, health care, and education--issues
that are central to tribes' future prosperity and embedded in the
federal government's responsibility--are often neglected. Barack Obama
is committed to tribal nation building and enforcing the federal
government's obligations to Indian people.

SOVEREIGNTY, TRIBAL-FEDERAL RELATIONS AND THE TRUST RESPONSIBILITY:
Native American tribal nations are sovereign, self-governing political
entities and enjoy a government-to-government relationship with the
United States federal government that is recognized expressly in the
U.S. Constitution.
Self-Determination: Barack Obama supports the principle of tribal
self-determination, with recognition that the federal government must
honor its treaty obligations and fully enable tribal self-governance.
Consultation and Inclusion: In furtherance of the
government-to-government relationship, Barack Obama will include
tribal leadership in the important policy determinations that impact
Indian Country. Obama will appoint an American Indian policy advisor
on his senior White House staff so that Indian Country has a direct
interface at the highest level of the Obama Administration. In
addition, Obama will host a White House "Tribal G8" - an annual
meeting with Native American leaders to develop a national Indian
policy agenda.
Honoring the Trust Responsibility: Barack Obama recognizes that
honoring the government-to-government relationship requires
fulfillment of the United States' trust responsibility to tribes and
individual Indians. More specifically, Obama is committed to
meaningful reform of the broken system that manages and administers
the trust lands and other trust assets belonging to tribes and
individual Indians. Further, he is committed to resolving equitably
with both tribes and individual Indians litigation resulting from the
past failures in the administration and accounting of their trust
assets.

HEALTH CARE: The Indian Health Service estimates that it receives only
55 percent of the federal funding it requires. Federal per-capita
funding for Indian health care amounts to about half of the federal
per capita health funding for federal prisoners. Indians are the most
at-risk minority group for health problems like diabetes, which they
suffer from at a rate 249 percent higher than the national average.
Moreover, Indians have the nation's highest death rates for
tuberculosis and suicide. After Haiti, men on the Pine Ridge and
Rosebud Reservations in South Dakota have the lowest life expectancy
in the Western Hemisphere.
Indian Health Services: Barack Obama voted in the Senate to provide an
additional $1 billion for IHS to address these disparities.
Additionally, he was an original cosponsor of the Indian Health Care
Improvement Act of 2007 which mandates modernization of the Indian
health care system and strengthens urban Indian health facilities.
Obama has fought against the Bush Administration's attempt to
eliminate urban health care for Indians not living in reservation
communities. Obama opposed a federal land acquisition program that
would
have diverted funds from the Special Diabetes Program for Indians and
the Alcohol and Substance Abuse program. Obama supports sufficient
funding for IHS and proper staffing and maintenance for IHS
facilities.

EDUCATION: Education is the key to improving the lives of Native
Americans and empowering tribal nations to build a better future.
Educational policies in the 1970s attempted to reverse past federal
policies aimed at eradicating Native American languages and cultures,
but Native Americans still suffer from some of the lowest high school
graduation and college matriculation rates in the nation. We must
continue to honor our obligations to Native Americans by providing
tribes with the educational resources promised by treaty and federal
law.

COMMUNITIES
Indian Language Education: Tribes are struggling to preserve their
languages. It is estimated that by 2050 only 20 of the over 500 Native
languages once spoken will remain. Research shows that instruction in
tribal language increases Native American academic performance in
other areas like math and science. Barack Obama supports funding for
Native language immersion and preservation programs.
No Child Left Behind: The goal of the No Child Left Behind Act is the
right one - ensuring that all children meet high education standards -
but the law has significant flaws that need to be addressed, including
in Indian Country. Unfulfilled promises, ineffective implementation,
and shortcomings in the design of the law itself have created
countless obstacles for tribal educators. Barack Obama would fund No
Child Left Behind and reform the law to better incorporate Title VII,
the law's Indian, Hawaiian, and Alaskan education provision. Obama's
plan would provide greater flexibility in integrating Native
languages, cultures, and communities into school programs in a manner
consistent with principles of tribal sovereignty.
Early Childhood Education: Research shows that half of low-income
children start school up to two years behind their peers in preschool
skills and that these early achievement gaps continue throughout
elementary school. Barack Obama supports increasing funding for the
Head Start program, including the American Indian and Alaska Native
Head Start Programs, to provide American Indian preschool children
with critically important learning skills. He also appreciates the
role of parental involvement in the success of Head Start and has
called on states to replicate the Illinois model of Preschool for All.
Tribes should also be given the opportunity to implement culturally
appropriate versions of this program.
Indian School Construction: Many government-funded Indian schools are
dilapidated, and many are simply too small to meet the needs of
growing Indian populations. A safe, comfortable place to learn is
critical to receiving a proper education. Barack Obama is committed to
repairing and building Indian schools.
Tribal Colleges: Tribal colleges have played a critical role in
improving the lives of Native Americans. Obama supports increased
funding for operations and facility construction, as well as the
removal of bureaucratic impediments so tribal colleges can thrive.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND CULTURAL PROTECTION
Cultural Rights and Sacred Places Protection: Native American sacred
places and site-specific ceremonies are under threat from development,
pollution, and vandalism. Barack Obama supports legal protections for
sacred places and cultural traditions, including Native ancestors'
burial grounds and churches.

ECONOMIC & INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT: Native Americans experience
some of the most severe socioeconomic conditions in the United States.
Poverty and its effects are pervasive, with more than quarter of all
Native Americans living in poverty and unemployment rates reaching 80
percent on some reservations. Obama's experience as a community
organizer working in poor neighborhoods plagued by high unemployment
has taught him that there is no single solution to community poverty.
Therefore, he supports using a comprehensive approach that includes
investment in physical, human and institutional infrastructure,
increased access to capital, the removal of barriers to development,
and above all, authentic government-to-government relationships
between the federal government and tribes.
Minimum Wage: Barack Obama believes that people who work full time
should not live in poverty. In 2007, Obama supported legislation that
increased the Federal minimum wage for the first time in 10 years.
Even though the minimum wage will rise to $7.25 an hour by 2009, the
minimum wage's real purchasing power will still be below what it was
in 1968. As president, Obama will further raise the minimum wage to
$9.50 an hour by 2011, index it to inflation and increase the Earned
Income Tax Credit to make sure that full-time workers can earn a
living wage that allows them to raise their families and pay for basic
needs such as food, transportation, and housing - things so many
people take for granted.
Housing: The federal government has a moral and legal responsibility
to assist tribes in providing housing. Yet, Native Americans suffer
from some of the worst housing conditions in the nation. Some 14
percent of all reservation homes have no electricity, and on some
reservations, as many as 20 individuals are forced to live in a
single-family home. Barack Obama supports increased funding for the
Indian Housing Block Grant and other Indian housing programs as well
as improving the effectiveness of these programs.
Gaming: The Supreme Court has upheld the right of tribes, as sovereign
entities, to operate gaming operations on Indian reservations. A total
of 225 of the 558 federally recognized Indian tribes operate gaming
facilities, creating 670,000 jobs nationwide and paying $11 billion to
the federal and state governments through taxes and other revenue. The
vast majority of Indian gaming operations are small enterprises
providing jobs to tribal members. Because most tribes continue to
suffer from high rates of poverty and unemployment, Barack Obama
believes that gaming revenues are important tribal resources for
funding education, healthcare, law enforcement, and other essential
government functions.
Energy: Tribal nations have joined in America's quest for alternative,
renewable energy. Because of their rural land bases and access to
natural resources, many tribes have made great strides in economic
development in the energy sector. Tribes have successful operations
producing gas, solar, and wind energy. In addition to harnessing and
producing energy, tribes have an interest in energy rights-of-way.
Barack Obama encourages energy companies and Indian tribes to
negotiate in good faith to ensure tribes receive just compensation and
in furtherance of carrying sustainable energy to all communities.

WOMEN'S HEALTH: Indians are often subject to unusually harsh
conditions when it comes to women's health. A recent study by Amnesty
International details the alarming rates at which Native women are
subject to violence. The report states that one in three American
Indian women will be raped in their lifetime, and they are more than
three times as likely to be raped or sexually assaulted than other
women in America.
Reproductive Health: In the past, IHS has been criticized for
performing forced sterilizations of Indian women. More recently, many
Native women have been pushed to receive one type of contraception
instead of more suitable alternatives. Although these women often have
no alternative to IHS, the program often does not provide them with
adequate reproductive health care, and many women are often denied
equal access to birth control, and prenatal care. Barack Obama
supports the reproductive health rights of American Indian women, and
supports ensuring that they receive equal opportunities to make
healthy reproductive choices.
Violence against Women: Violence in Indian country is committed at
alarmingly high rates, and all too often Indian women are the victims.
Medical facilities are few and far between, and are often not
adequately prepared to deal with assault victims. Also, because of the
unique jurisdictional scheme on reservations, law enforcement can be
slow and difficult to come by. If the perpetrator is non-Indian, then
the tribe does not have jurisdiction over the crime. This is alarming
when more than 86 percent of assaults against Indian women are
committed by non-Indians. State and federal law enforcement officials
are often far removed from the situation, and the tribes are left
without the authority to protect their people. Barack Obama will
reexamine the legal framework that allows such injustices, and
supports empowering tribes to combat violence against Native women
irrespective of whether the perpetrators are Indian or non-Indian.
Law Enforcement: Barack Obama also supports fully funding the
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program that many tribal
law enforcement agencies have come to rely upon. He also recognizes
the important role tribal courts play on the reservation. Obama will
continue to support additional resources to strengthen tribal courts
as well as correction by statute of the jurisdictional gaps that
currently inhibit tribes' ability to protect their communities..
Detention Centers: There is a demonstrable need for facility
improvements and expansions of detention centers in Indian Country.
Barack Obama understands that federal funding of such improvements is
essential to enable tribe's to effectively protect their communities.

METHAMPHETAMINES: In a 2006 survey, 74 percent of tribal law
enforcement officials reported methamphetamines to be the leading
threat to their tribes' livelihood. The same survey reported dramatic
increases in cases of domestic violence, child neglect, sex crimes,
and weapons charges.
Combat Meth Act of 2005: Barack Obama supported the Combat Meth Act of
2005, major parts of which became law in 2006. The act puts federal
funds into the fight against methamphetamine, provides assistance to
children affected by meth abuse, and places restrictions on the sale
of the ingredients used to make the drug.
Tribal empowerment: Barack Obama believes that funding tribal police
programs and tribal courts and resolving longstanding jurisdiction
issues will enable tribal authorities to deal more effectively with
the causes and effects of this and other crime problems on Indian
land.

VETERANS AFFAIRS: Native Americans serve in the armed forces at a
higher rate than any other minority group in America. Native Americans
have served in every war, and their special place in American military
history is widely recognized. The first woman to die in combat in the
Iraq war was a young Native American woman. World War II's Codetalkers
are the most celebrated examples of how Indians have been critical to
the success of American efforts overseas. As a member of the Senate
Veterans' Affairs Committee, Obama supports several Veteran measures,
including the sheltering and rehabilitation of homeless veterans,
securing veterans' benefits, and easing service members' transition
back into society.

HUNTING AND FISHING: Hunting and fishing are important to many tribes'
diet, culture, and spirituality. Protecting hunting and fishing rights
ensures that tribes are able to carry on those aspects of their
traditional way of life.
Fishing Rights: The fishing rights of Indian tribes are guaranteed not
only by 150 year-old treaties, but by the Supreme Court's affirmation
of the Boldt decision as well. It is our shared duty to uphold these
obligations and protect fisheries in such a manner that allows tribal
and non-tribal fishing to continue into the future.
The path to equitable fishery management is paved with good science.
Barack Obama supports initiatives to improve the science and our
understanding of our nation's fish stocks. Through improved science,
we can better guide decisions about how to protect the health of fish
stocks, and, in turn, ensure a better, more secure and predictable
future for our nation's fishermen.

"We've got to make sure we are not just having a BIA that is dealing
with the various Native American tribes; we've got to have the
President of the United States meeting on a regular basis with the
Native American leadership and ensuring relationships of dignity and
respect." Barack Obama, Elko, NV, January 18, 2008

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Obama in Orlando, etc.

By Necole - May 14th, 2008 at 1:12 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

*New post

http://i4corridorforchange.blogspot.com/

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

From the Evans-Novak political report:

By Earlean - Sep 13th, 2007 at 1:54 am EDT

Also listed in: 10 groups

Accepting money from her fugitive fundraiser surely cannot be blamed personally on Sen. Hillary Clinton (D- N.Y.), but her return of the funds raised by him may have long-ranging consequences on her front-running candidacy. It recalls the Clinton image of illegal overseas fund-raisers, stigmatizing her as an old-fashioned politician while Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) represents change.

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (0) | Report Objectionable Content

Report on Race and Don't Blame Dems, its the Rep fault

By Lonnie Thompson - Jul 24th, 2007 at 5:00 pm EDT

Also listed in: 5 groups

This is very revealing poll with a large sample and interesting technique of asking about your neighbors to get the individual's true feelings. Two funniest points....

A Racist Lives Next Door - Most Americans believe they don’t make decisions based on race…but think their neighbors do

A gay President is OK, but most Americans wouldn’t sanction his or her marriage

Lonnie Thompson

Mark Nickolas at davidsirota.com flags a Zogby poll released today that is surely giving GOP leaders a mess of worry. What makes the poll especially interesting is the size of the survey sample, 10,387, which translates into a +/- 1 percent margin of error. As Nickolas lays it out:

– War: 62% blamed Republicans vs. 14% Democrats
– Global Warming: 56% blamed Republicans vs. 10% Democrats
– Prejudice: 52% blamed Republicans vs. 22% for Democrats
– Poverty: 49% held Republicans accountable; 29% Democrats
– Corruption: 47% blamed Republicans vs. 31% Democrats

The only problem the public blamed Dems more for was crime, by a margin of 42 to 23 percent. All in all, "Not exactly the branding the GOP was hoping for as they head into the 2008 presidential and congressional elections," as Nickolas puts it.

http://www.zogby.com/gsn/GSNReport.pdf

Report Card on Prejudice in America

New Zogby/GSN Survey Reveals That:
A Racist Lives Next Door - Most Americans believe they don’t make decisions based on race…but think their neighbors do
A gay President is OK, but most Americans wouldn’t sanction his or her marriage
They also think most Americans believe:
Republicans are most responsible for many of the world’s ills
Muslims are most likely to engage in terrorism
People least want to work with the morbidly obese
Most Americans believe their fellow citizens hold strong biases against minorities, according to a landmark poll by Zogby International commissioned by GSN. The survey of 10,387 American adults, one of the most comprehensive ever conducted on prejudice, according to Zogby, explores attitudes about race, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender, physical appearance, and politics. The poll’s margin of error is +/– 1 percentage point.
The “Report Card on American Prejudice” is part of a wide-ranging effort by GSN to spur a national dialogue on intolerance and bigotry. The survey’s release provides a powerful follow-up to the July 17th premiere of the groundbreaking new television series, “Without Prejudice?” – which airs Tuesdays at 9 pm (EST) on GSN.
On Race: While 67% of respondents claimed to have no preference themselves between a white, black or Arab clerk in a convenience store, 71% said, “most Americans” would seek out the white clerk. Just 1% said Americans’ first choice would be to approach a black clerk, while less than 0.5% said the same for an Arab clerk. And yet, ironically, 55% of respondents said race relations have improved over the past 10 years. Other results on race (where respondents picked from among several races):
73% said in the event of a shooting, most Americans would expect African Americans to be involved
55% said in the event of a drug bust, most Americans would expect African Americans to be involved
53% said in the event of identity theft; most Americans would expect whites to be involved
70% said in the event of insurance fraud, most Americans would expect whites to be involved
On Political Affiliation: When asked which political party most Americans believe to be responsible for many of the gravest problems facing the world:
War: 62% blamed Republicans vs. 14% Democrats
Global Warming: 56% blamed Republicans vs. 10% Democrats
Prejudice: 52% blamed Republicans vs. 22% for Democrats
Poverty: 49% held Republicans accountable; 29% Democrats
Corruption: 47% blamed Republicans vs. 31% Democrats
Crime: On this issue, respondents reversed the trend, with 42% blaming Democrats vs. 23% Republicans
On Religion: By a wide margin, respondents believe Americans think Muslims are the most likely to engage in terrorism (83%). Moreover, 42% believe Americans would be most concerned about their child dating a Muslim; followed by an atheist (17%), and a Mormon (14%).In addition:
37% believe Americans think Catholics are most likely to be involved in sexual abuse – far more than any other religious group
The poll turned up relatively few instances of Americans believing their neighbors have negative views toward Jews
On Sexual Orientation & Gender: 62% said they believe Americans oppose same-sex marriages. Yet 58% would elect a gay person for President – about the same as for an Arab-American (57%), and more than for a person over age 70 (51%), or for an atheist (51%). On gender, 93% think Americans believe men are most responsible for crime, extra-marital affairs (82%), and sexually transmitted diseases (72%).
On Disability: When asked to choose whom they believe most Americans would least want to work with, 26% of respondents said someone who is morbidly obese. Twenty-two percent said someone with a facial disfigurement. Respondents thought Americans would object much less to deaf (3%) and blind (1%) co-workers.
Pollster John Zogby said, “Over my years of polling, I’ve learned that Americans tend to offer socially acceptable responses when questioned on their own views about race and prejudice. That’s why in this poll we predominantly asked people about “most Americans’” views on race and prejudice. We believe this provides a far more accurate window into how people really think about these issues. Americans are more forthcoming when discussing the problem in the context of their neighbors’ lives than in the context of their own lives.”
Dena Kaplan, GSN’s Sr. Vice President for Marketing, said, “Our network is proud to sponsor the Without Prejudice Project. This pioneering effort – which includes the poll, partnering with leading advocacy groups, and the broadcast of our new game show, ’Without Prejudice?’ – will help provoke a constructive national conversation about our inner-most feelings toward race, religion and other issues that define the way we, as Americans, treat one another.”

Mail to a Friend | Link | Comments (1) | Report Objectionable Content

Posts

Content on blogs in My.BarackObama represents the opinions of community members and in no way should be interpreted as endorsed or approved by the campaign.