So this morning my blood pressure rose about 20 points due to a local radio show called The Jeff Wicker Show that's quite popular where I live here in NC.
I usually listen when I'm at work doing lab work, etc. And this morning with the snow that hit our city, I was in the lab by myself for about two hours. This morning the show had a "Singing Psychic" as their guest... she's been on before and she's quite funny as she plays a guitar and sings (manytimes off-key) her predictions for people who call in and ask her questions. I'm laughing until the host asks her what her prediction is for the upcoming Presidential elections. So she begins talking and starts spouting lies about Sen. Obama concerning his being "sworn in on the Koran" and that being the reason why she can't vote for him. Not only THAT. Another guy calls in right after she says all this and says "all of this is true" that Sen. Obama's middle name is really Mohammed and YES he was sworn in on the Koran. By this time I'm livid. And MORE livid that the radio hosts didn't deny any of it, nor stop it from being said. They didn't check their facts at all and more acted like "Oh I didn't know that... that's interesting" and " I bet the Republican party is just waiting until the General Elections to bring all this out."
Because I didn't at the time have access to a phone to call in, I made use of their internet Live response feature and wrote a nice, albeit steamed, email, which I was surprised that they actually read on the air. They gave some pat answer about how they don't have interns to screen their calls and how they rely on their listeners to confirm or deny things on their show. To me? That's a bunch of crap because every radio host is responsible for what's on their show. To not screen calls, or to not check their callers for accuracy is irresponsible to their listeners. To disseminate false information about ANY candidate after asking her a pointed question on a particularly heated topic, was also irresponsible.
In my short email I reminded them that they should check their facts next time. That in fact, Sen. Obama had been confused with Congressman Keith Ellison from Minnesota who was sworn in Jan. 2007 on Thomas Jefferson's Koran. Also, that Sen. Obama's middle name is Hussein and not Mohammed and that ALL of this is already out. I further emphasized that they should check their sources (even MINE) when allowing people to speak "truth" on their radio show instead of relying on propaganda emails that some idiot has read.
All in all I feel vindicated because I did try to clear something up. And I hope that they learned a lesson. I REALLY want to complain further, but I'm sure it would go nowhere. Either way. They were wrong and I can't believe how gullible and ignorant people are.
WOW.
I was sitting at work while my students (fifth grade) took a standardized test, and I was trolling the internet and saw a new poll out today cited as a national Reuters/Zogby poll (I'm pretty sure this is a prominent and well regarded poll). The results to this poll claim that at this time Obama and Clinton are in a virtual tie on the national level. Of course this is only a poll, I know, and after seeing what happened in New Hampshire, regarding polls, I definitely take them all with a grain of salt. However, this did excite me, b/c even when Obama was "surging" after his Iowa win, I don't think he was ever ahead or tied with clinton on a national level (I could be wrong about this). I just assumed that his short lived front-runner status (post Iowa but pre NH) was assumed because people thought the continued momentum with the ensuing states would help him continue to shoot forward and for her to lag behind, until eventually he was the front runner on a national scale. Anyway, I'm digressing. What I find interesting for me regarding a poll lilke this, is the internal reaction I feel and how it affects my attitude. Despite knowing that this poll could mean potentially nothing, it still invigorates me emotionally and improves my hope for his eventual victory. It gets me excited and creates an impetus for me that drives a want to do more for the campaign and give it everything I have. The same can be said for negative poll numbers; Obama lagging far behind in a new poll would probably dampen my spirits and give me a feeling of indolence when it came to campaigning. I know these are all psychological reactions to a perceived reality, and are not necessarily valid. However, I do find it interesting, and while at the moment it's a good thing that I'm reacting like this, it saddens me know that the opposite could happen with different news. I have no idea if this reaction is typical, but I would assume it could be. It fascinates me when I think about the candidates in these races and marvel at their positive countenance regardless the outcome of primary elections, etc.
Hello everyone. New here and I have a question up for discussion!
Just like many others I was thrilled to watch the events unfold on the evening of the Iowa primary. What struck me the most was the Democratic turnout compared to the Republican turnout. Can we do it in NC for Barack like the citizens of Iowa did? I hope so.
I am from an historically Democratic midwestern state so being the 'outsider' or 'underdog' is, well, kind of a new thing for me. It stung a few months ago to see the election results in our state for the last major election. Call me a whiner but I want to be part of the majority again. Ha!
Like I said in my profile, there's no changing the minds of extreme conservatives but let's each and every one of us do everything we can to encourage voter registration and turn out for Democrats in our area. People all over the country who are undecided pay attention to numbers and if they see that a 'Red' state had huge Democratic turnout then, hey, maybe they will think....I want to vote for a WINNER.
I realize that the character of a candidate and his or her positions on issues is the most important factor in voting, but let's be honest. Tons of people vote for who they think is going to win...with the idea in the back of the mind that that candidate is someone they can live with. Fine with me. I can live with that reason for voting if it means that we CAN have a president of great character...one who has a solid, pragmatic and responsible handle on the issues facing our country.
FIND OPPORTUNITIES EVERY DAY TO PROMOTE VOTER REGISTRATION, VOTING IN GENERAL AND BARACK OBAMA!!!!
Thanks.
When I saw Obama's speech after winning Iowa cacus it brought up the hope for me and my family. It gave me hope for a better life. I was brought to tears. I feel he beleives in everything he says and does. I support him and wish him luck. Change is coming!!!
crystal
I have to admit that I have always been very interested in politics, but this years race has been especially intriguing. I wasn't really interested in picking a candidate- i just wanted to watch them duke it out. Although I have been impressed with Sen. Obama since the beginning, I've had my doubts about the chances of him actually becoming my party's candidate. Plus I wasn't sure if he could actually move people to action, even after Iowa I worried, fretted, obsessively checked political blogs, newspapers and online editorials. Looking for something--- but I wasn't sure what. Finally after the debate in New Hampshire last night I found "it"! What really struck me was when Sen. Clinton stated that, "Words are not actions," she said. "As beautifully presented and passionately felt as they are, they are not actions." I thought that Obama's reply was absolutly brilliant, "There have been periods of time in our history where a President inspired the people to do better. And I think we're in one of those moments right now," he said, looking at Clinton. "The truth is, actually, words do inspire. Words do help people get involved … Don't discount that power. Because when the American people are determined that something is going to happen, then it happens." Bang! That's it, I had been afraid to believe the hype, worried that I was being taken in by pretty words. I guess i had just become rather jaded and found it hard to trust or even like a politician. But he summed up how I feel about words- they inspire, they endure and without out that power there would be no hope for us, as a nation and as a people. He has already changed the tone of the race- now it's all about change- the word was actually used 62 times during the debate. In a world where image is everything a true wordsmith may be just what we need.
I just wrote this short note to the Obama camp. I urge others to share their frustration as well.
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Hello,I am extremely disappointed that Sen. Obama has not done more to distance himself from Donnie McClurkin and his vitriolic statements re: the LGBT community. If Sen. Obama is the man he says he is, he will either cancel this event, or pull McClurkin from the event. I am not satisfied with the statement from Obama. I have many friends which are still on the fence re: who they will vote for, and many, if not most are already looking at Hillary and Edwards after this debacle. Someone must be held accountable for not researching McClurkin, and Obama owes it to his supporters to put an end to the speculation that he is aligning himself with bigots, homophobes, etc. Many of us feel today that Barack has pulled a bait and switch, and it doesn't feel good, especially after how hard we have worked to get the word out, to raise money (however small the amount). We wear his shirts, we put his bumper stickers on our cars, and now we feel as if we are endorsing homophobia.I realize it's not that simple, and that, at best, Obama has stepped into the gooey cowpie that is politics. He'd best clean up and set things right, or he will lose a lot -- votes, respect, and support -- from the grassroots folks who helped get him where he is today.Thank you for your time.
