White House race is a close call

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Carmen813

Diamond Member
May 18, 2007
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn
The following are Obama quotes from articles placed in one of two Chicago newspapers. source

For a guy who claims to be color blind he sure talked a lot about blacks and their need to work together as a group.

the black caucus "is broken and needs to unite for the common good of the African-American community."

"The problem right now is that we don't have a unified agenda that's enforced back in the community and is clearly articulated. Everybody tends to be lone agents in these situations."

"while everyone agrees that the Hispanic population has grown, they cannot expand by taking African-American seats."

"An incumbent African-American legislator with a 90 percent district may feel good about his reelection chances, but we as a community would probably be better off if we had two African-American legislators with 60 percent each."

"[A]s you combine a strong African-American base with progressive white and Latino voters, I think it is a recipe for success in the primary and in the general election."

"When you combine??.??.??.an energized African-American voter base and effective coalition-building with other progressive sectors of the population, we think we have a recipe for victory."

A black politician talking about black issues!? Stop the presses, this is almost like a Christian politician talking about Christian issues!

 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
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You obviously missed the point.

If a white spoke like that there would be hell to pay.

Imagine if a white legislator said that the increase in black or latino population can not result in white's losing seats in government.
 

OrByte

Diamond Member
Jul 21, 2000
9,303
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn
You obviously missed the point.

If a white spoke like that there would be hell to pay.

Imagine if a white legislator said that the increase in black or latino population can not result in white's losing seats in government.

I thought your point was that BHO injects race into politics any chance he gets?

I thought your point was not that there is a double standard between white politicians and black polititians.

Not surprisingly you are all over the map PJ. Care to clarify? or do you just want to hang some qoutes out there?
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,529
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn
You obviously missed the point.

If a white spoke like that there would be hell to pay.

Imagine if a white legislator said that the increase in black or latino population can not result in white's losing seats in government.
Cool he can be honest without having hell to pay:thumbsup:
 

Carmen813

Diamond Member
May 18, 2007
3,189
0
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn
You obviously missed the point.

If a white spoke like that there would be hell to pay.

Imagine if a white legislator said that the increase in black or latino population can not result in white's losing seats in government.

No I think I understood quite clearly.

He said that black legislator's would be more likely to be elected if they built a base of blacks, latinos, and progressive whites, rather than catering to a single group. He also said that black legislators tend to word as individuals rather than pushing a unified agenda.

HE is also stating that strategically the best way for minorities to gain power would not to be to take seats from other minorities. In other words, run latino/black candidates in districts that have have forward thinking whites who won't immediately vote for the other guy because of his skin color. That strikes me as political common sense.

You know what sucks about Obama's position ? IF he talks about race, he is playing the race card. If he doesn't talk about race, people would ask...why doesn't he talk about race? Frankly I'm glad he doesn't have trouble articulating his views on the matter.

 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,062
55,564
136
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
You obviously missed the point.

If a white spoke like that there would be hell to pay.

Imagine if a white legislator said that the increase in black or latino population can not result in white's losing seats in government.

*sigh*. Do you really need to be told again why the context is different?
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
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Originally posted by: OrByte
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
You obviously missed the point.

If a white spoke like that there would be hell to pay.

Imagine if a white legislator said that the increase in black or latino population can not result in white's losing seats in government.

I thought your point was that BHO injects race into politics any chance he gets?

I thought your point was not that there is a double standard between white politicians and black polititians.

Not surprisingly you are all over the map PJ. Care to clarify? or do you just want to hang some qoutes out there?
I posted the quotes in response to those who say that Obama does not go around injecting race into campaign.

It is obvious that as a legislator for a black district in Chicago that Obama had no problem injecting race into nearly everything. He essentially used race as a way to get what he wanted, the quote about the black caucus is a perfect example of this.

Now he runs around and suggests that anyone who is against him must be doing it because he has a funny name or looks different.
 

Red Dawn

Elite Member
Jun 4, 2001
57,529
3
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Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Now he runs around and suggests that anyone who is against him must be doing it because he has a funny name or looks different.
In your case that is obviously false as it's plain as a avid Bush supporter you are supporting McCain because you want 4 more years of the last 8 years and it wouldn't matter what color Obama was.
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
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Saw Obama do an impromptu, off the cuff interview earlier. I hope he doesn't make it to election day.
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
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McCain is not the same as Bush.

McCain has a history of being against pork and wasteful spending, which is my primary issue.

Obama on the other hand plans to spend tons of money on new programs and seems to have no plan at all to balance the budget.
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
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Originally posted by: Nebor
Saw Obama do an impromptu, off the cuff interview earlier. I hope he doesn't make it to election day.
Are you suggesting that someone kill him?

Might wish to edit your post if you are not.
 

fskimospy

Elite Member
Mar 10, 2006
88,062
55,564
136
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
McCain is not the same as Bush.

McCain has a history of being against pork and wasteful spending, which is my primary issue.

Obama on the other hand plans to spend tons of money on new programs and seems to have no plan at all to balance the budget.

Except that his budget proposals have been exposed as a complete fantasy, doesn't that bother you? (and remind you of Bush?) McCain is flat out lying to you when he describes how he's going to 'balance the budget'. He knows it's a lie too, he's not stupid.

Also, about Nebor... he's said similar things in the past. I remember he said that he supported finding a way to keep GWB in office by 'any means necessary'. Creepy.
 

OrByte

Diamond Member
Jul 21, 2000
9,303
144
106
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Originally posted by: OrByte
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
You obviously missed the point.

If a white spoke like that there would be hell to pay.

Imagine if a white legislator said that the increase in black or latino population can not result in white's losing seats in government.

I thought your point was that BHO injects race into politics any chance he gets?

I thought your point was not that there is a double standard between white politicians and black polititians.

Not surprisingly you are all over the map PJ. Care to clarify? or do you just want to hang some qoutes out there?
I posted the quotes in response to those who say that Obama does not go around injecting race into campaign.

It is obvious that as a legislator for a black district in Chicago that Obama had no problem injecting race into nearly everything. He essentially used race as a way to get what he wanted, the quote about the black caucus is a perfect example of this.

Now he runs around and suggests that anyone who is against him must be doing it because he has a funny name or looks different.
I think you are wrong PJ and Carmen813 does a good job of explaining why.

there is a difference between using the "race card" and everything that is implied with that term.

And talking about race.

It is possible to discuss race and race issues without using race as leverage. Do I think BHO used the race issue as the "race card?" its possible. He is a politician.

Do I think he is injecting race into this campaign? again it's possible, he is a politician.

Is he running on the fact that he is black? no he isn't. Does he have to address the matter of race? yes he does. Did he start the race-baiting? who the fvck cares...and no he didn't.

Is race going to be an issue? HELL YES IT WILL. PJ, what do you expect the BHO campaign to say when it comes to race? that people are OK to not like him because he is black? How does BHO address race without it coming across as some "preemptive race card?"

AND, just what is a "preemptive race card" exactly? Everyone knows that in reality, America has a race problem. Now if BHO tells us that some might vote against him because he looks different...if that registers in your head as some sort of "preemptive" race card or race-baiting...what I'd like to know from YOU is...just how does BHO address this issue of race factoring into an election?

He is damned either way.

This represents some very dirty politics.
 

Carmen813

Diamond Member
May 18, 2007
3,189
0
76
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
McCain is not the same as Bush.

McCain has a history of being against pork and wasteful spending, which is my primary issue.

Obama on the other hand plans to spend tons of money on new programs and seems to have no plan at all to balance the budget.

Yes, and McCains plan to balance the budget in 4 years is realistic. IT woulda been if he planned on resending bush tax cuts, but since that is apparently off the table his plan has even less hope of working.

At least Obama isn't bullshitting about being able to balance the budget in 4 years.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
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Originally posted by: Nebor
Saw Obama do an impromptu, off the cuff interview earlier. I hope he doesn't make it to election day.

Interested to hear what you really mean by that - spill it, troll!
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: cheezy321
Uhmmm, government or communal control of the means of production is the defining aspect of socialism. It's what makes socialism socialism. You appear to think that leftist = socialist, and it's simply not true. You are using the word incorrectly.

Not only that, but Obama isn't even really a leftist economically. He's still a free market capitalist. Our perceptions in America are extremely skewed when it comes to determining what is left/right. We have a center right party (Democrats) and an ultra right party (Republicans).

Holy crap. are you kidding me?


Lets break down the definitions....

A free market is a market in which prices of goods and services are arranged completely by the mutual consent of sellers and buyers. By definition, in a free market environment buyers and sellers do not coerce or mislead each other nor are they coerced by a third party. Source

Socialism refers to any of various economic and political concepts of state or collective (i.e. public) ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods and services, some of which have been developed into more or less highly articulated theories and/or praxis. Source

Obama was due to lay out his energy plan in Michigan, the state that is home to struggling US automaking giants, which is also a key battleground ahead of November's election.

He was due to promise a windfall tax on the soaring profits of big oil firms to finance a $1,000 dollar per family rebate to help cope with high energy prices.
Source

Soooo, Obama wants to TAKE AWAY profits from the oil companies, and GIVE THEM to the poor.

In theory he wants to take away the extra money the oil companies made and give them to someone else. So collectively the poor have an "ownership" of some of the oil companies profits.

How is this not some form of socialism?

Free market capitalist????? WHATTTTTT????
[/quote]

So you see socialism in Obama's Robin Hood gesture, but free markets in McCain's trillion dollar defense budget?

And where did Obama say that the rebate would go only to the poor?
 

cheezy321

Diamond Member
Dec 31, 2003
6,218
2
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Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
McCain is not the same as Bush.

McCain has a history of being against pork and wasteful spending, which is my primary issue.

Obama on the other hand plans to spend tons of money on new programs and seems to have no plan at all to balance the budget.

Except that his budget proposals have been exposed as a complete fantasy, doesn't that bother you? (and remind you of Bush?) McCain is flat out lying to you when he describes how he's going to 'balance the budget'. He knows it's a lie too, he's not stupid.

Also, about Nebor... he's said similar things in the past. I remember he said that he supported finding a way to keep GWB in office by 'any means necessary'. Creepy.

Are you going to respond to my socialism post? Can you explain to me how giving $1000 to the poor directly from the oil companies profits is not socialism?
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,161
7
0
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
McCain is not the same as Bush.

McCain has a history of being against pork and wasteful spending, which is my primary issue.

Obama on the other hand plans to spend tons of money on new programs and seems to have no plan at all to balance the budget.

Except that his budget proposals have been exposed as a complete fantasy, doesn't that bother you? (and remind you of Bush?) McCain is flat out lying to you when he describes how he's going to 'balance the budget'. He knows it's a lie too, he's not stupid.
What should bother me more:

1. McCain's plan is a fantasy as you call it.
2. Obama's plan is to spend like crazy and forget about the deficit.

Tough one.
 

Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
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In MHO, the elections of 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006 somewhat hinged on the entire trust issue.

In 2000, somehow GWB convinced people that he was a uniter and not a divider. Although Gore won the popular vote, Gore was hardly charismatic, and Florida and the general events there swung the election to GWB. By August of 01, it was apparent that GWB had no real policies and his popularity was flagging. Then 911 hit and America had little choice than to rally around its President, as a war on terror began. And because America tends to trust Republicans regarding a strong military, the GOP was able to make gains in the 2002 election. By 11/2004, the hey day flush of 90% approval rating GWB had when he invaded Iraq was gone and it was quite apparent that both Afghanistan and Iraq were well on their way to becoming quagmires. Sadly the dems went with a not very charismatic John Kerry who tried to sell the country on the idea he was a smarter military version of GWB and that he, Kerry, could win the Iraqi occupation while GWB could not. And with flip flops and swiftboating, it ended up being Kerry never achieved any trust level or achieved any ability to attack GWB on the economy or other issues. And in MHO, the American people voted for the devil they knew rather than the devil they did not know.

But any analysis of the later results should have scared the hell out of the GOP. America was still deeply divided, the electoral college map was almost unchanged from 2000 to 2004, and it should have been apparent that the GOP had to make some result advances. I still recall the infamous remark of GWB after the election of 04, " I now have political capital, and now its time to spend it." And his next big push was to reform social security, and it became rapidly apparent that not even the GOP trusted GWB to mess around with social security. Thereafter the GOP went off the deep end, and the worse GOP abuses occurred. Delay and congressional corruption became a circus as the the GOP rubber stamp congress became addicted to power.

It is widely considered that the congressional elections of 2006 were a referendum on GWB and the GOP lost those elections badly.

Sadly, I do not think the democrats have been effective in pushing their own agenda and the GOP desperately rear guards the same policies the lost them the election of 2006. Now despite a near doubling of the national debt, the American economy can no longer be artificially pumped up, Iraq looks better but may not by November/08, Afghanistan really looks bad, and the entire message on both sides in the primaries is that the voters want a radical change away from the proven failed policies of the past eight years.

In MHO, McCain won the republican primaries because he was the only candidate on the GOP side who was remotely critical of GWB. On the democratic side,
Hillary doomed herself because she was dumb enough to vote for the Iraq war and her message of change therefore fell on deaf ears with too many democratic voters. That and the fact the Hillary was the victim of 15 years of republican swiftboating her message of trust me, I have experience message did not sell.

Now the main protagonists in the election of 08 are all too clear. It will be the inexperienced Obama against an experienced McCain. Or to put it another way, change vs. McSame.

Right now the election strategy is shaping up to McCain saying nothing about exactly how he will change policy while the entire GOP tries to sell the message that Obama can't be trusted. A position that may wear thin and boring before 11/4/08. But with some three months left until the general election,
McCain and the GOP have to hope like hell that the economy holds up and nothing turns to crud in Afghanistan or Iraq. That and the fact the the rest of the world is very up happy with GWB allows external events to discredit McCain.

Its going to be a difficult sell for the GOP with McCain. And a difficult sell with the democrats with Obama. But in many ways, Obama has both charisma and has all the options open. McCain on the other hand is a captive to GWB and the failed policies of the past. Its Obama's election to lose and not Mccain's election to win. Right now McCain is scoring some points, but look for Obama to start to really bruise McCain as the campaign progresses.
 

Deeko

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
30,213
12
81
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
McCain is not the same as Bush.

McCain has a history of being against pork and wasteful spending, which is my primary issue.

Obama on the other hand plans to spend tons of money on new programs and seems to have no plan at all to balance the budget.

Except that his budget proposals have been exposed as a complete fantasy, doesn't that bother you? (and remind you of Bush?) McCain is flat out lying to you when he describes how he's going to 'balance the budget'. He knows it's a lie too, he's not stupid.
What should bother me more:

1. McCain's plan is a fantasy as you call it.
2. Obama's plan is to spend like crazy and forget about the deficit.

Tough one.

Ah - you're missing something - #1 = #2, #2 is just more honest about it.
 

Carmen813

Diamond Member
May 18, 2007
3,189
0
76
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
McCain is not the same as Bush.

McCain has a history of being against pork and wasteful spending, which is my primary issue.

Obama on the other hand plans to spend tons of money on new programs and seems to have no plan at all to balance the budget.

Except that his budget proposals have been exposed as a complete fantasy, doesn't that bother you? (and remind you of Bush?) McCain is flat out lying to you when he describes how he's going to 'balance the budget'. He knows it's a lie too, he's not stupid.
What should bother me more:

1. McCain's plan is a fantasy as you call it.
2. Obama's plan is to spend like crazy and forget about the deficit.

Tough one.

But if you've read about what Obama plans to spend money on, you should realize that in the long term there are tremendous potential benefits that can help balance the budget. He wants to reinvest in educational infrastructure, health care, and alternative energy. Each of these would cost a great deal of money up front, but in the long term will pay massive dividends in the ways of a healthier, more educated workforce, and a true independence from foreign countries.


If we spend 3 trillion dollars building new renewable energy power plants in the U.S., we would save something like $600 billion a year in money that is sent over seas.

IF we stopped fighting in Iraq (something McCain doesn't want to do) that is another $180 billion a year.

Obama's policies would be horrible for the deficit in the short-term, but long-term the potential benefits are enormous.

He is frankly quite open in stating that his policies would cost a ton of money up front, which is why he doesn't feed you a like of crap like McCain does about balancing the budget.

 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Now he runs around and suggests that anyone who is against him must be doing it because he has a funny name or looks different.

No, McCain said that. Not Obama.

Obama asked voters to concentrate on the issues and overlook the fact that he looks different and has funny name. How anyone could possibly make the jump from that to race baiting....
 

Vic

Elite Member
Jun 12, 2001
50,422
14,337
136
Originally posted by: cheezy321
Originally posted by: eskimospy
Originally posted by: ProfJohn
McCain is not the same as Bush.

McCain has a history of being against pork and wasteful spending, which is my primary issue.

Obama on the other hand plans to spend tons of money on new programs and seems to have no plan at all to balance the budget.

Except that his budget proposals have been exposed as a complete fantasy, doesn't that bother you? (and remind you of Bush?) McCain is flat out lying to you when he describes how he's going to 'balance the budget'. He knows it's a lie too, he's not stupid.

Also, about Nebor... he's said similar things in the past. I remember he said that he supported finding a way to keep GWB in office by 'any means necessary'. Creepy.

Are you going to respond to my socialism post? Can you explain to me how giving $1000 to the poor directly from the oil companies profits is not socialism?

How about you respond to my reply to it?

And allow me to rephrase my position using exactly your logic. How is McCain's plan of taking my taxdollars and your taxdollars and everyone else's taxdollars and using it to fund a trillion dollar defense industry that employs millions not socialism?

Let me guess your answer... common good and defense? Bzzt... socialism. Try again.
 

ProfJohn

Lifer
Jul 28, 2006
18,161
7
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Originally posted by: OrByte
AND, just what is a "preemptive race card" exactly? Everyone knows that in reality, America has a race problem. Now if BHO tells us that some might vote against him because he looks different...if that registers in your head as some sort of "preemptive" race card or race-baiting...what I'd like to know from YOU is...just how does BHO address this issue of race factoring into an election?
It is called 'preemptive' because McCain and mainstream Republicans are scared out of their wits to even mention that Obama is black.

Find me a comment by one mainstream Republican that talks about Obama being black in a negative way.

Despite this Obama is out there with his "I'm different" speech trying to make people think that the Republicans are getting ready to lynch him.

Finally, Obama's race is most likely not going to make a difference. No Democrat is going to win any of the deep south states where Obama's race will be a major issue when it comes to voting.