All You Barak Obama Fans Might Just Get Your Wish

[matcom]

disclaimer: i'm not sure what he has accomplished yet but aside from that, i like him since he hasn't had much time.



My thinking is in light of the Black backlash in the country right now (justified IMHO) running Obama front and center might be a BRILLIANT political move at this point.

I'm actually surprised I haven't seen him more visible in the wake of Katrina (unless i missed him).

anyway, was thinking this this morning. This country is now ready for a black progressive in more ways than one. thoughts?

[Pirate Smile]

1. He was at the Astrodome with Clinton and he was on This Week on

Sunday.

I think when everything first happened he was in Russia. Remember, there were stories about the Russian authorities detaining him and Lugar for a while at a Russian airport.

[Richard Steele]

2. A black PROGRESSIVE would be great! Do you know any?

Barak Obama sure isn't expending much effort
to fit that description.

So far, he's just another politician,
and a DLC-friendly one at that.

[deinstein]

5. Fantastic.

I'd vote for him over any of the other names being thrown out there...

[question everything]

33. Welcome to DU deinstein

:toast: :bounce:

[newyawker99]

42. Hi deinstein!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[tridim]

7. Conyers and almost every other black congressperson.

[thereismore]

14. Welcome tridim. n/t

[hardrainfallin]

17. Black Progressive Party

has a nice ring to it.

I wish the CBC would SPLIT from the democratic party--the Dem's refusal to contest the 2000 results was a huge act of betrayal--not only toward their Black colleagues, but toward the American people (and Barbara Boxer pretty much admitted as much in her statement to the NYT "we should have done it last time")

I'm tired of the woulda-coulda-shoulda party and, aside from a few stragglers, the ONLY Congresspeople I see making ANY concerted attempt to fight in a real way are Black.

[helderheid]

43. yes. Conyers.

[hootinholler]

47. John Conyers? n/t

[Walt Starr]

3. He's an incredibly progressive Democrat and I would work for him

in the primaries, too.

Right now, after what happened in NO, I'd back any Democrat against any Republican at any level, but Obama has my confidence. I don't agree with everything he says or does, but he's a damned good man.

[kath]

4. How progressive is he? Does he have a backbone?

[autorank]

6. Here's his move...

Give a focused speech just peeling the bark off of bush as a threat to all ALL Americans. Nail him on incompetence and his threat to us ALL.

That would do it, he can do it, I hope he's rokken and ready to make a splash. This would work on so many levels I just can't stand it.

[Justyce]

8. The only drawback is

that he doesn't have much experience, especially to win a presidential race -- they would exploit the hell out of his lack of experience...

[noonwitch]

21. That gives him more running mate potential at this point

And that would all depend on who is at the top of the ticket. Hillary, being a woman, can't have him on her ticket, she needs a white male. Unless Condi were the GOP candidate, then all bets are off.

If Evan Byah or some other white male gets the nomination, Barak would be a better running mate. And in 2016 (presuming two terms for whoever is the next president), he could be in a good position to run. He is young, after all.

[geomon666]

23. Well that hardly applies in today's world.

Today, you don't even need to have federal judiciary experience to get a lifetime appointment as a supreme court justice. Today, you don't need federal disaster experience to head FEMA. Today, you don't even need to know anything about Germany to become the Ambassador to Germany.

That's the world we live in.

[EnfantTerrible]

9. I'd back him

[cally]

10. Oprah's had him on twice

She seems to support him which does help his appeal to some. I've seen Obama interviewed a few times. He's done well so far. Not perfect, but well IMHO.

[CAG]

40. Should we have an Obama/Oprah or Oprah/Obama ticket? (nt)

[tgnyc]

11. Has Obama been on the Sunday talk shows before this?

Or this just a case of the networks saying: we need a black guest to discuss this whole race thing?

[never cry wolf]

24. From today's Chi Tribune - Judicious Obama turns up volume

snip---------

During the first eight months of his Senate career, Obama has pursued a strategy of patience and caution. He is the Democratic Party's freshest star yet consistently has declined invitations to appear on high-profile talk shows, saying he would step forward when he had something unique to contribute.

He believes now, in the aftermath of the hurricane, is that time.

He appeared Sunday on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," the first such interview he has accepted since taking office. He is one of the few senators to visit hurricane victims, appearing beside Oprah Winfrey and former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton in Houston. And he intended to travel to Mississippi over the weekend with a team of doctors, but the trip was called off because aid wasn't needed.

Some of his advisers suggested he take a passive approach, fearing he could face criticism for injecting himself into a national crisis that did not directly involve Illinois or become tangled in a fight over race instead of trying to bridge differences among all groups. But Obama told aides this was an issue on which he could not remain silent.

more------> http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0509120140sep12,1,5984193.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[deek]

12. Barack Obama: Race in America (video)

Barack Obama was a guest on This Week, and he was very candid in his feeling about the differences and perceptions regarding race in America and the response to Katrina.

Video-WMP-low quality (I'll have QT and higher quality for Bittorent later)

Video QT

Bittorrent WMP high quality

(Rough transcript-anyone want to write one up?)

Barack: I think it points to one of the big problems in this administration. They have excellent responses when it comes to PR, more detachment and less effectiveness when it comes to governing. I think that's been true in Iraq, it's been true across the board. A good example of this-We had a cabinet meeting this week, the senators had eight cabinet members, Donald Rumsfeld, Michael Chertoff. What was striking was even if people were reading the statistics of all the evacuations that had taken place-were telling us of all the wonderful things that have been done. There was no sense of reflection, no sense that ahhh things didn't go the way they were supposed to and that we needed to take away....There was a terrific spin operation, but not the kind of soul searching that I 'd think you'd want to see...from any administration..."

He points out the widening divide in America between the rich and the poor.

10:58:30 AM Comments (134) permalink http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/09/11.html#a4905

~~Click on permalink to go site and download files.~~

[stevedeshazer]

13. Saw him yesterday on "This Week" with Stephanopoulos

He did a nice job there.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

15. I don't think he's the best candidate but I do agree with the brilliance

of running him.

[thereismore]

16. If he runs, the repugs will say he is not "black"

in the sense that he is not a descendant of black slaves. He has a white mother and his father was an African exchange student or something. He was raised "white". That's what I think the repugs will poison him with.

[hardrainfallin]

18. well, I'd turn that one around and

tell the rethugs to PROVE that THEY are white.

DNA tests, on the table, NOW.

[Walt Starr]

36. They tried that here in Illinois by running Alan Keyes against him

The strategy failed miserably.

[never_get_over_it]

19. I read somewhere that he said the Katrina response

was not racist - I'm sorry but he has not impressed me nearly as much as the members of the CBC

I'll look and see if I can find what he said last week

[RevolutionStartsNow]

22. On another thread in GD, his quote is this:

Yes, Obama declined to outright say that the response was racism, but he did say: "Whoever was in charge of planning was so detached from the realities of inner city life in New Orleans ... that they couldn't conceive of the notion that they couldn't load up their SUV's, put $100 worth of gas in there, put some sparkling water and drive off to a hotel and check in with a credit card," Obama said.

"There seemed to be a sense that this other America was somehow not on people's radar screen. And that, I think, does have to do with historic indifference on the part of government to the plight of those who are disproportionately African-American." He added that "passive indifference is as bad as active malice."

That's pretty strong, IMO.

[never_get_over_it]

28. Thanks I couldn't find it

and this makes me feel a little better about him - but truthfully I haven't been overly impressed with him - because I think he needs to speak out more forcefully - but I think he is cautious because of future aspirations - but these quotes are good - I'm just desparate for a VERY STRONG VOICE OF OPPOSITION

[RevolutionStartsNow]

31. I hear you

and it's why I love Dean, Conyers, Boxer and the other strong voices so much. I really want someone to stand up and say "Bullshit!" to the liars in this administration, because it's so outrageous what they are getting away with.

And yet, the outspoken voices are either crucified or marginalized, made to be "extremists." Hell, they even tried to paint John Kerry as "out of the mainstream."

Until this country wakes up, and the press stops playing along with Karl Rove (witness George S in that Obama interview, twice trying to bait Obama into saying that Dean went too far in his comments), we are screwed.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

20. I just watched that clip

Obama is incredibly articulate, and I appreciated how he didn't let George S. bait him into denouncing Howard Dean, as much as he tried, about the John Roberts thing. Personally I prefer Dean's blunt approach, but I know that (sadly) doesn't make Dean a good candidate for president. Obama on the other hand is very diplomatic, and if you listen to what he said, he essentially said that this administration has no heart and no soul.

I'd love to see him run, but he has plenty of time.

[Imagevision]

25. Obama could come in as Hillary's (ugh) VP then take over afterwards

[belle]

27. Gore/Obama?

[Imagevision]

26. US. troops will stay in Iraq until they can stand on their own??

Regardless who occupies the WH.

[Melynn]

29. Looking like a moderate is a smart move.

If Obama comes on as being too liberal then he will stir up the racists.
I think that he is a smart person and he knows what he is doing to advance the progressive cause.

[Armstead]

34. No, we need to look like LIBERALS

Liberal is very mainstream. It has gotten a bad name because of the spin from the right wing and the bumbling timidity and complacency of too many Democratic leaders.

But dammit, we need to restore what real liberalism is, and stop trying to disguise it in hopes that we can appeal to the Corporate Elite and moronic freepers.

[me b zola]

30. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw him speak at the 04 convention

I said to hubbie that this will be our first Black president!

Since then I have been underwhelmed with his performance in the Senate. There have been a number of key issues that no Dem should have voted for that he indeed voted for---in fairness, many other Dems did as well. I was particularly not happy with him when he was one of the Dems who said that 'Dean doesn't speak for me' when Dean first took the Chair of the DNC. That was so troubling for me to watch any Dem allow the rnc to publicly turn their back on one of the few in the party to speak truth to power. Obama's ties to the dlc are also troubling.

Flash forward to Katrina and all that we witnessed in her wake. Obama has been a breath of fresh air. His statements, although carefully worded, were pretty right on about race, class, and the administrations indifference to both. George Stpenaphalas (sp) tried to drive a wedge in the Democratic Party, & Obama, this time, was strong and didn't allow him to do that. Obama essentially backed up what Dean had to say, and I cheered for joy.

Someone said in another thread that we all need to keep in mind that Blacks, women, and other minorities are scrutinized much more than other candidates & other elected officials. I have to agree with that. I remember when I first saw Blacks and women emerge in the repub party and I knew that that is why. As long as you go along with "the man" you get a pass--break away and speak about the disparities in our society and you are vilified.

That said, we live in perilous times. My soul screams out that there is no time left to play nice with the bad guys. I would love for Obama to find his voice. He has all of the qualities of a great leader, and I would love to see him do just that--lead.

[Walt Starr]

37. A Senate Record is an incredible liability in a presidential run

as has been evidenced in every run by a Senator in history.

Only two sitting Senators have ever been elected president.

Obama could easily end up being the third.

[FreedomAngel82]

32. For president?

What? He has hardly any experience. Give me a break.

[Vinca]

35. A good point that's worthy of consideration. nt

[Ladyhawk]

38. I'm unimpressed by Obama.

Like other Dems who have let us down, he should have been holding the * administration's feet to the fire for the past five years, but instead he developed "I-am-not-from-sub-phylum-vertebrata-itis."

[mattclearing]

39. He just got elected to the Senate last year, though. n/t

[Ladyhawk]

41. Yes I know and I'm unimpressed. :) n/t

[G_j]

44. he may sound OK, but compare

This is the type of progressive we need, just treat yourself to a listen to a real black progressive!

Harry Belafonte talks on Civil & Human Rights, RFK, Bush , more
http://www.jfklibrary.org/forum_belafonte.html

Seeking Common Ground: Civil Rights and Human Rights
With Harry Belafonte
Moderated by Anthony Lewis

John F. Kennedy Library and Foundation
Challenges at Home and Abroad Series
March 15, 2002

Watch or listen to this forum. (Requires RealPlayer)
Includes a campaign commercial with Belafonte and JFK

[applegrove]

45. People were "down" on him for not asking the question "Should Brown

be Fired". Obama isn't the one who needs to answer that question. Bush is. And Bush skirted it again. By playing dumb: "I workin".

[applegrove]

46. People were "down" on him for not asking the question "Should Brown

be Fired". Obama isn't the one who needs to answer that question. Bush is. And Bush skirted it again. By playing dumb: "I workin".