Obama to Announce for Prez on Oprah Wednesday?

[Cheney Killed Bambi]

A tipster with knowledge of Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) presidential campaign planning hints that an official announcement may be made on the Chicago-based Oprah Winfrey Show this week.

The Oprah schedule for Wednesday, January 17 says to "check back later" for more details on the show. Since all shows are taped in advance, this suggests something is up.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2007/01/14/will_obama_announce_on_oprah.html

[brentspeak]

1. What are his credentials? Two years in the U.S. Senate?

[jcv1]

5. Intelligence and common sense

Both of which would be more than what we have had for the last 6 years. Besides, I don't see where being a figurehead Governor from Texas gives any credentials to be President....

[Bucky]

13. I think you should use someone besides Bush as your yardstick for presidentialabiltyness

Let's use Lincoln instead: two years in Congress during which he opposed a dishonestly arranged war of aggression, a hardscrabble life in a poverty stricken environment, an aggressive pursuit of a legal career both as a means of bettering himself and a way to serve his community, a hardwon belief in the need to promote opportunity as the great equalizer in America.

Add to that that Lincoln was also something of a self-huckster, but despite a lack of a paper resume, was generally acknowledged by people in his time as a man of great potential, vision, and honesty.

Obama has lots of parallels to Lincoln, if you're willing to look over the surface differences.

[beaconess]

43. Bush has been president for 6 years, which, according to the standard some apply to Obama

should make him the second most qualified person on earth to be President of the United States - second only to Bill Clinton who has two more year of experience a president.

Of course, we know that Bush is NOT qualified to be president, despite his extensive on-the-job experience. That's because a resume, while it can be a predicotr, it is not the determining factor of whether someone will make a good president. In my view, other criteria are much more important - intelligence, intellectual curiosity, worldview, ability to synthesize information, grasp complex concepts, and make clear-headed decisions, empathy for others, an understanding that different people see the world through different prisms and that, just because someone sees thing differently than you do, doesn't mean they are wrong, stupid or evil. Some of our worst presidents - and other public officials - had incredible experience on paper. And some of our best, if judged by the standard some are applying to Obama, would never have seen the light of day.

[IndianaGreen]

6. He opposed the war in Iraq, unlike that war cheerleader Hillary

Judgement trumps experience every time!

[mtnsnake]

10. You mean unlike those war cheeleaders Hillary, Kerry, Edwards, Biden, Dodd, etc

[IndianaGreen]

15. Hillary remains unrepentant about the war vote

Kerry has more than redeemed himself. I remind you that Hillary opposed John Murtha's call for a troop withdrawal, and she voted against the Kerry/Feingold troop withdrawal resolution.

The only time Hillary looks palatable at all is when she is compared to Joe Lieberman, and even then that is a stretch. Lieberman, it can be argue, really believes in the shit that he believes in. Hillary gives caution a bad name!

[mtnsnake]

18. You mean unhypocritical?

Why should she repent now? Because it's politically correct to do so? Gimme a break.

[AtomicKitten]

30. Some prefer ...

[delphinium]

11. Of course

he was wasn't in the Senate then, like Edwards and Hillary, so he didn't have to make that tough choice. I'm one DUer, and I'm possibly in the minority here, who doesn't hold anyone's IWR vote against them. I'm more interested in what people want to do about Iraq now.

[IndianaGreen]

17. In which case, Hillary is still behind the 8-ball when it comes to Iraq

and this is reflected in the polls that show Hillary unable to boost her numbers beyond the "name recognition," and have John Edwards leading in the early primary and caucus states.

[beaconess]

45. So does that mean that Edwards' current views on Iraq should be discounted because

he's not in the Senate and doesn't have to make tough choices?

[MGD]

57. hHe wasn't in the position of having to cast a vote on it at the time.

That makes it much easier to condemn it in hindsight.

[mtnsnake]

8. LEADERSHIP. That and all his quality experience before the senate, too.

[Bullet1987]

19. No...

...10 years in political office.

[Alhena]

20. Hey, just don't vote for the guy ...

he gets to run if he wants to just like Brownback, Dodd, Hegel and a bunch of other guys who don't have 1/1000 the chance he does.

The thing is, I only hear Obama catching heat about his decision to run. Obama is over 10% in just about every poll in every state. That means a lot of us voting Americans want to see him run. Hope it's ok with you.

[beachmom]

26. Exactly. Everyone who wants to run has every right to do so.

And may the best man or woman win by going through the primary process and debating all the issues.

[beaconess]

46. THANK you!!!

[rhombus]

52. Best comment I've read today

We live in a free country. Feel free to vote for whoever you want. Obama has every right to run. If you don't like that, that's your problem.

[Radical Activist]

36. Over 10 years in elected office.

Community organizer, constitutional law professor. Smart, inspiring.

[rusty charly]

2. obama: don't bother

[mtnsnake]

3. President Obama. nt

[AndreaCG]

4. I wish Clark would announce already

He's not on most commentators' radar.

Even if it's no, I'd like to hear it.

[Bucky]

14. If Clark doesn't run, it'll be a bigger surprise than Warner

The talking heads don't want Clark to run, however. That's why he's never mentioned. He's outside the system, a wild card. They hate that. That's why they've spent six years trying to shove Mrs Clinton down our throat--they'd rather have a soap opera feud than a real manager with real vision trying to wake the electorate up.

[adigal]

56. Because Clark will not go along to be nice

like Obama does. He will not criticize those who are not religious, as Obama does. And unfortunately, we are all deluding ourselves if we think that a black man has any chance of winning. My repub in-laws, who may vote for Clark, would NEVER vote for a black man. And they are in New York, a more enlightened state.

Obama and Hillary - please, don't run.

[delphinium]

7. I may get flamed for this

but I don't think "Oprah" is the appropriate venue for that. And I like her and her show at lot. somehow I doubt that's what Obama will do.

[partylessinOhio]

12. On a show earlier this year Oprah got a promise from Obama that IF

he decided to run (which she strongly encouraged him to do), he would announce it on her show.

[Bucky]

16. Since the show is taped, he can do a normal announcement, then do a one hour sitdown

That certainly would be a classier way to handle it than, say, Schwarzeneggar's use of Leno's show.

[KingofNewOrleans]

23. If Obama gets a full hour on Oprah

to tout his campaign. Do all the other Presidential Candidates get an hour with Oprah? It would be funny to see Tancredo or Brownback on Oprah.

[karynnj]

29. Don't worry - there is NO fairness doctrine even if this was

a news show. Did you notice that Bush got far more coverage than Kerry in 2004?

[mentalsolstice]

25. If he announce on Oprah, he'll go way down in my opinion!

It will be proof that he's running as a rock star, which is not what we need right now.

[AtomicKitten]

32. unfortunately she helped Schwarzenegger

and has the ability to capitalize on that rock star status and push candidates into the main stream world which she dominates.

I'm not unhappy about it. I am a full-on Gore supporter but if he is not going to run, Obama is definitely a contender.

[mentalsolstice]

44. I hate her capability to influence

Yes she is a popular talk show host, but that's all she is. For god sakes. talk about sheeple...he announces on Oprah, so WE MUST LISTEN? Who's going to announce on "The View" or "Ellen"...or God forbid Maury or Montel.

If Obama announces on Oprah, I'm gone...as in I've totally lost faith in the intelligence of our people!

[Radical Activist]

37. Probably better than the Daily Show

Which is what Edwards did last time.
Oprah has a large audience. Democrats have to be creative about getting past the corporate news filter, which makes Oprah a good venue.

[benny05]

60. It wouldn't be a bad move for a first time candidate

To announce on a show like Oprah in 2 weeks after his exploratory measure.

[loyalsister]

39. It doesn't seem like it at first

But she has a hell of a lot of viewers! It's a very very smart venue from which he would reach tons of non politicos. Reeling them in for a primary is a coup.

[geiger]

9. I saw him on tv this morning & he is totally getting on my nerves already

totally full of himself. even if he doesn't run, he thinks of himself as a big deal because he'll have "sacrificed" his "candidacy" to Hillary.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[geiger]

24. tell me what he stands for; he only knows he has confidence in himself

Tell me what his platform is, or whatever it is you even THINK he stands for. I don't think he knows; he's riding an adreneline wave. I really have nothing against him; I just cant stand people jumping on a bandwagon just cause they're desperate for anyone who resembles a leader.

[Nedsdag]

27. poli, who are YOU supporting? n/t

[ripple]

28. If you don't know what Obama stands for,

you have no one to blame but yourself.

You might start by looking here: www.obama.senate.gov/issues/

Or here: www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=388x275

As for your question, I support Obama because aside from Kucinich (who doesn't stand a chance of winning), he is the most progressive democrat we have in the running for 2008. What makes him even more appealing is that he has the innate ability to resonate with voters from all walks of life. This could finally be our opportunity to have a progressive, populist president in the WH.

The 2008 presidency is ours for the taking, but I won't be satisfied with a narrow victory. It isn't just our political system that's broken, it's our cohesiveness as a nation. Anger, intolerance, hatred, fear, bigotry, and the questioning of others' patriotism have all been effective tools of the current administration. Too effective, in fact. We need a leader who can not only make sound policy decisions, but who can change the dialogue that exists in the political arena and our society as a whole. Barack Obama has demonstrated the ability to do just that.

[Superman Returns]

34. queston

what is Obama's stance on free/fair trade? thank you

[ripple]

35. He supports free, but fair trade

He believes free trade is a reality that isn't going away, but that free trade shouldn't preclude fair trade. He also believes that it's important for the US to export products, not just raw materials that are assembled overseas and shipped back to the US.

He voted against CAFTA, he supports unions, and he believes that labor and human rights standards should be an intergral part of our trade policies with other nations.

[Superman Returns]

38. thanks

[Telly Savalas]

40. Or read his book.

It just blows my mind how many DUers willfully choose to ignore the large body of work documenting Obama's positions and dismiss him as a substanceless "rock star" because they're too lazy to do their homework.

[Dean Martin]

49. read his book....

I'm reading his first book now. I like Sen. Obama quite a bit. I just don't like the proposed deal he's suggesting about liquifying coal. I haven't researched it too much however.
That aside, I like Obama as much as anyone else currently who might run, and count me in as one absolutely will never vote for Hillary.

[Divine Discontent]

50. deanie baby!!

it's frankie baby!!! lol..

yeah, count me in on the hillary thoughts.. my former lifelong repub (now democrat)friend loves hillary... I think she's bearable but I'll be voting Edwards, Clark, Obama, senator what's his face that just announced, or any other dem before her. I wish her well if she wins the nomination, esp. if it's against mccain, ICK! if it's against giuliani though, ooh!

http://www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable 08 items!

[Dean Martin]

62. Frankie!

Let's rebuild the Sands! All we need to do is find Sammy!

I really don't think Hillary will get the nomination.

[Infinite Hope]

61. We all know he has positions. The argument of being "substanceless" is...

...that he doesn't yet have a record to know what he will do on a national level nor to give an idea of his ability to get his objectives passed through Congress.

If qualification for President is having positions written on paper, there are many thousands across the nation who are equally qualified as Obama.

[tritsofme]

21. Wouldn't oh say the several hundred people at the taping

have noticed that Obama announced and told everyone?

[KingofNewOrleans]

31. Oprah would have them crushed

if they talked. You don't mess with Oprah.

[Dinger]

33. Wasn't He Just On There?

Shove It Oprah

[KingFlorez]

41. He told her he'd do it on her show

That's a great way to announce your candidacy.

[Bullet1987]

42. ...

I saw him on tv this morning & he is totally getting on my nerves already totally full of himself. even if he doesn't run, he thinks of himself as a big deal because he'll have "sacrificed" his "candidacy" to Hillary.

What are you talking about? How was he full of himself? He answered the questions sincerely and barely even smiled until the guy asked him about 2008. But is he not supposed to smile now? Get over yourself

[beaconess]

47. He's a black man who know he's the smartest person in the room

That's pretty scary for some people.

[brentspeak]

48. Playing the race card with Obama doesn't do Obama any favors

[beaconess]

58. Lol!

[Bombtrack]

54. Why? How? If Oprah is going to support Obama she should support Obama

he shouldn't have to give her more ego-boosting hype and ratings involved in having a presidential announcement in order to get her to use her show as a vehicle to support him. She isn't the associated Press, she can do whatever she wants with her show, but she's too much of a safe, pandering coward as usual.

[rhombus]

51. Good for Obama.

From what I've seen of him, his announcement will be done with class.


Those wringing their noses on this thread won't have a problem if Al Gore announced at a Starbucks.

[Bombtrack]

53. This was one of Time Magazine's (lame) ideas for announcement spots for all the candidates

they suggested Obama announce on Oprah, and they gave their dumb reason along with :

Giuliani should announce in Pennsylvania where flight 93 went down
Mitt Romney should announce at an adoption center in Lowell, Massachusetts
McCain should announce at Annopolis Naval base in Maryland

anyway I'm hoping some moron read the hack article and didn't understand that it wasn't a scheduled event but an idea.

Because Obama has had enough of an Oprah presence already. He needs to keep that shit to a minimum. Her show is such a sea of bullshit and one of Obama's strengths is how much it just doens't occur to him to deal in or with bullshit.

[Dinger]

55. I Don't Think There's One Repug Who's Getting Help Like These Two Are In The MSM

mccain? No. bownback? No. ghouliana? NO. romney? No. It's like they want these two Dems to run so goddamn bad, that they'll give more coverage to the Dems. Obama & Hillary are excellent candidates I am sure, but I am tired of them being shoved down my throat on a daily basis. I will vote for either of them if they are the nominee, but my vote won't be quite so automatic in the primary.

[beaconess]

59. Would you feel better if the media started giving McCain, Brownback, Romney and

Giuliani the coverage that Clinton and Obama are getting and just left Clinton and Obama alone?

[Infinite Hope]

63. 'Tis the dilemma of being an early frontrunner.

Many Americans end up feeling as you do come primary season.