Obama: "Why are you yelling?!"

Regular Buzz readers know dignified political discourse isn't always our specialty, but tonight was something else. Barack Obama's campaign rejected our request for three minutes of his time before raising money in St. Pete tonight. That pledge to party leaders in IA, NH, SC, and NV allows him to raise FL money but not actually campaign in America's biggest swing state. So here was tonight's absurd exchange, as Obama left a waterfront mansion in St. Pete after a $1,000 per person fundraiser. Shouting at the top of my lungs from the street maybe 100 feet away, as Obama walked to his vehicle:

Me: "Senator, what's your position on a national cat fund!" (No Response) Senator, can we talk to you about the Everglades!. (No response, only uncomfortable silence from everyone in shouting distance) Senator! If you'll only talk to people writing $1,000 checks, why should Florida Democrats support you?! (More silence) Will you take any questions!?"

Obama (shouting back): "Why are you yelling?"

Me: "Because you won't let me talk to you! Will you talk about a national cat fund!?"

Obama: "I'm not allowed to talk to the press, guys!"

Me: "Isn't it up to you?!"

Obama: "Nope!"

Me: "Aren't you the guy trying to lead the country?!"

Obama: "I signed a pledge!"

Me: "Why?! (Silence) Why!?"

And then Barack Obama hopped in his SUV and departed from his final fundraiser of the quarter, en route to Miami for more money-raising.

Comments

[joe]

I wonder how many statefarm reps were thre, I hear they have plenty of extra money to give, right pruitt?

Adam-

How did you miss the real news of the day today:

Bob Allen had a Birthday.

Wonder how many 20s he got in the mail?

really really say....when Florida has insurance issues, weather issues, enviro issues, and he can only talk to the special interest.

this is nothing like politics ever was, until this cycle...no one will experience a campaign built by all people this time around....so sad.

Good job Adam! Don't let them off the hook.

Obama took a pledge to speak only to rich fat cats in Florida. He and the other Democratic candidates will not speak with regular people here. Very strange.

Maybe he'll talk to you in Iowa.

The fact that Democrats in Florida are still willing to contribute to the campaigns is truly amazing. And can anyone honestly tell me that they are not campaigning while having fund raisers? I cannot beleive that they just show up, take the money, and not say a word about their stand on the issues. If you buy into this, you are indeed fooling yourself.
But, I suppose those hosting the fundraisers really don't care about the rest of the citizens of Florida, regardless of their political affiliations. After all, they continue to dump on their own.

Bad night Adam... God forbid your going to have to depend on Florida Democratic Party for the scoop. Oops! I mean the Buzzz

[Boca Grande]

Silly news media. If you want to speak with Obama in Florida you have to write a check. Democratic rules. Those guys will do a great job with health care.

people here don't understand, the pledge says they can fundraise, and they DO speak at fundraisers just the same as rallies. obama was not expected to remain speechless. It's okay, as long as you write him a check. if they want fla to count, stop giving them money to run the race without us! make iowa and new hampshire donate all the funds to run in the country. anyone in fla giving a DIME to the candidates is foolish. we should give it ALL to the congressional candidates. but not to thurman when she comes home to run.
just wake me when it's over!

Funny when John Edwards comes to town he attends the "Big Bux" event and then... always makes time for the "Small Change for BIG CHANGE." So do not lump all of these candidates together.

John Edwards is just as up close and personal w/ the regular folks as he is w/ the the more well heeled among us.
John Russell

I spoke to the good Senator and THEN I found that I wanted to contribute to the campaign. The man inspires me, and every other person I was with today at both events.

sorry Adam, I did see someone from the campaign speak with you, and by the way, didn't you have dinner with that someone the other day - at their house?

Ha ha ha! This exchange is hilarious and pitiful at the same time. A great example of politics, where money talks and bulls**t walks. Whatever happened to talking with the people and not at the people. Big politicians are too far out of touch in order to know the real problems plaguing America. They think that they can tell us what the problems are and what they are going to do about the problem they pointed out. How many of them know how much a dozen eggs cost or a gallon of milk? At least they know how much a gallon of gas costs, because they see the signs as they pass the gas stations while they wisk from one big money fundraiser to another. Say what you want about either party, but at least the Republicans stil will talk with people in Florida...

[Jack]

Mike Gravel talking to Ron Paul supporters in St. Petersburg not to long ago. Ron Paul wasn't even in Florida at the time. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6319453464943391784&q=mike+gravel+with+ron+paul&total=226&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

How about inviting him to speak just over the Georgia line...

Nice work, Adam. All the right questions. Sounds to me like someone who is not prepared to run the country.

Answering tough questions is part of the job.

[VCubed]

That was not enlightening. If all one has to do to call oneself a journalist is write a non-story about Obama, using his name as gratuitously and uninformatively as possible, then everyone should get paid for doing nothing. Hurry, don't be a turkey! Send your non-story to this non-news-reporting blog and beg for a paycheck! What a scam.

[V?]

Oh, in case you want context: Republicans pushed to move up the primary knowing Democratic rules would nix all the Democratic delegates; Republicans kept half their delegates after this useful legislation on the taxpayers' dime. They also knew ending rallies in FL would most hurt Obama, and they want Hillary to win - really, really badly! It's their only chance to take back the House, Senate, White House, or all three as the rest of us sit out the crowning of Her Ladyship, right before the Republicans start the chorus of "Off with her head!" and trounce her in the general. Obama's the only hope for changing not just the Party name, but politics. Complain all you want about those 1,000 fundraisers; until you elect Obama, the candidate who refused lobbyist, PAC and 527 donations and the smear politics that goes with them, you won't get any change whatsoever. Obama was the first to offer to run with public campaign financing, for the general election since Hillary already had gathered hundreds of thousands from people like the head of CNN's pollster company (!), a royal bundler who even erected a building with Bill's name on it in India. Only McCain took Obama up on it, way back when McCain was a frontrunner. So much for our non-bundling of multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars candidates, both Democrats and Republicans. The so-called liberal media is strangely set on crowning the biggest lobbyist/PAC/bundler as the Democratic Party choice - is the "liberal" media really the DLC media? By the way, Obama is the one who pushed for a bill to reveal those bundles of cash gathered by people who hang out with folks with way more money than you or I. And for a place online where you can see what earmarks then got passed. That's change!

V? Democrat State Senator Jeremy Ring INTRODUCED the bill in the Senate to move up the Primary.

Most of the Ds in the State Leislature voted for it.

[zenator]

Adam

Nice work. Your effort graphically demonstrates the folly and hypocrisy of the "pledge," which is being interpreted to allow Obama to address donors in Florida, but mot the press or non-donor voters.

BTW When the court challenge comes, as it will, I suspect that the "pledge" may well be found to be illegal...

[Issywise]

Obama says that he "took the pledge" not to campaign in Florida at the behest of the DNC, after the DNC disenfranchised every Florida voter in next January's primary, because "he's just following the rules." Obama says, he's "just playing by whatever the rules are."

He's no worse than all the Democratic candidates, but he's not better either. It is ironic that this highly intelligent, educated African American a seeking the American presidency a generation after the Civil Rights Movement doesn't notice that disenfranchising people is exactly what Jim Crow did.

It may not be racism behind the DNC's disenfranchisement of Florida Democrats, but the effect is the same--party leaders don't want some people to count and they won't.

And Obama "just follows the rules whatever they are."

A leader?

If they cancel American votes themselves, shouldn't we punish the rule-followers when we vote?

[Susan S]

If the Democratic race weren't neck in neck in those early states, I doubt the candidates would have signed the pledge. Unfortunately, with the bandwagon effect, they can't afford to lose there, especially in Iowa.

It would behoove Democrats and Republicans alike to stop allowing the media to write the narrative before the game is played out. We need to encourage voters to stay open and vote for their favorite candidate whenever their primary happens and not to fall for the old "inevitability" argument.

adam --

if you want to make some real press, you should you tube your exchange next time.

sounds like you did a great job.

you embarassed yourself Adam. it was a real shameful display and i was embarassed for you and from being from where you are from. I hope that Senator Obama doesn't we are all a bunch of loons.

obama already ignores us, why should we care what he thinks?

[andrea]

what a blatant smear, adam.

further background information about the situation is needed to put your "snapshot" into context and to be ethical in reporting--what you have done reflects more of a tantrum on your part than good reporting.

i am truly disappointed in you and your reporting.

[HCB]

Cat fund?

Good job Adam. I agree with the you tube comment--although, what's happened to the press when the newspaper guy has to hire a cameraman to follow him around? By the way, if he's all concerned with the pledge, why does he have at least one full time staff person--Ashley what's her name--going around talking with non-donor electeds trying to get them to endorse Obama. She's also doing "grassroots" organizing with local people. Why isn't that campaigning?

[HCB]

What has "campaigning" ever been other than a way to call people to say, "did you see me on tv? Can you send me some money?" Cut out the tv time and expense and go directly to the money. Same campaign message only it's delivered directly to the money instead of pretending to "talk to" the voters. Remember - the reason money is important is most people vote for the candidate with the most money because that's who they hear from mostly. No ordinary voter takes the time for real consideration - they buy a politician the way they buy a tv - watch the ads and pick the one that best tickles the fancy. But the money - they pay attention to the candidate. They research and listen to see what a candidate is promising on taxes and trade and other things that might affect the stock market. They don't care about education or health care - they've already got it. They care about what more they can get and they grill the candidate accordingly. That's why the democratic party while in control of the house and senate can't do a damned thing that Bush doesn't like. They don't know how to do anything except talk a lot and whine.

With the way the FDP is operating - arrogantly while screeching "we're more important than any of the rest of you" - any candidate with any sense is going to WANT to stay away for anything other than money. Just like republicans don't want to be too close to Bush, democrats don't want to be to close to Florida. It's not hanging chads this time. It's looney tunes.

Instead of yelling your nonsense questions just to put on a show but with no real expectation of doing anything other than showing off, why don't you go to the FDP and ask them some important questions. Like, who will the PARTY back as a candidate? Like, what does the party think should be the platform? And so forth. Boring, I know.

FINALLY!!! Being a jerk pays off!!!!

Adam,

You missed the real story of the day. Obama DID stop to thank supporters (non donors) who greeted him just over the Snell Isle bridge on Sunday night.

Should have been there!

Groundbreaking report by Adam “I love Hillary” Smith.

“Amazing news on how someone who signs a pledge, actually stands by it.”

What is this world coming to?… how dare we expect integrity!

That’s it, I’m voting for Dubya next time…

[Rob]

Bro, you could have been tased. Be careful.

"... as Obama left a waterfront mansion in St. Pete..."

... and, who own the place?

[DR]

Surprise, surprise! All this political crap is crooked. The need to raise $250 million to get a job that pays $200,000. This country isn't run by big businesses is it?

[Bob]

Too bad Obama didn't have a Taser with him. Now that would have been some "breaking" news. Candidate or not, who would want to speak with someone yelling at them as they walked to their car? I get more respect from the Williams Park residents.

[Mary]

I would have ignored you too!! And you need to stop bashing Obama ...what the hell has Republicans done for this country? Beside lead us into a collective bankruptcy..and kill all of our young men with a senseless war that should have never taken place!! I think Obama should be the next president, we need someone like him! I know Im voting for him.

[Julienne Ford]

I was there at the fundraiser. I was absolutely apalled at his lack of manners. I am no-longer voting for him. I wish I hadn't given him my money.

“If you'll only talk to people writing $1,000 checks, why should Florida Democrats support you?!”

Nice work Adam… real hard-hitting, non-biased, issue-based journalism… the National Enquire would be proud of you. When should we expect your next riveting story on Britney Spears and her haircuts?

I was one of those supporters Barack Obama stopped to talk to on Snell Isle.

He shook every hand, hugged a lot, and signed lots of books and signs. A gracious and humble man who respects the "small dollar" volunteers -who many don't have any $$ to be contributing.

Barack Obama recognizes the "value" of grassroots supporters - they are worth more than any "big dollar" donor can contribute.

Obama '08

Julienne - I doubt your existance. sorry. You weren't at either party I attended.

[brock]

The real question is, What morons are throwing their money away by giving it to Obama? Yeah, real sound investment there, boys. Hillary's had this race sealed up for months, and we have posers in Saint Pete getting suckered by donating money to a guy who is vying to be Hillary's wingman. Way to go, suckers.

brock, well said. Why even have a race? we all know that every frontrunner goes on to win. Just do an initial poll, determine the frontrunner and give all the money to him or her. Oh, and apparently, there are a whole bunch of posers out there as Obama was ahead of Hillary in fundraising last quarter. Adam, nice work. I wish the national press corps worked as hard and demanded answers from the leaders who lied us into a war.

[Pam]

"Her Wingman"! Hillary doesn't have a snoballs chance in hell!! Obama's gonna win this.. watch!!

signed campaign signs? kinda sounds like campaigning to me...

[Ron McAndrew]

Excellent job Adam! When you catch em shouting from the left and the right of the mouth it reveals what is really within the person........in this case, Mr. Obama.

why aren't more of the nasty little repukes serving in iraq? so many of these vile little repiglican creeps post ad nauseam from their cushy offices stateside, but they will not volunteer to serve in the war which their cretinous leader initiated. how about it, scumbags? why haven't you volunteered for this war?

Why isn't Adam serving in Iraq?

[Joshua]

"National cat fund"? Were you trying to interview Senator Obama ... or President Garfield?

[Joshua]

(Googling ...)

It turns out that a "cat fund" is a catastrophe fund for insurance in case of hurricanes, etc.