Obama responds to race card charge

In an interview with the St. Pete Times and Bay News 9 for Political Connections, Barack Obama brushed off the charge from the John McCain campaign that he was injecting race into the campaign:

"I was in union, Missouri which is 98 percent white - a rural, conservative. and what I said was what I think everybody knows, which is that I don't look like I came out of central casting when it comes to presidential candidates. But that I think that what people are really concerned about, what they're looking for is fundamental change on the economy, things that are going to help their families live out the American dream.

'There was nobody there who thought at all that I was trying to inject race in this. What this has become I think is a typical pattern from the McCain campaign, whether it's Paris Hilton or Britney or this phoney allegation that I wouldn't visit troops. They seem to be focused on a negative campaign what I think our campaign wants to do is focus on the issues that matter to American families."

Comments

wow -- thank goodness you asked him that tough 'hard hitting' questions!!!

[Mabel]

It is Senator Obama's need to see that women are equal that I am worried about. How can he call us sweeties and his ipod be full of Ludacris who called Senator Clinton a "B***ch?" It is the lack of respect for women in the democrat campaign that bothers women.

hillary was as much of a bush enabler as mccain was.

mccain should pick her as his running mate.

Sorry Obama. You can't put this genie back in the bottle. This is at least the second time you have gone down this path.

If everybody knows, and we can all see it, what was the point of pointing out that he is black? The only point was to insinuate that to criticize Obama means being a racist.

Sorry Barack, to paraphrase, it is NOT about the color of your skin. It IS about the content of your character.

1:09 take your meds, then wash out your mouth with soap.

And talk about negative campaigning, who was that ex-Gen hatchet man that Obama sent out to attack McCain's military leadership credentials?

Barack disses women. Just like he dissed Hillary. That's why I'm with "Clinton for McCain" - website coming soon.

Now wait, the Messiah has spoken. Although the Messiah may say one thing, if he says he means another - then how DARE you question the savior of all mankind?

Mabel,

Thanks for your input… now get in the damn kitchen and make me a sandwich! AND BRING ME A BEER, THE GAME’S ABOUT TO START… AND FOR GOD’S SAKE CLEAN SOMETHING; WOMAN!

[Joe]

McCain's content-free campaign is accomplishing its mission--controlling the news cycle. It's unfortunate that this question even has to be asked.

Obama's Missouri Town Hall talk included a multitude of issues...and the McCain campaign chooses to focus on a humorous reference to presidents that appear on currency. Wow. If there any ardent McCain supporters out there, please tell us why this is a legitimate issue during an time of severe economic prospects.

Now wait, the Messiah has spoken. Although the Messiah may say one thing, if he says he means another - then how DARE you question the savior of all mankind?

On Real Clear Politics, you can see B. Hussein Obama dropping about .2 % per day. He is now ony 2.9% over McCain despite the massive press adulation. McCain should be leading by the middle of the Olympics.

There goes the hypocritical Republicons again! (1:21)

Professing to be “Christians” while blaspheming our Savior’s name by calling Obama the Messiah.

Professing to be Pro Life, while the majority of abortions-on-demand are chosen by 25-35 year old professional republicon women.

Pro Life… so long as it doesn’t interfere with the P&L.

[Karl Rove]

RUN AWAY! THE DARKMAN COMETH FOR YOUR WHITE WOMEN!

1:19 Who cares what McCain did back in Vietnam? He has erased any credibility he might have had as a leader by suffing his big brown schnozz in the Bush posterior.

Mabel = Operation Chaos as practiced by McToady. duh.

Phony allegation???

He DIDN'T vist the troops. They said he couldn't bring his campaign advisor, so rather than dumping his campaign advisor, he dumped on the troops.

Barack Obama...Just another typical politician.

[Wake up to the obvious.]

McCain sold out on his disabled wife to marry a beer heiress.

McCain sold out on his Arizona constituents for $112,000 in Keating bribes.

Now McCain has sold out on our future for the Bush endorsement and Big Oil money.

Do you see an obvious pattern here?

[LESD]

Republicans will run the gutter campaign that they always run.

It doesn't matter who their candidate is or who they're running against.

I'm surprised that anyone is surprised by this.

given the history of the piglican party since the early '60's, it isnt necessary for those skum to say anything about a person's race...it is KNOWN that the piggies are racists and will stop at nothing to put FEAR into folks hearts about not only B but any one who has the courage to say people of color are actually human beings.

they have become more "sophisticated" about how they spread the FEAR, but fearmongering is what they do best...

it certainly ISN'ST governing, is it?

nor telling the TRUTH!!

this krap wil continue until election day...no programs, no solid plans or issues from mcAiNUS and miss piggy....just plenty of FEARFEARFEARFEAR!!!!

Mabel, you're on every Obama post about Ludacris. If the B-word is bad, and I'm sure it is, can you please give some other examples where you've been offended: McCain called wife the c-word and said nothing when a questioner called hillary the b-word. In fact he thanked the woman for her question and moved right along. Be offended at Ludacris, but stop pretending. One day Dems may treat women as well as Newt Gingrich or John McCain treated their wives -- leaving them during hospital stays or illness. Now that's change we can believe in.

Actually is you really look at the elections you will see that the Democrats always use the tactics of dividing people into groups by race, income, gender, etc. to scare people in to voting their way. Republicans tend to have the view of a nation of individuals to a much larger extent. Ever see how the Democrats split up there votes at the convention by these groups?

1:59-

Plus democrats do those stupid caucus-thingys.

Those things are for retards...

1:16 -- Thank you! I thought the same thing when I read his response. I don't care about his skin color; it's his ideologies that I don't like.

I used to say he was a typical Chicago politician. But I was wrong. He's even worse.

actually, 1.59, the R's simply gear their fearmongering to the most ignorant, bigoted and greedy, who have already self-defined...REPIGLICANS!!

ya aint white?...getouttaheah!
ya aint male?....getouttaheah!
ya aint rich?....getoutta heah!
ya dont hate people cause theyre diff'rnt?........getouttaheah!

REPIGLICAN PROUD FOR 'MER-I-KUH!!!!!!

[Mabel]

I would not start trying to match male GOP fidelity with male DEM fidelity..there is enough seediness to go around...what with Spitzer [D],etc. I was not speaking for Sen. McCain.
The Ludacris campaign video in which Sen. Clinton is called "B***ch" is what I was talking about. It is playing on the radio all over the place. This is after Mrs. Clinton has withdrawn. What would make Mr. Ludacris happy? What will make him stop belittling women on Sen. Obama's behalf? Why do they keep on belittling her?
At this point I will vote for Ralph Nader.

Chicago politicians are some of the most vile, corrupt people there are...

Right up there with Robert Mugabe, who no doubt, supports Obama.

can't we all just fight eachother? physically? it'd be so much easier than throwing rhetoric back against rhetoric.

If John McCain would have said: "My opponent doesn't look like someone who Central Casting would choose to play the role of President", everyone would have called him a racist.

I vote for a Hockey Game!

2:16 You should actually try talking to some Republicans. You will find that most are completely different than your acid posts imply. In fact, you will find that they are not able to match you hateful statement by hateful statement.

So the african americans in the back had to be heard, instead of listening.

When tickets were gone, one had to smash windows down the street, and someone was hurt.

The question has been: Is American ready for a black president?

The clear answer I see, is that blacks, are not ready for a black president.

They never show up, and now this?
So no, we as a people are not ready.

Me? He's only 6% black. So I look at his views and I listen to what he says.

Sounds like a new world order to me.

[bill for the RAYS]

hockey it is 90% outside, for g.d. sake. It is the Rays time in SUN

one does NOT havbe to TALK to R's...one can simply observe they vote for pathologicallylyingdryDRUNKS and related toadies who love power more than freedom, hate the consitution and love fear!!

we will be most of a generation recovering form your DRUNKEN PRESIDENT, if ever!!

pleased with yourself?

Thank you for proving my point!

2:50: Plz refer to the second paragraph.

A Thank You Note from Obama

My fellow Americans:

As your future President I want to thank my supporters, for your mindless support of me, despite my complete lack of any legislative achievement, my pastor's relations with Louis Farrakhan and Libyan dictator Moamar Quadafi, or my blatantly leftist voting record while I present myself as some sort of bi-partisan agent of change.

I also like how my supporters claim my youthful drug use and criminal behavior somehow qualifies me for the Presidency after 8 years of claiming Bush's youthful drinking disqualifies him. Your hypocrisy is a beacon of hope shining over a sea of political posing.

I would also like to thank the Kennedy's for coming out in support of me. There's a lot of glamour behind the Kennedy name, even though JFK started the Vietnam War, his brother Robert illegally wiretapped Martin Luther King, Jr. and Teddy killed a female employee with whom he was having an extra marital affair and who was pregnant with his child. And I'm not going anywhere near the cousins, both literally and figuratively.

And I'd like to thank Oprah Winfrey for her support. Her love of meaningless empty platitudes will be the force that propels me to the White House.

Americans should vote for me, not because of my lack of experience or achievement, but because I make people feel good. Voting for me causes some white folk to feel relieved of their imagined, racist guilt.

I say things that sound meaningful, but don't really mean anything because Americans are tired of things having meaning. If things have meaning, then that means you have to think about them.

Americans are tired of thinking. It's time to shut down the brain, and open up the heart. So when you go to vote, remember, don't think, just do. And do it for me.

Thank You.

Barack Hussein Obama, Jr.

How stupid does Obama think we are? What was he talking about then, his ears? His stupid grin? It is obvious he was talking about the color of skin. Obama playing the race card is not as disgusting as him playing Americans for suckers.

This country is doomed because our political system is incapable of actually discussing issues and developing solutions to problems.

We plug away at each other every day and get distracted by shiny objects, which distract the press and control the news cycle, and nobody is ever held to account for actual policy failures.

For the record, I believe Barack Obama offers an opportunity for our country to fight against the slide into inanity, but I'm worried voters will fall for Bush-Rove style attacks and distractions.

The press certainly has.

Spin, spin sugah, spin, spin, sugah...

Obama can spin all he wants, but, he opened the can of worms from a fairly cheeky Britney Paris ad.

Very hypocrical of someone to proclaim that they are different, above it all, and ready to practice a new kind of politics on the one hand and be associated with Wright, Ayers, Rezko, Ludacris, and Michelle Obama on the other hand.

Before, he was no different than Carter. Now, he's no different from Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

poor, ole johnnie....he's simply out of ideas and out of energy

and the old tactic:

"do yo want your children to go to school with one of them?"

wont work any more

so, its time for empty charges and lies

not what anyone would call a "campaign about the issues", is it?

Wrong thread there 325, but, thanks.

Spin, spin sugah, spin, spin, sugah...

Obama can spin all he wants, but, he opened the can of worms from a fairly cheeky Britney Paris ad.

Very hypocrical of someone to proclaim that they are different, above it all, and ready to practice a new kind of politics on the one hand and be associated with Wright, Ayers, Rezko, Ludacris, and Michelle Obama on the other hand.

Before, he was no different than Carter. Now, he's no different from Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton.

[Mary Jo Kopechne]

pathologicallylyingdryDRUNKS?

How everyone forgets.

Just last night on MSNBC, one of the commentators said it wouldn't be long before someone makes the charge that Obama isn't "black enough." Bingo. In less than 24 hours, right here in St. Pete. Obama called on one of the three vocal protestors at his Gibbs High speech, who then ran through the Uhuru talking points criticizing Obama for not talking about black issues enough. The guy can't win. If his 50% white genes had dictated his physical appearance, we wouldn't even be having this discussion about race.

Did MSNBC also mention that Obama was the one that brought up race?

What for?

The comparison to Paris and Britney didn't say, nor imply, anything about race.

Axelrod said this am on GMA that Obama was talking about race. Now, they're saying he wasn't. Which is it?

I'm glad to see someone out there taking the heat from Americans who want to know we are electing a quality man to be our next President.
No one can be everything to every one, but we know with McCain we are getting a proven failure and a weak, selfish career politician. Obama is an honest man and should do a much better job.

That's funny 4:18,

I can think of 5 back to back days off the top of my head when Obama said one position and the very next day, the exact opposite.

Is that honest? Or delusional?

BARACK OBAMA IS A DIRTY RACIST JUST LIKE JEREMIAH WRIGHT.

It is tough when Hollywood can't read from a script and must think on his own. I guess that's why he won't have a real debate with McCain as he originally promised. He CHANGED his mind...

Obama is right. McCain is trying to inject racial fear into the campaign (not to mention other fear, uncertainty and doubt) while claiming innocence. This is not the same John McCain we knew from 2000

[Obama the tird]

Obama is like a dog tird in the backyard, it will go away eventually

[Joe]

Obama said he wouldn't look like other Presidents on dollar bills etc. This is the candidate for change. So he is different. I think he is just trying to be reasonable. Actually it doesn't make any difference what it is and that is the point he made. To all of you people posting I have two words for you. SO WHAT? Hillary is not running anymore. so what? obama is black. so what? I want change. Cut to the chase. so what is the difference between mccain and obama. Alot. I believe Obama is honest and I believe he will do his best for the largest majority of honest, hardworking, responsible Americans. He sure has my vote. My wife's vote. All my childrens vote. And anyone else that has any common sense.

[bobp]

This is a typical attack ad and they will keep coming day after day after day... at least until the Olympics. Have to entertain the masses some how and tear down your opponent without stating your positions on the issues.

[Jeremy]

Mabel,

Are you saying the better option is John McCain who divorced his wife after she lost her good looks in a car accident? Who calls his new million wife a c*nt? Who voted no to allowing women to seek compensation if they find out they are not being paid as much as men for doing the same job? Really??

Barack has a strong, smart wife. He is a loving dad to 2 girls. He believes in Jesus' message of treating everyone as equals. You remember how Jesus treated the woman at the well in Samaria, and was so kind to Mary of Magdalene?

[Al]

jeez. it's embarassing how ignorant and stealthly racist all who support McCain have become. you guys are seriously why we are a laughing stock to the rest of the world.

you all better get used to President Obama. it's happening, and there isn't a darn thing you all can do about it.

Sorry, Joe,

Obama's dollar bill statement wasn't as innocuous as that. David Axelrod, his campaign manager, said so on GMA today. And, that's why Obama isn't the agent of change he appeared to be a year ago.

McCain has spelled out specifics and mid way through the Britney Paris commercial says Obama hasn't (except for the tire gauges).

Platitudes and community organizing aren't enough to run the country.

Obama's not ready.

[sevenseven]

This is typical of Republicans, they are so desperate to make this about race. How dare you be black Obama.
This is a racist nation and it always will be.

[MM]

All you Obama haters need to shut up and look. McCain has no plans, recite McCain plan despite oil drilling (which is proven not to work), or gas tax holiday (which High school algebra has proven doesn't work. McCain played the race card today putting Blacks against Latinos today. Obama has mentioning that he doesn't look like other candidates since Iowa 2007. Hillary fabricated a gender debate with (politics of pile on, and highest glass sealing), Bill infuriated black leaders by comparing Obama to Jackson you are only similar in the fact that they are Black Democrats. Before you guys go off saying it is Obama's fault for talking about race, remember McCain played the race card, and Hillary played the gender card. Obama is not arrogant -- and has relative good experience for his age. Remember Hillary didn't have experience either besides working for walmart.

[JD]

Clinton voters for McCain? Do you have NO conscience? Who do you think you're spiting by voting for 4 more years of McBush?

[MM]

For anybody who thinks Obama doesn't have plans. Check out all his proposals on energy, windfall taxes, taxing rich, subsidizing poor. Obama will make gas companies pay by taxings there profits meaning they can't pass the tax to consumers. Also Obama best part of his plan is he is opening a new sector of jobs. Green collar jobs will revitalize the rust belt. As a engineer this a brilliant way to tackle the energy crisis and global warming.

Another thing, Fox news has become a collection of true elitist with Bill O leading the way. Bill O will not pay more taxes to help those poor people who are stuck in poverty to have oppurtunit.

Barack Obama said exactly what everyone knows and he's been saying it since June. His comment is not something new. He was referring to independent groups and 527s that will attack on this basis just like they did with Harold Ford in the 2006 race in Tennessee. In fact, the GOP there has already attacked on simi-racial basis. His comment was not new; therefore, was not a response to the McCain camp and its low road ads. McCain needs to stop obsessing over pop stars and talk about what he plans to do. It only helping Barack.

See this video from the Obama campaign:

http://my.barackobama.com/thankyouvideo

[Barack "I am not black, I hate blacks" HUSSEIn Obama]

soooo is it racism if you vote for Obama because he is black??

Why is it not?

MM,

If Exxon makes record profits, the FEDERAL government makes at least TWICE the record profits and the states get about what the oil companies get.

The Feds tried the windfall profits tax and it failed miserably in the 80s, so, they did away with it. Taxes drive business and innovation away.

If you can't debate without bringing up Fox news, you don't deserve to debate. It's lazy and ignorant to bring that tired arguement when major news organizations are very left friendly to put it mildly.

Hillary was on Fox, did well, and got more respect. Lanny Davis and the other Clinton contributors are on regularly now and having nice, healthy debate. Or, do you not want that?

[Gekkobear]

How can you think he was being racist?

He just meant that the people on currency had more experience, training, and skill than him at leadership, politics, economics, foreign policy... well everything really.

Even Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase on the $10,000 had more executive experience...

It had nothing to do with race, and everything to do with experience. He was just clarifying that he didn't really have any qualifications that most people associate with the U.S. President.

And I for one believe him. He wasn't being racist, just explaining that he has absolutely no business running for President.

[Donald Lance]

MM,

If you were able to get water out of the ground and sell it for a profit, do you think it would be right for the govt to take your profit and give it to somebody who did absolutely nothing to earn it? When govt dictates what a company's profit can be you, I and we are ALL in big trouble. By the way, what is Exxon's profit margin?

Wow, guess Obama never heard of that little show on Fox- "24."

And give me a break about the race card. He plays it all the time by saying he's not going to play it...
He twists any disagreements with him into racially tinged issues. It's ridiculous.

Crash McCain has failed to honor all his promises and vows and oaths in life. Why do you think wifey number two, the homewrecker drug stealing Cindy, made him sign a pre-nup?

Takes one to know one.

I McCain responsible for every nasty thing every white man supporting him says to demean women?

Or just for his own votes against equal wages for equal work. His vote to have taxes pay for viagra but not birth control. His vote against health care for children. His own calling his wife a C*** and trollop. His hatemonger preachers who he begged to endorse him -- who demean women, gays, jews, Catholics, etc.

His wife pushes beers to teens that hide the effects and taste with caffeine and/or flavorings -- alcopops.
Stinky family values with that crew of elitists who write government rules with loopholes to keep their elitist butts in power.

The Brits are always ahead of us:

July 25, 2008

He ventured forth to bring light to the world

The anointed one's pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a miracle in action - and a blessing to all his faithful followers

On the Seventh Day he walked across the Channel of the Angles to the ancient land of the hooligans. There he was welcomed with open arms by the once great prophet Blair and his successor, Gordon the Leper, and his successor, David the Golden One.

And suddenly, with the men appeared the archangel Gabriel and the whole host of the heavenly choir, ranks of cherubim and seraphim, all praising God and singing: “Yes, We Can.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4392846.ece

[TJustSaying]

Ok first order of business is to address the Ludacris rap. Luda is NOT! on the campaign payroll. Luda is NOT! part of the Obama campaign in anyway.
Obama is half Black and Half White but that does not in turn make him responsible for all the members of both races.

Just cause Luda is black and in the past Obama may have listened to a song or two he is not responsible for what Luda says about Hillary, McCain or anyone else. Contrary to popular opinion just cause someone is black does not necessarily mean that all other blacks agree with or asked them to say something negative about someone white.

I have seen a few blogs and websites calling Obama the N word, threating to kill the Messaha, or referring to him as a Monkey; I do not then associate those persons with McCain just because he happens to be White.

Now if either Luda represented Obama in an official way or had his comments endorsed by Obama then you would have a point. From what I can tell Obama spoke out against those comments.

It does seem that the Black candidate has to jump through hoops the White candidate does not but I am not going to call McCain racist because much of society holds Obama to a different standard then McCain.

If some White music artist maybe one that McSame listened to before made a derogatory song about Obama I would not blame McCain for that song but rather the artist who produced it. You know I and I alone is responsible for the words that leave my mouth.

Now if any of you are parents who buys or lets your kids or grand kids listen to Luda then you should shut up right now about getting on Obama since you are being irresponsible parents.

That is the issue here how many kids are allowed to listen to this Adult content. Not that yet again Obama failed to make every single Black in the country not say bad things about the US, Hillary, McCain, or anyone or anything else that might be offened.

Damn that Barack he should work harder to make his Jedi Mind Control stronger. All blacks have that you know we can control what other blacks say and think! What will they blame on Barack next, the famine in Africa perhaps. He does have a parent from there.

Barack Obama playing the race card will not work in Florida, Michigan, Ohio or Pennsylvania. It only shows desperation.

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/07/31/mccain-camp-accuses-obama-of-playing-race-card/

Barack Obama polls dropping like a rock, 9 points in 5 days:

http://www.gallup.com/poll/109219/Gallup-Daily-Race-Tied-44.aspx

[David]

I am just one of many lifelong Democrats in my family who are completely disgusted with the DNC for the selection of Obama. BO is an empty suit who will not get my vote come November. I am not sure if I will vote for McCain (at least he is a moderate ). Maybe 3rd party this year, I am still not sure about who I will vote for. I am sure on who I will not vote for....BO.

Another lifelong democrat that do not really like Obama who will likely go with mccain.

[Ronny]

What about the ad that is on John Mcains y-tube site. You know the one where he has Barck on a 100 dollar bill. That was over a month ago. So techinally Barack was right John Mcain has pointed out that Barack doesnt look like the other presidents. God Bless you fellow americans dont be decieved.By this flag wavering con man ask most vet organizations why they dont support Mcain. He has voted agaisnt every single piece of legislation that helps vets. AHe voting agaisnt funding the troops twice. He also didnt go see the troops in the hospital himself when he was in Europe earlier this year. What a joke.