Obama Race Speech Keeps a Maine Superdelegate on the Fence
If the feelings of Sam Spencer are any measure, Barack Obama’s speech about race on March 18 may just have done the trick in terms of reassuring the all-important uncommitted superdelegates about his general-election viability.
"On Sunday we had a Democratic State Committee meeting and several members came up to me,” Spencer, an uncommitted superdelegate from Maine, told me. “They were very concerned about what was happening with Jeremiah Wright and Senator Obama. I watched clips of the speech yesterday, and I thought it was a very moving, powerful speech. And I was glad that it wasn't trite, as it was maybe easier to treat the subject. It was subtle and it was real and it was honest. My own sense is that this went a very long way towards eliminating the Jeremiah Wright situation as an issue that is going to dog him in the campaign."
Spencer maintained his neutrality in the race—a function, he said, of his belief that the superdelegate role in the nominating process was less than fully democratic, and of an oath he made to stay uncommitted until all states had voted and the candidates had exhausted all possibilities of settling the race themselves.
He has maintained this principled neutrality in the face of enormous pressure from the Obama and Clinton campaigns.
Spencer, who worked in the Clinton White House for three years in the Presidential Personnel Office before becoming a special assistant to Vice President Al Gore, has been hearing a lot from old friends loyal to the Clintons. At the same time, though, his partner in a developing business is the chairman of Obama's Maine campaign.
"I take it from all sides," he said.
He has met with Hillary Clinton, received a call from Obama and spoken with Myesha Ward, an Obama operative who tracked delegates for John Kerry’s presidential campaign. On Wednesday, he received a call from the Clinton campaign asking him to meet with former President Clinton at a campaign event in Boston.
"The Obama campaign and more recently the Clinton campaign has also done a good job of ginning up their grass-roots supporters to contact me," he said, referring to the letters, e-mails, and phone calls that take up much of his day.
He said that he didn't quite buy Obama's argument that superdelegates should follow the will of the people, because in a proportional system, the will of the people is not winner-take-all.
"I think it's an oversimplification," he said. "Because in the Democratic Party we have proportional allocation. On the day of the caucus it was a very snowy day. Tens of thousands of Hillary Clinton supporters waited on line in the snow to vote and she won her share of delegates—they won 40 percent of the delegates."
So, Spencer said, in light of Obama’s speech, he will continue to reserve judgment.
"I think that normally politicians act defensive and try to shift blame and try to avoid controversial things,” he explained. “I think in that speech he seemed to take it on. The easiest thing would have been to say, 'I barely know the guy.' I never heard him say anything like that." But to acknowledge the reality of how people, like the black church community, really think—I think it represented a new type of honesty and forthrightness and non-oversimplification of a deeply complex issue in our nation's history."
He added, "He is a hard politician to sort of caricaturize because he is so real."
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GET REAL ... ANYONE IS BETTER THAN HILLARY. --- HILLARY IS A PROVEN FAKE & LIAR --- OBAMA HAS NOT HAD THE CHANCE YET TO PROVE HIMSELF.
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the clinton machine was crying that they had bad press coverage;
but when bill was desperate and made his racist remarks about obamas campaign the press cover it but let him go- he did not have to prove that he was not racist- he just gave it a spin - similar to - i did not in hail, i did not have sex with that woman- what he said was - i was not referring to his campaign i was referring to his position on the irak war;
now it in obama's case her wife and her preacher may statements that he does have to go an explain - and prove himself that he is patriotic;
i was born outside the us - and i completely identify with michelle obama statement - in terms of politicians - at the national level - very few have gone with serious minority issues in mind; locally they all want out vote - like Hilary the go to Texas and take pictures with our children and once elected - screw you; i am not a fortune teller - but obama appears to be on message there;
clearly there is a double standard - and the Clinton machine knows how to use it; he is trying - to go the extra mile - it may work it may not - but at least he fought with dignity and did set a standard for future leaders to contemplate- very few of the existing ones are at his league;
No Sam Spencer Obama did not address the issue what he did was make another political speech with his usual "focus on me" tactics. Besides throwing his grandmother under the bus for political expediency he has demonstrated once again his aptitude for shifting the focus with maudlin platitudes to his life story and his "loftier" day dreams of a united America. Let's see how the Republicans are going to role over on his say so.
Walking out of the church with his family, demonstrating courage and character would have been the assets of a committed leader to the ideals of fairness and unity. Instead he exposed his children to the hate mongering of a religious fanatic and for twenty years his silence was a nod of approval. In fact, it was twenty years ago of course that he converted to Christianity as once again, political expediency.
Along with Rezko, NAFTA/Canada and his shrew of a wife on Diane Sawyer's interview what he is revealing is an astute political player who expects voters to over look his own lack of substance and commitment to the very ideals he spews. However, none of this means a "rats ass" to the minions who because they have no vision of their own and have no idea what our Constitution stands for and are willing to hand it over to an opportunist who can't pledge allegiance to it with his hand on his heart.
You get the government you deserve.
The media has been propping up the Clinton's campaign since January. The alleged media bias against Hillary is really a bias in favor of keeping the story going as long as possible. Put a fork in it, Clinton fans. It's done.
Amen Hilaby, amen! The media is biased in favor of eyeballs on their channels. The media kept her aloft as she lost 12 in a row, the media amplifies her message at every turn because they are selling ad time on the backs of the Democratic party. They care for neither politics nor country: it's the money, stupid!
Open Letter to Barrack Obama,
Do you realize the incredible opportunity this recent misfortune has presented to you?
Now is the time for you to show us what a leader you can be when the stakes are high.
Show us you can practice what you preach. Show the American people how to start the
healing. Show the American people how to start to close the racial divide.
Take the offer to be Hillary Clinton's Vice President. End the racial division with in the
Democratic Party. It is time for you to practice what you preach Obama. In doing so will
start to regain credibility with the American voter.
Obama has STILL not answered the following questions about Jeremiah Wright:
(1) Why did Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and Barack Obama vociferously attack Don Imus and call for his dismissal from NBC radio after his comment about the Rutgers basketball team on one of his radio broadcasts, while this trio did nothing about Jeremiah Wright's hatemongering for 20= years? Why is that acceptable?
(2) Why did Oprah Winfrey support Jeremiah Wright for 24 years, when the people he railed against in his church are the same "rich white people" sitting at home in front of their television sets watching Oprah and reading her magazine. The awful things he said about Hillary Clinton were said not just about her, but about 90% of Oprah's viewership. Where was Oprah's outrage? We know Barack and Michelle Obama gave more than $20,000 to Jeremiah Wright. How much did Oprah give?
(3) Barack Obama demanded Hillary Clinton's schedules as First Lady. She produced over 11,000 documents. When is Barack Obama going to produce a calendar of what days he attended Jeremiah Wright's services at Trinity United Church of Christ. Which sermons did he sit in a pew and listen to? Why did he not speak out against Wright when better judgment would tell him Wright's comments were racist, un-American, and unpatriotic?
SHALL LIBERAL OBAMA BE OR NOT BE MOST TRUSTED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SERVE GOD AND CONSTITUTION FOR THE NEXT FOUR DARK YEARS
Better educated than Neo-Lib Hillary and much better educated than Neo-Con McCain!
Superior intelligence to Neo-Lib Hillary and far superior intelligence to Neo-Con McCain, as judged by education and accomplishment!
Superior emotional self-control than either Neo-Lib Hillary or Neo-Con McCain Superior family values than either Neo-Lib Hillary or Neo-Con McCain!
Far higher ethical standards than either Hillary or Neo-Con McCain, as judged by conspiratorial relationships with powerful domestic and foreign lobbies, devious political propaganda, and hate-baiting attacks based on race and culture!
Far superior unifying ability in work with Reagan Conservatives and Kennedy Liberals, compared to the notoriously contentious divisiveness of Neo-Lib Hillary and Neo-Con McCain!
Far superior patriotism and humanitarianism, consistent with the letter and intent of the Constitution, to Neo-Lib Hillary and Neo-Con McCain who supported the un-constitutional and foolish sacrifice of the wealth and blood of the American People in the Iraq War on behalf of Israel!
Superior grasp of immediate priorities, as shown in the focus on using precious time and tax money to try to solve America’s crucial energy, unemployment, recession and inflation, and defense problems instead of foolishly squandering it in imperialistic bloody military interventions in affairs of small nations, while continuing to participate democratically as a member of the United Nations government!
Far broader support from Reagan Conservatives and Kennedy Liberals, and overwhelming support by members of the World community!
Promising beneficial future governmental accomplishments, in contrast to the predictably detrimental future governmental accomplishments of Neo-Lib Hillary and Neo-Con McCain!
The only presidential candidate who exceeds Obama in every way, except for youthful energy, is the intellectual leader in the Cultural War for the American Reformation, Ron Paul, whose integrity, experience, intelligence, emotional balance, and adherence to strict Constitutional libertarian principles is un-excelled. Not surprising, like Obama, his worldwide popularity overwhelmingly surpasses that of the notoriously ugly Americans, Neo-Lib Hillary and Neo-Con McCain!
Google: Mearsheimer Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy; Stricherz Why the Democrats are Blue; Ron Paul Human Events Interview; Who Would the World Elect.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/20/obama-passport-breach-tw_n_9266...
**BREAKING**
BARACK OBAMA PASSPORT RECORDS BREACHED THREE TIMES SINCE JANUARY 2008
Two State Department officials have been fired, and another suspended, over repeated unauthorized breaches of Sen. Barack Obama's passport files, NBC News and other sources are reporting. The State Department has launched an investigation.
Developing...
Statement from Obama campaign:
"This is an outrageous breach of security and privacy, even from an Administration that has shown little regard for either over the last eight years. Our government's duty is to protect the private information of the American people, not use it for political purposes. This is a serious matter that merits a complete investigation, and we demand to know who looked at Senator Obama's passport file, for what purpose, and why it took so long for them to reveal this security breach.
Remember Hillary's challenge to Obama (Mar. 12 Huffington Post: "You need to answer these questions"), asking, among other things:
"As voters evaluate you as a potential Commander-in-Chief, do you think it's legitimate for people to be concerned that you have traveled to only one NATO country, on a brief stopover trip in 2005, and have never traveled to Latin America?"
When I first read this, I wondered how she could have known so specifically that he'd only visited one NATO country, etc.
Maura Hardy, currently of the Office of Consular Affairs, appointed Amb. to Paraguay in 1997 or 1998 by Bill Clinton, is also implicated according to MSNBC. Interesting...
According to Talking Points Memo, the first the day after New Hampshire, the second on the day of the Texas debate and the last the day the Wright story broke.
In the Wright sermon about 9/11, the little snippet about chickens is Wright explicitly quoting from what Edward Peck, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and deputy director of President Reagan’s terrorism task force, said on FOX News. Wright makes very clear (if you listen the longer excerpt of the sermon) that he is profoundly distressed and saddened by the events of 9/11 and struggling, as a religious man, to interpret the event and to reflect on how our society should respond. He worries about how the slaughter of innocents on 9/11 may lead to more slaughter of other innocents.
See
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/
03/21/the-full-story-behind-rev-
jeremiah-wrights-911-sermon/
for the story on CNN and a link to the full sermon. Gives a very different impression of Wright.
Now I have not seen the full sermons with the other offending snippets, but certainly this sermon does not convey hatred of America at all.
Thank you Trillium!
It is unbelieveable how people will make such rash judgements without actually doing the research themselves!
It's one thing to not be for a particular candidate, but don't just regurgitate "over-played" "out of context" information and call it FACT! jeez..........I really want to believe that the majority of americans are critical thinkers, and not just moved by the emotions/intents of the MSM who have they're own agenda.