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Anyone Watching Obama's Speech?

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:20:02 PM EST
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It's on now. He's talking about change.

Reactions?

Update: Soundbite from the speech: "My two daughters see themselves differently because Hillary ran for President."

< Thursday Afternoon Open Thread | Gallup: Hillary Gives Obama 5 Point Bump As VP >

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    Anyone Watching Obama's Speech? | 204 comments (204 topical)
    O rly? (5.00 / 14) (#1)
    by Pieter B on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:23:33 PM EST
    It's on now. He's talking about change.

    I've seen that one.

    Have you seen the Hope one? (5.00 / 15) (#7)
    by rooge04 on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:31:48 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    I'm glad I'm not the only one not grabbing the (5.00 / 16) (#11)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:35:26 PM EST
    remote.  I was watching soccer and I continue to watch soccer.  It's my bitterness ruining things.  Where's my gun damn it?

    [ Parent ]
    I gotta get to church! (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by rooge04 on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:37:44 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    I don't even have those to cling to.... (5.00 / 9) (#76)
    by Maria Garcia on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:08:24 PM EST
    ....all I've got is my bitterness.

    [ Parent ]
    Here's a change: Obama wants Bill (5.00 / 11) (#29)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:46:42 PM EST
    on the campaign trail with him.  The racist Bill Clinton is supposed to carry his bags?

    Don't do it, Bill.  This guy's baggage is more than anyone can handle -- and it could smear anyone around him.

    I am more disgusted by the day with Obama.  By November, at this rate, he will rank in my mind with . . . well, I won't say it on this blog.

    [ Parent ]

    They want Bill (5.00 / 4) (#70)
    by Emma on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:04:41 PM EST
    But not Hillary.  It is the boys' club.  I hope Bill doesn't play.

    [ Parent ]
    Bill? The guy that was part of the Clinton-Bush (5.00 / 9) (#87)
    by rooge04 on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:14:26 PM EST
    years of economic hardship and Washington in-fighting? That Bill?  Bill the buffoon who's also a racist?  Or the Bill that tarred and feathered him as the Black Candidate in SC?  Surely not THAT Bill.

    [ Parent ]
    Don't worry, Bill won't be dealing with Obama (5.00 / 0) (#183)
    by stefystef on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 07:29:26 PM EST
    or his cronies.  After what they did to him during this campaign?  Vilifying the only Democratic President in 28 years and you treat him like s%*&?  Bill won't have a damn thing to do with helping Obama or the Democratic Party at this point.

    Bill will go back to what he does best, giving speeches and re-connecting with truly loyal people.  

    Obama won't have William Jefferson Clinton to kick around anymore.

    [ Parent ]

    I'd vote for an Obama/George Clinton ticket (3.00 / 1) (#102)
    by Ellie on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:19:52 PM EST
    But I'd prefer a Clinton=Clinton one, working the One Nation Under a Groove unity.

    [ Parent ]
    Wha? (5.00 / 5) (#84)
    by Fabian on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:11:34 PM EST
    The guy he didn't want to acknowledge in any positive way?

    And the OFB have a lot of things to say about Bill, and none of them nice.

    Perhaps Obama should have set a positive narrative re: The Clintons during the primary.  It's been a very long primary and a lot of people have been paying attention.  I think the conventional wisdom is that what happens during a primary doesn't really count and no one remembers it anyway.

    Not this time....

    [ Parent ]

    Yep, here's the link (5.00 / 7) (#92)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:16:26 PM EST
    to the story.  A few fun tidbits:

    BRISTOW, Va. - Barack Obama is looking forward to campaigning with a pair of Clintons this summer and fall. But don't bother asking if he'll pick the Clinton he just defeated as his running mate.

    Fielding questions on his campaign plane over Virginia, Obama heaped praise on Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, his vanquished Democratic rival, pronouncing himself "grateful for her support." He also said he expected to mend fences with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who criticized Obama sharply at times during the primary season.

    "Bill Clinton is an enormous talent," Obama said, "and I would welcome him campaigning for us. . . ."  [Obama also] predicted he and [Hillary Clinton] will appear together soon. "She ran a magnificent campaign," he said. "She inspired millions of people. . . ."

    Pop the popcorn.  Obama and the Racists' Tour to Heal and Bring Hopey-Hope to America, Okey-Doke!

    [ Parent ]

    I can't stand it (5.00 / 2) (#103)
    by Burned on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:20:01 PM EST
    I'm going to explode.

    [ Parent ]
    Cream City, you rock n/t (5.00 / 0) (#108)
    by Valhalla on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:22:30 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    "his vanquished Democratic rival"? (5.00 / 3) (#124)
    by nycstray on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:32:31 PM EST
    "vanquished"?! How about former rival instead?


    He also said he expected to mend fences with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who criticized Obama sharply at times during the primary season.

    Gee, I wonder why Bill criticized him . . . .

    I'm so glad I have many things to keep me busy and away from seeing this if it happens.

    [ Parent ]

    Heh (5.00 / 4) (#132)
    by standingup on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:36:08 PM EST
    That is a change I am having difficulty believing in myself. I would not be surprised at all to see both Clintons helping campaign for Obama and other Democrats because that is they are loyal party Democrats. The way Obama casually assumes that he can walk all over people and their reputations, from his grandmother to the Clintons and a whole lot of people in between, is one of the reasons I seem him as an opportunistic, character lacking politician.

    [ Parent ]
    That's fascinating... (5.00 / 6) (#133)
    by kredwyn on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:36:14 PM EST
    We've been hearing about how racist they are for the past 6 months.

    Now...all of a sudden, they aren't that racist after all.

    Wonder what all those folks who really believed the racist spin are going to think...

    [ Parent ]

    Haven't you figured it out yet? (4.50 / 8) (#139)
    by Maria Garcia on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:37:43 PM EST
    ...Once you support Obama, you have atoned for your racism.

    [ Parent ]
    Barbara Ehrericher (sp) (5.00 / 1) (#153)
    by tek on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:45:03 PM EST
    actually said that.

    [ Parent ]
    Hey (5.00 / 3) (#155)
    by tek on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:45:53 PM EST
    I just figured out, that's why I can't support Obama, I'm not racist!

    [ Parent ]
    Awesome news! (5.00 / 1) (#201)
    by Democratic Cat on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 08:06:07 PM EST
    So now that we have solved America's racial problems by selecting an AA nominee, can we get to work on America's sexism problem? Please?

    [ Parent ]
    He'll fix that next (none / 0) (#209)
    by zebedee on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 08:20:55 PM EST
    He can't do everything at once, give him a little time. He had to fix the race problems first. Now that that's all done he can turn his attention to sexism. Then comes the class barriers. America will be such a wonderful place to be in 2009 and we will be so grateful we didn't end up with that divisive woman.

    [ Parent ]
    I think Bill is looking tired, and not well. (5.00 / 1) (#212)
    by FlaDemFem on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 08:33:40 PM EST
    I think he should take a break from campaigning, at least until Christmas. Unless Hillary gets the nomination, of course. Heh. Why should he wear himself out campaigning for Obama before the nomination is official?? I think he should go on vacation until August. Then if the convention confirms Obama's nomination, he should go back on vacation. He doesn't owe Obama, or the Democratic Party, a damn thing. He certainly doesn't owe them the grind that campaigning is, even if he does enjoy it. He doesn't owe anybody anything. So, I hope he goes on a well-deserved vacation. Hillary should do weekend appearances between her Senate commitments. Like a good little Dem. Other than that, I don't see that Obama can reasonably expect them to do anything for him. I sure wouldn't under the same circumstances.

    [ Parent ]
    But see (5.00 / 1) (#149)
    by owenaprhys on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:42:32 PM EST
    if he had talked nice about the Clintons, instead of race-baiting and mocking them at every step, the people would have voted for Hillary.

    The MSM wouldn't have allowed that.

    [ Parent ]

    I thought (5.00 / 3) (#99)
    by cloudy on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:18:12 PM EST
    Bill was a liability that needed to be reined in?  Curious.

    [ Parent ]
    Didn't Bill say in South Dakota.... (5.00 / 4) (#135)
    by Maria Garcia on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:36:22 PM EST
    ...that it was his last day of campaigning? Hope he means it. He actually does have more important things to do.

    [ Parent ]
    I wonder which Hillary (5.00 / 6) (#204)
    by mikeyleigh on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 08:11:13 PM EST
    makes his daughters see themselves differently:  the racist Hillary, the do anything to win Hillary, the lying Hillary, the partisan Hillary etc.?

    [ Parent ]
    LOL (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by miguelito on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:28:02 PM EST
    good one, Jeralyn!

    You're kidding! (5.00 / 11) (#3)
    by lambert on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:28:28 PM EST
    Is it the kind of change we can believe in?

    Or some other kind of change?

    Well... (5.00 / 3) (#16)
    by rooge04 on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:37:11 PM EST
    there's the Change We Can Believe In followed by the Change Coming to Washington followed by Hope and more Change. So really, you know...some change.

    [ Parent ]
    There's (5.00 / 4) (#28)
    by cmugirl on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:45:52 PM EST
    a homeless man I see every day when I get on and off the Metro who asks for change - maybe that's what he's talking about?  </snark>

    [ Parent ]
    From the Onion (5.00 / 4) (#49)
    by reslez on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:53:59 PM EST
    Obama vs Change was parodied in The Onion: Black Guy Asks Nation For Change

    [ Parent ]
    My (none / 0) (#150)
    by tek on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:43:26 PM EST
    husband read it to me.  Hilarious!

    [ Parent ]
    Think Obama can connect (none / 0) (#152)
    by samanthasmom on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:44:15 PM EST
    with these people?

    [ Parent ]
    I guess so. (none / 0) (#42)
    by reslez on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:52:05 PM EST
    I was reading McCain's speech (the one from Tuesday) and the repeated refrain was "That's change we can't believe in".

    It's fairly clear what the battlelines will be.

    Think Obama has enough substance and media lickability to win that narrative?  I look forward to finding out.

    [ Parent ]

    lickability?!?! (none / 0) (#181)
    by dws3665 on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 07:27:23 PM EST
    In a word: ew.

    [ Parent ]
    how can he change the country... (5.00 / 9) (#4)
    by Arjun on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:28:58 PM EST
    if he can't change his speeches?

    Oh come on (5.00 / 2) (#158)
    by owenaprhys on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:48:00 PM EST
    you expect him to actually know or care what he is saying? He is reading a speech that his handlers wrote for him, he doesn't care, just give him yet another contest that he hasn't won.

    [ Parent ]
    Right on! (none / 0) (#185)
    by stefystef on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 07:34:48 PM EST
    Thank you.  

    [ Parent ]
    I haven't changed enough yet to watch him. (5.00 / 10) (#5)
    by Burned on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:29:44 PM EST
    I'm busy doing the Obama mind meld thing to myself.

    Maybe (5.00 / 16) (#8)
    by Blue Jean on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:32:46 PM EST
    We should all do a drinking game; drink a shot every time he says "Change." By the time he's finished, we'll all be so smashed we won't care what he says.

    The speech only sounds good if it is a shot of (5.00 / 3) (#12)
    by honora on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:35:39 PM EST
    koolaid that you take.

    [ Parent ]
    You can put some moonshine in... (5.00 / 0) (#78)
    by Maria Garcia on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:10:48 PM EST
    ...my koolaid. Now that I'm an appalachian Puerto Rican, I'll have to get used to it.

    [ Parent ]
    Puerto Rican Hillbilly? (5.00 / 1) (#115)
    by Carolyn in Baltimore on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:26:35 PM EST
    Well I'm a post-sexual latino jewish female hillbilly. We could have some party!

    And I remember after 2000 we were black voters in the Banana Republic. We are Legion, I guess......

    [ Parent ]

    We can party like its 1999. (5.00 / 1) (#146)
    by Maria Garcia on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:39:53 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    I think I'm 'just' a post-sexual, racist (none / 0) (#134)
    by nycstray on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:36:21 PM EST
    typical old white woman. But there are plenty of hillbillies and garlic noses in my 'hood and I have roots in both . . .  ;)

    [ Parent ]
    To quote a previous Obama supporter's post (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by blogtopus on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:34:15 PM EST
    He won. Deal with it.

    We are in our own special way.

    The kind of change I needed (5.00 / 10) (#13)
    by blogtopus on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:35:40 PM EST
    was to change my channel.

    I'm not ready for the Obama (TM) Bloviating yet. I'll wait until October or thereabouts.

    He's going to have to do a lot more (5.00 / 8) (#14)
    by clbrune on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:35:47 PM EST
    This is his major weakness: a lot of people want facts, not slogans.

    That's Clinton's strength (IMO).  People overlook how significantly she complements his rhetoric with detail and professionalism.

    <sigh>

    He's going to have to do a lot more (5.00 / 7) (#169)
    by pcronin on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 07:01:35 PM EST
    "This is his major weakness: a lot of people want facts, not slogans. ... That's Clinton's strength (IMO).  People overlook how significantly she complements his rhetoric with detail and professionalism."
    ~~~~~~~

    Obama is the Presumptive Nominee. He should be strong enough to win on his own merits.

    For Hillary to rescue him by being the wonk with a heart for the people ... which he is not ... that's just another instance of the man being promoted over a more qualified woman... and then have her as his "right hand man" when he doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

    There were jokes about how often he pushed the wrong button when voting in the Illinois legislature ... well let's see if he continues the trend.

    Hillary will endorse him and being the loyal Democrat she is - she will campaign for him. But to be on the ticket as VP in order to complement his weaknesses ... God I'm really struggling with that one!
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Better idea: She suspends her campaign, keeps her delegates and maybe by the convention HIS weaknesses will be more apparent and his orneriness will catch up to him so delegates & supers will reconsider and place her at the top of the Democratic ticket like it should have been as the outcome of this election cycle.

    34,829,191 voters in 39 Primaries got it right, why didn't the Super's?
    ~~~
    39 Primaries: 34,829,191 total votes
    Hillary: 17,657,517
    Barack:  17,171,674

    Clinton + 485,843 votes
    Clinton + 44.5 Net Delegates
    ~~~
    13 Caucuses: 1,057,036 votes
    Barack:  678,452
    Hillary: 378,684

    Barack + 299,768 votes
    Barack + 206 Net Delegates
    ~~~

    Final election data:
    Clinton:    18,046,271 votes
    Obama:   17,869,497 votes

    Clinton + 176,774 votes
    Obama + 165.5 Net Delegates

    The 34.8 million citizen voters in 39 Primaries got it right.

    Maybe by the convention so will the Party.

    In the meanwhile, let him iron his own shirts!
    --peniel cronin

    [ Parent ]

    This is a familiar role for her (none / 0) (#168)
    by 1040su on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:58:00 PM EST
    Your last sentence hits the nail on the head!  You know, in watching the Obamas I've often thought how their relationship seems to mirror that of the Clintons.  In both cases you have a man who articulates a "big vision" with beautiful sounding platitudes and feel good rhetoric.  Behind the scenes is a strong woman with an eye for details - "An Implementer."  I think Michele fills that same role for her husband.  That's also why I think the relationship between the 2 women would be strained.  I know this won't be popular, but I kind of like Michelle Obama.  I think she's a tough woman too.  

    I so wanted this for Hillary!  She spent 30+ years in the shadows, pushing her husband's agenda, helping him realize his dreams.  It was her turn to take the wheel & drive the car.  It will take some time to come to terms with this.  If she's on the ticket, I will feel more comfortable voting for Obama because of her strengths - her ability to be the adult supervision. As it stands today, for the 1st time since I started voting for President in 1976, I will not cast a vote for President of the United States. I will however vote for all down ticket Dems.

    [ Parent ]

    Now, we all have to admit to being tickled (5.00 / 7) (#17)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:37:28 PM EST
    these past three days watching McCain throwing "change" around too.  Where were all these changing men the last time I had a tot in pampers?

    All we need now is the speech (5.00 / 0) (#119)
    by Grace on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:30:45 PM EST
    from McCain:

    "I have a son who is Obama's age.  When he was little, he wanted change too."

    [ Parent ]

    Sometimes I think (5.00 / 21) (#20)
    by dk on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:38:28 PM EST
    that the worst thing about Obama potentially being president is that for another 4 or 8 years I can't watch the president of my country make a speech.  Watching Obama speak is just as sickening as watching Bush speak.  They both just sound so lame.

    I realize that millions of people disagree with me, but surely I can't be the only one..am I?

    You're not the only one ... (5.00 / 10) (#32)
    by Robot Porter on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:47:14 PM EST
    but unlike Bush, Obama's voice can lull you to sleep.

    Only problem, when you wake he's usually still talking.

    [ Parent ]

    Oh, if it just made me sleepy (5.00 / 3) (#39)
    by dk on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:50:24 PM EST
    I could deal with it.  

    [ Parent ]
    If you (4.66 / 3) (#69)
    by PlayInPeoria on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:03:11 PM EST
    want to add some excitement to his speech... start counting the number of "um" sounds he makes.

    [ Parent ]
    and NEVER use "um"* for a drinking game (none / 0) (#80)
    by nycstray on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:11:19 PM EST
    alcohol poisoning anyone?

    *"uh" . . . is just as dangerous  :)

    [ Parent ]

    Ditto. So -- no change there (5.00 / 11) (#36)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:49:09 PM EST
    and we'll just not listen to a word from our president for four more years.  It has helped me get through almost eight years already, plus the last few months of just muting Obama because I can't stand his lecturing style, so what's a few more years?

    [ Parent ]
    OMG! (5.00 / 4) (#131)
    by tek on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:35:56 PM EST
    It isn't just me!  LECTURING, that's what the guy does.  He scolds and lectures and criticizes, always telling us how we don't meet his expectations.  Hey, I'm Unitarian, I don't even listen to that crap from my minister.

    And then we'll have Michelle to constantly tell us that all white people are racists and the only way to atone for it is to give her and Barack whatever they want.

    [ Parent ]

    Well, I teach, so I know it when I see it (none / 0) (#210)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 08:26:12 PM EST
    and attempt to avoid doing it.  But the traditional lecture is still standard in law schools, so that's all that Obama knows -- that and the preachy style, Southern style, which is fake since he is not a Southerner.  Put up a Youtube of him and Jesse Jackson or MLK, and you'll see the difference.

    [ Parent ]
    lecturing and sermonizing (none / 0) (#199)
    by noholib on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 08:05:04 PM EST
    The lecturing sounds like sermonizing and also hectoring.  I don't find it inspiring anymore (I did a little at one time.) Why couldn't he smile Tuesday night?  And why did he have to SHOUT so much at the end?  

    [ Parent ]
    same here (5.00 / 7) (#55)
    by miguelito on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:56:47 PM EST
    I get that same visceral, disgusted feeling that I get from watching and listening to Bush and unfortunately that is just the beginning of the similarities

    [ Parent ]
    You too? (5.00 / 3) (#126)
    by DarielK on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:33:25 PM EST
    I thought I was the only one that couldn't stand to listen to him speak - he really is so much like Bush.  

    [ Parent ]
    You're not alone (5.00 / 3) (#176)
    by RalphB on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 07:10:37 PM EST
    I'm already supporting McCain for President.  If Obama keeps on with these speeches, I may not even vote for the down ticket dems.  They disgust me.


    [ Parent ]
    Oh Dear (5.00 / 4) (#145)
    by tek on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:39:42 PM EST
    We'll never be able to watch the campaign because Plouffe said yesterday that Obama wants to do Lincoln/Douglas type debates:  each candidate will talk for an HOUR (that's right, and HOUR) and then they'll each get a rebuttal.  

    [ Parent ]
    Please tell me that was a joke. (5.00 / 4) (#171)
    by MMW on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 07:06:57 PM EST
    I don't watch any kind of news anymore, just because there is a possibility they will show an excerpt of one of his speeches. I'm strictly internet news. I even check weather forecasts online.

    [ Parent ]
    I won't be (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by pie on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:38:43 PM EST
    watching him until the campaign heats up.  I want to see how he's going to respond to the republican attacks and see if he has grace under pressure, if he has what it takes to be the POTUS.

    Until then, I figure he's still on his honeymoon and that's unexciting for the rest of us.

    Change, huh? (5.00 / 15) (#22)
    by Anne on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:40:57 PM EST
    How historic - I am so sorry to be missing it, but the beauty is that even without TIVO or a DVR, I'm pretty sure I can hear it again.  And again.  And maybe, again.

    Maybe if someone records it and plays it backwards, we will discover the hidden message: I am Oz, the Great and Powerful...

    And me without my ruby slippers...damn!

    Thank you, Anne,I absolutely (5.00 / 3) (#24)
    by zfran on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:42:51 PM EST
    cannot stop laughing.

    [ Parent ]
    lol, this may not be so bad after all. My (5.00 / 6) (#25)
    by Teresa on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:44:18 PM EST
    stomach hurts from laughing at this thread.

    [ Parent ]
    I thought (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by cmugirl on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:16:25 PM EST
    we would hear "Paul is dead".

    [ Parent ]
    You (5.00 / 9) (#23)
    by sas on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:41:52 PM EST
    are not the only one.

    After 8 years of yelling obscenities as the President speaks.....I can look forward to at least 4 years of

    yelling obscenities as the President speaks.

    I (5.00 / 8) (#26)
    by cmugirl on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:45:08 PM EST
    can't turn the channel fast enough when Bush or Obama is on TV.  I guess I will have to get my news from TL and other sources because I can't stand to watch another smarmy guy on TV.

    [ Parent ]
    I'm (5.00 / 1) (#147)
    by tek on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:41:08 PM EST
    so glad I violated my pledge to swear off all political sites and came here.  This is the first time I've laughed since Tuesday.  

    [ Parent ]
    Hoping For Change... (5.00 / 4) (#27)
    by AlladinsLamp on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:45:38 PM EST
    I've been hoping Mr. Obama would change his stump speech for awhile now.

    It's becoming stale.

    Change (5.00 / 3) (#30)
    by txpolitico67 on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:46:50 PM EST
    I like that old Sheryl Crow song about "a change, would do you good..."

    Maybe someone can tell the speechwriters at Obama Inc that the change speech needs changing.

    Then there's the song I heard last night (none / 0) (#50)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:54:28 PM EST
    at Menopause, the Musical:

    "Change, change, change, change of life. . . ." to the tune of "Chain of Fools" -- and that's the theme song of the Democratic Party these days.

    [ Parent ]

    I saw him get a walking stick (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by bjorn on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:46:59 PM EST
    from an older man and Obama said he would use it to whup congress if they do not pass my health care plan.

    That's pretty funny... (none / 0) (#170)
    by kredwyn on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 07:02:51 PM EST
    but I seriously doubt it'll happen.

    [ Parent ]
    Seriously? (5.00 / 5) (#33)
    by cmugirl on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:47:39 PM EST
    Soundbite from the speech: "My two daughters see themselves differently because Hillary ran for President."

    His two daughters are something like 9 and 6 - they don't really have any idea what the President is, let alone the historic nature of Hillary running.  Daddy just told them they will get to live in the WH and they get to get a dog.

    Shrug (5.00 / 16) (#41)
    by Steve M on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:51:47 PM EST
    It's for the best.  Old enough to understand that a woman ran for President, young enough that they don't understand how she was treated for doing it.

    [ Parent ]
    Oh, that left mark. (5.00 / 3) (#62)
    by Fabian on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:00:18 PM EST
    Old enough to understand is when they are old enough to understand that the latest pop idol is really just the product of a slick marketing campaign.

    I really was thinking the prescandal(s) Britney Spears - really!  (My niece came of age during that time and I was so relieved to hear that she couldn't stand Ms. Spears.)

    [ Parent ]

    They will learn about it in books (5.00 / 4) (#65)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:01:25 PM EST
    being written right now.  And then, won't he have some 'splaining to do. . . .

    [ Parent ]
    Maybe (5.00 / 4) (#74)
    by Steve M on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:07:29 PM EST
    To date, I'm finding there isn't much of a market for telling the truth about this primary.

    [ Parent ]
    I've already heard a talk (5.00 / 3) (#79)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:10:59 PM EST
    by one scholar with a work in progress on this.  And I think Sean Willentz' works throughout may mean that he's writing a book about the smear campaign -- and with this stature, anything he writes will get published, read, and referenced for years to come.

    And those are just the ones I know of well, while I've heard (on academic listservs) of several other articles, studies, etc., in the works.  These may not be the bestsellers, although I would bet those would sell, too.  But books there will be to be found. . . .

    [ Parent ]

    No wonder (5.00 / 1) (#125)
    by tek on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:32:33 PM EST
    the academics love him--their making millions!

    [ Parent ]
    And he, not she, is "change" (5.00 / 8) (#48)
    by Davidson on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:53:18 PM EST
    So how could his daughters possibly see themselves differently?  Oh, and not to mention what father would want their children to look up to a woman who's "in her element" when she's supposedly twisting a knife in someone's back?

    His campaign of exploiting and even reveling in anti-female hate just makes me twitch in rage whenever I see or hear him.

    [ Parent ]

    He's started saying this lately. (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by nycstray on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:15:30 PM EST
    What a crock. How does his typical white grandma feel about this primary and Hillary I wonder?

    [ Parent ]
    We're sending an interviewer (5.00 / 4) (#157)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:47:46 PM EST
    to crawl under the bus for a comment -- back after the commercial with that exclusive for you, stay tuned. :-)

    [ Parent ]
    The Lesson That Can Be Taken From Hillary's (5.00 / 14) (#101)
    by MO Blue on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:19:40 PM EST
    presidential run is that you can be ten times as knowledgeable and work ten times harder and the new inexperienced guy will get the job. The media, your opponents and your party will rather make fun of your laugh, your dress or anything else that identifies you as a women than talk about what skills you have to offer.

    It is a good thing that Obama's daughters are too young to realize the real lesson taught in 2008 and their father's role in teaching it.

    Save the rhetoric Obama for someone who is buying it.

    [ Parent ]

    Another lesson.... (5.00 / 6) (#111)
    by Maria Garcia on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:24:03 PM EST
    ....and there will always be enough other women around to pile again against you so that the boys can claim that its not all women, just you.

    [ Parent ]
    That's right. Teach your daughters that the (5.00 / 7) (#112)
    by rooge04 on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:24:25 PM EST
    less-qualified man usually always gets the job over the more qualified woman.

    [ Parent ]
    that's the lesson (5.00 / 3) (#177)
    by ccpup on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 07:12:05 PM EST
    my young nieces are taking from this.  Their thought now is "why work hard to do anything when the boy who doesn't deserve it is just going to take it away?"

    I find it hard to disagree with them, but I try to remind them it won't always be this way.  And they just roll their eyes at me.

    Oh well.  I AM only the crazy uncle who takes them on great shopping trips.

    :-)

    [ Parent ]

    There is (none / 0) (#159)
    by PlayInPeoria on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:48:47 PM EST
    a glass ceiling in the Oval Office.

    I don't know what it will take to break it.

    [ Parent ]

    A Republican Woman (5.00 / 3) (#175)
    by MO Blue on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 07:09:24 PM EST
    As much as I hate their policies, they would never let the media attack a Republican woman presidential candidate like the Dems did Hillary. The fact that the either stood silently by or jumped gleefully into to fray on attacking Hillary as a woman is one of the many reasons I will not be voting for Obama in November. I refuse to sanction that behavior with my vote.

    [ Parent ]
    Seems obvious now (5.00 / 2) (#179)
    by RalphB on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 07:18:10 PM EST
    that, unless Hillary can run in 2012, the first woman president will be a Republican.  The GOP will have their head on a plate if any media tries to do something like this to their woman candidate.  You can put that in the bank.


    [ Parent ]
    Correction about the dog (5.00 / 6) (#113)
    by wurman on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:25:05 PM EST
    The Obama girls get ponies, unity ponies.

    And they can put the cardboard tubes from Christmas gift paper on the ponies' foreheads.  Then wrap the tubes with aluminum foil.  Then they will be unicorns.

    Unity unicorns, yeah, that's it.  Unitykorns.

    [ Parent ]

    "Unitykorns" -- wonderful, Wurman! (none / 0) (#122)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:31:13 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Cue the Irish Rovers . . . (none / 0) (#140)
    by wurman on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:38:22 PM EST
    . . .some cats and rats and elephants
    But sure as you're born,
    You'll never see no unitykorns.

    With my sincere, humble & abject apologies to the incredible Shel Silverstein, lyricist & general genius.

    [ Parent ]

    My daughter's favorite song (none / 0) (#156)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:46:21 PM EST
    for me to sing to her, while she cuddled with her My Little Pony unitykorn.:-)  I've got to go find that in the packed-away toys and put it on my desk for whenever Obama comes on tv, so I can do what she did and make the unitykorn pony dance, dance, dance or it would be a bad, bad, bad pony!

    [ Parent ]
    You know it's a really good day for me (none / 0) (#167)
    by wurman on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:57:37 PM EST
    if some silly comment brings up a lovely memory like that for you.

    With all the weirdness swirling around us, it will be necessary to have a grand sense of humor, fond memories & a child-like acceptance that things may somehow work out OK.

    [ Parent ]

    If his two daughters saw the OFB (5.00 / 4) (#34)
    by Davidson on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:47:51 PM EST
    They'd see their father differently.

    Yah, I bet (5.00 / 10) (#35)
    by dk on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:48:34 PM EST
    his daughters think differently.  They probably think "wow, my dad was complicit in the malign acceptance of sexism."

    good point (5.00 / 5) (#44)
    by txpolitico67 on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:52:13 PM EST
    a question i hope that one of his sweet daughters asks Obama is, "Dad, how would you feel if someone treated us the way you treated Hillary when she was running against you?"

    I usually don't like to mention the kiddos. To me they are off limits, but I don't think that this comment was too vitriolic.

    [ Parent ]

    They'll never know (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by Steve M on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:55:21 PM EST
    The winners write the history books.

    [ Parent ]
    Nah, all anyone has to do (none / 0) (#118)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:29:37 PM EST
    to turn that around is write history books, and then they'll be winners.  Works for me. :-)

    [ Parent ]
    I agree (4.80 / 5) (#51)
    by JustJennifer on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:54:46 PM EST
    kids are off limits but if he is going to try and use his daughters to make women think he cares then commenting on his comments is fair game.

    [ Parent ]
    It's part of the Obama narrative (5.00 / 6) (#73)
    by Fabian on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:07:07 PM EST
    "My kids convinced me to support Obama."

    Now it's:
    "Obama's kids convinced me to support Obama."

    I think people have it right - Obama's campaign is going feature the kids prominently.  

    [ Parent ]

    That daughter line sure is getting used a lot. (5.00 / 5) (#38)
    by Teresa on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:49:43 PM EST
    I guess his daughters like divisive women. I wish he would say why he admires Hillary and not why his daughters or other women benefit from her being in the race. Is that all she represented to him and his speechwriters? A woman ran and that's it?

    It's the only way he knows... (5.00 / 3) (#89)
    by Dawn Davenport on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:15:14 PM EST
    ...how to pander to Hillary's supporters, as if we'll all fall into a fawning heap of "Awww, isn't that sweet, he has children with XX chromosomes!"

    Because, of course, Hillary's chromosomal composition was the only reason we supported her.

    [ Parent ]

    It also points out (none / 0) (#96)
    by cmugirl on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:17:37 PM EST
    that he is "young" (with small children),whereas Hillary (and now McCain) are old.

    [ Parent ]
    Yes. Old and post-sexual. (none / 0) (#162)
    by derridog on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:50:59 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Daughters and Wives (5.00 / 1) (#127)
    by Valhalla on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:33:33 PM EST
    When criticisms of sexism and misogyny finally started popping up in MSM, Obama's response was to lecture Republicans for showing videos of his wife's "Proud (Now) to be an American" shtick.

    So, sadly, I do think that his understanding of Clinton's historic campaign (and what all those b*tchy, weepy white women are so upset about) has his wife and kids as the outside border.

    [ Parent ]

    I can just picture it now,,, (5.00 / 4) (#190)
    by Anne on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 07:43:51 PM EST
    The Obama family, gathered before the fireplace, little girls cuddled, one on each side of Michelle... one of them looks up at her mother, eyes full of adoration, and says,

    Mommy, tell us that story again, the one where we can be whatever we want, as long as there isn't a less qualified man who wants it, too...you know, the one that starts...Once upon a time, there was a man named Barack and a woman named Hillary...

    Really, what will we tell the children?

    [ Parent ]

    picture it now ... the little girls dreaming (5.00 / 1) (#207)
    by noholib on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 08:17:25 PM EST
    well said, Anne.  Thanks for the beginning of another beautiful fairy tale.  Now I can rest tonight.  Actually I am disgusted by this patronizing narcissistic comment of his: so Senator Clinton went through all this and so did her supporters, women and men, and so did the party and country -- and in an ugly sexist and misogynist drama that may well have set women's rights back (considerably I fear) -- all in order to benefit his two darling daughters?!!  Please, spare me.  
    The change I want tonight is to watch the Celtics-Lakers game.  

    [ Parent ]
    if he was on my teevee (5.00 / 10) (#40)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:51:41 PM EST
    the only important change would be to the channel.

    I don't appreciate the pander. (5.00 / 6) (#43)
    by masslib on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:52:10 PM EST
    If I were him, I'd stick to change, which really isn't saying much.

    Bah (5.00 / 5) (#46)
    by JustJennifer on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:52:48 PM EST
    Pandering is almost as dull as recycling the same speech.  He is going to have to get off the soaring rhetoric bus soon or he will become a parody of himself.

    Won't most females feel (5.00 / 13) (#47)
    by waldenpond on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:52:55 PM EST
    different about themselves after this?  

    I can only hope his daughters never have to learn from this particular type of lesson.

    I hope those two girls (5.00 / 6) (#66)
    by pie on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:02:37 PM EST
    turn out as well as Chelsea Clinton.

    [ Parent ]
    Yeh, Obama better watch it (none / 0) (#160)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:48:58 PM EST
    or David Shuster will say he's pimpin' his daughters.

    [ Parent ]
    Towering oratory gets real old real fast (5.00 / 4) (#52)
    by RonK Seattle on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:55:05 PM EST
    People forget - in JFK's day, "the news" was 15 minutes a night weekdays, and a half hour of Meet the Press on Sundays.

    right (5.00 / 4) (#56)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 05:57:07 PM EST
    I think by november most people are going to be SO over it.

    [ Parent ]
    He used towering oratory at AIPAC (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by catfish on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:16:33 PM EST
    In a limited size conference room the golf clap just didn't fill his pauses the way the cheering crowds do in stadiums.

    [ Parent ]
    But ... but Ashley brought a 90-yr-old BLACK man (5.00 / 2) (#105)
    by RonK Seattle on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:20:38 PM EST
    ... to a campaign meeting!!!

    [ Parent ]
    Where were you living?? (none / 0) (#148)
    by FlaDemFem on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:41:51 PM EST
    We watched 1/2 hour of local news and then one half hour of national news, usually with Walter Cronkite for the national. The local was produced and staffed by the local station, and most of the national news came out of New York. At least that's where the broadcast originated. Then there was 60 Minutes which was one of the best news shows ever back then.  Of course, we lived outside Washington, DC, so we might have had a bit more than most, but even when visiting outside the area there were two 1/2 hour news shows at dinner time, local and then national.

    [ Parent ]
    Not until months before JFK was killed (5.00 / 1) (#163)
    by Cream City on Thu Jun 05, 2008 at 06:53:03 PM EST