Barack Obama surfaces in the Caribbean
Barack Obama's campaign maintained its cone of silence today about the candidate's whereabouts, but ABC News got it right -- an Associated Press dispatch confirms that he has escaped the rigors of politicking for a short vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The AP story reports that an unnamed territorial official verified that "Obama was in St. Thomas, the most populated island. Tourists said they spotted him on the beach Sunday."
The story also notes that, along with enjoying the tropical weather, Obama has reason to revel in the political environment on the islands: In a February contest there, he won three Democratic convention delegates, while Hillary Clinton got shut out.
Meanwhile, six superdelegates representing the islands remain uncommitted (so perhaps Obama will be combining some work with his play).
The official Obama schedule released by his campaign simply lists "no public events" for him today and Tuesday. It reports that he'll resurface Wednesday with an unspecified appearance in Greensboro, N.C.
Given his standing in Pennsylvania polls, the Tar Heel State's May 6 primary increasingly looms as a must win for him. [UPDATE -- we should have made this clearer, based on a couple of comments: the Tar Heel State is NORTH CAROLINA's nickname...]
Clinton, after spending the Easter weekend at her home in New York, campaigned today in Pennsylvania, which holds its primary April 22. Traveling to Philadelphia, she delivered a lengthy speech on her plans to grapple with the problems plaguing the nation's housing market (read about it here).
-- Don Frederick
Obama as president offers opportunity for the USA to get its head out of the degenerate and hopeless militarism which is costing the nation its pride, and risking its future place.
Posted by: Anthony Monaghan | March 24, 2008 at 01:15 PM
Well it is not unlikely that he wrote his speech. It was well reported that he actually stayed very late to write it. You seem to be a bit late. He also wrote both his books you know. As well as his now famous 2004 convention speech.
Posted by: ariel | March 24, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Olandug,
"We should judge a person by their actions and not their words." Agreed. Check out Obam's 20 years of public service and you will find them admirable.
Gallup shows Obama has regained his lead over Hillary.
He's not responsible for what Wright said.
Just because ABC spliced together a few lines from
a few sermons you should not ASSume that's represents
a thousand other sermons. The denomination is 99% White and members of churhces visit Trinity on a regular basis.
Wright didn't say anything new on that tape.
He simply repeated things White and Jewish
researchers have stated before.
Google: Kissinger Aids
or look up Dr. Leonard Horowitz. (He's not Black)
or visit www.originofaids.com
Regarding 911. Regaan/Bush is partially responsibe for arming, training, and finacing, Osama and Sadaam Hussein.
Pearl Harbor: Some Historians say Roosevelt provoked the Japanese to attack to get us into WWII.
Posted by: Mr. Unite Us | March 24, 2008 at 01:44 PM
Reply to Olandug' comments:
Do you "Clinton paid blog spammer" never give up? don't you see all you are doing is trying to break up the Dem party. You can cheat as much as you like. But the fact remains that Obama has played a fair clean and better organised campaign than the clintons. I am an independent and although I have not choosen who to vote for yet, I am leaning more and more towards Obama.
Thanks
Posted by: Ebersbacher | March 24, 2008 at 01:44 PM
olandug, you don't really believe all that do you? Not trying to insult your intelligence, just think a bit more about what you have just said. If you want to start talking about skeletons in the closet Mr. Obama can't even begin to compete with Mrs. Clinton. Her closet runneth over.
Posted by: Sharon | March 24, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Ebersbacher, I totally agree. Obama will win . He has my VOTE.
Obama 08'
Posted by: mike | March 24, 2008 at 01:49 PM
Why is PA a must win for Obama, because Clinton says it is? Get real and stop drinking the koolaid. We were spoonfed in the MSM how important TX and OH were and guess what happened, absolutely nada. Clinton actually ended up netting what, 2 delegates from the whole thing, and the race just went on after that. I hate to point out the obvious, but that is what will happen in PA too, Clinton may win it, but because the public isn't buying the "must win" meme the MSM is selling, we know that nothing will happen as a result of her win except we will be tortured by 2 days of how she had this huge "momentum" shift. It always amazes me how no one mentions the fact that just like TX and OH, she had huge polling margins less than a month before the contests, so her winning should be the expectation (and not some MSM generated spin to drum up interest). Also amazes me that her "momentum" last time lasted all of one night, and Obama won 2 primaries right after that (Montana and Mississippi).
In other words, we get it, you guys in the media want to drag this out. You have your wish, this is going to the convention. Now please stop insulting our intellegence by labeling any of the remaining contests "must wins", because it is clear none of them are, except for Clinton that is.
Posted by: tlhwraith | March 24, 2008 at 02:02 PM
I am SO sick of these holier than thou idiots spouting off about Obama's support of his minister. I am in no way excusing what Rev. Wright said but Obama is FAR from the first to be aligned with a controversial religious leader. John McCain just recently accepted an endorsement from John Hagee who himself has had some less than stellar comments about race, religion and politics in the past. Those with a "lighter skin tone", as "olandug" put it, have for decades aligned themselves with the controversial likes of Hagee, Pat Roberson and Jerry Falwell (just to name a few) and it has been a widely accepted practice...up until NOW!
And did I miss something olandug??? When did this church now become a "violent religious group"????? Please...give me a break! You are reaching so far that you aren't even on the map anymore!
You honestly need to upgrade your view of the world. People have evolved beyond your antiquated way of thinking. It simply doesn't cut it anymore and saying it doesn't make it so!!!
Posted by: Dee | March 24, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Uh, DC:
The Tar Heel State is North Carolina, which arguably IS an important, if not "must win," for Obama.
Posted by: Mary | March 24, 2008 at 02:03 PM
@olandug
It is very odd indeed, how people work so hard to accommodate their personal shortcomings and lack of growth as a human being --
See, you can use the same litmus test that you're judging Obama with, against the remaining candidates, Hillary and McCain, and I'm almost certain, no no, very certain, you'll come up with even more troubling findings, than Obama's Rev. Wright.
So, one might ask, what is the point you are trying to make? That you'll be more comfortable with an old man, that is completely out of touch with the nation, who is seriously guilty of what you're accusing Obama of, which is he has articulated no meaningful vision for the country, except war and surrounds himself with lobbyist at every turn -- OR a woman, (ha)who I actually kind of like in some strange way, but where do I begin ?-- or is it you would just be more comfortable with a white... whatever, it doesn't matter if they're damaged goods or not.
I like to think of it this way -- say I was running for President, I like to think of myself as an upstanding citizen, concerned with the problems of America, smart and with the rhetorical gifts to call upon people to work for the betterment of all -- so things are going OK for me, then a blog post is made by you -- the one you just let fly above in fact -- with all its old world thinking and subtle racial bias -- BUT, you're my friend, I love you... I've known you for years, I know you're much better than the words you wrote -- frankly, no matter who we are, Presidential Candidate, or regular people, we all have a Rev. Wright or a person like you ... in our midst - a person we occasionally hear say things that make us cringe, but their very being contradicts those occasional shortcomings, so the benefit of their friendship far outweighs their failings.
I won't get into Rezko, because I think it has been proven that there's nothing to get into, really... there's nothing, the Chicago Times has scrubbed that barrel clean-- but the example holds true -- it is a test of integrity, the measure of a man, when corruption or ruin loom so close, yet he was not tempted to participate or join in... yet, when he calls someone his friend, he does not so easily throw them away, political ambition and Obama's is great, be damned -- it's difficult to grasp such a large idea for most people, most of us would fail - I personally think Obama has passed with flying colors.
I think that if Obama becomes President, and we look back at the whole thing, the most amusing thing will be the idea that white American's are voting for this man out of some kind of 'white guilt' - it's a fallacy, the idea on its face is insulting - I don't think there's a black person alive that thinks that Obama wins the presidency because he's black, and nothing else, the idea is ridiculous. I'm ever confident that if Obama was white, and possessed exactly the same gifts and history, he would be in exactly the same position or maybe even better position _ I simply don't distinguish between him and the other candidates in terms of black and white, it's ridiculous and an attempt to diminish Obama to think that being black is really all he has going for him, and throw away everything else --
Posted by: mkubee | March 24, 2008 at 02:25 PM
"We should judge a person by their actions and not their words. The fact that Obama choose Mr. Wright as his spiritual teacher for 20 years and included Mr. Wright in his election staff speaks well for Mr. Obama’s thinking and actions. Words are easy to manipulate and it is UNLIKELY that Obama's recent speech was written by Mr. Obama anyway. Mr. Obama has a powerful and power hungry staff including his wife that will do or say anything to get him elected to power.
But clearly this man Mr. Obama is not to be trusted with the future of our great country. And regardless that he is ‘fashionably black’ and that many of you have some desire to prove to yourself or to others that you are not prejudice and that you like ‘black people’ with an attitude of ‘See, I like black people, I’m voting for a black person,’ such an attitude of voting for a person because of their race is the definition of prejudice.
If Mr. Obama had a lighter skin tone, there is no way he would be tolerated in as much he is aligned with a violent religious group, and never says anything substantial. And not only that, consider today’s announcement that the Chief of the firm involved in the State Department’s passport breach is Obama adviser. And that Obama has been caught lying about Rezko, regarding the amount of money Rezko gave him, and he still hasn't come clean about his Rezko land deal.
Just look at the kind of people Mr. Obama associates with. If Obama were to become president, what would stop Mr. Obama from appointing Mr. Wright to his cabinet? And if anyone complained about Mr. Wright’s appointment, no doubt they would be called racist, as this card is played daily by Mr. Obama and his clever campaign staff daily.
Out of all the 300 million people in America, is this really who you want for president?
Mr. Obama is partly running on ‘a premise of guilt’ that if you don’t vote for him, it is because you don’t like his race. A manipulative premise that is certain to have disastrous consequences for America and the world, for we should have as our country’s leader someone with wisdom and knowledge regardless of race, not someone hungry for power." - olandug
What are you smoking?
Obama has already won more states, the popular vote and more pledged delegates. He's even won the endorsement of Bill Richardson, a long time friend and supporter of the Clintons, and they are now calling Richardson a "judas". Obama has already won the nomination. The networks are just avoiding the inevitable announcement of the death of Hill-Billy's campaign.
Why would Obama have to claim that if he doesn't win its because of race? Until the media brought up the issue of race and wouldn't let up Obama never brought up race. Even now he's moved forward and away from the race issue. Where are you getting your information? Faux News? Even Chris Wallace spoke up on the show about the ridiculous nature of much of the criticism.
And for you to imply that Obama didn't write his speech with no reason to doubt that he did is just a reflection of your own cynicism and emotional bias. Obama is a Harvard educated man, a former state senator, a US senator and if you go by the numbers he's the DNC nominee. Yet you suggest its unlikely that he wrote the speech himself.
The truth is that it makes you and many other people in America very uncomfortable to know that Obama has the intelligence and the command of that level of articulation to have written a speech that has been hailed the greatest and most moving speech given since Dr King. Its been called the "most significant speech of the information age".
I don't think that most of Obama's detractors are comfortable with that. Many that are were very moved and threw their support behind Obama .. like Bill Richardson, who cited the speech as the deciding factor for his endorsement.
All this bickering does nothing for the Dems. You didn't see this kind of in-house fighting between the republicans. Obama should have run as an Independent.
The Republicans are the Harlem Globetrotters and the Dems are the team that nearly always loses to them. The Dems are a broken institution, and if they want to fix their party they are going to have to discard their usual way of doing politics. People know this, and this is why Obama statistically has already won the nomination despite media scandals concerning his faith, name and statements made by those he knows.
Posted by: J Smith | March 24, 2008 at 03:01 PM
I suggest all you Clintonites forget about Rezko and Wright and Google Paul v Clinton. It is a fraud case now active in the LA Supreme Court. That will really give you something to talk about. Guilt by PARTICIPATION??
Posted by: Shadow | March 24, 2008 at 03:03 PM
Though it is difficult to know for sure how political speeches get written, Obama is known to play a much larger role in his speech writting than most politicians. In addition it is said that he did in fact write the speech in question. Whether that means he completely wrote every word without editing by someone else, who knows.
It's funny how little understanding people seem to have about the life of an American of racially mixed decent. Obama clearly has roots in both white and black American culture, and I think that is a very good thing for a possible president. In some ways it is a shame that Americans are unlikely to vote for a black man with little connection to white culture but they are willing to vote for a string of white men with no connection to black cultureI. Fortunately for Obama his connections to whaite culture are surely deeper than those to black culture. Obama was raised by his white mother and grandparents. Obama was schooled in bastions of upper class white power (Columbia and Harvard) I went to Columbia myself (about 5 years before Obama) and I can assure the readers that he didn't get into Columbia, or do well there, whthout lots of hard work. And I can also assure you that neither Columbia nor Harvard are known for being racially radical (perhaps tollerant but surely not more than that).
Certainly every conservative politician elected int he past several decades has had strong connections to pastors who have said things at least as wild as Wright, but somehow there seems to be less concern with radical white clerics than with black ones. Can anyone point to anything that Obama has done to indicate that he believes in the radical things that were said by Wright. I think his record would indicate that he is a moderate politician with some idealism for guidence.
Posted by: captbilly | March 24, 2008 at 03:20 PM
John mccain is the real joker among the three, he is have a free ride just because the dems are getting all the scrutiny. Why doesnt news like below make major headlines??? Its enough for obama run this one video alone to counter every single GOP ad
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/27/mccain-warns-there-will_n_83459.html
Posted by: sandy | March 24, 2008 at 03:21 PM
Is that why people were snooping around in restricted passport files? Is this actually news we can use?
How about educating the masses about who created the mash-up tape and lead the smear on Obama's church and minister? I can see from comments the unthinking do not know part of the mix tape was Wright quoting Ambassordor Peck on 9/16/2001.
Wright is a bit older than myself and I still remember what white people did to a 14 year old boy visiting a cousin in the south on the word of a white woman who claimed he whistled at her. Do you? (those who have quickly sat in judgment and condemned Wright)
I hope the guy sues the networks for defamation of character. The KKK has already been peppering Obama with threats and by making his where abouts known, you all are helping endanger the man's life. He deserves a vacation after constant attacks from the media and the most especially the Clintons.
The Clintons should be ashamed of themselves and come clean about their lies and slander against Obama. How immature in their crazed lust for power that they would use a Kenyan father to crucify Senator Obama. They like to claim they are friends to our black citizens. I do not think so.
Posted by: Mary CA | March 24, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Posted by: olandug | March 24, 2008 at 11:25 AM: "Out of all the 300 million people in America, is this really who you want for president?" Oy vey, now we have 300 million people running for president?
Yes, I do want Senator Obama for president for many reasons that have nothing to do with a tape made to sway people just like you.
I am not going to vote for bombing Iran with the extremely corrupt Clintons, nor with the very old McCain.
The crazy people are the ones voting for a womanizing impeached ex president for a "buy one get one free" co-presidency. Bill had his two terms and does not get a 3rd. Are you all sleeping? You do not recall Vincent Foster? Billy Dale? Whitegate, Rose Law firm, non-disclosure (Hillary) and all the other Clinton garbage? I know you all love killing innocent children in Iraq and torturing other human beings.
If you did not you would be voting for Obama. (of those still available to vote for). Cluster bombs in civilian areas? Wright is not to be condemned, but those who vote for that best do some talking to their God and get on their knees and beg forgiveness.
Posted by: Mary CA | March 24, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Now the Clinton campaign eyes the Electoral College.
“I believe strongly that in a democracy, we should respect the will of the people and to me, that means it’s time to do away with the Electoral College and move to the popular election of our president.” - Hillary Clinton in 2000
Queen Laflipflop.
Posted by: matt | March 24, 2008 at 03:45 PM
Posted by: jodi | March 24, 2008 at 12:00 PM: "...the good judgement of bringing your young daughters to Church to hear Rev. Wright..."
Senator does have good judgment. You are easily swayed by a carefully edited tape. Do you know Wright was quoting Ambassador Peck? He may be paranoid about the HI-virus (if he did indeed claim as you say, which I believe is slander on your part) that the US invented AIDS. The US did indeed invent the disease. They first named it GRID and had to quickly adjust it.
The USA could also be indirectly involved in spreading the HI-virus to humans. The plant that manufactured the smallpox vaccine used monkey cells and seems like they were not inspected closely. Somehow a monkey carrying the HI-virus cells got mixed with the vaccine that was administered by the Red Cross in 3rd world countries.
You truly do not think the FDA will admit to such a lapse of standards and human blunder that started an epidemic, do you?
President Clinton thought so highly of Wright he invited him for a prayer breakfast at the White House as a number he asked to plead his case with God. (Monica, Flowers, Juanita, the others). President Johnson was so grateful to Wright he sent him a letter thanking Wright for his assistance when he was operated on, during Wright's Marine service days.
I am not a Christian but suggest if you are, you reread that part about judge not lest ye be judged, for the measure of your judgment will be meted out to you.
Posted by: alice in wonderland | March 24, 2008 at 03:48 PM
Nice job, Barack HOPE Obama. After losing PA, you'll be 0 of 8 among the states that DEM candidate needs to win: CA, NY, NJ, MA, PA, MI, OH, FL. That's going a whole season without a single victory--even Dolphins managed to do a little better than that.
Posted by: Carl | March 24, 2008 at 03:51 PM
Posted by: DC | March 24, 2008 at 10:59 AM
“We should judge a person by their actions and not their words. The fact that Hillary choose [Mrs. Right-Ferarro] as her spiritual teacher for [who knows] years and included [Mrs. Right-Ferarro] speaks well for Mrs. Hillary’s thinking and actions. Words are easy to manipulate and it is UNLIKELY that Hillary’s recent speech was written by Mrs. Hillary anyway. Mrs. Hillary has a powerful and power hungry staff including her husband that will do or say anything to get her elected to power.
But clearly their woman Mrs. Hillary is not to be trusted with the future of our great country. And regardless that she is ‘fashionably white’ and that many of you have some desire to prove to yourself or to others that you are not prejudice and that you like ‘white people’ with an attitude of ‘See, I like white people, I’m voting for a white person,’ such an attitude of voting for a person because of their race is the definition of prejudice.
If Mrs. Hillary had a darker skin tone, there is no way she would be tolerated in as much she is aligned with a violent religious group, and never says anything substantial. And not only that, consider today’s announcement that the Chief of the firm involved in the State Department’s passport breach. And that Hillary has been caught lying about NAFTA, regarding the amount of money NAFTA gave her, and she still hasn't come clean about her NAFTA China deal.
Just look at the kind of people Mrs. Hillary associates with. If Hillary were to become president, what would stop Mrs. Hillary from appointing [Mrs. Right-Ferarro] to her cabinet? And if anyone complained about [Mrs. Right- Ferarro’s] appointment, no doubt they would be called racist, as their card is played daily by Mrs. Hillary and her clever campaign staff daily.
Out of all the 300 million people in America, is her really who you want for president?
Mrs. Hillary is partly running on ‘a premise of guilt’ that if you don’t vote for her, it is because you don’t like her race. A manipulative premise that is certain to have disastrous consequences for America and the world, for we should have as our country’s leader someone with wisdom and knowledge regardless of race, not someone hungry for power.”
Posted by: Princess | March 24, 2008 at 04:10 PM
You guys have got to wake up and stop letting the media think for you!
Please listen to complete sermons below! You will not walk away agreeing with the pastor on everything, but you'll probably walk away with less respect for the media!!
http://odeo.com/audio/17890793/view
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ
Posted by: Lee | March 24, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Fox News LIED about Rev. Wright. See 9/11 video in context watch!
Rev. Wright's message is quite different from what Fox News reported it to be. His "chicken's roost" comment, for example, was a quote from a white US Ambassador who annoyed the Fox News commentators with his remarks concerning 9/11. Wright said the attack on the US was an unthinkable act of violence, and urged Americans to realign with God.
check this out!
http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message524180/pg1
Posted by: hum | March 24, 2008 at 04:48 PM
I SEE ALL THE OBAMA IDIOTS ARE BLOGGING HERE,TELL ME WHY YOU SUPPORT THIS SCUM BAG? NOBODY HERE SEEMS TO KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT OBAMA,I READ ONE BLOGGER SAID OBAMA DOES NOT TAKE LOBBIEST MONEY.REALLY?IS THAT HE HAS LOBBIEST WORKING FOR HIS CAMPAIGN,AND BY THE WAY HE DOES SO TAKE THEIR MONEY,ITS CALLED BUNDLING,ITS A NEAT LITTLE TRICK THAT POLITICIANS DO TO GET THEIR MONEY AND AT THE SAME TIME CLAIM ITS NOT LOBBIEST MONEY,HAS ANY OF YOU LOOKED AT HIS ILLINOIS VOTING RECORD?I LIVE IN ILLINOIS AND FOLLOWED HIS QUICK RISE IN DIRTY POLITICS,DID YOU KNOW HE VOTED AGAINST A BILL IN ILLINOIS THA WOULD OF PREVENTED PORN SHOPS FROM OPENING WITHIN 300 FEET OF SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES, THEN THERES THAT BILL THAT HE USED TO TALK ABOUT ,HOW HE SUPPOSELY TOOK ON THE NUCLEAR COMPANY EXELON ,TURNS OUT HE DID NOT GET THE BILL PASSED,HE THEN WATERED IT DOWN,IT STILL DID NOT PASS, THEN EXELON AND TOP EXECS OF THE COMPANY DONATED OVER 200,000 TO OBAMAS SENATE RACE, HOW NICE OF THEM,OBAMA BOUGHT AND PAID FOR,THEN THERE IS THE LITTLE ISSUE OF VOTING PRESENT 130 TIMES IN THE ILLINOIS SENATE,HE DID THAT SO HE DID NOT HAVE TO TAKE A STAND ON CERTAIN ISSUES,REAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS, I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT HIS RECORD BUT THAT WOULD TAKE ALL NIGHT,OH YEAH , THEN THERE WAS THAT LAWSUIT HE FILED IN HIS FIRST RUN AT OFFICE ,AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,HE SUCCEDED IN HAVING HIS OPPONNENT REMOVED FROM THE BALLOT, CALLING INTO QUESTION,HER SIGNATURES REQUIRED TO BE ON THE BALLOT,HE THEN RAN UNOPPOSSED.THEN YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE COMPANY YOU KEEP,TONY REZKO, REV.RACIST WRIGHT, OH YEAH, CANT FORGET ABOUT BILL AYERS,YOU KNOW THE MEMBER OF THE 1970S RADICAL GROUP THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND, A FRIEND OF OBAMAS AND EVEN HELD A FUND RAISER AT HIS HOUSE FOR HIM,WOW YOU OBAMA SUPPORTERS HAVE NO CLUE WHO THIS GUY REALLY IS,I WILL ENJOY RUNNING TV ADS THIS FALL WITH ALL OF OBAMAS CLOSE FRIENDS WITH STARRING ROLES,WITH MY 527. AND I AM A DEMOCRAT
Posted by: PHIL | March 24, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Here's the bottom line. If Hillary could beat Barack, she would. She can't. Regardless of al lthe other distractions, we need to go with the winner. Hillary hasn't been able to stand up to a 2 year rookie in the Senate. I can't see why we'd think she could go head to head with McCain.
The facts are the facts.
Posted by: cpindc | March 24, 2008 at 05:42 PM
"Barack Obama surfaces in the Caribbean"
Geez. First they disappear Rev. Wright, then it's the candidate himself. Axelrod must be worried.
Posted by: WylieD | March 24, 2008 at 05:50 PM