Barack in the Virginia rain
Barack accepts award in D.C.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
"...We can't afford another four..."
After his erratic and reckless response to the economic crisis, McCain needed a game-changer last night to restore his campaign. He didn't even come close.
In a CBS News poll, uncommitted voters see Barack as the debate winner. When it comes to the economy, 66% say Barack would make the right decisions versus 42% for McCain.
The CNN poll results are also clear:
Who did the best job tonight?
Barack: 51
McCain: 38
Who would better handle Iraq?
Barack: 52
McCain: 47
Who would better handle the economy?
Barack: 58
McCain: 37
These are not the kind of reviews John McCain needed, but they show that Barack is offering the change we need.
Barack broke through last night with voters who were watching -- but we need to get the word out to the millions who didn't tune in.
Will you watch our latest ad and make a donation of $25 or more to show your support?
In a CBS News poll, uncommitted voters see Barack as the debate winner. When it comes to the economy, 66% say Barack would make the right decisions versus 42% for McCain.
The CNN poll results are also clear:
Who did the best job tonight?
Barack: 51
McCain: 38
Who would better handle Iraq?
Barack: 52
McCain: 47
Who would better handle the economy?
Barack: 58
McCain: 37
These are not the kind of reviews John McCain needed, but they show that Barack is offering the change we need.
Barack broke through last night with voters who were watching -- but we need to get the word out to the millions who didn't tune in.
Will you watch our latest ad and make a donation of $25 or more to show your support?
Saturday, September 27, 2008
McCain says "Horseshit" - 236.com - The Feed
McCain actually uttered the word "Horseshit" during Dem. Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama's response. He cursed during a presidential debate --a nationally televised program.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
First Debate- The First Reviews Are In
Source after source- Obama hits home, while McCain plays fast and loose with the facts. What at first appears to be a toss-up, after inspection is an Obama win.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Friday, September 26, 2008
Sam Stein: Ex-Adviser: McCain
An ex-adviser to McCain explains how his bailout misadventure is proof that his campaign is governed by tactical gimmicks rather than policy, and says that Obama wins any comparison of who has the more "steady hand."
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
No felony charges for Ye
LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles County prosecutors say they have declined to file felony charges against Kanye West for an incident in which a paparazzo's camera was broken.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Nose cutting and face spiting
In order to look presidential while not actually being presidential, John McCain on Wednesday tried to one-up Barack Obama using our decaying American economy as a backdrop/prop but Barack won. He made the good decision. He showed sound judgement.
So many good, decent people will be hurt due to eight years of Republican administration of our money. The GOP will sacrifice them to the gods just to keep Barack from getting ahead 10 points in the polls, in key battleground states.
Look what Harry Reid had to say.
Then
and Now
So many good, decent people will be hurt due to eight years of Republican administration of our money. The GOP will sacrifice them to the gods just to keep Barack from getting ahead 10 points in the polls, in key battleground states.
Look what Harry Reid had to say.
Then
and Now
President Bush on the Economy
I heard President Bush tonight but I'm not scared because I don't have a hundred grand in the bank. I am also unemployed and wasn't going to be one of the ones getting a bank loan for a house or a car. I like to be able to afford the things a get.
He said:
For more than a decade we got lots of foreign dollars and we had low interest rates and people enjoyed that. Easy credit and falling home values and bad credit risks and adjustable rate mortgages and supply exceeding demand and mortgage defaults brought us to this point. And little regulation of the financial industry.
Mortgage backed securities sold around the world were bad. Many of these belonging to Freddie and Fannie Mac and questionable investments by those two led us to this crisis.
After people stopped buying and selling MBS because people were defaulting on their loans banks stopped lending money and the financial gears ground to a halt, bailouts started happening.
Then President Bush started to scare me. He said Retirement Accounts would dry up and people could loose their jobs. Like more than normal--like everybody. (then we'd be like a third world country)if this bailout wasn't passed.
He said he and Sens. Obama and McCain and other important people will discuss all of this Thursday.
Taxpayer money is involved and he wants input.
The $700 billion is to purchase that MBS. The government is going to buy and hold those securities until the financial markets are better.
I hope this is worked out because now, I'm really scared.
When I was in college and credit card companies extended credit to my 18-year-old jobless self, my parents bailed me out when I didn't pay them.
After that, I had to pay them myself. Then I learned to be more responsible. I got tired of working and having no money after bill paying.
I guess that is an over-simplified example.
Obama has been keeping up with all of this so he is informed, Chris Dodd, Chairman of the Sen. Banking Committee, said. He said McCain is a come-lately fellow who hasn't been keeping up.
"I'haven't heard a word from John McCain," is what he said.
I trust Obama and what he says. Pay attention America, this involves you.
He said:
For more than a decade we got lots of foreign dollars and we had low interest rates and people enjoyed that. Easy credit and falling home values and bad credit risks and adjustable rate mortgages and supply exceeding demand and mortgage defaults brought us to this point. And little regulation of the financial industry.
Mortgage backed securities sold around the world were bad. Many of these belonging to Freddie and Fannie Mac and questionable investments by those two led us to this crisis.
After people stopped buying and selling MBS because people were defaulting on their loans banks stopped lending money and the financial gears ground to a halt, bailouts started happening.
Then President Bush started to scare me. He said Retirement Accounts would dry up and people could loose their jobs. Like more than normal--like everybody. (then we'd be like a third world country)if this bailout wasn't passed.
He said he and Sens. Obama and McCain and other important people will discuss all of this Thursday.
Taxpayer money is involved and he wants input.
The $700 billion is to purchase that MBS. The government is going to buy and hold those securities until the financial markets are better.
I hope this is worked out because now, I'm really scared.
When I was in college and credit card companies extended credit to my 18-year-old jobless self, my parents bailed me out when I didn't pay them.
After that, I had to pay them myself. Then I learned to be more responsible. I got tired of working and having no money after bill paying.
I guess that is an over-simplified example.
Obama has been keeping up with all of this so he is informed, Chris Dodd, Chairman of the Sen. Banking Committee, said. He said McCain is a come-lately fellow who hasn't been keeping up.
"I'haven't heard a word from John McCain," is what he said.
I trust Obama and what he says. Pay attention America, this involves you.
Both Sens. Obama and McCain will meet with President Bush Thursday
President Bush invited Sen. Barack Obama to the White House for a meeting Thursday after Sen. John McCain called off his participation in Friday's scheduled presidential debates in Mississippi. Both men will meet with the president tomorrow.
McCain said that he was quitting his campaign and the debates because he was needed in Washington D.C., however, several banking committee members said they had been moving along fine without him since he had not bothered to offer help before. In contrast, Obama said he calls and keeps in contact with who he needs to to make sure he is on task. He said they'd let him know if he was needed.
Cool, Obama went back to work. McCain decided to go ahead and call-off anyway.
Nowadays, people use cell phones, telephones, fax machines, text messages, couriers, and video meetings to keep in contact.
It was said that McCain was pulling another political stunt by not wanting to show up at the debates. He even tried to one-up Obama by giving a preemptive televised press conference announcing that he would not be at the debates because the sky was falling. The sky has been falling for at least a week now.
Obama suggested at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday that they issue a joint statement and six hours later, McCain informed Obama they should skip the debates.
Obama said no, of course, because he, like many functioning Americans, can do two things at once. And he has a competent staff. And he is not scared to debate McCain. And even if he had some apprehension, he would never, ever run from a fight. Or a debate.
Shame on McCain! The Sarah Palin trick was flashier. This one was lame, like anyone still supporting the McCain/Palin ticket. They even managed to ruin the woman-for- president thing 'cause they got Palin on a pedestal, prancing her in front of our male allies like she is for sale. This is not Hookers on the Point, this is a presidential election. Why couldn't someone say, "Gov. Palin, you're so smart! Or honest, or authentic--etc."
"Oh, you're so pretty Gov. Palin!"
GMAFB!
Okay, hold the blog. I just heard a reference to the phrase, "spearchucker" on the "Worst Person in the World" segment on MSNBC. WTF?!
McCain said that he was quitting his campaign and the debates because he was needed in Washington D.C., however, several banking committee members said they had been moving along fine without him since he had not bothered to offer help before. In contrast, Obama said he calls and keeps in contact with who he needs to to make sure he is on task. He said they'd let him know if he was needed.
Cool, Obama went back to work. McCain decided to go ahead and call-off anyway.
Nowadays, people use cell phones, telephones, fax machines, text messages, couriers, and video meetings to keep in contact.
It was said that McCain was pulling another political stunt by not wanting to show up at the debates. He even tried to one-up Obama by giving a preemptive televised press conference announcing that he would not be at the debates because the sky was falling. The sky has been falling for at least a week now.
Obama suggested at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday that they issue a joint statement and six hours later, McCain informed Obama they should skip the debates.
Obama said no, of course, because he, like many functioning Americans, can do two things at once. And he has a competent staff. And he is not scared to debate McCain. And even if he had some apprehension, he would never, ever run from a fight. Or a debate.
Shame on McCain! The Sarah Palin trick was flashier. This one was lame, like anyone still supporting the McCain/Palin ticket. They even managed to ruin the woman-for- president thing 'cause they got Palin on a pedestal, prancing her in front of our male allies like she is for sale. This is not Hookers on the Point, this is a presidential election. Why couldn't someone say, "Gov. Palin, you're so smart! Or honest, or authentic--etc."
"Oh, you're so pretty Gov. Palin!"
GMAFB!
Okay, hold the blog. I just heard a reference to the phrase, "spearchucker" on the "Worst Person in the World" segment on MSNBC. WTF?!
Is John McCain Afraid to Debate Barack Obama?
The strange and weird campaign of Senator John McCain keeps getting more bizarre by the hour. Maybe it's because he's neither capable of handling the pressures of a nationwide campaign or even the Presidency. Now, the Arizona Senator wants to suspend the campaign and go to Washington to solve the economic crisis he helped create.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Washington Post ABC Poll Obama Leads McCain by 9! 52% - 43%
Turmoil in the financial industry and growing pessimism about the economy have altered the shape of the presidential race, giving Democratic nominee Barack Obama the first clear lead of the general-election campaign over Republican John McCain, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News national poll.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Senator Obama's statement on President Ahmadinejad's Remarks...
I strongly condemn President Ahmadinejad's outrageous remarks at the United Nations, and am disappointed that he had a platform to air his hateful and anti-Semitic views. The threat from Iran's nuclear program is grave. Now is the time for Americans to unite on behalf of the strong sanctions that are needed to increase pressure on the Iranian regime.
Once again, I call upon Senator McCain to join me in supporting a bipartisan bill to increase pressure on the Iranian regime by allowing states and private companies to divest from companies doing business in Iran. The security of our ally Israel is too important to play partisan politics, and it is deeply disappointing that Senator McCain and a few of his allies in Congress feel otherwise.
Once again, I call upon Senator McCain to join me in supporting a bipartisan bill to increase pressure on the Iranian regime by allowing states and private companies to divest from companies doing business in Iran. The security of our ally Israel is too important to play partisan politics, and it is deeply disappointing that Senator McCain and a few of his allies in Congress feel otherwise.
FBI investigating companies at heart of meltdown (AP)
AP - The FBI is investigating four major U.S. financial institutions whose collapse helped trigger a $700 billion bailout plan by the Bush administration, The Associated Press has learned.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Obama sharpens skills, poised to strike during presidential debate
WASHINGTON - Democrat Barack Obama studied and practiced privately with aides in a Florida hotel Tuesday in the first of three days of intense preparations for his upcoming foreign policy debate with GOP rival John McCain.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
New polls give Obama economic edge (AFP)
A flurry of new polls in vital White House battlegrounds Tuesday showed Democrat Barack Obama getting a clear boost from the financial crisis as voters blame Republicans for the meltdown.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Monday, September 22, 2008
Volunteer at your local Obama for President campaign office
I registered people to vote today as I volunteered at my local Barack Obama for President campaign office.
I ran into some youth-two of them- who said to me, "I'm voting for McCain. He gone win anyway!"
I thought the first youth was joking with me but somehow I don't think she was. I urged her to change her mind and bid everyone inside the Laundromat farewell. Everyone else was voting for Obama anyway and said they'd give some thought to volunteering at their local office on Saturday.
I ran into another who said he was "voting for McCain" for the same reasons. Then he said he was joking.
Not that I think anything in this election cycle is a joking matter, I signed the young man up to vote in Indiana anyway, hoping that he really was joking.
I urged them as well to volunteer at the local Obama for President office.
None of the people in my age range 40s were laughing and joking about registering people to vote or volunteering and seemed to give my urgings to volunteer some serious thought.
There are barriers to volunteering.
First, you have to leave your home, your comfort zone and go talk to people you don't know.
People who overcome this, obviously know helping put Barack in the White House is way more important than our personal comfort--especially when volunteering begins and ends when you say it does--it's volunteer work!
Second, expenditures of personal time is an important decision.
Either there are children to attend to or work considerations that make one say either: yes, I will give up X number of hours on this day of this week or I will not. The easiest way is to donate an hour of your downtime after work.
If you workout for two hours, give one of those hours to Obama. If you go to the local tap for three hours, give one of those happy hours to Barack--then return to your normal schedule.
The benefits of volunteering is that you meet new people who can later become business contacts or friends. Another benefit is that you learn stuff when you talk to people who don't live or work with you.
Once you volunteer, you can talk to your friends about the experience--they may want to volunteer too.
I ran into some youth-two of them- who said to me, "I'm voting for McCain. He gone win anyway!"
I thought the first youth was joking with me but somehow I don't think she was. I urged her to change her mind and bid everyone inside the Laundromat farewell. Everyone else was voting for Obama anyway and said they'd give some thought to volunteering at their local office on Saturday.
I ran into another who said he was "voting for McCain" for the same reasons. Then he said he was joking.
Not that I think anything in this election cycle is a joking matter, I signed the young man up to vote in Indiana anyway, hoping that he really was joking.
I urged them as well to volunteer at the local Obama for President office.
None of the people in my age range 40s were laughing and joking about registering people to vote or volunteering and seemed to give my urgings to volunteer some serious thought.
There are barriers to volunteering.
First, you have to leave your home, your comfort zone and go talk to people you don't know.
People who overcome this, obviously know helping put Barack in the White House is way more important than our personal comfort--especially when volunteering begins and ends when you say it does--it's volunteer work!
Second, expenditures of personal time is an important decision.
Either there are children to attend to or work considerations that make one say either: yes, I will give up X number of hours on this day of this week or I will not. The easiest way is to donate an hour of your downtime after work.
If you workout for two hours, give one of those hours to Obama. If you go to the local tap for three hours, give one of those happy hours to Barack--then return to your normal schedule.
The benefits of volunteering is that you meet new people who can later become business contacts or friends. Another benefit is that you learn stuff when you talk to people who don't live or work with you.
Once you volunteer, you can talk to your friends about the experience--they may want to volunteer too.
Janet Jackson's Rock Witchu Tour Sells Out in Los Angeles and Las Vegas
LL Cool J receives roaring welcome on his first date of the tour
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Music icon Janet Jackson kicked off her highly anticipated Rock Witchu tour to rave reviews, major media coverage and fan adulation during opening week of the smash tour, selling out Staples Center in Los Angeles and Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas last week. Adding to the excitement in Los Angeles was the addition of hip-hop superstar LL Cool J, who joined the tour at the Staples Center on September 17th and will continue on the Live Nation produced tour from Chicago on September 25th through the final date at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on October 22nd.
"Janet Jackson still a trend-setter, diva, and marvelous performer -- When she decides it's time for a tour, Ms. Jackson makes sure it's done right. And when she promises fans the show is going to be packed with hits, costumes and dancers, she doesn't disappoint."
What the Reviewers said:
Vancouver Sun
"Some two hours and 35 songs later, Jackson had played all 10 of her No. 1 hits, as well as her other blockbusters ... That's how a true pro gets back to business after a seven-year absence from the road."
Contra Costa Times
"Any show following Janet Jackson into GM Place will find it difficult to match her."
Vancouver Province
"Offering up a lengthy and engrossing song-and-dance spectacle that delivers on every level..."
Variety
"Nine seamlessly executed costume changes are only the beginning. This show is all about dominance, and Jackson held the whip."
Los Angeles Times
Rock Witchu kicked off on September 10th in Vancouver, BC with unparalleled dance routines and stage production featuring more than two hours of music including fan favorites and smash hits "Control," "Rhythm Nation," "Pleasure Principal," "All For You," "Young Love," "Let's Wait A While," "What Have You Done For Me Lately," "Escapade," and more along with new singles "Feedback" and "LUV," spanning three decades of music that have made Janet Jackson one of the most celebrated performers in history.
LL Cool J joins the tour on the heels of 13th album release, Exit 13. More than a hip-hop artist, more than an actor, the author, television producer, two-time Grammy Award winner LL Cool J is an American icon who kicked opened his own doors to music, Hollywood, television, publishing, and along the way created opportunities for countless others. His 20 million album sales worldwide are just the tip of the iceberg for this international megastar, recipient of countless industry awards.
For more information on Janet Jackson and the tour go to www.LiveNation.com, www.JanetFanClub.com or www.janetjackson.com. For additional information on LL Cool J go to www.LLCoolJ.com
ABOUT LIVE NATION:
Live Nation is the future of the music business. With the most live concerts, music venues and festivals in the world and the most comprehensive concert search engine on the web, Live Nation is revolutionizing the music industry: onstage and online. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol "LYV." Additional information about the company can be found at www.livenation.com under the "About Us" section.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Poll: Racial views steer some white Dems away from Obama-or as I like to call it, we need two Americas
By RON FOURNIER and TREVOR TOMPSON, Associated Press Writers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks — many calling them "lazy," "violent," responsible for their own troubles.
Please make sure to look carefully at the poll, my emphasis.
The poll, conducted with Stanford University, suggests that the percentage of voters who may turn away from Obama because of his race could easily be larger than the final difference between the candidates in 2004 — about two and one-half percentage points.
So all of the whites must like all of the blacks in order for Barack to win? That is a crazy thing to say.
Certainly, Republican John McCain has his own obstacles: He's an ally of an unpopular president and would be the nation's oldest first-term president. But Obama faces this: 40 percent of all white Americans hold at least a partly negative view toward blacks, and that includes many Democrats and independents.
More than a third of all white Democrats and independents — voters Obama can't win the White House without — agreed with at least one negative adjective about blacks, (so that means two-thirds believe that he can win without them) according to the survey, and they are significantly less likely to vote for Obama than those who don't have such views.
Such numbers are a harsh dose of reality in a campaign for the history books. Obama, the first black candidate with a serious shot at the presidency, accepted the Democratic nomination on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, a seminal moment for a nation that enshrined slavery in its Constitution.
"There are a lot fewer bigots than there were 50 years ago, but that doesn't mean there's only a few bigots," said Stanford political scientist Paul Sniderman who helped analyze the exhaustive survey.
The pollsters set out to determine why Obama is locked in a close race with McCain even as the political landscape seems to favor Democrats. President Bush's unpopularity, the Iraq war and a national sense of economic hard times cut against GOP candidates, as does that fact that Democratic voters outnumber Republicans.
Please keep in mind the race of the reporter, pollster-whatever--will determine the response received. I know this for a fact.
The findings suggest that Obama's problem is close to home — among his fellow Democrats, particularly non-Hispanic white voters. Just seven in 10 people who call themselves Democrats support Obama, compared to the 85 percent of self-identified Republicans who back McCain.
The survey also focused on the racial attitudes of independent voters because they are likely to decide the election.
Lots of Republicans harbor prejudices, too, but the survey found they weren't voting against Obama because of his race. Most Republicans wouldn't vote for any Democrat for president — white, black or brown.
Not all whites are prejudiced. Indeed, more whites say good things about blacks than say bad things, the poll shows. And many whites who see blacks in a negative light are still willing or even eager to vote for Obama.
On the other side of the racial question, the Illinois Democrat is drawing almost unanimous support from blacks, the poll shows, though that probably wouldn't be enough to counter the negative effect of some whites' views.
Race is not the biggest factor driving Democrats and independents away from Obama. Doubts about his competency loom even larger, the poll indicates. More than a quarter of all Democrats expressed doubt that Obama can bring about the change they want, and they are likely to vote against him because of that.
Three in 10 of those Democrats who don't trust Obama's change-making credentials say they plan to vote for McCain.
Still, the effects of whites' racial views are apparent in the polling.
Statistical models derived from the poll suggest that Obama's support would be as much as 6 percentage points higher if there were no white racial prejudice.
Wow, a perfect world would have prevented the current financial mess we (Americans) are in now, so dang...
But in an election without precedent, it's hard to know if such models take into account all the possible factors at play.
The AP-Yahoo News poll used the unique methodology of Knowledge Networks, a Menlo Park, Calif., firm that interviews people online after randomly selecting and screening them over telephone. Numerous studies have shown that people are more likely to report embarrassing behavior and unpopular opinions when answering questions on a computer rather than talking to a stranger.
Other techniques used in the poll included recording people's responses to black or white faces flashed on a computer screen, asking participants to rate how well certain adjectives apply to blacks, measuring whether people believe blacks' troubles are their own fault, and simply asking people how much they like or dislike blacks.
"We still don't like black people," said John Clouse, 57, reflecting the sentiments of his pals gathered at a coffee shop in Somerset, Ohio.
What a shame.
Given a choice of several positive and negative adjectives that might describe blacks, 20 percent of all whites said the word "violent" strongly applied, so 80 percent wouldn't have said that. Among other words, 22 percent agreed with "boastful", 88 percent didn't agree 29 percent "complaining," 71 percent wouldn't have used that word. 13 percent "lazy" so 87 percent would not agree and 11 percent "irresponsible and 89 percent would not have said that." When asked about positive adjectives, whites were more likely to stay on the fence than give a strongly positive assessment.
Point: There are two sides to every poll, positive and negative.
Among white Democrats, one third cited a negative adjective (two-thirds positive) and, of those, 58 percent said they planned to back Obama or more than half.
The poll sought to measure latent prejudices among whites by asking about factors contributing to the state of black America. One finding: More than a quarter or less than three quarters of white Democrats agree that "if blacks would only try harder, they could be just as well off as whites."
Mindless chatter or sincerity?
Those who agreed with that statement were much less likely to back Obama than those who didn't.
Among white independents, racial stereotyping is not uncommon. For example, while about 20 percent of independent voters called blacks "intelligent" or "smart," more than one third or less than two-thirds latched on the adjective "complaining" and 24 percent said blacks were "violent."
Nearly four in 10 white independents agreed that blacks would be better off if they "try harder." So six of 10 do not.
The survey broke ground by incorporating images of black and white faces to measure implicit racial attitudes, or prejudices that are so deeply rooted that people may not realize they have them. That test suggested the incidence of racial prejudice is even higher, with more than half of whites revealing more negative feelings toward blacks than whites.
Maybe they had a bad day that day.
Researchers used mathematical modeling to sort out the relative impact of a huge swath of variables that might have an impact on people's votes — including race, ideology, party identification, the hunger for change and the sentiments of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's backers.
Just 59 percent or more than half of her white Democratic supporters said they wanted Obama to be president. Nearly 17 percent of Clinton's white backers plan to vote for McCain. or way less than half
Among white Democrats, Clinton supporters were nearly twice as likely as Obama backers to say at least one negative adjective described blacks well, a finding that suggests many of her supporters in the primaries — particularly whites with high school education or less — were motivated in part by racial attitudes.
Dumb stupid people or highly educated leaders in the free world?
The survey of 2,227 adults was conducted Aug. 27 to Sept. 5. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.
———
Associated Press writers Nancy Benac, Julie Carr Smyth, Philip Elliot, Julie Pace and Sonya Ross contributed to this story.
I WONDER HOW MANY AFRICAN-AMERICANS INTERVIEWED PEOPLE FOR THIS POLL?
WASHINGTON (AP) — Deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks — many calling them "lazy," "violent," responsible for their own troubles.
Please make sure to look carefully at the poll, my emphasis.
The poll, conducted with Stanford University, suggests that the percentage of voters who may turn away from Obama because of his race could easily be larger than the final difference between the candidates in 2004 — about two and one-half percentage points.
So all of the whites must like all of the blacks in order for Barack to win? That is a crazy thing to say.
Certainly, Republican John McCain has his own obstacles: He's an ally of an unpopular president and would be the nation's oldest first-term president. But Obama faces this: 40 percent of all white Americans hold at least a partly negative view toward blacks, and that includes many Democrats and independents.
More than a third of all white Democrats and independents — voters Obama can't win the White House without — agreed with at least one negative adjective about blacks, (so that means two-thirds believe that he can win without them) according to the survey, and they are significantly less likely to vote for Obama than those who don't have such views.
Such numbers are a harsh dose of reality in a campaign for the history books. Obama, the first black candidate with a serious shot at the presidency, accepted the Democratic nomination on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, a seminal moment for a nation that enshrined slavery in its Constitution.
"There are a lot fewer bigots than there were 50 years ago, but that doesn't mean there's only a few bigots," said Stanford political scientist Paul Sniderman who helped analyze the exhaustive survey.
The pollsters set out to determine why Obama is locked in a close race with McCain even as the political landscape seems to favor Democrats. President Bush's unpopularity, the Iraq war and a national sense of economic hard times cut against GOP candidates, as does that fact that Democratic voters outnumber Republicans.
Please keep in mind the race of the reporter, pollster-whatever--will determine the response received. I know this for a fact.
The findings suggest that Obama's problem is close to home — among his fellow Democrats, particularly non-Hispanic white voters. Just seven in 10 people who call themselves Democrats support Obama, compared to the 85 percent of self-identified Republicans who back McCain.
The survey also focused on the racial attitudes of independent voters because they are likely to decide the election.
Lots of Republicans harbor prejudices, too, but the survey found they weren't voting against Obama because of his race. Most Republicans wouldn't vote for any Democrat for president — white, black or brown.
Not all whites are prejudiced. Indeed, more whites say good things about blacks than say bad things, the poll shows. And many whites who see blacks in a negative light are still willing or even eager to vote for Obama.
On the other side of the racial question, the Illinois Democrat is drawing almost unanimous support from blacks, the poll shows, though that probably wouldn't be enough to counter the negative effect of some whites' views.
Race is not the biggest factor driving Democrats and independents away from Obama. Doubts about his competency loom even larger, the poll indicates. More than a quarter of all Democrats expressed doubt that Obama can bring about the change they want, and they are likely to vote against him because of that.
Three in 10 of those Democrats who don't trust Obama's change-making credentials say they plan to vote for McCain.
Still, the effects of whites' racial views are apparent in the polling.
Statistical models derived from the poll suggest that Obama's support would be as much as 6 percentage points higher if there were no white racial prejudice.
Wow, a perfect world would have prevented the current financial mess we (Americans) are in now, so dang...
But in an election without precedent, it's hard to know if such models take into account all the possible factors at play.
The AP-Yahoo News poll used the unique methodology of Knowledge Networks, a Menlo Park, Calif., firm that interviews people online after randomly selecting and screening them over telephone. Numerous studies have shown that people are more likely to report embarrassing behavior and unpopular opinions when answering questions on a computer rather than talking to a stranger.
Other techniques used in the poll included recording people's responses to black or white faces flashed on a computer screen, asking participants to rate how well certain adjectives apply to blacks, measuring whether people believe blacks' troubles are their own fault, and simply asking people how much they like or dislike blacks.
"We still don't like black people," said John Clouse, 57, reflecting the sentiments of his pals gathered at a coffee shop in Somerset, Ohio.
What a shame.
Given a choice of several positive and negative adjectives that might describe blacks, 20 percent of all whites said the word "violent" strongly applied, so 80 percent wouldn't have said that. Among other words, 22 percent agreed with "boastful", 88 percent didn't agree 29 percent "complaining," 71 percent wouldn't have used that word. 13 percent "lazy" so 87 percent would not agree and 11 percent "irresponsible and 89 percent would not have said that." When asked about positive adjectives, whites were more likely to stay on the fence than give a strongly positive assessment.
Point: There are two sides to every poll, positive and negative.
Among white Democrats, one third cited a negative adjective (two-thirds positive) and, of those, 58 percent said they planned to back Obama or more than half.
The poll sought to measure latent prejudices among whites by asking about factors contributing to the state of black America. One finding: More than a quarter or less than three quarters of white Democrats agree that "if blacks would only try harder, they could be just as well off as whites."
Mindless chatter or sincerity?
Those who agreed with that statement were much less likely to back Obama than those who didn't.
Among white independents, racial stereotyping is not uncommon. For example, while about 20 percent of independent voters called blacks "intelligent" or "smart," more than one third or less than two-thirds latched on the adjective "complaining" and 24 percent said blacks were "violent."
Nearly four in 10 white independents agreed that blacks would be better off if they "try harder." So six of 10 do not.
The survey broke ground by incorporating images of black and white faces to measure implicit racial attitudes, or prejudices that are so deeply rooted that people may not realize they have them. That test suggested the incidence of racial prejudice is even higher, with more than half of whites revealing more negative feelings toward blacks than whites.
Maybe they had a bad day that day.
Researchers used mathematical modeling to sort out the relative impact of a huge swath of variables that might have an impact on people's votes — including race, ideology, party identification, the hunger for change and the sentiments of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's backers.
Just 59 percent or more than half of her white Democratic supporters said they wanted Obama to be president. Nearly 17 percent of Clinton's white backers plan to vote for McCain. or way less than half
Among white Democrats, Clinton supporters were nearly twice as likely as Obama backers to say at least one negative adjective described blacks well, a finding that suggests many of her supporters in the primaries — particularly whites with high school education or less — were motivated in part by racial attitudes.
Dumb stupid people or highly educated leaders in the free world?
The survey of 2,227 adults was conducted Aug. 27 to Sept. 5. It has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.1 percentage points.
———
Associated Press writers Nancy Benac, Julie Carr Smyth, Philip Elliot, Julie Pace and Sonya Ross contributed to this story.
I WONDER HOW MANY AFRICAN-AMERICANS INTERVIEWED PEOPLE FOR THIS POLL?
Friday, September 19, 2008
'Tent cities' of homeless on the rise across the US
Homeless encampments dubbed "tent cities" are springing up across the US, partly in response to soaring numbers of home repossessions, the credit crunch and rising unemployment, according to a report.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
McCain Covered Up Information On POWs Left Behind
John McCain, who has risen to political prominence on his image as a Vietnam POW war hero, has, inexplicably, worked very hard to hide from the public stunning information about American prisoners in Vietnam who, unlike him, didn't return home.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Poll: Obama tops McCain as football-watching buddy
People would rather watch a football game with Barack Obama than with John McCain.Obama was the pick over McCain by 50 percent to 47 percent, according to an Associated Press-Yahoo! News poll released Friday. It generally mirrored each presidential candidate's strengths and weaknesses with voters.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Ethnic cleansing, not surge, key to drop in Iraq violence
Satellite images taken at night show heavily Sunni Arab neighborhoods of Baghdad began emptying before a U.S. troop surge in 2007, graphic evidence of ethnic cleansing that preceded a drop in violence, according to a report published on Friday.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Campaign Momentum Shifts To Obama As McCain Falters in Polls
Under fire for his assertion that the American economy is fundamentally sound, John McCain moved Tuesday to assure voters of his empathy and accused Barack Obama of attempting to take political advantage of the roiling Wall Street crisis.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Indy/Star poll puts Barack three points ahead of McCain
Found in my G-mail inbox:
A new Indy Star/WTHR TV/Seltzer poll shows Barack Obama with a three-point lead in our state.
The Obama campaign has opened 32 offices across the state, and supporters like you have built a powerful grassroots organization that's working in all 92 counties. We have a real chance to win in Indiana -- but we need your help.
It's up to you to reach out to your friends, family, and neighbors and ask them to help take back the political process for ordinary Americans and end the failed Bush-McCain economic policies.
Click for Volunteer opportunities
A new Indy Star/WTHR TV/Seltzer poll shows Barack Obama with a three-point lead in our state.
The Obama campaign has opened 32 offices across the state, and supporters like you have built a powerful grassroots organization that's working in all 92 counties. We have a real chance to win in Indiana -- but we need your help.
It's up to you to reach out to your friends, family, and neighbors and ask them to help take back the political process for ordinary Americans and end the failed Bush-McCain economic policies.
Click for Volunteer opportunities
Engineer in train collision led 'lonely' life
In the years leading up to his death in the locomotive of a commuter train, engineer Robert Sanchez's life was marked by personal tragedy, jail time, and concerns about his health and job security.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Metrolink train crash caused by - text messaging on the job?
The deadly train crash may have caused when the engineer running the train was too busy txting and not paying attention to the stop light, according to new information in the investigation.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Campaign Momentum Shifts To Obama As McCain Falters in Polls
Under fire for his assertion that the American economy is fundamentally sound, John McCain moved Tuesday to assure voters of his empathy and accused Barack Obama of attempting to take political advantage of the roiling Wall Street crisis.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Humor: Push Polls for bigots - How to convince racists to vote Barack
It's time to target the bigots, people. Since the GOP is using push-polls to scare Jews away from Obama, we've designed our own push-poll to convince the country's bigots that Obama isn't so bad (for a black). Call up your racist friend and read him the following questions:
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell speaks out on "White Privilege"
"White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents, because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino families with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible, pathological and arbiters of social decay."
Read more
Read more
Obama supporters say get tougher, more passionate (AP)
Worried Democrats want Barack Obama to get tougher, show more passion. Why is he so calm, supporters ask, so close to an election that looks so tight.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Who the hell IS the middle class, anyway?
Roland S. Martin, CNN commentator: "If you listen to the candidates and their campaigns, those in the middle class could make upward of $200,000 a year, while some suggest middle class means earning as little as $20,000. ... Please, can we just stop with lofty talk and plain-spoken and simplistic solutions and be as specific as possible?"
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Ryan O' Neal, son, arrested in drug sweep at home (AP)
Authorities say they have arrested actor Ryan O'Neal and his son on suspicion of having drugs in their Malibu home.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Motown legend Whitfield dies at 67
Norman Whitfield, who co-wrote a string of Motown classics including "War" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," has died. He was 67.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Parents: When to back off, when to step in
Do you speed over to your child's school, or even college, whenever something goes wrong? Don't be a helicopter parent--you can turn your child into a wimp!Helicopter parents hover over their children--like I do but won't do anymore!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Obama says he's better on economy
Sen. Barack Obama said Tuesday that the country is facing the "most serious financial crisis in generations" and argued that rival Sen. John McCain would only make it worse.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Indiana goes Blue
Republican Secretary of State Todd Rokita, the state's chief elections officer, said Sen. John McCain's campaign had better take notice."They have a fight here in Indiana and it is real," Rokita said.The numbers are dramatic: In 2004, 2.5 million ballots were cast for president in Indiana. This year, the number is already in excess of 562,000 and given the recent spike in activity by campaigns and other organizations, Rokita tells CNN he expects to hit a record 750,000 by the state's October 6 registration deadline."I will say that this is the first time I have ever seen a Democratic presidential campaign this engaged in this state. Usually Indiana is No. 1 for the red states on election night when it comes to president," Rokita told CNN in an interview in his state Capitol office in Indianapolis.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
To Sag or Not to Sag?
If so then you could go directly to jail!
read more | digg story
http://www.imadeamesss.comNorthwest Indiana residents comment on lawmakers across the country looking to make it illegal to wear clothing that shows underwear.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
http://www.imadeamesss.comNorthwest Indiana residents comment on lawmakers across the country looking to make it illegal to wear clothing that shows underwear.
read more | digg story
Even if in foreclosure, re-register to vote
According to the Michigan Messenger, James Carabelli, the chairman of the Macomb County, Michigan Republican party says, "We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure those people aren't voting from those addresses."
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Ike's misery spreads
HOUSTON - Thousands of victims of Hurricane Ike settled in at shelters for what could be weeks, and others waited wearily in line for food, water, ice and gasoline Monday as it became increasingly clear the disaster along the Texas coast would be measured not by its death toll but by the misery it spread.
Read more
Read more
Monday, September 15, 2008
Children Who Have Frequent Family Dinners Less Likely to Use Marijuana, Tobacco, and Drink Alcohol
September 22 Marks 8th Annual Family Day, CASA Launches New Tools to Help Celebrate
NEW YORK, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- From 2003 to 2008 research by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University has consistently found that children who have frequent family dinners are less likely to use marijuana, tobacco and drink alcohol. CASA research reveals that compared to children who have frequent family dinners (five or more per week), children who have infrequent family dinners (less than three per week) are two and a half times likelier to have used marijuana and tobacco, and one and a half times likelier to have drunk alcohol.
Teens Who Have Used Substances
By Frequency of Family Dinners
(Average over 6 years: 2003-2008)
0-2 5-7
Dinners/Week Dinners/Week
Ever Used
Alcohol 48% 30%
Ever Used
Tobacco 29% 13%
Ever Used
Marijuana 27% 11%
Monday, September 22nd will mark CASA's eighth annual 'Family Day -- A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children(TM)' celebration. Family Day is a national movement to inform parents that the parental engagement fostered during frequent family dinners is an effective tool to help keep America's children substance free and reminds parents that "Dinner Makes A Difference!" "If you asked me based on CASA's 16 years of intensive examination of substance abuse and addiction in our nation what's the most effective thing we can do to curb this scourge and protect our children, I would say parental engagement. And there is no more effective example of this than frequent family dinners," said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA's chairman and president and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. "Years of surveying teens have consistently shown that the more often they have dinner with their parents, the less likely they are to smoke, drink and use drugs."
"Hidden racism from voters" stand to undermine Obama campaign
According to this article, "hidden racism from voters " will be why the GOP will get an opportunity to finish raping this country. Is this the "American" way?Don't let it happen.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Obama tells the truth about...
"The challenges facing our financial system today are more evidence that too many folks in Washington & on Wall St weren't minding the store... 8 yrs of policies that have shredded consumer protections, loosened oversight & regulation, & encouraged outsized bonuses to CEOs & brought us the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression!"
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
