Obama Avoids Key Votes and Oprah Propagandized for the War

[Progress And Change]

Keep in mind Obama publicly said in 2004 and the fall of 2006 that he did not know how he would have voted on the Iraq War Resolution if he were in Congress at the time...

"Barack Obama continues to condemn Hillary Clinton and all the other Democratic candidates for their Iraq vote claiming he was against it from the beginning. But he wasn't even in the Senate then. He didn't have to vote. He was at home in Illinois as a soon-to-be-elected newbie Senator and hadn't yet actually set foot in the Senate. At the same time his friend Oprah was hosting surrogates from the Bush/Cheney administration allowing them to beat the drums of war, selling their stories about Saddam Hussein having connections to Al Qaeda and 9/11 and accusing him of having weapons of mass destruction (WMD) to use against America. As shown on PBS's Bill Moyer's Journal in the story "Buying the War," when a women in the audience questioned their information by simply stating "I don't know what to believe." Oprah cut her short by saying, "We're not trying to propagandize, we are just showing you what is." And in a curt sarcastic tone designed to ridicule the questioner for challenging the administration's view, Oparah angrily added, "You have a right to your opinion," which draw a laugh from the audience. It wasn't funny, as she was acting as an enforcer for the attitude sweeping the country that if you didn't buy into their pro-war scenario, you were anti-American and unpatriotic for doing so.

If Obama had had to vote in the U.S. Senate, I would guarantee you, he would have voted with most of the other Democrats in a set-up by Bush that was scheduled right before the November elctions to force Democrats into a vote they could not refuse without being branded as unpatriotic or worse.

Obama wasn't courageous to take his position, he faced no risk. He didn't have to vote as a member of the senate--a fact he cheerfully leaves out of his statements, which leaves the listener assuming he was.

As for his integrity, courage and dedication to his position in the Senate, there were two important votes since he joined the Senate that required these characteristics: One, to condemn MoveOn.org for its ad on General Petrueas and two, the vote on the Iran Resolution. Obama was AWOL on both of these votes. His excuse was: he was campaigning. I have news for you, so were the other Senators running for the White House, and they made it back for the votes. And yet he stoops to criticize them for their positions, while he takes a free pass. He is not courageous; he is a coward, who talks the game, but won't vote the hard vote. And now, he is using Oprah, who was one of the media facilitators to the war in Iraq, to shill for him so he can draw votes from women and blacks, since Hillary is doing better with both groups than he is. He has shown no leadership, only the ability to avoid the real tests and make big noises about it."

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/primaryvoices/2007/12/obama_avoids_key_votes_and_opr.html

[LaurenG]

1. Oh well. I still prefer him to any republican. nt

[Progress And Change]

2. he is not the nominee, despite what your are hearing from Obamabots

[Tellurian]

3. Yup, I don't think anything in your OP is in dispute..

Obama supporters will ignore what IS and pretend it's irrelevant..

[aquart]

5. Stop with the "bots."

It is not an acceptable appellation for fellow Democrats from any candidate's advocates.

[LaurenG]

10. No one is the nominee yet and I prefer another candidate

but Obama is still a million times better than the other side.

We can all find something on candidates not of our preference, I just don't care enough to get all upset about it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Oprah nailed it for Obama this weekend.

The Americans don't care about the war. The media doesn't tell them about Iraq. How many Americans do you think even know how many soldiers have died in Iraq? How many DUers know? (No fair Googling!)

But they LOVE Oprah. We live in an American Idol society. Obama knows that. Going on this rock concert tour with Oprah was a brilliant move. I'm telling you, he's in. :)

And I am a Kucinich supporter. :hi:

[Tellurian]

12. I don't think so...like I said ..the SC RAlly w/Oprah was more like a Revival Meeting..

Very little information supplied.. backed by facts and concrete plans.

It was like.."Do you folks like Vanilla Ice Cream?" "Let's hear it for Vanilla!"

"Are you fired-up?" "Fired-Up, ready to go out and buy Vanilla Ice Cream?"

All Feel Good memes.. nothing to write home about..

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. You need to move beyond DU and examine what most Americans are like

The number one search on Yahoo this year: Britney.

I am a teacher and I brought up Dennis Kucinich at lunch a few weeks ago and my co-workers had never heard of him! And they are college graduates!

Most Americans pay little to no attention to politics. They are more interested in Oprah and Britney. A revival is exactly the way to get their attention.

Hillary would be smart to find a rock star to go on tour with her. If she doesn't, Obama has it in the bag. Thanks to Oprah.

Not saying I like it. I am not even an Obama supporter. But I really think he has it. It's the Oprah strategy. :)

[Tellurian]

23. Teachers are involved with kids..that doesn't mean all teachers live in that world..

Hillary has a live in Rock Star for a husband... He may not enjoy the popularity of teen worshipers, but he does capture the attention of adults concerned about pulling the country out of it's downwards spiral. Whenever Bill Clinton appears on a College speaking tour...the room is always packed and overflowing with students with questions looking for answers..usually ending in a Standing "O"..

You will see within a few weeks that you were dead wrong in your thinking that using the magnetism of a talk show host to procure votes in an election is nothing more than a failed stage ploy. If you are so easily duped into thinking such is so...I suggest you move beyond the American Idol shows and start watching PBS and worthwhile shows serious adults watch who care a little more about our future than superficial intangible crap.

[proud2BlibKansan]

27. LOL I don't watch American Idol

But most Americans do.

You're preaching to the choir.

And yes, I think Bill Clinton is a rock star but not all Americans do. Remember Britney was the number one search on Yahoo, not Bill Clinton.

[Tellurian]

28. All it means is there are more kids using Yahoo and Google as a search engine..

what part of that logic is so hard for you to understand?

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. Then they turn on TV and watch American Idol

with their parents. And they vote. Sometimes. :)

[Tellurian]

32. One show does not an Ocean make!

[Progress And Change]

35. young people remember how great things were when Bill C was in the White House

And when we came of age things unraveled due to Bush so there is a special nostalgia and appreciation for the Clinton years among people who are in their 20's right now.

[loveangelc]

40. I have an appreciation for Bill Clinton

But that definitely doesn't mean I want Hillary Clinton to win because of her husband. Most people I talk to loved the 90s and liked Bill Clinton from what we can remember...pretty much the only thing that would stand out for people my age about Bill Clnton is the Monica Lewinsky thing though and that happened in 4th or 5th grade for me, but a lot of people in my elementary school thought it was "cool". IMO a lot of people my age don't want Hillary to win because we enjoyed the 90s but don't necessarily want to go back, we'd rather keep it moving than have someone with the name CLINTON in office just because we liked the 1990s...

[JohnnyLib2]

34. I see the Oprah entry as you do and it worries me: earlier post.

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3813230&mesg_id=3813230

[Perry Logan]

6. My main objection to him are his followers, who seem a bit thuglike.

[Progress And Change]

7. i agree. their attraction to him suggests negative things about him...

[tammywammy]

8. There are "vocal" supporters of all the candidates

Well, I'll say that Biden's supporters seem to be the nicest overall.

But really, Obama, Hillary and Edwards all have rabid supporters on DU. Try not to let those few sway you.

[LaurenG]

15. That is a pretty insulting broad brush and I am not even preferential to Obama

Sheesh.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

22. yes

we are going to climb through the "tubes" and beat up anyone who doesn't vote for Obama. Watch out!!!!

Why don't you count the anti-Obama threads vs. anti-Clinton threads (from Obama supporters only) today and tell me who is more thuglike. At least the greatest pages has way more anti-Obama posts, granted it's from the same 3 people.

[Infinite Hope]

9. Very interesting. K&R n/t

[ClarkUSA]

11. Hmm... another opinion hit piece by a pro-Hillary apologist source, eh?

Hillary voted for IWR, Kyl-Lieberman, supported the Iraq war with Senate speeches. Too bad the author could care less about that. Maybe she has a future
as a HillaryIs44 contributor like Taylor Marsh.

[NewHampster]

13. You are correct about one thing

Hillary IS 44

[ClarkUSA]

17. Can't wait for the O-O NH rally tonight... I hear it'll be the biggest crowd in NH political history

Better watch out: Hillaryworld hubris will end in bitter disappointment if the present trending continues.

[NewHampster]

21. Mrs, NH is on her way to the Oprahramathon

I prefer to watch the Pats beat the Steelers.

[merbex]

26. 95% women because the Patriots are playing

the visuals will be something that is not representative of the population - but he does want to draw down her support from women

[Scriptor Ignotus]

19. please

she just turned 60. ;-)

[Tellurian]

14. I guess people are just bored to death with Obama's lame attacks...

and why Hillary will be the nominee... She not only talks about Change, she has a Plan and can hit the ground running the minute she is elected..

[ClarkUSA]

18. Hmm... which campaign started Kindergate and spread the Republican Madrassa smear again?

Lame swift boating attacks against Obama are a Clintonian specialty and it hasn't gone unnoticed in Iowa, NH, SC, and Nevada, if polling in these
states (and nationally) are anything to go by.

That's alright, Hillary will be a very good Senate Majority Leader. :woohoo:

[NewHampster]

25. She would be a good leader

and if Oprah's boy gets the nomination I'm sure she'll support and push for his agenda.

[ClarkUSA]

31. "Oprah's boy"? How racist is that?

Nothing surprises me about Clintonians anymore. :puke:

[mtnsnake]

39. Their post was nothing racist & you know it. Anyone can see Oprah treats Obama like a little boy

the way she takes him under her wing in such a motherly fashion, so it's no wonder that you've seen so many people from around the country calling Obama "her boy". Color has nothing to do with it, so don't try and create trouble where it doesn't exist.

[madrchsod]

29. jan is a blogger for the boston paper

i was starting a better search on her then the boston paper realized i was`t registered. she has no more insight into the ins and out as anyone else on this or any other board. i think i have read this same article for the last three days here so i guess clinton`s campaign is so dull they have`t anything better to do than be jealous of obama`s.

being a supporter of dennis sure is boring..no one wants to beat up on him and i wonder why.

[ClarkUSA]

37. Thanks for the scoop, madrchsod

What I admire about both Obama and Kucinich is they are the only presidential candidates that have always been strongly and publicly against the war.
If Obama weren't in the race, I'd be for Dennis.

[EFerrari]

20. But Hillary didn't, right?

This is exactly why I'd never vote for either of them.

[NewHampster]

24. I guess you'll have to vote for the Huckster

I'll be voting for the Democratic nominee.

[sniffa]

33. i love you

:loveya:

[Progress And Change]

38. thanks

:)

[sjdnb]

36. In Iowa she said she voted for as many Reps as Dems

Saw it on a clip on CNN. How is that possible? Especially, given the increasing differences between the two party platforms since the 80's.

[Tactical Progressive]

41. Yes, Obama has no real anti-war cred except in his own mind

He would have been the FIRST Democrat to have supported the IWR if he had been in the Senate. Not only that, but I guarantee he would have tried to make extra points for himself by scolding fellow Democrats for not being supportive enough soon enough.

That's why I just have to laugh every time I hear one of Obama's moonies talk about the IWR like it's some moral failing of anybody else.

Obama has by far the lowest integrity of any major Democratic politician I've seen in a long, long time.

I'm so glad that at least some in the media are starting to understand what a low-character individual Obama really is. That is heartening.

[wiley]

42. Oprah voted for Republicans in the past?

Nuff said.