Simply put the testing of Senator Obama is over;

[grantcart]

What now lies ahead of us is the testing of America.


Will we be the country of Dred Scott or Martin Luther King, Senator McCarthy or Senator Kennedy, the Tulsa Race Riots or Apollo Lunar Landing.

Senator Obama has laid himself open and not flinched. An increasingly complex world is approaching human crisis. As we take a step in one area it has dramatic effects in another. Good intentioned policies to use food sources for bio-fuels is now resulting in food riots in Bangladesh and Haiti while ABC News disgraces itself with questions about flag pins.

Senator Obama is not going to be able to solve the ecological, economic, security and moral issues that face the country. He can no more do so than FDR personally inventing the Atom Bomb. Senator Obama is clearly the one that can harness the intellectual and spiritual core of this country to establish a new paradigm to solve systemic problems.

He has been compared to Bobby or John. He is our FDR. He will take on the larger issues of our country and do so without embarrassment or flinching. He will assemble the best and strongest minds. He will plan out of hope and not fear.

FDR saved the capitalist system. At a time when the system's greed was concentrating on transferring titanic wealth to a privileged few and brought systemic collapse of economic systems he calmed fears and brought common sense solutions heralding a new wave of prosperity. That is where our system is today. For the first time in 50 years there is credible talk of bank runs. We need an FDR to stop the transfer of mammoth under taxed wealth to the microscopic few and make sure the country that was founded on an entrepreneurial spirit of small farms and businesses does not become a black hole of Walmarts.

America needs to chose between empty ideological rhetoric and substantive systemic restructuring, between our commonwealth and bank runs.

Our party needs to choose between a Lincolnesque candidate who is committed to making sure a divided house does not fall and Stephen Douglas that offers the tired compromises of old.

A ridiculous silly affair last night dithered on topics of triviality while the atmospheric cocoon that holds all of us inched closer to the 'tipping point'.

Pennsylvania will be choosing between Philadelphia and Selma, between our hopes and our fears.

When faced with such choices the country has made the right choice. This is the country that raised up King, Kennedy, Apollo, Lincoln and FDR; we over come our fears and we choose hope.

[SoonerPride]

1. We get the government we deserve.

I see America in decline and last night merely confirmed my belief

[TwilightGardener]

2. Excellent post, very inspiring.

[grantcart]

16. thank you

[northzax]

3. now who's playing the race card?

hm? the choice is between Philadelphia (MS, I assume? Hillary=Reagan=KKK) or Selma(Obama=MLKjr=Rosa Parks)

i see.

edited for spelling.

[bigbrother05]

5. You are playing the race card, and I am assuming you are

for Hillary, your group are the one's that bring up race, when you have nothing.
Hillary is a failed candidate.

[northzax]

11. excuse me?

how many times has the issue of race come out of Hillary's mouth? oh right, zero.

and the OP cited Philadelphia and Selma, what is that but race?

[grantcart]

15. I don't think that you played the race card

I also don't think that simply discussing how race is impacting the race is playing the race card.

My point has really little to do with Senator Clinton at all and she is not mentioned.

My point is that the relucntance of some to Senator Obama's candidacy is motivated by fear. Fear and race in the United States is closely linked as it is here. Senator Clinton does try and build points based on fear. Fear of losing the election. Fear of the unknown candidate. She has not established a compelling hopeful reason for her own candidacy.

Between McCain and Obama, McCain's central theme will be fear - fear of change - fear of taxes - fear of collapse in Iraq.

I believe that America will, this time reject the candidacies based on fear.

[butterfly77]

20. People are not stupid...

Farrakhan,Sharpton,Jesse Jackson and Rev.Wright are buzz words that she uses for they hate the country and are racists and if he has any association whatsoever then he is also a racist,so how can he be racists against caucasians when he part caucasian...

[JoFerret]

19. Did you actually read the op?

?

[grantcart]

6. You are correct that race is a factor.

The essential difference between Philadelphia and Selma however is not of race but of fear and hope.

When faced with life threatening choices the founding fathers chose a bold hope. It is a fact in America that we often express our fear in attacking those who are different from us and the greatest examples of that has been raced based, Selma and Tulsa. If it makes you feel better between Philadelphia and Oklahoma City. But the reality of America is that when faced with fear we have expressed that in places like Selma, Wounded Knee, the internment of the Japanese in World War II.

It is my opinion that the debate last night and the double standard that has been applied to Senator Obama on the continued rehashing of trivialities is based on fear. I am convinced that America will not decide on fear but on hope.

[JoFerret]

18. You are right - Philadephia - (not Pa)

That is where Reagan signaled his racism to those in the know.

This poster does seem to have rolled a pile of assumptions together. Doesn't really follow when untangled. And some of them are deeply offensive and trivialize history.

[goclark]

24. The words are not offensive to me one bit

To you they may be "bitter" but to me his words are "sweet" with TRUTH.

Thank you for reminding me that I have to go now and donate to OBAMA.

I'm donating $50 because of this poster, grantcart, who sees things so clearly.

Thanks a lot!:bounce:

[JoFerret]

28. I implied muddled headed.history and false analogies

Bitter sweet etc. is your world.
Go donate another $50 to Obama. Up it to $100. He is a great candidate.

[murielm99]

4. I understand that last night was bad.

I would like to see this as the beginning of the downfall of corporate newsspeak. Of course that is a bit too optimistic, but I do think more people are tuning out. The networks need to catch on, and we need to stop watching their "news" altogether. If their ratings fall and we pass laws that prevent large corporations from owning all the media outlets, maybe there will be hope.

You are putting too much faith in Obama. He is not all our of past icons rolled into one. Nothing in his record indicates that he is going to do all that and save the world, too. Stop setting yourself up for disappointment. If he is elected and has Congress on his side, he may be able to accomplish some things. But he will still have the media against him and many powerful interests. I see nothing to indicate that he will stand against the power structure. He could be so unpopular by the middle of his term that we lose Congress to the republicans. Be realistic.

[grantcart]

8. And nothing in the record showed that FDR was going to be great

Nor Lincoln for that matter. Here is what is different about Obama: He is intellectually fearless and open. I believe that there is clear evidence that while he will have no fear in engaging the brightest minds.

FDR did not stand against the power structure, and neither will Obama. FDR's genius was in bringing in the common sense reforms that made the power structure return to its previous state and run more effectively. Obama is not going to get rid of the capitalist system but he will curb the excesses.

He sees the excesses and the damage and the bitterness it causes the average American. The first step in reform is diagnosis.

[cliffordu]

7. Excellent post, Grantcart.

I have to say, though, I believe we are beyond the tipping point.

[sonias]

9. Tried, tested, vetted and ready to lead

He's had the kitchen sink thrown at him, the scandal obsessed media focus trying to derail him - Yet he's stood firm, unwavering from his goal. He keeps dusting himself off and keeps moving forward. This is the man that will keep his head above water and lead this country. He will do it calmly, with purpose, and with a vision that the majority of Americans share.

Yes we can, pull America into a better future!

:patriot:

Sonia

[Mme. Defarge]

10. Recommended!

[ieoeja]

12. You're quickly becoming on my favorites.

But one recommendation for artistic flair, instead of:

... choosing between Philadelphia and Selma ...

Go with:

... choosing between Philadelphia, PA and Philadelphia, MS ...

[thevoiceofreason]

13. Indeed!

And add 2 more supers for Obama this a.m. - Wilcox (Oklahoma) and Thomas (D.C.)!

[grantcart]

14. I know!!! for the public they were both 'add on' SDs

[Bake]

17. He got asked a couple of tough questions, and you think the test is OVER?

Wake up and smell the coffee. The testing, although belated, is just beginning. Based on his performance last night, I think your guy needs to study harder for the next one.

Sorry to throw cold water into the Kool-Aid, but it is far from over.

Bake

[grantcart]

29. You have missed the point completely

the more that they try and test him the more trivial they become.

On the Wright matter he challenged them to a more substantial conversation about how the fundamental understanding of race relations has become stalemated. Or he explained they can continue to play the same little sound bites in an attempt at gotcha.

The media has been unable to match his level and humiliated themselves with trivialities.


He is no longer being tested the media is and they are being found ridiculous.



Despite the repeated attempts to catch him out on trivialities his numbers have remained solid. It is possible that he could be tested again but they are going to have to bring an entirely different team because the current method of trying to overanalyze a particular phrase is leaving them look silly.

[Imagevision]

21. Last night will fall into the recycle bin like Bitter-gate and Wright, Obama will surge as usual and

the reason for this is it's the man's time - something like... there can only be one Elvis Presley.

[goclark]

22. Grantcart Crying as I K and R

Happy tears of course.

Tears of HOPE that we will CHANGE into a country that can truly be AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL


Thank you grantcart for making my day! :hug:

[bevoette]

23. i am relatively new...but you have blown me away several times already.

excellent post

i - cynical, eye-rolling, third-party voting, never believing ANYTHING - believe it

when he wins, i suspect i will cry :)

[SaveAmerica]

25. Sad Affair, indeed

[damonm]

26. BIG K, R to follow.

[Cha]

27. Eloquently put, grant.. and as

buzzflash says, "Latest Zogby Poll: It's even in PA."

http://www.buzzflash.com/