Obama Names Republicans He'll Work With

[ruggerson]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070825/obama-ap-interview/

"Among the Republicans he would seek help from are Sens. Richard Lugar of Indiana, John Warner of Virginia and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. Obama said...

...'I would also seek out people like Tom Coburn, who is probably the most conservative member of the U.S. Senate. He has become a friend of mine."


Ok. I'm truly attempting to be rational about this. But, Tom Coburn is an out and out bigot.

Coburn: "The gay community has infiltrated the very centers of power in every area across this country, and they wield extreme power ... That agenda is the greatest threat to our freedom that we face today. Why do you think we see the rationalization for abortion and multiple sexual partners? That's a gay agenda."

Coburn again: "Lesbianism is so rampant in some of the schools in southeast Oklahoma, they will only let one girl go to the bathroom. Now think about it.


Mr. Obama, you cannot seriously expect to ask for my vote and then publicly tell the gay community that you would work with and ask advice of Tom Coburn and his ilk.

I would not work with nor ask advice of a racist, were I in public office. The least we can expect from you is that you disdain and disavow bigots and bigotry when you're running for the nomination of the Democratic party.

THINK THESE THINGS THROUGH, BARACK, BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH!

[avrdream]

1. The Coburn part just makes NO sense!

"He has become a friend of mine." Not, "I try to work with him on issues" but "A FRIEND". What gives with this?

[ruggerson]

3. I'm trying not to be as pissed off as I really am

but this is unforgivable.

To publicly laud a man who called the gay "agenda" (!) the worst threat the country faces!

Obama, which nomination are you running for? Theirs?

[DURHAM D]

6. This is what I refer to as -

Obama's Rodney King initiative.

Sometimes he just trips over his own bad ideas.

He don't know what he don't know.

[janx]

9. I find your response racist.

And I'm very moderate politically.

[DURHAM D]

15. Why?

I guess because Rodney King is black? Good grief. Strikes me that you are so busy trying to be politically correct you forgot to actually be correct.

Anyway, the idea that we can all just get along is bat shit stupid. Not one Repub will budge on any major social issue. If Obama thinks he can just get everyone in a room and all of a sudden the people who hate everything he stands for and stands for everything he should hate are all of a sudden going to find common ground tells me he is not ready for the big time.

[Mind_your_head]

52. Maybe 'hold your friends close, but your enemies closer"? n/t

[Avalux]

2. I think it's great he's willing to work with those 'on the other side'.

In fact - this country will never be able to heal and move forward unless leaders from both parties learn to get along and work together for the good of the American people. If Obama can get some Republicans to do that - good for him.

[ruggerson]

4. Coburn is a bigot!

Who's next? David Duke?

Coburn is a certified nutcase homophobic monster!

[Bluebear]

59. 'Coburn is a certified nutcase homophobic monster!'

But let's "reach out" to him!

Honestly, do some people here stand for nothing?

[Vincardog]

11. Not as long as "get along and work together for the good of the American people"

Means abandon our core Democratic values and cooperating in the Corporatist agenda.

We do need to cooperate on
1 Open transparent elections.
2 Public Financing of those elections.
3 Providing every american Free quality health care.
4 Ending all illegal occupations and end the fascist policies enacted in the last 20 years.
5 Providing every working American with a Living Wage.
6 Turning out government to working to respect and protect the environment,
7 Develop nation wide mass transit using clean renewable energy sources.
8 Strip corporations of the fantasy that they have Human Rights.

That will be enough cooperation to start with.

[Avalux]

53. I said nothing about abandoning core Democratic values. n/t

[bbinacan]

38. Well said. n/t

[rhombus]

5. Obama worked with Coburn to create an Internet Database of Federal Spending

There's nothing wrong with citing a colleague in the senate who you agree with on some issues. Coburn is really good on ethics and fiscal responsibility issues.

http://obama.senate.gov/press/060908-senate_passes_c/

[tishaLA]

7. It's not that he's working with Coburn, but ON WHAT ISSUES

he can work with Coburn. It's strategic. Hell, Sen. Kennedy worked with McCain (and worse) over the years.

[sandnsea]

8. Exactly

But don't expect reason to prevail here, it never does.

[CTLawGuy]

21. facts get in the way of the outrage

NT

[LBJDemocrat]

10. Coburn is strongly pro-fair trade

That's about the only issue where it's possible to stomach his policies, but it's something.

[madrchsod]

19. everyone has at least one redeeming value

well not everyone..........

[madrchsod]

20. oh ya -just think of all the bastards lbj had to deal with

and look what he did...

[terisan]

13. I liked the way Kennedy announced which issues he would work on with Republicans. He was

forthright about working with Bush specifically on education. I think it is best to be clear.

[youngdem]

12. Obama's Inexperience Express rides AGAIN....TODAY

I understand saying you'll reach across the aisle. Fine. Good.

But PLEASE, FOR FUCK'S SAKE don't say you are FRIENDS WITH TOM COBURN !!

JESUS H CHRIST, Obama. What. The. FUCK??

Coburn should be vilified, marginalized, defeated, NOT cited as someone a SUPPOSED progressive could work with.

GODDAMN Obama. Are you just throwing in the towel lately or are you just really not very bright politically?

:grr:

[rhombus]

14. you are really showing your age with comments like that

What's up with the swearing? Take a chill pill young one.

[youngdem]

16. Assume much?? Young is part of my name, ass.

Besides, I am mad at Obama for the bullshit he suggested for my hometown of New Orleans earlier, suggesting if he were president he would do things THAT ARE ALREADY DONE.

Don't tell me what to do.

Age discrimination is embarrassing enough, but when you wrongly assume and engage in it, well....you just look like an ass.

Ignore.

[rhombus]

17. yeah, you sound your age with your throwing cuss words like a spoiled teen

Gosh, we can have sound disagreements without the need to cuss and use profanity.

[sandnsea]

29. Oh god I hate that shit worse

what is it with supposed adults who can't handle a cuss word. Who ARE you people anyway, I don't know ANYbody in real life who has as big a hissy fit about cuss words as some people at DU.

[avrdream]

34. Without saying cuss words.....

Obama called him "A FRIEND"!!!!! Completely different from reaching across the aisle to work with the opposing party. How could he claim him as a FRIEND?????

I call people friends who I can hang out with and not feel like I'm compromising my principles. Maybe others have a different definition of friend but I just couldn't see myself hanging out with someone who so loathed my lifestyle as to make public statements against it.

Sorry, but this does bother me and you can look back at my posts to find out that I'm quite fair with the candidates, all of them.

[sandnsea]

36. And the Clintons call BUSH friend

Again, not my choice of words, but that's common in the Senate.

[avrdream]

39. If true, then THAT bothers me as well.

I know Bill has said that about George senior but I haven't heard HRC call Dubya a friend.

[zulchzulu]

47. Put down the pipe, Junior. Mommy's calling you for din din

:crazy:

[madrchsod]

18. obama is correct

"Part of Washington's problem is that President Bush has created a partisan atmosphere, he said.
The Bush-Cheney administration has perfected the perpetual campaign, what I call the 50-plus-one election strategy, where you just presume half the country is red and half the country is blue," Obama said."

he is correct that if the country is to move forward people will have to work together no matter how one feels about another`s views. this was the way things worked before these thugs took over in the early 80`s.

obama is correct we cannot become them

[ruggerson]

22. Obama called Coburn his "friend"

Coburn thinks gays and lesbians are the BIGGEST THREAT the country faces.

Do you GRASP how offensive this is?

[madrchsod]

30. yes i do grasp how offensive

coburn`s idea is. so i am now supposed to reject obama as a candidate ,then if he loses i should support the republican candidate for senate here in illinois. all this because he said "friends"..ok, i`ll do everything i can to make sure he does`t grace the halls of the senate ever again.

[sandnsea]

31. The Clintons call BUSH their friend

I mean, come on. I don't like it when they do this "friend" garbage either, but it is common in attempting to get legislation passed.

[democrat2thecore]

44. See my post below - the quotes are FAKE

[draft_mario_cuomo]

50. That is false. See post #49. He was caught on tape making the lebianism comment nt

[Bluebear]

60. No, they are not.

[ruggerson]

75. The quotes are accurate

you'll have to come up with some other lame excuse.

[Laurab]

80. Friends often disagree

I believe my one - actually only, repug friend thinks the same thing about gays and lesbians - I don't know, I won't ask her. One of my brothers, whom I love dearly, is gay - she knows that. We are still friends. We agree on many things. We disagree on things of this nature. After two years of not taking her calls, I finally decided that her ignorance was just sad, and really not enough to end a long-time friendship over, so we talk again, and we're friends again. If she were EVER to say anything about my brother, she would be quite sorry she did. Really, I feel sorry for her sometimes because of the propaganda she believes.

Being "friends" doesn't mean you agree with a damn thing the other person believes. This is your second OP (that I've seen) about Obama being willing to work with repugs. You are just taking it so out of context, and reading so much into it, that it's ridiculous. My gay brother agrees with me - he is very secure in his own skin, and he likes Obama. He doesn't find it "offensive" - he's smarter than that.

In order to repair this country, the next President is going to HAVE to work with repugs, whether you like it or not, whether I like it or not. I'm not sure why you keep attacking Obama - if you think any one of the dems (at least the ones who have any chance of being elected), would attack the people they work with on a daily basis, you're sadly mistaken. Maybe Obama is more vocal about it, but they all have "friends" on the other side, and are going to have to work with them.

You are digging very, very deep to discredit Obama for something that any dem candidate is going to have to say or do to win an election and to be able to get things done after the election. I don't know who your candidate is, but I think it would be far more productive to post good things about them, than to keep posting these ridiculous posts about Obama.

[ruggerson]

84. If someone went out of his way to give props to a racist

would you not be a little bent out of shape over it?

There are certain things you don't compartmentalize on. A guy who says that gays and lesbians are the BIGGEST THREAT to America has just screwed his chances to be taken seriously about anything and everything else he may say or do. It's all illegitimate.

Why is this so tough to understand? To paraphrase Lynne Cheney, Tom Coburn is not a good man. He DEHUMANIZES people. He's a bigot. This invalidates everything else, especially for the people who are on the receiving end of his bigotry.

[Laurab]

89. Um - Tom Coburn isn't running for president

I understand that you don't like him, I understand that he's an idiot, however, the fact that Obama has worked with him, and gotten along with him, means nothing, really, and it most definitely doesn't mean he AGREES with him.

I would never paraphrase Lynne Cheney, who said that about a very good man, but you're right about Coburn not being a good man, and actually, I wouldn't waste my time even caring what an idiot like him thought or said. I'm sure they weren't working on gay and lesbian legislation together, and I know Obama doesn't think the way he thinks - that's what matters.

If Coburn were running for president, THEN it would matter. The fact that he and Obama worked on legislation together, and got along, really doesn't bother me at all. Obama is running for president, and Obama has a mind of his own. Obama is NOT a bigot - that's what matters.

[ruggerson]

92. But you seem to be saying

oh, well, Tom Coburn hates gay people, but it's ok for Barack to tell the press that Coburn is his "friend," because after all, the issues they worked on together weren't about GAY people.

Coburn is one of the two most vile bigots in the Senate. He should be marginalized and condemned for what he says about gays and lesbians. His bigotry invalidates everything else about the man. I don't care about David Duke's position on free trade. I don't care about the Klu Klux Klan's position paper on the war in Iraq.

They dehumanize people. They have crossed the line. You don't cozy up to bigots who have crossed the line. You work to get them out of government.

Period.

[shimmergal]

117. You know, Coburn's statements about gays

are so over-the-top crazy, they've got to reflect some deep insecurities on his part.

I'd say he's a man due for a 180-degree about-face on gay issues. Unfortunately we can't bring it about by pointing out their illogic. But just like with abortion (and how the %#*&*@ can he mentally blame abortion on gays?), when someone real close to him runs smack-blank into his dumb attitudes, the cognitive dissonance might force a change on him.

'Course this is assuming he really believes what he says, and isn't just pushing it as a way to wrap up the fundie vote.

[saltpoint]

23. I think all 100,000-plus registered members of DU should write to Tom Coburn's

office, demanding an update on the rampant lesbianism crisis in Oklahoma.

If it's serious enough for him to have mentioned it in his campaign, then by god we all need to have periodic updates to ensure that the crisis is being managed appropriately and effectively.

And if it isn't being so managed, heads should roll.

[Gloria]

24. This is EXACTLY the kind of crap I hate! Legitimizing these people at this point...

WHY????

Hillary's prayer group is another thing, right up there with using GOP framing re: terrorism and the GOP advantage.

STOP IT! STOP IT! I CAN'T STAND THIS CRAP ANYMORE!!

It's like getting shot at from TWO directions...the enemy PLUS what's supposed to be our side...

I detest this oily pandering...this overly conciliatory stuff when these folks will sell you down the river at the drop of a hat.

So, where's the "change"?? Sounds like what we've been experiencing for quite a long time with the Democrats doing their little mushy act....

It's one thing to work with someone...but come on, is Coburn really your FRIEND????? If so, you've done an assimilation into the Borg, similar to Hillary's Friendship prayer group.

[illinoisprogressive]

25. Coburn was responsible for obama to get his reforms through the gop senate.

I am not surprised that Obama would be grateful and think well of the guy.
All who he listed have helped him to get legislation introduced in the senate when dems couldn't get much through.
And when you work with people, regardless their politics, you learn to respect them.

[illinoisprogressive]

26. I wonder how many here spewing would do so to someone you work with or

neighbors, ect. with and find out they are republcan. Would you spew so much of the same garbage at them and hate them after they have done nice things for you, ect.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

27. Coburn also denounced ABC's airing of Schindler's list as smut and calls global warming "crap"

:puke:

[illinoisprogressive]

28. If you knew someone who helped you out and worked with and got to know as a person but,

found out they were republcan, would you be just as hateful.

[madrchsod]

33. shit-- i had to work with a neo nazi kid for 4 years

was`t nothing i could do about it but i just stayed clear of politics and gave him shit when he started his racist tirades. actually we worked well together...

kind`s nice to have a day without rain is`t it...

[wyldwolf]

32. The scorpion and the fox

A scorpion (the rightwing) was wandering along the bank of the river (the American electorate,) wondering how to get to the other side. (winning)

Suddenly he saw a fox (Barack Obama.) He asked the fox to take him across the river.

The fox said, "No. If I do that, you'll sting me and I'll drown."

The scorpion assured him, "If I did that, we'd both drown."

The fox thought about it and finally agreed. So the scorpion climbed up on his back and the fox began to swim. But halfway across the river, the scorpion stung him.

As the poison filled his veins, the fox turned to the scorpion and said, "Why did you do that? Now you'll drown too."

"I couldn't help it," said the scorpion. "It's my nature."

[Skip Intro]

35. Maybe he HAS thought these things through.

Assume that is true, for a moment. Assume he means what he says the first time. A different picture emerges, doesn't it?

[citizen53]

37. Didn't Lugar and Warner vote for that war...

where Obama questions others' judgment? So why would he seek their foreign policy expertise?

Coburn? Enough said.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

40. lol good point. He also seeks Powell's advice, the salesman of the war! nt

[citizen53]

41. Can't forget Bunning either and Coal to Liquid

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Jim Bunning (R-KY) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today announced that they have introduced S.3325, the "Coal-To-Liquid Fuel Promotion Act of 2006." Joining this bipartisan legislation as original co-sponsors are Senators Conrad Burns (R-MT); Richard Lugar (R-IN); Mark Pryor (D-AR); and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). This comprehensive piece of legislation creates tax incentives for coal-to-liquids (CTL) technology and the construction of CTL plants. If passed, this legislation will help create the infrastructure needed to make CTL a viable energy resource throughout America.

http://obama.senate.gov/press/060607-senators_obama/

Reintroduced in January, 2007:

The coal industry praises Obama's reintroduction, with Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.), of the Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Promotion Act of 2007 last week, which would provide incentives for research and plant construction. The industry says the technology, which converts coal into diesel engine fuel, would reduce America's dependence on foreign oil through a new, home-mined fuel that burns as cleanly as gasoline.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/09/AR2007010901503.html

[draft_mario_cuomo]

65. Great point. Why Liquid Coal Matters

President Gore on liquid coal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbNImXTEkNA

Sierra Club on Liquid Coal:

Liquid Coal is a Bad Deal for Global Warming

==Although its proponents claim that liquid coal is a cure-all to our nation's energy problems, the truth is that liquid coal is plagued with economical and environmental downsides from the time coal is mined until long after the liquid is burned. Liquid coal releases almost double the global warming emissions per gallon as regular gasoline, making a hybrid filled with liquid coal as dirty as a Hummer H3 running on regular gas.

Liquid coal also requires huge amounts of water, and would lead to an over 40% increase in coal mining just to replace a mere 10% of our nation's transportation fuels. Proponents of liquid coal also want the government to funnel billions in subsidies and tax breaks to artificially create an entirely new industry. Liquid coal is arguably the dirtiest, most expensive energy gamble we could take.==



http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/liquidcoal/

Sierra Club on the $8 billion Obama-Bunning Liquid Coal bill

==Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Promotion Act

Our Position: oppose
Bill Number: S. 155
Sponsor: Barack Obama (D-IL), Jim Bunning (R-KY)
Legislative Session: 2007

The Coal-to-Liquid Fuel Promotion Act would establish a new massively polluting industry to convert coal into liquid transportation fuel. The bill provides a variety of incentives for liquid coal, including tax incentives, loan guarantees, expanded plant siting, and a host of other government subsidies. The bill also allows the Department of Defense to enter into fuel purchasing contracts for up to 25 years.

The serious economic and environmental downsides of liquid coal prevent it from being a good option for a cleaner, healthier energy future. A liquid coal (coal-to-liquids) transportation fuels industry would double the global warming emissions of regular gasoline and would require millions of dollars in investments. Instead of funneling those millions into a new, dirty industry, we should be investing in efficiency and renewable energy technologies that exist today and can help us solve global warming.

Action Needed

Fight global warming and tell your members of Congress to oppose liquid coal.==

http://www.sierraclub.org/legislativetracker/110S155.asp

[AtomicKitten]

42. As president, he'll be working with and for everyone.

I was shocked when Bolton declared the president only serves those who voted for him and when Cheney says it only takes 50+1 to cram an agenda down the nation's throat.

I find that to be narrow-minded bullshit. Why in the Weeping Baby Jesus' name would you advocate a similar rabidly partisan strategy?

The U.S. President serves and works with EVERYONE.

[Bluebear]

58. The President does not have to "work with" people who are anti-gay, anti-woman & anti-environment.

[AtomicKitten]

62. really?

Hate to break it to you but many Republicans in Congress fall in that category, some in your face, some more latent in their hate, but if they have been elected to represent constituents, the president will have to work with them.

The best way to change hearts and minds - to change the paradigm - is to BE THE CHANGE and that means not behaving like spoiled brats in D.C. That kind of behavior, as we have clearly seen, produces the opposite of change.

[Bluebear]

64. I don't need to kowtow to some nut who says "lesbianism is rampant in our schools!"

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/10/12/election2004/20_10_1710_11_04.txt

[AtomicKitten]

67. "kowtow" is an exaggeration of "working with"

I know you've got your knickers in a twist, but take some care where you dump it. 'Kay?

[Bluebear]

99. edited. End of conversation

[democrat2thecore]

43. Coburn quotes are FAKE

Actually, Coburn has worked with Dems on sensible bills to cut pork - among other things. He is one of those, "You never know how he's going to vote," Republicans. And by the way, Brian Lamb on C-Span singled out those very Coburn quotes and a few others that are fake. He was discussing the book "The Cult of The Amateur" by Andrew Keen and saying irresponsible bloggers on the Internet does nobody a favor when they pass along quotes like (he read several and said they were all fake).

edit to correct spelling

[AtomicKitten]

45. thank you for exposing this BS

>> " ... irresponsible bloggers on the Internet does nobody a favor when they pass along quotes like (he read several and said they were all fake)." <<

You've done a great service by posting some truth and I appreciate it. It will be read and digested by those that give a crap about truth. The rest, well, you've seen their work.

Cheers.

[Bluebear]

56. Coburn is anti-gay, anti-woman & anti-environment. And that is NOT BS.

[AtomicKitten]

70. I think you need to cool your jets.

Some of the quotes were debunked by Brian Lamb on Washington Journal.

That's what the "BS" is in reference to.

Yes, Coburn is a hate-factory. Nobody is disputing that.

Obama is running for president. Why some of you fully expect him to act like an ASSHOLE is beyond me.

[ruggerson]

74. AK

the quotes are legit.

The man is a bigot.

I have no problem with the unity schtick, but I ain't gonna be sacrificed on a cross of hypocrisy.

You don't publicly talk about what a good guy an avowed misogynist homophobe is. Sorry, it's just incredibly offensive and terrible politics.

Tom Coburn is everything we're fighting against. The man is a monster.

[AtomicKitten]

79. I agree with and never disputed that the man is awful.

I just don't agree with your expectations of Obama.

Cheers.

[ruggerson]

81. I guess I expect someone who is asking for my vote

to respect my humanhood. At the very least.

Telling the press that Coburn is a good guy is profoundly offensive.

Coburn and Inhofe are probably the two most viciously rabid homophobes in the Senate.

I just wonder what planet Obama was on when he made this statement. Certainly not mine.

[AtomicKitten]

82. I know I can't possibly understand this -

I am trying to imagine what a lifetime of this kind of disappointment is like.

I'm sorry he's not your champion. I hope equal treatment under the law is enough for now. But whatever you decide, I apologize on behalf of a repressed, unenlightened society.

cheers

[Bluebear]

100. edited

not worth it

[calteacherguy]

125. That doesn't mean we shouldn't work with him on issues where we have common ground.

Dismissing people and shutting them out of the dialogue is not going to advance our agenda. We need to persuade people to best we can, and that can only happen with civil discourse.

That's the first rule of effective government...something that's been lacking lately!

[Bluebear]

126. Yup, the GOP has listened to us lo these many years.

So what common ground will we find with Coburn? Who thinks global warming is crap, who thinks that breast enlargement makes a woman healthier, who says that America's #1 danger is the gay agenda?

[ruggerson]

72. The only irresponsible thing in this thread is the guy claiming that Coburn's quotes are lies

http://houstonvoice.com/2004/11-26/news/localnews/aids.cfm

It's also in countless other sources.

[AtomicKitten]

77. not that it really matters --

but if anybody really gives a crap enough to research this it's apparently available on the Washington Journal website.

Doesn't matter, really. I know some of you with a vested interest are agitated about this, but I think you are dumping on Obama when the real culprit is our society. Obama believes strongly in equal rights under the law. Perhaps it's the major libertarian streak in me that thinks just about as cool as it gets.

I think you are expecting Obama to make your battle his battle and you're pissed off that he's not taking it to them. He's running for president. That would be a incredibly dumb thing to do. I think you are expecting too much of him. I think how he views this issue is good and reasonable because it's a start. One foot in front of the other.

Well, have a great rest of the weekend. Even though POVs are on collision courses at DU, I hold you in high regard.

Peace.

[avrdream]

93. Obama didn't have to call the guy a friend.....

the word "friend" means something else completely to me. I have Republican friends but, guess what? They are actually gay and woman friendly. They are fiscally conservative and that is why they have been historically Republican. Needless to say, most of them wish Bill Clinton was still in office.

These "friends" of mine would never do what Coburn has done and I believe that Obama should retract that part of the statement. I understand if he was saying that he can work with anyone but he was extremely insulting to half the population when he called Coburn a "friend".

[zulchzulu]

46. Naw! It can't be!

Obviously, the continuing sloppiness in bloggerism spawns from the mighty Huffingtoon Post.

It appears that anyone who has Google as a bookmark and the ability to type in a web form is a journalist these days. They should change the button label from "Submit" to "Mentally Masturbate".

Take comments out of context much?...

:crazy:

[draft_mario_cuomo]

51. "New kind of politics"=apologizing for right-wing nut jobs

:crazy:

[jefferson_dem]

55. "I remember one-time somebody saying, 'That John Edwards reminds me of Jesse Helms...'"

-- Elizabeth Edwards

[draft_mario_cuomo]

66. Lame. She said they are both outspoken not that working with Helms would be a centerpiece of his...

..."new kind of politics".

If someone said Barack Obama and Right-winger X were similar because both had the trait of being able to shoot 3 pointers well does that mean anything with respect to their politics?

[jefferson_dem]

73. Why are you so obsessed with that basketball shot?

I've seen you mention it at least a dozen times here...

[draft_mario_cuomo]

122. I think it is sad he is willing show us that but not tell us...

...how many troops he will keep in Iraq and for how long, as well as other issues where he is very vague and generic. The 3 pointer is a great symbol of the personality-based campaign he is running.

[Beaverhausen]

133. She prefaced that by saying there isn't one issue they agree on

but keep on posting that crap. It really helps your candidate. :eyes:

[alteredstate]

48. Hmmm.... if this is true

shouldn't the original poster edit or delete the original post?

[Bluebear]

63. Here is a news article about Coburn's "rampant lesbianism" comments

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/10/12/election2004/20_10_1710_11_04.txt

[draft_mario_cuomo]

49. That is false. The lesbianism comment was on tape

=By: RON JENKINS - Associated Press Writer

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Republican Senate candidate in Oklahoma warns of "rampant" lesbianism in some schools in the state in a tape released Monday by his Democratic opponent.

The remark by Republican Tom Coburn drew a skeptical response from state educators.==

==In the tape released by the campaign of Brad Carson, the Democratic candidate, Coburn says a campaign worker from Coalgate told him that "lesbianism is so rampant in some of the schools in southeast Oklahoma that they'll only let one girl go to the bathroom. Now think about it. Think about that issue. How is it that that's happened to us?"==

==The comment came at a town hall meeting in Hugo on Aug. 31 and was taped by a Democratic campaign worker.==

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/10/12/election2004/20_10_1710_11_04.txt

[ruggerson]

68. That's utterly bullshit

I remember when the lesbian item hit the news, it was a total embarrassment for his campaign.

[Bluebear]

127. Brian Lamb is your final arbiter now?

Sorry, the quotes are accurate, the lesbianism rampant in the schools especially, but thanks.

[cui bono]

54. "they will only let one girl go to the bathroom."

So ALL the other girls have to wear diapers all day long?

[Bluebear]

57. Good luck with that, ruggerson

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1663210&mesg_id=1663210

As you can see on GD, I am an Obama basher with an agenda.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

71. Don't let the Obama thought police silence you

This is their MO. Anyone who questions, let alone criticizes Obama, incurs the wrath of the fleet of Obama thought police. They rarely dispute that actual issue or issues at hand and simply resort to name-calling and personal attacks on the messenger.

[alteredstate]

61. Sounds like Coburn's a pretty strange dude....

but I'm still voting for Barack Obama.

[BenDavid]

69. Well good. He will have plenty of time

before he seeks re-election as Senator from Illinois.....

Ben David

[killbotfactory]

76. You've never had a friend at work who held views you found offensive?

Obviously, Obama will not be working with this guy on legislation regarding the LGBT community, but on issues where their interests coincide.

Obama will talk and negotiate with people he doesn't agree with when they have a common goal. That is a sign of maturity. What you are looking for is the democratic version of Bush.

[ruggerson]

78. So we can all happily work with racists

as long as we don't work on civil rights issues with them.

Anti semites? No problem. Just don't deal with them on issues pertaining to Israel.

Guy who says gays and lesbians are the "biggest threat" to America? Hey, he's cool. Let's be friends with him and just "disagree" on issues of equal human rights.

Great.

But let me ask you, when do we stand for something? When do we actually STAND for something?

I feel like this is the twilight zone, not DU.

[killbotfactory]

83. Should we purge them from the government?

Pretend they don't exist?

[ruggerson]

85. Absolutely

They need to be marginalized and purged from elective office. Racists, homophobes and bigots do not belong in positions of power, making policy decisions that effect people's lives.

I can't believe anyone would think otherwise.

[killbotfactory]

86. enjoy your imaginary democratic dictatorship

[ruggerson]

87. How is it a dictatorship

to take an unyielding stand for human rights?

It's not that hard to understand: you don't give cover to bigotry. Period.

Something I thought Democrats had learned two generations ago.

[killbotfactory]

88. Do you also stand outside churches and call people bigots as they leave?

If you're at a job and have to work with people who are bigots, do you demand that the boss fire them or you'll quit?

[ruggerson]

90. We're talking about people in government

We're talking about elected officials. Bigots should not be elected officials.. Bigots should be condemned, marginalized and voted out of office. Bigots should NOT BE GIVEN PROPS BY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES.

What part of this don't you get?

[killbotfactory]

91. I get it

I would not personally vote for a bigot or racist. But this is democratic system, and people are free to vote for those idiots whether or not I want them to.

That doesn't mean the president should give them the silent treatment like a spoiled child.

[ruggerson]

94. It means the President

should use the bully pulpit to fiercely condemn them and reject their bigotry.

Not give them props, because, hey, they agree on free trade.

[killbotfactory]

95. Again, you've never had a friend who held views you found offensive?

Because you seem to be very offended that Obama would even admit to having a friendship with this guy, and that he should immediately condemn and refuse to work with everyone who doesn't share his views on gay and lesbian rights. Meanwhile he would be insulting a large portion of Americans in the process which would probably get them to react negatively and harden their opinions. It's just ridiculous. You can't run a democratic government in a country full of diverse views that way.

[ruggerson]

96. Leaders should not promote people

who hold views and support policies which dehumanize entire groups of people.

Leaders should do just the opposite: they should loudly and firmly condemn such people and support efforts to defeat them at the polls.

[killbotfactory]

97. He said he was a friend and he would work with him

He didn't put him up on a pedestal as an example of human decency.

[ruggerson]

98. He singled him out as the kind of Republican he would work with

Coburn is not just someone with whom Obama "disagrees" with on gay rights.

Coburn is a world class bigot. He has said gays and lesbians represent the single biggest threat to America. He is a monstrous nutjob.

You don't give props to these kinds of people. I don't care what frigging bill they worked on together. You DON'T give props to monstrous bigots.

[Bluebear]

101. Well, I have been told my knickers are in a twist in this thread and to cool my jets.

I am waiting for people to tell gays to shut the fuck up. Again. And that we are going to cost the Democrats the election.

[killbotfactory]

102. He was just naming republicans he can currently work with in the Senate

He didn't just walk up to a podium and make some big announcement praising everything about them.

[Bluebear]

103. He made a big announcement today that Coburn is a friend of his.

And that he looks forward to working with him as President.

[killbotfactory]

107. If Coburn will break with republicans on key issues, why the hell shouldn't he work with him?

[Bluebear]

109. What would those key issues be? Certainly not gay rights, women's rights...

or the environment. What are the key issues to you?

[killbotfactory]

110. Katrina no-bid contracts and other federal pork, specifically

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS225US225&q=+site:obama.senate.gov+Coburn+Obama

[Bluebear]

112. OK I am more interested in restoring and expanding American rights

but thanks. I don't think he is a good match for me :(

[killbotfactory]

113. Refusing to acknowledge or work with Coburn won't do either of those things.

[Bluebear]

114. Look, you just posted "Obama is awesome". I am glad you like him.

I had no particular aversion to him going into my discussions today, so best of luck to your candidate.

[ruggerson]

104. We're at an impasse

there's no point in discussing this. You can't see or you refuse to see how profoundly offensive and disturbing this is. That's your right as an American. It's my right as an American to be very disappointed in and very wary of a Presidential candidate who would give props to such a monster.

[killbotfactory]

105. I think it's ridiculous to expect Obama to not work with people who's views he disagrees with

or who are bigots, or idiots of any other kind. Or do you expect him to, but then lie about it if the subject comes up? If he wants to get anything done, he has to work with these assholes. Coburn is an asshole, but he might break with republicans when it comes to trade issues, for example. That is how our system works. That is how Bernie Sanders, a friggin' socialist, manages to get things done in the government.

You expect Obama, who has made very public pronouncements about how the US should be willing to talk with our foreign enemies and work together where our common interests lie, to say he will not work with republicans? Or at least to just shut up about it because Coburn is an offensive idiot? I find Coburn to be an offensive ass. I find nations like Saudi Arabia even more offensive. Obama will have to work with both of them.

[Bluebear]

106. "I look forward to working with Republicans like Olympia Snowe"

Oops, no, he had to pick Tom Coburn. Whatever, ruggerson is right, there is no point in discussing this further.

[killbotfactory]

108. He picked Coburn, because he has worked with Coburn.

Senate Passes Coburn-Obama Bill to Create Internet Database of Federal Spending
http://obama.senate.gov/press/060908-senate_passes_c/

Obama, Coburn Say Suspicious Katrina Contracts Highlight Need for CFO Oversight
http://obama.senate.gov/press/050927-obama_coburn_sa/

Obama and Coburn Call FEMA Decision to Rebid No-Bid Hurricane Relief Contracts a Victory for Taxpayers
http://obama.senate.gov/press/051006-obama_and_cobur_1/

[Warren Stupidity]

116. I have never found a reason to sing the praises of such a person.

If he has to work with repulsive rightwing nutcases, that is one thing. There is no excuse for making this public and announcing that he tolerates fascism.

[killbotfactory]

124. He called him a friend and said he would work with him, along with several others

Because he HAS worked with him. That's it.

If you think he is endorsing Coburn's stances on global warming or gay rights, or otherwise "singing his praises" you are reading way too much into his comments.

[avrdream]

129. He called him a "friend".

Enough for me. Obama should retract that statement. Period.

[Hippo_Tron]

111. Obama worked with Coburn on the accountability for earmarks bill

I doubt he'll be doing any gay rights work with Senator Coburn.

[Warren Stupidity]

115. Once again our selected leaders do not get it.

Do their consultants tell them to talk like this? Do they have no sense? Are they completely clueless about what has been going on since at least 1992? Fight back! Grow a fucking spine! I am really tired of this crap.

[Alamom]

118. kick.

[indypaul]

119. Like having dinner with a tiger. You'll be the last course. n/t

[Bluebear]

120. Can I steal that?

:hi:

[indypaul]

132. Not original with me, go ahead.

[hatrack]

121. Coburn? Shit, Senator, why don't you get Inhofe to draft your environmental platform?

Unbe-fucking-lievable.

:silly:

[draft_mario_cuomo]

123. Coburn: global warming is "crap". He isn't much better than Inhofe! nt

[hatrack]

131. Well, at least Coburn doesn't sit on the Energy & Environment Cmte.

Which is about the only favorable comparison I can make between him and Inhofe . . .

[oasis]

128. With Joe Lieberman as a mentor and Tom Coburn as a friend, how can a guy go wrong?

:shrug:

[cyclezealot]

130. What is wrong with Obama.

These people are 'rule or ruin,' types. They have no interest in compromise. Work with, rediciliour, they must be defeated. The essence of their philosopy is destroy government, build an opportunity society where their big business friends are to to screw the little guy.

[Odin2005]

134. I detect a wiff of a disgusting "we must liquidate our political enemies" mentality in this thread.

Christ, people. We're liberals, not Stalinists.

[Vidar]

135. Still has a way to go to out-pander Hillary, but he's trying.