Oprah said she supports Obama because he is brilliant

[jackson_dem]

This is what caused her to get off the couch and work for a Democratic candidate for once? Hillary and Edwards are brilliant. Romney is arguably the smartest of any candidate who ran this time. Oprah's public justification for voting for Obama is a sham. Why do people put so much stock in what celebrities like Oprah have to say when they share such "insight" with their flocks?

[JVS]

1. What is the argument for Romney being the smartest?

This is news to me.

[jackson_dem]

8. He definitely is no idiot

He is a rethug but if someone is voting based on intelligence, like Oprah is claiming, Romney has a strong case for himself. He was valedictorian when he was in college and then graduated near the top of his Harvard Law and Harvard Business school classes.

[JVS]

12. Interesting. I never discounted his intelligence based on his politics.

To do so well at Harvard law is a real achievement and takes a lot of smarts.

[krkaufman]

73. Hmmm... was Romney elected president of Harvard Law Review?

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/28/at_harvard_law_a_unifying_voice

[jackson_dem]

76. Does Obama have two graduate degrees?

Romney has educational versatility.

[EffieBlack]

85. "educational versatility"

You are a piece of work.

Twisting yourself into knots - all the better to cling to your fervent desire to make SURE that no one could POSSIBLY think that Obama is smarter than any of the other people in the race - even if it means making up new standards of "excellence" (or should I say, "versatility") to try to suggest that he is the educational inferior of one of the Republicans.

President. Harvard. Law Review. I know it's hard for you to stand, but for someone who keeps bleating about "merit," you seem to have a very difficult time actually recognizing it when it has Obama's face on it.

[jackson_dem]

87. Let's look at their educational records, like I'm sure Oprah did

After all Oprah is voting based on intelligence and so she must have at least taken a peek at their educational records...

Obama: President of Harvard Law Review (president of law review is a political position. Barack is the best politician ;) )
Hillary: Great student at Yale Law. I think she was on law review too and she excelled in moot court. She kicked Bill's tail at Yale in the classes they took together.
Edwards: Got into Duke Law School (analogous to Yale or Harvard) but couldn't go because he was too poor. He graduated with honors from UNC Law.
Romney: Valedictorian at Brigham Young U, graduated with honors from Harvard Law, in the top 5% at Harvard Business

Their records are the same except Romney has two postgraduate degrees. Anyone looking at it honestly would have to give him the edge based on this, at least regarding their educational records.

[Zynx]

124. Romney's record with the MBA-JD from Harvard is the most impressive of any candidate running.

That's tough stuff. He took on the double-whammy program, which is offered at most top universities, and it is hard as hell. He is, however, the most immoral man ever to run for office. No principles at all. Even Bush has some.

[jackson_dem]

125. Yup on all counts

I don't like the guy, wouldn't vote for him, think he has no principles but you can't take away the fact he is brilliant and has an extremely impressive educational record.

[Oak2004]

161. Degrees are often more a marker of family wealth than intelligence

As is being pale and male (research has shown there is a grading bias against women and African-Americans).

Lets see: Edwards was working class, Clinton is a woman, and Obama is black. Romney is a governor's son and lived a privileged life. 2+2=...?

[AnotherGreenWorld]

172. Plus, all that Mitt's extra MBA shows is that he was only interested in money.

That's why you get an MBA: money.

And you have to be pretty fucking stupid not be able to get an MBA if you're from a wealthy family. As I said before, even Bush did it.

[jackson_dem]

177. Obama, Hillary, and Edwards all got into elite schools

They all excelled there. It was harder for them to get in than it was for Romney but once you're in it is a level playing field and all four excelled.

[Oak2004]

215. No it's not

They've run studies that work roughly like this: an identical paper is given three different names -- one waspish male, one female, one an African American sounding name. Then they gave this paper to instructors. Instructors grade the paper more highly if they believe the author is a white male, and are far more critical if they believe the paper is written by a woman or African American.

Edwards would likely have gained from the pale male effect. Hillary and Obama would have prevailed despite it.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

169. An MBA is not an intellectual degree.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

171. It might also be useful to compare their backgrounds.

Romney grew up in a wealthy family. When you are from a wealthy family, when you have all the advantages in the world given to you, as Mitt obviously did, you don't necessarily even need an average intellect to gain admittance into elite schools.

Obama grew up relatively poor, in a single parent family. It's obviously more of an accomplishment, more to Obama's credit, that he got into HLS.

What's more, of course, Obama went on to be a prof of Con Law at the University of Chicago. That is far more prestigious than Mitt's MBA, even if you ignore the fact that Obama started off far lower and ended up far higher than scumbag Mitt Romney.

[jackson_dem]

178. Their backgrounds were compared in the thread

They have 0 to do with what they did once they got into their elite schools.

[Hutzpa]

190. Well, why bring up the distinctions then

Why?

:shrug:

[jackson_dem]

195. Obama's achievements are the most impressive of the four because of his background

That is why they later came up in the thread. None of that has to do with what they did once they got to the elite schools.

Edwards is close to Obama and arguably had a harder climb since he didn't have the luxury of going to prep schools before college and he wasn't able to go to an elite law school because his family couldn't afford it. He did have the advantage of being white and that needs to be considered. I give Obama the edge because Obama got farther in politics than Edwards did.

[krkaufman]

93. Yeah, like we need another CEO President...

... especially one with Romney's versatility in changing his positions. Good solid leadership... like a willow. :rofl:

From what the article details, I'll take Obama's approach over Romney's "versatility."

[jackson_dem]

100. Romney would be a lousy president

His rethug politics, lack of principle don't take away the fact that he is naturally very smart and arguably the smartest of all of the 2008 candidates. Herbert Hoover was smart too. It didn't make him a good president.

Obama has the CEO approach to governing. If you want to reject the Obama-Bush-Reagan hands off CEO approach, vote for Hillary.

[krkaufman]

105. I'll stick w/ Obama, but thanks for the advice.

Hillary stands no chance of effectively differentiating herself from the Republican candidate come the GE, in regards to the war; and little chance in regard to the economy.

[jackson_dem]

110. All of that may be true but Barack himself has said he believes in the delegator view of being prez

[krkaufman]

112. As opposed to micro-managing everything?

What's your point?

[jackson_dem]

115. Obama will be another CEO type president

Like Reagan and Bush. Clinton and Carter were micro mangers. Take your pick. I prefer the hands on philosophy but I still may wind up supporting Barack anyway for other reasons.

[krkaufman]

126. Obama may be more hands-off like Reagan or Bush ...

... but he would be NOTHING like them. They were both dimwits who were wholly at the mercy of their advisors. Obama is more intelligent, to put it mildly, and is vastly more intellectually curious.

I'm willing to, as Bill Clinton says, "roll the dice" on Obama, crediting his judgment on Iraq and putting faith that he will "change the direction of the country in a way that Nixon and Clinton did not" (i.e. alter our free market, globalization servility), by create a working majority that includes independents and crossover "Obama Republicans."

[jackson_dem]

130. Yup, he is nothing like Reagan or Bush in those ways

Obama is brilliant. ;) Bush and Reagan? Not so much, to put it nicely! Obama is intellectually curious and will listen to all sides before making a decision.

[krkaufman]

136. channeling Jon Stewart... "not so much" -- exactly. n/t

[Azathoth]

121. He also has lots of hair grease

Doesn't make him the smartest ;)

[pnwmom]

162. HRC was Valedictorian at Wellesley. Why is he smarter again?

And how could anyone with any brains put a dog in an open crate on top of his car for several hundred miles at freeway speeds?

I know. He has no heart either.

[Azathoth]

2. Romney is the smartest? Wha?

:shrug:

[NastyRiffraff]

3. That's her reason? He's brilliant?

I don't think even Obama's enemies would deny that. He IS brilliant, but then so is Hillary.

Have to disagree on Romney's brilliance, though.

[desi]

4. And the Obamabots

go into a swoon.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[desi]

175. Debate the issues like you just demonstrated asswipe?

There are ladies and there are bitches and guess where you stand bitch. Did I forget to tell you to kiss my fucking ass?

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[jackson_dem]

10. What is racist about Oprah's political ignorance?

Alerted for making a thuggish threat, typical for an Obamite toward anyone who criticizes St. Obama, and calling me a racist for making fun of Oprah's idiocy.

[mtnsnake]

28. What a rotten thing to say to someone when it isn't even close to being true. Wow!

:thumbsdown:

[Thrill]

6. Interesting......Why can't she support who she likes? This isn't Russia

[EffieBlack]

35. Guess

[jackson_dem]

41. She can but should be honest

She is misleading her flock. She doesn't support Obama because he is the best candidate. She is, since she won't tell us the real reason, by all appearances continuing with the long tradition of supporting the home team. They are from the same town. I bet Hillary will clean up in Little Rock too.

[JI7]

7. Romney the smartest ? HAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA

[jackson_dem]

18. We don't have IQ numbers for any candidate

What we can look at is their educational records and life experiences. Romney has the most impressive educational record and his business success shows he is a smart cookie. Intelligence is not confined to any political party. Rove is evil but who can deny he is smart?

[JI7]

26. i think most are smart, but he is not that impressive, there are different

types of intelligence. and none was displayed here

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/01/21/romney-who-let-the-dogs-out/

[jackson_dem]

32. How can we determine who is the most intelligent?

It is a tough thing to measure. There is nothing to suggest Obama is more brilliant than Hillary, Edwards, or Romney.

[Zynx]

120. I never have doubted his intelligence, only his morality.

[MadBadger]

9. C'mon, gotta have context: Im not voting for him b/c he's black Im voting for him cuz he's brilliant

[jackson_dem]

15. Which is a dumb reason and a obviously a false one too

Hillary, Edwards, and Romney are all brilliant. She chose Obama for other reasons. Hey, guess what city Barack is from!

[MadBadger]

24. She was responding to all those who say she is a traitor for not voting for Hill...and

She is only voting for Obama because he's black. She responded saying she is voting for him because of how smart he is. I dont see the big deal./

[jackson_dem]

She was lying. That's the big deal

Hillary, Edwards, and Romney are all brilliant. So what is the real reason Chicago's Oprah chose Chicago's Barack Obama?

[GoldieAZ49]

49. who are you to call her or anyone else a liar? pathetic

your opinion obviously is not valued near as much as Oprahs, you don't draw 10,000+ people to listen to a candidate

another sniveling thread

[jackson_dem]

51. She isn't lying when she states a fake reason for her support of Obama?

[GoldieAZ49]

84. prove it is a fake reason

you say all these other candidates are brilliant, that is your opinion and doesn't mean she has to agree with you

prove she has another reason for her support.......you cannot

[mondo joe]

11. But Oprah also believed BELOVED would be a successful movie.

And that A Million Little Pieces was true.

I like Oprah, but she doesn't often have the best judgment.

[libertee]

14. Absolutely agree with you!!!! n/t

[cottonseed]

201. My primary vote is going Obama, but this is funny. n/t

[DebraK]

13. hillary failed the bar exam. she voted for the war in iraq. she opposed the levin amendment

She doesn't sound brilliant to me.

[ErnestoG]

20. I didn't know she flunked the bar! LOL

[jackson_dem]

23. Do you think Bill is dumb? She kicked his tail at Yale

[mondo joe]

27. JFK failed the bar exam too. So did Jerry Brown. Did you pass it?

[WinkyDink]

160. JFK, Jr. I don't think Sr. went to law school.

[Hekate]

166. President Kennedy graduated cum laude from Harvard w/ a degree in international affairs 1940

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_colleges_did_John_F._Kennedy_attend

[WinkyDink]

185. My point.

[doc03]

16. Can't we all agree that Bush is the dumbest. n/t

[Lisa0825]

43. LOL!

Thanks for trying to play peacemaker! Good luck with that! :hug:

[TexasObserver]

17. Yes, he's brilliant.

And not just Oprah is saying so.

Even if they were identical on every issue, he'd be the choice, because people enjoy listening to him speak.

[jackson_dem]

21. So are Hillary, Edwards, and Romney

So obviously she didn't select Obama because he was the only brilliant candidate.

[TexasObserver]

56. No, they're not.

They are minor luminaries compared to Obama.

[jackson_dem]

59. Based on what?

[TexasObserver]

145. I don't play that.

You know, that back and forth talk that means nothing.

Believe Hillary is brilliant instead of adequate. I don't care what you believe and your opinion on the topic doesn't matter to me. See, we don't have to engage in a long, drawn out blab fest to arrive at this point.

Thanks for sharing.

[jackson_dem]

148. You're like another Texan we all know

[TexasObserver]

152. You know Jim Hightower?

Cool.

[Zynx]

128. We are likely talking about differences in inches, not miles to use a different analogy.

[TexasObserver]

143. No thanks.

You're free to use whatever analogy makes you feel better about yourself, however.

[Zynx]

144. ??? Better about myself?

What is your problem?

[redqueen]

He's new.

Mabye that's it.

:shrug:

[WinkyDink]

158. You are joking. Hillary is brilliant.

[TexasObserver]

163. She's a run of the mill corporate attorney.

She might seem brilliant to you, however.

[WinkyDink]

187. I'll take her husband's word for it. And he has been called brilliant by virtually everyone who has

the brains to know it when they observe it.

NYT: "Hillary Clinton, the brilliant if at times harsh-sounding senator from New York...."

Huckabee: "She's focused, disciplined, brilliant," the GOP presidential candidate told CNN's Wolf Blitzer. "She has all of the qualities that make for a truly outstanding candidate."

Cindy Sheehan, even as she criticizes HRC: "She is an amazingly brilliant person, and she cannot say that she was fooled by George."

[ronnykmarshall]

19. Obama IS brilliant.

She wants to support him, so be it. Oprah's a smart and powerful woman and I love her for that.

But she also kissed Arnie's ass during the 2003 re-call in California.

So for that she can kiss my ass.

Oh and the new Saint Maria?

In 2010 when Arnie's runs against Boxer ..... nuff said.

[Barack_America]

22. I believe she said that he possessed WISDOM...

...In addition to being brilliant.

And I happen to agree with her that wisdom cannot be taught or learned. You're either born a wise soul or you're not. I certainly would like my President to possess wisdom. That's how you avoid messes like Iraq.

[jackson_dem]

25. Not in the quote played on CNN

Even if she did that is another empty reason from Oprah. Oprah can't point to a single identifiable reason for supporting Obama.

[Barack_America]

174. How about they go to the same church...

...she knows the guy personally and trusts him?

Is that enough for you?

[jackson_dem]

179. Yup. Too bad she can't admit that and prefers to mislead her huge fan base

[cooolandrew]

29. The capacity to have unified so many people is quite simply birlliant.

[jackson_dem]

30. The dumbest president ever won 59 million votes in 2004

[EffieBlack]

31. If you don't care what Oprah thinks, why do you care what she says?

And why do you care if someone else is interested in what she has to say?

I'm sure you have plenty on your own plate without claiming not to care what anyone else is eating - and then staring at their plates.

[jackson_dem]

33. I care about Oprah influencing folks on behalf of Obama for no good reason

Being from the same town doesn't cut it. She should be honest about the real reason she is supporting Barack.

[EffieBlack]

34. Then why don't you call her and tell her you've read her mind

and you want her to come clean.

Are you this obsessed with everyone who is influencing anyone on behalf of any candidate for "no good reason" or is there something about this particular situation that has you so worked up.

Don't bother. I can read your mind (just like you can read Oprah's) and already know the answer.

(actually, I know the answer because I've read your posts and you're as transparent as Saran wrap)

[jackson_dem]

36. You missed my posts on Caroline Kennedy?

Obama's endorsements from folks with no political credentials reinforce his standing as the American Idol candidate.

[EffieBlack]

39. Of course, unless you have "political credentials" you couldn't POSSIBLY know anything

What are YOUR political credentials and how do they qualify you to lecture us ad nauseum about how everyone else should think, vote and to whom to listen?

[jackson_dem]

45. Is my endorsement covered on CNN and the New York Times?

The problem is a lot of ignorant folk will vote based on what Oprah and Caroline Kennedy did.

Here are the respective lists for presidential endorsements from them:

Caroline Kennedy

1980 (primaries): her uncle
1980 (general):
1984:
1988:
1992:
1996:
2000:
2004:
2008 (primaries): the guy her uncle is supporting

Oprah

1972:
1976:
1980:
1984:
1988:
1992:
1996:
2000:
2004:
2008 (primaries): a guy from the same town as her

[EffieBlack]

63. Why WOULD they cover anything you have to say? No one cares what you think about anything

so you sit on your computer and anonymously type your ill-informed and narrow-minded opinions into various DU threads - so obviously pissed off and bitter that people whom you think are beneath you are admired, respected and in positions of power and influence, that you have become obesessed with trying to prove that they just don't deserve to be there. And the more you try, the more obvious it becomes.

You are so predictable and so transparent it would be funny if I didn't feel so sorry for you. It must be miserable to be so hateful.

[jackson_dem]

65. You care and it warms my heart

:hi: :hug:

[csorman]

206. Oh yeah, Jenna Jameson and Marla Maples have SO much political experience

As do Jerry Springer, Larry Flynt, Norman Hsu, OJ Simpson, etc - they have all endorsed Hillary. The point is, WHO CARES if celebrities with "no political credentials" are endorsing candidates? If you think so many people will vote/not vote for a candidate based on which famous person has endorsed them, then no one would vote for anyone.

[jackson_dem]

209. The Juice too?

[NJObamaWoman]

37. Why does everyone fail to realize that Oprah knows him better than HRC

They run in the same town of Chicago. She knows him much better than HRC so its easy to see her supporting him.

[jackson_dem]

42. Yup. Why can't Oprah admit that?

She isn't supporting Obama because of any substantive reason.

[woolldog]

50. Wow

This election has really brought to light some of the ugliness in so many democrats. Who knew there were so many racist democrats lurking around the shadows.

To ASSUME that Oprah is supporting Obama simply because he's black is biggoted. I guess Maxine Waters didn't get the memo? Oh that's right, when a black woman supports HRC she's doing it for the "right" reasons. But when a black woman supports Obama, it's just because he's black. Funny how that logic works....

[jackson_dem]

53. Another Obamite plays the race card to shut down criticism of Obama and his cronies

Who said she is supporting Obama because she is black? She is supporting him for the same reason Hillary will overwhelmingly carry Little Rock.

[woolldog]

62. well

That's dumb too.

joemondo, I wish you'd quite following me around. You know cyberbullying is against the law. ;)

[mondo joe]

57. You made that up. The DUer you replied to didn't say Oprah supports Obama

because he's black.

I wish you'd stop making shit up.

[jackson_dem]

61. Obamites use every tactic in the book to try to regulate the terms of discussion about Oba,a

The point here is to prevent anyone from calling Oprah out on her BS.

[woolldog]

74. nt

nt

[NJObamaWoman]

67. Wrong. She has admitted that she supports him because she believes

that what he has planned in terms of policies is what she thinks is good for Americans in her opinion. She has said that she is supporting him because of substantive reasons. Because she knows him personally she felt compelled to campaign for him. I just think people like yourself and others are just mad that a black woman who has so much money and power in America has come out for the first time in support of a non establishment candidate. Therefore, people like you need to attack her, to discredit her. Try to make it about race, or Oprah's lack of substance on American issues etc.

Oprah was right yesterday when she said that she is a FREE WOMAN. She has her own mind and can do whatever she wants to do. Thats what the womans rights movement is all about. Oprah IS one of the faces of the womans rights movement today because she has used her time to promote womans issues. But again some must attack her because they feel backed into a corner.

I find it funny actually.

[jackson_dem]

69. But never mentions any specific reasons besides Democratic boilerplate each candidate is offering

Another Obamite plays the race card to try to regulate criticism of Obama and his cronies! :rofl:

Oprah is anti-establishment? :spray:

[smalll]

38. Oprah can't bear the idea of not being the most powerful woman in America.

If Hillary becomes President, Oprah gets demoted.

[EffieBlack]

44. I'm sure Oprah is REALLY worried about that

Clue - Regardless who is elected president - Obama, Clinton, Romney, McCain or your cousin Lester - Oprah will STILL be some people's worst nightmare - a strong, influential, fearless, brilliant black woman with a BILLION f-u dollars.

[mondo joe]

66. I think Oprah wants to make her mark - beyond tv entertainment.

And that's reasonable and honorable.

I like Oprah.

But she does some less than brilliant things in that effort.

[jackson_dem]

47. Obama gives her a chance to claim she was a kingmaker. Hillary doesn't

[NJObamaWoman]

78. LMAO no its the idea that a BLACK woman who has so much

power is not kissing a white womans ass.

Thats what it truly is. That Oprah said that she is a FREE woman and not kissing 'Masta' wife's behind. Oh it pains some Americans. It speaks to how Black woman have been degraded in America even in the womans movement. We are suppose to vote for whites against blacks, vote for WHITE women against Blacks. If we don't do that we are ignorant.


PROUD BLACK WOMAN WHO IS TIRED!!!! I CAN VOTE FOR WHO EVER I WANT!!!

[jackson_dem]

81. What does Oprah being black and a woman have to do with her being a homer?

[BeyondGeography]

46. Romney just blew $50 million of his own money to get his ass kicked by McCain

How fuckin' brilliant is that?

[jackson_dem]

48. He isn't the best politician

Oprah didn't say she is supporting the best politician. ;)

[BeyondGeography]

52. Whatever...So you still think Obama might drop out Wednesday like Romney should?

(The brilliant answer isn't "yes.")

[jackson_dem]

54. When did I think that?

The brilliant thing would be to read what is said correctly.

[BeyondGeography]

55. I guess that's a "no"

you're coming along.

[jackson_dem]

58. Do you still think Hillary Clinton will get out of the way and endorse Obama?

[BeyondGeography]

71. If Obama wins 15 states tomorrow, she's in big trouble

If she wins 15 states tomorrow, he's in big trouble, but there's an argument that he'd be in less trouble than she would be.

Here's one thing to think about: Obama outraised Clinton in January by 2.5 times, $32 million to $13.5 million. That puts more pressure on her to do well, especially with the remainder of February set up nicely for Obama (LA, MD, VA, WI, DC...all places where he should do well). Obama's donors are nowhere near as maxed out as hers, and he will be able to outspend her right through March 4 (TX and OH) even if he has a bad night. Hillary, on the other hand, will be punished financially if tomorrow doesn't go well for her and her cushion isn't nearly as big.

Politically speaking, she's on firmer ground. As the instituional frontrunner, she'll only be forced to get out of the way when he has the necessary number of delegates pledged. If he starts to trail badly, the calls for the upstart to step aside will be much louder.

[jackson_dem]

80. Obama will be the front runner by 2/12

Super Tuesday will essentially be a split decision, regardless of if the media decides to spin it as a win for one candidate. I think Barack will be the front runner by 2/12 for the reasons you stated. Obama is already killing her financially and her problems will get worse if she doesn't live up to expectations. LA, MD, VA, and DC are great for Obama. He should win three of them and may sweep them. He will be the front runner after the Beltway trimary and that, coupled with his warchest, would probably give him Wisconsin. The Hillary camp is already focusing on Ohio and Texas because they know the rest of this month is trouble for them.

[Beausoir]

60. A 56 year old woman who couldn't be bothered to vote prior to this.

A Bush sucking, pro-war billionaire.

Yeah.

[jackson_dem]

64. Gore wasn't brilliant enough for her to endorse over the dumbest president ever

:rofl:

[Beausoir]

68. You get a car! You get a car! You get a car! Read this book because I said so and YOU get a car!

[EffieBlack]

72. LOL - for people who insist that Oprah's opinion doesn't matter

you guys are pretty worked up about it and have devoted an incredible amount of energy on it.

Wonder why?

Times they are-a-changing. And your fear it is-a-palpable.

[jackson_dem]

77. Oprah matters. That is why she should be honest to folks

[Beausoir]

82. A 56 year old woman who couldn't be bothered to vote prior to this..

telling people how to vote. And you swallow that hook line and sinker?

You really do?

[krkaufman]

70. What are you talking about? Obama was president of Harvard Law Review.

He's a smart dude.

Read and weep at your having been deceived...

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/01/28/at_harvard_law_a_unifying_voice/

[jackson_dem]

75. Obama is brilliant

Just like Hillary, Edwards, and Romney.

[krkaufman]

88. Well, perhaps; except he seems to have correctly answered the question on the test ...

... that carries the most weight, while the other candidates got it wrong.

They're all smart. And Oprah is entitled to her opinion that he is brilliant, and even that she views him as more brilliant than the others.

[jackson_dem]

91. What was Oprah's position on that test?

[krkaufman]

96. She thought we should just give all Iraqis new cars. n/t

[EffieBlack]

79. Now, now, we can't have folks thinking that Obama is smarter than any of the white folks in the race

after all, we don't want anyone else to get any funny ideas, you know.

[jackson_dem]

83. He may be smarter

That isn't why she is supporting him. They are all brilliant. There isn't anything that makes Obama clearly smarter than Hillary, Edwards, and Romney. If you go by their educational records, the only thing we can measure, Romney comes out ahead of the pack.

[EffieBlack]

86. So when Bill Clinton says that Hillary is the smartest person he knows, you had this kind of fit?

Since, of course, Hillary isn't the smartest person Bill Clinton has ever met. After all, there isn't anything that makes her smarter than Obama or Edwards or Romney or Stephen Hawking, is there.

Why is he lying? Why doesn't he just tell the truth?

I'm onto you - I see you exactly for what you are. And you know I do.

[jackson_dem]

89. Hillary is his wife

Who do you expect him to endorse? Besides, if you ask Bill why he is supporting Hillary he can list a series of substantive reasons, as can Michelle Obama about Barack and Elizabeth Edwards used to do with John. Oprah can't.

Hillary kicked Bill's tail when they took the same classes. She definitely is brilliant, just like Barack, John E, and Mitt.

[EffieBlack]

95. Ah - but he didn't SAY he's supporting her because she's his wife

He said it's because she's the smartest person he's ever met.

And now you're changing your argument again - you're like little boy who thinks if he covers up his eyes, no one can see him.

It used to be fun to twist you around, but you're so transparent and easy to catch in your bullshit that it's losing it's sport.

As I said, we all know exactly where you stand and why you stand there. Fortunately, the rest of us are moving ahead and leaving the likes of you in the dust, right where you and your backward thinking belong.

[jackson_dem]

98. He doesn't need to. Everyone knows why he is supporting Hillary

Oprah is abusing the public trust given to her by millions of good faith fans.

[EffieBlack]

107. Hmmm. He doesn't need to say he's supporting her because she's his wife since

everyone knows why he's supporting her. On the other hand, Oprah is an evil, race-baiting manipulative charletan because, according to you, she's supporting Obama because he's from Chicago, but she won't come out and say that.

And you wonder why nobody takes you seriously . . .

[jackson_dem]

149. I didn't say Oprah is race-baiting

You must be confusing her with the Obama, Hillary campaigns and your posts that call for folks to vote based on race.

[EffieBlack]

156. Of course you didn't SAY it - you think you're cleverer than that

You play the same game that many with your mindset do. You have perfected the playing of the race card to the point that you manage to engage in consistent race-baiting and racial demagoguery without actually saying the words "race" or "black" or anything else that you think would show your hand. But your meaning is clear, your reactions are predictable and your state of mind is as plain as the words in your post.

There's a reason that you are obsessing over Obama/Oprah - in a way that you don't over Hillary Clinton/Bill Clinton, who are doing exactly the same thing you accuse the O's of, or anyone else Democratic or Republican, for that matter. There's a reason that you have just fallen all over yourself trying to prove that Obama is really not any more "brilliant" than any of the others in the race. There's a reason you jump into every thread in which reasonable people attempt to have rational and honest discussions about race, so predicably bellowing about the "race card" and accusing everyone in sight of playing it, when it is you who consistently but - at least you believe - stealthily playing the card yourself.

You're pretty good at it. But you're not THAT good. As I said, I see right through you - straight to the point of your obsession with Obama and Oprah. And I don't even need to be able to read your mind, as you think you can read Oprah's. Your posts speak very loudly.

[jackson_dem]

182. You're like a broken record

You repeat the same pathetic attacks over and over again without any regard to what is being said. No wonder you had to create another name with which you are free to make racist posts.

Obama and Oprah are not married; Hillary and Bill are. Get it?

Saying folks should vote based on race is not "rational." It is racist. I can only think if one poster who consistently starts threads advocating that...

[AnotherGreenWorld]

165. Umm, no.

An MBA is a joke degree. Even Bush got a fucking MBA.

Obama taught Con Law @ the University of Chicago. That's far more impressive, far more prestigious than an MBA, even a Harvard MBA.

[jackson_dem]

176. Then why doesn't everyone getting a JD take a piece of cake MBA on the side?

[AnotherGreenWorld]

207. Why doesn't everyone getting a JD get a PhD in underwater basket weaving on the side?

Because that is anti-prestigious--just like an MBA. It's a joke.

Obama obviously had no interest in getting in MBA. The only reason you get an MBA is if, like Bush and Romney, you're a scumbag who just cares about making money.

[jackson_dem]

210. Making money. Why do you think Barack joined the law review?

;)

[krkaufman]

90. Smarter... as smart as... higher IQ... higher EQ... who knows....

The Harvard Law Review article actually gives a good argument for his truly being an effective negotiator and uniter, more than him having any ultra-exceptional intelligence.

[jackson_dem]

92. It definitely does

Let me say this, if Oprah said she is supporting Barack because he is the best politician I would not disagree. ;) Barack came from nowhere to where he is. Hillary married into political royalty, Romney was born into it. Edwards also came from nothing but he is not as good a politician as Obama, as became painfully clear last month. :(

[krkaufman]

97. Huh? Hillary married into political royalty?

I wasn't aware that Bill Clinton's parents or grandparents were political bigwigs.

[jackson_dem]

101. Her husband was a popular two term president

You can't hit the political marriage jackpot any better than that. She started her political career with far more advantage than any of the other 2008 candidates, with Romney, a son of a governor who ran for president, being the second most blessed by luck.

[krkaufman]

106. Well, she didn't "marry into political royalty"

I'm not a Hillary fan, but I'll give her better credit than you are. She helped MAKE Bill Clinton, both governor and President.

She didn't marry into political royalty, she married a commoner and together they achieved royalty.

[jackson_dem]

113. She was able to run as the wife of a popular incumbent president

Who in American history had a more advantageous start to their political career than Hillary Clinton?

[krkaufman]

116. Ummm... George W Bush?

W's start was considerably more advantageous than Hillary's recent start (though her actual political start was years ago when running with her husband for Arkansas' governorship), since W had ZERO talent and was carried to the PRESIDENCY entirely on family connections. Hillary has loads of talent; but her experience and exposure as First Lady certainly let her jump a few rungs of political leveling.

Again, Hillary didn't marry into royalty. She built Bill's career as much as he did, so her start wasn't so much gifted to her as it was the result of hard work. The difference between Hillary and past (and present!) First Ladies is that she was a professional before coming to the White House, and so is qualified to assume political office. (i.e. not the traditional spousal wallflower; which is part of the reason she was loathed by Right Wing traditionalists) Michelle Obama could conceivably follow in Hillary's footsteps, somewhere down the road, were Obama to win in November.

Why am I having to defend Hillary to a Hillary supporter??! :rofl:

[jackson_dem]

118. I'd take Hillary's start over Bush's

Hillary's family connection was a popular sitting president. Bush's connection was a rejected former president. Both were helped by their families but I think Hill had a more fortuitous start.

Because I am not a Hillary supporter. ;) I supported Edwards and am undecided between the celebrity candidates, although I was impressed by Barack when I saw him yesterday at a rally. :)

[krkaufman]

117. p.s. (pssT... NOW might not be happy w/ you framing her that way)

[krkaufman]

99. Well, just based on the life tracks you described, it would seem that Obama's ...

... was the toughest and biggest achievement. So that makes him considerably more than the best politician of the bunch.

[jackson_dem]

102. It was

Hillary and Romney had very fortuitous family connections. A twist of fate allowed McCain to run as a war hero. Obama and Edwards, as well as folks like Huckabee had to fight for all of their political achievements. Obama obviously went a lot farther than Edwards ever did in politics and farther than Huckabee has so far.

[krkaufman]

108. Well, Edwards, Huck, and Obama are all sorta tied right now.

Edwards and Obama both became Senators, and Huck was governor of a state. While only Edwards has actually been on a Presidential ticket.

Obama's progress this year leaves him short of Edwards if he doesn't make it onto the Presidential ticket -- unless you're comparing strictly based on delegates accumulated.

[jackson_dem]

114. Obama has come closer to becoming president than Edwards ever did

So I think Obama has gotten farther than Edwards, although Edwards did make it onto the ticket. If Kerry won Edwards would get the edge but Edwards didn't get much farther than Lieberman did in his political career. Huckabee may surpass both if he becomes vice president. Right now he has achieved less in politics than the other two.

[krkaufman]

119. Eh, tomaytoes... tomahtoes....

I still view Edwards being on the ticket as closer, even though Obama is putting up a good fight. Especially since many believe Edwards would have been VP had Ohio's vote not been manipulated. In that respect, Lieberman edges Edwards by a nose; Obama is third and quickly gaining; while Huckabee is a distant fourth. (Huck ain't gonna make it onto the Rethug ticket. He is NOT P or VP material, is far too controversial to the general public (especially Indies and moderate Rethugs), and would be a Lieberman-like drag on the Rethug ticket.)

[jackson_dem]

123. Yup it is parsing but we are political junkies aren't we!

:D

I think Huckabee has a chance if it's McCain because McCain has to appease the fundamentalists, although Huckabee has hurt him recently with his idiotic comments. If it is Romney than Huckabee is done. He may run again but he won't be a factor next time.

[krkaufman]

134. Gotta believe that Huckabee is too God-crazy for a McCain ticket.

He'd scare away moderates, what with his "embed God in the Constitution", "don't believe in evolution", etc. talk. I just don't see anybody being comfortable putting Huckabee in as VP behind the oldest POTUS candidate ever.

I *do* agree that they'll want to find a Huckabee-like candidate, to bring the far Right to the polls. I just can't think of a fundy that they might bring on. (I'd kill for it to be Giuliani or Thompson, but we wouldn't be that lucky.)

[jackson_dem]

137. Sam Brownback?

:rofl:

[krkaufman]

147. Yeah, maybe. He's from Kansas ...

... and so could nullify Obama's potential draw there (it being his home/birth(?) state). KS *does* have a Dem. governor, and so is not unwilling to vote Democratic.

Gingrich?

[jackson_dem]

150. His negatives are way too high

What is the background with Mark Sanford? His name comes up a lot as a possible veep and if he passes the ideological test for the rethugs and isn't a corrupt or a kook maybe it will be him.

[krkaufman]

155. Don't even know him. I used to think Marc Racicot would be the guy.

They could still tag Jeb.

[EffieBlack]

103. Yes . . . but he's

you know . . . so he couldn't POSSIBLY be the smartest one in the race.

And even the thought that someone is even suggesting that he is produces a hell of a lot of hysteria, doesn't it?

[jackson_dem]

104. Another straw man from Effice

He may very well be the smartest. It isn't clear and no one would be supporting him because he is demonstrably smarter than the rest. The differences in intelligence among the four mentioned candidates would be very small, and each would have relative strengths and weaknesses.

[krkaufman]

111. Wait. I thought Romney was arguably the smartest? : )

> ... and no one would be supporting him because he is demonstrably smarter than the rest.

Well, I can prove you wrong, there. As I said before, his position on the Iraq resolution vote shows me he is demonstrably smarter than the remaining candidates, and so I'm voting for him for that reason. Which is the same reason I supported Wes Clark in 2004, with a fondness for Howard.

[jackson_dem]

122. You could make a real case for any of them (Hill, Barack, John E, and Romney)

If I had to make a life or death guess I would chose Romney, at least in terms of native intelligence.

The Iraq war is a subjective measure. You could single out the Rezko deal and use that to argue Edwards is smarter than Obama. Oprah obviously isn't voting based on a war she either supported or acquiesced to.

[krkaufman]

129. Re: Oprah... How do you know that? Maybe her evaluation of Obama as "brilliant"...

... is partly or largely based on his judgment regarding our need to NOT invade Iraq.

[jackson_dem]

132. I don't remember her opposing the war when it counted!

[krkaufman]

138. I have no idea where she stood at the time, whether she was outspoken ...

... or even spoken, or if she quietly agreed with those who were against the war, like Howard Dean, Al Gore and Obama.

[krkaufman]

142. Check this out...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah's_Anti-war_series

It would seem to indicate that Oprah fell into the outspoken, if not activist, anti-war classification. And perhaps this is a big reason for her support for Obama, and why she considers him brilliant. To quote O... Obama, that is... "we have to change the mindset that got us in to Iraq in the first place."

It's why he gets my vote. We need to reward politicians who make tough, unpopular stands that they believe are right.* (Remember that 70% of the country was behind going to war.)

* p.s. Though not just because THEY think they are right. It helps when their opinions are reality-based, as opposed to the clueless, stubborn numbnutz currently in the White House.

[jackson_dem]

151. I didn't know that. Good stuff

[krkaufman]

154. I didn't either. n/t

[krkaufman]

109. Whaddya mean? He's thin and neat, but he's not single. n/t

:)

[pauldg0]

94. My wife and I used to love Oprah...

but not any more.

I think Oprah risks dividends in her career when she supports a candidate the way she has.

I now feel she is caught up with the rest of the empty heads............................................................bye Oprah.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

127. and Oprah thought that guy who wrote that book "A Million Tiny Pieces" was the real deal too

sometimes her judgment of character is WAY THE FUCK OFF

[Whisp]

139. and Hillary thought Bush was the real deal...

sometimes her judgment of character is WAY THE FUCK OFF.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

141. fail

[Levgreee]

131. Obama graduated magna cum laude(with great honor) at Harvard Law School

Hillary received a Juris Doctor degree from Yale

Hillary graduated with departmental honors in political science from Wellesley College.

Romney graduated in the top 5% at Harvard business school (Bakers scholar), and caum laude(with great honor) from Harvard Law school.


So Obama got the highest honors out of any of them, performed better than Romney at Law school, although he didn't also go to business school.

[jackson_dem]

135. Edwards also graduated with honors from law school

I don't think Yale had grades at the time Hillary was there so she couldn't graduate with honors. Romney is scum but it takes a lot of intelligence to get a JD and MBA at the same time. He only did slightly worse than Obama in law school (cum laude) while dividing his attention between the law and business.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

173. Good post.

And, of course, there was no reason for Obama to attend business school. He's not a scumbag.

[jackson_dem]

184. It isn't about the validity of a MBA

Only someone with their head in the sand will deny the effort it takes to complete a joint JD-MBA program.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

211. Business school is a joke.

Plus, this is the way joint degree programs work:

The first year Mittens probably went to business school; second year he did his first year of law school.

If anything, this makes Mitt's Harvard JD less impressive; business school is basically like taking a year off.

[andym]

133. Oprah probably thinks he is the smartest.

I suspect that Oprah does think Obama is the smartest. She has met all of the candidates and knows them at least superficially. She may very well feel that he is the most insightful, because his candidacy/public persona appeals most to her. People often conflate intelligence with insight and ascribe insight to people they identify as a leader with personal appeal. Ironically such judgments are usually based on gut-feeling not reason per se. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to hear Oprah to go further and call Obama a genius. As a matter of fact, he may be, at least politically.

As for actual IQ, who knows which one is smartest. There are many aspects of intelligence in any case.

[Levgreee]

140. I consider Obama having an edge over Romney because I think better thinkers tend to be liberal, also

While they may have the same "raw" intelligence, I think people who are Republicans often don't take in the whole picture, either are not intellectually curious enough, or miss details.

[Withywindle]

146. It might be because she's a book geek.

You can say that her taste in books is sentimental and middlebrow, but there's no doubt she sincerely loves what she thinks is good writing. "Dreams From My Father" (which wasn't ghost-written, he wrote it before he was particularly famous) is right up her alley in a lot of ways. And it is very well-written, very novelistic.

[Lilith Velkor]

153. Dr. Phil. James Frey. "The Secret."

Now that's a trifecta of fuckin' brilliance right there. :freak:

[WinkyDink]

157. Hillary is light-years smarter than ROMNEY, FGS.

[WinkyDink]

159. I assign brilliance to someone who can speak with learned allusions; with an

accurate historical perspective, complete with factual details; with depth of insight; and indeed, even with use of literary conceits.

I don't hear this when I hear Obama.

[Raine]

164. Romney is an empty suit

he would be just a puppet the way chimp has been. x( I don't know how you come to the conclusion that he is the smartest one running. :shrug:

[Bucky]

214. Being soulless & heartless & spineless doesn't make you brainless

See, I'm fair and I defended Romney

[robbedvoter]

167. Was Gore dumb? Kerry? Don't remember her campaigning for them. In fact, kissing W

in 2000, she gave him some creds with women - I remember MSM crowing over some polls numbers changing as a result of this. Maybe W was smarter than Gore then???
You're right - all sillines.

[AshevilleGuy]

168. 'Brilliant' doesn't win general elections (although it should)..

No, the public like 'stupid' a lot of the time. See: 1980, 1984, 2000, 2004.

[Hekate]

170. Oprah is a highly accomplished businesswoman, no slouch in the IQ department herself I'm sure.

In the Democratic Party we are very blessed with some exceptionally bright people working for Progressive principles.

Among them I would count Al Gore (Nobel Laureate), Bill Clinton (Rhodes Scholar, US President), Hillary Clinton (valedictorian at her college, idealistic young lawyer working with Marion Wright Edelman, US Senator), and Barack Obama (first black editor of the Harvard Law Review, idealistic young lawyer working at community organizing, teaches constitutional law, US Senator).

Each is brilliant.

Hekate

[Maximus Invictus]

192. The main reason is

Because he is "half black". "Chicago" must be the second reason. Because he is brilliant?
What fuc*** lier. Bullshit!

Hillary almost cries one day before a primary election, now this Oprah bullshit. Politians will do everything to win an election.

Sorry for my honesty but it´s what i think. No doubt about it.

My english still sux!


From Europe with love...

[jackson_dem]

196. They go to the same church

I bet Hillary and Edwards both have/had a lot of support from their fellow church members too, as does Romney, McCain, and Huckabee.

[Hekate]

212. Welcome to DU. Enjoy your brief stay. nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

180. Hillary voted for the IWR.

So she's either stupid, or thinks voters are stupid.

Either way, it's bad.

[Kira]

181. Gore is brilliant

and she didn't come out to stump for him when they stand for basically the same things. Plus he was way ahead of anyone on the environment. She is full of bologna.

[jackson_dem]

186. Yup, especially compared to who he was running against

But Oprah was nowhere to be found when Gore, arguably the smartest person to be nominated by a party in modern times, ran in the closest election ever against the guy who became arguably the dumbest president ever.

[bpeale]

188. obama is not even in the same league as Gore. never will be either.

[RestoreGore]

191. Absolutely. She's full of it

And it's sad that people may actually vote for him today for no other reason than Oprah thinks he is brilliant.

[bpeale]

183. i don't really want to be the one to say this, but

oprah supports obama because he's black. she never talked about him before he started running. her motives are suspect.

[jackson_dem]

198. They are from the same town and go to the same church

It isn't about race. Oprah has never led on race issues anyway. If she cared so much about race she would have. She is supporting Obama for the same reason average folks who live in Little Rock support Hillary or folks who go to the same church Edwards or McCain attend support them. It is natural but she should be honest about it and not try to mislead her adoring fans into believing she supports Obama because he is the promised messiah.

[CyberPieHole]

189. She supports him because he is black.

She's never seen fit to get off her fat ass to support any other Democratic candidate. Where was she when Gore ran? She was fawning over Bush. She, herself, admits to having voted repub half the time. I suppose the half she's talking about is the RICH half. The half that benefits from tax benefits for the rich that are handed out by the Bush's and the Reagans. It's patently obvious what her reason is for supporting Obama, even if she is not honest enough to admit it.

[ecstatic]

193. Brilliance = The best of all worlds: Intelligence, Charm, Oratory excellence,

excellent articulation, uniter, determination, success despite tremendous odds.

How DARE YOU suggest that rich, silver-spoon fed Romney is the smartest of the bunch? You've gotta be kidding me! F- off

[Maximus Invictus]

197. Oprah is fake as hell!!!

She would endorse even OJ Simpson for the presidency if he was running.

Pay attention: I´m not a racist person.

The love of my life was south-african and i don´t receive lessons about racism from anyone.

As an Edwards fan, now that he is out of the race, Hillary is the only one that still has a chance of winning the presidency. The old and boring MCcain will eat Obama alive. No chance for Obama.

From Europe with love...

[jackson_dem]

203. I live in the real world

Anyone who thinks Romney's intelligence isn't in the same elite league as Hillary, Obama, and Edwards is blinded by partisanship.

Do a joint JD-MBA program, graduate with honors from both and then tell me how easy it is...

[Cant trust em]

194. I'll never understand the celebrity endorsement thing

Maybe Sean Penn or Tim Robbins. Someone who actually has a history of activism.

[mnhtnbb]

199. Yeah, he's so brilliant he still smokes. Check out his blue lips.

They could be a sign of cardiovascular impairment.

http://www.cureresearch.com/sym/blue_lips.htm#possible

[cottonseed]

202. How much time do you think he has left Doc? n/t

[rucky]

200. Maybe because people have preferences and opinions.

and people put stock into the opinions of people they respect?

I also suspect Oprah has more than one reason why she's supporting Obama.

[1corona4u]

204. Yeah, and I was born at night.....

but not last night. :eyes:

[eowyn_of_rohan]

205. Oprah: queen of the mainstream

the non-brilliant leading the banal

[BigDDem]

208. Obama brilliant?

:rofl:
:rofl:


Right! Just ask the "president of Canada!"

[Bucky]

213. "Romney is arguably the smartest of any candidate who ran this time"

Heh. Thanks, I needed the laugh.

[BigDDem]

216. "brilliant" job by Oprah in California!