OBAMA DAILY NEWS THREAD

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

Obama 2008 Daily News Thread

Feel free to add your daily news item to this thread.

This will make it easier not to lose track of the breaking news on all things Obama.
We alread do this now in the Election Reform Forum, and it helps activists track what
is going on around the country.



Today's picture - Obama and Change we can believe in.

Don't forget to hit the "recommend" button, and thanks!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

1. Obama Picks Up Key Newspaper Endorsements in Wisconsin, Texas

The largest newspapers in Wisconsin and Texas give Obama an endorsement.

Obama Picks Up Key Newspaper Endorsements in Wisconsin, Texas

Feb. 16 (Bloomberg) -- Barack Obama picked up key newspaper endorsements in Wisconsin and Texas today as he and Hillary Clinton compete for delegates in states that may help determine which candidate wins the Democratic presidential nomination.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin's largest daily newspaper, said it recommends that voters support Obama in the state's Feb. 19 primary because ``change and experience are crucial to moving this country forward'' and the Illinois senator is the ``best-equipped to deliver that change.''

The Houston Chronicle, the biggest daily publication in Texas, gave similar reasons for endorsing Obama, 46, over Clinton. He's ``the best-qualified by life experience, skill and temperament to be the standard bearer for his party,'' the newspaper said in an editorial today. Texas will hold its primary on March 4.

...Obama has accumulated 1,034 pledged Democratic National Convention delegates to Clinton's 955, according to an unofficial tally by thegreenpapers.com. The count doesn't include the 796 so-called superdelegates, Democratic Party officials and officeholders who aren't bound by primary or caucus results and can back whomever they choose.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=a_3y3La.PAsw&refer=home

[K Gardner]

2. Barack Obama found me a parking spot at the mall today ! Oops.. wrong thread? (Great thread idea !

[usregimechange]

13. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a circulation of 401,379, in the top 25

[ericgtr]

41. K&R

:kick:

[Coexist]

3. Houston Chronicle endorses Obama

from the Houston Chronicle's endorsement:


However, there is a decisive difference. Obama vows to reach out to
independents and Republicans with a message of inclusion and cooperation. He
offers a historic opportunity to elevate national political dialogue to a
higher ground. Those who insist on vitriol and obstructionism would be
marginalized.

Obama is both the epitome of the American Dream and well-positioned to
reach out to an international community alienated by recent U.S. go-it-alone
policies.

The passion and excitement that Obama has brought to the race can only
stimulate more citizens to participate in the electoral process. The
Chronicle urges Texas Democrats to cast what could be decisive ballots for
his presidential nomination.

[usregimechange]

11. 10th largest paper in the US with a circulation of 692,586.

[thevoiceofreason]

15. Of course, we local Houston politicos laugh at the Chronicle

We call it the kiss of death -- they have a remarkable record of endorsing losers (in the general thank goodness).

[Hill_YesWeWill]

37. oh, well, I live in Waco, where your paper is widely distributed

I guess I'm no "politico" but I was excited they endorsed Obama

[goclark]

4. Subject: Fishy Counting of the Votes in Harlem

Message:
Thread here at DU

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[babylonsister]

5. Austin mayor endorses Obama

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_8271364

Austin mayor endorses Obama
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 02/15/2008 08:50:28 AM MST


———

AUSTIN (AP)—Austin Mayor Will Wynn threw his support Friday to Sen. Barack Obama's bid for
the White House.

Wynn, who has made energy efficiency a hallmark of his tenure, cited Obama's commitment to an energy policy that protects the environment.

"For too long, we've allowed old divisions to hold us back," Wynn said. "Recently, I've had conversations about energy policy with presidential candidates from both parties, and I believe Sen. Obama is the only person who can move us forward on this critical issue."

Wynn chairs the Energy Committee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and worked on energy-efficiency grant legislation.

Obama thanked Wynn for the endorsement.

"I don't believe that energy policy is something to bring up only when it's convenient during a campaign," he said in a statement issued by his campaign.

Obama wants to set up a carbon emissions cap-and-trade system requiring pollution credits to be auctioned, to ensure polluters pay for emissions they release. Revenue generated by auctioning allowances will be used to develop clean energy and invest in energy efficiency improvements.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

6. NY Times: The Charisma Mandate

“But you only have to look at crucial moments in the history of our time to see how crucial it was to have a leader who could inspire, who could rally a nation to a standard, who could infuse a country with confidence, to remind people of the justice of a cause.”

The Charisma Mandate

...It’s far too soon to know what role Mr. Obama will play in history, let alone whether he can be compared to F.D.R., or, as he is most commonly, to John F. Kennedy. But it is perhaps time to look more closely at this label that attaches to him, and how it has been applied in the past.

The “cult of personality” is used in the pejorative. But recast as a different name — call it charisma — and, as Roosevelt and other examples show, it can be a critical element of politics and its practical cousin, governance. It just can’t be the only element.

“Today, attacks on the cult of personality seem really to mean attacks on the ability to make speeches that inspire,” Mr. Caro said in an interview. “But you only have to look at crucial moments in the history of our time to see how crucial it was to have a leader who could inspire, who could rally a nation to a standard, who could infuse a country with confidence, to remind people of the justice of a cause.”

Still, Mr. Caro adds a caveat: “That doesn’t always translate into a great presidency.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/weekinreview/17zernike.html

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

7. THE WI AIRWAVE DUEL

The Video is available at the link:

THE WI AIRWAVE DUEL February 16, 2008

From NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan and NBC's Domenico Montanaro
The Obama campaign has a new ad up that pushes back against a television ad released by an all-out negative ad by the Clinton campaign yesterday that not only challenged Obama to debate in Wisconsin, but also attacks him on social security and favoring Cheney's oil bill.

"After 18 debates, with two more coming, Hillary says Barack Obama is ducking debates,” an announcer says in the Obama ad. “It's the same old politics.” The ad also says that Obama has a better plan for social security (in fact, that Clinton doesn't have a plan) and that his health-care plan, per the estimate of a former Clinton labor secretary, covers more people. On the Cheney oil bill charge, the ad says Obama "sponsored a bill to end tax breaks for oil companies."

Obama is also going up with three ads each in Vermont and Rhode Island, which hold primaries on March 4.

Here's the script: Announcer: After 18 debates, with two more coming, Hillary says Barack Obama is ducking debates? It's the same old politics. Here's the truth. Obama has a plan to protect Social Security benefits and the current retirement age. Hillary doesn't. On health care, even Bill Clinton's Labor Secretary says Obama covers more people than Hillary. And Obama sponsored a bill to end tax breaks for oil companies. Tired of the same old politics? Vote for change we can believe in.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/16/671650.aspx

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. Do-or-die Hillary turns bully as Obama starts to pull away

Must read UK paper article, talks about Hillary camp's desperation, "Hillaryland", and Clinton efforts to twist Obama's supporters as weird fringe cult people. See how Media Matters figures in as well.

February 17, 2008

Do-or-die Hillary turns bully as Obama starts to pull away

With her rival ahead in the polls and wooing her bedrock Hispanic and female voters, Clinton is trying to muscle her way back by tarring him as a cultish figure, reports

THERE is an air of desperation in Hillary Clinton’s camp. The New York senator has embarked on a door-die mission to hector and bully her way to victory, putting her on a potential collision course with Democratic party leaders.

It is a risky strategy that could leave her more isolated and unpopular as voters defect to Barack Obama, the new front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination. Obama, 46, is being tarred as a cultish, messianic figure who talks big but cannot deliver.

...Clinton’s camp has been circulating stories criticising the “cult” of Obama in the hope of portraying “Obamania” as a mass delusion. Media Matters, a watchdog organisation sympathetic to Clinton, compiled a report headlined, “Media figures call Obama supporters’ behaviour ‘creepy’, compare them to Hare Krishna and Charles Manson followers”.

It was forwarded by Sidney Blumenthal, a top Clinton adviser, to select reporters. The campaign entered a nasty phase last week with the determination of Clinton’s team to revive delegates from the “ghost” primaries of Michigan and Florida, by legal action if necessary.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article3382295.ece

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

9. ANOTHER ONE: Hillary Clinton superdelegate in Iowa throws support to Barack Obama

Hillary Clinton superdelegate in Iowa throws support to Barack Obama

BY KENNETH R. BAZINET

Saturday, February 16th 2008, 4:00 AM

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama picked off a superdelegate previously committed to Hillary Clinton Friday in another setback for her campaign.

Sarah Swisher, a Service Employees International Union member from Iowa, switched after the union endorsed Obama.

Georgia Congressman David Scott also embraced Obama, and Rep. John Lewis was reported to be wavering amid heavy arm-twisting.

"There's a lot of stuff going beneath the surface, you know, stuff like, 'We'll get you if you don't support us,'" said a Georgia source close to the Congressional Black Caucus. Lewis and Scott campaigned for Clinton before last week's Georgia primary on Super Tuesday. Obama beat her by a 3-to-1 margin in the state.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/02/16/2008-02-16_hillary_clinton_superdelegate_in_iowa_th.html

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

10. Mystery: NY Results Say Obama Got Zero Votes In 80 Districts

Mystery: NY Results Say Obama Got Zero Votes In 80 Districts

...Black voters are heavily represented in the 94th Election District in Harlem's 70th Assembly District. Yet according to the unofficial results from the New York Democratic primary last week, not a single vote in the district was cast for Senator Barack Obama.

That anomaly was not unique. In fact, a review by The New York Times of the unofficial results reported on primary night found about 80 election districts among the city's 6,106 where Mr. Obama supposedly did not receive even one vote, including cases where he ran a respectable race in a nearby district.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/02/16/mystery-ny-results-say-o_n_87020.html

[psychopomp]

29. I, for one, would really like to know what happened in NY

Unfortunately, our election process is not tamper-proof.

[thevoiceofreason]

12. Hispanic comedian George Lopez endorses Barack

At the headquarters in Houston today, George Lopez called in and endorsed Barack. He stated to the crowd that he beieved Barack was the best choice for hispanics. Noting that he planned to campaign around Texas for parts of the next week, he made a funny comment: If Hillary Clinton thinks she can impress folks in El Paso, wait til I get done going there. The place went nuts.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

14. Excellent! 2/16 Lopez to endorse Obama at HQ in Houston Texas

Today - Come see George Lopez Endorse Obama

February 16th, 2008 · No Comments
Come see George Lopez’s endorsement of Barack Obama this afternoon at the HQ office of Travis and Alabama.

3710 TRAVIS STREET
HOUSTON, TX 77002

George is a TV and Film Star and Comedian, very famous Latino celebrity. Please come out and try to arrive around 1pm. George will discuss his support of Barack and encourage us to fan out and canvas our neighborhoods. If you have friends or family in the area, please let them know they can come down around 1pm and meet George. We hope to have a strong diverse crowd well represented with Latino friends of Houston.

http://www.houstonforobama.com/archives/date/2008/02

[MadBadger]

16. Badger Herald, one of the two students Newspapers at the University of Wisconsin ednorses Obama

People read their student newspapers, but much more people read The Daily Cardinal. They will probably endorse somebody on MOnday.

[MadBadger]

17. Obama will be at Youngstown State on MOnday

He'll speak at their arena midday I think.

[book_worm]

21. Is that the opening of his Ohio campaign?

[MadBadger]

23. I believe it is

his website makes it seem that way.

[MadBadger]

18. Sources say Obama to speak at the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, TX on either Feb 25/28

The arena holds 15,000 +

http://www.lubbockonline.com/stories/021608/loc_247512417.shtml

[thevoiceofreason]

19. Obama at the Toyota Center in Houston on Tuesday, 2/19

Details to follow

[MadBadger]

20. Looks like he is going to go back and forth from Ohio and Texas.

Maybe sneak into Vermont and Rhode Island as well.

[MadBadger]

26. Here is your details

Barack Obama in Houston on Tuesday, February 19
Join Barack Obama for a special 'Stand for Change' Rally in Houston on Tuesday, February 19th.

Stand for Change Rally with Barack Obama
Toyota Center
1510 Polk Street
Houston, TX

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Doors Open: 6:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. However, tickets are required and admission is on a first come, first-served basis.

For security reasons, do not bring bags. No signs or banners permitted.

[thevoiceofreason]

32. I'm in Houston and you beat me to it

You rock -- love your threads

[MadBadger]

33. Thanks...Just saw it on Barackobama.com

[Hill_YesWeWill]

38. YES! I am so there! nt

[Neshanic]

22. Could you please have sub threads on...

"Miracles", water into wine stuff.

"I Touched Him", tales of actual physical contact.

"Bits and Pieces", left overs like used table ware, napkins, things He used.

"Chattin Bout' Conversion", stories of how you came to Him and what methods you used to get others to see.

"Universe Obama", strange and unexplained items that involve Him, such as spontaneous hugging, kissing, and alien abductions.

"Harpy Hillary", stories about HER!

"When He's In Charge!" The locations of the nearest re-education camps to you so you can can help with the gathering of the unaccepters.

[MadBadger]

24. This is a serious thread, can you troll somewhere else?

[Neshanic]

27. Lighten up...

[MadBadger]

28. After reading your threads...so not in the mood for this BS

[MadBadger]

44. Obama gave a kickass speech tonight in Milwaukee!

[MadBadger]

45. Obama had to cancel his Wisco Event today cuz of the shitty weather we are having.

[Hill_YesWeWill]

39. this is rude

and boring :boring:

[WillyT]

25. And... From Triangulation Central !!!

Clinton Aide Changes Mich., Fla. Stance

<snip>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Harold Ickes, a top adviser to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign who voted to strip Michigan and Florida of their delegates last year, now is arguing against the very penalty he helped pass.

In a conference call Saturday, the longtime Democratic Party member contended the DNC should reconsider its tough sanctions on the two states, which held early contests in violation of party rules. He said millions of voters in Michigan and Florida would be otherwise disenfranchised — before acknowledging moments later that he had favored the sanctions.

Ickes explained that his different position essentially is due to the different hats he wears as both a DNC member and a Clinton adviser in charge of delegate counting. Clinton won the primary vote in Michigan and Florida, and now she wants those votes to count.

"There's been no change," Ickes said. "I wasn't acting as an agent for Mrs. Clinton. We stripped them of all their delegates in order to prevent campaigns to campaign in those states. ...Those were the rules, and we thought we had an obligation to enforce them."

<snip>

Link: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hY742M_s1ttD_ycf2Zusn1o1fD3QD8URL34G0

Apparently... He voted to strip 'em, before he voted to put their votes back on.

:wtf:

[1776Forever]

30. Thanks for the thread and all the posts! You made me smile!

:hi:
Lookin' good!!!!!!!!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

31. NYT's Keller compares Obama and Mandela

NYT's Keller compares Obama and Mandela

The executive editor of The New York Times, Bill Keller, sees "unmistakable" similarities between the campaigns of Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela, he said in a podcast interview on the paper's website.

The interview, done for the New York Times Book Review, is on the subject of Keller's young adult biography of Nelson Mandela, whom he covered. Asked about Obama, Keller calls him "fascinating."

Keller said Obama and Mandela share a rhetorical style, not always riveting, but always "appealing to the higher sense of purpose and history."

And he said both "somehow rose above race while still clearly being black."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/NYTs_Keller_compares_Obama_and_Mandela.html

The interview can be heard here (.mp3)
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/podcasts/2008/02/15/16bookupdate.mp3

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

34. Over 100 newspaper endorsements and counting - UPDATED

By Christopher Hass - Feb 16th, 2008

Over 100 newspaper endorsements and counting - UPDATED

Below are a few excerpts from recent endorsements, followed by a list of endorsements with links to the full articles.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "So why Obama? It is precisely the excitement that we see in the candidate and his supporters in their demands for change. This promises to alter the political landscape and dynamics for the better, energizing youth for service and involvement as we haven't seen in a very long time … In Obama, there is a potential for meaningful change that does not exist with any other candidate."

Dallas Morning News: "Mr. Obama is our choice because of his consistently solid judgment, poise under pressure and ability to campaign effectively without resorting to the divisive politics of the past."

Houston Chronicle: "Obama vows to reach out to independents and Republicans with a message of inclusion and cooperation. He offers a historic opportunity to elevate national political dialogue to a higher ground."

Cleveland Plain Dealer: "Democrats have to ask themselves which candidate is more likely, first, to win the White House, and, then, to persuade a closely divided country to embrace his or her vision of change. Put even more pointedly: Who is more likely to change the world of a child born in 2008? The answer, we think, is Barack Obama."

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/CPdL

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

35. Columbus Office Opening today

Columbus Office Opening
by Caitlin Harvey Saturday, February 16, 2008

The Columbus Office was officially opened today, and supporters from all over Central Ohio poured in to meet the staff and sign up to volunteer!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/caitlinharvey/gGgjty

[jefferson_dem]

36. HEADS UP: Obama (and Feingold) at "Founders Day" Dinner in WI tonight. LIVE on cspan.

Beginning at 8:00 ---> http://www.c-span.org/Default.aspx



:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[catgirl]

40. Obama Takes National Lead (Gallop Poll)

Obama 49% Hillary 42%

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2008/02/16/obama_takes_national_lead.html

[babylonsister]

42. Green Bay Packers linebacker Brady Poppinga endorses Obama

http://blogs.wispolitics.com/election/2008/02/obama-im-talker-and-doer.html

Friday, February 15, 2008
7:57 PM: Obama: I'm a talker and a doer

GREEN BAY -- Barack Obama defended himself Friday against the latest TV ad from rival Hillary Clinton, arguing he has a 20-year track record that proves he is both a talker and a doer.

"That's how change is going to happen," Obama said, referring to discussion and working together to solve problems. "What Senator Clinton doesn't understand is that none of that matters if all we're doing is bickering and engaging in the same old partisan politics."

snip//

Obama began the speech by asking, "What's up, cheeseheads?" and poked fun at his hometown football team, the Chicago Bears.

Those attending the rally included Gov. Jim Doyle, state Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, state Reps. James Soletski, D-Green Bay, and Tom Nelson, D-Kaukauna, and Green Bay Packers linebacker Brady Poppinga.

Obama spoke briefly on a variety of issues including social security, health care, veterans affairs, tax breaks, energy policies, the Iraq war and restoring bipartisan support in Washington. He spent the most time discussing education and the other candidates in the race.

"Hope is not blind optimism," Obama said. "Nothing worthwhile in this country would have ever happened except somebody, somewhere was willing to hope."

-- By Tim Maylander

[babylonsister]

43. Obama Outspending Hillary 4-1 On Ads In Madison and Milwaukee

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/obama_outspending_hillary_41_o.php

Obama Outspending Hillary 4-1 On Ads In Madison and Milwaukee
By Eric Kleefeld - February 16, 2008, 2:21PM

In a sign of just how much effort Barack Obama is putting into the Wisconsin primary, he's vastly outspending Hillary Clinton on ads for the Madison and Milwaukee media markets, which make up the two biggest Democratic strongholds in the state. All in all, Obama has spent $831,880 on TV ads for those two media markets, compared to Hillary's $180,990 — a 4-1 margin on the spending.