Message to voters from the President: “We cannot sit this one out.”

[bigtree]

October 14, 2010

That’s what Barack Obama says in a new ad rolled out Thursday by the Democratic National Committee, just in time for Obama’s Thursday afternoon youth town hall meeting.

The ad ("Making History Again") features footage from Obama’s recent rallies in Madison, Wisc., and Philadelphia, Pa., showing many young people listening to a fired-up president . . .

The DNC says that the ad will run on BET and MSNBC in “heavy rotation” Thursday. It’s the first DNC ad running on BET this cycle, part of the committee’s $3 million in advertising on African-American outlets — the most ever spent in a midterm.


read and watch: http://blogs.marketwatch.com/election/2010/10/14/we-cannot-sit-this-one-out-says-obama-in-new-ad/

[elehhhhna]

1. wow. that's inspirational leadership.

just sayin.

[bigtree]

2. the Obama factor

. . . it'll be interesting to see how he works to generate turnout in the coming weeks.

[Scurrilous]

3. K & R

:thumbsup:

[Erose999]

4. He managed to "sit out" doing anything to earn my support.

I'll more than likely vote a straight Democratic ticket, but that has nothing to do with the President.

He's lost just about all credibility in my eyes for failure to act on DOMA, DADT, his support of domestic surveillance, etc. If he can "sit out" on the equal rights and civil liberties of millions of Americans...

[bigtree]

6. etc., of course

. . . there are many other reasons (and accomplishments of this administration) outside of these very valid concerns you're advocating to support the President in his campaigning to retain our majority control of Congress. He can be very helpful in many of these campaigns from his elevated position of influence.

[beforeyoureyes]

26. My vote for John Olver is cast for him, not the party, and especially not this President

And, my support for him in no way translates into support for the corrupt DLC or this President.

[BrklynLiberal]

27. Those were exactly my thoughts as well. I AM going to vote, and vote D, but I am very

dissatisfied by what was not done in the past two years.

I hope the next two years are a stark contrast, with much more progressive and DEMOCRATIC legislation being introduced, passed and signed!

I feel like the dating and the wedding were so promising...but the actual marriage...not so much.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_VzfgCFCwerI/TGlNxrDgYbI/AAAAAAAABCk/Us6or7tbtd4/s1600/LaffADay+wedding.jpg

[Touchdown]

5. Begging Repubs to like him is a lifestyle choice.

[bigtree]

7. so, you're associating the statements of Jarrett with his own views?

Barack Obama on the issues: http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/barack_obama.htm


# Being gay or lesbian is not a choice. (Nov 2007)

[mitchtv]

8. talk is cheap

I always vote Dem, But Obama has no influence, none whatsoever. I didn't trust him in 08, less so now.

[bigtree]

10. well . . . not with you, perhaps

This administration actually has accomplishments to 'talk' about this election which our Democratic majority is needed to defend or enhance.

[no limit]

24. When it comes to equal rights for the LGBT community what accomplishments you talking about?

[bigtree]

29. I'm not making a narrow defense of this presidency based on any singular issue

I also have issues important to me which I strongly disagree and oppose this administration on. I'm not going to outline them here, but I do recognize that there have been significant accomplishments and progress toward progressive change achieved as a result of this presidency (and Democratic Congress), outside of my own interests.

[no limit]

30. But when it comes to LGBT 2 years in its fair to say there are virtually no accomplishments

just empty promises.

And I'm a straight male. But it really sickens me to see my fellow citizens denied basic civil rights while nobody in this administration is fighting for them.

[bigtree]

33. sadly

. . . I agree with you on that point. It's bewildering and painfully frustrating waiting for just ONE defense of what Mr. Obama claimed he was so determined about and supportive of concerning the issues, rights, and needs of the LGBT community during the campaign.

[Touchdown]

16. He told her to do it. He trusts her. She's one of his closest advisors.

Yes, I am.

[bigtree]

18. He's stated and argued the opposite of what she said

If I accept your standard of reasoning, I would suppose he also told her to 'apologize' today.

[Touchdown]

31. And he also...

Told us gay people should not be married.
Hired Donnie McClurkin to host a fundraiser.
Called on Rick Warren to give the invocation.
Dragged his feet on DADT.
Allowed Eric Holder to use the most disgusting language to defend DOMA in court.
Approved of the most disgusting and hateful Pentagon survey that called gay people sexual predators.
*Never denounced the hateful language in said survey, and even pressed it's use forward.
*Never fired the Pent spokesman who defended the survey by calling the rest of us cry babies.
When it looked as if Congress was going to pass a repeal of DADT anyhow, he stepped in and "made a deal" for them to wait until this BS survey was done.
Got indignant when concerned GLBT people had no further choice but to heckle him in an appearance... claiming that he's our "Ally"... after he'd done/not done what I wrote above.
Gave a mamby, pamby little equivocating press release when Prop8 was struck down as unconstitutional.
Threw Dan Choi in jail for demonstrating that DADT is an important issue by handcuffing himself to the WH fence.
Pretending that Dan Choi never did that.

With all that... you want me to give him the benefit of the doubt on this? This is a pattern with his Admin, if not a reflection on The President himself. No fucking way will I ever give him a pass on this!

EDIT: I'm sure I'm missing a few other things in my list up there.

[bigtree]

34. I don't think he should need the benefit of your doubt

You can properly judge him on those facts in evidence which accurately support your objections.

[mitchtv]

36. yeah, you forgot the Easter Egg Roll

and other crumbs

[Erose999]

41. He hasn't scolded Jarrett for her remarks. Hell I'm still waiting for him to scold Gibbs.

Jarrett spoke on behalf of his administration. Those comments belong to Obama until he repudiates them.

[bigtree]

42. that's just ridiculous. Her statements are her own.

Anyway, the President was asked about his views on 'choice' just yesterday (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9319130http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9319130) and he repeated his earlier statement declaring that he doesn't believe homosexuality is a 'choice'. Of course, for many, nothing he can say on this issue will be enough. It's obviously his actions which most folks have a problem with.

[MadHound]

9. Attacking members of your own constituency on a regular basis is not the way to inspire turnout

Yet he continues to attack them anyway, teachers, anti-war folks, the LGBT community, the list is a long one, which is why people simply don't feel like turning out.

You make your bed, you get to lie in it.

[bigtree]

11. I think many factors affect turnout in these midterm election campaigns

I think disaffection because of the President 'attacking' members of his constituency is overstated. He should be a helpful influence in many races around the country.

[MadHound]

12. We'll see,

So far, from what I've seen, Mr. Obama doesn't have terribly long coattails.

Oh, and if you think that the disaffection with Obama is overstated, try talking with some teachers, or members of the LGBT community.

[bigtree]

13. my comment

. . . was about 'attacks' on his constituency generating that disaffection. I don't think it's universally accepted among any significant majority of Democrats that he's been 'attacking' them, or that a significant majority are being dissuaded from this midterm by attacks by the President.

Some of that disaffection that's showing up in polls is also a result of the slow pace of political change. Some of the low interest in voting is a typical letdown from the euphoric heights of the last election. The President still has an opportunity in the coming weeks to influence many of those fence-sitters and recalcitrant Democrats to the polls by outlining the successful efforts he's made so far and pointing out the need for a Democratic Congress to effect any significant legislative drive in the future.

[MadHound]

14. Again, talk to teachers, talk to anti-war folks, talk to members of the LGBT community

I'm a teacher, and frankly every single teacher that I've talked to in a thirty mile radius (and that's a lot of teachers) is disgusted with Obama's war on education, as are the families and friends of those teachers. And there are millions of teachers in this country.

Same with the anti-war group I belong to. They are disgusted with Obama's war agenda, and they are disgusted with Obama's cavalier attitude towards the anti-war movement (what's left of it anyway). Again, millions of people nationwide.

And frankly, if you can't hear the national anger from the LGBT community with this administration, you need to clean your ears out.

The anger is real, it is significant, and it will be a large contributing factor, both in this fall's election and in 2012 unless this administration starts paying attention and making amends for the fuck ups it's made over the past year and a half.

Don't believe me, that's fine. But when this comes to pass this fall, don't say you weren't warned.

[CakeGrrl]

17. And what do you think Speaker Boehner will do about education, war and LGBT issues? n/t

[MadHound]

19. Probably nothing,

If Boehner gets the speaker ship, what it means is gridlock in Washington, and Obama will have the veto. The 'Pugs won't be able to push anything through, that is unless Obama refuses to veto the shit.

[CBR]

21. My husband is a teacher and does not agree. nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

25. Well, attacking the left worked ever so well for LBJ...oh, wait.

[BzaDem]

40. Why should people need to feel "inspired" to turn out? I thought voting was a responsibility of

a citizen. Not just a responsibility of a citizen if you are "inspired," "motivated," "feel good," are "thrilled" about it, etc.

Of course, there will be people who sit on the couch and don't turn out regardless of their responsibility. But isn't that a problem with those people, as opposed to with Obama? After all, enabling Republicans doesn't punish Democratic politicians and former politicians (who go on and earn MUCH more in the private sector than they ever did in Congress, and would probably laugh in your face if they heard the "punishing" argument). It just punishes the people who enable the Republicans.

[gratuitous]

15. Not planning to sit out this election; or any election, for that matter

But here's the deal: Just because I vote for the Democrat, please don't construe that as validation of your namby-pamby "bipartisan" approach for the last two years. I've been fighting like hell to get you and other Democrats into office. I'd like to see you fight like hell for my interests.

Ya know?

[HughMoran]

20. Not a post I expected to go from 5 to 4 when I recced it

There's too much hate here.

[bigtree]

23. not really hate

. . . more like frustration, I think . . . disappointment (for a number of legitimate, as well as, institutional reasons).

[HughMoran]

32. It's often not very logical

You see the slam(s) in this thread - what good does constantly slamming do?

[bigtree]

35. I think folks are looking for support and understanding for their pov

That's fair enough, I think.

[HughMoran]

37. You're an optimist

:shrug:

[bigtree]

38. I hope not

[CBR]

22. I am glad to see outreach in African-American communities.

In Delaware, it is key that these voters get to the polls to push back against the O'Donnell supporters. We need to discuss this constituency more on DU and the role they play as the base and in the administration's reelection in 2012.

[Greyhound]

28. "Yes, we can" n/t

:rofl:

[NJmaverick]

39. K&R