Violist

Well that's what he's trying to change. He's said many times that he wants to transform government into a government by and for the people. He's asking, urging us all to be more involved and trying to empower us. He'll be the only president, yes, but if he is elected, he'll be looking to us to dictate which policies we want. No, we want be dealing with budgets and signing bills, going on foreign trips, but we'll all be expected to voice our concerns and say what we want from our government, rather than the other way around. And if he's elected, I think we'll actually have a president that'll listen to us.

Another thing to remember and something we need to remind politicians off is that WE THE PEOPLE are their bosses, period. If they're doing something we don't like, something that's affecting us in a way we don't like, we need to let them know. I think after this election, seeing that one can run a campaign on donations from regular citizens, our politicians will be listening to us a lot more. posted 05/13/2008 at 14:18:26

Senator Obama is a constitutional lawyer and professor. I highly and seriously doubt he would ever take away people's rights to bear arms. posted 05/13/2008 at 16:08:28

Okay, but as many people already posted, but you don't seem to see, 90% of blacks voted for Kerry in the last election, so please explain that. And Obama couldn't have gotten this far with just the black vote. There aren't that many of us. All those white folks in Iowa and Nebraska voted for him too. I know, the truth is hard to accept sometimes... posted 05/12/2008 at 17:42:46

And I'm gonna third that. Thanks for posting that. Come on HRC supporters, Obama's not that bad. We all need to come together to put an end to Bush style policies in this country. What does it matter who does it as long as it gets done, right? Come and join us Clintonites! posted 05/07/2008 at 10:50:46

It's called talking about the ISSUES, you know the things that affect OUR lives. I would sooo much rather hear a debate on the gas tax or iraq or the housing crisis, which actually affects me, than about a flag pin, sniper fire, or a an angry reverend. posted 05/02/2008 at 15:24:30

Wow, she sounds sooooo in touch. God bless the rich and all the riches that will trickle down to us poor people. jeez. I still can't believe she said that, did she really say that? posted 05/01/2008 at 17:48:16

I'm so happy we New Yorkers have Mayor Mike! He's never afraid to tell it like it is. posted 05/01/2008 at 17:45:32

Well, just considering the straight math, she won't be able to do it in the primaries unless she wins by huge margins, which doesn't seem likely, but it's possible. And then if all the superdelegates flock to her, she could, but it seems like their also flocking to him. posted 04/30/2008 at 20:37:33

Who knows why Wright has done what he's done. Maybe he felt Obama just left him out to dry after the initial firestorm and didn't like that Obama didn't completely agree with him.

As for Clinton, I agree with you. I'm sure he feels angry, but probably because a strong base he counted on for so many elections decided to go with the other guy and it hurt his ego. And he's entitled to feel that way, but I think Clinton's campaign made things worse with all the negative campaigning. That further alienated the community.

Sorry if my initial response to your post was harsh. posted 04/30/2008 at 17:27:13

But really what does it matter why? And why is it our business? If he said he joined because he found the congregation welcoming and felt he had finally found a connection with G-d through the church would you be satisfied? Or would you find another reason to pick and parse? Really what does it matter now? The church is not a hate spewing, racist whatever it's being made out to be. Maybe he found the mixed congregation appealling considering he's biracial. Maybe he liked the way the church pews looked. Maybe he thought the stained glass was prettier in that church than other churches on the south side of Chicago. Or perhaps he just liked the word Trinity. Who cares!!! posted 04/30/2008 at 15:48:01

You're totally right, they can't be fixed by one person. I personally do what I can on my own. I take public transportation, tried to greenify my apartment as best I can. I give micro loans to do what little I can to alleviate poverty in the world. I do try to walk the walk. So when a candidate comes around who can help people also walk the walk and to see it all be shaved down to what his pastor says, it makes me sad. But I must say, your comment did give me some hope. If we all as individuals take things into our own hands and do our part, we can make a difference on our own no matter who the president is. We don't have to be mindless sheeple. =) posted 04/29/2008 at 18:05:08

Are you serious? Those are not code words to blacks.

-spoken by a black folk by the way posted 04/29/2008 at 17:48:51

I know seriously. I guess it's okay for white pastors to spew hate against minorities, jews, whomever they feel like. posted 04/29/2008 at 17:45:12

Word up. posted 04/29/2008 at 17:36:27

I hope you're right...I fear that the MSM's mission to dumbify and distract us will win out in the end. But I sure hope you're right. posted 04/29/2008 at 17:31:55

It is so sad that while our gas prices rise, we enter a recession, people have no jobs, people are losing their homes, their money and what dominates the news cycle and the campaign coverage is reverend wright.

People this is triangulation and divide and conquer at its finest! Obama's campaign, which initially started out so promising and hopeful for so many, is being dragged in the mud by these silly sound bites and distractions. I could freaking care less what his reverend says. All we've heard over the past few weeks is petty attacks, back biting, tearing down. I realize that Obama is trying to elevate the discourse but it seems like everyone else is hell bent on bringing it to the level of petty distraction. When the hell is the media gonna report what the candidates are gonna DO FOR US!? I'm sick and tired of the other candidates sitting back and letting this shit go down. Is anyone actually in this for the people? Does anyone actually care about where this country is going rather than how can I get the power?

It's so sad. If we as a people let ourselves get distracted by this mess, then we can't bitch when we get McCain who wants us in war and debt for 100 years or when we get Hillary who's gonna drag us into war with Iran while her and Bill figure out how to make their next 109 million after she leaves office. posted 04/29/2008 at 16:27:42

But church is more than just the pastor. His church, as a commenter noted further up, had wide ranging programs that empowered and lifted up the community in Chicago. A church is bigger than any pastor, one's spirituality and faith is bigger than any one pastor. I certainly don't agree with Wright however and don't agree with his words. To me he represents a hurt generation, understandably so, who has not been able to move away from the injustices of the past. I see him and I see a man who has let his pride and ego outshine the G-d in him. He may not have been as destructive as we see him now in the past, since his church did so much good, but as fame and infamy will do, it can corrupt. posted 04/30/2008 at 10:49:49

Wow, she's just as bad as Bush with the putting of the foot in one's mouth. Sorry, we don't need another trigger happy, no tact cowboy/girl whatever commander in chief. Haven't we already learned our lesson?

I gotta say, this whole campaign has made me sad and regretful that I voted her twice for senate. I'm am Obama supporter now but I want to just ask her, where's the Hillary we once loved and respected? I really was looking forward to her campaigning and becoming president and thought Obama could just wait 8 years. Now I just want her to go back to Chappaqua. posted 04/24/2008 at 14:05:43

I'm from New York. Thank you for feeling our pain. We don't really want her anymore either. posted 04/24/2008 at 14:17:07

If Israels occupation is illegal under international law, who's supposed to be enforcing that law and why isn't it being enforced? This might be a dumb question, but can anyone explain? posted 04/24/2008 at 17:43:42

AjicNYC, what news have you been watching? Tell me honestly, who's been talking trash and going negative and who's worked really hard to elevate the discourse in this campaign? posted 04/23/2008 at 17:21:17

Haha, too funny, Al Sharpton as VP. I think the poles of the earth would shift two times over before Al Sharpton gets in the White House. No one wants permed hair Sharpton giving us the State of the Union. Thank goodness he ditched those nylon sweatsuits. posted 04/23/2008 at 17:18:07

I don't see how that's a low blow from Obama. He can and should use it in his favor because it shows that he's electable and it shows the more civilized side of the party, which has been lacking lately. I'm pretty sure that Obama's SD supporters, if she is the nominee, will work their hardest to make sure that McCain won't get into the White House. Nobody who is democrat wants McCain in there, unless they're one of those angry democrats who refuse to vote if their candidate is on the ticket. posted 04/23/2008 at 17:13:51

I went to a catholic school and my mom is not religious at all. She sent me there because she thought it was a good school. And why does he half to touch on the fact that his step dad was muslim when he himself is not muslim? posted 04/14/2008 at 10:36:57

That is a solution to the problem...HELLO!!! Parents need to take responsibility for their children. You can't honestly have a problem with that? posted 04/11/2008 at 15:06:58

I've seen this as well. My mom, who's a principal, told me a story once of a parent who literally beat up one of her deans for suspending her child for fighting-locked the dean's office door and proceeded to beat the crap out of out of the woman to the point where she had to be sent to the hospital. It was horrible. The child was indefinitely suspended from the district and the mother arrested. This is an extreme example, but I hear stories all the time of parents who get upset and blame the teacher for the child not doing what they're supposed to do in school.

Obama hit the nail on the head. Bravo to him for saying what needed to be said. Isn't it refreshing? I'm sure you Clinton supporters can't find fault with that? posted 04/11/2008 at 14:48:21

Uh... what?! You're not serious are you??? posted 04/11/2008 at 12:10:07

Is this election the only time the superdelegates and the caucus have become such widely discussed "problem"? It seems as if this has only become a problem because Senator Clinton has questioned it and it's not worked in her favor (meaning the caucuses). It wasn't discussed as widely as it is now in the previous 3 elections so I don't see a need to get rid of them. I think caucuses are good because they promote party participation. Maybe in the 2012 elections, we'll see an even bigger turnout at caucuses as a result of this election, which would be a good thing, no? posted 04/07/2008 at 16:36:59

It's so funny... I'm only 31 but I don't ever remember there being this much hub-bub about the Dem's nominee, especially when Bill Clinton ran and won twice. He didn't complain about caucuses not being democratic. It's only a problem because she's not winning, which is not presidential at all. I hope people use the power of their votes and vote Clinton out of the race. posted 04/04/2008 at 16:23:42

Ahahahaha! That's too funny! posted 04/01/2008 at 13:05:02

Bloomberg for VP would be awesome! I'm an NYC resident and he's been one of the best Mayor's we've ever had. I'm kinda sad that he can't run again. After 9/11 he whipped our economy into shape, he's had a hand in improving our public schools, he's a financial genius and he's been pushing green initiatives for the city! He could offer good guidance on our economy right now. An endorsement would be wonderful, but if Obama gets the nomination, an Obama/Bloomy ticket would be even better. Fingers and toes crossed. posted 03/27/2008 at 11:12:43

Well that story has been killed swiftly. If you do a search on MSNBC.com for it, nothing comes up. There's no hope of fair and balanced reporting in the MSM. posted 03/26/2008 at 17:37:46

Also, where can we get another copy of the article? I checked the link you provided as well as looked up the Mother Jones website. It looks like it's all been taken down. Was anyone able to go to the site a few days ago? posted 03/25/2008 at 17:23:09

Whoa! That's something I certainly did not expect to read today. Oookaay. I'm African American and while I appreciate the sympathy, like Rev Wrights comments, Parsley's also may be a bit misguided. So now that we've heard controversial comments about the govt from both a black and white preacher, can we now put this issue to rest? posted 03/21/2008 at 15:16:19