Obama read the top ten list on David Letterman last night, which was the “Top Ten Surprising Facts about Barack Obama.” Obama was on via satellite and recited the list with a smile, which was predictably cheesy but well delivered:
10. My first act as president will be to stop the fighting between Lauren and Heidi on “The Hills”
9. In the Illinois primary, I accidentally voted for Kucinich
8. When I tell my kids to clean their room, I finish with, “I’m Barack Obama and I approved this message”
7. Throughout high school, I was consistently voted “Barackiest”
6. Earlier today I bowled a 39
5. I have canceled all my appearances the day the “Sex and The City” movie opens
4. It’s the birth place of Fred Astaire (Sorry, that’s a surprising fun fact about Omaha)
3. We are tirelessly working to get the endorsement of Kentucky Derby favorite Colonel John
2. This has nothing to do with the Top Ten, but what the heck is up with Paula Abdul?
1. I have not slept since October
[From CBS.com]
Obama is gradually getting positive press again after a controversy involving his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who spouted ridiculous conspiracy theories in sermons leaked online and was generally mocked in the media. Obama has denounced Wright’s statements after initially hoping that the issue would die down on its own. He is now neck and neck with has about a 200 delegate lead over Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary after a wider early lead.
Hillary was on The O’Reilly Factor on Fox yesterday, and she said that voters would decide if the Rev. Wright controversy mattered to them. She called Wright’s remarks “offensive and outrageous.”
Obama’s segment starts at about a minute into the clip below:
Obama is not neck and neck with Clinton in terms of delegates; he retains a comfortable lead. From CNN today: “According to CNN’s latest count, Obama has a total of 1,732 delegates (pledged: 1,491, superdelegates: 241). Clinton has a total of 1,592 delegates (pledged: 1,332, superdelegates: 260).”
Candy I was just going on what I remember hearing on NPR this morning and I probably remembered it wrong and should have done my homework. I will update the post, thanks!
Why does Obama have to denounce another grown man’s comments?…he didn’t say it…this is what pisses me off with the media, I think it’s ridiculous. I’m still on fence when it comes to Hilary or Obama but why would any INTELLIGENT voter consider Rev Wright’s comments when going to the polls to decide between her or barack, they aren’t voting for Rev Wright, and Barack shouldn’t have to answer for his remarks…FOCUS ON THE ISSUES OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO FOR THE COUNTRY PEOPLE!!!
lena, look at who’s making this Rev. Wright thing a big issue. I’m not from the US, but from what I’ve followed of the campaign, Hillary keeps making cheap shots at Obama and making this kind of story a big deal.
If she can’t find something more worthwile to focus on, I think it’s somewhat obvious who’s the superior candidate.
@ mf
Yes, you are sooo right. It shows that “old politics” still works in America. Forget the issues, lets talk about controversy! America is in danger for another 4 years. 🙁
Why do they cheapen themselves by doing stupid dumb things like reading the top ten list on David Letterman?
call me nasty and suspicious, but i wonder if someone slipped the rev some green, or a promise of power and prestige, if he would make inflammatory remarks to try and undermine obama’s run for president. politics can be a very dirty game.
I do not understand why some people are dismissing this controversy between Obama and Rev. Wright. Yes, it is important that we notice and judge him because of this because for someone who preaches about bringing people together and so on, he has spent 20 years listening to the views and being influenced by someone who has the complete opposite ideas. There are lot of things that are coming out about Obama and people need to listen carefully and think, not make excuses for him. He is running for the most important job in the US and anything he might be hiding could effect the country IF he becomes president.
Journey – This guy has been saying the same shit for almost as long as I’ve been alive, and much longer than Obama has been in politics.
I don’t like either Obama or Clinton, but the idea that this is no big deal is laughable. If Clinton had a pastor that was telling people that black leaders in the federal government created meth to kill white people, that wouldn’t be a big deal? Obama knew the crazy shit this reverend had been saying for a long damn time, and until it was finally caught on tape, kept defending him.
Lye down with dogs, come up with fleas. That saying has been around a long damn time, and it will never stop being true.
I support Obama for what he stands for and what I hope he can do for our country. I could care less about Reverend Wright and his opinions, just as I could care less about what any preacher or priest has to say – in the end, YOU have to make the decisions that govern your life and YOU are the only one who should be held responsible for those decisions. The whole thing is ridiculous, and if we were really a nation of laws and reason, instead of wackos waving the bible and believing everything we see on TV or read in a forwarded e-mail, things would never get to the point where a candidate is judged by how crazy his or her preacher is.
rev. wright said the same idiotic things other preachers in the past have done (helloo–pat robertson–katrina was sent to punish louisiana for sin) i think mccain’s minister has been reported saying similiar garbage as well. if anyone bothered to really check out hillary’s, i’m sure he has said things using the fear of the ‘hand of god’ to explain tragedies that happen in the world. it’s a common tactic. not that it excuses wright in any way. and apparently trinity, obama’s church, is predominately white so i doubt he was preaching his racist comments there much (at least the congregation interviewed said so)
I am glad someone pointed out the fact that there are no clean hands here. I’m sure that if Obama was as interested in mudslinging as Hillary seems to be some interesting skeletons would tumble out of that closet. I hope this election, people focus on voting for the candidate that will be best for the country and not the one(s) who are great at peddling fear, after all we see where that got us last time.
Also, Obama’s appearance on David Letterman shows that he is approachable. This is a pretty good move considering some have raised concerns about him being out of touch.
Once again, this is another case of seeing people as one sided.
Obama’s politics are not in line with mine and chances are pretty good I won’t be voting for him even if he were to win the nomination.
BUT, it is a mistake to assume that Obama cut his teeth at the feet of this man and/or bases his belief system on the crap his pastor has been spouting. Some people are dedicated to their church, they attend every meeting and give their time an energy while others, like Obama seems to be, show up every now and then but usually only on special occasions like Christmas or Easter.
The relationship should be considered. It should not define him.
Haven’t you ever greatly admired someone for one facet of their life while completely rejecting another?
I don’t want to start anything, but all I got to say is this:
Barack Obama is ALL TALK and NO WALK.
Check what he has actually accomplished in his political career. Nada.
That is all.
My father even though he was latino said all kind of shit about black men when I was growing up.It did nothing to stop me or my sister from marrying black men. His opinions did not mold mine.Does my father’s views and opinions make me a racist? Should I ignore and discount all the other valuable life lessons he had to teach just because of some narrow minded views he had about black men? Should my black sons disown me because of my father’s views?
Dunno if my comment got eaten as spam for too many links, or if it just went away.
Do a google search for the phrase “Obama and the Minister” and read the WSJ article that comes up as one of the first links on the page, and you’ll have some information on just how close Rev Wright and Sen Obama are. You don’t privately pray with your minister about weighty decisions if you’re not close, nor do you credit him with leading you to God.
@lwheeler – Do a google search for the phrase “Trinity United Church of Christ” along with the word Chicago and you’ll see that it is a primarily Black church – it describes itself as Unashamedly Black. Look at the about page to see how they describe themselves, look at the Pastoral Staff page to see that the entire pastoral staff is Black.
Here are some very interesting comments from McCain’s spiritual advisors Pastor John Hagee( MCcain said was honored to have his endorsement) and Rod Parsley( who McCain said was a spiritual advisor). I do not see the media or anyone making a big deal about the comments below. I guess they can spew venom since it is about gays and muslims and women, right? God fordid anyone( rev Wright) critizes this country and have conspiracy theories like so many Americans do. Can anyone explain to me why a big deal have not been made about the comments below. Please, I would love to hear your reasonings.
1. “Do you know the difference between a woman with PMS and a snarling Doberman pinscher? The answer is lipstick. Do you know the difference between a terrorist and a woman with PMS? You can negotiate with a terrorist.”
– Pastor John Hagee in his book What Every Man Wants in a Woman (Charisma House, 2005)
2. “The Quran teaches that [all Muslims have a mandate to kill Christians and Jews]. Yes, it teaches that very clearly.”
-Pastor John Hagee
Living Liberally :: Top 10 Outrageous Quotes From McCain’s Spiritual Advisers
3. “I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans…I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they are — were recipients of the judgment of God for that…There was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other Gay Pride parades…. The Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the day of judgment.”
-Pastor John Hagee
4. “The military will have difficultly recruiting healthy and strong heterosexuals for combat purposes. Why? Fighting in combat with a man in your fox hole that has AIDS or is HIV positive is double jeopardy.”
– Pastor John Hagee on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
5. “[Gay marriage] will open the door to incest, to polygamy, and every conceivable marriage arrangement demented minds can possibly conceive. If God does not then punish America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.”
– Pastor John Hagee
6. “It is impossible to call yourself a Christian and defend homosexuality. There is no justification or acceptance of homosexuality…. Homosexuality means the death of society because homosexuals can recruit, but they cannot reproduce.”
– Pastor John Hagee
7. “Only a Spirit-filled woman can submit to her husband’s lead. It is the natural desire of a woman to lead through feminine manipulation of the man…Fallen women will try to dominate the marriage. The man has the God-given role to be the loving leader of the home.”
– Pastor John Hagee in his book What Every Man Wants in a Woman (Charisma House, 2005)
8. “I cannot tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam, that we see it for what it really is. In fact, I will tell you this: I do not believe our country can truly fulfill its divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam. I know that this statement sounds extreme, but I do not shrink from its implications. The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed, and I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore.”
– Rod Parsley in Silent No More (Charisma House, 2005)
9. “Gay sexuality inevitably involves brutal physical abusiveness and the unnatural imposition of alien substances into internal organs, orally and anally, that inevitably suppress the immune system and heighten susceptibility to disease.”
– Rod Parsley
10. “Only 1 percent of the homosexual population in America will die of old age. The average life expectancy for a homosexual in the United States of America is 43 years of age. A lesbian can only expect to live to be 45 years of age. Homosexuals represent 2 percent of the population, yet today they’re carrying 60 percent of the known cases of syphilis.”
– Rod Parsley
A version of this originally appeared on Nerve Scanner.
Rose, thank you.
Rose, how does blasting Sen McCain actually pertain to this discussion? We’re not six years old here, I would hope we could have a discussion without saying, “Well nyah nyah nyah, he did it too!”
FWIW, Sen McCain never referred to Rod Parsley as his spiritual advisor. His exact words, in a speech he was making: “I am very honored today to have one of the truly great leaders in America, a moral compass, a spiritual guide.” He’d first met him about two months prior to making the speech that contained those words. He also never claimed Hagee was a personal spiritual advisor.
There’s a huge difference between embracing someone’s ideas as your own, to the point of taking their words as the title of your book, to the point of praying with them before making personal decisions, and accepting an endorsement from the leader of a church. McCain is trying to suck up to the social conservatives because he’s not going to get a win any other way. The reason that a big deal is no longer being made about Hagee and Parsley (and trust me, a big deal was made about it on the right-wing blogs) is because it’s beyond asked and answered. Do a little googling of your own instead of trusting everything that lands in your inbox, and don’t let words taken out of context fool you. (Not Hagee and Parsley’s words, I agree, they’re pretty vile. I’m talking about McCain’s supposed full-arm embrace of them.)
The same way you are blasting Obama for some other man’s words! Please show me a link or a video of Obama uttering Rev. Wrights views or embracing his ideas( other than taking a few words for a title of a book!) I see you are getting offended and I have to wonder why? So let me understand , it is okay for McCain to kiss up to some mysogynistic, homophobic, hate mongering men because that is the only way he can win? Wow.
I and many others believe that the “issue” with Obama and Rev. Wright is beyond asked and answered as well,but people like you just can’t seem to let it go. Again, wonder why?
Hillary has a lot of balls to keep bringing up Rev. Wright, she and Bill went to Rev Wright for counseling when Bill admitted to getting his dick suck by Monica. So they must have believed and trusted in Rev. Wright. I can’t seem to wonder why the media is not bringing that interesting fact up.
Alright you kids…off of my lawn!!
Rose, you are right on the money.
This is the first time I’ve seen a candidates past friendships being examined so closely. I’m sure that if we were to look into Bush or Chaney’s circle of friends, we would find a few “good ole boys” with racist views. It is hypocritical for any of us to say that we don’t have friends that hold extreme views that we may not agree with. I challenge any of you to dispute this fact.
To be fair, it’s not Hillary that keeps bringing up Rev Wright, it’s Fox News and that Hypocrite slug Shawn Hannity. Has anyone noticed how Fox News can’t go 2 minutes without bringin up Rev Wright. If this controversy had been about John McCain, Fox news would have spent maybe a week on this topic. In fact, I’m confused….Exactly which part of Fox News is “fair and balanced” anyway
8) Rose, Obama quoted from Rev. Wright in his last book. Perhaps you should go and read it.
Surely if the pope can have ties to the nazi party (not saying it makes him a nazi) and become a leader in the catholic church and be worshiped by millions if not billions of people, than Obama can become president of the united states while havig ties to Rev Wright
@countrybabe
Did not read the book,but since you have maybe you can tell me what exactly Obama quoted from Rev Wright that may
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be deem as controversial, anti-american or insidiary? Enlighten me please.
Damn rose, you work for his campaign or something? People need to stop acting like Obama is being singled out. People have always made judgments about politicians based on who they choose (or are even forced by blood) to surround themselves by. Ever heard of Billy Carter? What about the fact that every Kennedy who has ever run for office has had to field accusations about organized crime ties just because Joe, like 4 generations ago, had ties to the mob?
You guys really need to pay attention to more than just the last 10 years or so when considering politics. I can think of at least a dozen people just off the top of my head who have either lost elections or lost their jobs because of something someone connected to them did or said.
As far as this particular instance goes, I think it’s unfair to mention comments like those of Pat Robertson, ect. It’s not that their comments are less offensive, but they’re just not in the same category. It’s one thing to say God (a nameless, faceless entity) is punishing people for sinful behavior with national disasters. It’s quite another to accuse the Federal government (real people, who without a shadow of a doubt exist) of creating AIDs to kill black people.
Please, conspiracy theories surrounding the origins of AIDS and 911 have been around and uttered by many,documentaries have been made and have been discuss numerous times even on this blog way before anyone even heard of Rev. Wright.
Again I wonder why it is okay for people to bash Obama for ANOTHER MAN’S WORDS but have excuses for the other vile things others have to say.Sorry, I forgot their comments are “beyond asked and answered and their comments are not in the “same category”.
In This campaign Obama is being single out and the same way people can find reasons to condemn him for another then i
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have my reasons to defend him.
It blows my mind that some in white America can’t understand why some black people might actually think that the American government is capable of unthinkable injustices towards minorities. Please google TUSKEGEE!. In addition, During World War II, America interned Japanese Americans but not German Americans (whites). I’m a black man, and I love America. Some people seem to feel that criticizing America means you are un-American. For most whites, America has been the perfect parent. For black people, America has been the parent that has abused you in the past but now has asked for forgiveness. Even though you forgive and love the parent, the abuse will always stay in the back of your mind.
Me – you’re obviously not an unbiased observer in all this, and even more obviously have been fed bullshit propaganda. German Americans weren’t interned during the second world war? BULLSHIT. White Germans were interned 6 months BEFORE the Japanese were, before we were even involved in the war.
It was thought they were going to sabotage shipping and industrial targets on the east coast (the same worries about the west coast were what got the Japanese interned). Shortly after an explosion took out four ships in a New York harbor, German immigrants were rounded up and interned. I visited one of those very camps in Georgia, so I can assure you they did exist.
In fact, one of the unknown statistics of the second world war, is that we had more German JEWS in internment camps than we did Japanese. Look it up if you don’t believe me.
That’s my problem with all this hatred blacks throw toward the government, half the time you don’t even know what you’re talking about. If you’re gonna gripe, at least make sure it’s factual.
@ Scott F
What is your excuse for TUSKEGEE? or the LAW 116 in 1937 where poor PuertoRican women were targeted for sterilazation without giving them other alternatives and w/o fully explaning that the procedure was permanent? Or using the same Puertorican women as guinea pigs to test birth control pills w/o knowing the effects it might have? Are these examples factual enough?
@me
You dare bring up Tuskegee? That was sooo long ago! Just like LAW 116.We just need to get over it and leave it in the past. Let us concentrated on those Rev. Wright YOU TUBE videos that were film 3 years ago! That is current news. More important. Or lets watch Rev Wright video from last week and continue to put his words into Obama’s mouth and heart. That would be more American of us .
I never said that blacks were never persecuted, but stop trying to put a corner on the market. How many white people were tested on and sterilized just for being mentally retarded? Those numbers make Tuskegee look like a Sunday picnic. I know you’re being sarcastic, but honestly, that shit WAS a long time ago. How many people involved in any of the things you mentioned are still alive? Hell, how many of their children or even grandchildren are?
By your logic, the modern government in Germany MUST still be killing Jews in concentration camps, because that happened there at one point in time right? Well, that was at the same damn time as Tuskegee. Modern America is about as close to America in the 30’s and 40’s as modern Germany is to the Nazi’s.
This guy said these things recently, not 50 years ago. For most white people, these ideas went out of style a long time ago. It’s frankly a little frightening how many of you are apologizing for this man. I can assure you that if this had been a white man saying these kinds of things about blacks, I sure as hell wouldn’t be defending him.
Scott F, I think you should go back and read what I wrote. I don’t have hatred for this country. I love America as I stated in my last post. The problem that I have with people like you and Hannity is that you seem to feel that only you can define what makes a good and patriotic American. It’s funny how when one black person does or says something, it somehow represents how all blacks feel. I was not defending Rev Wright, I don’t agree with his statements about Aids being invented by the government. I also don’t consider Jesse and Al to be my leaders, or in any way representatives of my interest. All that I was trying to say is that it is easy to see how some blacks might at least entertain some conspiracy theories, considering what the government has proven itself capable of doing. Can you at least concede that point? In addition, I’m sure you are not attempting to compare the way this country has treated blacks and other minorities to the way it has treated whites….are you? In all you seem like a somewhat reasonable person. I will look into the information you provided on German American’s.
Me – I will concede that much, in that I can see where the idea comes from. I just hear too many of these theories to imagine that they’re not relatively common. This is no different than when they were claiming crack was created by the government to keep blacks in poverty in the 90’s.
I wasn’t trying to lump white people as whole into the suffering category either, I guess I could have made that clearer. I was just trying to say that when you bring up things like Tuskegee, and Rose brought up Law 116, that those things weren’t confined to blacks, or even minorities. That was ALL connected with the eugenics movement, the belief that a certain genetic type was preferable and that all ‘undesirables’ should be sterilized.
The largest single group targeted wasn’t a racial minority, it was the mentally insane and retarded. Here in Indiana our state JUST apologized like a year ago for having a mandatory sterilization law for the mentally retarded for more than 2 decades at the turn of the century.
Still – Incidents like these went away a long time ago. Seriously, even racists have seemingly moved beyond the whole black/white thing – they’re too busy hating arabs and Mexicans.
What kills me is all the people who listen to Rush Limbaugh, or Sean Hannity or Glenn Beck and decide that their opinion is gospel without taking into consideration that those people are ENTERTAINERS! THEY’RE CELEBRITIES THAT ARE PAID FOR THE SCHTICK THEY SAY ON THE RADIO!
It’s not real, people. Can you right wing idiots get that fact into your head for crissakes?! Good God haven’t you learned after the 7+ years of Bush?
The one thing I like about Obama is he has lived a relatively normal life. I’ve had enough of candidates who have spent their entire lives making decisions based on electability instead of a genuine moral compass. I’ve also had enough to candidates who have lived seemingly perfect lives, middle class, two parents who paid for all their school, etc.
It’s nice to have a candidate who has been broke, who has come from a less than stellar home life, who has had real problems.
Politics was never intended to be dynastic or even a career. It was supposed to be a citizen’s duty.
As I’ve stated many times, I have near polar opposite beliefs politically speaking that Obama, but I have to respect a candidate who wants to make things better even if I don’t agree with how.
He stands in stark contrast to a woman who I feel cannot be trusted. She will say whatever she has to because she has a burning need to BE president, to have the power, to show her husband and everyone else that she is better than all of them. I have no doubt she will then turn around once she’s sworn in and do whatever the hell she wants just because she can.
Well said headache! She carpetbagged her way into New York State because of the huge democratic contingent and morphs into whatever personality she thinks will sway the vote her way. And I don’t think she could beat McCain, which in itself is a pretty frightening thought.