Obama and his labels

I was just getting used to the idea that Barack Obama is an America-hating left-winger bent on socialism and surrender.

[wek]

Actually, I'd take issue with the comment "If he's elected, you should not expect a reduction in taxes, spending, regulation, federal power or Birkenstock sales." The comment equates a 'liberal Democrat' with increases in the stated quantities... however, recent history shows that 'conservative Republicans' have raised spending to unprecedented levels while strengthening federal power (especially executive power) in constitutionally questionable ways.
That these left-right labels should no longer apply in post-Boomer politics is a better interpretation of the context and appeal of Obama.

[Woman]

I have paid higher taxes under the republican regime although my earnings are less and the cost of living is astronomical. Couple that with having to look for jobs every three to six months (job security for AMERICANS is a thing of the past due to outsourcing everything middle class to India) and, well, you have to draw the conclusion that the republican administration reduces the American standard of living.

Obama rejected Clinton's forced money out of my pocket (mandatory healthcare) and he will reduce taxes on the middle class.

Like you, I don't think the labels matter when I look at the issues. Name-calling is so yesterday anyway.

[william ott]

After 7 years of Bush I don't think the L word has much traction.(amen to wek & woman)'Conservative' is the word covered with mud.

[Bob]

Although it was entertaining watching Obama and Hillary slug it out with much attention drawn to isms, it is time to start addressing the real threat to our future.

World demand for oil is rapidly increasing while production is peaking out; new discoveries of cheap, easily recoverable oil are also on the decline. All other issues combined pale in comparison to running out of the energy that powers the economy. Nice-to-have programs like health care for everyone will not be affordable if the country enters into a protracted depression with no end in sight. The oil party is over and I would like to know what Obama and McCain are proposing to do about it?

http://klintons.com

[Mike]

I agree that the labels don't matter anymore. And besides, too many voters have been turned off by the big spending conservatives that the word liberal simply doesn't shock anybody anymore. And I believe that same National Journal survey that in 2007 called Obama the most liberal Senator had him at 16th in 2005 and 10th in 2006. So what does that mean? Probably that Obama missed quite a few of the votes in 2007 because he was on the campaign trail, which would have skewed the numbers.

And before the Republicans criticize Obama for missing votes, it should be noted that John McCain didn't even receive a ranking because he didn't vote frequently enough in 2007. In fact, McCain missed more than half of the votes in the economic and foreign-policy categories. Glad to see that he takes his job so seriously.

[Susan F]

The people commenting above that they don't like labels are the ones who know that Obama is ultra liberal and want to try to hide it. If Obama is elected, everyone's taxes with go up, uneployment with then rise to double digits, inflation and mortage rates will shoot to double digits, terrorist will gain in strength, the quality of healthcare will tank, our military will be decimated. Sound familiar? It should, it's Carter II.

If you are looking for handouts and a weak America, then Obama is your man.

[IRISH]

Susan F wrote:

The people commenting above that they don't like labels are the ones who know that Obama is ultra liberal and want to try to hide it. If Obama is elected, everyone's taxes with go up, uneployment with then rise to double digits, inflation and mortage rates will shoot to double digits, terrorist will gain in strength, the quality of healthcare will tank, our military will be decimated. Sound familiar? It should, it's Carter II.
If you are looking for handouts and a weak America, then Obama is your man.

You are quite right in you post Obama will take us down to a 3rd world country!

[Uglye American]

I like the analogy of reducing Obama to his lowest denominator. When he has been reduced to the lowest denominator he is just another thug from Chicago. This analogy is easy to see when one considers his friends, his minister, acquaintances, his off the cuff comments not to mention what he pouts as political intonation.

[Fred]

Mary, your troll-fu is laughably weak and transparent. You've never voted Democratic in your life.

Uglye American, you need to buy a new racist dog whistle, the one you're blowing doesn't quite work.

Susan F, IRISH, the legacy of George W. Bush and the Republican Party is the reduction of the USA to a third-world country through spectacular fiscal irresponsibility and a disastrous foreign policy, the most obvious example of each being a useless war in Iraq. This administration is the most criminally incompetent in history, and McCain promises no change. The notion that Republicans in government can actually manage the economy or win a war is going to require at least a generation to fully recover.

[RoboTech]

"These days, 20 percent of Republicans say we should bring the bulk of our troops home within a year. They can attest that opposing the Iraq war doesn't make you a liberal any more than eating nuts makes you a squirrel."

This would be laughable if it wasn't written an a self proclaimed "intllectual".
That 20% falls right into the percentage of "RINOs" in the GOP.
Way to slam conservatives with poor research, doof.
Obama IS an "America-hating left-winger bent on socialism and surrender". Add race baiting black activist, Bigot, and a LIAR. Then you've nailed it. No need to further define, that's enough.

[BobC]

Careful. If you write to many columns that aren't inflammatory then you may get a reputation as a thoughtful commentator.

Thanks for a piece that isn't shrill and reactionary.

[Scott]

Obama is a child of God. :-P

[joe blow]

Folks,no need to work yourselves into a lather.The truth is these rich ,out of touch politicians don't give a rat's **** about any of us regular Joe's.It's all about helping themselves and fellow rich cronies.

[Keith Harrison]

Good article which really puts the labels into perspective.

[katiec]

You have to laugh at those that
state Obama will bring our country
down.
WHERE DO THEY THINK WE ARE RIGHT NOW??
We are in the worse crisis we have ever been in, due to 8 years of Bush and the republicans.
Deficit?? Economy?? Job losses??
Education?? Medical care??Unjustified war?? Etc??
Cannot believe the ignorance of some people. It is a waste of time to try and talk sense into them.

[Margaret]

katiec wrote:

You have to laugh at those that
state Obama will bring our country
down.
WHERE DO THEY THINK WE ARE RIGHT NOW??
We are in the worse crisis we have ever been in, due to 8 years of Bush and the republicans.
Deficit?? Economy?? Job losses??
Education?? Medical care??Unjustified war?? Etc??
Cannot believe the ignorance of some people. It is a waste of time to try and talk sense into them.

They are laughable, I agree. These types of folks are the kind that are sitting on their sofa's, fat and happy in their caves - they don't have a problem and don't give a fig about anyone outside their front door.

[IRISH]

May 16, 2008
Obama sidekick has mob ties
There’s an old term ‘if you scratch my back, I will scratch yours!'

In this case it works for Senator Obama. In year 2006, Barack Obama was using his political influence for several candidates running for office in Illinois that year. He has made an expensive TV commercial endorsing a young candidate in the state treasurer's race. Obama is the narrator in a new TV spot that launches a million-dollar-plus statewide ad campaign, financed in large part by Giannoulias's wealthy family which owns the Broadway Bank in Chicago, where Alexi's a vice president and contributes a lot of money to a lot of candidates, including Obama.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story...

According to Charles Hurt at the New York Post,

"Alexi Giannoulias, who became Illinois state treasurer last year after Obama vouched for him, has pledged to raise $100,000 for the senator's Oval Office bid. Alexi Giannoulias who has long been dogged by charges that the bank his family owns helped finance a Chicago crime figure will host a Windy City fund-raiser in 2007 for Obama."
But before he promised to raise funds for Obama, Giannoulias bankrolled "Jaws" Giorango, a Chicagoan twice convicted of bookmaking and promoting prostitution. The fundraiser of course was closed for journalist and was held at the restaurant in Chicago's Greektown community. Reference: Chicago Sun-Times

Giannoulias is so tainted by reputed mob links that several top Illinois Dems, including the state's speaker of the House and party chairman, refused to endorse him even after he won the Democratic nomination with Obama's help. Obama and Giannoulias reportedly met on the basketball court "...in the late 1990s ... at the East Bank Club, a luxurious spot in downtown Chicago," according to Jodi Kantor wrote June 1, 2007, in a New York Times article in June, 2007. Other regular gym mates include the president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health and several investment bankers who were early and energetic fund-raisers.

To reiterate, Giannoulias has NOT been charged with any crimes and being associated with those who do is not itself a crime, but these connections are highly suspicious for a candidate for U.S President, who must have known about those associations since they have been reported often in local newspapers in Chicago. To maintain a close association to Giannoulias…a situation which under scrutiny could prove embarrassing at the very least -- and it would also raise doubt about Obama’s judgment.

A part of judgments that Obama’s fail to disclose were contributions by Tony Rezko. And to this extent, Tony Rezko was being sued for more than $10 million by a Chicago man who says he helped Rezko secure a $1 million loan from the Broadway Bank, whose vice president is Democratic State treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.

This is the same Tony Rezko who is Obama’s fundraiser and helped Obama in his property deals. The same Tony Rezko who is on trial for money laundering, aiding bribe, fraud and attempted extortion.

Only in Chicago does crime TRULY pay.

[Eric in Homestead]

The trolls are transparent. McCain's supporters have nothing but the tired old ad hominem attacks. I predict Hillary will dump Bill and the Republicans will dump McCain before the convention.

[mark]

Interesting article. However, I think Obama's label for other people are going to be more of a problem. He's already lost untold votes with "bitter" and "sweetie." Add to that the racist labels that his more fervent supporters often place on anyone who questions his positions, and a large segment of the voting population that should support him may well not.

[katiec]

Cannot wait until they start digging into McCains past and associates.
The Democratic Party needs to fight back as the outrageous, distorted statements made by the swift boaters will be in full force. Course, we don't have a Carl Rove, thank God,
so will have to be handled with
facts and honesty. Challenge, republicans??