POLITICS

Obama’s Lincoln

During the campaign, he pledged to be a unifying leader. Good thing for Obama there are other presidents whose experiences he can draw on, including one, in particular, from his home state.

By Evan Thomas and Richard Wolffe | NEWSWEEK
Published Nov 15, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Nov 24, 2008

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  • Posted By: Alexisnexus @ 04/09/2009 6:13:18 PM



    There is more new on President Obama and his family connections at:

    http://familyforest.wordpress.com/2009/03/30/big-picture-story-from-the-big-island/


    For instance did you know he and Brad Pitt are related?

  • Posted By: katinis @ 01/24/2009 10:09:09 AM

    BARACK OBAMA IS THE REINCARNATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
    HE IS AWARE OF THIS REALITY.
    USA HAS A HOLLY MISSION:
    TO PREPARE THE UNIVERSAL MESSIANIC AVENT (JESUS CHRIST KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS)
    BARACK OBAMA IS SECRETLY WORKING FOR THIS UNIVERSAL EVENT
    PLease visit those sites about UNIVERSAL MESSIANISME
    http://perso.nnx.com/ianaywon
    http://www.myspace.com/ianaywon
    sincerely yours and best regards

  • Posted By: tribefan1985 @ 01/23/2009 3:21:23 AM

    I know you at newsweek are in the tank for obama. However he is nothing like lincoln. Lincoln's vp was a Dem Obama's was a liberal democrat. Obama aside from gates whom is not a reg. republican does not have a republican in a major cabinet post his cabinet is much more similar to clinton's then lincoln's. Clinton also had a republican sec. of defense. Obama also complained about the same ideas that lincoln used in the civil war.

  • Posted By: Alexisnexus @ 01/20/2009 3:27:05 AM

    President Lincoln and President Obama share ancestors

    Leading up to the Presidential Inauguration on Tuesday, there has been plenty of talk about similarities and connections between President Lincoln and President Obama, but there???s a closer more personal connection they share that???s been overlooked, DNA.

    According to the ancestral history that had already been mapped out in the
    Family Forest® New World Edition , there???s a movie you can order today from NetFlix or Amazon to watch captivating portrayals of ancestors of Presidents Lincoln and Obama by Hollywood icons.

    How cool is this! Wishing our new President the best on the eve of the Presidential Inauguration.

    http://familyforest.wordpress.com/2009/01/18/president-lincoln-and-president-obama-share-ancestors/

  • Posted By: rybread1492 @ 01/19/2009 2:35:04 PM

    I know my history and to say that if Lincoln wasn't elected then the civil war wouldn't have happened is just stupid. First of all this idea that the war was started because Lincoln wanted to free slaves is false, and farther than that this idea that everyone in the south owned slaves is false as well. The civil war was started and fought over money and the south???s right to create and manage "state law" independent from the Unions federal law. An issue that was boiling well before Lincoln was elected and would have erupted regardless of who was President. Once the south decided that it was going to break free of the union Lincoln had no choice but to defend the United States from the domestic threat...it's in the job description...look it up. Although states have the right to secede, they better be willing to fight for it. Lincoln as well as most people at the time, both in the north and south mind you, figured slavery would die off on it's own over time due to morality, and would never had started a war to end the practice. If you were to get in a time machine and ask the soldiers on the ground what they where fighting for you would more than likely get ???States Rights!!??? from the south and ???To protect the Union??? from the North, slavery was the final straw in a fight that had been going on for quite some time. The emancipation proclamation...in wasn't made until a few years into the war. As for Lincoln being unpopular with the GOP???are you kidding? The GOP wasn???t even created until the time of Lincoln, you do realize that Lincoln was the first republican president right? And that the GOP wasn???t even called the GOP until after the war right? Any unpopularity that Lincoln faced came from the banks and the powerful bankers that were upset at the way Lincolns greenback money system effected the central banking system that they where trying to recreate. Money and power, it???s always about money and power???or god???money, god or power???the triple headed war monster. As for Obama and his relation to Lincoln, it???s my opinion that comparison is more with the ???story of Lincoln??? as the uniter, rather than with the president himself. Pop culture has a way of romanticizing important historical players and weather you agree with the things that either man stand/stood for, there is no denying the historical importance of both of them.

  • Posted By: rybread1492 @ 01/19/2009 1:56:02 PM

    "Lincoln was quoted many times as saying that the races are not equal. He opposed slavery as a moral issues not because he believe that races were equal. The representative of the "South" in Senate, his name slips my mind, said if Lincoln was elected the South seceded. If either of the other 2 candidates had won, the Union would have remained intact and negated or at least postponed the Civil War. Read history."

  • Posted By: Mr. Shirt @ 01/14/2009 10:34:09 PM

    Lincoln was one of the most unpopular presidents to ever serve! He was nearly not nominated for reelection by the GOP in 1864 because of his unpopularity. It wasn't until the war started turning in favor of the Union that he was given a second chance. Of course, nearly all of The South hated him. Though he wrote eloquently, he had a squeaky voice & stuttered. The country is not literally split in two with brothers willing to kill each other in a 4 year un-Civil War! Our problems are truly not even crisis level, at least not yet.

    Oh, & if the writer of this story honestly believes Obama will have a more difficult time than Lincoln because of the modern media, then the writer has not even begun to contemplate the REAL Lincoln.

    This Obama Cult of Personality is becoming quite disturbing.

  • Posted By: ok4u @ 12/05/2008 7:52:53 PM

    Lincoln may have been a unifier, but only after a half million or so Americans died in the cause of either unity, or independence.

  • Posted By: fabpnk2 @ 12/01/2008 11:09:25 AM

    Obama shouldn't be compared to Lincoln. Lincoln was too great ! Obama shouldn't be president ! And I find it insulting to Abraham Lincoln that you put Obama on the penny.

  • Posted By: VinnyC @ 11/26/2008 10:09:37 PM

    The socialist B. Hussein Obama isn't worthy to spit shine President Lincoln's boots.

  • Posted By: it's about the future @ 11/23/2008 12:54:34 PM

    Floridave: Personally, i was not there and am not arguing your point.
    By all accounts Lincoln had a lot to deal with and history recounts that he did a great job, and that's what we like about him.
    My point is that this is almost 2009, and the next president has a tremendous variety of super-complex issues to address, both domestically and globally.
    So it is at the least, silly to try and compare or play crystal ball.

  • Posted By: it's about the future @ 11/22/2008 7:25:30 PM

    TexasYank:
    You think Lincoln had anything like the smorgasbord of domestic and global problems,
    basically all of them cliff-hangers, that the 2009 President will have to deal with?
    It's a first for any US president.
    If you think Lincoln would have a chance, go ahead and beam him up.
    We'll see what he has to say.

  • Posted By: George555 @ 11/22/2008 11:35:47 AM

    The most surprising report is that Larry King of CNN may be named Press Secretary . . . do not understand that choice at all . . .

    • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 11/22/2008 2:43:50 PM

      I think that's contingent on him living until then

  • Posted By: rsraul @ 11/22/2008 1:56:26 AM

    I am hopeful that President-elect Obama will follow through with a bi-partisan administration. I actually met Editor in Chief Meacham at the Nixon Library recently where he spoke on Jackson. I told him how my family is made up of liberals and conservatives. Actually, my question to John was whether the media and politicians can keep labeling California as a state made up celebrities and left wingers when I'm part of a latino family that has a 50-50 split of Dems and Repubs, and are part of the state of Reagan, Brown, Dukajian and "the Governator!" But it goes to the point that Americans are a true bi-partisan group. WE NEED THAT IN DC!!!!

    • Posted By: Vypurr @ 11/22/2008 11:09:29 AM

      We can hope, however most administrations won't do that with positions of real power. I may have missed a few, but normally they will offer Secretary of Education and similar positions to the opposite party for show, but that's about as far as it goes. Maybe Obama will be different.

  • Posted By: TexasYank @ 11/22/2008 1:34:03 AM

    It is unfathomable that a magazine would have the audacity to attempt a comparison between a part-time senator two months from taking office and one of the greatest leaders in American history. Start and end the discussion with them both being from Illinois...end of comparison.

    How about letting him get into office first to convert all of this Hope and Change into some real spreading of the wealth? By then I'll expect to see a papal endorsement from Newsweek.

    • Posted By: jimbo3800 @ 11/22/2008 8:03:09 AM

      It is unfathomable, but hardly a surprise to anyone who has been reading Newsweak for the past 2 years. They have become the Official Barack Hussien Obama Fanclub Newsletter. They through out any pretense of objectivity many months ago.

  • Posted By: it's about the future @ 11/22/2008 12:45:00 AM

    whatisreal: Some of the folks you mention were fed on direct line by the McDuo, via countless robocalls, mailings and unsolicited emails around this country. Maybe if i write it down and keep repeating it, it will make sense? The lack of concern for consequences was in my book, beyond/beyond all belief.

    Those who read directly about Obama, know what he has to offer. We will move on from the terrible negative bias in our culture, which has been taking root for quite some time. Obama is right when he talks about hope. Victims are easily created in a climate of fear and war ~ and especially the poverty created by war.

    In reponse to your comment: If the 'religious' folks remember what their teacher said; 'thou shalt not kill, love thy neighbour as thy self, judge not lest you be judged' ...... we can have a good world.

    Sometimes the biggest laughs come from the shenanikans and crass humor from all sides, on this blog.
    There is a positive thing going on and thanks to Newsweek for giving the air time.

  • Posted By: Mr_Sundayschool @ 11/21/2008 9:37:54 AM

    Hopefully Obama won't cause over 600,000 americans to be killed while he brings about all this unification.

    • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 11/21/2008 1:46:00 PM

      Yes, and he will force us to wear upside down flag pins, because he is secretly in league with Satan. And he will brinng on the apocolyps and the rapture will come about and all of us non believers will be cast out and wander aimlessly awaiting our fate. At that time we will meet Stalin, and Hitler, and Reagan, and Nixon, and watch as Ronald does Nixon impersonations while we all applaud his craft.

      Then we will be greeted by the dark massiah himself who is both light and shadow, and he will cast his shadow over us, and we will be swept up and thrown into a lake of burning sulfur, where we will drink ice tea, and sing songs of unity.

      • Posted By: Mr_Sundayschool @ 11/21/2008 4:14:16 PM

        Actually my comment was a sardonic reference to a historical reality. Over 600,000 Americans died as a result of Lincoln???s effort to be a "unifying leader" by force of arms (an unfortunate policy that has continued throughout the 20th century and persists to this very day - i.e. Iraq, Bosnia, Vietnam, Korea, etc.). It was not I who made the comparison of Obama to Lincoln (you should read the article to which these comments are attached). I was merely expressing the hope that such a thing would not be necessary to Obama's glorious presidency but something (history) tells me US policy in this respect is unlikely to see "change".

        • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 11/21/2008 4:35:01 PM

          Very respectable, thanks for clearing that up:)

    • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 11/21/2008 1:41:13 PM

      What I really hope is that Obama paranoia does not propagate beyond the fringe freaks and escalate to the point where some freak tries to take his life. If there are people that think he is going to do all of these dangerous things, maybe they will attempt to save us all from him.

      That is one of my concerns after hearing all of the Obama paranoia. Especially from the hard core Bush supporters on the right. There are some scary people there. Not that there aren't any on the left, but teh right just got their head handed to them in the election and are not really happy about it, and I am more concerned about people who believe they are doing the will of God (terrorists, etc) than somebody who does not find that justifcation.

      Not trashing beliefs here, or any believers, just concerned about religious nuts who see Obama as this threat to all of us.

  • Posted By: bdhotwheel @ 11/18/2008 2:49:39 PM

    Just trying to balance things out and keeping it real compared to you Obama worshippers. Are you getting your Obama collection ready? You got the t-shirts I'm sure. How about the bobble head doll and the panties with his picture in the front? Did you dress up as Obama or his Wife for Halloween too?

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 11/18/2008 2:56:39 PM

      Got my T-shirt. It's fun!

      • Posted By: bdhotwheel @ 11/18/2008 2:58:43 PM

        I actually have one too that I found on the side of the street. I use it to clean my car!

        • Posted By: summer4077 @ 11/18/2008 3:02:13 PM

          bd, someone should tell you that cleaning a rusted out pinto on blocks really isn't worth the effort...

          • Posted By: bdhotwheel @ 11/18/2008 3:06:36 PM

            It's actually a VW bug that I was working on for Obama's parade! He wants to go with the Hitler theme!

            • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 11/18/2008 3:15:29 PM

              You don't know a thing about Hitler. You just keep posting garbage. Here's what I think..you just want attention.

              • Posted By: bdhotwheel @ 11/18/2008 3:19:17 PM

                I don't want to know about Hitler. I just know that he tickled the ears of many Germans before he exposed his agenda on them just like your messiah Obama will do in due time!

                • Posted By: summer4077 @ 11/18/2008 3:31:03 PM

                  Hmm then you know Hitler rounded up millions of people based on their ethnicity and country of origin? Kind of like GITMO!

                  • Posted By: Pocolodi @ 11/18/2008 4:45:54 PM

                    Hitler murdered six million innocent people. Gitmo has had somewhere around six hundred people, including a large number of terrorists. Two hundred have been released. You're telling us the two are "alike?"

                    You have to be kidding. No one with any common sense would make that comparison.

                    • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 11/18/2008 6:59:36 PM

                      It is not a comparison, it is a metaphore of sorts. Basically, people using these Hitler references are ignorant or just acting ignorant. After 8 years of the Bush disaster to even talk like that is so far from reality it is disgusting, and shows what kind of losers there are out ther. Punk losers that hide behind a keyboard, that have no guts, and are afraid inside.

                      • Posted By: Forty4 @ 11/18/2008 8:23:29 PM

                        whatisreal... 200 have already been released to go to a home that wants them. Some of what's left don't want to go home for fear of torture or death. We can't find a home for others because no country wants them. The remaining 85 or so face trial for terrorism. What would you like to do with them, turn them loose in your neighborhood?

                        And I'll believe it was "only a metaphor" when summer4077 says it was a metaphor.

                        • Posted By: bdhotwheel @ 11/20/2008 3:10:17 PM

                          Forty4 is another person that loves to be tickled in the ear! What is it with justifying comments with a metaphor? The whole conversation started on a metaphor and you liberals twisted it around! Stupid people!

                          • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 11/21/2008 2:29:09 PM

                            I am not sure if anybody ever tells people they are metaphorically speaking, usually people just get it. Spelling it out would basically negate the reason for metaphore, the part that gets you to think.

                          • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 11/20/2008 7:43:28 PM

                            Actually, I am totally lost on this. Not sure where it went to, or where it was going. Must have been my centris/liberal leanings.

                      • Posted By: Bill Smith @ 11/19/2008 2:38:14 PM

                        Hey tough guy, post your name and address.

                        • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 11/20/2008 7:36:13 PM

                          Ya, right, oohh scary. What are you going to do, stalk my family you fruitcake. If you were in a bar it would be welcomed, and if you understaood what you were getting into you would decide differently.

                          So let me say it again, comparing Hitler to Obama is the same kind of crp that was being fed, fear. And I will say again, people that use fear are the fearful, and many are punklosers hiding behind their keyboards. Just my opinion, and if you ever see me around you can try and shove it down my throat.

                • Posted By: 40YearR @ 11/18/2008 7:13:08 PM



                  "bdhotwheel": Paranoia is fear without factual basis. So give me some facts.

                  A 40 year republican

                • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 11/18/2008 6:55:46 PM

                  After 8 years of Bush it is really laughable to hear somebody spew this ignorance. Roaches will be roaches...

          • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 11/18/2008 3:04:11 PM

            Good one.

        • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 11/18/2008 3:03:40 PM

          You are immature.

  • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 11/21/2008 1:47:39 PM

    What I really hope is that Obama paranoia does not propagate beyond the fringe freaks and escalate to the point where some freak tries to take his life. If there are people that think he is going to do all of these dangerous things, maybe they will attempt to save us all from him.

    That is one of my concerns after hearing all of the Obama paranoia. Especially from the hard core Bush supporters on the right. There are some scary people there. Not that there aren't any on the left, but teh right just got their head handed to them in the election and are not really happy about it, and I am more concerned about people who believe they are doing the will of God (terrorists, etc) than somebody who does not find that justifcation.

    Not trashing beliefs here, or any believers, just concerned about religious nuts who see Obama as this threat to all of us.

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 11/20/2008 6:13:55 PM

    This religous rhetoric is getting me edgy. I believe in God but I've done my share of ungodly blogging. I do know this, when reckoning day comes, i'm going to make myself scarce. I'd advise you to follow my lead.

    Just to prove that God is a Good God, my wings just arrived. Chicken Wings that is. I'm out c.u. later

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