A Dispute Over The Dream

This election is about making history; each campaign sees the other one as an obstacle to that effort.

By Ellis Cose | Newsweek Web Exclusive

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Posted By: EE7011 @ 01/30/2008 12:35:02 PM

Comment: Politics can be both very public and personal. When you are voting in November the candidate that you select for president shoud be your personal choice. A black voter has the freedom to elect the Democratic candidate as well as the Republican, regardless of which party is the more desired party amongst black voters. A female voter has the freedom to vote for a male candidate as well as a female one even if her mother is pressuring her to help elect the first female president of the United States. Just remember though, when you receive that $900 medical bill, because you don't have health insurance, ask yourself where the candidate that you voted for stood on the issue of healthcare in America and whether the candidate's healthcare plans were taken into consideration when you voted.
Posted By: politically incorrect @ 01/24/2008 2:36:41 PM

Comment: Bill Clinton disgraced the role of President, and now he's disgracing the role of Former President. The man has no class. Could you imagine in 2000 if Bush 41 had hit the primary circuit to spread malicious lies about his son's Republican rivals? Of course you couldn't imagine such a thing. Bush Sr. actually carries an aura of dignity about him.

People talk about how popular he supposedly is around the world. But that's only because he feeds the international community the same !@#$% he does the American people. The Kyoto Accord? He signed it, but never even bothered to send it to the Senate for ratification, all the while encouraging the birth of the American SUV on our roads. AIDS in Africa? He spent a fraction of the amount the Evil George W. has on the fight against world AIDS; but that doesn't stop him from giving Nelson Mandela warm, phony hugs at World AIDS Conferences.

And his major legislative accomplishments - The NAFTA Accord and Welfare Reform - were, after all, purely Republican proposals, which only corroborates what Obama meant when he said the Republican party has been the party of ideas for the last 10-15 years.

These are facts, not some "fairy tale". This guy needs to cultivate some ability towards embarresment within himself, for our sake and for his own. I just can't spend the next 4-8 years with this degenerate as President again.
Posted By: shiva1 @ 01/23/2008 11:08:53 AM

Comment: The spectacle of a former President assuming the role of a Hit Man for his wife???s primary campaign is a repulsive disgrace. In the recent South Carolina debate Hillary Clinton attempted to dismiss the enormous influence and power of a former President???s advocacy by making the ridiculous assertion that each candidate had a passionate spouse supporting their cause.

Bill Clinton???s ???passions??? have been painfully well documented and have nothing to do with Michelle Obama. Senator Obama is committed to ending the partisan divide that has debilitated Washington and build a broad based, inclusive majority to drive change. In contrast, the Clintons are lusting for the opportunity to fan the flames of scorched earth politics, perpetuating the dysfunctional status quoi.

The Clinton machine will do whatever it takes; pander, distort, smear, lie, and pretend to cry, in order to hold onto to expand their power. As a former supporter of Bill Clinton, I will sit on the sidelines in November if his wife prevails in the Democratic primary. With 87% of Republicans strongly disapproving of her, she would energize their base to a degree that would be beyond Karl Rove???s wildest fantasy, thus ensuring another loss for the Democrats.

The country faces enormous challenges and can not afford to continue the twenty year Bush/Clinton infighting and paralysis that has torn the country apart in a Red state/Blue state mentality. Barrack Obama will build a diverse coalition to bring people of every persuasion together in pursuit of the common good. In addition, he is uniquely suited to restore our nation???s tarnished reputation and give voice to an America that we can once again be proud of. It is time to have the courage to elect Barrack Obama as the next President of the United States.

Robert Luciano
Atlanta, GA
Posted By: B-American @ 01/22/2008 11:56:53 PM

Comment: Hillery C, has been the president already; she and Billy ran the white House; right down the tubes!
So for God's sake let someone else try to salvage our coach potatoe voters to become apart of the charactor of our society. By the way ,why do Black canidates have to plead with non Blacks for support? Remember when we shook the tree; and everyone-else picked up the apples!
Posted By: lovejusticepeace @ 01/22/2008 10:44:34 PM

Comment: It would be really nice to see Hillary Clinton as the fist woman president of USA.
Let us not miss the fruit of women suffrage.
- Posted By: Joyhuang @ 01/23/2008 1:35:32 PM
  
  Comment: Hillary does not belong to all the women in this country. At least 50% familycentered women do not like her. I, as a woman never voted for her because of Hillary's bad record on dealing with issues and lacking of experience (she could be a good but not pretty actor) So you could only speak for yourself.
Posted By: lovejusticepeace @ 01/22/2008 10:42:43 PM

Comment: It would be really nice to see Hillary Clinton as the first woman president of USA.
We should not lose this opportunity to see the fruit of women suffrage .
Otherwise it would be a long long time , before USA has a woman president.
We dont see any other woman in the horizon.
Posted By: observer101 @ 01/22/2008 8:46:29 PM

Comment: Im the whitest person any one can come across. I like Most ppl in the country want diversity and equality for all people. Im always deeply moved by Martin Luther Kings I have a dream speech. And by all that he has done in his short life. I dont think that he of all people would appreciate what has become of some of the organizations that use his good name as a basis for gain in any respect. Al Sharpton is just a coat tail rider as is Jesse Jackson, and neither seem to REALLY move anyone in a positive way. EVERYTHING they do in his name seems to be for financial gain or publicity. Also I think its ridiculous to try and name every freeway ppl get there hands on MLK blvd or hwy. Im sure he would not have gone around wanting that. He was a great man that needs to be remembered for his works not a littered old highway. Maybe in some way all can find a more respectable way to honor such a great Icon of humanity.
- Posted By: B-American @ 01/23/2008 12:10:17 AM
  
  Comment: Thanks for being so Whte and honest. however , why Americans are so paranoid Blacks, Whites, and Latinos? You know; if education and jobs were the number one concern for all Americans we all can be Great People.
  - Posted By: observer101 @ 01/23/2008 10:13:10 AM
    
    Comment: Thats a great point of view....but as always its not the race , its the fact the ppl in general have gotten lazy and dont want the jobs or education. They want the easy road to everything. People nowadays want things given to them or owed to them for nothing. What ever happened to the American dream of working hard for what one wants and what they believe in? Seems like there will always be a divide and someone will always blame the other for their misfortunes instead of taking responsibility for there current downfall and picking themselves up and trying again. Maybe one day, but for now we will just go on until some catastrophic event happens and we ALL will have to stick together to get through it. Good luck to you til then.
Posted By: washington29 @ 01/21/2008 11:55:31 AM

Comment: The last think Obama wants is to turn this into a race thing. He loves boths sides of who he is and wants to bring them together to make a change for this country. He wants trust, support, and hope to win the campaign. Wish him luck my white and black brothers and sisters.
Posted By: washington29 @ 01/21/2008 11:52:35 AM

Comment: He meant everyone. Obama's grandmother is white and is very much alive. He spends every holiday with her. Our time is now is meant for all those who are tired of being told to wait( Young, Old, Gay, Straight, Black and white). Obama loved his white mother very much and also his black father.
Posted By: getupstandup @ 01/21/2008 10:40:54 AM

Comment: Take us to a better place? You mean on the back of this gibberish: "He spoke of a moral test for the country, one bound up in the nation's ability to see beyond the symbolism to the essence of the candidates themselves." Oh, we do. Stick a finger in John Edwards and all the air comes out of the paper bag that is his body. As for MLK Day, the Rev. Peter Johnson of Dallas hit the nail on the head when he said we should not celebrate King's birthday but the day of his death: "We've allowed white America to escape the guilt of his assasination." White America gets it, Reverend: the civil rights industry derives its bottom line from exploiting white guilt each day in every way. Which is why, sad to say, a day that should mark the birth of a fearless man who died for his convictions is paid less attention that February 14.
Posted By: christianslayer1955 @ 01/20/2008 11:52:23 PM

Comment: I say hell no......Martin Luther Kind did not die so a white woman could become president before a black man,And,i am sick and tired of so called Democrats acting as if they are black people's best friends.Just look at how they have been defended our rights to have our votes counted during the last 2 presidential elections..They still have the nerves to pat themselves in the back for having augmented the minimum wage toto what amounts to a to what amount
Posted By: lambrusco @ 01/20/2008 6:17:45 PM

Comment: I hope that Mrs. Obama when saying our turn is now she meant it is now the democrats turn the American people's turn not just the Black's turn. She seems so special I'm sure that is what she meant.

The problem with why Barack thinks Clintons attack him is because 1.the other side pushes that theme and 2. because he has not yet realized that his whole agenda is actually though not purposefully a attack an all that the Clintons have spent their lives for. If you read any of the 1993 Clinton speeches they are nearly exact replica's of Abama's Iowa speech. Bill moreso than Hillary has a duty to all of us to show that he is the beginning of the change Barack wants and not to be called "part of the problem" of the prior administrations?
Barack and his wife Hillary and her husband together will give this country through us democrats the maximum capability of achieving rapidly what we need. If we don't let yje opposition strategy of smoke make uis fight and self-destruct over their planted slants.
- Posted By: BernieO @ 01/28/2008 6:03:51 PM
  
  Comment: Go back and reread the quote. She was definitely talking about it being the Black's turn.
Posted By: lambrusco @ 01/20/2008 6:09:10 PM

Comment: Ellis In actuality the alleged radio ad was actually the result of Republican money used to make us all follow like sheep and self-destruct. Those same people the competition are genius at diluting and changing common conceptions of us Democrats. EXAMPLE Martin Luther King was very humble. Like noone else he would not take defense to what was said by Hillary about President Johnson but would laud and extend the praise of how Lyndon helped further the cause in his particular way without any mention or thought of who did more or less for the cause.But "they" the other side are successful trying to split us up.
An egomaniac is a person obsessed with a cause that burns through his heart soul spirit. Others make the word egomaniac as "bad". Those whose lives have been spent for a cause as Martin Luther King as Jesus as Mother Teresa as
Posted By: cyberella @ 01/20/2008 4:49:00 PM

Comment: http://www.examiner.com/a-534540~Can_a_past_of_Islam_change_the_path_to_president_for_Obama_.html
Posted By: cyberella @ 01/20/2008 4:47:40 PM

Comment: Some of this stuff should be exposed:
http://www.freedomsenemies.com/_more/obama.htm

http://www.usvetdsp.com/
http://www.examiner.com/a-534540~Can_a_past_of_Islam_change_the_path_to_president_for_Obama_.html
somebody should expose some of this- and tear him a new one.
Posted By: 3L3R1G @ 01/20/2008 3:37:37 PM

Comment: During the Jim Crow era and before, it was more common to find people who openly believed there were inherent differences among the races such that they determined individual achievement, usually accompanied by the idea that their race was superior thus giving them the right to rule over other races.

Today, no one wants to be associated with an ideology of racial intolerance or supremacy. Therefore, the ideology is more likely to be evidenced in the words, idioms, and allusions used to described individuals of different races or the events that surround them.

Racism is a persistent factor in the lives of African Americans. For this to be a fact, it is not requisite that others admit or acknowledge it.

For, racism is the burden of the mentally obtuse who incorporate racist ideas into their psyche, which then perverts their view of the world, dictates their actions in it, and saddles their children with the perpetuation of it.

The perpetuation of racism is highly dependent upon the continual indoctrination of children to perpetuate it; otherwise, it would have died long ago with those who institutionalized it.

For America, Barack Obama???s candidacy will continue to expose how far America has come and how far it has to go???in the matters of race.
Posted By: 3L3R1G @ 01/20/2008 2:19:20 PM

Comment: test
Posted By: abetterusa @ 01/20/2008 1:33:41 PM

Comment: Race is an issue in the country as we all know. We have let this disease grow for far too long. Men and women of all races serve this country in many different capacities, (school teachers, policemen and policewomen, doctors, lawyers, armed forces etc.) I am a hispanic male - and I believe that hispanics did not vote for Mrs. Clinton, they voted against Mr. Obama. This race issue has divided the country for too long and our lack of embracing each other has allowed other countries to come in and buy the place right from under us as we bickered and blasted each other based on our ethnicity. We really need to sit back and understand what makes this country great is our diversity. You know that feeling you get when your favorite sports team wins, or when the US wins an olympic GOLD - we all take that win as Americans - people of all races contribute to Americas victories NOT just one race. We need to do better - our freedom depends on it. Maybe a black president would help in way that the simple don't understand - it sends a strong message to all minorities, that yes i to can be a part of the American leadership and show to the world that all voices and ethnic backgrounds are respected equally in this country. This guy is by the way a Harvard graduate - one of the worlds' finest higher learning institutions. This would send a strong message that the US is capable of embracing all of its people, not just one particular race. Let's face it folks, we have just been doing the same old thing with the same old people and achieving the same old results. People of many races make up and are the United States of America.
Posted By: thisvoice @ 01/20/2008 12:53:58 PM

Comment: I think it's very unfortunate that race and gender may indeed be the deciding factors in the run for the Democatic nominaton. When we are all faced with such horrific problems, there really isn't much room for pettiness. Racism still exists in this country in both white and black groups, and I don't believe for a second that that wll change if we have a black president. But I don't believe that having a woman resident will change sexism, either, which also exists in both female and male groups. How all such issues, and the other problems and dangers, are dealt with in actuality is what will matter in the long run for our country. To play either card at this time in our history is ugly and self-serving, to say the very least. It'smoving backwards in time! Substance is all that matters, or should matter.
Posted By: flipover @ 01/20/2008 12:52:24 AM

Comment: John Edwards should drop out,Then we see the real winner.
Posted By: flipover @ 01/20/2008 12:51:05 AM

Comment: Edwards should drop out,then we could see the real winner.