Philadelphia paper backs Obama

I've seen similar comments as the first poster on a lot of stories... makes me think that Hillary has quite the reputation management/pot stirring crew to post comments.

Obama was great last night. thoughtful answers that don't insult Americans' intelligence while Clinton still practices slash and burn politics. Maybe Hillary doesn't know what it means to overplay ones hand.

Something strange about the #1 comment.

This article was published at 9:40 and the #1 comment was made at 9:58. But the #2 comment was made at 10:27. The #3 comment was at 11:23. But from 11:23 to 11:36 we have had over 120 comments

But the #1 comment was very long, over a 100 lines. How did this person manage to find the article immediately after it was published and composed such a long comment with all these details. All within 18 minites while everybody else except #2( a single line comment) made their comments after a hour and a half after the article was published.

How did this person manage to do it?

There's not a politician alive or dead with a record devoid of missteps or potential conflicts of interest (well, maybe Ghandi... but even he had his scandals). Power corrupts, end of story. Unfortunately, in the absence of a utopian society (been tried), we still need politicians.

I believe that 200 years from now, historians will look back at the Bush presidency as being the definitive marker for the end of the era of American dominance. And maybe that's a good thing - except for the fact that Europe will never get its act together and that China is ruthless and inscrutable.

I also believe that the American constitution is the greatest political vision ever forged, and that this great nation has the capacity to dust itself off and take one more shot at self-renewal.

The person best qualified to be steward of this process is the person who shows the most willingness to intelligently face the uncomfortable truths and to confront the status quo. Someone whose moral foundation goes beyond simple one-dimensional patriotism, and who can lead America into renewal both at home and in the eyes of the world. He may not be perfect, but I believe that person to be Barack Obama.

What is different about Obama from other candidates? He will not be pigeonhold, he will not pander, he will not change his message in every state to get your vote, he will not be defined by the trappings of what constitutes looking and sounding presidential by the political manipulation machine. In other words, he has more respect for Americans than to be packaged and glossed to sell you on his patriotism (wearing a flag pin, putting your hand on your chest, ending every speech with "God bless America", kissing babies, etc.) . What do these packaged politicians do, they lie to us, they lead us into war, they spill the blood of our sons and daughters, they empty our coffers and sell out our country.
Is it any wonder that our youth is leading the way, most of them, do not want to be
pigeonhold, they want to be accepted for themselves and not be packaged.

Posts should be in reverse order so that Loony bins like the person posting the first post get pushed down by rebuttals.

Obama is the choice for 2008!! He is the BEST person for the job. Hillary is a liar and not trustworthy. EVERYBODY wants Hillary to step down now.

I thought the media was supposed to be impartial and neutral. Why are newspapers endorsing candidates?

People,,,,open your eyes desperate people do desperate things,,less attacking lets get to the business of what the average joe wants.....Jobs ,,health insurance,the war in iraq will cost our nation billions over years to come .Gas ,when will level off??? Its time for change,,,,Hillary thought she had a walk in the park ,,,,,it s over Hillary,,,,be a team player go out with a little class. E.Hensel

Hillary seemed do do better last night than Obama. Still, running the country is about political management, not debates, and we need a new metaphor rather than the same old, same old. Hence, I support Obama.

I believe Obama is a decent man. I do not agree with his pastor or the terrorist , he should not be judged "Guilt BY ASSOCIATION". I agree that he and his wife has said things that were a little off the mark but who has'nt. They are not perfect. Hillary has blatantly lied multiple times. I have never seen McCain wear a flag lapel pin. Look at his past photos. At time I have forgotten to place my hand over my heart during the National Anthem. I am a white christian male I believe Obama will be a good president. I think he is a true statesman at heart. It is obivious that Hillary really does not care about the midle class. Hillary is a closet Republican. She is a DINO (Democrat in name only) She has put her own interests above the Democratic Party. We don't need her as our next president.
OBAMA 08

IT'S 3 O'Clock And The Phone Is Ringing

As it has been publicized, Senator Clinton stated that during an official trip to Bosnia, her entourage landed under sniper fire. She went on to elaborate that they had to run with their heads down to the waiting transportation that was parked on the tarmac! Susequently, President Clinton, rationalized that the senator is 60 years of age and simply misspoke on the topic because it was 11 o'clock at night and she was very tired due to a hectic day.

America pay attention, the alarm is sounding...If the senator was that confused at 11 o'clock at night, do we really want her to answer the phone at 3 o'clock in the morning???

The debate was the worse one i have ever seen. When Obama was being drilled for his contact with a member of the Weatherman group and told Hillary that her husband pardon two of them, she got quiet and had to take a break..George and Charlie didn't say another word about Obama comment concerning the Clintons giving members of the Weatherman Underground pardons...not did they mention the 140 pardons the The Clintons gave to the terrorist group FALN that bombed 120 buildings in Hillarys NY and criminally rich on his last night in office. Nor did George and Charlie ask Hillary about fugitive Mach Rich wife sleeping in the White House before The Clintons pardon him.. How much money did Mach Rich give to the Hillary Campaign and the Clinton Library? Thank God for Obama

So many of posts are by organizational posters who really don't care about anything but winning, its clear who has carried themselves in manor that would best represent the United States, we all know who's going to win the Democratic nomination, no matter how much posting is done by those that are blinded by personal interest , let the discussion continue but please stop insulting our intelligence with these post by institutional posters, that care very little about the country short of their own narrow interests ,its not just about the us ,it's about t the future of our nation and more importantly the future that our children will inherit. there is one choice for me Obama 2008

Dear Get out obama:

Your post makes absolutely no sense. You seem to be taking this way too personal. I realize picking a president is a very serious matter, with serious implications, but you are borderline obsessed.

Based on your extremely negative (and mostly false) points, I'm afraid that WHEN Obama becomes president, you will either suffer a mental breakdown, or just self-terminate. Your hysteria is unfounded and you are clearly biased in your thinking. I really think you should seek professional help, because you don't seem at all to be stable.

It is better to channel that same energy to list why the candidate you support should be considered, instead of trying to discredit someone else with outright lies. My guess is that you one of the only 30 % of Americans who trust Hillary, since you follow her model of lies and distortion.

After this election season is over, a lot of Depressed people are going to benefit from Universal Healthcare. If Obama and his followers are feeling depressed and upset by the line of questioning by ABC moderators, what is going to happen when he gets roughed up by the Republican Machine. Like my grandma always said if you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. Did Obama really think he was going to "walk on water" to the white house? Shirl #123 said in post that "Hillary is the meat cleaver of US politics and she is cannabalizing the Democratic Party and the American people." Wow, these are really mean characterizations of a Presidential candidate who is running for office. Obama claims he is not a Washington insider, and its not politics as usual. Obviously he is no saint, and has been cozying up to many of these Washington insiders. Look at all these political big wigs-- Kennedy, Kerry, Leahy, Richardson and the list is too long to mention. It is amazing that people who are supposedly intelligent would really think that in 4-8 years Obama is going to "change government and take it away from the lobbyists and oligarchs." He should take a lesson from Deval Patrick, who was going to change politics as usual on Beacon Hill. Deval was going to change government and bring in the best and brightest individuals to help him achieve the job. Deval didn't think he needed Beacon Hill legislators to help him set his agenda. He didn't have much success his first year.
Obama is like any other politician--tell people what they want to hear. People are looking for miracles, but they seem to forget that Obama is not Jesus, he's imperfect just like the rest of us. If the contest had ended on super Tuesday, then Democrats would have selected a nominee without getting to know the real Obama, that is without the 'feel good' rhetoric. Perhaps Obama should thank Hillary for helping to build him up for general Campaign against McCain.

There's not a politician alive or dead with a record devoid of missteps or potential conflicts of interest (well, maybe Ghandi... but even he had his scandals). Power corrupts, end of story. Unfortunately, in the absence of a utopian society (been tried), we still need politicians.

I believe that 200 years from now, historians will look back at the Bush presidency as being the definitive marker for the end of the era of American dominance. And maybe that's a good thing - except for the fact that Europe will never get its act together and that China is ruthless and inscrutable.

I also believe that the American constitution is the greatest political vision ever forged, and that this great nation has the capacity to dust itself off and take one more shot at self-renewal.

The person best qualified to be steward of this process is the person who shows the most willingness to intelligently face the uncomfortable truths and to confront the status quo. Someone whose moral foundation goes beyond simple one-dimensional patriotism, and who can lead America into renewal both at home and in the eyes of the world. He may not be perfect, but I believe that person to be Barack Obama.

I'd rather have an " ELITIST" than an " E-LIAR-TIST" !!!!!

The only 2 things wrong with Clintoon's campaign are the style and content.

I'm tired of this media crap. If you can't see through all the mud-slinging going on during this debate, you should change the channel to "jerry springer" or "real world" and dont vote. The reason why the media feeds us two weeks of the Anna Nichole's death coverage, or hourly updates on brittney spears drunken problems, is because idiots out there watch it instead of actual news.

I turn on ABC to see what the candidates want to do for their country. I do NOT care what personal flaws they have. This campaign is NOT a highschool prom queen/king contest, and anyone who treats it like that is not patriotic in my opinion. EVERY president we EVER had did something that was not politicly correct.

Abraham Lincoln didn't wear a flag pin 24/7...I guess we should take down his memorial.
Washinton had slaves and grew pot...I guess we should take him off the dollar bill.
Franklin was a sex addict and pervert...I guess we should stop using electricity.

And the list goes on...

I'm not a politician, so i can say this openly. "Anyone who votes in this up-coming election, with only the knowledge of the one-line smear propoganda as a guide, is personally ruining this country." The first thing you should consider when electing an official is that the person with the best "smearing attacks" is also the most backstabbing, shady candidate. This candidate is the person that will tell the American people one thing, while collecting money for doing the oppisite behind our backs.

Illinois appears to offer presidential candidates with great potential. Lincoln for instance rid the country of slavery and now we have Obama who wants to rid the country of its present and past.

Wow....You really seem to have sipped on alot of "haterade". I really think they were discussing the struggles they went thru PRIOR TO the last two years of which Obama has done well on his book sales. The same has happened for the Clintons with their books. Even former President Clinton revealed that when they entered the White House they were the poorest 1st family to do so. Life has been great for them financially, since their exit. I sure don't see that you summaried that and they have made much more to the fact that some of the $$ they made is questionable. But who really gives a hoot about how much $$ is in the pocket of someone else and who they shared it with? Get a life!!!

I don't think he was AWFUL. I think he's tired of the "bull" you have to go thru just to help the American people. I really sense he is a PEOPLE person and have PEOPLE at heart which is what this country needs. Its time to move towards equality and justice for ALL. Enough of the racial divide, class war, etc.... Its truly gotten old and the horse that has been beaten is truly DEAD in the mind of progressive minded people of which it has been proven thru Obama's backers, that this country is full of.

To say the media has excused Obama is highly untrue. Hillary who out and out lied, it was "Oops I had a slip of my memory" and the media let it go at that. There is not a day he doesn't get another nail in his hands for snippets from Rev. Wright that were taken out of context, of he has no responsibility. Even Hillary's own Pastor defended Rev. Wright!! The media sure seems to keep sweeping under the carpet that Mr. Clinton thought enough of him to invite him to the White House when he needed the support of the clergy during his immoral ordeal!!

Its true!!! America (the government) has done some things they are going to have to atone for. We just don't want to deal with reality! For starts, look at this present administration. Alot of innocent lives have been lost over a war that never should have been. However, Mr. Bush make sure he and his friends are doing just fine while the people he has been entrusted to lead and look out for, suffer. But he's going out with a bang. He's going to stimulate the economy by "giving" $300 - $600 per person of which you'll get taxed on next year. Wow, that's really going to stop alot of people from losing their jobs and homes!

Some people have become angered to the point that they are holding onto what they feel has brought them thru which is their faith that things will get better. While others are turning to their guns via crime as a measure to feed their families because they lost honest employment thru the hands of the government via the trade agreement to another country. These are a few realities of a government that need to repent and need a CHANGE from someone who doesn't want to continue the same old politics getting the same old results paying back favors to lobbyist, insurance companies and others! Whatever happend to "WE THE PEOPLE"? Washington needs a CHANGE!

What I see as the difference between Obama and Hillary is character and integrity and that goes much further for me than 35 years of ????. Traveling to other countries as the 1st lady drinking tea sure doesn't add foreign policy experience to your resume to me. Lets get real. We all know who the real person will be answering the phone at 3 a.m. if Hillary gets elected. Mr. Bill... Truly, they've had their time of which life was much better. However, it time for CHANGE and old dogs with old tricks can't make it happen!

Last debate should not be judged on debate points. Hillary got points for jabs but they never touched Obama. I was disappointed in ABC taking all that time on issues that my family and I discuss. It's all nonsense and we need to move on. Clinton just flat out lied to us in our faces. She says she not dumb???? Had her unpopular husband lying ever more. Did they discuss that? Dddid they discuss Marl Pen (Colombian lobbyist on her staff. No they brought up all gabs.

He stayed composed althought disturbed by the questions. Hopefully the people in Pennsyvania uncover the mask Hillary wears and vote for Obama. Our country deserves change without the Clinton baggages of the past. I'm so sick of the old politics. Help him change American and encourage those young people to vote.
'Next they will bring up Floriada and Michigan. I'm confused, they broke the rules they were aware of? Had it been a rule they didn't understand maybe they would hace grounds. Votes shouldn't county and divide the delegates evenly. Lastly, the Clintons are taking the party down with them and we're just sitting here and watching.

Two fine candidates - reading the anti-Obama material... seems like someone is advocating that we vote for McCain if Clinton doesn't win.

At the end of the day, both factions will need to pull together in order to prevent a McCain victory. Is there room for hateful and slanted positions?

I don't think so...

Go Cubbies ;-)

I think Hillary Clinton is the best choice for America. I think Obama is charismatic and his voice is calm and charming but what America really needs is someone who has experience. If Obama win I think he will not be able to control power. He willbe overwelm wit so much power. Even he has a good heart, we need somebody wise and intelligent to guide the country in the right direction.

If Americans blow this chance to fix their government and take it back - we don't deserve to be a democracy.

Hillary represents everything that is wrong with American politics and last night's debate was evidence of that. Hillary shined when the debate turned from issues to tactics.

That dog don't hunt no more.

SHAME ON ABC FOR THE STUPID TABLIOD DEBATE STYLE. I WAS SHOCKED THAT COMMON SENSE IS NO MORE AVAILABLE IN ABC. NO WONDER ABC IS GOING DOWN THE DRAIN. AMERICANS HAVE REAL PROBLEMS: ECONOMY IN RECESSION; $12 BILLION A MONTH IN IRAQ FOR CHENEY AND BUSH'S CRONIES; HIGH GAS PRICES; HIGHER HEALTHCARE COST; FORECLOSURES; UNEMPLOYMENT ALL OVER; HIGHER COST OF EDUCATION; ETC. ALL WE GOT FROM ABC IS JUNK QUESTIONS WITH NO RELEVANCE. SHAME ON ABC! SHAME ON ABC!! SHAME ON GEORGE AND CHALIE GIBSON!!

Obama is not new or capable of getting the badly needed change. He is a media fueled "new kid on the block" whose personal choices of radical religious beliefs and pigeon-holing of whole segments of the population will not bring America together, but apart. He is biracial and I have never heard him embrace his white heritage, only to say "typical white woman" of his grandmother and his "cringing" over her racial slurs - as if he never said any himself. It is important what a politician says, it is a window to his personality. He wants to be above all criticism when there are real questions concerning who he is really is. Shame on you for supporting him. Do you know who he will pick for his cabinet, can we trust him based on other appointments he has made. No we cannot. Again, the country is seeing a candidate through rose colored glasses, like Bush. McCain will win the presidency if Obama is the democratic nominee.

This is the internet lolz.

I am so sick of the first comment's negative attitude!!! We need Senator Obama to bring together people not just trying to destroy them. This country is full of older negative people. I am so happy to see the younger people getting involved that are voting in record numbers. Perhaps the upping coming generation will try to solve the health care crisis, negative economy, and political corruption that has plagued the nation like a critical illness. The prior administrations of Clinton and Bush administrations have a history of just raiding the budget for special interest and creating trading agreements that have lined their pockets with millions. They also made wars in the world instead of trying to create peace and friendship with other's that do not want to be dominated by administrations that want to take away their oil, cultures, religions, and freedom! VOTE OBAMA FOR THE CHANGE WE NEED.......Signed a mother for peace and equality

Go People Paper - this is the right decision! I feel Obama can really turn this country around and help spark many new & exciting opportunities here and abroad!

Obama is a breath of fresh air...not the hot air coming from his opponents.
He may not always tell you what you want to hear, but he will tell you what you need to hear...and he'll be honest. After the last two presidents, honesty will be a refreshing experience. Hillary has already proven she won't be offering that.
I don't trust anything coming from McBush either because he'll turn on a dime if it's to his benefit. Obama is my choice for president. I'm glad the Philadelphia Daily News agrees with me!

Typing your views in all caps envokes shouting and a desperation that gives no credibility to the Clinton cause, and furthur divides and deteriorates this party. Senator Clinton will gladly destroy the party before she gives up the nomination. The fact that she has said that John McCain is more qualified to be president than Barack Obama should be enough to disqualify her from the party's nomination. She beat down a fellow democrat while building up a Republican. She must bow out gracefully or risk forever destroying the "Clinton" brand, which would ultimately be very bad for the Democrats.

I think Obama put it best when he said don't be distracted. Let's solve problems, not bicker. We are all a family of Americans. We cannot wins wars against poverty, race, terrorism, or anything else if we fight each other so much about silly things. I love Americans and that supersedes my feelings about democrats, republicans, or whatever. If you must choose a side to be on, choose America.

Let's pretend I don't know their names.

1. If I never saw either candidate before.
The white lady did much better than the black man.

2. As far as their speaking ability when considering them as
President of the USA.
The white lady did much better than the black man.

3. As far as their being in the public eye and being aware of the
company that they keep.
The white lady did much better than the black man.

4. As far as being able to think on their feet.
The white lady did much better than the black man.

5. As far as who apperaed to be more experienced.
The white lady did much better than the black man.

6. As far as who seemed more prepared to handle the issues
immediately.
The white lady did much better than the black man.

7. As far as knowledge of the military situation and what should be
done.
The white lady did much better than the black man.

8. As far as the issue of the economy.
The white lady did much better than the black man.

9. As far as being able to tap into resources and to bring both
parties together.
The white lady did much better than the black man.

10. As far as giving us hope, building us up and knowing that the
morale of the country starts from the top down.
The white lady did much better than the black man.

Sure Obama is not "President" type in traditional sense, as Clinton and Mc Cain are. They are seasoned politicians who can speak calculated way. That's what they have been doing all these years. The fact that Clintons keep getting poor votes in large numbers, isn't that puzzling that the number of poor hasn't gone down. Sure Clinton was President at the right time, when economy was in it's up cycle.

The european countries united under one common union ( EU) and a bold leader from the west that will unite the rest and bring with him the end of the world.

Who are the most charismatic speakers of our time?

Mussolini
Hilter
Stalin
Castro
Chavez
Hussein
Obama

I have been a long time fan of ABC News and Charlie Gibson. However ,the unfair and biased debate questions of last evening have totally disgusted me. From now on I will watch NBC News. What a disappointment. I hope Senator Obama refuses any further debates with Hillary Clinton. What is the point.? We now know both of them well. I will vote for Obama in May.

The european countries united under one common union ( EU) and a bold leader from the west that will unite the rest and bring with him the end of the world.

Who are the most charismatic speakers of our time?

Mussolini
Hilter
Stalin
Castro
Chavez
Hussein
Obama

I worked at a company where the owner of the company suffered from
depression...guess what, most employees were depressed, nervous,
paranoid. All because the actions of the depressed man made them
feel this way. He was unfriendly, quiet, never looked people in the
eye. I knew he was depressed because I was in management and he
shared it with me. Others didn't. Our clients even sensed it.

I was a manager at a company, the moral in my department was GREAT
because I went to work everyday leaving my personal troubles at the
door. I was a great motivator and coach and leader.

Obama keeps saying government has to change from the bottom up. HE
IS TOTALLY WRONG. That is why Presidents are called leaders, they
lead the morale, the spirit of the country by their actions.

There is input from the people now, we are not short on ideas, we are
short on people who are doing something about it. As a senator he is
in a place to bring about change but he voted 100 times, not present.

Hillary is a mover and a shaker, a leader, a motivator. She can
change the morale of this country, we don't need hope, we need
action. We need spirit for every man wowan and child in the great
country of ours. Someone who does't beat us uown to lift us up but
someone who recognizes that we are a great nation with great people
that can overcome anything. She knows we have had tough times before
and we got out of them, that what she wants to do and can do. She is
a Great person who CAN and WILL bring about change to the Great
country where every man, woman and child can lift their head high and
say "I AM AN AMERICAN AND HILLARY CLINTON IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES".

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND EVERYONE IN IT!!!

That first comment is something else, huh? Well this guy does not speak for the community in which I live in. Obama is about as honest a you can get in this era of politics. I believe it was the arrogant Rush Limbaugh himself who wrote that first comment. There is no way that someone who is looking to change the way our government runs and change the policies affecting so many Americans would attack Obama in such a way. Those attacks are precisely what needs to be changed to make America a better place for my children to grow up in. The time spent attacking and counterattacking in politics is where some of our tax payer money is lost. Time and resources need to be spent on solving problems. The media needs to take a little responsibility in efforts for social change, and not limit or spin information soley for ratings. Yes America, change can be difficult, but it will make us a better nation. Obama is clearly on the side of the American people, and is not going to try a buy votes with tax breaks!

Was it me or did Obama stutter like Porky Pig when asked any question of substance? Was he really as eloquent as he normally is when he gives his practiced speeches? Why does everyone want to make excuses for him just because they do not like Hillary? When not rehearsed he stutters like a 8th grader who di d not study for his test so why would we want him as the leader of the greatest nation in the world?

Last night's debate, moderated by what appeared to be junior high school minds,
may have been the final nail in the Hillary Clinton coffin. Obama has been overly gracious, but at least he mentioned Bill's pardoning of the two weathermen after Hillary tried to smear him once again.

Why would anyone want Hillary in the Whitehouse after her behavior in this campaign? This is exactly what the democratic party is trying to get away from and I applaud Obama for taking the high road, most of the time on these type of tactics. I have to say I know a few Clinton supporters and quite frankly, these are not rational people. They've done more to hurt the party than any republican could ever do.

It is clear that most of the posts here are from kids supporting Obama and sad to think that they will be very upset when Obama loses whether he loses in the primary or the general election. First lessons are hard but politics is not a game for those that are led and misled by the media. Understand youngsters that the media appears to be in love with Obama but they will never vote for Obama. Not even Chris Matthews will vote for Obama. Media pundants earn more than $200K per year and will vote republican but need to have Obama as the democrat for McCain to beat easily.......and McCain will kill Obama in the general election but young people need to see it for themselves to learn. Unfortunately that may mean that we have 4 more years of Republicans. Know that McCain is the most liberal republican and has for many years worked both sides of the isle....Obama claims he will work with republicans but has been in the Senate for 2 years now and has never gained a republican vote for any matter.

The Bad Company Of Barack Obama
National Review Online: The Senator's "Change" Would Radically Alter
This Country

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/11/opinion/main4009369.shtml

http://www2.nysun.com/article/69273

The press can no longer defend themselves in supporting Obama after
last nights debate.

Obama could not have done any worse.

The press will now become more neutral and then start to shift
towards Hillary.

It's already happening.

With his performance so terrible and online polls showing that he WON
the debate, the press is starting to get it.

The super-delegates will get it and Hillary already has more
super-delegates.

It is supposed to be this way in the election of a president.

All skeletons that are pertinent to ones ability or inability must
come out of the closet and Barack Hussein has a large walk in closet.

Ok, I'm a white guy and let's say Obama gets the nomination, do you
really think I'd vote for him knowing about the church he went to for
20 years.

Ok, now let's say I'm a black guy, would you want me to vote for a
white guy that I knew went to KKK meetings??

Go to the KKK website, they're a christian organization, they claim
to not hate blacks.

So you see, right or wrong, black or white, grey or purple. I know
in my heart who I have to vote for based on what I know. And, what I
know about Obama,,,I don't like, so you vote for him and I will vote
but, not for him.

Reviews are out and analysts are giving Hillary Clinton a win, or at
least a push, in Wednesday night’s debate with Barack Obama, the
Democratic candidates’ last face-to-face meeting ahead of
Tuesday’s presidential primary in Pennsylvania.

Clinton needed to hit hard against Obama, who has been under fire his
ties to Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Weather Underground leader William
Ayers as well as recent remarks he made saying Americans cling to
guns and religion to express their frustration with Washington.

If hitting hard was Clinton’s goal, she achieved that objective,
said Democratic strategist Doug Schoen.

“Hillary began a process that has to continue of raising questions
about the Illinois senator’s ties,” Schoen told FOX News.
“Barack Obama didn’t have a lot of good answers.”

At the first Democratic presidential debate in nearly two months,
sparks flew so much that even media analysts questioned the debate
moderators. Liberal bloggers on the Huffington Post called it the
worst debate ever. Others described it as a “gotcha” debate.

“When Barack Obama met Hillary Clinton for another televised
Democratic candidates’ debate last night, it was more than a step
forward in the 2008 presidential election. It was another step
downward for network news,” wrote media critic Tom Shales in The
Washington Post.

“Viewers were also treated to another, less common spectacle: the
veiled ties and tensions between news media stars and political
figures that sometimes make voters bitter, leading them to cling to
political satire by the likes of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert as a
way to explain their frustration,” wrote New York Times analyst
Alessandra Stanley.

The New York Times called Obama’s debate performances his weakest
yet. But the Illinois senator undeniably came armed for combat,
offering sharp responses to repeated attacks by his rival. The
candidate’s performance won him a Philadelphia Daily News
endorsement on Thursday, and Time magazine writer Mark Halperin
reported the Obama campaign was going to announce that three
Pennsylvania superdelegates were switching from Clinton to Obama
because of the negative tone of the debate.

While both candidates advocated targeted tax cuts and pledged to
begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq even if top military
commanders advised against it, they also sought to exploit the
other’s recent gaffes.

Obama urged voters not to become obsessed with the politics of the
race, but managed to bring up a Clinton remark from her husband’s
first presidential race in 1992 in which she said she could have
given up her career to stay home and have teas.

“I remember watching that on TV and saying, ‘Well, that’s not
who she is. That’s not what she believes. That’s not what she
meant.’ And I’m sure that that’s how she felt, as well. But the
problem is that that’s the kind of politics that we’ve been
accustomed to. And I think Senator Clinton learned the wrong lesson
from it because she’s adopting the same tactics,” he said.

Clinton looked angered by many of the remarks made during the race
but delivered soft rebukes often with a smile on her face. She seized
a different moment in the debate to raise fresh questions abut
Obama’s refusal to break ties with Wright, who has delivered
several angry sermons denouncing the U.S. and Israel.

“It wasn’t only the specific remarks but some of the
relationships with Reverend Farrakhan, with giving the church
bulletin over to the leader of Hamas, to put a message in. You know,
these are problems. And they raise questions in people’s minds.
And, so, this is a legitimate area,” she said.

Clinton also found it legitimate to criticize Obama once more for his
statement at a San Francisco fundraiser that seemed to belittle small
town America.

“People don’t cling to their traditions on hunting and guns”
out of frustration with their government, Clinton said. She added
that Obama had a fundamental misunderstanding on the role of religion
and faith.

The former first lady argued the Ayers issue makes Obama vulnerable
to Republicans, but Obama shot back that former President Clinton
actually pardoned members of Ayers’ group, making Clinton a victim
of her own “vetting standards.”

“This kind of game in which anybody who I know, regardless of how
flimsy the relationship is, that somehow their ideas could be
attributed to me — I think the American people are smarter than
that.”

A few minutes later, it was Clinton’s turn to explain a mistake.
Asked about her erroneous statement that she had braved sniper fire
during a landing in Bosnia as first lady in 1996, Clinton issued a
first-ever public apology for the error.

“I may be a lot of things but I am not dumb,” she said, adding
that she had written in her book that there had been no gunfire
during the episode. She said she was embarrassed by her error.
“I’m sorry I said it,” she added.

And Obama argued that Clinton’s attacks on him are the politics of
the past.

“The problem is that’s the kind of politics we’ve been
accustomed to, and I think Sen. Clinton’s … adopting the same
tactics,” he said.

Obama erred at one point by saying he had never favored a ban on
handguns even though as a state Senate candidate in 1996 he filled
out a questionnaire from an Illinois voter group saying he would
support such a ban.

“My writing wasn’t on that particular questionnaire … as I
said, I have never favored an all-out ban on handguns,” Obama said,
even though his handwritten notes did appear on its front page. The
response to the question about guns was typed.

With just days to go until Pennsylvania’s primary, Clinton is
hanging on to a slight lead there though Obama is ahead nationally.
The Keystone State has 158 convention delegates at stake, the largest
prize remaining before the primaries end on June 3. Obama leads
Clinton in the delegate chase 1,644-1,504. The candidates need 2,025
delegates to win the nomination.

Clinton conceded that Obama can win the White House this fall,
undercutting her ongoing efforts to deny him the nomination by
suggesting he would lead the party to defeat.

Schoen said the debate began a process of questioning Obama’s
credibility, and Clinton did her best to keep herself in the game.

“It wasn’t always pretty, it wasn’t a knockout,” Schoen said.
“I think the American people are coming to doubt the inclusive
rhetoric of Barack Obama.”

Click here to see photos from the Philadelphia debate.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

I thought Obama was extremely mature when offered the chance to have-a-go at Clinton on the sniper issue.

I find it more than a little troubling that a supposedly objective party such as the media, in this case the Philadelphia Daily News, would endorse anything or anyone.

My understanding is that they are to report only on events not support or detract form them.

The act of endorsement raises questions as to how impartial one is in reporting the news and suggests the possibility that their presentation of events and people are skewed in favor of their beliefs.

It would seem that the PDN and all media outlets who engage in such activities are less concerned about reporting the new as being a part of the news. Which candidate they support is hardly the issue.

Given that the unbiased presentation of information is essential for a well functioning democracy this is a serious matter much more fundamental in nature than who should be supported as the Democratic nominee.

The wall of words and negativity of the 'Problem with Obama' people is par for anyone focused so much on the "problem" of anything. It's time for the democrats to unify and the Philadelphia Daily News is helping see to that. Goodbye you negative polarities!!

I was supporting Obama but no longer. I watched the debate last night and for the first time Obama was questioned but said nothing that would excuse him from allowing or requiring his young daughters to hear the Wright hate sermons....and they did hear and clap for those sermons.....that is horrible judgement. They will be in McCain commercials this Fall if Obama is nominated. I'm voting Hillary Clinton but if Obama gets the nomination then I will vote McCain.

As a life long Republican that has never voted for a Dem in a presidential race, I am backing Obama in 2008. My wife and I have donated the maximum personal amount and we're volunteers for his campaign.

I don't agree with 100% of his policies, but that's never been the case with any presidential candidate.

Hillary Clinton is the most evil politician America has experienced and we need to ensure that the Clinton dynasty is stopped permanently and stopped now.

McCain is our senator and we've witnessed him raging against his constituents, America doesn't need a president that hates his own people so deeply.

Obama, YES WE CAN!

Very few of the questions in the recent debate were of any real significance. Obama handled the insulting character-assasination style questions.

I fail to see how it is a flaw in his character that he was not comfortable with this dialogue. Obama has good ideas, a sharp mind, and the political skills to lead this country in a new direction.

The questions at this debate were nothing less than a distraction from the real issues that actually matter. Does anyone really believe that Obama supports terrorism because his paths once crossed with a former terrorist?

Can we talk about heath care, the Iraq War, the collapsing economy, foreign policy and issues that actually matter rather than mean-spirited, divisive Republican talking points?

The country is fed up with these. Obama showed that he can handle these sorts of questions, but it was in no way a "fair" debate.

Follow up to that First poster child. Sounds like they want another "slick talking" insider. I've had enough of the well connected insiders, whether they be from Texas or DC. Time to turn the reigns over to the unorthodox Obama. I'm a well heeled, white southern guy who originally backed Hillary but I'm sick of the petty and unimportant crap she is dishing out. As long as Hillary makes headlines about Obama's minister, school yard friends, slips of the tongue.....the more she acts like a Republican hitman and the more she diverts attention from substantive issues like jobs, the economy, financial & trade deficits, and that nasty little Iraq war started by George Bush's that McCain has guaranteed to perpetuate..

YES YOU CAN!!!!!! This is a WISE decision. Character, stregth of heart, belief in hope and Change. Our nation is going to be facing very tough choices ahead. The economics and fiscal policies for the next President whoever is going to be are going to be crucial and at times are going to hurt, and hurt a lot. You can see it in the weakening dollar, the cost of the war, Wall Street needs to be fixed from Main Street up, not Wall Street down. Our debt and money printing, and the lack of energy policy, and the solution to the energy crisis. The next President may be a one termer. Not because he/she did it, but 10 years of Milton's Friedman's invisible hand has finally decided to start slapping everybody around. Economic and Accounting equations have been off balance for so long. That we are going to need a President that will encourage and transform the talents of many Americans in big cities and little towns to start transforming how business is done in our land. We need integrity, not someone who runs away from truthful or tactless comments but lead us to a conversation and better understanding on how we can come above it all as a neighborhood, town, to a nation that is one. Obama believes the change is in you. This election is not about Him, Hillary or John it is about the American People, our religious values, our pocket book values, and the value of a nation that can once again rise and overcome the challenges ahead. PS Obama out - You're a nut

I listen to Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh who do the best job of making the case of why we need Obama. They and others of their ilk have pushed the all hate all the time agenda. We need Walter Kronkite. Hillary supports Hillary and other than a female voting for her because they want a female president, she has nothing but divisiveness to offer. McCain who I liked in 2000, when he was much more like Obama, was seduced by the dark side and is too much of a Bush clone. I've read Obama's books. He is special and the youth of this country are especially inspired. I thought one of his best responses in the debate was when he did not attack Hillary for the Bosnia incident. He handled all the media threw at him and he did it well. Now that they've taken all the dirty shots, lets go with the only inspirational candidate we've had in the last 40 years. We need Obama to deal with the mess that Limbaugh and Hannity and their candidate Bush created.

"Get out Obama" has really done us a big favor by showing more of the type of whacko thinking behind the Hillary campaign. By staying in the primary HIllary is coming closer everyday to helping elect McCain. If Hillary really wanted to make history she would get out of her ego and the race and get squarely behind Obama for President. She can be an effective ally in the Senate for the new President and the democratic party. In her current position she is little more than a bitter loud mouthed spoiler in the most critical election we have ever faced in this country.

Writing this just helped me make up my mind to give the max I can to Obama.

I thought newpapers were supposed to report news. It is not their place to endorse political candidates.

When are the people going to recognize the true motivations of these "news" organizations?

lets see. you would rather have a woman in office in this time of war and hardship? First of all the middle east has no respect for women, and you think that a woman president dealing with these prople is going to solve anything? They woulnd even give her the time of day. Hilliary is just robbing votes from Obama, shes needs to drop out and stop making a fool of herself because she will not win this election. The republicans are sitting back laughing at the democrats bickering over issues that have nothing to do with this country, the blood thirsty media provokes these unimportant issues like what Obama's preacher said. Really, if you have a brain then you know that that means nothing. Hilliary is preying off of the stupid people in this country, which unfortunatly is the majority of the nation. ( ex: the majority vote for G.W.B.) Hilliary wants the unintelligent, uneducated, people who watch TMZ to vote for her thats why she tries to cause drama between the democrats. Look, The baby boomers are over. Their reign of tyranny is done with. We need some to lead the youth of this country, all of us that are comming of age, the ones that have no preference of race or religion, buit know that we are people, and the only way for us to come up is to elect someone who is young and willing to do what is neccessary for the generation at hand. Not work for the past, sooo.....vote Obama, do not destroy this country.

My son graduated from University of Pennsylvania - and I always knew that the people of Pennsylvania were intelligent. I am pleased with your endorsement of Obama. Last night cinched it - under the most horrible pressure from Hillary and George and Charlie, he acted like a man of dignity and a gentleman. We need that type in the White House - level headed - good judgment -
I will never understand why these questions never address the fact, that Hillary claims all her experience in the White House as First Lady gives her an edge, but what about the trashing of the White House upon departure, what about the thefts of china, what about his pardons of known criminals for money. They are a corrupt, no -conscience two - the Clintons - and we need to see the last of them.
I would not trust them with truth or morality - and we need both.

I urge Pennsylvanians to vote for Obama - let's get honesty into the White House.

Why Obama? He is the only candidate that is 'for the people'. Hillary and McCain are 'for the corporations'. Obama's campaign was paid for by individuals. Mostly small $100 donations. Hillary and McCain were funded by corporations. If his management of his campaign is any indication of what we can expect of an Obama administration, we will see the beginnings of Utopian changes in the wonderful US of A, if not all the world.

You want higher gas prices and richer oil companies, food you can't trust and air you can't breath? Be a fool and vote for the corporations e.g. Hillary. If you want a government for and by the people, vote for Obama! Really, there is no choice

THANK GOD LAST NIGHT OBAMA FINALLY STOPPED BEING MR. NICE AND HIT HILLIARY BACK FOR A CHANGE.IT'S HIGH TIME HE STOP TIP-TOEING AROUND BECAUSE OF BEING JUDGED ON EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF HIS MOUTH (not to mention being judged for anything anyone he has known since he was a boy says) HILLIARY IS ONE WOMAN I WOULD NEVER VOTE FOR,DON'T EVEN MENTION THAT TOMCAT HUSBAND OF HERS. THEY HAVE FOOLED BLACK FOLKS FOR A LONG TIME.IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP AND SEE THE CLINTONS FOR WHAT THEY ARE, GREEDY RICH FOLKS OUT FOR MONEY ONLY AND FAME.

Disappointed is a rather mild word to use in describing last night's debate -- too many personal questions, not enough;
"You claim you are able to turn the economy around. How do you propose to do just that?"
"Gases prices are high, threating American's way of life. If elected, what can be done to ratify the situation, without interfering with the 'free market'?"
"The war in Iraq and Afganistan -- a touchy subject. Yet! Both of you propose to end the war (Clinton 60 days, Obama 16 months). If you are successful, have you considered the effect your actions can take on our economy; since, the worlds largest supply of oil will, most certainly, be in the hands of our enemies?"
"Health care! Answer simply YES or NO. Do you favor a socialized system? PLEASE, YES or NO!
I'm a republican! I want to know.

As a mom with my only child serving in the U.S. Military, I am scared to death to see the old crony political system is still playing games with people as their pawns--the debate last night was just one of these blantant games.

My only hope is that the good people of PA saw through the dangerously ridiculous questions flung through/staged by ABC last night, and realize that Obama is our HOPE.

It's no longer "silly season"--this is our most serious season. Obama has risen above all the antics time after time, refusing to participate in the "old" game that America can no longer afford to ignore.

Please PA, cast your vote for change, vote for Obama. Thank you.

Your Choice vote for either one. The defeatists will never enter the White House.
Their true character is showing. Go McCain.

This was taken from an article in the huffinton Post:

In January 1995, as the Clintons were licking their wounds from the 1994 congressional elections, a debate emerged at a retreat at Camp David. Should the administration make overtures to working class white southerners who had all but forsaken the Democratic Party? The then-first lady took a less than inclusive approach.

"Screw 'em," she told her husband. "You don't owe them a thing, Bill. They're doing nothing for you; you don't have to do anything for them."

The statement -- which author Benjamin Barber witnessed and wrote about in his book, "The Truth of Power: Intellectual Affairs in the Clinton White House"

So Mr. Get out Obama you should do more research on Hillary you are somehow confused. Hillary is a say anything and do anything to get eleceted even making you belkieve that obama is muslim an tied to bin laden somehow. Dude You're lost. OBAMA WILL BE THE BEST PRESIDENT FOR AMERICA.

Hilary will lose fair and square.Obama's shown he's a class act by not going with her down the gutter.Great man!

If the super delagates let this crap progress into summer I will rate them more stupid/ more ignorant than the Clintons . So what if the Clintonsupporter switch their support to the Republicans? At least it will be out in the open for all so-called conservatives (actually those who make $250,000+ a year) to snicker at and if they (Clinton supporters) want to support the OLD MAN and another 4 years of Bush hog politics, it will be their lives and the lives of their families they will put in jeopardy

Clinton's Iran policy. Sounds like George Bush on steroids. When did we give our president the power to unleash unrestrained massive retaliation on any nation at their sole discretion. I do not recall any congressional debate on this subject. Sounds like Clinton would be another imperial president. Not even John McCain and his buddy Joe Lieberman have come out with such an ambitious war scenario. The problem is we keep electing people who are in love with the power that comes with the office and not what the American people need.

Bryan,

Editorial boards are typically not associated with the news side of papers, so editorials and the new-writing ability of papers' is largely unaffected. How individual news reporters feel, though, might influence how an article is written and perceived spin.

Take the NY Times - it's a new NY paper. The ed. board went for Clinton, and many of the stories written in the news section are pro-Clinton....but she is their Senator so that's expected. The same can be expected in Chicago for Obama.

While it would be easy for a long-time Obama supporter like myself to anger over some of last night (were it not so lame and TV-fied) and much of the past weeks of the Clinton campaign's "kitchen sink", such thinking would be extremely short-sighted and, ultimately, self-defeating. Part of Senator Obama's dilema is that he recognizes what an asset Clinton could be, and knows that he must win the nomination is such a way as to also bring her and her supporters into the election and administration, if not the movement.

I also have to admit that I never really took (Mrs.) Clinton politically seriously until this campaign got tough. Call me mysoginist if you will, but I grew up around strong women who stood in no-one's shadow and rode no-one's coat-tails to their stations in life, and I had a problem taking seriously a mere political spouse as a top-tier candidate. However, her fight since her coronation was cancelled which has, ironically, made her an exponentially more negative figure in pop-culture, has convinced me of her political skill and strength. She'll not only bounce back, but one way or another, she'll land well.

There's an old adage: "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer" that could well have been written about ? Clinton for President Obama.

1996 - HRC was caught on tape saying to Bill about blue collar workers..."screw em, what have the ever done for you" dont believe me? just google it. She IS a monster and last nights "debate" was an Obama roast. What bugs me the most about HRC is that she NEVER admits to being wrong. She lied, was caught red handed and basically told everyone that she misspoke and get over it. Are you kiddin' me?

WOW - that first comment is breathtaking! -- no oxygen, just breathtaking. I don't think the editors/editorial boards of most newspapers in the US are made up of loony-lefty-liberal-luddite-lapping-lackey-leaf loving-leeches. Most seem to be middle to slightly middle-right (except the Wall Street Journal and Washington Times for whom centrism is suspect). Most editorial boards tend to look into the candidates and issues beyond the 30-, 60-second ads and the morning conference calls from the candidates' communications officers. That so many major papers are coming out for Obama should carry weight.
However, since when we wed we marry a family, it would be nice to know more about the (secular) ministers the candidates would bring to the table.

An observation:

If you look at the article posting time of 9:40am and then notice #1's post at 9:58am, that means he/she wrote all that anti-Obama jibberish in 18 minutes! How could anyone write something that long and thought out (not very well) in that amout of time? By having the post on their computer and just copying it into blogs to spread the HATE, that's how. As a McCain supporter, I respect Obama and wouldn't be overly disappointend if he were elected.

Get out obama - please take a deep breath, slow down, grow up and think. Your comments turn people off to Clinton even more. You helped tie the bricks around her ankles, now just keep posting and you'll thow her overboard.

i googled it for you:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/16/hillary-clinton-on-workin_n_97017.html
or
http://www.newser.com/story/24751.html

read for yourself

The only thing "terrible" about the debate last night was that it was on ABC, which wanted to focus on scandals instead of issues. Sadly, that's all too typical of the current Republican party. And it's why I cannot vote for them right now, even though I have been a registered Republican since I was first able to vote.

Alas, it is not possible to be fair-minded and support their actions right now. I'm sure that someone will respond to this to "refute" me by saying "vote for Dems and the evil terrorists/racists/whatever will take over!" but I can only see such people as blinded by fear and hatred. I consider such folk to be so profoundly un-American that I want no association with them.

I am a 58-year old Arkansan (Little Rock) who - at the beginning of the primary - was honestly uncertain as to whom I would cast my vote.

Down through the years I have been a loyal Clinton backer. Even with Whitewater, the Monica Lewinski scandal and our own local gossip pertaining to the Clintons, I never waivered - until midway through the mud-slinging that Hillary Clinton and her campaign staff have waged.

We "do" need a change. Our country is in a total shamble. We have a president who appears dazed most of the time and who is definitely out of touch with reality. He has money and power but is missing a soul and, regrettably for him, this can not be purchased.

I was initially skeptical about Obama, but in listening to him and researching "Obama the person", I can only conclude that he is someone who has not lost touch with mankind - not the color of that man's skin - but the person. We are in dire need of a president that will be able to represent and relate to "all" mankind - be it a man with billions or that man/woman (for whatever reason) is homeless.

Our country is crying out for a leader who is level headed, calm, has both intellectual "and" as we old southerners call "common" sense. This man has - throughout this race - attempted to travel the high ground - even with his democratic adversarity hurdling mud cakes at an amazing pace and then quickly and falsely proclaiming her innocence.

Is it too much to decide upon a candidate who displays honesty, integrity,calmness under fire, compassion, intellect, and a heart that still has feelings???

Beware of folks that claim they are republican but will vote Obama........they will only vote Obama in the primary. they will vote McCain in November because he keeps their taxes lower while Obama will raise taxes more than Clinton and even then will never get anything done........just like the rest of his political career....no accomplishments. Republican do not suddenly change to vote for a new guy with little experience for any reason other than to get the weakest dem on the ballot for McCain to beat. It is so important to them that they will contribute to his campaign if it helps to defeat Hillary Clinton because they are long time voters and know McCain can beat Obama but can not beat Hillary Clinton. Vote Hillary

After watching the debate last night, I could not stop thinking about Peter Jennings. He (Peter) would have never participated into such a shameful, one-sided-debate. SHAME ON YOU "ABC", SHAME ON YOU!

Wow! A lot of people are saying Barack was being defensive, what did they want him to do, just stand there and look passive and take the hits? "I don't think so". I wonder would they have said that if Billary was a man? If she is going to run in the league with the men she need to take the punches like Presidential Candidates have done in the past . I am a woman and they need to treat her the same way and attack her like they are attacking Obama!

Gibson and Stuffen-envelopes prove how damaging tv has become to our democracy. Voters, if you care about your mind, and if you care about your country, tune out the dumbed-down mind pollution from ABC and all the other mainstream network and cable news channels. For news, go to Google news and scan the headlines from around the world -- that's all you need to do to keep up. Us and our country will be better off and better informed if we stop watching this crap.

Pennsylvania Democrats unite! an overwhelming win for Obama NOW will help ensure democrats win in November, and your vote on Tuesday will actually count. Voting for Clinton will extend the race; super delegates will decide the race; and the republicans get a gift of campaigning for free for an extra two months.

How nice of the Pennsylvania Daily News to endorse Obama. Either they are a Republican Newspaper or they could care less about his lack of experience and are now relying on his hope and change for America to make this endorsement. We saw his hope for America and the change he wants to make in America through the voices and actions of his friends, wife, mentors and of course, himself. G D America, finally Proud of my country, blowing up our Pentagon, against NAFTA but "ignore this in Canada", "typical white person", and of course insulting small town Pennsylvania and anywhere, USA as their bitterness leads to religion, guns/hunting and a fear of those different than themselves. If this is the change that Pennsylvaniia Daily News finds is a change that benefits Pennsylvania Residents and all Americans, then they are as confused on the definition of unity as Obama and on America herself, even with its problems, is still the best country in the world.

We have more of the same in McSame, we have more of the same reruns of Dynasty from the Carringtons, er Clintons.

I am very sick of the same old politics from the same old people that have screwed America through the 90's and this decade.

Go Obama! Get rid of the old woman and the old man and the old politics!

Obama, YES WE CAN!

Poor #1
I pray you find peace within...that post is nothing short of chaos.

People are afraid of change. How many people stay in bad relationships knowing they deserve better? How many people stay at jobs they hate knowing they can do better? Americans are fearful, so they cling to the Clintons/McCain because they believe it is safe....knowing darn well we deserve better. Americans we need to take a leap. From what I see and hear, the Obama supporters have faith and a belief in a better America. I am ready to take it to the next level...add me to the O-wagon.

Believe me, folks, the People Paper is as far from a Republican paper as you can get! As a Pennsylvania voter, I'm pleased that this newspaper, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Allentown Call and yes, even the Scranton Times (Clinton's own "hometown" paper) endorsed Obama.
Obama's oft-criticized "bitter" remarks, while poorly phrased, DO reflect what many Pennsylvanians feel. And he said them after six days visiting Pennsylvania cities like Johnstown, Greensburg, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Harrisburg. Visit any of these tired Third-Class cities and you'll see pretty much the same thing.... empty storefronts downtown, Seniors who are seeing their retirement dreams evaporate and their grandkids moving away because all the good, family-sustaining jobs are moving out of state or to Mexico (like Hershey Chocolate).

Just today Harley-Davidson announced they are losing 300 jobs at their biggest plant in York, PA, a rural dairy owned by national conglomorate Dean Foods is losing 80 jobs because they are closing and Woolrich Co. in Woolrich, PA is losing scores of jobs because of the economy and cheap imports that this "Made in America" company can't compete with.

Obama's remarks truly did reflect how many Pennsylvanian's feel...bitter and left hanging without much hope. At least he offers some hope, rather than the same-old politics of the Clintons. With the economy racing toward a recession, much of the country probably feels the same way.

The results here next week will be VERY close, but with the rest of the country watching, Obama coming to within a point or two of Clinton will be perceived as a win for Obama. GO OBAMA!

Denial is an illness that becomes worse if left unchecked, and it appears many of the bloggers here are in that same boat with Hillary Rodham-Clinton. She is a delusional, divisive, and self centered "woman" who does not care about how she and her LYING husband are destroying the Democratic party.

If she LIED about being under sniper fire in Bosnia, and her husband LIED about her LYING, what would make anyonne TRUST EITHER of them? He blames her memory and confusion of facts on her age. Well, if it's THAT bad wouldn't it be reason enough to NOT consider her suitable for the office of the presidency?

Then she *without blinking an eye* said she was sorry for making the statement (more than ONCE I might add). What she was sorry for was the REAL footage surfacing and proving her to be the liar that she is.

Barack served on a board with and is familiar with a radical personality who carried out some dasterly deeds back in the day, BUT her damn husband PARDONED two of them, so who did the most damage?

You people need to stick with what is RELEVANT to BARACK OBAMA, and leave the sensationalism regarding his associates out of the equation, as they do not matter.

The Clintons have a looooong list of questionable friends and associates and that is that. None of you would be as quick to disown family and friends who are questionable, and why you expect Barack Obama to do it is beyond me.

People make a big deal out of Obama's pastor.

It could be worse: You could be in bed with the Bin Laden family.

And besides - just because your catholic doesn't mean you like little boys - does it?

Give the guy some slack.

Get out Obama has gone completely berserk!! Notice how this individual is shouting loudly and insanely, spewing a bunch of crapola. This individual has just gone a wild, boring rant about nothing. Face it, Hillary is a liar, she uses fairytales in an effort to boost her self-proclaimed experience. She has conducted herself like a hyena throughout the campaign. Heck she cannot even lead her campaign or manage her finances!! She cannot even manage her chaotic teams, inflighting, Penn conducting NAFTA business while being her main stratagist. Was he really representing his comany? Or was he representing Hillary in Colombia? If you will recall, the Colombian ambassador said he wasn't sure if Penn was their on Hillary's behalft or his company. Now, why would he say that? Must have been a very interesting conversation and Hillary was part of the subject. Could that be the reason she cannot fire Penn? Is she afraid he'll spill the beans on the truth? Mark my word, there is a lot more to this deal that Hillary is letting on. We'll probably hear about it after the election. Somebody WILL tell the truth!!

Our democratic process allows a vote cast by someone who has given much thought based upon his perception of a candidate, to be canceled by the vote of someone else who may not like the color (of his tie). Here is an unspoken reality: the fact is that all men may be created equal, but personal history, environment, education, natural ability, and a multitude of factors that shape character have produced a rainbow of individual cultural/class levels, and therefore responses to events, to the substance and style of a candidate. These levels transcend all ethnic groups, are hopefully dynamic, and movement from one level to a next higher is mostly generational.

On this cultural curve we find those who have judged and accepted ideals that have gone beyond issues, however important they are, to embrace the positive credo of Barack Obama. Polls have shown that these people tend to be the more affluent and educated voters. This group will applaud the recent speech on Race as being a truly wonderful and courageous event. Obama has tried to appeal to integrity and basic human values.

At an opposite end of voter awareness will be those that may not yet be able to judge valid parameters, and are easily influenced and persuaded by persistent targeted negative media coverage (involving Jeremiah Wright Jr.). The Clinton campaign (think the 3am telephone TV bit) is addressing and expecting a response from a negative mindset. This is democracy of the lowest common denominator.

Here is a strange paradox. Those who would benefit the most by the ideals of Barack Obama are the least able to perceive the answer to their need.

We can not afford to have a PIT BULL in the White House. I'm a white woman and I'm voting for Obama!

I have been a straight voter for republican because I believe republican are more interested on making a pie bigger so anyone could have a piece even if you are poor while dems are more into of slicing it fairly but und up the poor would worse off because the whole pie is much smaller. I couldn't imaging I would ever vote for a democrat based on the believe that liberals might have good hearts but thier view of the world is a upside down vision of core human nature. That is until Obama appeared. I read his two books and followed his action in the election. With a big sigh, I wish Mccain (I love him) up agaist anyone but Obama. In deed, Obama is not only far more intelligent then Hillary and mccain combine but also very wise with open mind. I used to think if any one entitled to get into WhiteHouse, it is Mccain. As much as hard to fight off the emotions that I have toward our hero Mccain, I know at the end I will vote for Obama. I do disagree with Obama on a lot of issues but I am willing to take a chance besed on his brilliance, his openmindness and his honesty. I know while issues are important but in the reality, how to make a right call to get best possible result is more important and that require wise,calm and certain street smart that only Obama has and no one else.

Obama spells doom for this country. Not only because of his dubious affiliations with mob members like Rezko and criminals like Auchi, but because of his lack of experience and bias education especially his bizarre religious affiliations. He is like silly putty; able to change his ideas for the public as needed so as to achieve his goal as supreme leader.

His intentions are unclear, but his affiliations are clear. Being surrounded with people like the violent Ayers, or the Hiteresque Wright, or his American hating wife Michelle, or his Kenyan half brother Islamic Jihad terrorist Abongo “Roy” Obama, or his Jewish/Israeli hating best friend Rashid Khalidi, or his close advisor Robert Malley who advocates supporting and helping the terrorist group Hamas, or Mr. McPeaks, Obama’s military advisor who open believes American Jews are the "problem." and “Christian Zionists were driving America's policy in Iraq to benefit Israel,” or Obama’s super delegate and major long term supporter Senator Meeks who openly hates and distrust all whites and gays or Obama’s most dangerous affiliation to Mr. Auchi who was Saddam Hussein right hand man and made billions in Iraq and has been a important supporter and behind the scene man throughout Obama’s rise to power.

And besides all this questionable laundry in Obama’s life, another serious question is why is Obama protected and promoted by the media? Is this also being directed from behind the scenes? The American public has been fooled before and I guess those in power know we can be fooled again. (Kennedy’s assassination, Martin Luther King’s assassination, the invasion of Iraq…).

The fact that Obama has made it this far demonstrates the collective lack of discriminative intelligence and education of this country. And nothing demonstrates this better than how well Obama plays his black card; which plays on our fear of being labeled a racist.

Bill and Hillary Clinton began the presidential primary campaign by trying to characterize Barack Obama's position against the Iraq war as "a fairy tale". But the record clearly shows that on October 2, 2002 at the Federal Plaza in Chicago Barack Obama delivered a powerful speech against the US starting a war in Iraq, while later that same month both Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain voted for the funds requested by President Bush to authorize the beginning of US military action in Iraq.

After being severely criticized for totally misrepresenting Obama’s position on the Iraq war, the Clintons instead began accusing Barack Obama of being too young and inexperienced to be president. Both Hillary Clinton and John McCain have tried to convince voters that because Barack Obama is younger than they are that he therefore must be too young and inexperienced to be president. But the facts of American history suggest otherwise.

Senator Barak Obama will be 47 years old on Aug 4th, Senator John McCain will become 72 years of age August 29th, and Senator Hillary Clinton will achieve age 61 on Oct 26, 2008. Previously America has had both younger and older individuals who have become president and served with great distinction such as Theodore Roosevelt who became president at age 42, John Kennedy who assumed the presidency at age 43, and Ronald Regan who was sworn in as the Commander in Chief on January 20, 1981 at age 69.

Before Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office in 1860 to become our 16th president he had previously served 8 years as an Illinois state legislator and 4 years in the U.S. Congress, which happens to be precisely Senator Barack Obama’s experience. Bill Clinton became president at age 46 after having served 12 years as the governor of Arkansas, but without having had any prior experience whatsoever in Washington or as a state legislator.

How do Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton actually compare in terms of their individual experience?

Barack Obama graduated from Harvard Law School Magna Cum Laude in 1991 and served as the President of the Harvard Law Review. Given those credentials he could have joined any number of prestigious law firms but instead felt compelled to give back to his local community, so he returned to his home in Chicago to direct a voter registration drive and work as an attorney representing community organizers working on voting rights and civil rights cases. In 1993 he became a lecturer of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School and in 1996 was elected to the Illinois State Senate where he served 8 years prior to his landslide election to the US Senate in November 2004. With his combined service as an Illinois State Senator and US Senator, Barack Obama is currently serving his 12th year as an elected legislator accountable to voters.

Hillary Clinton graduated from Yale law school in 1973 and subsequently worked as a lawyer at the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock, Arkansas and has been a very active spouse, first as the wife of the governor of Arkansas and then as the First lady of the United States. Despite her claim of “35 years of experience”, she actually first became an elected official as a Senator from her adopted state of New York in 2000, and she is currently serving her 8th year as an elected legislator accountable to voters.

Barack Obama’s opponents are trying to convince voters that Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. anger and bitterness and sometimes over the top 1960’s type radical incendiary rhetoric that Barack Obama has repeatedly denounced and rejected actually somehow represents the feelings of Barack Obama himself rather than those of Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. Furthermore Barack Obama’s opponents are trying to convince voters that he is somehow unfit to become commander in chief of our military forces.
But these attempts at trying to denigrate Senator Barack Obama are not working because more people have been reading the 2 books which he has written which reveal his character and clearly and unmistakably show his deep love and respect for America. Furthermore on March 12, 2008 10 distinguished retired Generals and Admirals of the United States Army, Air Force and Navy unconditionally endorsed Barack Obama to become the President of the United States of America and the Commander in Chief of all United States Military Forces.

When Barack Obama decided to run for president, unlike Hillary Clinton and John McCain, he made the significant decision that he would not accept campaign contributions from lobbyists, special interests, and political action committees for his presidential campaign. It was Barack Obama’s judgment that it would be preferable if the next President of the United States was elected without being beholden to money peddlers in Washington.

Suppose Barack Obama becomes the Democratic nominee for president at the Democratic National Convention in August, and suppose in the November general election the majority of Americans decide to vote for Barack Obama, the presidential candidate who among many other things has refused to accept campaign contributions from special interests, political action committees, and lobbyists but has financed his campaign solely from the contributions of people to whom he is accountable.

Furthermore, suppose this idea of raising money for political campaigns directly from the voters to whom the candidate is accountable sits so well with the American people that they come to expect that future presidential candidates as well as candidates for other offices such for the US Senate and House of Representatives will do as Barack Obama has done. What if candidates who continue to accept campaign contributions from special interests, political action committees, and lobbyists find it increasingly difficult to get elected? Would that help or hurt democracy in America?

That’s the kind of change that Barack Obama represents which concerns so many in Washington who don’t seem very eager for the American people to reclaim their democracy from the influence of special interests, political action committees, and lobbyists, the Washington money peddlers who currently arrange to provide huge amounts of financial support to political candidates whom they believe have a good chance of winning, and whom they can then “work with” later on.
This election is not about whether you happen to be a woman or a man, or whether your father was a black man or a white man, an Asian or a Hispanic. This election is about the future of our country.
We are at a historic moment in America. Barack Obama is a very special candidate for president who can bring about significant changes in Washington and help ordinary Americans begin reclaiming their democracy.
Both the Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, and Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey Jr. know this and have recently endorsed Senator Barack Obama, recognizing Obama’s integrity, intelligence, and the strong leadership he can provide as president.
It is time for voters in Pennsylvania and in all of the other states soon to vote in presidential primary elections to stand up and be counted. It’s time for ordinary Americans to begin the process of reclaiming American democracy by voting for Barack Obama.

Our democratic process allows a vote cast by someone who has given much thought based upon his perception of a candidate, to be canceled by the vote of someone else who may not like the color (of his tie). Here is an unspoken reality: the fact is that all men may be created equal, but personal history, environment, education, natural ability, and a multitude of factors that shape character have produced a rainbow of individual cultural/class levels, and therefore responses to events, to the substance and style of a candidate. These levels transcend all ethnic groups, are hopefully dynamic, and movement from one level to a next higher is mostly generational.

On this cultural curve we find those who have judged and accepted ideals that have gone beyond issues, however important they are, to embrace the positive credo of Barack Obama. Polls have shown that these people tend to be the more affluent and educated voters. This group will applaud the recent speech on Race as being a truly wonderful and courageous event. Obama has tried to appeal to integrity and basic human values.

At an opposite end of voter awareness will be those that may not yet be able to judge valid parameters, and are easily influenced and persuaded by persistent targeted negative media coverage (involving Jeremiah Wright Jr.). The Clinton campaign (think the 3am telephone TV bit) is addressing and expecting a response from a negative mindset. This is democracy of the lowest common denominator.

Here is a strange paradox. Those who would benefit the most by the ideals of Barack Obama are the least able to perceive the answer to their need.

I think the first comment was by Hillary Clinton. Darn, she is desperate!

I THINK OBAMA SHOULD WIN BECAUSE LET'S SEE HOW IT WOULD BE IF A AFRICAN AMERICA WOULD WIN HE WILL STOP IRAQ AND BRING BACK OUR SOLDIERS AND HE WILL HELP THE KIDS I WOULD VOTE FOR OBAMA BECAUSE HE'S THE ONE THAT MIGHT CHANGE OUR LIFE.

Both Borack H. Obama and George W. Bush are the same. Both are good talkers with little or nothing to show for it. Both are green and unexperience. Both have money to burn. Don't go by what they say.Go by what they do. Actions speak louder than words.It took 20 years for Obama to find out his preacher. And Bush was a C average student in collage. Both did not served in the military.Bush shoots and asked questions later. Obama wants to surrender Etc.,Etc. It took brave men and women to give you the freedoms you have today. Many even laid dowm their lives. Why do we have to defend freedom in Iraq or Afganistan.Good Question. Because if we stand still, America might be next on the list. Like it was when Japan attacked Pearl Harbur. Talking peace; while grabing land is neither Christian or American.

Both Obama and Bush have money to burn, are unexperience and green, dodged military service, etc. etc. Obama even took 20 years to find out his preacher. And his wife says "for the first time in her life, she is proud of her country".Also Bush has single citzenship.Meaning he only owes loyalty and allegiance to the USA. While Obama has double duel citizenship that he stills retains.Meaning that he has two loyalties, two allegiances. One is for the USA. The other is for Kenya in SE Africa.Where his father is from. The next president will have power of our Armed forces, Our nueclear bombs , where they are, how many, etc.Will Obama tell this information to Kenya? That is the question.

Obama claims to be black while being 50% white because of his white mother. Why won't he admit that he is biracial, which is what he really is?He goes mostly after the white vote thinking he already has the black vote lock in.If this is not playing the race card, what is? McCain is right in saying that. For Obama to say"is this the best you have'' is like trying to put out a fire. If I were McCain I would say "yes but it's better thah yours.' McCain put his life on the line for your freedom and mine. Has Obama done likewise? He dodged military service and try to erased the truth. To keep bigots out, we must vote different. It's a mistake to vote for the first silver tongue that tell us what we want to hear with nothing to show for it.Get real. Actions speak louder than words.

Palin is for oil. She knows all the drilling spots in Alaska. If she is in power God help us. Get away from oil. John