Campaign getting personal

The winking at the debate was a insult to me! Do all you women out there think she was winking at you? I can't believe this woman! She is an outrage to to all the Hillary Clinton supporters who would vote for a woman with an education, a brain, and experience!

And here we go again with the fear card, when they can't win on the issues, it's terror, terror, terror. Last time conveniently, ole Osama came out right before the election and scared you. The question is, will you buy into it again? What you really should be scared about right now is the ECONOMY, of which John McCain has nothing to offer you. His Healthcare plan is scary. What if you can't wait a year for his dreaded tax credit, what if you don't file taxes, what if you don't qualify?

If you don’t know what ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is all about, you better bone up.

This left-wing group takes in 40 percent of its revenues from American taxpayers — you and me — and has leveraged nearly four decades of government subsidies to fund affiliates that promote the welfare state and undermine capitalism and self-reliance, some of which have been implicated in perpetuating illegal immigration and encouraging voter fraud.

A new whistleblower report from the Consumer Rights League documents how Chicago-based ACORN has commingled public tax dollars with political projects.

Who in Washington will fight to ensure that your money isn’t being spent on these radical activities?

Don’t bother asking Barack Obama. He cut his ideological teeth working with ACORN as a “community organizer” and legal representative.

Naturally, ACORN’s political action committee has warmly endorsed his presidential candidacy. According to ACORN, Obama trained its Chicago members in leadership seminars; in turn, ACORN volunteers worked on his campaigns. Obama also sat on the boards of the Woods Fund and Joyce Foundation, both of which poured money into ACORN’s coffers. ACORN head Maude Hurd gushes that Obama is the candidate who “best understands and can affect change on the issues ACORN cares about” — like ensuring their massive pipeline to your hard-earned money.

Let’s take a closer look at the ACORN Obama knows.
• In Ohio in 2004, four ACORN employees were indicted by a federal grand jury for submitting false voter registration forms.
• In January 2005 two Colorado ACORN workers were sentenced to community service for submitting false voter registrations. ACORN's regional director said, "we find it abhorrent and do everything we can to prevent it from happening."
• On November 1, 2006, four part-time ACORN employees were indicted in Kansas City, Missouri for voter registration fraud. Prosecutors said the indictments are part of a national investigation. ACORN said in a press release that it is in part responsible in these individuals being caught, has fired them, and has cooperated and publicly supported efforts to look into the validity of the allegations.
• ACORN was investigated in 2006 for submitting false voter registrations in St. Louis, Missouri. 1,492 fraudulent voter registrations were identified.
• In 2007, five Washington state ACORN workers were sentenced to jail time. ACORN agreed to pay King County $25 000 for its investigative costs and acknowledged that the national organization could be subject to criminal prosecution if fraud occurs again. According to King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg, the misconduct was done "as an easy way to get paid [by ACORN], not as an attempt to influence the outcome of elections."
• In 2008, the Michigan Secretary of State office told the Detroit Free Press that ACORN had been submitting a sizeable number of duplicate and fraudulent applications to vote.

Wasn't there a huge financial payout to ACORN in the original $700 BILLION bailout bill and that's why some congressmen voted against it?

Inquiring minds want to know!!

If it's true then it is YOUR tax dollars that are funding this socialist and radical group. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were pressured by ACORN to hand out high-risk loans. That helped bring down those financial institutions.

Barry worked for these guys early in his political career. These are more FOB's (Friends of Barack) we don't need!! Obama will bankrupt this country with his radical connections!!

Here comes the slime, brought to you by a pitbull with lipstick and a grumpy-old-guy. Sickening, really. Do they not seem to know people are losing jobs, losing money, losing homes, losing dignity?

The NY Times story was a non-story and they purposely downplayed any connection between the two. Did you really think the NY Times would do anything otherwise? Now they can say they investigated the issue and it's a non-issue, per them.

Obama went to the "coming out" party at Ayers' home to win his support in the community.

Obama worked with Ayers to get his critical support.

Obama will do and say anything to further his political ambitions.

Haven't you figured this out by now??????

Maybe the stock market is tanking because it's pricing-in an Obama win? Just a thought...

In addition to the Keating scandal, we need to trace McCain's relationship with Keating back to Jim Hensley, who launched McCain's political career and who put McCain on Keating's tit, and Jim Hensley's connection with the mafia, and McCain's continued connections to the mob, including Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonano, Oleg Deripaska, Kemper Marley, the Bronfman family, Rothschild, etc.

Further, since Governor Palin and her husband are ignoring a validly issued subpoena, we should further review whether she is truly committed to upholding the Constitution ... and where are those tax returns Governor Palin? And why is it you supported a group that wanted Alaska to bolt from the union?

Given Palin's record of marrying a seperatist I am not sure how can we elect her/MCcain. Below is the article that appeared in NYTimes.
In the mid-1990s, the Alaskan Independence Party was experiencing a boom of sorts. A governor had been elected on its ticket in 1990, when the party was not even a decade old. And membership was swelling.

Among the new recruits was Todd Palin, whose wife, Sarah, would later become governor of Alaska. The Palins attended the party’s convention in their hometown, Wasilla, in 1994, according to party officials, where the party called for a revote on statehood and a draft constitution for an independent Republic of Alaska. Mr. Palin joined the party.
Ms. Palin remained a Republican and never joined the Alaskan Independence Party, but returned to its convention in 2006 to speak as candidate for governor. After she had been elected, she recorded a video greeting that was played at the party convention this year. “Good luck on a successful and inspiring convention,” she said. “Keep up the good work, and God bless you.”
Now that she is the Republican nominee for vice president — for a campaign whose motto is “Country first” — the couple’s interaction with the Alaskan Independence Party has gotten attention because of its reputation as a secessionist group.
Alaskan Independence Party officials released a statement Monday saying that Ms. Palin had been a member for two years, from 1994 to 1996, information included in reports in The New York Times and other news outlets. In Internet videos of recent party meetings, other party officials can be seen boasting of Ms. Palin’s past membership.
On Tuesday, though, the party’s chairwoman, Lynette Clark, said the earlier statement was false. Ms. Clark said that she had based it on information another party member had given her, but that a review of the records showed only that Ms. Palin had attended the 1994 conference.
Ms. Clark added that while the review confirmed Todd Palin as a member, it did not indicate that Ms. Palin had been one.

Fannie and Freddie acted in response to Clinton administration pressure to boost homeownership rates among minorities and the poor. However compassionate the motive, the result of this systematic disregard for normal credit standards has been financial disaster. ONE key pioneer of ACORN's subprime-loan shakedown racket was Madeline Talbott - an activist with extensive ties to Barack Obama. She was also in on the ground floor of the disastrous turn in Fannie Mae's mortgage policies.

Obama Trains ACORN Staff in Shakedown Tactics

It would be tough to find an "on the ground" community organizer more closely tied to the subprime-mortgage fiasco than Madeline Talbott. And no one has been more supportive of Madeline Talbott than Barack Obama.

When Obama was just a budding community organizer in Chicago , Talbott was so impressed that she asked him to train her personal staff.

He returned to Chicago in the early '90s, just as Talbott was starting her pressure campaign on local banks. In those years, he also conducted leadership-training seminars for ACORN's up-and-coming organizers. That is, Obama was training the army of ACORN organizers who participated in Madeline Talbott's drive against Chicago 's banks.

Obama Funds ACORN

More than that, Obama was funding them. As he rose to a leadership role at Chicago 's Woods Fund, he became the most powerful voice on the foundation's board for supporting ACORN and other community organizers. In 1995, the Woods Fund substantially expanded its funding of community organizers - and Obama chaired the committee that urged and managed the shift.

That committee's report on strategies for funding groups like ACORN features all the key names in Obama's organizer network. The report quotes Talbott more than any other figure; Sandra Maxwell, Talbott's ACORN ally in the bank battle, was also among the organizers consulted.

More, the Obama-supervised Woods Fund report acknowledges the problem of getting donors and foundations to contribute to radical groups like ACORN - whose confrontational tactics often scare off even liberal donors and foundations.

Indeed, the report brags about pulling the wool over the public's eye. The Woods Fund's claim to be "nonideological," it says, has "enabled the Trustees to make grants to organizations that use confrontational tactics against the business and government 'establishments' without undue risk of being criticized for partisanship."

Wow. This woman is a total and complete fool. Does she have no shame? Has she and McCain ever heard that "those in glass houses....." Wow! Has she forgotten that she and her husband turned their noses up at legal subpoenas in the Troopergate scandal? Has she forgotten that her husband was a member of the Alaska Independent Party that wants succession from the USA and that she told them to "keep up the good work?" Has she forgotton that she tried to ban books and charged for rape kits? Has she forgotton that she has a "witch doctor"? Has she forgotton (most likely had no clue) of McCain's connections to Keating 5?

Hypocrites at their finest!

This is going to backfire BIG TIME!

Obama Aware of Intimidation Tactics

The Woods Fund report makes it clear Obama was fully aware of the intimidation tactics used by ACORN's Madeline Talbott in her pioneering efforts to force banks to suspend their usual credit standards. Yet he supported Talbott in every conceivable way. He trained her personal staff and other aspiring ACORN leaders, he consulted with her extensively, and he arranged a major boost in foundation funding for her efforts.

And, as the leader of another charity, the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, Obama channeled more funding Talbott's way - ostensibly for education projects but surely supportive of ACORN's overall efforts.

In return, Talbott proudly announced her support of Obama's first campaign for state Senate, saying, "We accept and respect him as a kindred spirit, a fellow organizer."

In short, to understand the roots of the subprime mortgage crisis, look to ACORN's Madeline Talbott. And to see how Talbott was able to work her mischief, look to Barack Obama.

Obama is a central figure in the left-wing ACORN exploitation of financial institutions and pressuring them to make high risk loans. The very same left-wing ACORN was guilty of voter fraud in the last presidential election.

Now these same Democrats want to do another high risk "community service," social engineering experiment. They want to elect a high-risk, low experience, socialist one of the same community organizers that created the mess to be our next president. We CANNOT experiment with the office of president and learn as we go. Barack Obama is NOT qualified and has NO history of success as a leader in government or business.

Ayers and Obama were friendly – that’s a fact. Obama has associations that not only make you question his judgments and character, but makes you understand why he dislikes America. Whether it is his associations with Socialists, or far-left fringe groups it all adds up to an upbringing and worldview that has little to do with mainstream America. Democrats should be ashamed of themselves for putting forth this man for President.

Ring around the rosy - pocket full of posies - - and in the end - WE ALL FALL DOWN......all of this is disgusting.....what a country we have become....george washington was right - political parties will be the end of this great country

It's about time

I have to wonder when Sarah Palin is going to learn that people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. After all, her husband believed that America was "imperfect enough" to join a political party whose primary platform was to advocate for Alaska seceding from the United States. The same man who refused to answer a subpoena to testify in the ongoing ethics investigation into an alleged abuse of power by Palin herself while governor. I consider that un-American, because it undermines the very judicial system of this country.

We have all come across people in our lives who have pasts that would make our blood boil. It's part of being an American. I find it downright insulting that Palin spouts on and on about how much she loves America, when it's clear that she hates, though "tolerates," many Americans. I'm not defending Obama's associations, but apparently Palin's reading comprehension needs work, because the NYT article clearly concludes that Obama's relationship with Ayers is casual at best. Palin hasn't even released all of her financial information from the last 10 years, let alone a detailed list of every person who has ever assisted in her campaigns and their personal histories. If she wants to play hardball, then bring it on.

Isn't it true that McCain met and had an affair with his Cindy while married to his first wife who was battling cancer ?
People who live in glass houses ....
This campaign has been the longest in history. Too long. If, like the British, we called for an election and had the vote 6 weeks later we'd all be better off. The real issues have been forgotten and now they're slinging mud.
What a disgrace.

McCain also will not release his medical records...I don't blame him I wouldn't want anyone knowing how close that Alaskan psycho would be to having her finger on the button that could bring the 'end times', which her and her fellow religious zealots welcome. Scary.

Oh wait but Obama wants to help poor people and communities have food, health-care and jobs....and he even used to work for an organization that worked towards that. Man he's crazy! Whatever you do don't try to help anyone....you might get called a socialist.

It certainly appears that these blogs are dominated by political operatives.
Also interesting to note what form the "swift boating" will take in this election.
I'd like to think that there will be a back lash against this type of tactic by the experience with Kerry proves it works.
And Obama knows this will fight back so it certainly will get nasty the next 4 weeks...

I wish the tone of this campaign were different and it might have been if Obama had accepted McCain’s offer months ago to do 10 town hall meetings around the country. But Obama chose otherwise. His problem is that he is trying to portray himself as something he is not (moderate and mainstream) while portraying McCain as something he is not (out of touch and uncaring).

One can be known in part by the company one keeps. William Ayers is not somebody who just did evil things when Obama was eight years old.

They have an adult relationship and Ayers has been a booster of Obama’s and they have worked together on “education issues” in Chicago.

Let’s have some perspective here. What do you suppose the mainstream media reaction would be had McCain been associated with an abortion clinic bomber? You know what it would have been. The big media would be editorializing that McCain was not fit to be president. But Obama can associate with a man who belonged to Weatherman, a Communist-driven splinter faction of Students for a Democratic Society. Characterizing Weatherman as “an American Red Army,” Ayers summed up the organization’s ideology as follows: “Kill all the rich people. Break up their cars and apartments. Bring the revolution home, Kill your parents.” He has never apologized for those remarks or said he has a different world view today.

As recently as 2001, Ayers said America makes him “want to puke.” Nice.

Ayers boasts that he “participated in the bombings of New York City Police Headquarters in 1970, of the Capitol building in 1971, and the Pentagon in 1972.” Of the day he bombed the Pentagon, Ayers says, “Everything was absolutely ideal. … The sky was blue. The birds were singing. And the bastards were finally going to get what was coming to them.”

With Obama in the White House we'll never ever get to see Hillary in there.

There IS justice in this world.

If I was, as Sarah Wailin' is, a hard-core member of the FLAT EARTH COALITION, I wouldn't be wailin' about someone else's former pastor.

Gravity... It's just a theory.

What happened to the real issues at hand. If Obama was not running for this country's highest office would his past association's matter. They didn't go away when he was elected senator and weren't those issues important then, oh! I got it he was just running as senator. Get a grip, the past is gone, the only important thingis the now. Are we so perfect that we haven't had questionable friendships or gotten caught up in something we aren't proud of. I will not allow my attention to be diverted by thses issues. My vote, is not going to be based on foolishness of the past,but on the qualities of plans on how to fix our country both here and abroad.

Since the McCain camp brought it up, let's talk about "unrepentent terrorists":
Barack Obama has denounced Ayers’ past activities (which, of course, occurred when Barrack was EIGHT (8) yrs. old), and has had no association with Ayers that I can find in the past five years.
By contrast, McCain’s campaign EMBRACED Oliver North’s endorsement of McCain and proudly sent it out to reporters. To its credit, the Washington Post blog asked the McCain campaign a fundamental question:
"Is McCain pleased to receive North's endorsement, given the fact that the failed GOP senatorial candidate was CONVICTED in 1989 of shredding documents, accepting an illegal gratuity and aiding and abetting in the obstruction of Congress?"
McCain’s campaign refused to answer.
As then, I now wonder, if Barack Obama is asked questions about his DISTANT links with alleged unrepentant "terrorist" Bill Ayers, why isn’t McCain being asked about his embrace of an ACTUAL "unrepentant terrorist" like Oliver North?
Unlike the Bill Ayers question, the issue of Oliver North is highly relevant to important policies. Will John McCain do anything similar to Iran-Contra in his administration? Does he believe that the Executive branch is authorized to commit crimes with impunity after Congress has prohibited them? Would he pardon the criminals as Ronald Reagan did?
In my mind, Bill Ayers falls into roughly the same category as Oliver North: Someone who committed crimes but never served time due to a technicality.
THERE IS AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE.
Ayers never actually killed, or even tried to kill, anyone. North, by contrast, is responsible for helping to illegally funnel arms to our enemies in Iran and using the proceeds to provide money and weapons to support the terrorist actions of the Contras in Nicaragua.
Oliver L. North was indicted March 16, 1988, on 16 felony counts. After standing trial on 12, North was convicted May 4, 1989 of three charges: accepting an illegal gratuity, aiding and abetting in the obstruction of a congressional inquiry, and destruction of documents. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell on July 5, 1989, to a three-year suspended prison term, two years probation, $150,000 in fines and 1,200 hours community service.
I know, us Democrats rely too much on facts. But had we known the TRUE facts about Iraq and the claims of Weapons of Mass Destructions. The facts that the republican administration knew and kept from the American People, there would be thousand's of young men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces still alive today.

I really feel bad for Joe Biden. 35 years of experience in the Senate and he has to lower himself and speak on the same stage as that moron Palin?

She keeps mentioning what a great country this is, well I was born here too & I don't see anything so great about it lately.

Yeah, whatever happened to Carol McCain? I didn't see her picture in the "McCain family" spread in last month's People magazine.

Regina - Ok, you want to talk about the issues instead of character? You're right, LEADERSHIP has absolutely NOTHING to do with Character.

Anyway.....

"Change" means what? Is change the "Robin Hood tax policies" of traditional Democrats that shifts earned wealth from productive people and small businesses that create jobs to those who have not had the same success?

Is change adding billions of new entitlement programs as promised by Obama in a time of record deficits? That is certain to make the recession deeper and last longer.

Is change altering our spending priorities away from national defense and weakening our military or homeland security in a time of uncertainty both at home and abroad?

Democrats will still control both houses of Congress and add more House and Senate members after this election. I promise you they are not about change. They are about taxing and spending.

Electing President Obama would eliminate important checks and balances on liberal Democratic power in Washington and that could be a disaster. It was a disaster when Bush and the Republicans controlled it all. It was a disaster when Clinton and the Democrats controlled it all.

If you are for disasters then go ahead and vote for Obama - he cannot, has not and will not tell us what "change" will mean in his administration.

Sarah Palin was winking at her father in the audience. Try listening to the debate instead of SNL. Weak minded sheep...

Amazing... you might be a socialist if you want to help people (posted by Eric, above)??? Take a good look at the facts--Democratic policies (think Carter and Clinton)and the work of congressmen like Barney Frank, along with "activists" like ACORN push to "help" people who don't qualify for a mortgage to "own a home" when by all typical standards those people are shown not to be credit worthy. (Can you say "Let’s go buy some votes.") Now replicate that by a few million homes, people not paying their mortgages, and you see why banks don't have enough deposits to keep their loans to deposit ratios intact and guess what, you face a liquidity crisis and financial meltdown.

Check here on Boston Globe for the article on Sept 28 titled "Frank’s fingerprints are all over the financial fiasco" and also the NY Times article Sept 30, 1999 "Fannie Mae Eases Credit to Aid Mortgage Lending."

Those articles point to how "helping" people can truly be dangerous, and yes in this case you could call it socialism because now we see the true owners of all those bad mortgages is the nation-state.

And if you think Obama's association with Rezko and Ayers is the end, perhaps we'll here of Obama's associations with Raul Odinga in Kenya who is extremely left wing and has deep ties to islamists including inciting violence and burning christian churches. Obama makes a visit to Kenya on taxpayer dollars when he becomes Senator then makes campaign appearances with Odinga (who happens to be from the same tribe as Obama's father). Is this really the kind of fellow you want in the white house?? I think Palin is right to bring up these associations because they show Obama to be the radical socialist he truly is.

When you hear "a more equitable distribution of wealth" you should translate that to "we'll take the money from those who earned it and give it to those who didn't" which is the very definition of socialism. And why is it the Democrats always want to help the "little man" but when that person becomes successful the Democrats want to tax the hell out them to bring them back to be more "equal" with the "middle class???"
Bob

Why does the liberal media trash Palin continuously and then when Obama is attacked they cry foul?

Somehow this race has turned into a Obama vs Palin and not McCain vs Obama. Is that because the Obama - McCain is worthless.

You can't compare a child (Obama) to a man (McCain)

If you want all the information on McCain and Palin, lets see who paid for Obama's education, what he wrote his thesis on and his mother's radicalism.

The media is on the Dems side, good thing there are actual facts out there.

If Barack Obama is elected president, will we be able to see Russia from Arlington, Virginia? :-)

Nice post Bob. Hadn't heard of the Raul Odinga connections.

We DO expect our presidents to have exceptional character. Bill Clinton's lack thereof almost led to an impeachment.

Obama's questionable character is abysmal.

Apparently scare tactics work as shown by the support for John McCain and the ridiculous comments regarding Obama. ACORN absolutely dessimated the housing economy not because of any affiliation in the past by Barack Obama but for the greed of the mortgage industry who has been allowed to tank this economy before and under a Republican administration were encouraged to do so.
John McCain is a mysogynist and has proven just how little he thinks of women by assuming that we will identify with Sarah Palin, and we all know what the word ASS U ME means!

Wiliams Ayres, Rashid Khalidi, Saul Kalinsky, Tony Rezko, Kevin D Smith, Raul Odinga, ACORN, Chicago Annenberg Foundation, Franklin Raines, Penny Pritzker, Jamie Gorelick, Jim Johnson, $1.3 million house bought for under market value, Rev Pflegler, Rev Wright, Michele "For the first time in my adult life I'm proud of my country" Obama, Joe Biden, 130 present votes, 143 days in the Senate with the rest spent campaigning, 2nd largest recipient of campaign funds from Fannie Mae in just two years. And Obama wants us to trust him as Commander in Chief?

Fat chance

Mark me down for McCain

"And if you think Obama's association with Rezko and Ayers is the end, perhaps we'll here of Obama's associations with Raul Odinga in Kenya who is extremely left wing and has deep ties to islamists including inciting violence and burning christian churches. "

Gee Bob, where did you "HEAR" that?

Grammar: it's your friend.

"Obama makes a visit to Kenya on taxpayer dollars when he becomes Senator then makes campaign appearances with Odinga (who happens to be from the same tribe as Obama's father). Is this really the kind of fellow you want in the white house?? I think Palin is right to bring up these associations because they show Obama to be the radical socialist he truly is."

I think Sean Hannity et al. should be brought up on charges for the crap they get paid to spin and spew. And here I thought it was only the left-winged lunatics that bought into conspiracy theories and such drama. The more I read this stuff I want to laugh myself at the absurdity. You would really have the American people think that Obama is a communist/jihadist/socialist (insert one) who has been trained by terrorist to ascend to America's Presidency so they can take over our government! And all this happened over the last decade or two without anyone noticing. And the media knows too! But they obviously WANT America's downfall so they will have more to report on! yes! That's the ticket.

Get a grip.

Hey, hesingswithfrogs, you don't pay attention do you. The Palin's did release their tax returns and it turns out they make less than the Obama's. $171k a year doesn't even qualify you for middle class designation.

Reggie- You need to LISTEN to Barack Obama's plan instead of picking up the Republican mantra. What do you mean by "Robin Hood" taxes and "those who are not as successful"? I ask, how does one measure success? Why should those who earn more annually be taxed a smaller percentage of their income? This is of course part of that "trickle down" theory. Listen Reggie. I've been waiting for it to trickle down my entire life and nothing is trickling. I am the proud child of a small business owner. It's not trickling down to him either. In the mean time, I pay a higher percentage of my income to the federal government. Obama's plan only takes away the current break those fortunate to earn more than $250,000 are getting. Also, why the comment on a "wellfare nation"? Do you realize that less than 1% of your tax dollar goes toward wellfare, yet you are paying a much higher percentage to better the lives of the Iraqi poor? There's the true "wellfare nation" Reggie.

Typical Republican campaigning - attack the other candidate to divert from the issues. McCain sends Palin out to spread the dirt. If the backlash is tolerable he joins in. If it backfires she takes the heat. She's stupid enough to do it. Every one I have talked to today now has a negative image of her; that she is a mean, unscrupulous women. I hope it blows up in both their faces. They are both pathetic.

Who is Raila Odinga?

Odinga is Obama’s cousin. Odinga and Obama are from the same Kenyan Luo tribe. Odinga supporters are the people that are burning christians alive, trapped inside churches .

Odinga (and most of his fanatical followers) are radical Islamists who have pushed for Islamic Sharia Law, total banning of other religions and closing of co-ed schools, night clubs and ‘public dressing style considered immoral’. Odinga was educated in Former Soviet controlled East Germany and maintains a strong loyalty to the vision of his ‘Educators’ and has allied with Islamist in order to gain their political support.

In 2006 Obama took a trip to Kenya and voiced his support for his fellow tribesman and political ally, Odinga.

CONSIDER THE SOURCE!!!

The Consumer Rights League (CRL) is a front group for the predatory lending industry that was created to do battle with predatory lending industry critics such as the Center for Responsible Lending and ACORN.

On July 17, 2008, CRL ran a full-page advertisement on page 5B of USA Today, arguing against a bill before Congress that it claimed would "pickpocket consumers" at the gas pump. The ad implied that the bill, the "Credit Card Fair Fee Act" (H.R. 5546) is anti-consumer (the same position taken by Visa ).

The "Consumers Rights League" does not disclose on its Web site that it was started by Terry L. Kibbe, a former chief fundraiser for the far-right Competitive Enterprise Institute and the ultraconservative Cato Institute. A March 2008 article in Forbes omits the details about Kibbe's background, while quoting Kibbe's criticism of Self-Help Credit Union] the North Carolina-based relative of the Center for Responsible Lending, which advocates against payday loans. According to Forbes:

Terry L. Kibbe, a former think tank fundraiser who last year started a libertarian consumer advocacy outfit, Consumers Rights League, notes that Self-Help's high delinquency rate--it's seven times that of the typical credit union--proves that Eakes is as bad at judging borrowers' ability to pay back loans as anybody else. Self-Help says less than 1% of its loans ultimately default.

CRL's website contains several examples of anti-consumer-group rhetoric, but discloses no information about the group's own funding, the site's origins or who runs it.

A research report on the site appears to argue on behalf of the credit card industry, stating, "Most importantly, credit cards can provide inexpensive access to credit for low-income Americans, many of whom take advantage of 0% and low-interest rates to pay down debt."

Jews can’t vote for Obama and be pro-Israel at the same time

Ted Belman - 7/29/2008

In the poll of Jewish voters (conducted April 1-30), it showed Obama getting 61% of the Jewish vote against John McCain (32%). Yet in the same poll Hillary Clinton beat Obama among Jewish voters 62% - 38%. So obviously Jews are lifelong democrats who will vote for Obama, whom they rejected in the primaries, rather than vote for McCain. Thus, for them, party loyalty is preferable to Israel loyalty.

Recently I posted two articles by Yarom Ettinger, former Israeli Ambassador to the US, The Prospects of a Palestinian State and National Interests of the United States and It’s American interests, stupid, both of which clearly demonstrate that keeping Israel strong is to keep America strong. Thus to be pro-Israel is to be pro-America.

Now some would argue that most Jewish Americans are not one issue voters but they must realize that to favour a basket of issues or the Democratic Party above favouring Israel, makes them less pro-Israel and thus less pro-American. This I am sure will get howls of protest from the J-Street Lobby which represents progressive Jewry, who would have you believe that by forcing Israel to capitulate, they are acting in the best interests of Israel and the US. I hope you don’t buy their thinking. These articles fly in the face of such thinking. Consider them carefully it is important.

While most Jews favour Obama in a run off with McCain because he is a Democrat, they ignore how pro-Palestinian and anti-American he is.

Let me list the ways.

- Obama said “Nobody is suffering more than the Palestinian people,”

- Obama said “If there is an Arab American family [in the US] being rounded up without benefit of an attorney, those are my civil liberties!”

- Everyone on Obama’s foreign policy team, McPeak, Hamilton, Kurtzer, Brezezinski, are anti- Israel and The Israel Lobby. Their policies are closely aligned with Carter’s and Baker’s.

- Obama has been in bed with Jew haters and Islamic jihad for years. Farrakhan and his dear friend Reverend Wright, Obama’s spiritual guru, is a vile Jew hater.

- Obama is the first Presidential candidate endorsed by Hamas. He is the toast of the Islamic world. Obama’s church posted a Hamas manifesto.

- Obama has been endorsed by William Ayers (Weatherman Underground bomber, unrepentant domestic terrorist) (Member Communist Party USA, Early mentor to Obama) Jeremiah Wright (Black Liberation militant, racist, and Pastor) Tony Rezko (Corrupt Financier, ties to Terror Financing) Louis Farrakhan (Nation of Islam Leader, racist, anti-American) Hamas Terrorist Organization (Islamic Terrorist Organization) Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (Islamic Terror Irganization) Raila Odinga (Fundamental Islamic Candidate, Kenya, Obama’s Cousin) Daniel Ortega (Marxist Sandinista Leader. Nicaragua Raul Castro (Hard-line Communist Leader, Communist Party Illinois (US Communist Political Party) Socialist Party USA (Marxist Socialist Political Party) The New Black Panther Party (Black Militant Organization, anti-American and racist Mosques are preaching for Obama (muslims vote inshallah!)

- We know from this blog entry by the pro-Palestinian blogger Ali Abunimah at The Electronic Intifadah, that Obama has moved to a move pro-Israel position as his national aspirations developed. “The last time I spoke to Obama was in the winter of 2004 at a gathering in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood,” Abunimah writes. “He was in the midst of a primary campaign to secure the Democratic nomination for the United States Senate seat he now occupies. But at that time polls showed him trailing. “As he came in from the cold and took off his coat, I went up to greet him. He responded warmly, and volunteered, “Hey, I’m sorry I haven’t said more about Palestine right now, but we are in a tough primary race. I’m hoping when things calm down I can be more up front.’ He referred to my activism, including columns I was contributing to the The Chicago Tribune critical of Israeli and US policy, ‘Keep up the good work!”

- Ralph Nader agrees.“(Obama) has run a brilliant tactical campaign. But his better instincts and his knowledge have been censored by himself….He was pro-Palestinian when he was in Illinois before he ran for the state Senate, during he ran–during the state Senate.”

- Obama served as a paid director on the board of a nonprofit organization that granted funding to a controversial Arab group that mourns the establishment of Israel as a “catastrophe.” (Obama has also reportedly spoken at fundraisers for Palestinians living in what the United Nations terms refugee camps.). The co-founder of that Arab group, Columbia University professor Rashid Khalidi, is a harsh critic of Israel who reportedly worked on behalf of the Palestine Liberation Organization when it was labeled a terror group by the State Department. Khalidi held a fundraiser in 2000 for Obama’s failed bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

- Ten years ago Obama went to a pro-Palestinian dinner at which Edward Said was the guest speaker and they sat at the same table.

- Obama employed and continues to employ several Farrakhan acolytes in high positions on his Illinois and U.S. Senate campaign and office staffs.

- Obama very recently and previously referred to the “cycle of violence” in the Middle East. He thereby equates Arab criminal violence with legitimate Israeli self-defence.

- Obama’s Church reprinted the outrageous claim that Israel planned an “ethnic bomb” to kill blacks and Arabs.

All items listed above cannot be characterized as a smear as they are all true.

How can Jews ignore all this or dismiss it as inconsequential?

Did you know that Obama voted AGAINST labeling the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist group?

Any student of the Middle East know that’s the IRGC is one of the largest, if not the largest, outfits sponsoring terrorists today, including Hezbollah and Hamas (groups which have “legitimate claims” according to Obama) and the insurgents in Iraq. The IRGC’s role in terrorism is so blatant, even Senator Clinton voted in favor of the resolution, which is another fact that McCain must raise.

How could a President Obama contain a nuclear Iran if he isn’t even willing to take basic measures to call a spade a spade?

Bill Ayers is an unapologetic domestic terrorist. His actions may have 40 years ago but his lack of remorse this week speaks for itself..Barry sat on his boards, funded hundreds of thousands of earmark dollars to his causes and broke bread in his home for his first act as a politician.. Bill Ayers is no different than al qaeda...he's just cooooool man..Judge Barry (and those that vote for him) by the company he keeps..(last time I checked, Sarah Palin's husband isn't running for President, clowns)

Dear hockey puck (err. I mean hockey dad).
Does the phrase "redemption" and/or "not guilty" mean anything to you? Or is it "once a radical, always a radical." In which case, you've been pimping for an alcoholic president for the last 8 years ... not to mention two adulterers (Palin and McCain) to take their misbegotten "family values" to the White House.

Go back to the ice rink, and watch the Zamboni make circles on the ice. That should satisfy your curiosity while the adults go about the business of electing a president.

Who is paying all of you folks to write these attacks on Obama? Very clever--bringing up words like "socialism" just four weeks before the election. You certainly have the right to bring up the candidate's relationships with any and all supporters, but suggesting that his economic policies will amount to the creation of a socialist state, rather than a more prosperous, still-capitalist country whose middle and working classes enjoy lower taxes and affordable health care, seems entirely slanderous. If it truly offends you that Obama met a man who may have espoused violent tactics to change his country, fair enough. But introducing a word like "socialism" to characterize his economic policies? Please. Our democracy is ennobled by truth, and by honest attempts to tell it, and it is degraded by insidious, inaccurate, and/or lazy charges that obscure a candidate's ideas. Finally, as freedom of expression is a first amendment right, then Barack Obama and anybody else has the right to write a thesis on whatsoever topic they desire.

Someone said that Obama in not qualified to be president? Hilarious! I think that he's more qualified than McCain and definitely more qualified than Palin. Everyone, compare McCain's record with Obama's.

McCain's student record (894 out of 899 in the Naval Academy and who actually got in the Academy using his dad's and grand-daddy's CONNECTIONS since they were both admirals). Oh, by the way, how come McCain got to fly (and recklessly crash) 5 planes if he finished at the bottom of his class? Answer: daddy and gran-daddy connections! After coming back from war, he CHEATED his first wife (since she didn't look all the good after a terrible accident) and married a millionaire who paid for his expenses to get in the Senate. Besides being a POW, which DOES NOT automatically qualify you to be president, he is empty. How many POWs do we have here in the US? Hundreds! That's a HUGE FALLACY, and has no logic. He has no relevant INTELLECTUAL accomplishments! Nothing.

Obama, who wasn't born with a silver spoon like McCain and studied his tail off, is a graduate of Columbia University, has a law degree from Harvard, Editor of the Harvard Law Review, 12 years in politics, four years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and manager of one of the most impressively flawless and forward thinking presidential campaigns ever.

Obama is far, far more qualified and smart than McCain AND Palin combined! Obama has knowledge, judgment, and yes, some experience in politics as he has proven during the campaign and the debate. In case needed, we have Joe Biden who can provide his huge experience. McCain on the other hand has Sarah Palin who can memorize lines and repeat them like a parrot and... a great smile! Can we trust her? Not a minute!

Yes, when it comes to this election Obama and Biden ARE THE BEST TICKET, BY FAR. Period.

I used to be a hardcore Socialist and now I am a Moderate Libertarian. If I was running for office I would get crushed for being a flip-flopper, liar, having dubious relationships with radicals, being soft on crime and being an extremist on social issues. Come on people. If you have not decided yet, you are looking for an excuse to vote one way or the other. These are the desperate moves of the political machine to tap into the deep dark memes you do not like to talk about. They want you to vote against your best interest because so-and-so did such-and-such with you-know-who and he/she did such-and-such and on, and on, and on. Why not send a message and vote 3rd Party? I do not care who you vote for just send the message that the 2 party system is broken. And think for yourself!

Wow, Soccer Dad and Hockey Dad... you guys have spent waaaay too much time watching games...

Yes, you are measured by the company you keep. WAKE UP !!!!!!!!!!

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY:

- William Ayers (Weatherman Underground bomber, unrepentant domestic terrorist) (Member Communist Party USA, Early mentor to Obama)

- Jeremiah Wright (Black Liberation militant, racist, and Pastor)

- Tony Rezko (Corrupt Financier, ties to Terror Financing)

- Louis Farrakhan (Nation of Islam Leader, racist, anti-American) Hamas Terrorist Organization (Islamic Terrorist Organization)

- Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (Islamic Terror Irganization)

- Raila Odinga (Fundamental Islamic Candidate, Kenya, Obama’s Cousin, mass murderer)

- Daniel Ortega (Marxist Sandinista Leader. Nicaragua)

- Raul Castro (Hard-line Communist Leader)

- Communist Party Illinois (US Communist Political Party)

- Socialist Party USA (Marxist Socialist Political Party)

- The New Black Panther Party (Black Militant Organization, anti-American and racist Mosques are preaching for Obama)

What more do you want???????????

1) When Ayers became a militant, Obama was 8 and living in Hawai’i
2) When McCain flew around with Keating, he was well into adulthood, on his second marriage as well. He knew what Keating was up to.
3) Without excusing his violence, but considering the time: When Ayers became a militant, there was lots of violence in the country: 4 students killed by the National Guard at Kent State, the KKK on a rampage in the south, etc... I have not heard too many republicans condemn that violence outright the way Obama has condemned Ayers choices and the way he put Wright out to pasture. In fact, McCain supported the KKK view until 1989, namely no MLK Day.
4) When Ayers turned himself in, Obama was 19 years old. I THINK WE KNOW A DEFAMATORY SMEAR WHEN WE SEE ONE
4) Is the GOP really so out of ideas? This should blow up in their faces. If it does not, Americans have lost all right to popint a finger at Germans and ask them how they could accept Hitler coming to power. It's the same exact system: Defamation, character assassination, lies, lies and more lies. Palin's performance is an insult to anyone with the slightest bit of intelligence. And so is McCain's. If these people have no program, if their ideas have no merit, well, they should just go back to the drawing board and think something up.
5) Let me add this for good measure: Ayers is a Distinguished Professor in Chicago, I think he has rehabilitated himself well, and is doing a good job. I believe that Palin is simply envious of anyone who has more brains than she does, and that is a lot of people.

Are there still people buying the smears? Are you that gullible?

Let me tell you something personal: My family would be a lot larger if it were not for such horrible smears: It is the preferred tactic of political parties like the Nazis and the Communists in post-war Europe. Joe McCarthy use d the system and almost brought our democracy to its knees. George Bush with the Patriot Act and esp. the Military Commissions Act of 2006 has virtually eviscerated the Constitution.

How far are you going to let this go? Until we have a real dictator in place? And believe me, that would not be Obama.

Bob- You are so right. All them liberals wanna do is take money from people who earned it, like the hard-working executives at Lehman Brothers, and give it to those who haven't earned it, like the lazy shiftless taxpayers. They do this stuff all the time...oh wait..strike that! Reverse it.
What the heck were you talking about, Bob?

ONE WORD : DESPERATE

In October, 2007 Obama slammed Hillary Clinton's IRGC vote

AP release, October 23, 2007

US presidential hopeful Barack Obama slams Hillary Clinton for voting in favor of branding Iran's IRGC as a terrorist organization.

"Barack Obama opposed another Bush foreign policy fiasco," read an email which was sent to thousands of Iowans on Tuesday.

"Why is this amendment so dangerous?" Obama's mail said. "Because George Bush and Dick Cheney could use this language to justify keeping our troops in Iraq as long as they can point to a threat from Iran, and because they could use this language to justify an attack on Iran as part of the ongoing war in Iraq."

In a recent vote, passed by the US Senate and backed by Clinton, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) was branded as a terrorist organization.

Clinton sent a mail to Iowa activists defending her vote. Her mail included comments from retired Gen. Wesley Clark and Illinois Sen. Richard Durbin siding
with Clinton.
Clinton.

Hmm lets see a few little barbs for you Obama folks out there.

1. Mccains ties to the Keating % have been documentd, he was also exonerated by the democratic investigators.
2. Governor Palin did not ignore any legal subpoena. Under federal law you cannot be asked to testify against yourself. The investigator asked for a meeting and stated that she and her husband answer any questions he asked. To which any 2 cent lawyer, would tell you to walk away from, since he does not have subpeona power anyway, which is reserved for the courts or special federal investigators, of which there is not one involved here. Also just my personal opinion, and not politically motivated. If my sisters husband was a cop, and beat my sister ( which was documented and admitted to)and threatened the life of my father and myself, and i was governor. You can damn well bet i would do anything in my power to get thatman off the force and in jail. And you all damn well would to. So stop playing holier than thou. When it comes to your family, they come first so dont play dumb.
3. The facts areObama hung around with and accepted much money from criminals and radicals. So just admit it and move on, I am sure most politicians have accepted money and gifts from someone of questionabl behavior. So admit it and get on with it, dont lie when the facts are in front of you.

Mudslinging is the last refuge of the truly hapless, helpless and hopeless. It is a tactic favored by scoundrels and weasels. Sadly, it also invites retaliation in kind and any such retaliation will invariably be unkind. To wit:
• McCain's entry into political life as a member of The Keating Five;
• his marital infidelity and spousal abandonment in favor of a younger, uncrippled, decidedly richer heiress;
• Cindy's father's business association (and the founding of the McCain fortune) with a Mafia-linked business partner;
• Cindy's drug addiction and drug conviction resulting in the court-ordered dismantling of a medical charity misused as a front for her phony, illegal prescriptions;
• McCain's health issues and four bouts with melanoma (was it stage 2A or 3B?);
• increasingly bizarre and erratic behavior by a septuagenarian candidate (incipient Alzheimer’s or merely senior moments?);
• medical cover-up?;
• McCain a compulsive gambler accepting perks and favors from that lobby?;
• tax issues w/ Palin failure to report per diem income;
• Palin Trooper-gate issue;
• Palin "witchcraft" prayer protection service at Wasilla Assembly of God;
• Palin children's behavior in general (lots of allegations and rumors, none of which should be anybody's d**n business);
• Palin’s taking a per diem and charging the taxpayers of Alaska for every night spent in her own home, as if it were a Motel 6;
• Palin's book banning/burning activities as mayor;
• Palin's intellectual fitness to serve and be a sick, 72 year old heartbeat removed from the presidency.
• etc., etc., etcetera.
It's ugly folks anyway you look at it! It's always wrong and NEVER appropriate. It's tawdry, unseemly, unwarranted and unwonted in the political process. It besmirches the target and the mudslinger himself/herself. And... it cuts both ways. Both parties CAN do it. Up and until now only one has been so desperate as to stoop to it. Let us not open this can of worms lest we soon find them crawling all over us!

all this talk back and fourth. It doesn't change anyone's mind. Everyone knows who they are voting for. And the independents out there, will be pushed yet again to vote democratic because of the nasty tatics the republicans use. Just stating a fact.

My opponent has invited serious questioning by announcing a few weeks ago that he would quote -- “take off the gloves.” Since then, whenever I have questioned his policies or his record, he has called me a liar.

Rather than answer his critics, Senator Obama will try to distract you from noticing that he never answers the serious and legitimate questions he has been asked. But let me reply in the plainest terms I know. I don’t need lessons about telling the truth to American people. And were I ever to need any improvement in that regard, I probably wouldn’t seek advice from a Chicago politician.

My opponent’s touchiness every time he is questioned about his record should make us only more concerned. For a guy who’s already authored two memoirs, he’s not exactly an open book. It’s as if somehow the usual rules don’t apply, and where other candidates have to explain themselves and their records, Senator Obama seems to think he is above all that. Whatever the question, whatever the issue, there’s always a back story with Senator Obama. All people want to know is: What has this man ever actually accomplished in government? What does he plan for America? In short: Who is the real Barack Obama? But ask such questions and all you get in response is another barrage of angry insults.

Our current economic crisis is a good case in point. What was his actual record in the years before the great economic crisis of our lifetimes?

This crisis started in our housing market in the form of subprime loans that were pushed on people who could not afford them. Bad mortgages were being backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and it was only a matter of time before a contagion of unsustainable debt began to spread. This corruption was encouraged by Democrats in Congress, and abetted by Senator Obama.

Senator Obama has accused me of opposing regulation to avert this crisis. I guess he believes if a lie is big enough and repeated often enough it will be believed. But the truth is I was the one who called at the time for tighter restrictions on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that could have helped prevent this crisis from happening in the first place.

Senator Obama was silent on the regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and his Democratic allies in Congress opposed every effort to rein them in. As recently as September of last year he said that subprime loans had been, quote, “a good idea.” Well, Senator Obama, that “good idea” has now plunged this country into the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

To hear him talk now, you’d think he’d always opposed the dangerous practices at these institutions. But there is absolutely nothing in his record to suggest he did. He was surely familiar with the people who were creating this problem. The executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have advised him, and he has taken their money for his campaign. He has received more money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac than any other senator in history, with the exception of the chairman of the committee overseeing them. Did he ever talk to the executives at Fannie and Freddie about these reckless loans? Did he ever discuss with them the stronger oversight I proposed? If Senator Obama is such a champion of financial regulation, why didn’t he support these regulations that could have prevented this crisis in the first place? He won’t tell you, but you deserve an answer.
Who is the real Senator Obama? Is he the candidate who promises to cut middle class taxes, or the politician who voted to raise middle class taxes? Is he the candidate who talks about regulation or the politician who took money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and turned a blind eye as they ran our economy into a ditch?

Is he the candidate who promises change, or is he the politician who has bought into everything that is wrong with Washington? We can’t change the system with someone who’s never fought the system.

Washington is on the wrong track and I’m going to set it right. The American people know my record. They know I am going to change Washington, because I’ve done it before. They know I’m going to reform our broken institutions in Washington and on Wall Street because I’ve done it before. They know I’m going to deliver relief to the middle class, because that’s what I’ve done.

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For all the liberals out there - Who pays a higher percentage of their income, the rich or the poor? - the rich - Who pays the majority of taxes in the US - the rich.

Say goodbye to your 401k if Obama gets into office. Investors don't like it when you double capital gains taxes it's not exactly a friendly proposal.

Do liberals wanting lower taxes for the poor actually believe the rich aren't there because someone worked their tale off. Or do they believe all rich people were handed money by the government.

I certainly did not write comment #55. Is this an error by the blogger, or is someone using my name to post his or her own writing? Please remove my name from comment #55 immediately. Thank you.

-Philippe Theise

Independent Obama voter-

Sending lawyers to dredge up dirt about a Vice presidential candidate is not a "nasty tactic"? But calling out Obama on things he's actually done is a "nasty tactic"? Putting out lies in spanish language adds saying McCain is against them and using a Rush Limbaugh quote who was talking about Mexico's immigration law, not his own stance, is not a nasty tactic?

I don't get the double standard.

Not so fast Independent Obama Voter... The back and forth is important, but the lies and defamation are brutal. They are also patently unfair. I have no problem with the conservative viewpoint, I am myself quite conservative in my views. But defamation is another story. And character assassination. A lot of this stuff is simply brewed on bizarre websites and cut and paste.

We have a major problem in this country with our foreign policy and our economy. It is going to take good judgment, empathy and a broad view, none of which are McCain traits. As for his Veep, she is a very typical narcissist with all the trappings. She doesn't blink when asked to become VP??? What incredible arrogance. Even when I am asked to do a job I am good at, I aske for time to think it over. She doesn't know what the Veep does, and her interest in Iraq, by her own admission, is marginal.

I would really like people to think hard in that voting booth.

Well, first I was for the comments in #55 and then I was against them.

I sure can't make up my mind.

First I was for Obama and now I'm against him.

I'll just do whatever the mainstream media tells me to. It's easier that way.

"We like Mr. Obama and we hope he will win the election," Ahmed Yousef, senior Hamas leader was quoted by ABC radio as saying.

Talleyrand
I completely agree with you. I have to admit I am very much in support of Obama, not just because of way he comes across as thoughtful and open minded, but also I believe in his views as well. I definately think that the country needs someone who can repair relations with the world, after all we all, we need each other to prosper. Also, our oil dependency has got to end. I believe he is more dedicated to seeing that happen, more so than McCain. The sooner it happens the safer our nation will be, I believe. Also, it doesn't help that McCain's running mate seems to be too much of a light weight for me. She is just plain out of her league. I would love to see a woman in such a high powered position. I think there were many others out there that he passed up. But Palin is just not right for the postion. So I feel very comfortable with my choice. This b.s. that gets away from the real issues are not going to stop him. Obama is on his way to the whitehouse. :) No politician is perfect, we all know that, but he is the better choice.

Ask Sarah Palin why her husband hates this country. He joined a secessionist party. How could she associate with this person? I am surprised she did not divorce this person who finds America "imperfect".

Do they really want to go tit-for-tat?

Barack Hussein Obama has no business being our Commander in Chief. His moral compass is pointed to Islamic radicals. He embraces racist preachers. He will endorse both a class and racial warfare in this country.

He will replace the Secret Service with The Black Panthers!!!!

No to OBAMA!!!!

Never before in the history of our nation have we faced such a grave crisis: one of the most radical political figures ever to be nominated by a major party is just minutes away from becoming President of the United States.

That man is Barack Obama.

He promises to change America forever. If elected, he will do just that - but in ways you make not like.

Remember Obama is the most liberal member of the United States Senate.

He received a 100 percent Liberal Rating from the National Journal, making him the most left-wing Senator in Washington - more liberal than even Democratic senators like Ted Kennedy.

If you look at Obama's record, you will understand just how dangerous this man is.

He even has terrorist friends he won't denounce. One such man is William Ayers, a leader in the radical terrorist group the Weatherman Underground. The group bombed several government buildings, including the Pentagon, killing civilians and police officers.

In 2001, Ayers said he had no regrets for his actions and wished he could have done more.

The ties between Obama and Ayers are tight. Both served on two non profit boards and they worked closely together. Ayers even hosted a political event at his home for Obama.

Obama has acknowledged he is a friend of Ayers and defends his association by saying he, Obama, was only 8 years old at the time of the Pentagon bombing.

However, Obama has no explanation as to why he is still a friend of Ayers.

Obama has even been endorsed by radicals such as Nation of Islam Leader Louis Farrakhan.

Michelle Obama said "I have never been prouder of my country".

Michelle Obama said this is a racist country.

Axk Barack Obama why his wife hates this country. How could he associate with this person? I am surprised Barack did not divorce this person who finds America "imperfect".

What incentive do youngsters have to get involved in politics? It's a dirty dirty job, with no one coming out of it unscathed. Someone who is looking to do good and make positve changes have such an uphill battle. And if it doesn't change them, which it most likely will, they will be amongst the most corrupt.

It's one l and two p's, #63. Liars are eventually caught.

-Philippe

Well, At least we have choices.
If McCain/Palin are elected we will see a president/VP that will get things done and help us out of this economic mess.
If Osam..oops Obama is elected we can either quit our jobs and let the government take care of us or move to Alaska and join the Alaskan Independence party. And don't get me wrong...I love America - a democratic, republic and capitalist America.
I can't believe anyone would object to the use of the word Socialism in this campaign...what do you think Obamas policies are? He is worse than a socialist, his policies sound more like communism...and for those of you are unaware... Socialism/Communism is the "redistribution of weath" or taking your hard earned money to give to some fat moron who likes to sleep all day and live off other peoples money or someone who decides to have 5 different kids from 3 different fathers or mothers.
I don't support communism, socialism or terrorism ...in other words I don't support Obama

Attention Bob:
That Sept. 28th "article" on Barney Frank was an EDITORIAL, not a news article. You cite it like it is all factual... which it is not.
And only the Republicans have used the phrase "equal distribution of wealth" to refer to proposals on reforming the tax code. But let's call a spade a spade: Can any serious, intelligent person say that federal social programs (Medicare, Social Security) are not a form of redistributing wealth? You're either naive or a hypocrite to suggest they are something other than that. We are not a pure, unrestricted capitalist society so this argument has no teeth. It's fear mongering -- very similar in tone and tactics to McCarthyism only this time it's the "Socialism" bogey man.

I agree with Cork VPN -- the voters are being manipulated with propaganda. The fact is that both candidates are legitimate contenders who have made mistakes. Now let's consider a salient policy difference...

Obama's willingness to use diplomacy with an enemy is being put forth as the equivalent of Chamberlain caving in to the Nazis. How simplistic! Consider THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS. The civilized world may have ended in nuclear holocaust if JFK was not willing to use diplomacy with the Russians. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Foolish inconsistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." So just to be consistent, i.e. FOOLISH consistency, lots of right wing neo-cons and other lunatics are presenting the willingness to talk with an enemy as a complete capitulation. That is the kind of thinking that STARTS wars, not stops them.

So, it now appears that someone has stolen Talleyrand's name, as well. I'm shaking my head. Have your opinion. Share it. But how can anyone justify stealing someone's identity to post his or her own views? Sure, I'm naive--I figure that people have the courage and integrity to write under their own usernames. The fact that someone would try to create confusion via identity theft, rather than honestly contribute to a debate, boggles my mind. I believe in dialogue amongst people of good will, but when someone uses someone else's name to put forth his or her own opinions, then that person becomes an adversary of democracy. Such an action is unjust, poisonous, and shameful.

They are cowards

The thing is Philippe, if you notice the "sock puppets" (as we used to call them) are putting forth opposite opinions each time they duplicate a name. SO WTF? Someone has a lot of time on their hands.

WORKING MOM... I'm assuming you are still the same person putting all the anti-Obama propaganda here in the comments. Like Crypto said this whole communism/socialism argument is getting tired and ridiculous, but trying to reason with you (a collective you) is like arguing with my 7 year-old. I could take generalizations about the GOP or McCain's agenda and reduce them to the least common denominator to make him sound like Hitler.

I wonder how much the schmucks getting paid to write the diatribes "Soccer Dad" and "More Acorns/No Acorns" are being paid. This site is for individuals posting ideas and opinions, not for campaign propaganda. I have issues with a lot of choices Barack Obama has made, but I think the same could be said about anyone. On the other hand, I don't need some pandering, condescending snake-oil salesman putting up fake "posts" that were researched and written weeks ago for the final smear. The saddest part is, I'm a moderate, and Obama's often too leftist for my tastes (ACORN being one of my bigger concerns)...but at least he's honest about it. I'd love to see a good old-school small government (I'm not going to get that this election, I suppose), fiscally conservative (or at least spend your money supporting research and development for new technology for example), not handing out dollars to businesses for no return), socially liberal (including getting rid of the PC mafia that loves to get people fired for voicing their opinions...which they should be entitled to do no matter how uninformed).
McCain's campaign says "We stand for X" despite all evidence pointing to the direct opposite. It's amazing how petty and bitter they've been all along, not to mention the co-opting of Obama's "Change" slogan. Maybe they're mad that if the ACORN business gets out, Obama will become the "MAVERICK!!!!" (got to write it 'can style...screamed in your face and preferably repeated ad nauseum). Please, if you are in the Republican party, ditch the right-wing evangelicals, and come back towards the middle. Stop telling me that drilling for more oil is going to cut carbon emissions and make the US energy independent. Stop using the other candidates' slogans and calling them your own. Stop treating me like I'm a child (and a stupid one at that) and know that as long as you do, you can kiss my vote goodbye. I think affirmative action in its current incarnation is fundamentally unjust...but I can understand and even support the idea of income-related changes to college admissions, for example. I think it's pretty obvious that money helps you get the best education, the best food, best healthcare. I don't agree that everyone is *entitled* to the best, but everyone's entitled to something. I think if you want the best, you need to work your butt off and go out and get it. But you shouldn't have to die trying to make the good life.
This government needs streamlining, fat-cutting, tort reform, and someone with enough foresight to advocate for improvement of the railways, alternative fuel development, and the sense to know that sulking and not talking to your enemy (Iran) is a tactic that stops working in...oh, about 6th grade. You can talk to crazy people ...you may not get anywhere, but at least you learn what makes them tick. "Know your enemy..." there's a reason it's cliche...it's good advice. Frankly, all I see the Republicans offering is more of the *EXACT SAME.* Barack Obama may be a leftist, but Bill Clinton was pretty "liberal" himself, and I seem to remember the '90s being a time when most people were happy, gas was a buck a gallon, we had some wacky new thing call the "internet" booming, cell phones stopped being 5 lbs and started fitting in your pocket, and the US was liked and respected across the world. I've got plenty of beefs with the Democratic party, the first issue being the smugness that's given rise to PC speech control and the idea that anyone not born on the coasts is a rube, but there's a lot more I respect about them right now. Call Obama inexperienced if you want, but he keeps succeeding against all odds (think about what it took to beat Hilary Clinton), and he stays calm and collected and on-message. That's presidential to me...never wavering in the face of adversity, simply thinking about the choices to be made, then making the best one. To me, McCain's not a rebel, he's just foolhardy. Thanks already, had 8 years of that.

The only arrogant one is Obama. He who chose to speak on a Greek temple. He who thought he was JFK in Germany. He who feels he is entitled to the presidency just because of his Hahvahd degree and his race.

BTW, Philippe Theise, independent voter and Talleyrand are ALL the same person on this blog!!! Notice how they just respond to each other. Multiple personalities shouldn't be allowed to vote....must be part of ACORN.

That is sneaky and as disingenuous as the inexperienced communist rookie they support.

LOL!!! Caught you!!!!!!!

Good call Crypto.

Whoever posted #63 is a coward, by the way.

So I just love all these liberal/democrat sheep here knocking Palin and/or McCain for shoddy, disproved talking points that they obviously were spoon fed by MoveOn, Kos and/or Huffington. And yet, I'm sure they line up every six years to vote for Teddy Kennedy who has enough skeletons in his closet to fill a cemetary. And yet, they completely disregard the dozens of shady folks in Obama's past and present. Now trying to pick on Palin's husband for supposedly "joining" a separatist party, what, 15 years ago? Well, less than 15 weeks ago Michelle Obama said "For the first time in my LIFE I am proud of my country". Or was that video faked?

McCain has lost his honor. He once was an honorable man but now he is climbing into the gutter to try to rescuse his increasingly desperate campaign. He no longer has the temperment or judgement to be President and it is sad to see. He will end this campaign as a broken man who lost the respect of a nation.

McCain said it best - one resorts to these tactics when one doesn't have a vision or a plan for the future of the United States. I happen to believe him on this one.

All of us should be ashamed of allowing the US to sink to the rank of bottom feeder as manifested in some of the "opinions'" posted on this blog. The bitter and slanderous "facts" and tone, and the devisiveness will never help us solve the problems that we are facing: an imploding global economy, a war without end, education that fails American children, and our inability to provide healthcare for all of us. And neither will it help us acknowledge our responsibility in all of these problems. Without accepting responsiblity we cannot make effective change.
Do something positive--it will benefit everyone.

Talleyrand lies about Obama and Bill Ayers relationship.
Obama was not 8 years old in 1995. Obama and the terrorist Bill Ayers were together in 1995.

About the contributions to Obama to buy the White House, those money are also from Islamists. Mosques today are busy raising money for Hussein Obama.
The Democrat is a Communist Party, ask Barney Frank he will tel you.

VIVA President McCain
VIVA President Palin

ACORN and community organizers. What is the Obama connection?

WHAT exactly does a "community organizer" do? Barack Obama's rise has left many Americans asking themselves that question. Here's a big part of the answer: Community organizers intimidate banks into making high-risk loans to customers with poor credit.

In the name of fairness to minorities, community organizers occupy private offices, chant inside bank lobbies, and confront executives at their homes - and thereby force financial institutions to direct hundreds of millions of dollars in mortgages to low-credit customers.

In other words, community organizers help to undermine the US economy by pushing the banking system into a sinkhole of bad loans. And Obama has spent years training and funding the organizers who do it.

THE seeds of today's financial meltdown lie in the Community Reinvestment Act - a law passed in 1977 and made riskier by unwise amendments and regulatory rulings in later decades.

CRA was meant to encourage banks to make loans to high-risk borrowers, often minorities living in unstable neighborhoods. That has provided an opening to radical groups like ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) to abuse the law by forcing banks to make hundreds of millions of dollars in "subprime" loans to often uncreditworthy poor and minority customers.
IT would be tough to find an "on the ground" community organizer more closely tied to the subprime-mortgage fiasco than Madeline Talbott. And no one has been more supportive of Madeline Talbott than Barack Obama.

When Obama was just a budding community organizer in Chicago, Talbott was so impressed that she asked him to train her personal staff.

He returned to Chicago in the early '90s, just as Talbott was starting her pressure campaign on local banks. Chicago ACORN sought out Obama's legal services for a "motor voter" case and partnered with him on his 1992 "Project VOTE" registration drive.

In those years, he also conducted leadership-training seminars for ACORN's up-and-coming organizers. That is, Obama was training the army of ACORN organizers who participated in Madeline Talbott's drive against Chicago's banks.
More than that, Obama was funding them. As he rose to a leadership role at Chicago's Woods Fund, he became the most powerful voice on the foundation's board for supporting ACORN and other community organizers. In 1995, the Woods Fund substantially expanded its funding of community organizers - and Obama chaired the committee that urged and managed the shift.
The Woods Fund report makes it clear Obama was fully aware of the intimidation tactics used by ACORN's Madeline Talbott in her pioneering efforts to force banks to suspend their usual credit standards. Yet he supported Talbott in every conceivable way. He trained her personal staff and other aspiring ACORN leaders, he consulted with her extensively, and he arranged a major boost in foundation funding for her efforts.

And, as the leader of another charity, the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, Obama channeled more funding Talbott's way - ostensibly for education projects but surely supportive of ACORN's overall efforts.

In return, Talbott proudly announced her support of Obama's first campaign for state Senate, saying, "We accept and respect him as a kindred spirit, a fellow organizer."

IN short, to understand the roots of the subprime-mort gage crisis, look to ACORN's Madeline Talbott. And to see how Talbott was able to work her mischief, look to Barack Obama.

Then you'll truly know what community organizers do.

I hope all you McCainers enjoy having to buy your own health insurance....when he takes away employer-sponsored healthcare benefits (no more tax breaks for employers)...which employers typically pay about 70-90% of the premium. And good luck with Pyscho-woman who can't seem to answer any questions at all about anything because she's just a self-centered, arrogant ***** on a power trip who has no clue what a VP does.

Monique, a Leaf fan, set up this absolutely earnestly to believe. Now, let me goal out that this was in no way an undertake to official one together is more wisely than the other. It was objective a core to official two things.