Obama gets newspapers' support

To All My Friends, this is long, but very important, please take the time to read it.

This election has me very worried. So many things to consider. About a year ago I would have voted for Obama. I have changed my mind three times since than. I watch all the news channels, jumping from one to another. I must say this drives my husband crazy! But, I feel if you view MSNBC, CNN, and Fox News, you might get some middle ground to work with. About six months ago, I started thinking “where did the money come from for Obama?” I have four daughters who went to college, we were middle class, and money was tight. We (including my girls) worked hard and there were lots of student loans.

I started looking into Obama's life.

Around 1979 Obama started college at Occidental in California. He is very open about his two years at Occidental, he tried all kinds of drugs and was wasting his time but, even though he had a brilliant mind, did not apply himself to his studies. 'Barry' (that was the name he used all his life) during this time had two roommates, Muhammad Hasan Chandoo and Wahid Hamid, both from Pakistan. During the summer of 1981, after his second year in college, he made a 'round the world' trip. Stopping to see his mother in Indonesia, next Hyderabad in India , three weeks in Karachi , Pakistan where he stayed with his roommate's family, then off to Africa to visit his father's family. My question - Where did he get the money for this trip? Nether I, nor any one of my children, would have had money for a trip like this when they where in college. When he came back he started school at Columbia University in New York. He admits that his reasoning was he wanted to “be around more black people”. It is at this time he wanted everyone to call him Barack - not Barry. Do you know what the tuition is at Columbia? It's not cheap to say the least! Where did he get money for tuition? Student Loans? Maybe. After Columbia (with an average GPA, not cum laude even), he went to Chicago to work as a Community Organizer for $12,000 a year. Why Chicago? Why not New York? He was already living in New York.

By 'chance' he met Antoin 'Tony' Rezko, born in Aleppo Syria , and a real estate developer in Chicago . Rezko has been convicted of fraud and bribery this year. Rezko, was named 'Entrepreneur of the Decade' by the Arab-American Business and Professional Association'. About two years later, Obama entered Harvard Law School. Do you have any idea what tuition is for Harvard Law School? Where did he get the money for Law School? More student loans? After Law school, he went back to Chicago. Rezko offered him a job, which he turned down. But, he did take a job with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Guess what? They represented 'Rezar' which is Rezko's firm. Rezko was one of Obama's first major financial contributors when he ran for office in Chicago. In 2003, Rezko threw an early fundraiser for Obama which Chicago Tribune reporter David Mendelland claims was instrumental in providing Obama with 'seed money' for his U.S. Senate race. In 2005, Obama purchased a new home in Kenwoood District of Chicago for $1.65 million (less than asking price). With ALL 20 those Student Loans - Where did he get the money for the property? On the same day Rezko's wife, Rita, purchased the adjoining empty lot for full price. The London Times reported that Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born Billionaire loaned Rezko $3.5 million three weeks before Obama's new home was purchased. Obama met Nadhmi Auchi many times with Rezko.

Now, we have Obama running for President. Valerie Jarrett was Michelle Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz , Iran! Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy?

On May 10, 2008, The Times reported that Robert Malley, advisor to Obama, was 'sacked' after the press found out he was having regular contacts with Hamas, which controls Gaza and is connected with Iran. This past week, buried in the back part of the papers, Iraqi newspapers reported that during Obama's visit to Iraq, he asked their leaders to do nothing about the war until after he is elected, and he will “take care of things”.

Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that where born in Pakistan? They are in charge of all those 'small' Internet campaign contributions for Obama. Where is that money coming from? The poor and middle class in this country? Or could it be from the Middle East?

And the final bit of news. On September 7, 2008, The Washington Times posted a verbal slip that was made on 'This Week' with George Stephanapoulos. Obama on talking about his religion said, 'My Muslim faith'. When questioned, 'he made a mistake'. Some mistake!

All of the above information I got on-line. If you would like to check it - Wikipedia, encyclopedia, Barrack Obama; Tony Rezko; Valerie Jarrett: Daily Times - Obama visited Pakistan in 1981; The Washington Times - September 7, 2008; The Times May 10, 2008.

Now the BIG question - If I found out all this information on my own, Why haven't all of our 'intelligent' members of the press been reporting this?

Thank god we have a candidate like Obama running for President. I hate republicans...

Well, well, I see it is accepted now for journalists and news paper organisations to be fully in the bag for a candidate. How absurd that we have gotten to such a lowly place. Gone are the days of "fair" unbiased reporting where both sides are represented equally. News orgs. now feel they have the explicit high ground and we readers should all follow them as if Lemmings over a cliff. Oh, the shame!

It's odd that the guy who has the longest history of actions and accomplishments chooses to run on his integrity, his image and what he thinks will accomplish while the guy with the shortest record of accomplishments and actions asks us to look at his record and his actual plans for America.

One needs to look at the choices these two men have made, the choices they are making now, what drives them to make them, and whether the man is more devoted to American well being or whether he just wants desperately to win.

Don't gamble with America's future.

I"m a Democrat, and Senator Obama is capable to lead this nation out of the economic mess were in. This country needs a different perspective and Senator Obama is the person for that . Also, I was upset that Senator McCain showed so much disdain towards Obama during both debates that it makes me wonder could McCain be a bigot ?

To Michele, this is short but very important. Please take the time to read it.

Get the help and medication you need.

Someone asked where Obama got his money. He earned it from royalties on his books.

85% of major newspapers backed Kerry/Edwards. I guess that shows how in touch they are with the American voter.

In response to Michele's questions about where Barack got the money:

I too graduated high school in 1979. I'm also from a broken home; my father deserted us when I was five years old. My family was low income. My mother, a blue collar worker, suffered a back injury on her job before I entered junior high. We survived off her SSI.

I was an honor student/athlete and my mom didn't want my life confined to the small town I grew up in. I won scholarships, my churched help, I received grants and scholarships based upon my GPA, SAT scores, community volunteer work, varsity sports, and student organizations.

It's said that when there is a will, there is a way.

We had no money. My family wasn't considered middle class. But with God's help, relatives, friends and my church, I was able to spend time in Europe, mostly France and Italy, then attend college.

In your lame attempt to smear Senator Obama, you failed to use your brain, resources available to you, or any creativity. Perhaps it's due to your limited existence.

Hey 'michelle' those Pakistani friends of Obama you mention are actually all now CEOs or CFOs of major U.S. corporations (including Pepsico). Problem with posters like you are that you're trying to instill FEAR into the American public. In other words, you're nothing but a FEAR MONGERER. Obama's been vetted for two years now. We know him. And the majority of the American public like him. You're spewing unfounded accusations that only make the right-wing look worse than they already are. Want FACTS. Try 'Keating 5' or 'Troopergate'. These are things where law officials found both your candidates guilty of violating U.S. law. Fact versus fiction. Get it straight.

Dear wordy but not worldly Michele.......YAWN!

In response to Michele's questions about where Barack got the money:

I too graduated high school in 1979. I'm also from a broken home; my father deserted us when I was five years old. My family was low income. My mother, a blue collar worker, suffered a back injury on her job before I entered junior high. We survived off her SSI.

I was an honor student/athlete and my mom didn't want my life confined to the small town I grew up in. I won scholarships, my churched help, I received grants and scholarships based upon my GPA, SAT scores, community volunteer work, varsity sports, and student organizations.

It's said that when there is a will, there is a way.

We had no money. My family wasn't considered middle class. But with God's help, relatives, friends and my church, I was able to spend time in Europe, mostly France and Italy, then attend college.

In your lame attempt to smear Senator Obama, you failed to use your brain, resources available to you, or any creativity. Perhaps it's due to your limited existence.

Michele's long post seems to boil down to "he knows a lot of Arabs" and "he traveled a lot." FYI, Michele, Obama is the first political candidate I have ever given money to, and the same goes for many of my friends. He is raising record sums because he is the first candidate in my lifetime who didn't seem to be lying or pandering with every sentence.

Frankly, I think the news media is nothing more than a corporate profits-driven machine that will disseminate whatever helps sell those products sponsoring their programs. Apparently getting Obama elected is likely to sell more stuff, or at least promoting his campaign is selling more stuff now.

McCain hopes to harness an ugly, slavering beast comprised of far-right paranoia, hatred, fear, prejudice, and ignorance, and ride it to victory, but now he is starting realize that many Americans dislike his substitution of slander for an actual discussion of the issues.

His zig-zagging on slandering Obama is just one more example of his increasingly erratic behavior and poor judgment, and yet more proof that he has completely lost his moral center--the result of selling his soul to the Karl Rove faction of the Republican party. He is retracting some of his slanders, not because he has repented of them, but because he sees that they have backfired by alienating the undecided voters that he needs if he is to have any hope of winning.

McCain's claim to be a 'maverick' are absurd-he has voted with Bush 90% of the time, has over 80 lobbyists on his staff, and has elected to veer to the far right in his campaign, to the point of taking advice from Karl Rove. A better description would indeed be erratic, as he claims Obama would raise taxes more than he would one moment, and then the next moment comes up his very own $300,000,000 pork-barrel give-away program to people who borrowed money they couldn't possibly pay back.

With the myriad of intense, both vibrant or nasty, opinions on these two, I am left with the hope that in the end, we can emerge inspired.

I'm tired of getting a government the Republicans deserve.

To all the Republicans posting here, please do us all a favor and quit sticking with your party. Instead, why not join Christopher Buckley-R (yes, son of William F and writer for the National Review) and support Barack Obama this year.

We can't afford 4 more years of the same.

Comment number one above is fully plagiarized from wing-nut fringe emails that have been circulating for some time. A simple google search will see the exact same thing, word for word, on various other blogs and websites. "Michele" posts this comment as if it is her own. It is not. It is stolen. It is error-ridden, mostly fictitious, and thoroughly discredited.

@michele,

Its always easy to make the narrative like you've just done.

God forgive you,...! We won't crucify Barack... we know the truth.

The newspapers--which, Leon, have a long history of endorsing candidates on their editorial pages--are recognizing the obvious. McCain has traded his integrity and his values for a desperate shot at the White House. The choice of Sarah Palin was pure pandering to the conservatives; she is nowhere near qualified to serve as VP. His negative ads are designed to make us hate Obama, rather than believe in McCain. And his vision for the nation has dwindled to "vote for me, I'm a good guy."

This country needs a man with vision, leadership, and integrity. We need Barack Obama.

OBAMA was wrong, the wheels did not come off the straight talk express, it did not even get a flat tire, EVERY AXLE ON IT HAS COME OFF!

It is sad to see a man who had such a HEROIC CHARACTER reduce himself to a do anything say anything person to achieve just one goal.

If you want to know where the money came from read his book- its all there you ignorant, silly people. Try doing some unbiased research and look at all the facts before you conclude that "obviously" Obama is being funded by, gasp, Middle Easterners!!!!

the bottom line is is McCain by picking an idiot like Palin for Vice President, shows that he has poor judgement, if he picked some body else as a VP , things would have been different today

Michele, this same republican spin that has been proving false everytime is a spin and deception by the republican news media like Fox News, etc. and people like you that like to spin things out there to change peoples minds about OBAMA. Get a life and realize the majority of Americans are now backing OBAMA and his being truthful about himself and country, they have already looked up his history themselves, and separated stories like yours and Fox News as a way to increase mistrust in the American people. One more thing, vote for Senator McCain, who has no new ideas for this country, and a inexperienced vice president to take over his presidency when he dies,

Michele,
Were you, by chance, one of those people who voted for George W. Bush? Feebly outlaying "research" of this nature appears to comport closely with the Bush-Cheney fear strategies of the past 8 years.
So, be clear. What exactly is it you are saying? You seem to be suggesting that Obama has links to the middle east, which he will invoke to the detriment of the U.S. if he is elected.
Your vitriol certainly sounds like the other fear-mongering which McCain's campaign has been propagating over the last few weeks, but is now being forced to back down from. Do some more of your research and find out why they are reversing course on this angle. Then post again and edify us further.
I, for one, would be fascinated to hear your take. And some real statements, instead of insinuations, would also lend some credibility and substance to your post.

Will Dave Letterman ask John McCain if he ever lied in his campaign?

Michele: Perhaps you missed the story by our friends at Salon covered the fact that Republicans hired volunteers to peruse these types of news stories and write "personal appeals" letters such as yours (the gentleman writing the store volunteered for McCain's campaign, not as a reporter, but as a volunteer, since he does it for any number of political campaigns on both sides of the fence, which is a great and fascinating way to learn not only what a party is about but how they act and operate). i.e. I strongly doubt your a concerned citizen that ever support Obama. I suspect that the most you know about him is on the fact sheet/talking points that your volunteer managers have handed over to you and said "Write letters to the editors and respond to online stories with these points." Because at this point, you're letter isn't even trying NOT to be an obvious plant from a volunteer in the McCain campaign headquarters.

Its a shame people like michele can write long articles based on rumours!. Use hard facts! stop asking where did the money come from! do you know whether he took part time jobs! . H ecould have saved and make the trip after all he was not living in 5 star hotels!. You indicated he visited his relatives! yes or no?. So all what he needed was an air ticket the accomodation was aready catered for!. With you its a different case travelling all over the world, for one you didn't do familly planning so I wonder how you could have come up with a sound budget for the food,, schools fees and save some for a trip! so cut the crap and stop rrumors !

Stu, America's future has already been gambled down the drain by Bush and deregulators like mcCain! Are you not aware of the present mess that we are in financially?

Michele, I see you are jumping from article to article posting your research.

First of all, I am not your "friend". Secondly, you are trying to make assumptions where there are none. Thirdly, people can think for themselves. And anyone that does will vote for Obama.

Thank you, anyway.

I couldn't agree more with you Stu. One certainly does need to look at the choices these two men have made. McCain chose a completely unfit running mate to court angry Hillary supporters. Whether you like her or not, there is no way you can tell me that Palin is even close to being in the ballpark of the other three candidates (or Hillary for that matter). It is important to remember when we speak of America that, as a republic, America is not our government, our military or even the will of the people (that would be a simple democracy). Instead, America exists in and as her founding principals and documents; which are far better represented by Obama. He gets my vote as a citizen and a patriot.

Oh Michelle,
What a cynical post. I attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, as well as Virginia Commonwealth University and Massachusetts College of Art, I travelled to Nicaragua and Costa Rica, managed to move from Richmond Virginia to the very expensive city of Boston. Bought art supplies, created large scale happenings. Where did the money come from? It's called HOPE, CHARITY and HARD WORK! That is how Mr. Barack Obama has made it this far, some call it the American dream, and I am sure this great man would agree!

"Well, well, I see it is accepted now for journalists and news paper organisations to be fully in the bag for a candidate."

Leon Francis, please learn some history. Newspapers have been endorsing presidential candidates for more than a hundred years. This development in American politics is about as "new" as the Pony Express.

To Michele who wrote the very long post about the fictional life of Obama,

Well done. Thanks for providing me with so much entertainment. What's next? Obama ate little babies with his two 'Pakistan' college roommates during his stay in Pakistan and met a gay man who happened to be Bill Ayers (who really is black but got the same surgery as Michael Jackson in the 1970s) where they had a secret affair and talked about relocating to Chicago for important 'radical' changes and where at one point, Obama knew that Sarah Palin from Alaska was going to be the runing mate of John McCain so Obama used his muslim power to mind control Sarah Palin to fire Monegan. Really Sarah is Guilty, she was under Obama's muslim mind control. Also Obama figured he need to convince people of his economic plan so he made the economy collapse by eating goats for five days and offered the blood to his muslim god.

Wow... For credibility, you can found what I wrote on the internet by searching 'Obama' and 'Goats' on Ocotober 9th 2012. Just remember to do it on that date or the evidence won't show up. Please.. I urge all of you to research this! It's important!

/s

As to comment number 1 - all lies, lies lies - more of the same intolerance and bigotry coming from the McCain talking points in the last few weeks. Michelle - whoever you are- most everything you say in your commentary is untrue and you know it. NO ONE SHOULD BELIEVE THE GARBAGE IN HER COMMENT. It is more hateful spin to make people believe Barack Obama is a terrorist and it has been proven incorrect time and time again. And to comment number 3 - this is biased journalism which is what an endorsement means! You endorse someone because you believe in them! How ignorant could you be? These endorsements are further proof that Obama is the man for the job.

I noticed that some of the comments contain the entire life story of Barack Obama and his associations. I happen to have the same dozzier on John McCain which I will need a very long space to list all of his questionable associations with mafia figures, convicted felons, being racist, ties to Russian organized crime lords and communists and the list goes on and on.

michele in comment no.1 is crazy like any other republican without any brain. Does she know that intillegent people get scholarships, and money to travel to Indonesia cost two months salary in a Mcdonalds.

Grow up republicans, get smart, go get education at Harvard and other IVy legues schools.

Why is this election turning in Obama's favor? I believe it is because Americans are beginning to wake up to what is at the bottom of our current economic meltdown. I have long been a conservative and favored liberterian ideas. I am a Colorado small business owner (homebuilder). I have worked hard to read and understand the causes of this crisis. Through my business I work closely with the mortgage business. While I admit to getting caught up in the party when mortgage money was flowing so freely, I knew we would eventually face a reckoning as a nation. mistakes

To Michele --
If you are concerned about Obama's grades being sealed, you should be more concerned about McCain's service record being sealed -- if he is such a great hero, why wouldn't he want that record to be public ?? And why has McCain sealed his medical records ? And why has McCain sealed his wife's financial records ?? I could go on and on. What is good for the goose is good for the gander.
Why do the MIA (soldiers "missing in action") groups condemn McCain, and fellow republicans who were on that committee with him say the McCain's blocking of further investigation was incomprehensible ??

Why do 6 out of 10 soldiers endorse Barack Obama instead of McCain ? Could it be McCain's votes on benefits for veterans ???

So, let's be sincere. Obama's personal record has been scoured for 2 years -- you are beating a DEAD HORSE -- if he was really hiding something, it would have surfaced by now. And McCain has enough dirt of his own if you want to continue to go that route. Your lengthy post is just more effort to deflect from the real issues we need to face: economics, war, health care, and education, dismantling of the Constitution.

Do you want to continue to try and sling mud on tenuous evidence, or do you want to talk policy and issues ???

McCain is desperately tying to win. He has given up his sterling line of "integrety" to become a mean-spirited candidate. Shame on him.
Maxwell O. Reade
Ann Arbor, Michigan
P.S. Could he have been brain-washed by his
captors in Viet Nam--so he is now an enemy
of the US? ( That is areally nasty thought.)

Referencing the "To All My Friends" post above: I picked one fact at random to check out. My eye fell on this one: "Where was Jarrett born? Ready for this? Shiraz , Iran! Do we see a pattern here?"

Here's what an article in the New Republic says about her early life: "Valerie Bowman's own upbringing was a blend of the exotic and traditional. At the time of her birth, her parents were living in Shiraz, Iran, where father James, a geneticist and pathologist, was helping set up a hospital. When Valerie was five, James moved the family to London for a one-year fellowship. In 1963, the Bowmans returned to Chicago, where James joined the University of Chicago faculty. Settling into the eclectic Hyde Park neighborhood, Valerie grew up surrounded by family."

So, she's not of Iranian descent, as the original post might be implying and which of itself signifies what?; she's the offspring of Americans working in Iran (at a time when that country was ruled by a pro-American shah).

Is there a "pattern" here?... None that relates to Barack Obama. I can't say the same about the poster.

"Class warfare"? Are they serious? I'm sorry, but there's BEEN a class war raging and WE'RE LOSING. We haven't even been fighting back. Obama's not going to fight back. Niether is McCain. They both clearly serve the rich....look how they both voted for the bailout. The rich have BEEN making war on us. We should fight back...without the politicians.

michele October 13, 08 12:54 PM, I'll tell you where the MONEY is COMING FROM. From people like me, I'm a middle aged married woman putting 5 kids through college. I give to Obama's campaign each week. I cannot afford not too. Hard to believe that we can get together and fund his campaign but we do. The other "novel" points you brought up are not new. The press realized along time ago that it is BS. Do you read? Do you think? You've drank the McCain fear Koolaid too!
Wake up! Newspapers have long endorsed candidates. This isn't new. Perhaps you all never paid attention before. People like you voted for BUSH and are to blame for the problems this country is facing. Look in the mirror! YOU DESTROYED THIS COUNTRY! Try to get it right this time!

Leon Francis -- Umm, when have newspapers NOT opted for a candidate in their editorials? It's a time-honored tradition. The only time I think there was an anomaly was when the New Yorker endorsed Kerry over Bush. I believe that was their first endorsement ever as they, quite correctly, saw what a danger Bush was to the country.

"Oh the shame!" Oh shush.

Michele needs to relax. Even McCain says not to fear an Obama presidency. I guess that this late in the campaign (Obama's been out there over a year), with everything so vetted, people like Michele will never be satisfied that the lies about Obama are...lies. So let me just suggest to Michele that if she were to objectively look at how 8 years of Republican policy have decimated our country, she might just see past the Rovian lies and vote for the POLICIES that are best for our future. Those POLICIES are clearly articulated by Mr. Obama.

Please VOTE for CHANGE!

To Number #1 Commenter:
Many of us have not been able to send four children through school, working round the clock, as we have been, the expenses only grow more and more daunting. Your comments about Senator Obama's round the "world tour" sound just like what you admit to: 'You are parrotting what you here on Commercial TV.
It's the giant commercial corporate media which is responsible fot the "dumbing Down" of America, and ypu are a self-admitted case-in-point.

Responding to Michele's comments above, posted today, I am not shocked to see that there are those who believe the way she says she does. It is more than likely that she has never supported Obama, as she spews the same negative-type thoughts of many of those who seem to believe and practice anti-beliefs...Anti anything different from the fundamentalist, extreme right negativity and half truths.
As a young person I heard the same type beliefs about and against Catholics! They were going to "rule the world" and the students in parochial schools were already wearing uniforms! Catholics did not read the bible was another untruth preached and believed by many non and anti-Catholic individuals.
It seems

It is highly likely that "michele" above is a Republican operative espousing twisted half-truths and utter falsehood to stoke this bizarre notion that the candidate is a sleeper cell just waiting to put us all in burkhas and tunics.

Please someone help expose this GOP propaganda.

"michele" if that what your real name is; you and your kind have lost this politcal debate. Period. I did not real your diatribe, I however, do read intelligent opposing views from "thinking" conservatives like Peggy Noonan and David Brooks. I am glad that "new Camelot" is coming to give some mean,war mongers and cheats neocons some good whooping.

Michele,
Anything can be found on the internet; it seems to me you dug with the specific intent to discredit the man you say you originally planned to vote for, rather than to verify with an open mind. Do some more digging and be a little more realistic, "my friend". Try to use only established, non-partisan sources such as FactCheck.org or Snopes.com. Remember that most conspiracy theories are a cover for paranoia. Innuendo is a powerful means of making people question based on fear, not facts.
Just because it's found on the internet doesn't make it necessarily so. Check your sources carefully.
And please, please, PLEASE, don't post something on the internet yourself unless you can substantiate it with fact - not speculation.

As a Canadian, I don't have a direct vested interest in the outcome of the U.S. election. Oddly, with our own election taking place tomorrow (Oct 14), Americans may be surprised that the U.S. election is generating far more interest than our own. There are three reasons for this:

1) U.S. economic influence and the meltdown that threatens other world economies. In Canada, although we didn't have subprime mortgages, we invest heavily in the U.S. and are dependent on its markets for our exports. The economy is the #1 issue in both the Canadian and U.S. elections.

2) The unique prospect of electing someone other than a caucasian man. Amongst other western countries, the U.S. is not seen as a socially progressive country, which may be a surprise to their citizenry.

3) The bewildering choice of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running-mate. With all of the other strong candidates available, this comes across as a massive lapse in judgement, not something that a Canadian Prime Minister let alone an American President should have on their recent record.

4) The prospect of a Republican repeat scares the rest of the world. Everyone has had to endure GWB, not just the United States. John McCain on his own is a reasonably solid guy (excepting #3 above), but the possibility of him surrounding himself with the same Republicans that surrounded GWB will likely result in a continuation of the same policies. It's ok that John McCain is a "maverick", but the people around him won't be. Just as no-one really thinks GWB calls the shots, no-one is really naive enough to think that John McCain will either. So if you really want change, there's logically only one other choice unless you adopt a multi-party system such as Canada's (I'm not necessarily advising that!).

I think it amazes most people from outside the U.S. that even 40% of Americans still support the McCain-Palin ticket. I think that's unique to the U.S. where entire families grow up "Democrat" or "Republican". I'm watching to see the turning point where Republican's start turning on each other in a cannibalistic frenzy. I think the post-election finger-pointing will be the highlight. After this, I doubt Sarah Palin will even get re-elected to her Alaska governorship next time around.

Tomorrow, I'm going to vote for the person who I think has the best judgement, balancing both our local needs and our national needs. Not whether they're war-heroes or the colour of their skin. I wonder how many people, U.S. or Canadian, rationalize their votes the same way?

Michele
Stop watching Fox news- by the far the worst news station our there and very pro-Republican and I wouldn't rely on Wikipedia either. stop spreading fear!

Yes don't gamble with America's future, Stu, vote for Obama!

Dear Michele,

Your prejudice is given away by the following:
"Oh, and by the way, remember the college roommates that where born in Pakistan? They are in charge of all those 'small' Internet campaign contributions for Obama. Where is that money coming from? The poor and middle class in this country? Or could it be from the Middle East?"

There is nothing wrong with being from Pakistan. I know many people from Pakistan that love the U.S. with all their heart. There is also nothing wrong with being a Muslim. Almost all Muslims in the U.S. love it deeply. Yes, most of the Barack Obama campaign money is from the poor and middle class. Some way be from the Middle East. There is nothing wrong with that. There are many honest and decent people in the Middle East.

I don't care about McCain or his supporters much. There is a nastiness, brashness in his words that I think would tick off a lot of foreign leaders
That's what i hear when I hear McCain...
War.....that fu&ker will have us fighting even ourselves i think after a few years...
..when he speaks you hear this disconnected chaotic rambling from one topic to the next, almost as much as Palin does. He was a hero 40 years ago, all right? Let it go for God Sakes. Even the year 2000 McCain supporters say he's sold his soul to the GOP to be president....Palin is a Bush appointee and so will all the other cabinet appointees if McCain gets elected....I can't invision that people are that simple and stupid even to vote Republican this year, as much destruction as has been waged against our pocket-books and sensibilities, but I hear that mantra again but people wanting their leaders to be able to sit at the table and have coffee with or drink with. I would rather it be they turn me on to something I haven't had, someone that challenged me to think about life differently...Think about it....stale minded NASCAR dads and soccer mom's all bought the Bush BS about tax cuts and family values and less government...they all got lied to, and now John McCain is going to shake things up? "laugh" I got news for the world, our country is falling apart, there isn't really anything like family values much anymore but at church on Sunday, in between the sabath moms and dads are cheating on each other, on medication, drugs or alcohol, chatting on-line, checking out porn, screwing the baby-sitters, bag boys, and daughters and sons are out there doing it up no less, drugs sex and everything inbetween, Americans don't really make anything anymore, we assemble foreign products, we shop and spend money and now that's coming to an end....a land of stupid, unchallenged, unenlightenable people, who wouldn't know they were getting screwed from behind if it was televised....and it is being televised....
Palin and McCain represent probably the most singly dangerous evil on this planet, ignorance. I can't believe you a&&holes voted for Bush the second time and wish you a&&holes would stay home this next time..

McCain and his "When I look into Putin's eyes I see three letters 'K-G-B' " it is probably the most offensive thing I have heard him say. It's that GW Bushian, whatever type sense of humor as though nothing is serious, or as though we have nothing to lose by joking about such serious matters. Denying in part that in order for diplomacy to actually work one needs to look beyond the surface and depth of these situations to come to change the obvious, not pre-judge, set up standards we don't even follow on the world stage..

McPalin is dangerous, and I don't care what anyone says in rebutt.....the lesser of two evils is still evil, but I'll take it so as to be one step closer to divine....and away from that sea of stupidity for Christs Sake!!!!!
McCain and Palin talk to people like they are reading out of a Jack and Jill Book...
"Obama's an arab" "I'm Mad, I'm really mad" ---you are sad, and you are fat and stupid....
the last thing that appeals to me is some dame in a skirt who thinks she can be president, first off I've seen better looking women and smarter in female form that would put that idiot governor wanna be soccer mom to shame. Some women are more appealing because they are smart, or show humbleness when they don't know the answers....and McCain, the old coot speaks for himself....watch him ramble around on stage "My Friends, My Friends" when he ain't got any....he's mean and nasty....

god, I pray, really really this time, that they don't win again.....

Where did the money come from? Millions of people who believe in Obama and not the Republican lies. I lived for 10 years making less than $5,000 a year and managed to travel four times to Europe, once to Thailand to work with the Cambodian refugees and all over the US and Canada in my work with persons with disabilities. I visited and spent time with people from many different countries and many different faiths while working with an international spiritually base organization to create homes for handicapped adults. Closed minds with limited experience often can't comprehend big ideas. I almost never contributed to a presidential campaign before, but over the last year my wife and I have donated over $250. If Obama has 1 million contributors (which he has more) giving $250 over a year that is 250 million dollars. None from big corporate executives, none from oil companies or other lobbyist..

Michele (first comment at 12:54 on Oct. 13th):
Fascinating! About doing your own homework and all that, I mean. But I googled this part: "Valerie Jarrett was Michelle Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born?"

Got 1320 sites where the exact same post appears, usually the complete post, and most of them (that I checked) bragged of doing their own research also, also in different words. Even more fascinating is that it quickly ran up to 14,900 in only 10 minutes! Try it, folks, see how many of the Palin supporters copy their own work. Or something.

To Michele...

and all her misguided friends. Long-winded does not = important. Nor does it imply a guarantee of truth. Wikipedia is a fun and useful resource, but it is not an authority about anything. Anyone can contribute or edit Wikipedia articles. If Michele's friends contribute to Wikipedia, it is little wonder that Michele was able to find there what she apparently wanted to find.

I sent a son to Columbia on a very average -- perhaps lower than average -- middle class income. My son is smart -- maybe even in same intellectual zone with Barack Obama. But he couldn't have done it without substantial, generous grants and scholarships. And you neglected to acknowledge that Obama became editor of the Harvard Law Review. This is not an extracurricular activity for people looking for a way to fill their time; no one ascends to this lofty position without stellar intellectual gifts. You also neglected to acknowledge that John McCain finished fifth from the bottom of his class at Annapolis. Had it not been the Vietnam era, he more than likely would never have been entrusted with a multi-million dollar aircraft.

Because your credibility is so questionable at this point, I don't know whether to believe that Obama referred to his "Muslim" faith or not. If so, it hasn't gotten much play in the media. McCain addressed a campaign crowd as "my fellow prisoners." Mistakes happen. Your long-winded, ill-considered post was one.

Michelle,
Your dirty tricks are not going to work. We are not buying it so just give it a rest.
You and your republican tactics don't work.
Obama/ Biden 08 and 2012
Ps: were you the one that started the whole “Obama is the Antichrist “chain-mail?

There should be no way on earth that any voter in this nation should follow the recommendations of any newspaper or for that matter, their 'expert political analyst' on whom to cast their vote. These are the most biased and uninformed people in the world. If they weren't they would have delved into Obama's past with the same intensity that they seem to gleefully persue with McCain and Palin. Objective and unbiased reporting has long since passed the media and for some time now they have 'annointed' themselves as the final decision makers in the electorial process.

For those of you old enough to remember the Chicago paper in the Truman/Dewey presidential election hit the streets with - "DEWEY WINS!!!" We know how that came out.

Personally I don't know if McCain is the answer - surely the Repubs could have presented a more adequate candidate. I do know that, regardless of party affiliation, he is a far better equipped candidate than Obama. Obama has absolutely no credible history either in his state senate tenure nor in the national senate. His history with very questionable personal affiliations is well established and they are very disturbing and yet the media, at every level, has failed to persue these issues in depth and if they have they have failed to present it to the public for fear of what they have uncovered.

The media, in its entirety, have but one desire - they want nothing but a far left leaning liberal in the POTUS. If this occurs this nation will sink farther and farther into internal chaos and it will totally destroy our moral and ethical compass.

As one who has the good fortune (or misfortune if you will) to observe these elections since FDR in 1932 I can tell you from these observations that we are rapidly destroying our nation from within and unless the voters of this nation wake up, and quickly, you are not going to have a country left for your grandchildren to flourish in.

McCain has been trying to catch the thermals of the public opinion polls and soar
to the white house by distorting the truth about Baraq Obama, and when one slogan failed to create an uproar about his opponent he switched to the next, the next, and the next until the public had started to see that he lacks any direction, and that he has nothing on his back pack for mainstream America.

McCain claims to be the reincarnation of Ted Roosevelt, one who "speaks softly
but carry a big stick." And at a time when the U.S. is fighting two wars, the U.S. Treasury is drained about $10 billion a day to support them, and the Wall Street
has drained $4 trillion of investments from mainstream America, McCain keeps talking about "big sticks" and has sung "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb
Iran" to promote his warfare loaded patriotism.

The mainstream America is actually looking for someone who "will speak softly
and carry a big stick," but on Wall Street, and those who are taking the U.S. Treasury billions to shore up their companies, but award first $ 30 million bonuses, and $ 1 million lifetime consulting salaries to themselves - as ABC News and the congressional investigation has disclosed. And this is happening because George Bush and John McCain have always favored strong
deregulation of Wall Street, plus unlimited wars.

That's McCain vision, unfortunately, and as the trends show, McCain is not riding high in the public polls thermals on his flight to the White House. His flight is probably going to end in a Cuckoo's Nest. And that is good for America.
Nikos Retsos, retired professor and loser on Wall Street.

Michele,
Wikipedia is not a reliable resource. Further it is know that no student is allowed to site it as a resource. Educated people know this.... but since it seems that you also read the may mediums that are favored by Sarah Palin, it would stand to reason that you trust an information source that also host pages to Carrot Top, Anna Nicole Smith and Shaggy the local disc-jockey who on Torture Tuesdays eats chilipeppers on air to entertain his viewers.
Lady, get the actual facts instead of wasting our time with your right-wing, racist conspiracy theories and oh by the way.... not all Arabs are bad, not all Muslims are radical, you are simply perpetuating an atmosphere of hate and fear when you post irrelevant dribble as you did.

Interesting comments/observations about Mr. Obama's past mentoring, and associations. .. topics that have become taboo. The comfort I take is that there are many of us that have not fallen lock, stock and barrel for Mr. Obama's oratorical skills and are willing to look at the objective facts. In addition to the objective facts, there is that subjective, inner awareness, that in the case of Mr. Obama, all that glitters is definitely not gold. I know things are currently difficult for the country, but do you get the impression many citizens are jumping on a band wagon, drawn by a personality cult figure that may be leading to a precipice?

Michelle (Posted by michele October 13, 08 12:54 PM) who posted earlier. Kudos for your research, I have copied and pasted your article and plan on forwarding it to everyone, I can. I have researched also, and I find it extremely upsetting how the media has stated that McCain's camp are the one's being racist, when it is the biased and liberistic media who are saying we are a racist for voting for McCain, but choose not to say anything about those that choose to vote for Obama for the very same reason and for those who still don't believe Obama is or was a Muslim, you need to look at how the Muslims look at it. He only stated he was Christian in his teenage years. But the Muslims still look at him as a Muslim. PRAY FOR GUIDEANCE

Michele's comment is copied verbatim from numerous posts on the web. That would be called plagerism. Next, the letter uses a time-honored method to smear someone -- asking rhetorical questions without providing any answers in an attempt to raise doubt. Thing is, all of the stuff implied in Michele's post is easily fact-checked at Snope.com. All the implications are a pack of lies.

And on the William Ayers terrorist connection, here are the facts. The two nonprofit boards Obama served on with Ayers also had a number of state Republican representatives. Their biggest contributo was Walter Annenberg, an Ambassador onder Ronald reagan. So if Obama is a "terrorist" by his association with Ayers, presumably all the other board members and their funders are as well.

Ayers father was CEO of Consolidated Edison in Chicago, and regardless of his past, Ayers has become a respected educator.

Michele (first comment at 12:54 on Oct. 13th):
Fascinating! About doing your own homework and all that, I mean.
But I googled this part: "Valerie Jarrett was Michelle Obama's boss. She is now Obama's chief advisor and he does not make any major decisions without talking to her first. Where was Jarrett born?"

Got 1320 sites where the exact same post appears, and most of them (that I checked) bragged of doing their own research also, also in different words. Even more fascinating is that it quickly ran up to 14,900 in only 10 minutes! Try it, folks, see how so many of the Palin supporters coy their own work. Or something. more fasciatnging is that it quickly rang up to 14,900, in only 10 minutes!

Thank you, Michelle, for this concerned piece. I ask similar patience for this response.

Yes: Obama and McCain are real people with real pasts. Yes: they have each acted and made decisions we can agree or disagree with. Please--let's not be duped by labels, innuendo, and fear.

Obama admits to drug use in his books as the greatest moral failure of his life.

His father was Muslim from Kenya. His father and mother split when Barack was 2, completing his studies at Harvard. Barack is a church-going Christian. The facts of the incidents Michelle cites above are available for those paying attention. (By the way, having graduated Occidental, I can say OXY has had a history of difficult ethnicity relatons and currently proactively seeks fair representation. I have a friend who left in the early 80's before he graduated--for the same reasons as Obama--to attend UCLA ).

Occidental, Columbia, and Harvard are all extremely expensive. Only the most wealthy (like our current president, also a Harvard grad) can attend without financial aid. Michelle's questions beg the answer: "of course he recieved financial aid."

Michelle later loosely counts the number of Obama's student loans as 20 and proceeds to find him guilty of inabilty to run a public office by association with rich people. Such associations are not usually held against Reagan, or Washington, or Bush I (with serious ties to Saudi oil money), or Clinton, or any other president in our history. How does one become president of the US without major financial support?

Michelle asks where he got the money to pay for the Chicago home (it was $1.6million not $1.65). Advances on his two books' sales would go a long way to make a down payment--if one is interested in sleuthing.

Obama is reportedly worth just under $2million. John McCain (with his 7 homes) is valued at greater than $53million.

If xenophobia is your game, one might be interested to note that McCain was NOT born in America (as if that were a sin). He was born on a naval base in Panama.

Michelle asks above if she is going crazy. I do not think she is going crazy, but it is a known fact that those overwhelmed with helplessness become superstitious and see patterns where they do not exist. My grandparents were born in Spain and I have Mexican friends. This does not mean I am a puppet of Franco or a student of Picasso. Michelle's citation of an Iraqi newspaper as a reliable source is also a convenient turn-around.

Over 1.5 million people have contributed amounts as small as $5 to Obama's campaign. Therefore, he does not have to use taxpayers' money to buy his advertising. Michelle offers no evidence beyond a paranoid assertion that the money comes from the Middle East. You know: that region of infidels and Muslims.

Michelle states that her sources include Wikipedia. A quick fact check there confirms that not all of her citations are correct. Her representation of the Rezko association is particularly misleading.

McCain spoke on behalf of deregulation in the Keating Five scandal costing tax payers $3 billion in the late 80s-early 90s. McCain himself said: "It's a wrong appearance when a group of senators appear in a meeting with a group of regulators, because it conveys the impression of undue and improper influence. And it was the wrong thing to do." He has voted with Bush policies 90% of the time.

So, a mistake is a mistake. The Keating Five scandal cost $3 billion. Compare that to the current and very similar $700 billion crisis we are in right now as a result of McCain/Bush-supported deregulation.

Michele said: "Do we see a pattern here? Or am I going crazy?" You're probably not crazy--but you are overly fearful and paranoid in your outlook, and that's not healthy. Step one: turn off the American TV news. Leave it off.
For BETTER info about what is going on in the US, check the foreign media: BBC, Guardian and The Times in the UK., NRK in Norway, The Economist ,of course. The US media is FOR PROFIT (thus, objectivity is compromised). State-run media in socialist democracies like Sweden and Norway can afford much more detailed and subjective reporting (no profit agenda).

Michel:
Thank god there are people like you,otherwise we will never be aware of the existence of true evil.

Michele
I have a close friend from Pakistan, high integrity, family man, hard working, well educated. I know of one fault he has is - he's a Republican!
Just because Barrack has friends and possible advisors that are from the middle east doesn't mean there is some deep conspiracy going on - it may mean he has a deverse group of friends which I may suggest you do the same, because you are very narrowed minded.

Wow. I tried what entry number 65 suggested and came up with:
"1 - 10 of about 15,300"
That article by #1 "michelle" increased on the net by more than 400 in about 10 minutes.
Karl Rove, look what you've helped create!

michelle go to this and read about how Obama may have gotten his money: and about the other people in his life- scary !!

www.familysecuritymatters.org

El Mansour supposedly got him into /harvard and gave him money ... he didnt do it on loans no matter what he says..

THIS IS BECAUSE MOST NEWS JOURANALIST ARE EDUCATED AND KNOW THE FACTS UNLIKE THE IGNORANT PEOPLE YOU SEE AT MCCAIN HATE RALLIES. THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN IDEAOLOGIES AND THE THE REPUBLICAN IDEALOGY CANNOT WIN BASED ON THE ISSUES AND HAVE RESULTED TO FALSE AND NEGATIVE ATTACKS THAT CONTINUE TO BE PROVEN TO BE LIES. IT'S TIME TO STEP TO WHAT IS RIGHT AND PEOPLE NEED A CHANGE AFTER 8 YEARS. OBAMA/BIDEN 08.

Michelle-
To answer your question: Yes, you are going crazy. I'm pretty sure the NYTimes and other journals have investigative reporters that would have put this together if it had any validity or meaning. Stop searching for ways to associate Obama with terrorists!!! and think instead about which candidate has consistently offered solutions to solve our domestic and international problems. Think about your children, and what kinds of policies now will support a better life for them in the future.

Michele, not only is this the same old crap, it is not even original. This is one more of those ridiculous cut-and-past distributions that Republicans seem to like so much. The problem is, we see them all over the place, word for word. Yours is not exception.

It is sad that you can't think, or write for yourself. But please spare us the chain-letter type rhetoric. It doesn't fool anyone, and it takes up space. We saw this kind of garbage circulated about Kerry too. We all recognize it when we see it. It only makes you look like a mindless fool. I find it very telling that Republican supporter need to resort to this kind of thing.

Maybe that's where the term "Ditto head" comes from.

"85% of major newspapers backed Kerry/Edwards. I guess that shows how in touch they are with the American voter."

Given the predictable and now proven disaster that has been the Bush Presidency, I believe your claim, if true, proves that the newspapers did their homework and were right - and btw, W never did win a fair election, so you can't really blame the "American voters" for supporting him.

Ictoan, that was freaking hilarious!

Michele - be sure to follow ictoan's advice.

AAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

Obama/Biden 2008

Michelle, obviously this is just a slam on Obama. Why have you changed your mind so many times? What positive attributes can you inform us with regarding Senator McCain?
On balance, when compared to McCain and Palin, Senators Obama and Biden are far more qualified to take the country forward. Conspiracy theories and religious zealotry aside, those are the choices before us. It is my opinion that to vote for McCain/Palin is to support the ticket least likely to lead the country effectively, at a critical time. I view such an action as simply not the patriotic thing to do when we know so much about them and their shortcomings.

Barack has spoken extensively about his exorbitant amounts of student loans that he just managed to pay off with the money he has received from his books. I'm surprised you missed that. Gone are the days of an insular America. We benefit from all our global connections. The more people point out all of Barack’s international connections and experience the stronger and more viable a candidate he becomes. Thanks for reminding us that he is finally going to give America its’ credibility back as a World Leader!!!

Michelle, I am Italian, does that make me a Soprano? I have many Arab/Muslim friends, and they appreciate this country more than most Americans. They know first hand what dictator's like Bush/Cheney can do to harm a country.
Obama has been properly vetted over the past 2 years. If there was ANY substance to your concerns then they would have been aired out during the Democratic primaries.
I am much more interested in McPalin enlightening us about Todd's undue influence in State government (Troopergate) as well as his well known association with a group that wants to make Alaska it's own country. Imagine, GOP folks want us to look at Obama's peripheral ties to Ayers, yet no mention of her husbands strong ties to a group that actively calls for Alaska being an independent state.
I am also more interested in how McCain, a member of the Keating 5, lobbied for more deregulation that cost the taxpayers over 3 billion in bad loans in the 80's. The same type of foolish GOP deregulation that is mostly responsible for the meltdown on Wallstreet.
Michelle, these are well known facts, not heresay or conjecture. Please find out more information about the Keating 5, Troopergate and Todd's association with this group then report back and let me know what you think.

I hope all of you kool-aid drinking liberals are ready to shell out some BIG money over the next 4 years for Obama's "tax cuts". You are all talking like cult members for Pete's sake!
I know it's impossible for all of you to look at the truth at this point in the brain-washing, so save this thread and refer back to it in 4 years. Unfortunately by then we'll be in far worse shape than we are now, but at least I'll be able to say "I told you so".

Why are you so afraid of Obama, Michele? Are you aware that your comment is already being circulated in emails? Well, of course you are aware. Funny how the lies always spread faster than the truth. I'm afraid that people are trying to cover up their racist hearts by blowing out of proportion and twisting every little thing they can find.

The Republicans are desperate to do anything they can do, because they are behind in the polls and a black man might be elected. *gasp*

I say, "God forbid that anything should ever happen to John McCain and Sarah Palin would be our President." Now that is scary!!

I am a caucasion by the way.

Seems like much of the same things went on when GW Bush was running. Look how that turned out. We've had 8 years of the worst President in History to contend with. We're farther in debt than we've ever been. Our Country was and still may be on the verge of collapsing....and you all want more of the same?

We've lost respect amongst other Countries that used to look up to us.

We went to war with Iraq when our real enemy was and still is in Afghanistan. I support the troops 100%. My son was one of those troops, but my gosh....fight the war where it should have been fought and bring our men and women home...safe and sound. The sooner the better!

I can get those emails about Obama all day long and I even read them, but it doesn't sway my opinion one tiny bit. It just makes me think, "Those Republicans will stop at nothing to try and smear Obama."

Watching Palin and McCain enciting a riot atmospere at their rallies is very scary. They were deliberately stirring up hate, anger and FEAR! And Cindy McCain was spooky in her speech the other day. She sent chills up my spine! Her own husband voted against the Troop Funding Bill at a different time. When McCain supporters are yelling out things like, "Off with his head" (referring to Obama) something is very, very wrong.

I'm ready for change and so is the majority of America. McCain is NOT change. This campaign alone is proof of that.

I pray to God that Obama wins this election.

McCain lost my vote and respect when he picked Sarah Palin as his running mate. What a desperate and foolish attempt to attract supporters!

Michele Dearest,
"The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill requiring health-insurance providers nationwide to cover mental-health treatment on an equal basis with medical care..." (Seattle Times, 9/25/08)
Boy, aren't you lucky! No need to worry about out of pocket costs! Get the help you need. Please!

I came to this site hoping to find some legitimate, sound, information and have found nothing but garbage. When someone shares a viewpoint, can it not be received with respect? No matter who you want to see elected, remember that when it's all over, we need to work together to make this country strong. I'm really tired of people being derogatory about others just because they hold an opinion different than themselves. It's so easy to insult people when you're not looking them in the eye!

It's our willingness to examine evidence and weigh values that makes us able to vote intelligently. There are intelligent Democrats, Republicans, and Independents: we need to listen to each other and find the truth amidst the careless talk. Shame on us for tearing each other apart.

I came to this site hoping to find some legitimate, sound, information and have found nothing but garbage. When someone shares a viewpoint, can it not be received with respect? No matter who you want to see elected, remember that when it's all over, we need to work together to make this country strong. I'm really tired of people being derogatory about others just because they hold an opinion different than themselves. It's so easy to insult people when you're not looking them in the eye!

It's our willingness to examine evidence and weigh values that makes us able to vote intelligently. There are intelligent Democrats, Republicans, and Independents: we need to listen to each other and find the truth amidst the careless talk. Shame on us for tearing each other apart.