View Full Version : Obama playing the race card
sapphiregirl
09-20-2008, 05:25 PM
I don't understand what stripperweb membership has to do with political philosophy.
Let's send a bunch of "strip club junkies" to hang with McCain and Palin to see how they are recieved. Front row center. "strip club junkies" for McCain on banners....nope would not go over well with the Republican platform.
............anyway....all the rape threads, a rape sticky, the way men act here, and now it seems Zia is gone....who cares....
.....but what do I know....I'm just an Obamblognut.
all the rape stuff appearing on this board is disturbing though.
Melonie
09-20-2008, 10:17 PM
Front row center. "strip club junkies" for McCain on banners....nope would not go over well with the Republican platform.
True that republicans generally treat 'strippers' badly, primarily as a result of the fundamentalist christian subgroup that sees 'strippers' as being immoral. But also true that 'strippers' aren't well treated by many democrat subgroups either. The radical feminist subgroup tend to see 'strippers' as victims of sexist exploitation qand wants to end this exploitation by regulating strip clubs out of business. The extreme liberal subgroup tends to see 'strippers' as an exploited labor force in need of unionization. And the civil rights subgroup tends to see 'strippers' as sex workers who should be legally free to perform acts of prostitution on a nightly basis. The inconvenient truth is that 'strippers' are persona non grata to virtually ALL politicians, at least from the standpoint of public support.
If liberal politics was 'good' for the exotic dancing industry, one would think that California strip clubs would be booming. However, the opposite is arguably the case. But California does seem to be the home of the 'ultimate liberal club' i.e. the Lusty Lady in San Francisco. Unfortunately, after treating dancers as employees and collecting all applicable taxes, this club (and its dancers) has almost constantly flirted with bankruptcy.
Of course members of both parties are also not above the 'selfish' concerns of not wanting a local strip club de-valuing their neighborhood property values. And politicians of both parties are not above utilizing a strategically timed strip club bust to draw attention to their own local campaigns. Ultimately, the only politician that actually gave tacit support to 'strippers' at the national level was Dr. Ron Paul !!! But of course this entire line of discussion is off topic ...
eagle2
09-20-2008, 11:36 PM
it was a specific reference to certain poor high school educated 'single mom' girls who face a dilemma due to the social welfare system. They can work their asses off at a straight job with minimal benefits and earn $25,000 a year, or they can sit home and do nothing and live a lifestyle equivalent to earning $30k+ per year thanks to medicaid / food stamps / subsidized rent / subsidized utilities / WIC etc. But they cannot afford to go to college in order to improve their 'poor' lifestyle, because the minute they (officially) start earning $35,000 per year they lose eligibility for their social welfare benefits and wind up with LESS discretionary spending money after paying for their own medical / rent / utilities / groceries ! This is the 'welfare trap' that has come to exist in states that offer generous social welfare benefits.
You're repeating conservative myths about welfare. The fact is, most people have used welfare as a means of getting back on their feet, rather than a permanent lifestyle. Even before welfare reform, over half of welfare recipients were on welfare for less than two years and over 80% were on welfare for less than five years. I think the following statistics are from 1994:
http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/L-welfareblack.htm
Time on AFDC
---------------------------
Less than 7 months 19.0%
7 to 12 months 15.2
One to two years 19.3
Two to five years 26.9
Over five years 19.6
With welfare reform, there are now limits as to how long one can stay on welfare. If anything, welfare gives women other alternatives to support themselves if they don't want to become strippers.
sorry, but there is only one set of facts for everyone. And the facts are that Clinton cut the capital gains tax rate significantly under duress from a republican congress. As a result, investors shifted money from money markets into stocks, US industries quickly substituted payment via stock options (i.e. capital gains) versus payments via high salaries (i.e. taxable income) and the dot-com boom was born.
No, the facts are, the stock market increased significantly before the capital gains tax rate was cut. The capital tax gains rate cut was around August 1997. Prior to that, the Dow went from around 3,400 when Clinton became President, to over 8,000. (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=^DJI&t=my&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=) Both the stock market and the economy grew significantly after Clinton raised taxes and before the capital gains tax rate was cut.
eagle2
09-20-2008, 11:38 PM
Everyone's entitled to their own opinon but NOT their own facts. Clinton CUT Capital Gains taxes fueling the Stock Market boom and those big fat Wall St. bonuses some of which ended up in strippers' purses. The dot-com bubble burst under Clinton. We had a strong economy from about late 2002 to early 2007 under Bush.
As I said in my previous post, the stock market increased significantly under Clinton before the capital gains tax rate was cut.
eagle2
09-20-2008, 11:41 PM
circling back to the actual topic of this thread, this race card appears to be a two edged sword. And before you read the link, keep in mind that this poll was taken by the Associated Press (one of the LEAST conservative mainstream media outlets) in conjunction with Yahoo (not exactly a good-ol boy industry) a California university and a Southern California (not exactly a bastion of conservatism) polling firm ..
http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-obama-race
(snip)"WASHINGTON (AP) — Deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks — many calling them "lazy," "violent," responsible for their own troubles.
The poll, conducted with Stanford University, suggests that the percentage of voters who may turn away from Obama because of his race could easily be larger than the final difference between the candidates in 2004 — about two and one-half percentage points.
Certainly, Republican John McCain has his own obstacles: He's an ally of an unpopular president and would be the nation's oldest first-term president. But Obama faces this: 40 percent of all white Americans hold at least a partly negative view toward blacks, and that includes many Democrats and independents.
More than a third of all white Democrats and independents — voters Obama can't win the White House without — agreed with at least one negative adjective about blacks, according to the survey, and they are significantly less likely to vote for Obama than those who don't have such views.
Such numbers are a harsh dose of reality in a campaign for the history books. Obama, the first black candidate with a serious shot at the presidency, accepted the Democratic nomination on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, a seminal moment for a nation that enshrined slavery in its Constitution.
"There are a lot fewer bigots than there were 50 years ago, but that doesn't mean there's only a few bigots," said Stanford political scientist Paul Sniderman who helped analyze the exhaustive survey.
The pollsters set out to determine why Obama is locked in a close race with McCain even as the political landscape seems to favor Democrats. President Bush's unpopularity, the Iraq war and a national sense of economic hard times cut against GOP candidates, as does that fact that Democratic voters outnumber Republicans.
The findings suggest that Obama's problem is close to home — among his fellow Democrats, particularly non-Hispanic white voters. Just seven in 10 people who call themselves Democrats support Obama, compared to the 85 percent of self-identified Republicans who back McCain.
The survey also focused on the racial attitudes of independent voters because they are likely to decide the election.
Lots of Republicans harbor prejudices, too, but the survey found they weren't voting against Obama because of his race. Most Republicans wouldn't vote for any Democrat for president — white, black or brown.
Not all whites are prejudiced. Indeed, more whites say good things about blacks than say bad things, the poll shows. And many whites who see blacks in a negative light are still willing or even eager to vote for Obama.
On the other side of the racial question, the Illinois Democrat is drawing almost unanimous support from blacks, the poll shows, though that probably wouldn't be enough to counter the negative effect of some whites' views.
Race is not the biggest factor driving Democrats and independents away from Obama. Doubts about his competency loom even larger, the poll indicates. More than a quarter of all Democrats expressed doubt that Obama can bring about the change they want, and they are likely to vote against him because of that.
Three in 10 of those Democrats who don't trust Obama's change-making credentials say they plan to vote for McCain. "(snip)
I agree that the color of Obama's skin will cost him votes in the election.
Eric Stoner
09-22-2008, 12:55 PM
As I said in my previous post, the stock market increased significantly under Clinton before the capital gains tax rate was cut.
Not true. At the end of 1994, the DJIA was BELOW 4,000. On January 14, 2000 it had hit 11,722. Before the Republicans took over Congress the NASDAQ was at 800 and it hit 4000 in early 2000. If you track both indices before and after Clinton's Capital Gains Tax cuts, the difference is even more dramatic.
Kellydancer
09-26-2008, 11:29 PM
It disgusts me that people are still going to vote against Obama due to color. I'm not talking Republicans. Republicans vote for Republicans and I understand that. I'm talking Democrats. It's 2008 and Americans still haven't come far enough with regards to race. I am white but hate racism with a passion. If McCain wins with his wackjob bimbo VP candidate I will firmly believe that Americans are a bunch of ignorant racists more interested in voting for American Idol than for president. There's no other way a Democrat would want McCain/Palin anywhere near the White House since Palin is the opposite (McCain also to a lesser degree) of what the Democratic Party is.
bem401
09-29-2008, 06:20 AM
It disgusts me that people are still going to vote against Obama due to color.
Are you equally disgusted by people who are voting for Obama due to color?
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 06:27 AM
Tell me seriously, who do you think is voting for Obama STRICTLY based on his race and nothing else?
bem401
09-29-2008, 06:41 AM
Tell me seriously, who do you think is voting for Obama STRICTLY based on his race and nothing else?
I'm assuming this was directed at me. I was responding to Kellydancer's statement that some are voting against him because he is black. If that is so, there must be some voting for him for the same reason. And they're both equally wrong,
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 06:58 AM
Yes it was. Answer my question.
bem401
09-29-2008, 07:04 AM
Yes it was. Answer my question.
She was inferring there are people voting against him because he is black. If such people exist, there must be some voting for him for the same reason. I asked if she was offended by those as well. Personallly, I am offended by anyone who would vote on such a superficial basis.
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 07:07 AM
Bem.. WHO IS VOTING FOR OBAMA JUST BECAUSE OF HIS RACE? Where are you people getting this from? Is it black people? Is that who is voting for him because he's black? Is it white apologists? WHO IS IT?
If you are going to make such comments, you have to back them up. For the record, there are lots and lots of people on video and in print who have explicitly stated that they will NOT vote for Obama because he is black.
bem401
09-29-2008, 07:17 AM
Bem.. WHO IS VOTING FOR OBAMA JUST BECAUSE OF HIS RACE? Where are you people getting this from? Is it black people? Is that who is voting for him because he's black? Is it white apologists? WHO IS IT?
If you are going to make such comments, you have to back them up. For the record, there are lots and lots of people on video and in print who have explicitly stated that they will NOT vote for Obama because he is black.
So you propose that there are lots and lots of people voting against him because he is black and virtually none voting for him for that reason?
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 07:25 AM
Bem, just answer my question. You said it, back it up. Don't respond to me again about this subject until you do what I've asked. If you can't then just let this go.
bem401
09-29-2008, 07:35 AM
Bem, just answer my question. You said it, back it up. Don't respond to me again about this subject until you do what I've asked. If you can't then just let this go.
I'm not aware of anyone voting one way or the other on Obama because of his race and never claimed to be.
If, as KD said, there are those voting against him because of his race, there must be some voting for him for the same reason. I would think there are some within the black community who support him because he is black just as there are probably some withing the white community who won't vote for him for the same reason.
My observation was that KD seemed only to be offended by those using race as a reason to vote against Obama.
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 07:59 AM
Are you equally disgusted by people who are voting for Obama due to color?
This is what you posted. This means that you think there are people who are voting for him because he's black. You didn't say,"If there were people voting for him because he's black, would you be offended as well?" You implied that there are people voting for him because he's black and when you are asked to provide proof of this, you can't.
But I (and many others) know who you meant when you said that. It's been stated before. Black people are voting for Obama just because he's black, right? He wouldn't be doing as well if he was a white guy, right? Just say it and get it off your chest.
bem401
09-29-2008, 08:12 AM
But I (and many others) know who you meant when you said that. It's been stated before. Black people are voting for Obama just because he's black, right? He wouldn't be doing as well if he was a white guy, right? Just say it and get it off your chest.
Some black people are voting for him because he is black just as surely as some white people are voting against him because he is black, and they are both equally wrong.
And I have stated previously that he wouldn't be doing quite as well if he were white guy. A white guy with as shallow a resume as his and as questionable a bunch of associates would never have made it this far.
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 08:33 AM
Now, don't you feel better?
Of course he's dong well because he's black. Historically, being black has been one of the strongest assets one can posses. I feel very sorry for all those white males who have been places in inferior positions and have no power in this country because they are white. You guys should protest or something. Or maybe form a group that fights against this unfair system that constantly makes you seem inferior based on your race. Maybe a group that puts the downtrodden white man first. A "racially aware" group that can make sure the white man is fairly represented.
It's disgusting how, if a white guy get something, people automatically say it was because of affirmative action or those damn black apologists who are just trying to make themselves feel "not racist" by voting for a white guy. It's like a white man can't get anything fair and square and be credited for what he accomplishes on his own. Shameful.
TheSexKitten
09-29-2008, 08:36 AM
And I have stated previously that he wouldn't be doing quite as well if he were white guy. A white guy with as shallow a resume as his and as questionable a bunch of associates would never have made it this far.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
ahaha.
francescadubois
09-29-2008, 08:47 AM
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
ahaha.
I know! Don't you love it? :D
bem401
09-29-2008, 08:51 AM
Yeah, you're right. It's his opposition that keeps mentioning the race issue, not his supporters.
The fact that someone recognizes he is playing the race card does not make that person a racist. If his side didn't keep making race an issue, there'd be nothing to observe.
TheLioness
09-29-2008, 09:26 AM
How can someone play the "race card" when they are bi racial? Barack's father was from Nairobi, and his mother is white. Why does it have to be "either" black or white? Why can't it be a little of both? From the people who won't vote for him because he's "black" to the people who's only reason for voting for him is because he's "black", it's stupid. I don't see Obama as the "ignorant" person playing the race card here. It's just like when everyone thought he was Muslim. People need to get a clue and vote based on how well a person can run this country and not the color of their skin.
bem401
09-29-2008, 09:34 AM
How can someone play the "race card" when they are bi racial? Barack's father was from Nairobi, and his mother is white. Why does it have to be "either" black or white? Why can't it be a little of both? From the people who won't vote for him because he's "black" to the people who's only reason for voting for him is because he's "black", it's stupid. I don't see Obama as the "ignorant" person playing the race card here. It's just like when everyone thought he was Muslim. People need to get a clue and vote based on how well a person can run this country and not the color of their skin.
The fact that he is bi-racial hasn't stopped him from saying he looks different, has a different-sounding name, and "oh yeah, did you notice he's black?" and that people will use it against him. These are word straight from his mouth.
To the best of my knowledge ( and I'm sure I'll be corrected here if I am wrong ), no one opposing him has ever made an issue of his race other than his fellow Democrats during the primary season.
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 09:52 AM
The Race Card is defined in two ways (wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_card)) :
In the first, and more common context, it alleges that someone has deliberately and falsely accused another person of being a racist in order to gain some sort of advantage. An example of this use of the term occurred during the O.J. Simpson criminal trial, when critics accused the defense of "playing the race card" in presenting Mark Fuhrman's racist past (e.g. his recorded use of the word "nigger" in addition to his being accused of tampering with murder evidence in prior cases, as well as his use of the Fifth Amendment to avoid potential self-incrimination upon questioning) as a reason to draw his credibility as a witness into question.
In the second context, it refers to someone exploiting prejudice against another race for political or some other advantage. The use of the southern strategy by a political candidate is said by some to be a version of "playing the race card", such as when former Senator Jesse Helms, during his 1990 North Carolina Senate campaign ran an ad showing a black man taking a white man's job, intended as a criticism of the idea of racial quotas. The ad was interpreted by many people as trying to play to racist fears among white voters.
Obama pointing out that people are wary of his race is NOT playing the race card.
bem401
09-29-2008, 10:00 AM
Obama pointing out that people are wary of his race is NOT playing the race card.
If its not playing the race card, then why bring it up?
It is the very definition of playing the race card.
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 10:06 AM
I gave you the definitions of playing the race card. Read them. Acknowledging your race and how it can hamper you is not playing the race card. If he would have said, "I know you white people won't vote for me because I'm black" of "Vote for me because I'm black" Then you would have a point.
bem401
09-29-2008, 10:17 AM
I gave you the definitions of playing the race card. Read them. Acknowledging your race and how it can hamper you is not playing the race card. If he would have said, "I know you white people won't vote for me because I'm black" of "Vote for me because I'm black" Then you would have a point.
Two points:
1. Just because its on wikipedia doesn't make it so. That's an open site where anybody can add anything they want to any entry.
2. That was the message he was sending, that some white people won't support him because he is black. In there is an implict challenge to prove you are not racist by not paying attention to those who would criticize him and by voting for him. His comments were playing on liberal white guilt.
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 10:57 AM
What is white guilt? I'm being serious. Do some white people actually feel so bad about being racist that they go and vote for black people? Or is it that non racist whites feel bad about how black people are treated and vote based on that? Why don't these people just vote on the issues? Why is that so damn hard this election?!
bem401
09-29-2008, 11:05 AM
What is white guilt? I'm being serious. Do some white people actually feel so bad about being racist that they go and vote for black people? Or is it that non racist whites feel bad about how black people are treated and vote based on that? Why don't these people just vote on the issues? Why is that so damn hard this election?!
Per wikipedia ( I know i just criticized its validity ) :
George Will , a conservative American political columnist, gives this definition of " White guilt":
"White guilt is a form of self-congratulation, where Whites initiate 'compassionate policies' toward people of color, to showcase their innocence to racism"
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 11:07 AM
That's funny. It's almost like, "I'm not racist, I have black friends!" What the heck.
bem401
09-29-2008, 11:09 AM
That's funny. It's almost like, "I'm not racist, I have black friends!" What the heck.
That's pretty much what it is. Actually, it would be more like searching out black friends to prove you're not racist.
Eric Stoner
09-29-2008, 11:29 AM
What is the big deal about black people voting for Obama just because he is black? I think his liberal politics have a lot to do with it but wouldn't a lot of black folk have voted for Colin Powell ? The polls said they would.
The Dems get at least 90 % of the black vote in EVERY Presidential Election since 1980 anyway. Obama is running at 97 to 98 % in the polls. So what ?
Guess who won the Greek vote in 1988 ? Dukakis. So what ?
Who won the Catholic vote and the Irish vote in 1960 ? Kennedy. So what ?
There is always some ethnic and/ or religious solidarity among voters. So what ?
sapphiregirl
09-29-2008, 11:37 AM
If Obama were white....McCain would be in a lot more trouble.
I don't care what color he is, I think he is brilliant. However I do think it will do America a lot of good to see a brilliant black/half black man as President.
Same for a woman President one day.
yeah...we would have to grow socially as a country too!
bem401
09-29-2008, 11:42 AM
If Obama were white....McCain would be in a lot more trouble.
I don't care what color he is, I think he is brilliant. However I do think it will do America a lot of good to see a brilliant black/half black man as President.
Same for a woman President one day.
yeah...we would have to grow socially as a country too!
OK, I'll bite. What makes him brilliant?
I'll give you several reasons he is not brilliant:
Ayres
Dorn
Wright
Rezko
Johnson
Raines
Biden
sapphiregirl
09-29-2008, 11:50 AM
OK, I'll bite. What makes him brilliant?
I'll give you several reasons he is not brilliant:
Ayres
Dorn
Wright
Rezko
Johnson
Raines
Biden
Shall I make an even longer list for McCain?
I'll keep it simple for you Bem...... Obama has won the Democratic Party Nomination after campaigning his ASS off for 19+ months on what he plans to do. He has been put through hell and back from the media, through debates, and stays on top.
Heck, Bem...lets see your BRILLIANT self do that. I bet you could get at least 3 votes!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 11:51 AM
Those aren't reasons, those are people. How do these people prove his un-brilliance? Get specific Bem.
I think he's great because of how he makes me and others feel about voting this year. He gives me hope that things can change in this country. We have most of the country supporting a black man for president. That is amazing and honestly, it's something that I didn't think I would see in my life time. For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country.
Not to mention I really like his ideas and while I may not agree with every single one of them, I can see the direction he wants to take the country in and I think it's awesome.
bem401
09-29-2008, 11:53 AM
Shall I make an even longer list for McCain?
I'll keep it simple for you Bem...... Obama has won the Democratic Party Nomination after campaigning his ASS off for 19+ months on what he plans to do. He has been put through hell and back from the media, through debates, and stays on top.
Heck, Bem...lets see your BRILLIANT self do that. I bet you could get at least 3 votes!!!!!!!!!!!!
Once again, back to attacking the messenger
sapphiregirl
09-29-2008, 11:59 AM
Those aren't reasons, those are people. How do these people prove his un-brilliance? Get specific Bem.
I think he's great because of how he makes me and others feel about voting this year. He gives me hope that things can change in this country. We have most of the country supporting a black man for president. That is amazing and honestly, it's something that I didn't think I would see in my life time. For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country.
Not to mention I really like his ideas and while I may not agree with every single one of them, I can see the direction he wants to take the country in and I think it's awesome.
Obama has amazing ideas. I also think he will be open to listening to others ideas.
His speech writing alone is brilliant..forget being President. He has a gift.
sapphiregirl
09-29-2008, 12:01 PM
Once again, back to attacking the messenger
Give me a break....Maybe I should start listing all the attacks, names, adjectives I've been called here by people against Obama in my signature.
bem401
09-29-2008, 12:02 PM
Those aren't reasons, those are people. How do these people prove his un-brilliance? Get specific Bem.
I think he's great because of how he makes me and others feel about voting this year. He gives me hope that things can change in this country. We have most of the country supporting a black man for president. That is amazing and honestly, it's something that I didn't think I would see in my life time. For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country.
Not to mention I really like his ideas and while I may not agree with every single one of them, I can see the direction he wants to take the country in and I think it's awesome.
They represent several bad decisions in his life that he made. Obviously they are controversial people he affiliated himself over the years who come with excessive baggage. As a group, they include a racist, domestic terrorists, a convicted felon, a couple of the main causes of the mortgage crisis, and a nitwit.
I'll grant you this. He is an excellent speechmaker, but there is no substance to him. He speaks of a number of things he'd like to do, none of which are the least bit possible and he knows it. His bottom line means more taxes and less freedom.
Remember, the government isn't the solution. It's the problem.
bem401
09-29-2008, 12:05 PM
Give me a break....Maybe I should start listing all the attacks, names, adjectives I've been called here by people against Obama in my signature.
Show me where I once attacked anyone personally for disagreeing with me or even responded in kind to someone who attacked me.
As I have said before, resorting to personal attacks, name-calling, or storming out of the "room" strike me as an indication of losing the argument.
sapphiregirl
09-29-2008, 12:08 PM
Show me where I once attacked anyone personally for disagreeing with me or even responded in kind to someone who attacked me.
As I have said before, resorting to personal attacks, name-calling, or storming out of the "room" strike me as an indication of losing the argument.
I said people...I did not name you.
1. Obama is brilliant because he was RIGHT ABOUT THE IRAQ WAR and McCain wrong on EVERY PART OF IT
bem401
09-29-2008, 12:13 PM
I said people...I did not name you.
1. Obama is brilliant because he was RIGHT ABOUT THE IRAQ WAR and McCain wrong on EVERY PART OF IT
You attacked me for not being as "BRILLIANT" as Obama and said I'd get 3 votes. That constitutes a personal attack. I have nothing to do with the issue. Why drag my brilliance or lack thereof into it? Save your personal attacks for those who attack you personally.
And if Obama had his way, we'd have lost the war. He was wrong on the surge and had nothing to do with the initial decision to go to war.
sapphiregirl
09-29-2008, 12:13 PM
Those aren't reasons, those are people. How do these people prove his un-brilliance? Get specific Bem.
I think he's great because of how he makes me and others feel about voting this year. He gives me hope that things can change in this country. We have most of the country supporting a black man for president. That is amazing and honestly, it's something that I didn't think I would see in my life time. For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country.
Not to mention I really like his ideas and while I may not agree with every single one of them, I can see the direction he wants to take the country in and I think it's awesome.
Well, you know you have to be a real dipstick to accomplish all that below. ;)
His intelligence plus his ability to communicate and reach people is what this country needs. Powerfull combination that pissy McWar lacks.
Education
Undergraduate
Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate, 1981-1983
Columbia University
B.A. Political Science with specialization in international relations
Thesis topic: Soviet nuclear disarmament
Graduate
Harvard Law School
J.D. magna cum laude 1988-1991
President, Harvard Law Review
Organizing and other work experience
1983-1984 Writer/Researcher for Business International Corporation. Helped companies understand overseas markets in the “Financing Foreign Operations” service and wrote for the “Business International Money Report”
1984-1985 Community Organizer for New York Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), promoting personal, community, and government reform at City College in Harlem.
1985-1988 Director of the Developing Communities Project (DCP), a church-based community organization originally comprising eight Catholic parishes in Greater Roseland on Chicago's South Side. While director grew the DCP staff from 1 to 13 and their budget from $70,000 to $400,000.
1992 Led Chicago's Project Vote! push. This effort resulted in a record number of voter registrations, over 600,000 in Chicago. 1) (http://obamasresume.org/#fn__1)
Teaching
1993-2004 Visiting Law and Government Fellow, then Senior Lecturer, in Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School. Taught courses on the due process and equal protection areas of constitutional law, on voting rights, and on racism and law. Helped develop a casebook on voting rights.
Law Practice
1993-2002 Worked as an associate attorney with Davis, Miner, Barnhill & Galland. Represented non-profits and private individuals in urban development projects, voting rights cases, and wrongful firings. Filed major suit that forced the state of Illinois to enforce the Motor Voter Law and successfully argued a wrongful firing case before the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Illinois Senate 1996-2004
<LI class=level1>Chairman, Health and Human Services Committee
<LI class=level1>Spearheaded a successful bipartisan effort in Illinois to pass the broadest ethics-reform legislation in 25 years, and gained bipartisan support for his successful bills reforming death penalty interrogations and ending racial profiling by police. Worked with the Republican-led effort to reform welfare.
Also sponsored successful bills expanding tax credits and child-care subsidies for low-income working families, protecting overtime pay for workers, expanding health care for children, and providing job skills training for juveniles.
New York Times chart on Obama's legislative record in the Illinois Senate: http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html (http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2007/07/29/us/politics/20070730_OBAMA_GRAPHIC.html)
United States Senate 2004-present
<LI class=level1>Member, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
<LI class=level1>Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs
<LI class=level1>Member, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
<LI class=level1>Member, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
<LI class=level1>Member, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Shares responsibility for the bipartisan Coburn-Obama Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, requiring full online disclosure of all entities receiving federal funds, and the bipartisan Lugar-Obama Cooperative Proliferation Detection, Interdiction Assistance, and Conventional Threat Reduction Act of 2006, deepening non-proliferation work with WMD and including surface-to-air missiles, land mines, and other weapons that may be used by terrorists. Also worked with Coburn to end the abuse of no-bid contracts in the wake of disasters.
Sponsored Bill Statistics
<LI class=level1>Number of sponsored bills: 70
Number of sponsored bills passed: 0
<LI class=level1>Number of co-sponsored bills: 404
Number of co-sponsored bills passed: 8
www.opencongress.org (http://www.opencongress.org/) (9/3/2008—-dankster keeps taking this out for some reason) (because it makes no sense at all. If you go to the NYT link or the http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d109query.html (http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d109query.html) and http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d110query.html (http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d110query.html) searches, you'll find that he's sponsored and cosponsored many times more bills than those stats list. They're ridiculously off.)
Bills / Amendments Passed
<LI class=level1>Barack Obama has introduced nearly 300 bills during his time in the U.S. Senate, and cosponsored close to 1,000 others. To see his legislative efforts, search the 109th Congress at http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d109query.html (http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d109query.html) and 110th Congress at http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d110query.html (http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/d110query.html)
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.1041 to S.1082 To improve the safety and efficacy of genetic tests.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.3073 to H.R.1585 To provide for transparency and accountability in military and security contracting.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.3078 to H.R.1585 Relating to administrative separations of members of the Armed Forces for personality disorder.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.41 to S.1 To require lobbyists to disclose the candidates, leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect or arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions collected or arranged.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.524 to S.CON.RES.21 To provide $100 million for the Summer Term Education Program supporting summer learning opportunities for low-income students in the early grades to lessen summer learning losses that contribute to the achievement gaps separating low-income students from their middle-class peers.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.599 to S.CON.RES.21 To add $200 million for Function 270 (Energy) for the demonstration and monitoring of carbon capture and sequestration technology by the Department of Energy.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.905 to S.761 To require the Director of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education to establish a program to recruit and provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities who are interested in careers in mathematics, science, and engineering.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.923 to S.761 To expand the pipeline of individuals entering the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields to support United States innovation and competitiveness.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.924 to S.761 To establish summer term education programs.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.2519 to H.R.2638 To provide that one of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5 million or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee owes no past due Federal tax liability.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.2588 to H.R.976 To provide certain employment protections for family members who are caring for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.2658 to H.R.2642 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.2692 to H.R.2764 To require a comprehensive nuclear threat reduction and security plan.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.2799 to H.R.3074 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.3137 to H.R.3222 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.3234 to H.R.3093 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
<LI class=level1>S.AMDT.3331 to H.R.3043 To provide that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used to enter into a contract in an amount greater than $5,000,000 or to award a grant in excess of such amount unless the prospective contractor or grantee makes certain certifications regarding Federal tax liability.
<LI class=level1>Senate Resolutions Passed:
<LI class=level1>S.RES.133 : A resolution celebrating the life of Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson.
S.RES.268 : A resolution designating July 12, 2007, as “National Summer Learning Day”.
Other Bills Introduced
<LI class=level1>S.J.RES.23: A joint resolution clarifying that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by the Authorization for the Use of Military Force Against Iraq, any resolution previously adopted, or any other provision of law.
<LI class=level1>S. 453: Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007. The Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2007 (H.R.1281), (S.453), would establish criminal penalties for acts of voter deception. Those who knowingly disseminate false information with the intention of keeping others from voting would face up to five years in prison under the legislation. The Act was sponsored by Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and 60 cosponsors in the House, and Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and 15 cosponsors in the Senate. (20 Cosponsors)
<LI class=level1>S. 2030: A bill to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require reporting relating to bundled contributions made by persons other than registered lobbyists. (1 Cosponsor)
<LI class=level1>S. 2111: Positive Behavior for Effective Schools Act. A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools to increase implementation of early intervention services, particularly school-wide positive behavior supports. (3 Cosponsors)
<LI class=level1>S. 2066: Back to School: Improving Standards for Nutrition and Physical Education in Schools Act of 2007. A bill to establish nutrition and physical education standards for schools.
<LI class=level1>S. Con. Res. 46: A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month
<LI class=level1>S. 2044: Independent Contractor Proper Classification Act of 2007. A bill to provide procedures for the proper classification of employees and independent contractors, and for other purposes. (6 Cosponsors)
<LI class=level1>S. 2519: Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2007. A bill to prohibit the awarding of a contract or grant in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold unless the prospective contractor or grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or grant that the contractor or grantee has no seriously delinquent tax debts, and for other purposes.
<LI class=level1>S. 2433: Global Poverty Act of 2007. A bill to require the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to further the United States foreign policy objective of promoting the reduction of global poverty, the elimination of extreme global poverty, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal of reducing by one-half the proportion of people worldwide, between 1990 and 2015, who live on less than $1 per day. (9 Cosponsors)
S. 2330: Veterans Homelessness Prevention Act. A bill to authorize a pilot program within the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development with the goal of preventing at-risk veterans and veteran families from falling into homelessness, and for other purposes. (1 Cosponsor
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 12:17 PM
And if Obama had his way, we'd have lost the war. He was wrong on the surge and had nothing to do with the initial decision to go to war.
How are we gong to win this war? What constitutes winning? And why do we have to "win"? Ppeople are dying and money is steadily flowing out of the country. We don't need to stroke our egos by "winning" we need to get the fuck out of there like the Iraqis want us to.
bem401
09-29-2008, 12:27 PM
How are we gong to win this war? What constitutes winning? And why do we have to "win"? Ppeople are dying and money is steadily flowing out of the country. We don't need to stroke our egos by "winning" we need to get the fuck out of there like the Iraqis want us to.
We have to finish what we started, regardless of whether that was a mistake in the first place. Leaving prematurely will most likely cause more problems than it solves. By the way, did you see where the Iraqis are willing to have some withdrawals soon yet Obama suggested they hold off till after the elections to sanction any American withdrawals?
Miss_Luscious
09-29-2008, 12:33 PM
Bem, you're doing it again. What constitutes winning? When will we be finished with what we started? How do we win and why can't we leave if the Iraqis want us gone (they do)?
Also, no I didn't see where Obama said that. Do you have a link?
sapphiregirl
09-29-2008, 01:12 PM
We have to finish what we started, regardless of whether that was a mistake in the first place. Leaving prematurely will most likely cause more problems than it solves. By the way, did you see where the Iraqis are willing to have some withdrawals soon yet Obama suggested they hold off till after the elections to sanction any American withdrawals?
Cool...where can I sign you up to go over to Iraq?
Eric Stoner
09-29-2008, 01:24 PM
Cool...where can I sign you up to go over to Iraq?
We can watch him on T.V.