“OBAMA SUPPORTERS” DAILY NEWS Wednesday May 21 2008

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

WELCOME TO “OBAMA SUPPORTERS” DAILY NEWS

Wednesday May 21 2008


US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) waves to
the crowd with his wife Michelle after his speech at his Oregon and Kentucky
primary election night rally in Des Moines, Iowa, May 20, 2008. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes

Esteemed DUer's, please consider taking a moment (or more) to graciously participate
by posting news and announcements about the Obama campaign on this thread. You can:

1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web. :think:

2. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU,
providing a link to the original thread :applause:

3. Please "Recommend" for the Greatest Page :thumbsup:

4. Clinton supporters or “anti Obama posters please start your own “Clinton Daily News Thread”.

Get your DU-o-matic codificator (to format your posts) here
Read the Daily News Archives here

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

1. Barack Obama's Victory Speech

Barack Obama's Victory Speech: "We have returned to Iowa"

The Jed Report Tue May 20

Obama's speech (video)

You came out on a cold winter’s night in numbers that this country has never seen, and you stood for change. And because you did, a few more stood up. And then a few thousand stood up. And then a few million stood up. And tonight, in the fullness of spring, with the help of those who stood up from Portland to Louisville, we have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people, and you have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

Full text after the jump.

[Cha]

20. Amazing amazing speech..I took notes..

'cause it was so inspiringly powerful.

[quantass]

26. Great Speech!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

2. Obama family in Iowa after big Oregon win - PHOTOS

US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
addresses his supporters at his Oregon and Kentucky primary election
night rally in Des Moines, Iowa, May 20, 2008. REUTERS/John Gress




US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
greets supporters after speaking at his Oregon and Kentucky primary
election night rally in Des Moines, Iowa, May 20, 2008.REUTERS/John Gress




US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) waves
to supporters, as he stands with his wife Michelle, after his speech
at his Oregon and Kentucky primary election night rally in Des Moines,
Iowa, May 20, 2008. REUTERS/John Gress


More photos by John Gress with Reuters unless noted otherwise:





US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
waves to supporters with his wife Michelle and their daughters Malia (2nd L)
and Sasha at the Oregon and Kentucky primary election night rally in
Des Moines, Iowa, May 20, 2008. REUTERS/John Gress




US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) waves
to supporters as he stands with his daughter Sasha at the Oregon and
Kentucky primary election night rally in Des Moines, Iowa, May 20, 2008.
REUTERS/John Gress




Michelle is really beautiful. What a great couple.




US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
addresses supporters in front of the Iowa state capitol building
at his Oregon and Kentucky primary election night rally in Des Moines,
Iowa, May 20, 2008. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes




US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
takes the stage with his daughters, Sasha (L) and Malia (2nd L),
and his wife Michelle (rear) at his Oregon and Kentucky primary
election night rally in Des Moines, Iowa, May 20, 2008. REUTERS/John Gress




US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)
speaks in front of the Iowa State Capitol building at his Oregon
and Kentucky primary election night rally in Des Moines, Iowa,
May 20, 2008. REUTRS/Jeff Haynes

[Cha]

21. There's that "good looking wife and kids" he

was talking about in his speech. Thanks for the pics, WYVBC.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

27. I love to see a family together like that

While some of us may not have a two parent family or the Ozzie and Harriet
style family, we still enjoy (or maybe even more so enjoy) seeing
a loving family together like that.

There's no faking the way they are so connected.

And I like the idea of a President who doesn't have to
sniff around interns all day.

His wife is beautiful and smart, and a great choice for a lucky man.

And I love seeing him with the kids.


:-)

[Cha]

34. I know..surreal at times but

that's why he's come so far and out paced the competition 'cause America is ready for the real deal this time. The pendulum is swinging.

Obama is a natural with his own kids and kids of any ages who come into sight:)

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

3. Another anticlimactic victory for Clinton according to MSNBC and CNN.

As expected, Clinton wins Kentucky

by Joe Sudbay (DC) • 5/20/2008

Another anticlimactic victory for Clinton according to MSNBC and CNN.

CNN's Kentucky page, with totals and the map of what votes have reported, is here.

The totals from Louisville, an Obama stronghold, came in early so the race is tighter now than it will be as the more rural areas start to report.

One bit of news from Terry McAuliffe who, this afternoon, told his favorite network, FOX, that Obama can win Florida and Ohio, "Sure if Senator Obama is the nominee, can we win these states? Of course." I won't subject you to McAuliffe. The video is here.

And, despite what McAuliffe and his crew say in their frenetic spinning tonight, this race is over.

…more at the link

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

4. Jed Report: Let me get this straight

Let me get this straight

Jed Report Tue May 20

Clinton's campaign reacts furiously when rumors emerge that Barack Obama will claim a pledged delegate majority tonight -- something which will indisputably happen. Telling this truth, they say, would be offensive.

Yet even before Barack Obama speaks tonight, Hillary Clinton in her infomercial for HillaryClinton.com claims that she has received more votes than any candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination has ever before received?

A statement which would only be true if Barack Obama weren't also running, and hadn't received more votes than her?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

5. The Field: Obama Raised $31 Million in April, 200,000 new donors

The Field: Obama Raised $31 Million in April

By Al Giordano The Field

The Obama campaign just filed its FEC report for the month of April:
Amount raised in April: $31.3 million (plus an additional $600,000 for the general election)
Cash on Hand: $37.3 million (plus an additional $9.2 million for the general election)

New donors in April: 200,000

94% of contributions were under $200
93% of contributions were $100 or less
77% of contributions were $50 or less
52% of contributions were $25 or less
Number of donors to the Obama campaign overall at the end of April: 1.475 million
Number of contributions given: 2,929,000 million
Average donation: $91

...more at the link

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

6. Obama Declares "Nomination Accomplished" As Clinton Insurgency Continues

Obama Declares "Nomination Accomplished" As Clinton Insurgency Continues

Wednesday May 21, 2008

AIMES, IA- Illinois Senator Barack Obama returned to Iowa on Tuesday to declare kind-of, sort-of victory in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination. At the jubilant rally, Obama jutted onto the stage wearing an oddly incongruent flight suit and flanked by a giant red, white and blue banner reading "NOMINATION ACCOMPLISHED" in four-foot-high letters.

Some in the party, however, have expressed concern that this celebration might be a bit premature- not just due to the three remaining primaries but also to the small but determined Hillary Clinton insurgency that continues to cause havoc in the unprotected provinces.

On the very same day as Obama's victory speech, for instance, Clinton detonated an improvised electoral device in Kentucky netting only a handful of delegates but, far more importantly, blowing an enormous hole in his momentum.

Respected elders like Al Gore and Howard Dean have urged the party to put aside its sectarian squabbles and unite behind a single leader. It was this thinking that prompted Obama to call the race at the earliest opportunity on Tuesday in an attempt to quell dissent. If anything, this declaration has only made the rebels fight harder. Indeed, if it were not for this pressure to concede it is likely that Clinton's followers would not have a cause to fight for in the first place.

"This is not over," said Clinton in a secretive videotaped message aired on Fox Jazeera. "It will never be over. The streets of Denver will run red with the blood of the infidels."

...more at the link

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

7. Even Their Best Falls Short

Even Their Best Falls Short

Oliver Willis Published May 20, 2008

You almost feel bad for John McCain. Almost.

Senator John McCain raised approximately $18 million during the month of April, according to a spokeswoman for his campaign.
That is the most that McCain has raised in any month of the campaign so far. But it is less than half of what the Obama campaign says it raised in the month of March, $41 million, and less than what Senator Clinton reoprtedly raised that month as well, $20 million.

UPDATE: Greg Sargent reports that Obama raised $31 million in this period.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. GOP Bigot Eruption: Conservative Talk Host “Gunny Bob” Says Obama Should Try To “Whip My White Ass”

GOP Bigot Eruption: Conservative Talk Host “Gunny Bob” Says Obama Should Try To “Whip My White Ass”

Oliver Willis May 20, 2008

These guys can’t learn, and they can’t contain themselves. I’ve heard of diarrhea of the mouth, but these guys have it on the brain.



Newsradio 850 KOA’s “Gunny” Bob Newman labeled Sen. Barack Obama a “clown” and stated,
"Son, you are not some sort of macho tough guy, trust me.”
Referring to Obama’s statement that “these folks should lay off my wife,” issued in response to
a GOP ad mocking comments by Michelle Obama, Newman declared,
“You’re a far-left, terrorist-hugging politician, not the bad-boy gangsta you want people to believe you are.”

[grantcart]

9. Five more add ons coming up this week - all from Obama states

Alaska 1 5/23/2008 Selected at the state convention
Georgia 2 5/24/2008 Selected during the State Committee Meeting
Wyoming 1 5/24/2008 Selected during the State Convention
Hawaii 1 5/25/2008 Selected by the State Party Committee

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

11. thank you for keeping us up to date on the delegates and super delegates

anyone else please join in!

:yourock:

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

10. Betty Cracker: SNEAK PEEK: October surprise revealed in May

SNEAK PEEK: October surprise revealed in May

Betty Cracker May 20 08

One of the most rabid and venomous anti-Obama HillShills, Larry "Flowbee" Johnson, has been been touting
the existence of a video containing political dynamite that will knock one of the presidential candidates out of the race.
How does he know the tape exists? Reliable sources have said so:

Four Republican sources have told me that the tape exists. I’ve also been informed that Karl Rove and his allies have a copy of it and are using it to raise funds for independent expenditure groups.
The tape, I’m told, will be disclosed as the GOP October Surprise. It’s a ticking time bomb.

Got that? Four Republicans say the tape exists. And we all know Republicans never, ever lie, so therefore, the tape must exist. Just like the WMDs did.

"Democrat" Taylor Marsh has joined in the fun, linking to Flowbee's screed. All are breathlessly analyzing Obama's push-back
against GOP attacks on his wife yesterday, speculating that although he ostensibly protested because he doesn't think
vicious attacks on his wife's patriotism are fair, what he's really afraid of is the disclosure of The Video.
You know, instead of just being annoyed that people are attacking his wife. Flowbee again:

...more at the link

[grantcart]

12. Clinton campaign shameful lie on the $ 10 million dollar day on 4/24 only $ 2,5 million

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6055163

[grantcart]

14. Almost 1/2 of Clinton's money is from Washington DC

1/2 of the money was raised in Washington DC

District of Columbia 7,709,576.28

http://query.nictusa.com/pres/2008/M5/C00431569/A_STATE_C00431569.html


Obama's
District of Columbia 582,482.17

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

13. AWESOME NEW CLINTONIAN BULLSHIT- BREAKING FAST

AWESOME NEW CLINTONIAN BULLSHIT- BREAKING FAST

By: John Cole May 20, 2008 at 6:52 pm

Lisa Caputo, one of the Clinton hacks on MSNBC just claimed (fraudulently) that Hillary had the popular vote
but was behind in the delegate math, and that this felt like “Al Gore in 2000 when it had to go to the Supreme Court.”

Matthews, apparently still high from the hair dye he used last week to turn his hair tomato red, did not correct her,
as Clinton is only ahead in the popular vote if you include the vote tallies from the non-elections in Michigan and Florida
and do not count the vote in caucus states. These fucking hacks will say anything.

The pause in Clinton bashing is officially over. Have at it. If they feel free to peddle this divisive bullshit, to hell with being nice back. I have had enough of this Rovian crap.

*** Update ***

Via the comments:

Bingo. According to the RCP source most Clinton supporters use. The only metric she can be ahead in is with not counting IA, NV, ME, WA , and counting FL and MI while giving Obama 0 votes in MI. And even with that Aunt Annie style twist on the numbers Clinton is still only +26,967.

There is a word for this. It is called LYING.

*** Update #2 ***

Yep, called that. Obama released his April numbers today to rain on Hillary’s Kentucky Fried parade:

...more at the link

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

15. NewsBreak: Top Obama organizer in discussions to run the Democratic Party

Obama plans general election team

AP NewsBreak: Top Obama organizer in discussions to run the Democratic Party

NEDRA PICKLER AP News

May 20, 2008 21:00 EST

Barack Obama is quietly planning to take over the Democratic National Committee and assemble a multistate team for the general election, the latest sign that he is putting rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and the nomination fight behind him.

...Top Obama organizer Paul Tewes is in discussions to run the party, several Democratic officials said Tuesday.

Tewes is one of the leading architects of Obama's success in the marathon Democratic primary race. He engineered Obama's critical victory in the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3, which gave Obama the upper hand and Clinton was never able to fully overcome.

DNC executive director Tom McMahon and DNC political director Dave Boundy traveled to Chicago last week to meet with Tewes and other campaign officials to discuss merging efforts. The party officials have held similar meetings with Clinton campaign officials and last week got an agreement with both campaigns to start raising money that will benefit the eventual nominee.

The Obama campaign also is in discussions with staffers who will be dispatched to various swing states, but holding off on making announcements until Obama has won the nomination. Officials who spoke to The Associated Press about the discussions insisted on anonymity because the campaign wanted to keep the deliberations quiet.

...more at the link

****Please read the rest of the article. I don't know much about how these party things are done,
what happens with Howard Dean??? *******

[Cha]

23. I read on DU that Dean wants to

pursue other interests and will retire from the DNC in the Fall. Whatever he does I'm sure it be good and I hope it's with the Dems in politics but we'll see.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

25. Dean has worked his heart out to set the DEM Party straight

I feel like he has saved us, and in doing so saved the country.

We owe our 2006 successes in part to Howard Dean.

I wanted him to be president. But I did vote for the DEM nominee.

[Cha]

35. Yes, I was a Deaniac, too..and we

knew someone good when we saw we saw him!

I came to like Kerry and was thrilled that Dean became the DNC Chair..what a gift to our country.

And of course there were those who didn't want him 'cause they just loved the dlc business as usual crowd. Drags on our country like a certain female primary candidate who didn't know the pendulum was passing her by until it was way too late.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

16. McCain Recruiting........TROLLS!!!!

McCain Recruiting........TROLLS!!!!!!

By ronburgandy at TP Election Central - May 20, 2008

John McCain is actively recruiting trolls to spew his talking points on blogs.

This page on his website asks for supporters to go to various blogs and "go there, and make your opinions supporting John McCain known." It then asks those that make comments to "report the details of your comment by clicking the button below. After your comments are verified, you will be awarded points through the McCain Online Action Center."

The page gives links to blogs such as dailykos, and also gives helpful "talking points" for users to push.

Here's a screen shot I took:

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

17. Andrew Sullivan: Clintons And Race

It is shameful.

The Clintons And Race

Andrew Sullivan 20 May 2008

A reader writes:

When will Hillary ever speak out against how horrible, how evil it is to vote against a black man -- because he's a black man? Seriously. I saw the same exit polls tonight and started to feel sick. 20% in Kentucky had no problem telling a total stranger they proudly voted against a black man?

But then I got angry because you know Hillary saw the exact same exit polls and passed up a chance to speak out against them. It would have been a mildly redeeming moment, too. After speaking fondly of Ted Kennedy, she could have brought up his civil rights record and then pivoted to how America is better than this. But no, she still selfishly and repulsively continues to drive her race and gender wedges for personal gain.

The Clintons have only one principle: their own power. Minorities are there to serve their purposes. If not, not. I saw this very vividly in the 1990s. They haven't changed. It's always only about them.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

18. McCainiacs for Clinton

McCainiacs for Clinton

Matthew Yglesias 20 May 2008 11:54 pm

Well, as predicted Obama won Oregon canceling out Clinton's win in the similarly sized Kentucky.
Meanwhile, I found this part of the Kentucky exit polls interesting.
Obviously, given the extent of her win this didn't alter the outcome, but it seems that a pretty hefty chunk
of Clinton primary voters in that state don't plan on voting for her in November --
they just really, really, really don't like Barack Obama.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

19. Ygelsias: a Clinton nomination would mean no point in opposing any war ever

The War Matters

Matthew Yglesias 20 May 2008

As Matt Stoller notes there's a remarkable effort under way to excise the debate over the wisdom of the Iraq War from the Democratic primary. Certainly, there was more than that one issue in play. Nevertheless, it's essentially unprecedented for a challenger to unseat an establishment figure as well-entrenched as Clinton, and it's very clear to me that it was the war issue that gave Obama a plausible opening to mount a challenge.

The war alone didn't -- and couldn't have -- put Obama over the top, but it's what create a base of discontent with the "inevitable" Clinton and what allowed an alternative to get a hearing. And that's an important development, a world in which Clinton became the nominee would be a world in which there was no conceivable political upside to opposing any war ever.
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Matthew Plew

Its ok, Hillary - you did the wrong thing and voted for this war, and we will
reward you and make you leader of our country?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

22. Has anyone posted an OP yet about McCain&Trolls?

just wondering.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

24. Our hearts are with Senator Kennedy

Ted Kennedy Has Malignant Brain Tumor
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3317067

My prayer is for Ted to be at Obama's inauguration. It would be a
shining star among many of Ted's good deeds.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

28. Educated, Elite, Color Blind-BAD v. Uneducated LIV & poor Racist--GOOD! How Inspiring!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=6053464&mesg_id=6053464

[JimGinPA]

29. Money shocker! Hillary Clinton's campaign debt soars to $31 million

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/05/clintondebt.html

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

30. McCainiacs cast 362,000 votes for Clinton in past month

McCainiacs cast 362,000 votes for Clinton in past month
Wed May 21 Jed Report

I've crunched the numbers, and over the past month, one out of every ten votes for Hillary Clinton has come from a John McCain supporter.

These McCainiacs for Clinton vote for Clinton in the Democratic primary, but in the general election they say they will choose John McCain -- even if Clinton wins the Democratic nomination.

In all, over the past six primaries, they have cast about 362,000 of Clinton's 3.6 million votes. They're having a major impact -- without them, Clinton would not have won Indiana earlier this month.

I don't know whether these voters are part of Rush Limbaugh's Operation Chaos or if they are acting on their own initiative, but it doesn't matter. They will not support Clinton in the fall, a fact that must be taken into account by undeclared superdelegates as they assess Clinton's flimsy popular vote argument.

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/05/clinton-gets-36.html

[jefferson_dem]

31. Obama Public Schedule - Tampa rally at 12:00 (ET) and Kissimmee town hall at 5:00 (ET)

:popcorn:

[psychopomp]

32. McCain's chief media strategist steps down: “I just don’t want to work against an Obama candidacy.”

Keeping Vow on Obama, McCain Adviser Resigns

By JIM RUTENBERG
Published: May 21, 2008


WASHINGTON — Senator John McCain’s chief advertising strategist, Mark McKinnon, announced Tuesday that he was resigning, following through on a vow he had made months ago not to work against the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama.

/snip

In telling the Cox News Service last June that he would not work against an Obama candidacy, Mr. McKinnon had said that Mr. Obama’s election to the presidency “would send a great message to the country and the world.” In that interview, Mr. McKinnon had said that he had policy differences with Mr. Obama, especially on Iraq, and that he believed Mr. McCain was best suited for the presidency because of his national security positions. But, he added, “I just don’t want to work against an Obama candidacy.”

/snip
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/us/politics/21consult.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

33. It's time to push Hillary Clinton out of the race

Tue May 20, 11:41 PM | Jed Report
It's time to push Hillary Clinton out of the race

I think Rachel Maddow has it exactly right

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWpJNpnzZ6U

Tonight, Hillary Clinton signaled that as long as superdelegates stand on the sidelines, she isn't getting out of the race, and as long as she's in the race, she'll do whatever it takes to win, even if that means undermining Barack Obama's legitimacy.

So the time has come to push her out the race, and the only people who can do it are the undeclared superdelegates. They are the ones responsible for this mess, and they are the ones who must end it.

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/05/its-time-to-pus.html

[grantcart]

36. free fall

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

37. Clinton on tee vee comparing Fl and MI to Florida 2000

I hope that Al Gore disabuses her of that bullshit.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

38. Greg Palast: Hillary Removes Bill Clinton as First Husband

Hillary Removes Bill Clinton as First Husband
Greg Palast Wednesday 20 May 2008

In a surprise move meant to reinvigorate her faltering campaign, Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton dismissed William Clinton as First Husband designate.



Those close to the candidate, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that Mr. Clinton, also known as “Bill,” had, with press revelations of his business associations with the repressive Colombian regime, plus a long history of support for anti-union causes such as NAFTA, had become a “real drag” on Senator Clinton’s ambitions.

While disappointing returns from Kentucky primary polls flashed on campaign monitors, the Senator’s spokesman issued a tersely worded statement announcing the resignation of the ex-President and thanking Mr. Clinton for “his years of service in support of Hillary’s career and her goals for America” and that the candidate would, “miss his presence greatly.”

...Meanwhile, Senator Clinton dismissed rumors of her accepting the number two spot on the ticket from Senator Barack Obama, though she appeared to leave the door open, telling reporters traveling with her she would consider the Vice-Presidential nomination if she were also simultaneously appointed White House chef, a comment followed by that weird and frightening laugh of hers.

...more at the link
http://www.gregpalast.com/hillary-removes-bill-clinton-as-first-husband/

[Aloha Spirit]

39. New SD--Wayne Dowdy. 61 Delegates to go (oops, replied to wrong post)

Mississippi Democratic Party chairman Wayne Dowdy says he is committed to Sen. Barack Obama in the presidential race.
http://www.sunherald.com/306/story/577124.html

61 delegates, minus the two pledged delegate backstabbers = 59

[Aloha Spirit]

40. Just an observation... about my google news updates for the term "superdelegate"

Anybody else impressed at how ... international the news items are?
Dubai, Sydney, Paris, Kuwait City, Kolkatta, Ireland...
This little planet of ours is OBSESSED with superdelegates!