2008 Presidential Election

[VV]

October 23, 2008
Op-Ed Columnist
Rebranding the U.S. With Obama
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
The other day I had a conversation with a Beijing friend and I mentioned that Barack Obama was leading in the presidential race:

She: Obama? But he’s the black man, isn’t he?

Me: Yes, exactly.

She: But surely a black man couldn’t become president of the United States?

Me: It looks as if he’ll be elected.

She: But president? That’s such an important job! In America, I thought blacks were janitors and laborers.

Me: No, blacks have all kinds of jobs.

She: What do white people think about that, about getting a black president? Are they upset? Are they angry?

Me: No, of course not! If Obama is elected, it’ll be because white people voted for him.

[Long pause.]

She: Really? Unbelievable! What an amazing country!

We’re beginning to get a sense of how Barack Obama’s political success could change global perceptions of the United States, redefining the American “brand” to be less about Guantánamo and more about equality. This change in perceptions would help rebuild American political capital in the way that the Marshall Plan did in the 1950s or that John Kennedy’s presidency did in the early 1960s.

In his endorsement of Mr. Obama, Colin Powell noted that “the new president is going to have to fix the reputation that we’ve left with the rest of the world.” That’s not because we crave admiration, but because cooperation is essential to address 21st-century challenges; you can’t fire cruise missiles at the global financial crisis.

In his endorsement, Mr. Powell added that an Obama election “will also not only electrify our country, I think it’ll electrify the world.” You can already see that. A 22-nation survey by the BBC found that voters abroad preferred Mr. Obama to Mr. McCain in every single country — by four to one over all. Nearly half of those in the BBC poll said that the election of Mr. Obama, an African-American, would “fundamentally change” their perceptions of the United States.

Europe is particularly intoxicated by the possibility of restoring amity with America in an Obama presidency. As The Economist put it: “Across the Continent, Bush hatred has been replaced by Obama-mania.”

Steven Kull, director of the Program on International Policy Attitudes, which conducted the BBC poll, said that at a recent international conference he attended in Malaysia, many Muslims voiced astonishment at Mr. Obama’s rise because it was so much at odds with their assumptions about the United States. Remember that the one thing countless millions of people around the world “know” about the United States is that it is controlled by a cabal of white bankers and Jews who use police with fire hoses to repress blacks. To them, Mr. Obama’s rise triggers severe cognitive dissonance.

“It’s an anomaly, so contrary to their expectation that it makes them receptive to a new paradigm for the U.S.,” Mr. Kull said.

Europeans like to mock the vapidity of American politics, but they also acknowledge that it would be difficult to imagine a brown or black person leading France or Germany.

As for Africa, Mr. Obama’s Kenyan father was of the Luo tribe, a minority that has long suffered brutal discrimination in both Kenya and in Uganda (where it is known as the Acholi). The bitter joke in East Africa is that a Luo has more of a chance of becoming president in the United States than in Kenya.

Yet before we get too far with the self-congratulations, it’s worth remembering something else.

In the western industrialized world, full of university graduates and marinated in principles of egalitarianism, the idea of electing a member of a racial minority to the highest office seems an astonishing breakthrough. But Jamaica’s 95 percent black population elected a white man as its prime minister in 1980, and kept him in office throughout that decade.

Likewise, the African nation of Mauritius has elected a white prime minister of French origin. And don’t forget that India is overwhelmingly Hindu but now has a Sikh prime minister and a white Christian as president of its ruling party, and until last year it had a Muslim in the largely ceremonial position of president.

Look, Mr. Obama’s skin color is a bad reason to vote for him or against him. Substance should always trump symbolism.

Yet if this election goes as the polls suggest, we may find a path to restore America’s global influence — and thus to achieve some of our international objectives — in part because the world is concluding that Americans can, after all, see beyond a person’s epidermis. My hunch is that that is right, and that we’re every bit as open-minded about racial minorities as Jamaicans already were a quarter-century ago.

[CeeDub]

Richard Milhouse Nixon suckled at the senatorial teat of Joe McCarthy and developed the Repugnican Party philosophy of hate and division.

Your time has passed, StalledJet.  Maybe you can take your hate and find a nice new home here?

[jennymayla]

Obama Ahead in All-Important Cookie Poll
Ohio PR Stunt Has Predicted Winner Since Inception

BATAVIA, Ohio (AdAge.com) -- Conventional polls this year are fraught with doubts -- from the "Bradley Effect" to the elusive cellphone-only households. But one poll based in the all-important swing state of Ohio has never failed since its inception in 1984, and it has Barack Obama with an almost insurmountable lead over John McCain.

The Busken Cookie Poll, in which the chain of Cincinnati-area retail bakeries sells cookies bearing cartoon images of each candidate, as of Thursday morning had Mr. Obama ahead 6,477 to 3,090 -- a 68% to 32% margin. Daily updates can be found at [url=http://www.busken.com]www.busken.com[/url].

Unscientific? Perhaps. But Brian Busken, VP-marketing of the family business, said that since the poll's inception in 1984, it has accurately predicted the winner of the presidential election every four years and never been further than 4 percentage points from the final popular vote tally nationwide. (Note: While the website shows a smiling Obama cookie and a frowning McCain cookie, the cookies sold in stores have both smiling.)

"We've never seen a spread like this before in the numbers," Mr. Busken said. "I don't know if there's going to be a crumbslide or not. ... We may still predict the winner, but probably by way too many cookies."

Already there are allegations of irregularities. Commenters on a story at the website of the Cincinnati Business Courier allege some bookstores have Obama cookies up front, McCain cookies in the back, and that Remke stores in Northern Kentucky had run out of the McCain cookies.

Mr. Busken said wholesale sales such as those referenced in the comments don't count. Nor does a recent bulk purchase of 400 McCain cookies by Rob Portman, former Republican congressman and White House budget director. If Acorn buys cookies online for the Dallas Cowboys and their cheerleaders, those don't count either. Only cookies sold in the 11 Ohio stores tracked by the poll count.

Busken milks the poll, of course, for all the publicity it can get, and has incorporated it into outdoor ads from the Creative Department, Cincinnati. The chain will advertise cookie-poll results on the Norton Digital Network in the area during the four days leading up to the election.

[TheFang]

7 point difference today according to gallup...COME ON "BRADLEY EFFECT"!

Actually Gallup has him ahead by 8 points. Where as most polls have him ahead by 10-14 points. Nevermind the fact that most "experts" have said that the "bradley effect" can only account for only 3-4 points. So he'll win by 9-11 points instead of 14? Fine by me.



http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/search/label/today%27s%20polls

[Groovejet]

Who cares what Keith Olbermann says? - he's a liberal douche bag.

He actually videotaped himself writing checks for the Clinton campaign....whacko!:

http://hotair.com/archives/2006/09/22/video-olbermann-donates-to-clintons-charity-on-camera/

7 point difference today according to gallup...COME ON "BRADLEY EFFECT"!

[TheFang]

Good to see Newt has such a good concept of slander, seeing as how he used to write laws and all.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/vMoecmlox1s&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/vMoecmlox1s&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1</a>

[CeeDub]

I thought this was a pretty powerful video.

That was fantastic.

FUCKIN' "A," BUBBA!

[glx]

I thought this was a pretty powerful video

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/fclMtIqVZq4&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/fclMtIqVZq4&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1</a>

That was fantastic.

[TheFang]

Turns out the presidential job is easier than it seemed at first.

duke

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/5BnLozS-TnM&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/5BnLozS-TnM&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1</a>

Psst... try posting more up to date vids in the future... We've seen this before. In this thread. Four months ago, and it was old then.

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/5BnLozS-TnM&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/5BnLozS-TnM&amp;hl=en</a>

[duke_of_earl]

Turns out the presidential job is easier than it seemed at first.

duke

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/5BnLozS-TnM&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/5BnLozS-TnM&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1</a>

[VV]

Freudian slip much.

http://www.queerty.com/mccain-gaffe-accidentally-agrees-w-pa-populated-by-racists-20081022/#more-30921

[VV]

great site.

http://bravenewfilms.org/

[nikki]

I thought this was a pretty powerful video

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/fclMtIqVZq4&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/fclMtIqVZq4&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1</a>

[VV]

One of the videos just depicted two girls who were in line with their parents presumably to vote.  That was the delightful one -- to see kids thoroughly engaged and presenting their positions in a nice way. After all, this is the legacy we're leaving them as their inheritance so they should be concerned. 


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/opinion/21herbert.html?hp

[duke_of_earl]

The little girls are a delight to see and listen to.


http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/bellantoni/2008/Oct/20/mccain-supporters-call-early-voters-ch/

I can't see the videos at work.  From the comments, it's appears that Godwin's Law is approaching fast.  I note the republican party feels the protest is justified.

duke

It is a gross distortion of the voting process for the Democrat-controlled Cumberland County Board of Elections to expand the number of early polling locations at the last minute to accommodate Senator Obama’s campaign rally.  Their action makes the voting process an extension of a partisan political rally and that is clearly inappropriate.
...more...

[VV]

I don't understand Log Cabin Republicans and now, Muslim republicans given how the party treats/regards them. 

http://www.mollygood.com/muslims-fight-back-at-gop-rally-20081021/

[VV]

The little girls are a delight to see and listen to.


http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/bellantoni/2008/Oct/20/mccain-supporters-call-early-voters-ch/

[glx]

There are way more loony lefties out there. This guy was just upset that the democrats are cheating.

Come again?

Ontario (CA) police arrest man in voter fraud case: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fraud20-2008oct20,0,3842357.story

[NON]

Careful canvessors, the crazies aren't stopping with people.

Dead bear covered with Obama signs found at school
Associated Press - October 20, 2008 7:15 PM ET

CULLOWHEE, N.C. (AP) - Police at Western Carolina University say a dead bear cub was found dumped on the campus draped with a pair of Barack Obama campaign signs.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that Tom Johnson, chief of university police, said maintenance workers reported about 7:45 a.m. Monday finding the 75-pound cub dumped at a roundabout near the Catamount statue at the entrance to campus.

Johnson said it appeared the bear cub had been shot in the head, and that two Obama signs had been stapled together and stuck over the animal's head. Johnson was not available for further comment Monday evening.

University police called in state Wildlife Resources officials to remove the body and help in the investigation.

Bear season is under way in western North Carolina.
---------------

Poor little bear cub. 

Wow. To think that bear cub coulda been me or EFL...

[TheFang]

Careful canvessors, the crazies aren't stopping with people.

Dead bear covered with Obama signs found at school
Associated Press - October 20, 2008 7:15 PM ET

CULLOWHEE, N.C. (AP) - Police at Western Carolina University say a dead bear cub was found dumped on the campus draped with a pair of Barack Obama campaign signs.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that Tom Johnson, chief of university police, said maintenance workers reported about 7:45 a.m. Monday finding the 75-pound cub dumped at a roundabout near the Catamount statue at the entrance to campus.

Johnson said it appeared the bear cub had been shot in the head, and that two Obama signs had been stapled together and stuck over the animal's head. Johnson was not available for further comment Monday evening.

University police called in state Wildlife Resources officials to remove the body and help in the investigation.

Bear season is under way in western North Carolina.
---------------

Poor little bear cub. 

[VV]

True Confessions: There have been moments where I've daydreamed of slapping Michelle Bachman although I never would in actuality.

In other news

http://jezebel.com/5065986/#viewcomments

[NON]

Since you did such a good job finding a cartoon of a chimp pooing on McCain's head as a false equivalence to shouting "Kill him!" about Obama, I'm sure you'll have no problem digging up stories about McCain volunteers being physically assaulted while canvassing, duke.

Ask and ye shall receive. Deep breaths all around, people.

mr.t

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/obama-supporter-assaults-female-mccain-volunteer-in-new-york/

That's horrible, and inexcusable. That poor woman.

Interesting that the blogger is using this incident to erroneously suggest the following (in the headline of that web page):

"As the media fumes over nonexistent hate at Palin speeches, it ignores leftists who go berserk on city streets."

[duke_of_earl]

EXCLUSIVE: .22 Gunshot, paint balls fired at McCain / Palin Straight Talk Express
October 19th, 2008
(Sunday, October 19 - Filed by Mark Williams in Raton, New Mexico with the Stop Obama Tour)  We learned at this morning’s Stop Obama Rally here that the McCain/Palin Straight Talk Express came through town yesterday.  It arrived with a window shattered by a .22 caliber weapon.  It had also been hit by an unknown number of paint balls from a paint ball gun or guns.  There were reportedly no injuries and neither candidate was on board.

One local man who saw the damage and spoke with the McCain/Palin staffers said the attack(s) had occured in southern New Mexico that same day.  The Express is traveling the country independent of the candidates, handing out campaign materials.

Sarah Palin is stumping in of all places Roswell, New Mexico today and then roughly back the way we came with an event at the Henderson, Nevada Pavilion tomorrow and a stop in Elko, Nevada.

[elgoodo]

Word of the week is "socialism".

OOGA BOOGA BOOGA!

[RB]

Since you did such a good job finding a cartoon of a chimp pooing on McCain's head as a false equivalence to shouting "Kill him!" about Obama, I'm sure you'll have no problem digging up stories about McCain volunteers being physically assaulted while canvassing, duke.

Ask and ye shall receive. Deep breaths all around, people.

mr.t

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/obama-supporter-assaults-female-mccain-volunteer-in-new-york/

The comments on that site about this incident are lovely. Like this little charmer:

"I Have a house full of firearms. I have a Weatherby 270, two 22 cal rifles, three shotguns “12 and 20 gauge” and a glock model 30 45 cal I carry everywhere. I have a conceal carry permit. Trust me, these obamatons are nothing but thugs and thives and crack whores. They are also weak liberal homosexual white men and lazy entitlement minded white women. Obama will lose on 11/4. The Joe the Plumber revelation which exposed Obama for the socialist he is will be his undoing. I plan on being loaded up after 11/4 and in prtection mode. I expect the blacks to riot because of ocurse they are all animals. Let them riot. I am not afraid. Big mistake to attack me is all I can say."