On Demand
DNC Coverage: Hour 1
Dr. Eddie Glaude, Jr., professor of Religion and African American studies at Princeton University, reacts to Michelle Obama's opening night speech.
Listen to the speeches from last night.
then
Karen Ackerman, political director of the AFL-CIO, discusses organized labor issues and the Democratic party.
then
Meet the Delegates: Virginia's Grindley Johnson
then
The View From the Ethnic Press: Aswini Anburajan, a reporter with Feet in Two Worlds , a project of the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School, talks about the Democratic National Convention.
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Jesse Califano- "The unspoken word... written!"
Hokey, maudlin, banal nonsense.
Strictly, the Democrat Party's emotional rather than substance play. . .
For this- Obama will lose in November-
and lose huge!
No the wives don't matter to me at all. But it is hard not to see a new version of JFK and a new Camelot with a young, attractive wife and 2 adorable children. There is one problem with this lovely picture for many Americans, though...
Her voice was getting on my nerves - it sounded too whiny like she was begging us to like her. I couldn't listen.
This was a sad night. You do everything you are supposed to and then you still have to say "I'm Black but i'm not going to rob you". Its not her fault but it still is sad.
How to judge the success of Michelle Obama's keynote: Somewhere in Arizona, Cindy McCain is hiding her head under a pillow.
The truth is they are an anomaly. The perfect black family is very rare.
The truth is you are mis-informed NC!
That is a myth and a stereotype that needs to be abolished!
I can't stand her. She has always come off as having a huge chip on her shoulder. I don't want to have to hear her voice for the next four years. Glad to see the image marketers have gotten to her recently and polished her up a bit.
She was genuine, articulate, eloquent and sincere.
nC
The perfect family is very rare. white black or green. just ask mrs. fossella
First ladies are important-- Hillary Clinton made them important. Smart women like Hillary and Michelle have a real role in policy- Hillary showed that. That's why the first lady is a player. It is short-sighted to imagine that it's all about family, tenderness, and appealing to the female vote, and doesn't give First Ladies enough credit.
She has always struck me as graceful and strong at the same time. She is pretty but more importantly has a beautiful spirit and it shows. She looks closer to 24 than 44 (she must be well-adjusted and living a charmed life).
David Axelrod has done an incredible job doing what he does best in packaging the Obamas to sell to a white majority audience.
The Axe is doing his best to co-opt the GOP message (i.e. values) and graft it to the Obama.
What he forgets is that not everyone is 'Blinded by the Light' (BHO: "A Light Will Shine Down On You from Somewhere...") and most of his target audience are simply over-saturated with Mr. Obama and would rather watch Monday Night Football.
Sincerely,
A Typical White Person who's always been Proud of Country
Typical indeed.
don't make this Kennedy a saint, he has a lot to answer for
Her speech was fine. It didn't blow me away but it's something she had to do.
If she hadn't gone out of her way to show that they are a normal family, people would have pounced on their 'other-ness' (code for black).
The speech was meant to show those who 'still don't know the Obamas' that they are a normal family.
I don't like Michelle's speech last night. She was trying too hard and it comes off as fake and insincere. Also, fire her hair stylists. They are making her look like Sally Fields in Mrs. Doubtfire.
I wish Michelle Obama would just be herself and she would do fine instead of trying to conform to the "Traditional First Lady" image that isn't her.
Michelle the Hypocrite:
Michelle Obama neglected to mention her direct role in denying poor people access to the hospital she helped run:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1122691,CST-NWS-hosp23.article
Somehow, the MSM neglected to mention it too!!!
yes i am
please list 5 things about our country that makes u proud
Michelle doesn't have to explain herself and she shouldn't try. She should be a cool cucumber, we need a level headed, cool, calm, competent first lady not someone trying to conform.
Be yourself!
For everyone who is commenting on how she looked instead of the content of her speech - SHAME ON YOU! Would you ever do that if a man were standing up there...did anyone comment on how Michelle's brother was looking! NO...I mean really...let's move into the 21st century people. And I don't understand why women do this to themselves. Reduce her speech to the color of her dress, her hairstyle and her voice. Now, that's smart!
We know that there would be a certain amount of appeasing. Just look at the words people are using in here alone, "chip on her shoulder", "whiney voice", "sally fields hairdo", "anomaly" and so forth.
jenn
men are boring no one cares what men politicians wear.
did you see that grey suit he was wearing....
As feminist I would totally stand up for Michelle Obama but as a Hillary supporter I am a little bitter that she did not stand up for Hil when there were some seriously sexist things being said to and about her. I feel like she can't really have it both ways.
Jesse Califano- 'The unspoken word- written!'
While America may have voted for O-Ba-Ma for President...
The American electorate will never vote for Michelle to be 'First Lady'!
Live with that- Dems.
I just wanted to add to my comment above--I think it is unfair that it is impossible to criticize the Obamas without running the risk of being labelled racist.
I think it is understandable that folks have serious reservations about his experience and his policies. Sometimes I feel like Obama is a brand new shiny product introduced by a corporate manufacturer. I don't really know who is behind and backing this man or why everyone was suddenly--like magic--dropping his name as a presidential contender on the news shows when he won the Senate race two years ago. I'm not impressed with his advisers when I hear or see them speak. To me, Michelle Obama is a secondary issue but she's not doing much to improve the situation. (And yes, I voted for him in the primary but I have serious reservations.)
#28 jenlynch:
Stuff White People Like #8: Barack Obama
"Because white people are afraid that if they don’t like him that they will be called racist."
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/19/8-barack-obama/
Imagine if Michele Obama stole drugs from her company, creating a scandal that destroyed said company!? Well something like this happened with Cindy McCain.
Imagine if Obama cruelly divorced his first wife after openly cheating on her (he hotly pursued wife #2 when he was 42 and she was 25), and then marrying his new wife 5 weeks after the divorce went through?!
Would Americans "know" Obama in this case?!
What we have here is Family Values: Republican style. Do as I say, not as I do (there are 6 words for the Republican brand). Massive journalistic double standards...
Why would you want Michelle to be made to look like Sally Fields in Mrs. Doubtfire? That hairstyle is not flattering on her and she looks like she is trying to "look white". She is more beautiful when she just goes as herself not some image of traditional first lady should look like.
I think she is being fake and not being herself!
It is a big turn off.
Jenlynch from Manhattan -
I'd like to know what you've done to put your reservations to rest. Clearly you're an informed citizen (you're here on the NPR comment boards). I'm curious because I come across people who keep saying "I don't know him"...and I don't know what that means. And I mean that sincerely.
Do you not know what his policies are? Do you not know his background? Do you not know his political background?
There is information out there on each of those (his website, a great New Yorker article a few weeks ago by Ryan Cizilla).
If it isn't something concrete like issues, background, then what about him troubles you?
People think they know McCain...why? Because he's been in politics for so long. Do they know the other personal stuff about him that speaks to his (not-so-nice) character...that he two timed and then dumped his wife for Cindy McCain because his wife was in an accident and no longer the beauty he married. That he's called his wife horrible names in front of people. I could go on.
There are plenty of politicians who are catapulted to the national stage and I've never seen the level of hesitation about them as I have about Obama so one can only think - that it's because he's black.
as i've said before, the only reason for BO not to win is because this is still a racist nation
It may be comforting to pretend, to feign, you don't want to be called a racist because you criticism Obama. It's entirely possible to critique Michelle and criticize Senator Obama all you want with impunity. Nevertheless, you ought check yourself. You may just be lying and not realize it. Because to you, NOBODY'S a racist. If Obama was white with the same credentials he'd be 20 points ahead.
Among many other issues HRC supporters should be careful about what they say Michelle Obama or any other potential first spouses for that matter.
It was Bill's incredibly selfish, profoundly arrogant, inexplicably careless and plain old dirty behavior that handicapped Gore and the Dems heading into a close election (which we now know was pivotal for the history of this country), humiliated his wife and tarnished the legacy that he's so worried isn't being properly acknowledged this week.
Jesse Califano- 'The unspoken word- written'!
The office of the Presidency is NOT:
A popularity contest...
A woman vs. man contest...
A Black vs. white contest...
The office of the Presidency IS about only one thing: Leadership in administering the domestic and international socio-economic business of the United States of America!
O-Ba-Ma and the two-time loser Biden are not it- and they're going to lose and lose huge!
Wake up Americans! Bush and McCain, two nightmares, yet you would prefer to have either at the helm b/c of the lack of color in their skin? If that is the case we are doomed, the future is bleak for us.
Spot on Sophie @ #33.
#33, 34, 35 and 37 - You are spot on!
I noticed that Aswini Anburajan and most of the "Feet and Two Worlds" people are democrats. And that she worked for ABC. Doesn't this continue to validate that members of the mainstream media are liberal?
Unless the spouse of a presidential candidate has committed a crime, why should anyone care about them? Same goes for their kids.
Trotting out the spouse and children of a candidate is a stupid waste of time. I'd rather read a PDF document or Powerpoint presentation on Candidate X's policy positons than waste time getting to know his/her spouse.
As an electorate we need to grow up and reject this People Magazineization of our presidential campaigns. We've allowed an impt decision to be trivialized when we fall for this cotton candy fluff.
42,
I am with you Seth but there are 300 million people in this society and ours is a minority view...
Sometimes I wonder how anything in this world works.
I agree Seth from Long Island.
Wouldn't that be the right thing to do!
Unfortunately, people reduce the candidate and his/her spouse to ridiculous elements: Would I like to have a beer with this person? Is his/her spouse 'nice'...who cares.
What kind of vetting process is that. This really is the dumbing down of the country and if people would set aside their People Mag for a minute and pick up a newspaper (the National Enquirer does not count) and try to read up on policy matters, we wouldn't be talking about Michelle's hairstyle et al.
seth
a crime like mrs l bush killing ex boyfriend with her car so many years ago.....
the numbering is messed up don't refer to posts by # alone
#35 Robbie:
"with the same credentials"
- What credentials are you speaking of? His long list of legislative accomplishments? His extensive experience in the Congress?
Even HIS OWN VP Choice called him "completely unqualified" for the job as President.
You people are attracted to his compelling personal story.
Like it or not, race is a large part of why he is where he is today.
Once again, David Axelrod has done an incredible job selling him to the plebeian masses and will go down in history as one of the greatest puppeteers in American political history.
Sometimes I wonder what fish think when they get hooked by fishermen. Do they even know? (Or care?)
yes i am
please list 5 things about our country that makes u proud
I love Michelle Obama
She spoke well as does her husband.
But I don't care about their public speaking skills, looks, skin color etc...
I am voting for John McCain because I support more of his policies than Obama's and I think John McCain is right on more issues, has much more experience as a leader and will be a better President for America.
#43 hjs -
I don't know the precise details of how Laura Bush's car crash was adjudicated, was she charged or indicted, did she accept a plea bargain - if she was charged or indicted or pled to a lower class felony or misdemeanor, I would want that info.
I'm not a voyeur, but if she faced legal jeopardy, I feel entitled to know about it. Any incident involving a fatality is noteworthy in my opinion and should be brought to the public's attention.
By the way, as of this moment, I'm convinced Obama will lose.
A few comments have already been removed for violating the WNYC posting policy. As we continue this discussion, please keep your comments civil and relevant to the discussion on the air. Thank you.
Yes I Am,
Isn't it amazing how everyone was duped by Obama? If only everyone could be as smart and as capable as you.
I don't know what is a greater example of delusion, your belief that so many people were tricked into supporting Obama or that you possess some kind of superior intelligence that sets you apart from them.
mccain will save us, if he remembers to
Jesse 49
that's called pride.
#29 Chris O
Unlike Ted Kennedy, McCain didn't kill anyone. By smearing McCain you're practicing Politics of Personal Destruction. We don't care about how you devoted your life to the public good, that you fought for the poor, the downtrodden, the working and middle class, the veterans, the victims of torture and human rights injustices: we don't care about all that! We will judge and condemn you based on your private life.
it's better than 14th st pepsi square
Fiscally responsible, socially free, safe, practical
She is not familiar with that race of people hjs, i dont think they live in the east village.
#60 hjs - i'm sure you understand that killing an enemy soldier in a war is not the same thing as an killing an innocent girl in an accident and using family connections and money and political power to walk away scott free.
#62 - "the truth from Atlanta/New York"
please don't make rude, racist personal attacks in these comments
thanks!
My comments in #29 are media criticism. No judging of McCain, no PPD, just bewildered wonderment about the journalistic double standard. How if Obama cheated on his wife, the whole world will know but the story on McCain is pretty much kept quiet.
I literally found out about this story in a British newspaper linked via internet.
megan
enemy soldier? what about dropping bombs on children. is that murder or just good fun? but in fairness it was their fault cause they did not obey us like good 3rd world tribes should.
megan
yes
#67 - please provide some evidence that Mccain intentionally murdered children....
otherwise, your just smearing him....
Would you could accuse any US war veteran of "dropping bombs on children" ?
How about all the Democratic Party proud War Veterans?
laurn bush killed ex BF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Dutton_Douglas
chris o from new york - Regarding your McCain infidelity example
After watching and reading way too much about this contest, I'm convinced that a sizable majority of the MSM truly prefers McCain over Obama. I'm convinced McCain would beat Obama in a secret ballot among the Washington press corps. Obama has a long hard slog ahead of him. The MSM will continue to give McCain a free pass on everything and interrogate Obama on everything. If Obama beats McCain, it will be like the Red Sox beating the Yankees in the ALCS in 7 games after losing the first 3.
megan
i should have said, yes if their job is to bomb cities, then yes that's murder and terrorism.
Megan,
Just curious... do you know what bombs do when they hit the earth?
I guess if you prefer the man who dropped the bombs as a presidential candidate they only kill soldiers.
So 71 & 72
Should the Democratic Party ban all US War Veterans who fought in combat from running office since they are "murderers" and "terrorists"?
Just wondering
chris o
i've been trying to post a link about laura murdering exBF but links don't always post her for some reason.
but go to wikipedia look up 'Michael Dutton Douglas' she was never charged with anything just like uncle teddy. money talks
no dear, i was reply to your silly statment "Unlike Ted Kennedy, McCain didn't kill anyone." because he killed many people
don't make mccain a saint
No. But you shouldn't write "Unlike Ted Kennedy, McCain didn't kill anyone."
That's how this began.
And every party should ban veterans who vote against a new GI Bill.
I am not sure that McCain would win a secret ballot with the MSM but he would probably win a public one because they are afraid of him. McCain is more intimidating than Obama whereas Obama seems a bit soft (like Jesse Jackson said, he is like Jackie Robinson who must take abuse but not fight back or else he is the angry black male and apparently no one worries if McCain gets angry and he has quite a reputation. In fact, the Republican Senator from Mississippi Thad Cochrane said this of MCCAIN, "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me.").
So I think McCain has intimidated the media to parroting his lines and deferring to him out of a little fear. And Obama is handcuffed in lashing back against unfair media treatment.
You can see McCain in action here - note Lindsey Graham's reaction.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SoYBSVL66E
hi hjs,
i don't know why you are referring the Laura Bush story to me but I am familiar with the tale. She ran a stop sign, plowed into the car of ex-boyfriend. He died. It was like the only stop town in this tiny town. She was in the car with her girlfriend (they were all 17) so I am not sure it was intentional. So I am really not sure, it could have been an accident. (Right Sigmund?)
Regarding this back and forth over whether or not John McCain is a murderer and whether this should disqualify him from being president.
This argument you folks are having is not relevant for me.
I reject John McCain because
1. He's not nearly smart enough to be president
2. He's far too old to be president
If you want to know about the media just look at the White House Correspondents Dinner.
Colbert, a fake journalist, was the only one who took W to task.
Laughing as W makes fun of the fact that there are no WMD in Iraq, dancing with a rappin' Rove.
So many people have died. It's just sickening.
chris o
i meant seth, 49 sorry :)
Chris O
I've heard that Thad Cochane quote before. I think it's a disgrace that the MSM has basically taken a dive and decided not to challenge McCain on anything. Given the large number of "low information voters", I think the MSM is guilty of journalistic malpractice. McCain's surrogates are free to put out any and every smear about Obama and the MSM will just sit on its hans.
hjs,
You asked me about Laura Bush's traffic accident, but I'm not clear what position you take on this issue. Did you want to know this info before making your decision between Bush and Gore?
no, i was just being silly i guess with all the talk about first ladies and teddy.i just went off into left field i guess.
i was replying to ur "Unless the spouse of a presidential candidate has committed a crime,"
she did and no one cared they just say that was a long time ago.
Did anyone see McCain on Leno last night?
no did he seem confused?
there is an echo chamber here of a few McCain-bashers practicing the politics of Personal Destruction - smearing McCain with mean-spirited comments about being senile and confused.....
very telling.....
Obama, on the other hand was supposed to be about change and a different kind of politics - etc.. etc...
too bad his supporters aren't.
megan
smearing? do u watch the news?
were u also ok with the reagan alzheimers years.
my president should be able to juggle many topic in his day. my feeling is mccain has lost it, if he ever had it.
the gop team that he wants hire to help him run this country will be the same gop incompetence. I wonder why some people hate the USA so much that they wish that on us. we don't need kayda to destroy us when the gop is willing to do it, for a fee….
McCain didn't seem confused on Leno. Once again he expressed great admiration for the Horatio Alger story of his father-in-law which enabled Cindy to become very wealthy and in turn allows John McCain to have the ability to own several homes.
Jay had a good joke that he wanted to bring out a birthday cake for McCain but the fire marshal urged him not to risk it. McCain said he's so old his Social Security number was 8.
He defended the Paris/Britney ad as just trying to be funny. He called himself the underdog in the race and said he likes being in that position. He also said he wanted to do more townhall events with Obama.
I think he gets a good bump from these late night shows because he's very adept at playing along with Jay, Dave, and Jon and he's able to appear amiable and self-deprecating.
These Prez candidate late night guest spots are pretty weird. One minute you're yukking it up with the host and the next minute you're discussing the war on terror.
not a bad for performance on Leno for a senile, confused guy - lol
guess you guys prop out the ageist smear when it suits you....
and when it doesn't, then McCain is the clever, manipulative Svengali
Mad Magazine once had a very clever set of cartoons where they pointed out that bigots often have contradictory smears - depending on the situation ---
Megan,
March 17 - Amman, Jordan
“As you know, there are Al Qaeda operatives that are taken back into Iran, given training as leaders, and they’re moving back into Iraq,’’
March 18 - Amman, Jordan
“We continue to be concerned about Iranian taking Al Qaeda into Iran, training them and sending them back,’’ Mr. McCain said at the news conference. Asked about that statement, Mr. McCain said: “Well, it’s common knowledge and has been reported in the media that Al Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran. That’s well known. And it’s unfortunate.”
March 19 - Statement on 5th anniversary of Iraq war
“Today in Iraq, America and our allies stand on the precipice of winning a major victory against radical Islamic extremism. The security gains over the past year have been dramatic and undeniable. Al Qaeda and Shia extremists -- with support from external powers such as Iran -- are on the run but not defeated. Tough fighting remains ahead, especially in places like Mosul. Important political gains have also been made, but far more must be done in coming months to cement the gains made in huge cost in American blood and treasure.”
This is a problem...
never thought of him as a Svengali
how is it a smear?
are we not to notice his gaffs, should we just wait for him to be elected and laugh at him for 8 years. i did that once and the joke is on us.
so megan
tell us 5 things you like about mccain or 5 things mccain will do to save the usa
Megan
There's a huge world of difference between handling an appearance on a late night talk show and handling the daily grind of being the leader of the free world which is a 24/7/365 job.
Whether you like it or not, there is a real connection between age and mental acuity and physical stamina.
Race, gender, and religion have no connection to a person's mental acuity or their physical stamina.
You can call me an ageist, but there are legitimate issues involved in the case of electing a 72 year old man to be President.
I would not vote for a person to be President who was 72 years old even if I agreed with him on 98% of his policy positions.
You're asking for trouble when you elect a 72 year old man President. No other job comes close in terms of the mental and physical stress one faces.
I don't understand how you can just laugh off the age issue.
plenty of Obama /Biden gaffes and plagirsim quotes to go around too....
megan
anything worse then not knowing the name of the enemy during a war??
Folks! Way back in post #19 I showed PROOF that Michelle is a liar and hypocrite. I would like one of her supporters to address this fact at:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1122691,CST-NWS-hosp23.article
About her direct role in denying poor people access to the hospital she helped run.
Please, just ONE explanation for this horrible behavior from anyone.
megan could not come up with just 5 good mccain points....?
'yes i am' could not list 5 things about our country that makes him proud
hjs - calm down
mccain knows who the enemy is
and obama knows how many states there are in the US even though he famously screwed that up
why not focus on real issues, instead of Mccain-bashing gotchyas?
isn't that why Fox & the MSM are so horrible?
or does that strand of argument, the media high road, not suit you when you're in gotcha mode?
please, let's elevate the level of comments here - at least somewhere closer to the level of Brian's show...
Gary
good point. agreed it is awful, immoral that we can't find the money to pay for healthcare for everyone, but can spend trillion on war without end. for profit healthcare should be done away with.
Megan
"Fox and the MSM are so horrible" - You're absolutely right about that.
I propose that the Commission on Presidential debates add an additional debate which would consist solely of:
1) gotcha questions
2) "will you pledge" questions
3) "what yould you do if" questions
4) poll questions - why are you only polling at 32% among single, Catholic, left handed, red headed women with college degrees earning less than $60,000
The other debates should be devoted strictly to policy oriented questions
hjs,
thanks for your well-taken points.
I am not patriotic. I am not religious. I can't help it. But I promise that I am human. I just am in that 5% of humanity that has no nationalism and no religion.
But I still can name 5 things easily that make me proud:
1) The Constitution, a truly awesome (albeit imperfect) founding document and I especially love the Preamble, and the 1st and 4th Amendments
2) Meritocracy - Obama and Bill Clinton just to name 2 examples rise up to head their parties as young men all on their own, no cronyism, no connections
3) Baseball
4) Public TV and Public radio and C-SPAN; I don't know what other countries have but this is good
5) Shawn Johnson - the Olympiam made me very proud, especially when I saw her earrings.
chris o
thanks
Dear hjs :
Then you would support my analysis of the current medical care system and my proposals to improve it?
http://www.vaclib.org/basic/gk/SinglePayer.htm
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