You know all of that soaring rhetoric of Barack Obama? Those flowery words he uses to hide his shady political history, kickback-demanding fundraiser, and incoherent positions on foreign policy?
Turns out his own staffer spilled the beans on the rhetoric: it’s empty (CTV, emphasis added):
Barack Obama has ratcheted up his attacks on NAFTA, but a senior member of his campaign team told a Canadian official not to take his criticisms seriously, CTV News has learned.
. . .
Within the last month, a top staff member for Obama’s campaign telephoned Michael Wilson, Canada’s ambassador to the United States, and warned him that Obama would speak out against NAFTA, according to Canadian sources.
The staff member reassured Wilson that the criticisms would only be campaign rhetoric, and should not be taken at face value.
So how much of Obama’s rhetoric is real, and how much of it “should not be taken at face value”? This is the dilemma one faces in dealing with the Audacity of Hype.
H/t - Below the Beltway
February 28, 2008 at 11:04 am
Your site is too difficult to read. You need more contrast between your background and script.
February 28, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Good find on Obambi, this guy is more full of it than the Clintonistas, and that’s saying something. No wonder he’s trending down against McCain, people are starting to see through the smoke. This election is going to be about issues, and the fact is that McCain is trusted on more issues by more people than Obambi, period.
February 29, 2008 at 8:12 am
Funny—these sound like the same criticisms we heard when Reagan was running: “all rhetoric, no substance,” “inexperienced,” “not credible.” McCain is not exactly inspired leadership—everything he says is, to paraphrase Joe Biden, “A noun, a verb, and al-qaeda.” America deserves something more than a one-dimensional fear monger.
February 29, 2008 at 8:19 am
im tried of people messing with obama it lets me know this contry still is not ready for a black president which is sad and o yeah all politics are liars look at bush prime example
February 29, 2008 at 8:20 am
NF,
I don’t remember any of Reagan’s people telling the world that he ddin’t mean it when he sadi he would rebuild our defenses andf stand up to the Soviet Union. Ronald Reagan meant what he said; Obama clearly does not.
Moreover, John McCain is not Johnyy One-note McCain. He has railed against government spending, has a decent tax-cut plan, and is an avowed free-trader. Perhaps if you paid more attention, you wouldn’t sound so utterly ignorant.
February 29, 2008 at 8:26 am
nita,
This may be all about race within the Democratic party, but not among us outside the party. This is about Obama’s far-left record and his phoniness.
Playing the race card doesn’t win the game here.
February 29, 2008 at 8:43 am
Yeah, and I heard that one of his campaign managers does crack off of Hillary’s back. My sister’s brother’s girlfriend told me.
One of his staffers? Come on now. This is great journalism!!!!
February 29, 2008 at 9:49 am
This comment is for rightwingliberal……You say we are all ignorant that we do not know what we are talking about but yet you throw around words like phoniness with nothing to back it up but a word. All you people are scared of a black president for what reason I do not know. This man is a very educated senator with lots of experience. He is exactly what this country needs…someone and something different. If you have not noticed our country is NOT going in the right direction. We have the worst economy I have seen since I began my working career. Our national deficit is stupid and our money is worth less and less everyday. The last thing we need is another republican in office to drive us further in the ground. Look around!!Wake up!! How do you know that obama doesn’t mean what he says….because hilary says so and you watch the news. Have you been to any of his rallies or even listened to anything he has to say…If you ask me you are stuck on a one way road and you can not see any other way but yours!! Typical Republican.
February 29, 2008 at 10:37 am
I would have no problem with an African-American President, I do have problems with Obama - he is too far to the left on domestic issues; he is too dovish on national security; and yes, I find his “hope” rhetoric to be phony and inauthentic.
March 1, 2008 at 8:37 am
[...] Obama Campaign: Don’t take Barack Obama’s remarks at face value. [...]
March 11, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Once the race card always the race card. Obama is a charasmatic, left wing liberal, with weak experience (junior senator), a shady political background that does not represent the people that make this country function. He doesn’t represent the strong America I know, I don’t prefer Mccain, but he’s an easy choice over Obama.
Obama is being helped by the race card, note that 80% of all blacks vote for him because, well he’s black, they want to make history. 12% is a small percentage of America. He has strong support from young aspiring liberals because well they are young and clueless, short t on wisdom and the mechanics of life, they don’t know what it’s all about,but they spring to life when they hear “change”. What exactly is this change, are we going to feed the poor or something, lol. When it comes right down to it, this is not a Democracy, and it shouldn’t be, maybe all votes shouldn’t count the same. Ever thought of that. Once you get over yourself, take a look around and ask what you’ve done for everyone lately, who are you. Mccain will swamp Obama, this is going to be entertaining.
May 21, 2008 at 1:57 am
Didn’t you guys read the articles that says that McCain lied about Hillary and Obama’s ties to NAFTA letter? Or the more interesting articles and newscasts by the Canadian media saying that it was the CANADIANS who misrepresented what the Obama staff member said and actually APOLIGIZED Obama for that?
It was all a Right wing conspiracy by McCain, Hillary, and the Right Wing Canadian Parties who don’t like Democrats to try to bring Obama down. You all search for these articles and maybe update your blog a little bit.