If it walks and talks like one religion, and says it is another religion, the voters aren't going to believe it.

Sent by dans_inferno | 5:43 PM ET | 03-21-2008

Yes, I think it's likely that it will be a downhill slope from here on out for Clinton (and it has been for a while), but I take serious issue with Slate's statement that Clinton's exit"...will be a long, slow exit that causes pain to everyone involved." It's every candidate's right to campaign up until the very end. In fact, I think there's many Democrats who feel that Edwards dropped out too soon, and many Republicans feel that Romney dropped out too soon. Clinton supporters don't want her to drop out yet, and one of the things they like about her is that she is a fighter.

Sent by Karen | 6:00 PM ET | 03-21-2008

I think Hillary is going to stay to the bitter end and play the attrition game. More and more garbage about "black liberation theology" is going to come out and it's gonna freak more and more people out with it's lunacy. She's gonna wait until Obama is no longer a viable candidate and then rely upon the Superdelegates to choose the "adult choice."

Sent by deek | 6:08 PM ET | 03-21-2008

Don't we all wish! The mere suggestion that Hillary's end is near, practically insures that she will hang in there until the bitterest end, no matter whose end it may be. You can say what you want about the Clintons, but they're tenacious. Too bad they don't spend some of that energy more productively.

Sent by sem | 6:14 PM ET | 03-21-2008

Obama is unelectable because his ties to Reverend Wright. There's no way Clinton should give up. I'll bet Richardson agreed to endorse Obama before the Wright mess.

Sent by Susan | 6:30 PM ET | 03-21-2008

Obama made himself unviable with his long association with Rev. Wright. The Republicans are going to run one ad over and over. Obama's face with a voice over of Wright shouting "God d##n America". They are going to tear him apart.

Sent by Susan | 6:50 PM ET | 03-21-2008

Clinton and her handlers, whose techniques come right out of the slash and burn neo-con playbook, have done immense damage to the Democratic party. Her saying McCain and she were ready to be Commander in Chief and all Obama had was a "speech in 2002" showed they will take down the party if they can. Why Clinton would want to go down in history as a spoiler is beyond me. But Obama is a steadfast uniter and after 8 years of the Bush nightmare, Americans want some kind of higher ground, some restoration of our self-image, which Obama alone can deliver.

Americans are revolted by the brazen torturing, secrecy, mendacity, and lawlessless of the "oil men in the White House" and want to make as clean a break as we can. Let's hope Clinton gets out of the way while she has any credibility left.

Sent by Suzy Q | 6:54 PM ET | 03-21-2008

How many of you can actually ascertain the thinking of Obama as it relates to the reverend Wright? In all the years of his very public existance has he shown anything of any similarity. It is time to exit this "silly season" and get back to basics. All of this is just the typical human condition of enjoying failure in the pursuit of impossible perfection.

Sent by pragmatic pete | 6:58 PM ET | 03-21-2008

She will keep on fighting. And fighting..and keep on fighting...until Denver. She doesn't care about scorching the earth and everything that stands in her way. As far as seriously damaging the Democratic Party in the process, she'll just cross that bridge when she gets there. Barack, don't let your guard down, you're the best candidate out there. Like the old adage goes, "for every sucker punch she throws, you need to land a couple of jabs." The big fight is in Nov.

Sent by Roger | 7:09 PM ET | 03-21-2008

"Obama is unelectable because his ties to Reverend Wright."

We should give up on democracy now.

Sent by Jody Sol | 7:17 PM ET | 03-21-2008

Susan and others:
Don't you think most voters will get tired of the Republicans running one ad over and over? I know there are people hung up on the Wright clips being played on television and radio, but I think a lot of voters like to have a candidate appealing to their intelligence, as Obama did so stunningly on Tuesday in his speech. Fox News just seems stuck in an angry rut. The difference in the level of discourse will just become clearer and clearer. Won't it?

Sent by Michelle | 7:29 PM ET | 03-21-2008

I think Hillary said it best when she talked about the voters left to be heard and that it is the voters that will decide. What has changed to make everyone in such a hurry for Hillary to end it? I am upset by the suggestion that Hillary should get out, especially before Pennsylvania which has a huge number of votes. We knew all along that the race would be close all the way through and it is. Barack is not winning by much.

Sent by Priscilla | 7:38 PM ET | 03-21-2008

The Clintons represent the past and the country needs a President who can lead us into the future. If you want to talk about which candidate has the most tainted associates, they lead in that category too. They do not yet realize it, but their time is over.

Sent by Fred | 8:02 PM ET | 03-21-2008

excuse me did anyone see the picture of rev. wright w/ bill clinton? what about john mccain supporting his racist, homophobic, anti-semitic pastor? but that's ok, right? where is his speech...

by the way, it's time for billary to bow out gracefully...

Sent by racquel perez | 8:42 PM ET | 03-21-2008

I dread four more years of Bushism, but if Clinton really is out of the race that's what we're in for. Fair or not, the Wright episode, and Obama's oh-so-pretty speech will play on the fears og many Americans that he has a hidden racial agenda. As a local politician I faced the same issue, except with regard to gender, and it is an insidious corrosive fear that will derail Obama's campain. Once Clinton's out of the picture the Republicans will ramp up the advertising juxtaposing Rev. Wright's rant and Obama. Anyone who believe's their statement otherwise is like the gingerbread man about to climb on the fox's back.

Sent by Peggy | 8:46 PM ET | 03-21-2008

I don't think that the GOP has a leg to stand on with respect to reverends and pastors. McCain has some extremist on the religious right supporting him. I hope that American will wake up. The leaders republican p[arty could really give $#&# about religion. They use it only as a political tool to incite fear and bigotry. I say that people are not going to be fooled again.

Sent by Glenn D, Austin TX | 10:23 PM ET | 03-21-2008

I think Hillary is going to run out of money soon, or at least she'll recognize that she can't compete with Obama's fundraising ability. That gives her an "out"--I'm quitting not to save the party, not because he's better, not because he's going to win anyway, but because my "base" can't afford to keep giving.

Sent by Melissa | 10:50 PM ET | 03-21-2008

After 45 years, I just quit the Republican Party, registered as a Democrat and am going to vote in the Oregon primary for the greatest American in my lifetime- Barack Obama. I really don't think the GOP can afford to play the racist card. Too many of us want healing- not hate- and want our great country's ideals realized.

Sent by Garry Harris MD | 12:03 AM ET | 03-22-2008

I have sent notes to Hillary and her Email letter-writers that she needs to bow out now (before Pennsylvania) with grace and be remembered for gracefully recognizing the will of the people. I feel that she would be better because she is strong, and with him as VP, that would be a 16-year legacy, but she should have jumped on that at the debate where it was suggested, not now when she is behind. As a team they would be unbeatable, but I don't think he could ask her now. In Texas, there may have been the Limbaugh factor (he told his listeners to cross over and vote Democratic for her to mess up the race). I taped her when she came to Tucson and wore her regalia on election day (Feb. 5), when I voted for her. She would be good, but it's too late now.
He has won state after state, sometimes by 80%. He IS the candidate, and is a good one. Both of them are. We needed her in 2004 to save us from GWB. It was honorable to finish her Senate term (just as it would be for Obama), but we needed her then. If he should lose, she could look toward 012, but she really needs to jump on his wagon now to make sure that the Democrats win in November and not give the Republicans any more ammunition against him. I think he dealt with the Wright issue in his Race talk and that was a very good speech. I think people feel they can trust him, and I think we can.

Sent by John Baringer | 12:52 AM ET | 03-22-2008

Hillary will stay in as long as she believes it does not damage her chances to get the Democratic nomination in '12, which also requires Obama to lose. Of course, she will pay lip service to backing Obama in the end but the Clinton's will do no more then the little they did to help elect Kerry last round. Everyone has a "right" to stay in a race (even Ralph Nader!) but Clinton's actions have clearly demonstrated that her personal ambition trumps everything, including party, principle, and government directions (which she and Obama agree on except to minor details)

There is much to disagree with McCain about, but to call him Bush-III is absurd and indefensible. People who recite the transparent lies of their political party demonstrate for the world that they are sheep.

Sent by Kevin L. | 1:06 AM ET | 03-22-2008

It is my observation that Barack Obama has the ability to inspire people in a way that I have not witnessed in a presidential candidate in my lifetime. This not only crosses lines of race and gender, but in political affiliation as well. He has the ability to inspire in a way that makes you think about what is possible if we work together. When I think about Hillary Clinton, I can't help but remember how the Republican party was out to nail Bill Clinton. I have no desire for more of the same with Hillary as president. As for how Obama would do in the general election it is my belief that he could beat John McCain in what would probably be a close election. I myself have had family members, or known people who held some racist beliefs. Like Senator Obama, I didn't agree with their beliefs, but was not inclined to "disown" them because that was a small part of who they were. All I know is that the more I see of Barack Obama, the more I like.

Sent by Brian | 1:29 AM ET | 03-22-2008

I don't think Sen. Clinton is about to quit - extremely unlikely. She still sees a chance to win the big prize. And, she has worked really hard for a long time.

It will take an avalanche of super delegates to follow Richardson and announce support for Obama. If that doesn't happen, then she will get more and more negative on Obama and save McCain from having to do his own dirty work. Is it likely that the super delegates will act now to save the November election? I don't really know.

Sent by Gary from Texas | 1:42 AM ET | 03-22-2008

Hey Tom, I realize this is a very long post so i don't expect you to actually post it but i would hope that you could perhaps take a look at it and post a response?

I guess the republican's and the Billary team are right then. Maybe America isn't really ready to start holding itself to higher standard. I'll tell you all, I was grossly offended at this notion that the majority of americans were so gleefully ignorant. I listen to these pundits and the people from the republican side and all those people going after Obama and to me it sounds like they are all saying hey you might pick up a few wannbe intellectuals but the rest of us red-blooded Americans are perfectly happy letting a few people in washington continue to think for us. I mean they call his supporters the latt sipping crowd as if the rest of america is incapable of forming independant thought's. What do we really believe that we elect officials so that we don't have to think for ourselves? Wake up people the only way our government truly works in the way it was designed is if the people stay actively involved. watching the checks and balances to make sure they aren't being circumvented by some ambitous politican with a hidden agenda. the republican party and so far the hillary clinton campaign have done nothing to truly attempt to spur real conversaion about the issues among the american people. think about it. she doesn't like his health plan because there is no mandate for adults. she thinks the people are so stupid the given the oppurtunity at truly affordable healthcare we would pass to by video games or something. I mean if you think that lowly of American people then maybe you and reverend wright have something in common. To whoever it was saying the the black liberation theology is garbage. all I offer is this. Are ther a people in this country truly more needing of some kind of help. the reverend was doing his best to give a voice to people who still in this country feel like they have no voice. the reason that any black people ever accepted Bill Clinton as the :first blacp president" is because they had given up on America ever coming to a point where a real black man would even be allowed to run a serious campaign without being assainated or something. There are several things about the black community that you have to understand before you can make a judgement. The most significant problem in the community as a whole is attitude of acceptance. We don't hold ourselves to as high a standard as we should because there is the feeling that especialy for a black man in this country he has so much to over come as it is without your expectations. That sentiment has come down from the older generations as they saw there men enslaved and beaten forced to do all manner of thing including fight in wars that they didn't understand. generations that sam there women enslaved and beaten and raped by there owners. they also where forced to serve and fight with the promise of freedom as there reward but they weere never taught how to be free men and women. they were never given education and job skills to ensure that had the ability to succeed. sure some of them found a way to make it work but the vast majority of them had to stay in the south because theyu didn't know anythin else. si they pushed on working for and with the same people that never wanted to see them free in the first place. they never really had a fair shot at the American dream so they taught there kids that they had to accept the same fate just do what you can because this is a white man's world and and they won't ever let you have a real peice of it. which seemed very unfair to the younger generations. so out of the dust rise a few great leaders ther greates one being dr. king this was a man who was showing black people that the could weather the storm and the could do it the right way. he made people proud to be black and guess what happened to him? then came the draft where black men were again forced to fight iun a war that they really didn't understand why they were fighting and to come back and after all that the civil rights movement had accomplished they still could not even get a decent job so now they start to remember the teaching of there parente and grandparents so they teach that to their kids so you mix that hopelessness with the drug years of the 70's and 80's. Then you had the ties of the C.I.A to cocaine trafficking and it's not hard to see where the distrust for the government comes in. then the Aid's epidemic the ravaged the black community and it doesn't really take much of a strecth of the imagination to come up with the theory that the Government did it. I don't agree with it but I understand the thinking that goes into it. The fact that things that senator obama has been talking about during his campaign speak directly against the continuation of this cycly for me is proof enough that he truly does not even agree with revrend wright. anyone who can thinlk for themself can see this.

Sent by J.A.WILSON | 3:18 AM ET | 03-22-2008

The thing that is being overlooked as always is that we are simply infatuated with the moment. After 9/11 it was patriotism and flag waving and God blessing America and cheesy country songs providing the background noise. Now it's change and a new voice and high ideals and one again becoming a beloved force for all that is good and right in the world. Both sides know that this is a fantasy and work it for all they can, because they know that once the voting is over we will all smile at each other, pat each other on the back, engage in great discussions of great promise, and then slowly, slowly return to our everyday lives with all of their everyday moments and notions, and that will be that. And business and politics will proceed as always, and that will be that. True change is a fire that burns beautiful and bright, but the fire must consume that which needs to be changed in order for the change to be. And I truly think, and I try to be optimistic, but, really, I truly think that such an all consuming change is more than we can understand or are willing to tolerate. So best of luck to all, may the best person win...and may we someday attain the goals we hunger for.

Sent by Tia Gasig | 8:26 AM ET | 03-22-2008

keep your fingers crossed!

Sent by Rocky Ventura | 10:46 AM ET | 03-22-2008

Hillary has already done so much damage to the democrats it doesn't matter anymore. She was unelectable and thanks to her Obama is too, it is over for the dems regardless.

Sent by gilesjp | 11:05 AM ET | 03-22-2008

Hillary wins by tricking voters. Her wins in Ohio and Texas were based on a lie and on fear, respectively. There is nothing inside that body cavity except lying serpents and pus.

Richardson's endorsement gives the thumbs up to any superD's "indebted" to the Clintons. After all, he served 2 cabinet posts in Bill's administration. It's now up to the press to face reality so we can move on to fighting the GOP.

Sent by Karen Cleveland, Ohio | 11:09 AM ET | 03-22-2008

Would someone please clarify for me: Hillary's involvement with this "secretive" religious organization? (Maybe we should be a bit less judgemental on Obama's choice until we clarify Hillary's connections) For those of you who don't want to wait for a reply, google: Hillary Clinton bible study...

Sent by Liz | 11:14 AM ET | 03-22-2008

I think Clinton will stay in until her fellow members of Congress feel her continuation is hurting democratic chances in November, which will be sooner rather than later. If they tell her she will be killing her future in the democratic party she will have to back off or be isolated until her term comes up. As far as the Wright problem for Obama fox News took a sting of statements out of context and have played them obsessively. The rest of the networks followed suit without investigating the story. If you read or listen to the sermons you will find that they are not as Fox has suggested. The 9/11 sermon was based on Edward Penn's statements on Fox about Iraq and the GD America sermon was from the scholars version of the Bible. I suggest we try investigating things we hear on TV as it appears our media no longer adheres to the rules of journalism and treats news as entertainment. So I reject the idea that Wright will sink Obama in November. You fail to give Americans credit for having any intellect or any ability to see the truth, even if it takes a little prodding.

Sent by Peggy Duncan | 11:27 AM ET | 03-22-2008

What would Jesus do to Reverend Wright? I think he would want to sit down and talk with him about it.

Being offended about someone being resistant to the United States government PUTS YOUR GOD and your beliefs in your Christ and his religion SECOND TO YOUR PATRIOTISM.

JESUS WAS ALSO A PERSON WHO SPOKE OUT AGAINST HIS GOVERNMENT.

Would YOU have been part of them that HELPED CRUCIFY HIM FOR IT?

IF HIS CRUCIFICTION were happening now.

How would FOX NEWS be covering it?

Sent by Nathan | 11:40 AM ET | 03-22-2008

No longer being noticed (it seems) is the fact that Hillary has still not released her tax records and earmark requests.

What gigantic controversy is contained there? Don't the superdelegates want to know?

Sent by dawn | 11:45 AM ET | 03-22-2008

No Clinton will not stop. She loves The United States and represents those of us who do. The American people want Hillary Rodham Clinton to be our next President. The Democrats that want to beat McCain better get behind her and push her forward.
Pictures are worth a thousand words. The American people have a vision. They are shocked and renching over the mere thought of Obama inviting Farrakhan and Rev Wright to speak at our White House.How dare him to uphold a person that teaches hate of our country.. Rev Wright makes a statement he wants Obama to get a paint brush and paint the Whitehouse black. Whhhhhat?
No way will Obama win against McCain. We elect people that surround themselves with people that love the U.S.

Sent by Martha Montgomery | 11:54 AM ET | 03-22-2008

Clinton's chickens are coming home to roost. Fox lied; see the right suff and all will know that he is indeed Wright.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/21/meet-the-white-man-who-_n_92793.html

Sent by Daly | 11:54 AM ET | 03-22-2008

Obama has no clear path to the nomination either--he can't get to 2025 any more than she can. The supers have to weigh in no matter what for either one. More media drumbeats as always to try to help Obama their preferred candidate. She is going to trounce him in PA and the dem. party has a real problem on its hands then. As Margaret Carlson of Bloomberg said, if Obama is wounded, the dem party will find a way to nominate Clinton. And he's wounded big time.

Sent by Typical White Woman | 11:57 AM ET | 03-22-2008

Wright was right; youtube and huffington are both showing full context that proves the exact opposite from fox view of the world

Sent by Daly | 12:00 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Hillary's "religion"
MOTHER JONES - Through all of her years in Washington, Clinton has been an active participant in conservative Bible study and prayer circles that are part of a secretive Capitol Hill group known as the Fellowship. Her collaborations with right-wingers such as Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and former Senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) grow in part from that connection. "A lot of evangelicals would see that as just cynical exploitation," says the Reverend Rob Schenck, a former leader of the militant anti-abortion group Operation Rescue who now ministers to decision makers in Washington. "I don't....there is a real good that is infected in people when they are around Jesus talk, and open Bibles, and prayer.". . .

When Clinton first came to Washington in 1993, one of her first steps was to join a Bible study group. For the next eight years, she regularly met with a Christian "cell" whose members included Susan Baker, wife of Bush consigliere James Baker; Joanne Kemp, wife of conservative icon Jack Kemp; Eileen Bakke, wife of Dennis Bakke, a leader in the anti-union Christian management movement; and Grace Nelson, the wife of Senator Bill Nelson, a conservative Florida Democrat.

Clinton's prayer group was part of the Fellowship (or "the Family"), a network of sex-segregated cells of political, business, and military leaders dedicated to "spiritual war" on behalf of Christ, many of them recruited at the Fellowship's only public event, the annual National Prayer Breakfast. (Aside from the breakfast, the group has "made a fetish of being invisible," former Republican Senator William Armstrong has said.) The Fellowship believes that the elite win power by the will of God, who uses them for his purposes. Its mission is to help the powerful understand their role in God's plan.

Clinton declined our requests for an interview about her faith,

http://prorev.com/2007/12/hillary-clinton-heavy-into-rightwing.html

Hillary Clinton Lands Earmarks For Campaign Contributions
It's a real estate developer's sugar-plum dream: a mega-shopping mall complete with 10 Broadway-style theaters, an indoor river, a Tuscan village and a 39-story luxury hotel sheathed in green solar panels shaped like giant blades of grass. Plus as much as $1 billion in government-backed financing, thanks in part to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton....
...Since taking office in 2001, Clinton has delivered $500 million worth of earmarks that have specifically benefited 59 corporations. About 64% of those corporations provided funds to her campaigns through donations made by employees, executives, board members or lobbyists, a review by the Los Angeles Times shows.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/12/10/hillary-clinton-lands-ear_n_76048.html

Pastor Got $1.5 Million in Clinton Earmarks Before EndorsementBy Kathy Miller | The Hillary Project
By: Fred Lucas

Sent by Sheila | 12:06 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Get a life, Clinton fanatics. The Trinity Church in Chicago has a long history of helping the needy of Chicago. To take 30 seconds out of 20 years of speeches is DESPERATION. Obama didn't say it, his preacher did. McCain's is a real nutcase and Hillary belongs to a church that is actually a right-wing cult and secret society.

Remember the separation of church and state? As to the race, Obama has outmanaged and outstrategized Hillary whose campaign is in the red. She can't seem to balance a checkbook. She is toast but doesn't believe it.

Sent by Mountain Jack | 12:07 PM ET | 03-22-2008

No, Clinton is a fighter and she is the best candidate for the job. I see through all of her warts and I see a strong woman who will stand by the people. That is what voters see and want. She is fighting because she knows that she has to save the country from an Obama disaster.

Sent by Lee Michigan | 12:08 PM ET | 03-22-2008

What bothers me most about Senator Obama, are not these links to Reverand Wright, but the lack of historical evidence that he can back his words with action. For instance, he regularly speaks about opposing the war, but there's is no record of his introducing any legislation during his tenure as a senator to take the lead on ending the conflict. Dennis Kucinich, like him or not, Senator Murtha, like him or not, really made a front-line effor to effect change. Obama touts his history as a community organizer, but as far as I know, he made no efforts to directly help Katrina victims, unlike so many of our elected officials, like former President Clinton and Al Gore, who actually went to New Orleans, rolled up their sleeves, and went to work. Obama's background as a community organizer could have been enormously helpful. He spoke eloquently about striving for racial accord, but as far as I can tell, he's never stepped forward to facilitate any kind of greater understanding prior to his campaign. Why has he never been aligned with any of organizations committed to these causes? I'm a writer and love his words, but I'm disturbed that someone who speaks so fervently about these sorts of initiatives has no history of taking action on them.

Sent by Teresa Miller | 12:10 PM ET | 03-22-2008

I KEPT READING ABOUT HOW OBAMA MADE HIMSELF UNVIABLE. CAN SOME TELL ME IF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS BY REV WRIGHT WERE WRONG OR FALSE? HERE ARE THE STATEMENTS... [NOT SNIPPETS BY FOXNEWS]

???I heard Ambassador Peck on an interview yesterday did anybody else see or hear him? He was on FOX News, this is a white man, and he was upsetting the FOX News commentators to no end, he pointed out, a white man, an ambassador, he pointed out that what Malcolm X said when he was silenced by Elijah Mohammad was in fact true, he said Americas chickens, are coming home to roost.???

???We took this country by terror away from the Sioux, the Apache, Arikara, the Comanche, the Arapaho, the Navajo. Terrorism.

???We took Africans away from their country to build our way of ease and kept them enslaved and living in fear. Terrorism.

???We bombed Grenada and killed innocent civilians, babies, non-military personnel.

???We bombed the black civilian community of Panama with stealth bombers and killed unarmed teenage and toddlers, pregnant mothers and hard working fathers.

???We bombed Qaddafi???s home, and killed his child. Blessed are they who bash your children???s head against the rock.

???We bombed Iraq. We killed unarmed civilians trying to make a living. We bombed a plant in Sudan to pay back for the attack on our embassy, killed hundreds of hard working people, mothers and fathers who left home to go that day not knowing that they???d never get back home.

???We bombed Hiroshima. We bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon and we never batted an eye.

???Kids playing in the playground. Mothers picking up children after school. Civilians, not soldiers, people just trying to make it day by day.

???We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff that we have done overseas is now brought right back into our own front yards. America???s chickens are coming home to roost.

???Violence begets violence. Hatred begets hatred. And terrorism begets terrorism. A white ambassador said that y???all, not a black militant. Not a reverend who preaches about racism. An ambassador whose eyes are wide open and who is trying to get us to wake up and move away from this dangerous precipice upon which we are now poised. The ambassador said the people we have wounded don???t have the military capability we have. But they do have individuals who are willing to die and take thousands with them. And we need to come to grips with that.???

Sent by john scott | 12:10 PM ET | 03-22-2008

No one in their right mind can say that voting the first woman into the US presidency is a thing of the past.

Why, we all have pasts, even the young'uns.

Obama is the most divisive politician in recent history. He is bringing to the forefront all kinds of things from the past. He is not a uniter.

Hillary must stay in the race to save us from an Obama presidency.

Sent by Lee Michigan | 12:14 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Where are the tax returns and the list of donors to the presidential library?

Sent by CTA | 12:15 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Hillary is our nominee. Obama has no chance, no chance in the General Elections. He won his edge with a lot of caucus states in red states. He now has his judgement and character question, big flaws.

Hillary was the Democratic Nominee ealy in Jan and now again. She is our only choice. Otherwise it will be McCain 08.

Sent by Maria Isabel from San Francisco | 12:16 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Queen Hillary the elite white liberal. She and Bill alone can help the poor masses. She and Bill know whats best for us poor folks.
She and Bill will paint the world in democracy killing everything that gets in their way.
I will vote for Nader before I vote for her elitist lies.

Sent by Anna | 12:18 PM ET | 03-22-2008

People love to type Billary but personally I call the other side BO&MO
Who are a couple of the biggest cone this country has encountered in quite some time
No doubt Wright will be at BOs side as well as MOs should he be nominated
So we are to trust that those 3 will make good judgements with our country??
Why should Hillary drop out-BO loses support with evry passing day
No doubt there is more to come out on him
Mich and Fl have BO to blame for them being silenced
If he is counting on them to help him out this fall he is sadly mistaken
MO says this is our only chance to elect BO well MO I think I will pass
Hillary and Bill will go on either way
BO&MO on the other hand would be so angered they would sink fast
Any one noticed MO has been silenced by the BO advisors hmmmm
First lady material-not even close
MO isnt as good at swooning people so she has to be kept outof the frey
This grand speech of BOs well truthfully it became rhetoric just like all of his other sermons it goes on and on and on and on
Kind of like his debate answers on and on and on and on
Lets have a debatte hosted by fox for once
BRs endorsement not really a big deal Kennedys-Kerrys etc didnt do him much good I dont expect BRs to either
Who knows what he was offered for his endorsement
At any rate it is BRS burden to bear
I hope he feels good about his JUDGEMENT

Sent by Betty | 12:18 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Hillary now, Obama in four to eight. Hillary is the right person now. Obama will be spectacular in four to eight more years.

If Hillary fails to get the nomination then I'll naturally have to go with McCain. The Democratic party was very foolish to allow this idiocy to play out. Florida, Michigan, Obama? It looks like four more years of a Republican White House... good job Dems... NOT!

Sent by Dale | 12:19 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Hey Priscilla,

"We knew all along that the race would be close all the way through and it is. Barack is not winning by much. "

Umm...Yes he is. She has lost the nomination, the media just wont report it for the sake of ratings and love for the Clinton name. Remember when Hillary came back from the dead in New Hampshire? I do, and then it mattered, but now it doesn't matter anymore. She can "get back up from the dead again" (lame) and win all the remaining contests and she still would be behind in States Won, Popular Vote, and Delegates. Also, people forget that she had a rebound in New Hampshire, sure, but she was also knocked dead again by losing the majority of contests and delegates on Super Tuesday and then losing 13 in a row.

Let???s also forget that she was favored to win both Texas and Ohio. The media allowed her to define her own standard of victory by claiming that if she merely won both that she should be allowed to continue. This was false. She needed to win by HUGE margins and she failed to do that, and though it's not official, she LOST the Texas Caucus, which we'll all find out on March 29th.

THE TRUTH IS that this contest WAS over on Super Tuesday, but the media somehow allowed Hillary again to define own standards of winning or drawing by letting her claim that if she won California that she was still alive or even somehow won on Super Tuesday, despite the fact that SHE WAS FAVORED TO WIN CALIFORNIA, and Obama still took many of the delegates from her there.

This contest is over and Obama has won. Are Democratic Party leaders stupid by not endorsing Obama to let it be known to the Democratic public that they do not support Hillary's negative campaign that can no longer even win her the election, but rather simply help destroy Obama in the general election and sink the Democratic party not only in November but for potentially years to come.

Bill Richardson, someone close to the family both personally and politically came out to endorse Obama. However, I suppose in the eyes of many media personalities that the endorsement of a former member (Tina Fey) of a TV show that hasn't been funny in 15 years (SNL) carries more weight than the endorsement of a 5 time nominee for a Noble Peace Prize.

The media needs to stop this already! This is a sign that she has lost and that reality is in fact, reality.

In the James Carville World (and I suppose he just compared the Clintons to Jesus by comparing Richardson to Judas) Clinton still has a chance. In reality, and in terms most people will understand, Hillary is in a playoff race that "comes down to the wire", but she down in the 7th inning by 15 runs. All she has to do now to move on is recapture the tie, convince the umpires that Spring Training games should be allowed to count as Regular Season games, and then convince the MLB that she should move on because she tied.

Shame on the media and all we hear about from those terrible spin machines in no other than New York is how Pro-Obama the media is. The fact that they haven't declared her dead when she is, is evidence that they are Pro-Clinton and falling victim to the same thing that happened in 2000 with Bush-Gore, and it just goes to show, The Clintons are fine with this because this is the type of campaign that they have run this season, and they don't mind winning on the same terms that they've played-Karl Rove Terms.

Sent by Anthony | 12:20 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Very simple. The primary on Apr 22 will tell whether Hillary or Obama will stay. If he could win Pa., Hillary should gracefully drop off for the majority whites Pa "have decided" to back Obama as nominee. Dem will then guarantee a white house seat with white supports. If Obama unbale to convince the whites to support him on Apr 22 primary, he can't make it to Washinton with black votes alone, even with Richarson! The race divides are already there, the dem voters are not colorblind yet. Obama needs to do more to win over white votes.

Sent by Substance | 12:23 PM ET | 03-22-2008

When Barack Obama made his speech on racism earlier this week, it was apparent that we were witnessing a future very great President speaking. I was literally "in shock and awe" when I heard this historic speech. America is being given a most wonderful gift.

Sent by K. Gillespie | 12:24 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Thanks to Roland Martin on CNN I was able to see and hear some of the controversial Video Sermons of the Rev
Wright. I am Black and the sond bites made me uncomfortable. Though I still
think the references to America and the
God D____ America are wrong, the references to Races are wrong I was able
to listen and draw another view after listening to the whole sermon and even others are there on You Tube. The pundits have no desire for us to be United. We are a much larger group when we are. Some seek to devide which will serve to conquer. Can we afford this kind of corrosive, devisiveness this Year. No we can not. Please do not allow
an old, bruised, radical thinking preacher to cause us to devide. We need
each other to defeat our enemy. Those
few pundits, are not suffering at the pump. We are. They are not losing their
wealth and Mansions, we are. They don't
even know that Gas is nearing $4.00 a
gallon, but we do. They have excellent
Health Care and most of us may not. I am
sorry for what Rev Wright said. I am Black and I was offended. But can we
afford to ruin our chance to Cause much needed Change. "We Can Not Wait" Obama
knows this and Hannity knows this so
please ask your self why if these Videos
were made in 2001 and 2003 they are so important now. The Clintons have baggage. They are not affraid of her.
Why are they so affraid Of Obama. Because they realize that he would bring
large numbers of Americans out in November. Ask your self what that would do to the Republican Machine. Please
find a way to reconcile our differences of race. They have nothing to do with NAFTA, Oil/Gas, Public Education, The
Housing Crunch, nor Health Care. These
issues have no Color or Gender.

Sent by CPD | 12:33 PM ET | 03-22-2008

The Dems have done it. McCain will now win. Hillary needs to stay in. This obama guy is nothing but trouble for this country. I'm beginning to think that the US is on its way out. this country will burn from the inside out under his rule. The Roman empire at its best. History is about to repeat itself. Wke up America. Who got to Richardson??

Sent by Cal | 12:35 PM ET | 03-22-2008

In some churches the preacher insists that the congregation adhere absolutely to the dogma of each sermon. In others, like the Rev. Wright's the preacher challenges the congregation to think about important subjects and form their own path to righteousness. McCain is not going to be able to convince a majority of voters that the dogma approach is correct after more than seven years of Bush's example.

Sent by AlanC | 12:35 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Who wants more of Hillary and Bill
As for me I've had my fill
They've used up most of their goodwill
She's much too shrill and volatile
Who wants more of Hillary and Bill
Four more years it makes me ill
This time round he's just a shill
Their show is broke it's bad vaudeville
Who wants more of Hillary and Bill
We need a Lincoln or a Churchill

Sent by ken stuart | 12:38 PM ET | 03-22-2008

As a proud American verily I say unto you we are unworthy of Barack Obama. Being slightly different hues of George Bush, either Mrs. Clinton or Mr. McCain would be just desert for this guileless arrant people we call brethren.

Sent by Tullius Cicero Americanus | 12:38 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Hillary Clinton will again display her lack of good judgment and will keep campaigning.

Sent by Lady Professor | 12:42 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Barak cannot get the necessary delegates either. What is all this about? To try to run out the clock like the Obama campaign did by announcing a 'major' speech last weekend of Friday to address the issue of 'race' and hold off the clock in Michigan and Florida?
Barak Obama should examine what he is doing..actually..I think it is part of his plan to continue to ram race issues at us..first the speech comparing Mrs. Ferraro to Reverend Wright, second to Anderson Cooper on the plane, third his grandmother...if he keeps this dialogue open to mask the issue of him and his new Rezko revelations, if he is successful in his disenfranchisement of Fl and Mi, he may win the nomination for the Democrats, but, Rezko is just the beginning..his legislative records are missing..the differences in his actual life in Hawaii, his cocaine habit as a younger man, his wife..its only just begun. How about Keith Olberman screaming about his breached passport..what is that?
There are 20 million people left to vote. Hillary has an excellent chance of tying him in the popular vote because Indiana, Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico alone will give her at the minimum of 600,000 more popular votes.
Hillary, in my opinion should start her attack on him and his 12 versions of Rezko that are recorded..she can win and it is my prayer she does because I for one do not want a coke head who is bought and paid for by Emil Jones and Tony Rezko to lead our country in foreign affairs.
I for one have watched him use African Americans as his start up pulpit, say is he transcends race with regard to the Jenna 6 and Reverend Wright and is now canvassing Philadelphia door to door to sign up every black person over 18 to vote for him..He makes me so angry. Where are his earmarks for Illinois? He was too busy to keep them, the state kept records, he left them in his old office, whoops the new legislator never saw them? Whoops the new legislator threw everything away that was left...this man is a sham created by Plouffe who is an expert at teaching Obama to vent race from one side of his face while Axelrod writes speeches for him to deliver as his own.
God help all of us if this poor excuse for a man is nominated.

Sent by MMiller | 1:00 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Looks like Americans will get the senile McCain this time around, because they are not able to get over Obama's skin color. But they elected Bush twice. So go figure.

Sent by Sam | 1:00 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Hillary is leading Obama in states that held primarys by 245,884.
Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry, Richardson AND
of course Obama have done the Dem Party
much damage.
In NYC there is a big Democrats againts
Obama movement spreading, He will never when the General election.
This Dem will never for for him.

Sent by peter | 1:02 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Why should a candidate who is pulling in just about 50% of the vote be expected to drop out of this race? Is this not a Democracy? Allowing her to continue to the end is the only legitimate way for this election to play out. If she is pushed out by certain high-ranking Democrats, 50% of Democratic voters will feel completely disenfranchised and I guarantee they will not all vote for Obama, as these Dems seem to think.

Once again the Democrats have proven themselves to be complete idiots and will probably lose the White House again in a year when they could have won by running a donkey. Instead they chose to run an affirmative action nomination race where a more qualified "white woman" is being bullied to step aside to allow a less qualified "black man" to take the spot in some ill-conceived notion of fullfilling some sort of white guilt quota. If I was black I'd be insulted by this shameful, empty, and symbolic attempt at appeasement to atone for a history of slavery and discrimination.

We are embroiled in two messy wars, the economy is in the toilet, and the outside world has no respect for us. John McCain will just continue the wars, and Obama who, albeit, is charismatic and charming, but unfortunately offers us nothing but pretty piffle. Hillary is not as sexy as Obama or as heroic as McCain, but she comes across as experienced, reliable and practical. And, quite frankly, our country could use some normalcy right now.

I say let Hillary Clinton finish out the race and let the chips fall where they may. If Obama wins and she loses, so be it, but noone has the right to push her out.

Sent by Alex Calvao | 1:04 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Clintons model is (If i go down,you all go down.)

so,every one. Sit tight,hung on,and fasten your seatbelts couse its gona be ruff and bumpy road, going all the way down.

Sent by adam | 1:42 PM ET | 03-22-2008

The media decided on day one that Obama was going to be the candidate and they've done everything in their power to make that happen. Fortunately, Hillary and a lot of other people don't believe it and will go on making sure it doesn't happen. If Obama gets the nomination, I and many other Democrats I know will simply not vote, in effect voting for McCain. There is no way I will vote for a candidate whose only qualification is the ability to sneer and pontificate. The Democratic Party needs to look a little more carefully at what the media are calling the "voice of the people."

Sent by Judy | 1:42 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Michelle's comment below from earlier
"Don't you think most voters will get tired of the Republicans running one ad over and over?"

Michelle, how about a refresher from 2004 Rove kept running the same ad over and over on Kerry's Flip Flop on the war.
Don't you remember the constant

"I voted for the 87 Billion, before I voted against" IT WORKED

Now on 3/14/08 Obama said on TV, I never attended a controversial sermon
Then on 3/18/08 speech he said he did
The 2008 FLIP FLOP repetitive ad is ready!

Sent by Amy Dugan | 1:48 PM ET | 03-22-2008

"Obama is unelectable because his ties to Reverend Wright."?? Is that why G.W. Bush was unelectable in 2000, with his ties to anti-Catholic religious leader Bob Jones? Or why Bill Clinton was unelectable in 1992 because of his well-known sexual predation? Or why George H.W. Bush was unelectable in 1988 because the country was tired of 8 years of Republican rule and he was 20 points behind in the summer? Or why Ronald Reagan was unelectable in 1980 because he was from the "extreme right wing" of the G.O.P?

Balderdash. Obama is an extraordinary and resilient candidate who will easily defeat John McCain in the fall.

Sent by David Paul | 1:49 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Gee, That's funny how it's the Black's & rev's who are the racist now? I guess my education of slavery, apartheid and the KKK was wrong but now I know its the Blacks that were the racist. Thanks America.

Sent by Madd | 2:05 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Any more of this nomination process only ensures a third Bush term.

It's time for the Democratic Party to come together. Now.

Sent by PulSamsara | 2:56 PM ET | 03-22-2008

You Hillary supporters need to take a hard look at yourselves. You have inherited the arrogance of Hillary Clinton. It is completely ridiculous to judge Obama based on his Pastor. We all know people who do stupid things, but that doesn't mean we have to abandon them. Obama just needs to tell everyone where HE stands, and thats all that should matter. You people can't be reasoned with so I'm not even going to try.

Obama '08!

Sent by mike | 2:57 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Rev. Wright has already destroyed Obama's chances of becoming President.

Sent by goldenstate | 2:59 PM ET | 03-22-2008

As Politico.com has made clear, it is time for Hillary to go. She can't win. If she goes now, it will give Obama time to do what McCain is already doing: Finding the strongest running mate possible. Here's the best analysis of how that process should work that I've seen:
http://digits.hrblock.com/ssDigits/digits.php?rType=1&sPath=1140&sNode=1140&uId=198

Sent by GHarri | 3:13 PM ET | 03-22-2008

But would it not be nice and especially at this Easter Time for Hillary to show some form of dignity and step out of the nomination race with some grace if only for the sake of The Party, is his too much to ask?

If Hillary and her campaign team continue to throw lies and smears against Barack Obama it is going to completely destroy our November chances and the Voters will Never Forgive Her!

Some of us feel Hillary's Last Stand strategy from Penn, Wolfson and Singer her spokesmen is to make Barack Obama completely unelectable in November, trying from now to August to throw as much dirt as possible so she can stand in four years time against McCain!

Hillary please credit us the Electorate and Voters with some intelligence, do this! and your own political career will be over, The Party must come First!

Sent by John B Sheffield | 4:05 PM ET | 03-22-2008

We should judge a person by their actions and not their words. The fact that Obama choose Mr. Wright as his spiritual teacher for 20 years and included Mr. Wright in his election staff speaks well for Mr. Obama???s thinking and actions. Words are easy to manipulate and it is unlikely that Obama's recent speech was written by Mr. Obama anyway. Mr. Obama has a powerful and power hungry staff including his wife that will do anything to get him elected to power. But clearly this man Mr. Obama is not to be trusted with the future of our great country. And regardless that he is ???fashionably black??? and that many of you have some desire to prove to yourself or to others that you are not prejudice and that you like ???black people??? with an attitude of ???See, I like black people, I voted for a black person.??? And whether you are black or white, such an attitude of voting for a person because of their race is the definition of prejudice.

Sent by olandug | 4:34 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Well lets face fact about John Mccain has a big ethic promblem. Money.. Lobbist.

Sent by Larry | 5:31 PM ET | 03-22-2008

No, the end is not anywhere near. Limbo politics for another few months regardless of meaningless endorsements on either side.

If Obama gets nomination, his anorexic resume and Wrong connections will lose him the Presidential prize. People (Republicans will have fun with this turning it into Family Values) will wonder, not so much about Obama's "presidential", but his PARENTAL JUDGEMENT. Why did this father allow his two young impressionable little girls listen to the militant racism while witnessing Rev. Wright's lewd,wild gyrations (simulating clearly a sex act) on the Pulpit, outstretched angry fist, shouting angrily:

"Bill Clinton loves us...yah...he loves us like he did Monica...he's riding us high...like he did Monica!"--rocking back and forth yelling while being pushed on his back by a congregant!

Why did he not walk out removing his kids from such toxic "Profanity-laced environment" [N.Y.Times reported] that will scar them for the next generation? Why wait 20 years to make a Speech when the "conversation" could have been started with his Uncle Jeremiah decades ago? His Parental deficit will destroy him before his presidential judgement is even tested in this Election!...

And I don't believe that "just words" and another xeroxed speech will make a difference. Although, as a concerned Parent Obama's Campaign could have Mr. Axelrod post an "X-RATED" Warning sign outside the "Church" to prevent attendance by children! A photo-op with a Children's Advocate Team member posting the sign with Obama should give His Hopeness considerable, if not deafening, applause!...

Sent by paraskeve | 5:36 PM ET | 03-22-2008

If dem superdelegates think about the country, not about their own benefits (hopefully at least some of them do), then they should do right now what Bill Richardson did.

Sent by Al | 5:36 PM ET | 03-22-2008

I found this posted on one of the blogs, recently and would like to share it with you..
Dear Hillary Clinton:

In reference to your application for a position as the next Commander in Chief we have decided to give the position to another Candidate.

Below are the reasons why we unable to qualify you as viable.
When requested you failed to provide the following critical information:

1. Provide Americans with your resume detailing specifically your 35 years of experience.

2. Provide Americans with your list of corporate lobbyist contributing funds to your campaign.

3. Provide Americans with your list of lobbyist that contributed (over $800k) to healthcare plan in 1993-1993.

4. Provide Americans with White Water information which would clarify the Clintons involvement.

5. Provide Americans with full campaign funding contributions made by Tony Renzko to Bill Clinton.

6. Provide Americans with detailed descriptions of how you contributed to Ireland's peace agreement.

7. Provide Americans with detailed specifics of your foreign policy experience. (Sinbad said it was just a song and dance routine for soldiers.)

8. Provide Americans with your earmarks disclosures.

9. Provide Americans with an explanation of your relationship with Muslim Clinton aide Huma Abedin.
10. Provide America with full detailed disclosure of how you were able to loan your campaign 5 million dollars. We are assuming the donations of the last month paid her back with interest of course. Which means you (Hillary) probably netted a $8-10 million profit from her own campaign treasure chest (tax payers $$).
That being said Mrs. Clinton you have failed to past the most important part of being honest to your public and are therefore not electable.

America will keep your application in our files for future openings in your areas of non-expertise.

Thank you,
Democratic Constituent

Sent by S Elie | 5:51 PM ET | 03-22-2008

I am saddened by the fact that Hillary will not step down, and that the delegates have not started to support Obama. I truly believe if the situation were reversed Obama would have tremendous pressure to drop out from both the media and from the delegates. Why is Hillary not getting the same message, its' time for her to go before she damages the party more than she has. Obama can beat McCain because people do want change and they no longer want the bush philosophy in the white house, but Obama has to prepare to fight and he can't do that with Hillary standing in the way. I am appalled at the delegates that are sitting like whipped puppies with their tails tucked waiting for the Clinton's to tell them when they can support someone.

Sent by JS | 6:10 PM ET | 03-22-2008

The already-cast popular vote and the winning of those delegates occurred before the cracks in Obama's armor became apparent. Those wins occurred during his rock star period, so to speak. Now that more and more voters (those already voted and those yet-to-vote) have seen these recently apparent vulnerabilities that impact his electability, the thinking superdelegate should view this as a new ball game. When you discover that you have put salt instead of sugar in the cake batter, you don't have to bake it and then try to eat it.

Sent by arkansasfarmgirl | 6:16 PM ET | 03-22-2008

The Rev Wright issue is nothing compared to 4,000 dead in a illegal war and an economy going south fast. Lets get rid of the Clintons/Bushes in our government

Sent by Jim | 6:24 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Richardson's endorsement of Obama is not all bad for Clinton, as his state of New Mexico went to Clinton, thus according to Obama's most recent arguments,he as a superdelegate should vote with his state. His endorsement frees up the superdelegates to think for themselves, as he has done, and as superdelegates are charged with doing.

Sent by katcolo | 6:38 PM ET | 03-22-2008

I would like to see Clintons 2006 and 2007 tax returns. Are the democrats seriously considering Hillary Clinton who's husband is an agent ( Lobbyist ) for a foreign government. Dubai. His fee from Dubai reported to be in the millions of dollars. Who will she represent if elected, for sure not the American People.

Sent by Vincent | 6:41 PM ET | 03-22-2008

DON'T BE DUPED!!!

Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.

But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. ???Carpe diem??? (harvest the day).

I think Hillary Clinton see???s a beautiful world of plenty, and comfort for all. She is a woman, and a mother. And it???s time America. Do this for your-self, and your children???s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.

You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don???t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-self.

Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama???s. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!

As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.

Hillary Clinton has been out manned, out gunned, and out spent 2 and 3 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.

If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON???T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.

The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket now! Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.

I think Barack Obama has a once in a life time chance to make the ultimate historic gesture for unity, and change in America by accepting Hillary Clinton???s offer as running mate. Such an act now would for ever seal Barack Obama???s place at the top of the list of Americas all time great leaders, and unifiers for all of history. But the time to act is soon.

The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.

Fortunately the Clinton???s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton???s. Only the Clinton???s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.

???This is not a game??? (Hillary Clinton)

Sincerely

jacksmith...

Sent by jacksmith | 8:22 PM ET | 03-22-2008

I keep wondering why so many supposed Democrats use right wing radio talking points in these open message boards.

As a Republican who left the party -- and cannot vote for McCain considering his manifest ignorance of Iraq (of all things) and who cannot imagine at this point voting for Clinton after the disgraceful campaign she and her husband have run, I certainly hope Obama gets the nomination. Otherwise it really might be the first time since 1972 that I don't vote for the presidency.

Sent by TK | 9:06 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Any true Christian has to ask themselves...

What would Jesus do to Reverend Wright? I think he would have sat down and listened to him, tried to understand his position, and try to help him see the light...

Christ himself was/is not a patriot... he did not put country before GOD like everyone seems to be doing.

This country has not always treated its citizens equally, and berating someone else for speaking against the country is not an offense to GOD, it is an offense to Christ if you didn't speak out against what you saw as injustice. Perhaps if we Christians were more Christ-like, we would stop propagating the HATE and start trying to understand How Reverend Wright came to these conclusions.

Maybe be more Christ-like and learn forgiveness to Wright for hurting your feelings as a patriot.

Sent by Nathan | 9:21 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Obama is running the dirtiest campaign that I have ever seen in my sixty years. God help America if this man becomes president.

Sent by Robert | 9:23 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Jacksmith...have you seen McCain? The Republicans have been switching to Obama because they had a bunch of real difficult to vote for candidates.

Any true patriot will be voting for Obama as he is clearly the best choice to lead our nation.

-A Veteran

Sent by Nathan | 9:41 PM ET | 03-22-2008

This is a very anti-Clinton website. Clinton won in Texas and Ohio. She is likely to win in Pennsylvania. Then, she may win in Indiana and North Carolina. What would happen then? Would people on this site still scream about how she cannot win and Obama is somehow better than she is? Why?

First Obama denied hearing his pastor make certain remarks, then he said he had heard similar remarks. His campaign is becoming more and more negative.

Clinton has been subject to right wing abuse for decades, she has some negatives. Obama is now creating his own negatives. He is swift-boating himself.

Fortunately, as jacksmith suggests in the 8:22 p.m. email, there is an obvious solution to these problems: It is for Obama to graciously accept a post as vice president on the Clinton ticket. This would be quite an amazing success for a two-year Senator, and would put him on the road to gaining the experience necessary to become president, and would unify the Democratic party in time for a successful presidential campaign.

Sent by ted | 9:55 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Know everything pundits love to bury Hillary, they have been doing it since New Hampshire, but everytime they end up with mud on their faces. If the supers were so inclined to jump on the Obama bandwagon, they would have done so long before now. Just another example of the media trying to nominate Obama and for what reason to see him lose big time to McCain in November? Many of us are sick of the media electing our candidates, will make that decision without their help thankyou!

Sent by Steve | 10:24 PM ET | 03-22-2008

As I read the blogs annd listen to the Christian conservatives I can't help but ask, what if they are wrong? They seem to be amazed that Rev. Wright proclaims Jesus to be black and say it as if it is ridiculous to make such a statement. They call his religion Afrocentric while they practice a Eurocentric religion. Think about the fact that early religious paintings pre-14th century depicted Mary or the madonna as being black. Additionally, the only description of Jesus in the bible describes him as having lake lambs wool and skin the color of burnt bronze. That describes someone with tight curly high because lambs wool is tightly curled not loose and definitely not someone with blond straight hair.
Maybe if we step back just a little we might see some of his preaching as not being so ridiculous, Maybe that is why he appears so hostile because blacks have been left out of early Christianity and ridiculed when they raise the prospect that the Jesus, as depicted in most Eurocentric churches, is false.
No matter what Rev. Wrighth proclaims should not have any impact on voting for Sen. Obama. He should be judged on what he says and has demonstrated in his life regardless of what his pastor and religious mentor proclaims. You have no evidence that Sen. Obama subscribes to the totality of Rev. Wrights doctrine, just that he attended.
America seems to be looking for any excuse not to elect a black person to the presidency versus someone who is more than qualified. You would not want to be treated that way so do not treat others less than how you would like to be treated.

Sent by Gij | 10:26 PM ET | 03-22-2008

As your heading suggests, it is the "Media". Media means Rupert Murdock an Australian and a few others such as General Electric which owns NBC.

These organizations know what they talk about but seldom talk about what they MAY know.

The Clintons are old Razorbacks as they never quit. They unlike the good people of Arkansas are forever down and dirty. Not a characteristic of the citizens of Arkansas.

Those folks a good Americans. I prefer to think they were just fooled like America was in 1992. Travelgate, etc.

Hill Clinton won't quit and will most likely pull every dirty trick in the book at convention time with the super deligates. She is a bad actor. Perhaps presidential but none the less bad news. Riminding many of the Bush-Cheney-Rove-Rumsfeld consortium.

One ought not we swayed by the media, the "pundits" or the polls.

August 2008 promises to be great entertainment for us and also the entire world that is actually watching.

May heaven help the DNC.

Happy Easter to all.

Sent by Dave Rosen | 10:47 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Media is not smart enough to make a sound assessment of the situation. They were wrong about Iraq, John Kerry as the best candidate to beat Bush, and now they are wrong about Obama.

The popular vote is only 80,000 different between the two candidates. Hillary is going to win as she is the superior candidate.

Hillary 08!

Sent by Meg | 11:30 PM ET | 03-22-2008

One of the purposes of the super-delegates is for situation that we Democrats are finding ourselves in, specifically to maintain the viability of the Democratic Party in the general election. Basically what is happening right now is that Hillary doesn???t have a way to win this primary without destroying the party and the other candidate. Furthermore, if she ends up to be the nominee, she has no means of capturing significant portions of Obama???s base and she will surly lose to McCain.

The supper-delegates need to man-up and align themselves with the viable candidate soon to mitigate the damage that is starting to get out of control by the negativity that is spawning out of the desperate Clinton campaign.

Sent by Tom | 11:59 PM ET | 03-22-2008

Every time the Republicans and McCain run an add with Wrigth in it, the Dems will run McCain's televangelist Rod Parsley and his preaching; "America was founded in part, witht he intention of seeing this false religina (Islam) destroyed." Followed by McCains 100 year war statment.

Then they will follow with John Hagee's preaching calling the Catholic Church "the great white whore" and "a false cult system."

The good news is that maybe, just maybe, these politicians will go back to Jefferson and the Baptist and put that wall between church and state back in place.

Sent by Randy T. of Lewisville, TX | 12:01 AM ET | 03-23-2008

Jacksmith ??? I have seen your comment on several sites. Your argument is basically not based on facts and hence, flowed. Furthermore your thinking of us versus them is the kind of divisive politics that has left us in the quagmire we find ourselves in. The only way out of this is a paradigm shift in understanding that we can only do what needs to be done by coming together. I am not surprised that you are a Hillary supporter because she is part of the divisive politics of the past. Obama is the only real chose here. Both Clinton and McCain are a continuation of the past gridlock politics. Obama should also have a vice president who shares his politics of unity and hope. Having Obama and Clinton on the same ticket is a recipe for failure.

Sent by Tom | 12:13 AM ET | 03-23-2008

It seems to me that Mike Allen at Politico and Dick Morris of Fox have been claiming Senator Clinton's run for the nomination has been ending for quite some time now. It also seems to me that with the rather hasty unraveling of Senator Obama's campaign in the last few weeks since Ohio and Texas, all stops have been pulled to try and circumvent any further primary loss debacles and sordid stories and to somehow get the nomination for Obama sewn up asap.
But to answer your question, yes the end is most definitely nigh. Now is the time for Senator Obama to gracefully step aside for the good of his party and the good of his country.

Math is not the issue. The issue is electability and Senator Obama seems to be sorely lacking in that quality.

Have you noticed there has been no mass movement by the superdelegates rushing over to endorse Senator Obama, as promised last month by his campaign? What is it, I wonder that prevents them from endorsing Obama now?

Whether Senator Obama withdraws from the campaign for the sake of his party and the good of his country is still up in the air on this early Easter morning. One can only hope.

Sent by ainnj | 12:43 AM ET | 03-23-2008

I would say in some ways Clinton as an obligation to play devils advocate, it is better that she pushes Obama, hard even if there not really substantive issues. Finding out what plays with Democrats and would be Democrats can be useful; in the general election the only question is how aware are the players.
I am sure Clinton has real concerns weather Obama, can win in November, by vetting issue now that could hurt in November a lot more she maybe making a stronger candidate, Of Obama. I would agree with everyone, that Clinton has to be aware she is playing for second place, and she may be debating whether she will excepted the VP position or not, or maybe she afraid Obama strong enough without her and so he want offer her the VP.
Clinton has offered Obama VP, but Obama has not offered the same for Clinton. So that maybe why she stays and fights.

Sent by Mark Hidden | 1:20 AM ET | 03-23-2008

How on earth can anyone equate the Clinton years with the Bush years? I have read some of these ill- informed blogs, and it astounds me! The Clinton era was one of peace and economic stability, with a surplus! The Bush years are a disaster! It is apparent that the thought processes here are being effected by our popular tabloid media. The democrats have truly turned into the Republicans! Who needs Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh? We are doing this to ourselves! There is no cause for exaggerated, hateful idiocy--that's their job. Look people, you can be star-struck yuppie Obama-philes, or hard-nosed Hillaryettes. It's OK! It's your choice! But one thing's for sure, the mess that the DNC made when handling the FLA and MI debacle didn't help. And if the shoe was on the other foot with Obama, I'm pretty sure we'd hear a discrimination cry. They pull that every time.
Just look at the passport situation...
Axelrod's a bit jumpy with that stuff these days,
and it makes them look like cry-babies.
Obama needs to grow up if he wants to handle the Republicans.

Sent by APR | 2:14 AM ET | 03-23-2008

Hillary Clinton's Religion and Politics

When Clinton first came to Washington in 1993, one of her first steps was to join a Bible study group. For the next eight years, she regularly met with a Christian "cell" whose members included Susan Baker, wife of Bush consigliere James Baker; Joanne Kemp, wife of conservative icon Jack Kemp; Eileen Bakke, wife of Dennis Bakke, a leader in the anti-union Christian management movement; and Grace Nelson, the wife of Senator Bill Nelson, a conservative Florida Democrat.

Clinton's prayer group was part of the Fellowship (or "the Family"), a network of sex-segregated cells of political, business, and military leaders dedicated to "spiritual war" on behalf of Christ, many of them recruited at the Fellowship's only public event, the annual National Prayer Breakfast

According to the Fellowship's archives, the spirit has in the past led its members in Congress to increase U.S. support for the Duvalier regime in Haiti and the Park dictatorship in South Korea. The Fellowship's God-led men have also included General Suharto of Indonesia; Honduran general and death squad organizer Gustavo Alvarez Martinez; a Deutsche Bank official disgraced by financial ties to Hitler; and dictator Siad Barre of Somalia, plus a list of other generals and dictators.

http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/09/hillarys-prayer-2.html

Sent by Adam | 5:10 AM ET | 03-23-2008

PEOPLE WITH NOTHING TO HIDE DONT USUALLY HIDE !!

Why wont Hillary release her tax returns? If Hillary can loan 5 million dollars to her campaign then surely the voters have a right to know the source of her funding.

The main excuse we've gotten so far is that Hillary Clinton just has too much on her plate. "I'm a little busy right now," she said during the Ohio debate. "I hardly have time to sleep. But I will certainly work toward releasing, and we will get that done and in the public domain."
That was three weeks ago. Two weeks ago, Howard Wolfson promised the returns would be released "on or around April 15." But weren't the returns completed and filed a long time ago? Doesn't Clinton's accountant have time to print them out and make some copies (note to Clinton's accountant: many Kinko's are open 24 hours).

In short, it's well past time for Hillary Clinton to be as "vetted" as she claims to already be -- and to have this vetting done now by Democratic voters rather than later by GOP hit squads. She needs to live up to the standard she laid out for Rick Lazio, the opponent in her 2000 Senate race. At that time, she hypocritically said it was "FRANKLY DISTURBING" that Lazio was holding back on releasing his tax returns and she even sent a staffer dressed as Uncle Sam to taunt him during campaign stops.

What a difference eight years -- and tens of millions of dollars (some of them from questionable Arab deals) -- can make.

Sent by jock | 5:33 AM ET | 03-23-2008

My wife says Hillary knows she can't get the nomination but her long-term strategy is to weaken Obama enough so he will lose in November. This puts her in position to run again in 2012.

Sent by Michael Porter | 7:12 AM ET | 03-23-2008

Mr. Obama has raised the level of political discourse in the United States to a level I haven't seen in my life. He talks with sense. His campaign has not degenerated to the desperation we see in Mrs. Clinton's. From this desperation to win comes wanton disregard for civility and the all too familiar scenario of gutter politics.

There are some issues which transcend politics, some which transcend patriotism, and Mr. Obama seems to have encompassed some of these. The tirades of Mr. Wright represent the views of many people of our society, just as those of Mr. Limbaugh or of the late Mr. Falwell. They are the tirades of anger, disenfranchisement, and bitterness. They offer no constructive solutions, and instead only perpetuate a vicious cycle of hatred. Yet, they are a part of the American voice.

Mr. Obama has only to continue what he has been doing - to speak with simplicity, dignity, sensibility and respect. These are the traits that have attracted so many of us to him. Once he stoops to the dirty, despicable, underhanded politics that we have seen for the past 30 or so years, he will lose much of the support he has mobilized. I am hopeful that he sees the issues of character transcending those of winning, for, if he does, we may have a new, vitalized Democratic Party.

Upon being asked about his preference for his epitaph, E.B. White said, "Here lies a dependable man." What our country needs is nothing more than this. As a 60 year old white Vietnam veteran, I yearn to see our country with an honorable government before I am gone. Mr. Obama offers, if not the promise, at least that possibility. If Mr. Obama is denied the nomination, I will not, cannot, support any of the other candidates.

Sent by Al Kennedy | 10:05 AM ET | 03-23-2008

All of you people who think Obama can win in Nov are not looking at reality. He has done nothing but talk a lot of nonsense! His speach was nothing. All of you who think its so great have your heads in your a_s! He was able to change the subject of who he is with the race card. It was not about race, it was about who he calls his friends. For 20 years he has been friends with someone who hates America. He has been friends for at least that long with a criminal in Chicago! And his wife is not even proud to me an American. Do you want this as your President? I don't! How can we trust this man now?

Sent by Scott | 10:05 AM ET | 03-23-2008

The negativity, slander, controversy of the Clinton campaign is finally being noticed by the voters. They have done this to theirselves and deserve to lose.
Initially I felt the Democratic Party had two good candidates. Not now. I am so disappointed in Hillary.
Barack Obama is our only chance to give the American people the change we so desperately need. We cannot continue with politics as usual. It will destroy our country. Look at what the republicans have done to us these last seven years. It cannot continue and with Hillary much of it will.
Go Barack..

Sent by katiec | 10:40 AM ET | 03-23-2008

Obama doesn't have much of a chance in the fall. I firmly believe this. Bloggers should look this probability squarely and soberly in the face, and stop asking rude questions like "When is she going to die?" In the electorate as a whole, after the poor effort at distancing himself from Wright, Obama is much more than HC a case of the walking dead. I say, if he is going to be the democratic candidate (not a bad option, might I add), then his blogger-supporters and superdelegate supporters are going to have to get ultra serious and demand that he tightens up his game.
The race speech was moderately inspirational but electorally a muddle headed disaster.

Sent by Nick | 10:42 AM ET | 03-23-2008

Scott's politics only succeed when ignored. Lies told for personal gain can't stand being confronted. I welcome this fall's campaign as a lesson that the political strategies Nixon gave America have generated so much cynicism that people will no longer believe the opinion makers' spinning. We will talk to our neighbors and listen to the source and learn for ourselves and no longer permit self-seeking manipulators to run our elections into the gutter.

Sent by Jason W. | 10:51 AM ET | 03-23-2008

People hallucinating about Reverend Wright better do their research instead of relying on the MSM to constantly run 10 second out takes of his sermons! You're showing your stupidity by relying on FOX, MSNBC, ABC and NBC, for their views on Wright. You might want to start here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/21/meet-the-white-man-who-_n_92793.html

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/03/21/the-full-story-behind-rev-jeremiah-wrights-911-sermon/

Sent by Yankee Clipper | 10:52 AM ET | 03-23-2008

I do not think that Hillary should quit, she has to be brought down so hard, that no Clinton will ever dare to run for any elected office.

This disgraced woman and her trashed husband the draft dodger are playing so dirty, I can not see what else the republicans can dish out to Obama.

I think we will see a steady influx of super delegates to Obama in the next couple of weeks, since he has shown he is the NEW TEFLON KID.

Sent by David | 11:11 AM ET | 03-23-2008

Wright never said he hate America, you've all been sheeped by the MSM into believing that.

Watch the full sermon and see how the MSM played Wright's sermon out of context to mislead America.

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

Sent by Clarence | 11:21 AM ET | 03-23-2008

I'm waiting with bated breath to hear the next shrill claim of outrage from Hillary toward Obama. Perhaps it will be timed conveniently before the primary in PA, in an effort to ellicit sympathy. The claim that Hillary is a tenacious fighter is far from the truth, she exists for the exhilaration of power and wealth. This so-called tenacity is not toward the greater good of anyone but herself. At this time in our history we have to put divisions behind us for our greater good. And as far as I can tell she has openly declared her Republican credentials by siding with the McCain guy against the Democratic nominee in waiting. She appears to be ready to take down the Democratic party rather than face the rejection of not being that party's nominee. How immature. How selfish. How Republican.

Sent by sicnarfe | 11:27 AM ET | 03-23-2008

She threw everything and anything, that the Republican's will throw, at Obama, yet it can't stick to him because of his practically flawless responses. Hillary has paved the way to a boring General Election of the same Negative Ads that we will be so bored of that we will assume that the Republican's aren't creative enough to beat our new leader or run our country. If there is no path to the nomination then she is not doing her party any favors by staying in the contest. Getting out now might save her reputation, what's left of it that is.

Sent by Rene Token | 11:27 AM ET | 03-23-2008

It is likely that Obama will win the election and the presidency. If the economy continues its recent path, the people will vote for change. If Obama ends up caving into the pressure of special interest and lobbyist, it will only future distance the voters in the next election. As a good-old-boy raised in the South, I don't foresee the voters holding what pastor Wright had to say a few seconds during a couple messages to his congregation. We know first hand the stupid remarks that we make about African Americans on any given day. We make these statements for approval of a couple good-old-boys. Pastor Wright was being cheered by a church full of members. I'm convinced that Obama doesn't have these views. The man speaks with too much conviction. However, I must admit that many blue-collar workers will only take the time to read bumper stickers, or watch commercials. It isn't likely they will listen to Obama's speech or read an entire book.

Sent by Tom | 11:28 AM ET | 03-23-2008

HILLARY should no give up.i can not trust obama just like so many of my family and freinds.the media has only put out a small portion of who obama is.i have recived a lot of info.on him;and sent all to the media.will see if they have the guts to reort it.this man is scarry.we don;t need him as president of this great country.god help us if he gets in.joann

Sent by joann | 11:34 AM ET | 03-23-2008

I read some of the anti-Obama screeds with amusement. Are people like you still out there? Thought you were made extinct during the last ice age. You guys have been drinking the floride and chlorine water for too long, it's affecting your judgement. Our country is in crisis--believe it or not. The neocons have taken us to this critical point--believe it or not. Bush/Clinton/Bush have taken us to this critical juncture--believe it or not. Another 4 years of the neocons McCain or Clinton will seal our fate--believe it or not. To paraphrase the late Pat Ramsey, "We are climbing up the wrong tree."

Sent by sicnarfe | 11:39 AM ET | 03-23-2008

Tom Regan, You really hit a nerve this time.

See the polarity rise!

Best regards.

Sent by Dave Rosen | 12:00 PM ET | 03-23-2008

Hillary Clinton has already lost the race. The only way she can win now is by undemocratic means.

It's time for the Democratic leadership to tell Bill Clinton to go away; sit Hillary down and explain this to her; and for the superdelegates still on the fence to MAN-UP NOW and cast their lot with a candidate before Pennsylvania's primary.

If the party is dumb enough to allow her to hijack this contest, she will go down in flames against McCain in November; and the Democratic party will go down with her.

Obama 2008!

signed, Bailey Reynolds, 38 year-old, non-racist, white, former Republican, veteran

www.opeding.blogspot.com

Sent by Bailey Reynolds | 12:10 PM ET | 03-23-2008

Obama will get the Dem nomination and then he will clean senile McCain's clock and become president . A lot of you simpletons are doing the old parrot routine repeating nonsense and you are ignoring or oblivious to the facts and any form of common sense , no doubt Republicans and Clinton Republicrats . Sad , there is no cure for stupidity .

Sent by John in Seattle | 12:14 PM ET | 03-23-2008

What is amusing to me is that for the first time in the 200+ year history of this country, women practically have a shoo in candidate for President of the United States...and instead many women are choosing to vote for the hot, young black guy!

Sent by Frederick | 12:16 PM ET | 03-23-2008

Hillary Clinton has already lost the race. The only way she can win now is by undemocratic means.

It's time for the Democratic leadership to tell Bill Clinton to go away; sit Hillary down and explain this to her; and for the superdelegates still on the fence to MAN-UP NOW and cast their lot with a candidate before Pennsylvania's primary.

If the party is dumb enough to allow her to hijack this contest, she will go down in flames against McCain in November; and the Democratic party will go down with her.

Obama 2008!

signed, Bailey Reynolds, 38 year-old, non-racist, white, former Republican, veteran

Sent by Bailey Reynolds | 12:55 PM ET | 03-23-2008

Obama candidacy would be a disaster for the dems and disaster for the country if he's prez. Voters are going to regret, just as they are now regretting Bush. It's all media like NPR's fault.

Sent by JJ Inde | 1:15 PM ET | 03-23-2008

The Clintons are a sad lot. We don't want "fighting". We've had fighting for seven long years. Her religious affiliation "The Family" is right-wing nut cases who sound like the elite in Margaret Atwood's A Handmaid's Tale. Get that book, read it and then read about Hillary's Family connections. Horrifying!!! Where are her tax returns? She's lying each and every day about her "co-presidency" and it's so obvious, so easily proven. She and Bill are pathological liars, no doubt about it. We've had the most secretive, immoral administration in our entire history and we need a transparent president who is honest. I will never vote for Hillary. I'll write in Obama's name. What is wrong with this country? What is wrong with the Dems to allow her to do this to our chance for decency? I pray the superdelegates now come out in force for Obama and just get rid of her so he can start to campaign against the insanity of McCain. McCain is old, tired and either playing games with the "Iran/Al Qaida" connection or starting to have alzheimer's as he has said that FOUR TIMES now in the last week. OMG, we need help. She needs to QUIT NOW.

Sent by sofia wilder | 1:32 PM ET | 03-23-2008

Clinton wants to make it as painful as possible so that Obama has less of a chance of beating McCain in the fall. That way she can come back in four years. Yes...I am that cynical of the Clintons and the super delegates should be also. Since she can't be the nominee for the party she would rather McCain win.

Sent by una | 1:34 PM ET | 03-23-2008

What about those uncommitted superdelegates who may have benefited from the Clinton legacy? Richardson was there. He had the morals and decency to do the right thing. The remaining superdelegates know what is going on in the Clinton campaign. If they have any self respect at all, they will do what is right and follow Richardson's lead. We have had enough deceit and lies from the Clintons. She is ruining the democrat party. Wake up superdelegates. Send her home.

Sent by Shadow | 1:56 PM ET | 03-23-2008

Why would Hillary step down now? Obama's association with Reverand Wright and Rezco make him almost unelectable in the general election. Iam certain that worst has not come out yet. As far as destroying the democratic party, we had a sure thing going in this election until Obama was propped up the same main stream media that brought us Bush over Gore and Kerry over Howard Dean. Obama's perceived Muslem connection (Husein) and and his shaky connection with Wright and Rezco might destroy the party by losing the election again.

Sent by cj | 2:12 PM ET | 03-23-2008

I think the democratic party is stuck in a moral dilemma...Obama is the face of the young party, but Hillary is the war face that is pushing the establishment into a fearful race with McCain.

This link is my cartoon that perhaps better summarizes this situation...

http://bp3.blogger.com/_Aj4UpljWkfo/R9clbXuhzvI/AAAAAAAAABY/L0N3V4sDYCc/s1600-h/good_evil_web.jpg

Sent by David Donar | 3:09 PM ET | 03-23-2008

Obama won causes and red states which is not indicative of the general election's results. Now that his Judgement and character are being questioned, if Sen. Obama's nominated-- and not Hillary Clinton--you are electing McCain--who, incidentally, said, a few years ago, that HILLARY would one day make a "GREAT PRESIDENT"! McCain should be trusted on this. She's got more wide crossover appeal as she's a moderate compared to the dubious diversity of extremists of all kinds congregating in the OBAMYOPIA's fluffy ipod-techie Camp. (Obama's severely allergic to making decisions, of any type--other than quitting smoking or buying mansions at bargain-basement prices. He has to keep everybody guessing till Judgement Day, alas!)

But, never mind his "presidential" judgement, have you prognosticated on his PARENTAL JUDGEMENT which is something that Republicans will ultimately be focusing on and throw hard as a ceramic 'family values sink' argument against His Hopeness? I refer to the [lack of] parental Judgement in allowing his two young impressionable girls witness the lewd on-the-Pulpit gyrations of the Reverend (simulating a sex act) yellling:

"Bill Clinton loves us like he loved Monica.Yah!He's riding us high like he did Monica"...

A sensitive, concerned parent would have removed his children from a "hate and profanity-laced"(N.Y.Times) environment likely to scar his kids for life, and perpetuate the generationally-passed hatred. Why did he not start a 'conversation' and challenged Uncle Jeremiah on his pornographic sermons and extremist views years ago? After all, Obama did condemn Imus last year, as well he should have, on behalf of his two girls, for his cruel sexist and "stereotypical racist" comments against the young African-American women's college basketball team.

For Obama to start now the belated 'conversation', 20 years after the fact, and with the whole nation, is really "too little too late" to make a credible impact. And a politically expedient 'survival Speech' masquerading as a lofty meditation on racial healing will be seen for what it is at Election: "Just Words."

His only salvation is to donate an "X-RATED" Sign posted outside the 'church' by a CHILDREN'S ADVOCATE from Chicago while alerting his media faithful that he experienced a sudden parental epiphany--a CHANGE to be seen by all skeptics out there.

And you know what? His grandmother, being a Typical White Woman would forgive him rather than begrudge Him for throwing her under the rusty bus of his politically expedient Speech!

I can just hear her: "Now, Barack, I can't take any more of this. It's Just Words. Cut it out, and do something constuctive around here for some real CHANGE!"

Want to bet that grandma and grandpa are channeling their buddies (and God knows whom else) to vote for Hillary?!...

Sent by M. Sakel | 4:38 PM ET | 03-23-2008

Obama can't have it both ways -- he can't be both Uncle Tom and Stokley Carmichael at the same time. But that's just what his speech reads like: he speaks from both sides of his mouth at once.

Sent by Irving | 5:22 PM ET | 03-23-2008

So Wright said, "God Damn America," and Michelle Obama is finally proud to be an American. Big deal. These snip-its of sound have been blown completely out of proportion. How many of the people you call friends and family have opened their mouths and made emotional declarations Fox News would pounce upon if they thought you might gain the chance of changing the power structure of this country? Now, put them in front of a microphone every day and see if a seemingly outrageous out-of-context pronouncement doesn't spring forth from your friend???s lips. Apply this test: Does every potentially controversial line your loved ones utter represent the totality of who they are, what they beleive, and how they have lived their lives? And now, ask yourself this: Should your character be on the line because your loved ones have made careless emotionally-charged verbalizations? Obama's record sparkles. From his academic record at Harvard Law to his service for the city of Chicago to his larger service as an elected official. He opposed an unjust war when it wasn't popular to do so. It is a roughshod and unfair critique of a person to equate all the outrageous moments in all his friends' and families' lives as being a meaningful portrayal of who he is. Furthermore, I understand Wright's "God damn America" invocation to have been a challenge to the arrogance of the ubiquitous and arrogant "God bless America." The God I know and love doesn't bless one nation over another nor does that God damn nations. But for all the pain America has inflicted on ourselves and the greater world community during Bush's administration, I find "God damn America" a fitting rhetorical reply to our arrogance. That Michelle Obama can finally say from her heart that she is proud to be an American is a triumph. I wish I could say the same. At times I am proud. Other times I am outraged. When I reflect on the fact that Fox News is viewed as a reliable source of information I am sick with humiliation. The land of the free is being ruled by small-mindedness. The power of the individual to cast a wide net in search of information and bring many facets of his/her being to the analysis of who has the ideas and strength to lead this country has been subverted by the ever-present thoughtless yammering of the mainstream media. Americans are buying into fear propogation wholesale. In this society of fear-mongering we have an obligation to dig for information. Let's remind each other: Don't trust one source. Read widely. Turn off the television when the same track is being played over and over again. Wonder about how you are being controlled by the media. Seek truth in reporting, not sensationalism. And hold onto your hat. This is going to be one rocky ride to November.

Sent by Jeanne C. | 5:40 PM ET | 03-23-2008

Thank you, Al Kennedy!!!! For both your service to this country and your insightful words!!!

When I was a kid back in the sixties and early seventies, I always admired the men that put their lives on the line for this country. You display both the courage and common sense I so miss as I've become older.

Yes, Barack Obama has some of the traits of JFK/RFK/MLK (not just in his Irish and African-American bloodlines, but in his incredible leadership and remarkable courage).

Thanks again for your great words and great service to this nation.

THAT is not hyperbole!

Sent by Patrick | 5:56 PM ET | 03-23-2008

What is it that many of you on this blog don't understand?????? Hillary is not who you think she is. She is a fraud! She is playing dirty mind games with the American people and you all support her??? My GOD! She's been doing it for years. She has had the ambition to be president for 4o yrs and Obama has stepped on her toes. She's deplorable with her lying and twisting everything on to Obama. Read some of the biographies on her and get the truth from people who knew her! Wake up America...esp my neighbors in Penn. This election is good against evil and Obama is as good as it gets!

Sent by Laura | 6:15 PM ET | 03-23-2008

Frederick 12:16 pm

Yes there is a woman running but not a shoo-in, she lost the nomination already.

but let's assume for a moment that she is still in contention, she is hated by 60 % of the electorate , thus has no chance of winning anything.

Obama after 3 weeks of bashing, still won the Texas contest, and took another 15 extra delegates in Iowa , and still riding high in the polls, 49% to Hillbilly 43%. Can you spell THE NEW TEFLON KID. Sorry buddy, pick another woman, maybe things would change, possibly in 8 years and my advise is to pick a nice looking chick.

Sent by David | 10:24 PM ET | 03-23-2008

The delegate count has not suddenly changed. If her campaign truly is un-winnable, than the press is doing a disservice in not reporting it. I'm sure ratings improve when 'the campaign gets nasty.' Unfortunately there isn't really a campaign. We the public are the losers in this facade.

Sent by Dan | 11:41 PM ET | 03-23-2008

I like many of you have simply fallen for the tricks the media is playing on us. Hillary has already lost, but without this there is no news to report so they are trying to keep it going for the simple fact that they like the ratings.

How else can you explain that one day you hear... Clinton must win Texas and Ohio by wide margins to stay in... then she LOSES TEXAS (check the delegates) and the headline is "BIG WIN".

I'm a political junkie like many of you, and the media is a complete joke. So much of a joke we don't even call them "news" we call them "media" now. There is no real news anymore.

Sent by Happy American | 12:35 AM ET | 03-24-2008

where's the discussion of her BOSNIA lies? Seriously, this woman's credibility is now toast, and no major news outlet (other than the Washington Post) is reporting it.

Sent by tastytone | 3:35 AM ET | 03-24-2008

Yes people should read biographies about Hillary and get the truth. One Biographer said that she is evil. You should read the book: "Target, in the Crosshairs of Bill and Hillary Clinton" by Kathleen Willey. Kathleen was sexually assaulted by Bill Clinton. Her manuscript for the book was stolen from the house on Labor day weekend 2007. The book reveals the campaign of terror that Hillary waged against women that Bill had sexual relations with to keep them silent. She organized the Truth squad when he was governor of Arkansas to get the names, addresses, and phone numbers of all the women he was involved with to keep them silent. In the White house it was called the Defense department and the Clintons used to own money to hire detectives and others to do this work for them.
I truly believe that Barack Obama is a man of honor and has shown good judgement and the passion to serve for the good of humanity. I have read both his books and several books about him. I got out of the Viet Nam war in August 1968 and Robert Kennedy had been assassinated only two months before. When I saw the movie Bobby I was emotionally moved. His speeches were so humanitarian and wonderful. The first time I heard Obama speak, I felt that here was another Robert Kennedy. He sounded just like him. I fell in love with Obama then. In the book "Obama, from Promise to Power" Obama makes the remark that his desk in the Senate is the same one used by Robert Kennedy. Wow!!! I love Richardson's remark: "Here is a once in a lifetime leader."
Obama truly is that.

Sent by Richard E. | 5:06 AM ET | 03-24-2008

It's time for the scandalous Clinton's to move on. Why is she all of a sudden reading from written statements? Her tone and appearance are very unnatural.
She only cares about herself and it shows.

Sent by YP | 6:56 AM ET | 03-24-2008

ITS THE BEGINNING FOR CLINTON, END FOR RACIST OBAMA CAMP!OBAMA IS UNELECTABLE IN GENERAL ELECTION
Easy to see already see Republican attack ads against Obama. First open with videos of racist wife, Michelle, saying she was proud of America "for the first time" because of her husband's presidential candidacy, next Obama explaining that he doesn't wear an American flag lapel pin or hold his hands to his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance because it is a "substitute for true patriotism." Then flash a clip of Obama explaining that his Caucasian grandmother was a "typical white person" because she uttered racial epithets and was afraid of black people. Finally, the coup de grace, pictures of Obama's angry, arm-waving preacher blaming the United States for 9/11 and shouting "God Damn America" to the rafters of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ and preaching the U.S. government formulated the HIV AIDS virus to commit genocide against blacks. Even though Obama supposedly condemning Wright's shocking verbal assaults against the U.S and White Americans, even last year; Obama was the first to public ally demand Don Imus ouster for making a racially insensitive remark, and Obama continues to support Wrights racism and remains at the church for more than 20 years, he and Michelle obviously feels it???s a good environment to expose his young daughters too. His opinions and issues change with the weather, he is too UNSTABLE and proven he cannot make a decision or stay with one. If that???s not enough, then you start showing his terrible senate voting record, Obama when faced with tough choices always gave in to pressure from the Bush administration or corporate lobbyists, Obama dealings with one of his largest contributors, Exelon, a big nuclear power company and the deals he cut behind closed doors to protect them from full disclosure in the nuclear industry. Obamas record shows he infact did support the war when he got to the senate, voted twice against bringing America's troops back home. He voted for war appropriations giving our money to Halliburton and Blackwater where Texas woman, was gang-raped by her co-workers at a Halliburton/KBR camp in Baghdad, His latest bit of posturing S 433 allows the Bush Administration to suspend any troop withdrawal, if not suspended, keeps the troops in Iraq for a long time to come, but in his camp stumps touts he wants to bring troops home, but as we have witnessed his recent lies to voters like Canada he cannot be trusted on his word and lastly ALL the corrupt indicted financial backers, like Rezko???Get out of the race Obama you are destroying the democratic party!

CNN-Passport exec is Obama adviser, CEO of the company whose employees accused of improperly looking at the passport files of presidential candidates is consultant on foreign policy to the Barack Obama campaign

Sent by josae | 8:18 AM ET | 03-24-2008

Yes, she is a fighter but she usually fights only for her own advantage... he has a right, like Nader had and has a right, but one cannot talk about deeply caring about public service and increase the chances of the public receiving a windfall of disaster like Clinton, the husband, did through his behavior, like Nader did in 2000 exercising his right with ultimate ego and the rest of us be damned to Bush, and now H. Clinton, hero of Bosnia, anti-Iraq war initiator, bankruptcy bill support who hoped it would not pass, candidate of transparency and respect for the people who will not release taxes, WH papers, earmarks, or donor lists. Yes this lover of public service may do to us now what Nader did before, take rational government off the table and allow a lunatic who after 5 years still cannot keep sides straight gain control of military deployments and the national budget.

I have a idea for a reality show: Ego that Doesn't Stop, Nader v. Clinton

Sent by Joseph Chiara | 8:27 AM ET | 03-24-2008

There's little doubt in my mind that the Clinton camp with scratch and claw their way to the bitter end. But the more they scratch and claw, the farther away the brass ring of the Democratic nomination will move from Clinton's grasp.

The superdelegates aren't stupid. They know that Obama has an insurmountable lead among the pledged delegates, even if Clinton won every one of the remaining primaries and, as it now appears more and more likely, the Illinois senator could pull even with Clinton -- and perhaps overtake her -- among the superdelegates themselves.

Clinton's only remaining option is to "go nuclear" -- wage a bitter fight on the Democratic Convention floor to have the delegates from Michigan and Florida seated. Her chances of winning that fight, if she wages it, are slim, as she would then be seen as being desperate. Nothing the Clinton camp does can alter the fact that Michigan and Florida violated party rules when they held their primaries before February 5 and they have to accept the consequences for breaking the rules.

Sent by Skeeter Sanders | 9:00 AM ET | 03-24-2008

Hell no, Hillary should not go!

Mr. Obama's speeches of late have an eerie likeness to the speeches Mr. Edwards has been making spanning the last decade. But Mr. Edwards didn???t have his people sneaking around and reassuring NAFTA member nations, ??? that it was all election year rhetoric???, wink, wink, nod, nod.
Mr. Obama???s words are nice to hear but actions do speak louder than words, and Mr. Obama???s words are not quite the same as some of his actions. Whom a person chooses to associate with defines who and what that person is, or how they really think about things, and not just what they say in public ??? birds of a feather do flock together???.
The most important task of our next president is to restore our economy, like FDR did and Bill Clinton did. A note to voters; this isn???t the first depression/recession that the republican party???s greedy, anti-working man policies are responsible for in this country. The deregulation of the banking industry ( or removal of the safeguards of ???The New Deal???) has almost destroyed the middle class of America. This isn???t the time for on-the-job training, when we have a team ready to do what America needs to be done.
The Clinton team has a proven track record with regulating our economy; if we elect ???team Clinton??? we know what we are going to get, PEACE and PROSPERITY. It ain???t just Hillary, it???s the whole cotton-pickin Clinton team, that???s what we get when we vote for Ms. Clinton!
Mr. Obama is an unproven factor, and his words are not quite lining up with his actions, not to mention what the republicans are going to do to him should Mr. Obama win the nomination.
Mr. Obama is the only democratic candidate the republicans have a chance of beating in Nov.; maybe they are helping to fund his campaign against Ms. Clinton?

Sent by Skip Roth | 9:10 AM ET | 03-24-2008

I'm a Cleveland Browns fan and a Democrat. Why is this significant? Because they are both the lovable losers that I can't disown. Thanks to GWB the Dems had this contest wrapped up, and in true Dem fashion they have now set out to beat themselves by dividing the party better than any Rove scheme I've ever witnessed. Hubris and Ego are clearly more important to the Clinton camp than the best interests of our country (which is either of these two "blue" candidates as far as I'm concerned they are truly not so different in their policies) There is no chance for Clinton to achieve legitimate victory now; there is only the possibility of superdelegate favoritism. And everyday McCain is stockpiling cash, laying plans, and playing the part of an experienced leader on TV. Whoever becomes the Democratic nominee will leave the runner-up's supporters offended, disenfranchised, and a percentage of those supporters home on election day. Democrats in my opinion have many of the best ideas, but when it comes to execution the record speaks for itself, the GOP is the winner hands down. I truly hope that Dems get it together soon because I'm ready for the US to turn the corner in '08. Seriously, I think even the Browns are going to make the playoffs this year because they finally have some leadership in key office positions. Losing to a superior opponent is understandable, beating yourself with so much at stake is unforgivable. Leaders are elected on their ability to make these tough choices, Obama or Clinton please consider the cost of your spotlight; being a VP is a prestigious position, and the two would be unstoppable this year. If you truly want to do something great for America, then now is your chance, the price is merely your pride.

Sent by Scott D | 9:16 AM ET | 03-24-2008

What if Hillary was a national security risk and didn't even know it .She commended Rev Sun Myung Moon for world peace efforts ,my point check the article called The Dark Side Of Rev.Moon . her wold peace efforts are nothing compared to the peace corps and missionaries who died for thier efforts .Rev. Sun Myung Moon's Washington Times is demanding that other media play up hearings on how Asians bought influence with Democrats. In its outraged stance, the Times calls itself "America's Newspaper." But it conceals its own role as a secret purveyor of Asian money and its control by the Korean-based Unification Church. Left off the masthead are its publisher, Dong Moon Joo, and its founder, Moon himself. (8/25/97)

Sent by Susan LaBarre | 9:28 AM ET | 03-24-2008

Lots of paranoia on this thread... Whether it's white people scared that Obama is some kind of subversive black militant (either Christian or Muslim, depending on which crazy you're talking to), or anti-Clintonites who think that "the Clinton team" will sell America out to "Asian" interests, I find it disturbing that this has become the face of political discourse in America. Although, as a history major, I have to admit that it is nothing new, just a continuation of tired, ugly, politics as usual. *pessimistic sigh and shaking of head*

Sent by JLC | 12:17 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Bill Clinton looks more and more like the mother of "the Manchurian Candidate." He wants Hillary to win at any cost.

Sent by XX Ares | 1:03 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Hillary is like an old boxer who's just been stunned in the early rounds by a rookie with a few amazing early rounds, but unfortunately for Obama, he's missed each chance for that TKO, and now the old champ is going the distance to try to get a victory by decision.

In all honesty, there is no reason for her to quit. Pennsylvania and Puerto Rico alone will allow her to chew away at Barack's delegate count. Speaking of the math, the difference in delegate cound is only half the gap; that is, suppose Hillary can come within 50 delegates of Barack with solid performances in PA, PR, and clean competition in IN and NC, however unlikely. She doesn't need to overcome Barack by an additional 50 superdels, rather, she can just as easily lure 25 delegates to her camp from Obama's to even the score. Hillary can play Red Rover much better than Barrack with her heavy Black Book, and if Barack even tries, he'll see his base begin to deteriorate as he begins traditional Washington style wrangling.

Now I do prefer Hillary myself (with Edwards gone, that is), no matter how much her means make me cringe. It's not that I don't like Obama, I do love the guy, but the country is not ready for him yet. We are clearly in a position where the country is beyond all hope of being fixed in four years, and as things look now, they'll only get worse before getting any better. While I am eager for racial healing, this opens the door to seal the African American community out of power permanently. If Barack steps in and gets the coming blame pinned to him, there will be howls of "See what happens when you let African Americans in power?", a cry that is much harder to pin on a woman, and something that will probably go ignored on McCain. This is the sad truth with race relations in the country - a black man in a position of real power is actually a liability to the minority community.

And unfortunately for the black community, they are being sidelined further. Having always been second citizens, they now hold the bronze as Hispanics have been projected to have outgrown the black population. Luckily for Obama, Richardson has endorsed him, but to what effect? In the words of a local Latino comedian/DJ on the morning radio show "Bill Richardson has just caused Obama's Latino support to double. It seems another one showed up!" In all seriousness though, Latinos have been spoilers for Hillary in Nevada, Texas, and New Mexico, voting for her in droves. If she fails, Obama will just watch dumbfounded as the Latino support shifts to McCain, a Western politician who supports Amnesty and whose party stresses their strong Catholic moral values, which is doubly troubling for Obama, as Catholics have been shying from him as well, according to exit polls.

In the end, Hillary seems to be the only choice if the Dems want to win. She is much more prepared to attack McCain, having already played NeoCon strategies. Barack will be left standing like a deer in the high beams if he plans going up against the Republican machine armed with flowery rhetoric and an anti-negative attitude. She's trailing, but not out. Visit www.electoral-vote.com for daily updates on polls, data, and news to see her new polling surges, putting her past the same McCain that trumps Obama in current polling.

In closing, I'd like to say that even though Hillary still stands a strong enough chance, our best hope is that the DNC is forced into a brokered convention following several failed ballots and comes up with a comprimise candidate like Gore or Dean to lead the party with one of the current two riding shotgun. At this point with both candidates showing serious flaws and bruises, the party's only hope against McCain may be a fresh contender.

Sent by Chuck | 1:41 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Sent by Chuck: Hillary is like an old boxer who's just been stunned in the early rounds by a rookie with a few amazing early rounds,

Hillary made a believer out of me, Chuck. I was one of her biggest critics early in the game.

Then Obama and the Liberal Utopians began showing their true colors, and Hillary came back with thunder. And I like to think that I'm man enough to say I was wrong about Hillary in the early get-go.

It's a genuine shame that the imposter Barack had to ruin a really good chance for a woman to become president. Unfortunately, Liberal Utopians can't make up their minds, they have no discipline and they turn on a dime.

I'm confident that in the end, at the convention, Hillary will prevail. Unfortunately for her, the fight with Obama and his Liberal Utopian fools will have caused too much damage.

The way it stands today, I'm voting John McCain, and I'm urging my fellow and female Democrats to do the same. The Democratic Party has been torn asunder too badly. It's going to take a long, long time for the party to recover from the damage Obama has wrought.

I agree with you that Gore could be the nominee at the convention. As for Dean, no possible way. Dean's incompetence handling Michigan and Florida has further decimated the party's fortitude.

I wonder if Gore would accept the nomination? He has to be looking at how badly the party has been ripped apart. Al Gore, and just about everyone else, has to be thinking that there's not enough time to mend the damage.

No, I believe it will be Hillary. I look forward to seeing how good a fight she puts up against McCain. Originally, I had not given her proper credit for her resilience and toughness. But she's had too many negatives to fight within her own party ranks.

The GOP is organizing fast and furious and tight. The damage Jeremiah Wright has done is unsalvageable. Plus, there will be more revelations coming out about Obama and the Chicago Machine. That will be the nail in the coffin for Obama at the convention. The final straw.

But, it will make the Democratic Party, on the whole, look that much more corrupt and despotic.

fred camorra call

Sent by fred camorra call | 3:10 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Hillary doesn't have to quit the race, but she should quit attacking Obama. odds are he'll be carrying the dem banner. if she wants to carry it, she should prove her mettle by attacking the repub nominee instead. which side is she on, anyway?

Sent by skeptik | 4:02 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Any doubts about Barack Obama as presenting the nation with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to latch onto someone who can be a true leader for us will be dispelled if you read his books. This is a mature person of powerful intellect who has gone through a chain of experience unlike any other, and who has been shaped by his experience into a human being who is comfortable in his skin, who knows himself very well, who has a balanced and mature ego, who cares about other people, who is concerned about helping the least well off in the society, and who lives the gospel of doing unto others as you would have them do to you. As a nation, we ought to grab this man while the opportunity is before us.

Sent by Lawrence O'Brien | 11:15 PM ET | 03-24-2008

When it mattered most, Hillary proved to be a neocon enabler.

Sent by BillAnthony | 5:00 AM ET | 03-25-2008

Your guest's analysis that Senator Clinton is expected to leave the race because she is a woman is weak. She argued that if she were a man, no one would be asking her to step down because it is so close of a race. Bologna! Any male candidate that has her political bagage would be asked to step aside as well. It's not that she's a women, it's that she's Hillary Clinton.

Sent by Scott | 2:30 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Would it Occur to your guest that people are asking for Clinton to step out of the race because they believe Obama is the better candidate for our country? I believe there prabably are some misogynistic view out there, just like there are recist views out there. Jumping on the, "this is a misogynistic plot", (overt or not), band wagon is not at all demonstrated in the media.

Sent by Glenn Perron | 2:30 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Watching the crucifying of JerEMIAH WRIGHT HAS been akin to looking at the photographs of lynchings. The hysteria and the mob mentality is deeply disturbing -hillary and bill clinton are creeps -unfortunately they are smart creeps with lots of dirty tricks and influence over other creepy people - and the argument regarding sexism or misogyny is a pathetic deviation from the real victims of these social problems

Sent by chitown | 2:36 PM ET | 03-26-2008

It's not just the fact that she stays in, it's the lowbrow level of campaigning she has done in the last several weeks. She has done a poor job of showing that a woman can "do it better". Also, please do not ascribe the entire gender of women to Clinton's camp. Many women like me, Black and over 50, were initially excited about Hillary and torn between two great candidates. But the contempt she has shown such a large group of voters with disparging, disrespectful and attack tactics, has made it impossible to retain the large measure of respect I once had for her.

Sent by Linda Tucker | 2:36 PM ET | 03-26-2008

I agree with the guest in regards to the plight of women and the constant requirement for us to bow down.

On another hand, I would've voted for Dennis Kucinich. I can't imagine another 4 years of the Clinton administration. I would vote for Barak Obama simply because of that. I am really torn here. I am very angry that democracy is a sham in this country. If there was such a thing, it wouldn't be a two party system and we wouldn't have to chose the lesser of two evils. The ultimate decision wouldn't be left to delegates and the electoral college.

I feel helpless and very sad.

Sent by Lindsay in Portland, Or. | 2:37 PM ET | 03-26-2008

I'm listening to the current broadcasted discussion, and all this talk about voting constituents, women, young people, etc, presumes that these categories are separate from each other. I'm a young(ish) Asian American feminist woman, and I'm going to vote for Obama. The discussion about identity and who votes for whom based on identity ignores one that people have multiple identities and it also downplays the importance of policy in the voter's decision making process.

Sent by Marie | 2:37 PM ET | 03-26-2008

I can't agree more with Leslie Bennett. Why should Hillary Clinton leave the race at this point? Her support is deep and strong. The attitude that her staying in the race is somehow detrimental to the party rings hollow to those states who have yet to vote. If the DNC's intent is to disenfranchise the voters, they've succeeded.

Sent by Julie Vogt | 2:37 PM ET | 03-26-2008

How can you possibly say that womens views aren't represented in politics when the speaker of the house is a woman

Sent by NB | 2:38 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Why is it so easy for the pundits to disregard the millions who have supported and voted for Hillary Clinton? What makes you think we will automatically choose to vote for Obama if she is forced out of the race, despite winning the big states that really matter in a general election. I live in Idaho, in a community where lots of young folks went gaga over Obama, but I haven't seen them since, when our local Democrats have met. Will they vote? If they do, will they vote just for Obama, if he's the nominee? Will they support our local Democratic candidates? Big questions and no one knows, especially when the Obama operatives deliberately seek out republicans and independents to gain him delegates...and then???

Sent by Maria | 2:39 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Thank you so much Leslie Bennetts, speaking for so many of us.

Sent by Cheryl | 2:40 PM ET | 03-26-2008

I am an Obama supporter and I don't feel that just being a woman (59 , Vietnam era vet ,Major Marines) obligates me in any to vote for Clinton. Sure, I would like to see a woman as President, but not this woman.

Sent by Sari Perlow | 2:41 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Leslie Bennetts keep talking about women and sexism. Hillary Clinton is at a disadvantage because she is a female. As a black female, what do you see first, that I'm black or that I'm female. The political pundits really have been very nice to Hillary (even nicer to John McCain). Is Leslie saying that Barack Obama is more acceptable because he is a man--NO! Look around at the political landscape and see what the numbers are...more white men run this country, and you have a number of white women in political office and blacks and other ethnic groups are rising, but this country still belong to white men and white women.

Sent by Brenda | 2:41 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Thank you Leslie Bennetts for saying what I've been trying to explain to my fellow democrats! I actually feel betrayed by the flipant attitude of 99% of the men in my political party, I've heard so many times that this is not sexism but of course it is. This is our first chance to elect a woman as President.
And the guy on the show? What a jack ass!

Sent by Katy | 2:42 PM ET | 03-26-2008

I am a 50 plus anglo woman with two African American sons. I've seen sexism and I've seen racism. Racism is much more destructive to the victims. I don't worry that my life will be in danger because of sexism. However, I'm constantly aware that there are people in the world that hate my sons simply because of the color of their skin. I'm also aware that there is a true risk albeit small in our neighborhood that these same racist beliefs and hatred could easily end up in injury or death.

No Democrat wins the White House and stops the war in Iraq if we spend all of our time comparing psychic wounds. Get over it! If you're a rich white woman you are better off than a poor black man. What all these arguments get us is a McCain in the White House, more American sons and daughters dead in Iraq, and an economy that makes us all, black, white, brown, Asian, man, woman, poor, and probably even rich much worse off!

Sent by Mary OZ | 2:44 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Recently the talk has correctly turned to her near impossible odds as the nominee. But what is almost never said is what she can win. From my seat the best she can win is the Pyhrric Victory. You know, the one where there are no survivors and your house is in flames. If Ms Clinton had true party allegiance(I dont think she does), she needs to tone down her campaign like Huckabee did or withdraw.

Sent by Keith Gargus | 2:46 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Leslie Bennetts is non-stop talking machine. Give it a rest once in a while and give the other commentator a chance to speak. And stop interrupting every time he does get a chance to get a word in edgewiswe. Just because Hillary Clinton is a woman, Ms. Bennetts automatically considers her oppressed and the target of sexist attacks. How Mrs. Clinton (or is it Rodham, or is Rodham-Clinton?) is being treated in this process is no different than any male candidate. In fact, it was Mrs. Clinton who expected every other male candidate to step aside in HER favor. She never figured on Obama, so now she can't play the gender oppression card she would have played against another white male candidate. Poor Hillary. Life is tough, and sometimes you lose. Ms. Bennetts needs to recognize that fact, and to abandon the sexism rhetoric.

Sent by Paul from White Plains | 2:47 PM ET | 03-26-2008

I resent that even staffers of the DNC seem to be engaged in trying to sideline Hillary Clinton's candidacy. Yesterday a DNC staffer or official spoke about Clinton resorting to a "Tonya Harding" strategy. This is deeply offensive. Most voters want the remaining election cycle to be played out. Both candidates are currently not tht far apart. I think that calls for her to withdraw are not only premature but based on fear by Obama's supporters that they don't want their candidate, Obama limping into Denver after a string of losses - now that he is finally receiving the scrutiny that all candidates should get earlier in the process. I continue to believe that she is the more electable candidate in November.

Finally, it's disturbing to me that some Democrats are trashing the Clinton's. We need to remember that Bill Clinton is the only Democrat since Franklin Roosevelt to be elected to a full eight year term. For Obama supporters not old enough to remember, the math is 47 years. It seems that a faction of the DNC is determined to "snatch defeat from the jaws of victory" this year.

Sent by Cathy | 2:52 PM ET | 03-26-2008

I heard part of the discussion on NPR this afternoon with Leslie Bennetts and Matt Bai. Obama is not just black but is black/white biracial-why is this 50% of him ignored by the media and he is labeled Black/African Amercian.I have seen any mention of this anywhere about Obama being biracial-what is wrong with stating facts and accepting that he had a White mother and a smart woman at that. I also wonder to what extent his muslim heritage (that is also 50% of him and is unavoidable regardless of the fact this is also ignored)could be manipulated by the Middle East/African muslims if he attains the power of the President of USA; what with the mess of two Middle Eastern wars and muslim antipathy toward the US. May be Bin LAden would be the first to try. Another aspect we need to consider critically before asking Hilary to give into Obama all because of today's college generation, which is seldom aware of politics war or current affairs and the mess this country is in. It is not a rock concert. I fully agree with Leslie Bennetts arguments that Hilary should stay in the race and the males in the media should not presume or even suggest that she drop out. She has more advantages than men can ever understand and it is mostly the male pundits who are calling for her to scarifice. WHY?

Sent by Myna Panemangalore | 3:00 PM ET | 03-26-2008

As a female of Hillary Clinton's generation, who would be delighted to have a woman president, feminism is not the issue. I don???t think it is a gender issue for most people. Let???s hope that Americans have moved past that, but it does appear that some people are trying to make it the issue for political advantage.

If anyone should feel disadvantaged, it should be Barack Obama. If my research is correct in the 107th Congress there are:

??? 74 women members ??? 61 women in the House and 13 in the Senate.
??? 3 African Americans have been elected to the Senate since the 1940s: Edward W. Brooke, a liberal Republican from Massachusetts; and Carol Moseley Braun and Barack Obama, both Democrats from Illinois.
??? 32 African Americans in the House of Representatives (9 women).

It should not be about race or gender. It should be about the person. Policy is very important, but especially when there is no difference, what distinguishes my choice is character, dignity, truth, and consistency ??? a leader who can bring these qualities back to our country and represent to the world. A leader who under pressure doesn???t sink to a new low.

Clinton???s underlying message is ???It???s all about me, Hillary.??? It???s not what???s best for America. She would sacrifice the Democratic Party???s goals for four more years for her own personal goal.

She has changed her message many more times than John Kerry ever did. She says whatever she thinks will work at the time. She found her voice in New Hampshire, but found many other voices since then.

It seems that Clinton voted for the war in Iraq to make a political statement that she, a woman, could make a tough decision. How sad it is that four thousand people had to die for a political statement.

Sent by Sherrie Mendelson | 3:07 PM ET | 03-26-2008

I almost blew my top at the commentary on the radio this morning. There is no evidence whatsoever that the pressure Clinton is facing to get out of the race is gender-based. No one's playing the sexism card against her. She's losing, plain and simple. She can to it gracefully or do it the ugly way. It seems clear which one she's chosen. The only double standard Clinton is facing is the one that works to her advantage--If Obama were in her position mathematically, no one would be coddling him and calling it "practically a tie" the way they are with Clinton. It's ridiculous! She's riding the benefit of a powerful political name. Matt Bai is right, *every* other candidate in her position has been asked to step aside for the good of the party *and has done so* gracefully! The only person whose interests are served by Clinton staying in the race to the bitter end is Hillary. Wow, what a spirit of public services, eh? Selfish to the end. I'm astounded, and as a woman I'm disgusted.

Sent by Penelope | 3:09 PM ET | 03-26-2008

I have the feeling that most of the people calling Sen Clinton a liar, "scandalous," etc, are Republicans trying to stir up a kerfuffle.

The plain fact is that the candidates are statistically tied and neither one can win on popular delegates alone. This will be a brokered convention. Senator Clinton (who is not my first choice, nor is Obama), is by staying the the race doing the same thing that Obama would do at this point were Senator Clinton the one with the popular delegate lead.

Sent by Mike in Tucson | 3:11 PM ET | 03-26-2008

I'm exhausted by the Leslie Bennetts of this world and their frail arguments about "women's issues" and that 52% of the population are women, so we need to be represented by a woman. Are they afraid that Obama doesn't have their best interests at heart? As a woman, I'd much rather entrust my future to Obama than to Clinton.

I am a 51 year-old film maker and writer. I am not however a female writer or a female film maker. I would be insulted to be called by some gender-specific qualification.

This primary donnybrook between Obama and Clinton is NOT about gender or race, however it is Clinton who has made it so. It should be about what it will take to sort out the country after 8 disastrous years.

The most competent, most highly-qualified candidate, whose wise and measured outlook could win back our international credibility instantaneously, is clearly Obama. Most of the nation has come to realize this at last. Sadly, one only has to wait 5 minutes for Clinton to fabricate another hair-brained story of her "experience in foreign affairs", or lower the tone of discourse. This is indeed a sad comment on a female politician. If we're going to be sexist about this, should a woman be above the gutter in her desire to win the Presidency. Blind ambition coupled with an enraged sense of entitlement, make sad bedfellows - what we end up hearing instead is the endless stream of attacks and belittling commentary, iced with her own special brand of sarcasm, which falls flat.

And what exactly ARE these women's issues Leslie Bennett kept bringing up on Talk of the Nation today? Obviously, we do have do keep a watchful eye on Roe v. Wade and equal pay, etc., but apart from these vital issues - everything else is of grave concern to the citizens of this country - both male and female, and should be addressed as such.

The person I want to send in to mediate and quell international crises in a wise and considered way, is Barack Obama, not Hillary Clinton. She listens to no one - if she had, her campaign wouldn't be in the dire straits it has been since Super Tuesday, nor would she continue to spout the same single note and same tone in every speech - and bore us all senseless.

If she stuck to policies and plans, rather than the politics of personal attacks, I might have some shred of respect for her, but she has sunk to a new low in the last few days - and so have those who support her.

If she stays in the race beyond Pennsylvania, we Democrats stand to lose this extraordinary moment, which the Republicans have handed us on a silver platter to win back the White House. So myopic is her self-interest, that she doesn't seem to care.

It's always about her, not about what's best for the country. If it were, she'd have dropped out when the writing was clearly on the walls, which it has been for some time now.

Sent by Nancy Rome | 4:12 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Woman not for Clinton

This isn't about WOMEN - its about Hillary. She'd be FINE as a candidate if she were not the polarizing figure she is. If this were Barbara Boxer or Nancy Pelosi - this would be NOT BE AN ISSUE.

More importantly - this is about ENDING DYNASTY! When since 1976 has an American voted in an election that has not had a Bush or Clinton on the ticket. You'd have to be 50 years old or more to even vote for anyone other than Clinton or Bush.

As a liberal / democrat I will be voting for John McCain if Hillary is the Candidate - simply to end the Bush / Clinton Dynasty. Our forefathers WOULD DESPISE both families and their attempts to keep ruling.

Sent by Regina Caldwell | 4:29 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Woman not for Clinton

This isn't about WOMEN - its about Hillary. She'd be FINE as a candidate if she were not the polarizing figure she is. If this were Barbara Boxer or Nancy Pelosi - this would be NOT BE AN ISSUE.

More importantly - this is about ENDING DYNASTY! When since 1976 has an American voted in an election that has not had a Bush or Clinton on the ticket. You'd have to be 50 years old or more to even vote for anyone other than Clinton or Bush.

As a liberal / democrat I will be voting for John McCain if Hillary is the Candidate - simply to end the Bush / Clinton Dynasty. Our forefathers WOULD DESPISE both families and their attempts to keep ruling.

Sent by Regina Caldwell | 4:31 PM ET | 03-26-2008

This is not about a woman for me - its about ending 'dynasty-ism'. I'd be thrilled to vote for a woman (and would do so over Obama, easily - were it Barbara Boxer or Nancy Pelosi or any of the other very highly qualified women serving our country.)

But instead - you've all latched onto the single most polarizing candidate on the democratic ticket - Hillary. Thats absolutely insane. What is it about Dynasties you love so much? Our forefathers would HATE such a situation.

You're fooling yourself if you think Hillary is the best woman candidate Democrats have to offer - absolutely fooling yourself.

Here we have the biggest opportunity since Jimmy Carter's election to vote someone other than Bush or Clinton - and Hillary supporters are looking back to the 90's! Come on!

My republican, fundamentalist parents (father of which is 40 year Republican and Air Force pilot) are both now voting for Obama if he's on the ticket - they love him. But if Hillary's on the ticket, they will go for McCain. This is exactly what Hillary will face in the 2008 election. I'm almost on their side - I'd rather have four more years of McCain who's only marginally OK vs. four more years of a freakin' DYNASTY.

Sent by Thomas Todd | 4:43 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Wow! As an independent voter I was seriously considering declaring a party, to weigh in on this historic primary. But, after all that I've just heard and read, I'm going to stay INDEPENDENT of all your sexism, racism, religion/non-religion, whatever nastiness that will be conjured up next. I guess I will be choosing the best candidate on the ticket come November.

Sent by Jennifer | 5:38 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Leslie Bennetts is a caricature. She is a sad stereotype who gives feminists a black eye.

Sent by Eric | 6:32 PM ET | 03-26-2008

As a 41-yr old woman, I am disappointed that the best our gender can do at this point is represented by a one-term senator who only got where she is because of her husband. There are so many more worthy members of her generation who have achieved much more through their own efforts. My only hope is that future female candidates for president won't be handicapped by animosity of Clinton's selfish run.

Sent by Diedre | 6:43 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Is Leslie Bennett for real or was that just a bad joke on her part? Her ranting about women still making most of the sacrifices for men is just the sort of thinking that sustains and even encourages prejudice and bigotry. Whether it is the right thing to do or not, bowing out of the race for Ms Clinton would have nothing to do with female suffrage. If she thinks she is doing Ms Clinton any favors, she may want to reconsider. Equality is the general goal for human kind???not getting even.

Sent by mac | 7:19 PM ET | 03-26-2008

I feel so hurt by the sexism in this campaign. How dare people ask Clinton to sacrifice herself. If she were a man, it would not be asked. Obama has is the one that has hurt the Democratic Party. I have changed my registration from Dem to Decline to State and if Obama is on the Democratic ticket I will not vote for him. Why is the media in love with him? If anyone criticized him and yelled "iron my pants" to him the media would be up in arms. But it is okay with people to put down women.

Sent by ann | 8:42 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Leslie Bennetts is proof positive that when you hammer everything looks like a nail. Clinton is fighting a dirty, Rovian campaign that is undercutting our party's chances by attacking Obama and complementing McCain. I'm a 48 year old woman and I deeply resent anybody's allegations that telling Clinton to take a hike is sexist, or asking "why should the lady step aside?" She should step aside because she's attacking her own party instead of turning her guns on the party that's been destroying this country for the last 8 years. She should step aside because she's the Republican's choice to run against and she's writing their scripts for them. She should step aside so we can use our resources to fight the Republican instead of wasting time responding to attacks of someone who is at least ostensibly in our own party. She's running a vicious campaign and elevating her own hunger for power over the good of her party. Women who consider Hillary's status as a woman over her status as a Democrat are myopic and single-minded.

Sent by Kimberley | 12:35 AM ET | 03-27-2008

The outing of prejudices only invites us to challenge them. So, I resign from the demographic that votes for Clinton. I now belong to a much bigger, more diverse group, who look beyond the barriers of race, gender and creed to find the best person to lead and represent our country in the world. I look for the bigger picture, the whole story. Could it be time, could we be ready at last, for new political behavior? For serious discussion about issues, and not about spinning story pieces?

Sent by annie | 1:44 AM ET | 03-27-2008

i can't tell you how disrespected i feel by the obama campaign. i am a lifelong, liberal democrat. yes -- i'm ok with being called a liberal. i know this is completely politically incorrect, but i was so offended when barack used his white grandmother, who "confessed" (his word) to him her distrust of young black males to offset remarks by reverend wright who "preaches" hate-filled sermons to a congregation of 1500. does he understand the difference between confessing and preaching? i sure do. and here's my confession: for the first time in my adult life, i am prepared to stay home on election day unless barack finds a way to bring this middle-aged white woman into the flock. that is a complete reversal of my feelings from when this campaign first started.
you have no idea how many women feel as i do. disrespected. marginalized. victims of sexist remarks that NO ONE in the obama campaign feels the need to repudiate. i'm done.

Sent by Mary Comfort | 10:45 AM ET | 03-27-2008

Frankly I am frustrated by this un-democratic process. What about the states that have not yet voted in the primary? What's the point in going to vote? Once again the early states are dictating the nominee and the rest of us are stuck with them. So much for every vote counts! No one should drop out until the last state has voted! The press should take a hike and let the people decide!

Sent by Marcelle | 11:58 AM ET | 03-27-2008

I don't necessarily think Hillary should quit now, but I do think Leslie Bennetts' arguments are reprehensible. She claims that we wouldn't expect a man to quit under these circumstances. Well, you can't prove or disprove a hypothetical. This is the same debating trick Ferraro used when saying that Obama is getting a free ride cause he's black. We don't know how Hillary would be treated if she was a man, and we don't know how Obama would be treated if he was white. How bout we just evaluate them as they are?

Also, the baseball analogy is false. In a baseball game there are only 2 teams playing. The reason people might want Hillary to quit is because it might hurt the Democrats chances against McCain. There is no sports parallel to this situation.

Finally, Leslie Bennetts avoided the question when a caller asked what people should think if Hillary, who isn't expected to win the popular vote, gets the nomination. Sounds like a terrible situation to me.

Sent by Ed | 3:02 PM ET | 03-27-2008

Napoleon wrote that "Character is Destiny". This is so true in this US Presidential race. McCain & Clinton both dis Obama for being open about the bitterness underlying "Smalltown America". Just what is Smalltown America anyways and since when are they interested in Smalltown America? Fact is the bitterness has been festering for 20+ years since the leverage buyout & junk bond craze disenfranchised millions from their retirement pensions & continued to rip our economic well being down with "Globalization". Some American's got very very rich off the misery of the many. They can console their conscience by lying to themselves that this whole Globalization thing was "inevitable" and if they didn't move on it then someone else would. Obama has the guts and the openness to talk about it. He isn't beholden to big money lobbyists like Clinton & McCain. But the "CHARACTER" of Bill Clinton regarding Governor Richardson's decision, i.e. his anger of being "betrayed" by someone who "owed" him, belies his characterand his whole way of thinking. Clinton, like McCain, think they have the "right" to be the nominee's given their "connections" from the past. They operate on the "inner circle" mentality and only the "inner circle" people have the "right" to aspire to the office and only "they" have the "judgment" to deem whats good for the country. They lack vision hence character. They now think in a box. Their past success' in politics have warped their judgment & thus their "character". Clinton & McCain are two side's of the same coin called "Beltway Insider Arrogance & Lack of Vision". No wonder we have voter apathy. Their comments about Obama for his remarks about "Rust Belt" bitterness is plain "baloney". There is bitterness and apathy and a lot of it.They're grabbing @ straws and they know it. They just don't have the character to be a real person instead of a puppet for the big money lobbyists. They just don't have the character. That's why they called talking heads.

Sent by Basil Pelensky | 2:38 AM ET | 04-12-2008