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Barack Obama Inc. The Birth of A Washington Machine



  3. JanforGore
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His motives may be sincere, but I fear even he too has been co-opted to some degree by corporate lobbyists. So if that is the case, how can he call for change if he conducts his campaign like a status quo candidate? Where are all the millions he is getting to run this campaign coming from? And how can you call for change and work to benefit companies like Archer Daniels Midland, which is an agribusiness company making a killing in corn ethanol that is not environmentally sound?

I'm not posting this BTW to attack him, but I do believe that before a vote is cast people should look beyond the dazzle and soundbites of a rally and understand that when someone continually says it is "time for change" that they aren't then representing and being financially supported by the very status quo they say we need a change from. And to be honest, I am not so sure that Barack Obama as a president would keep us out of another war. And as the last sentence here also states, anyone so adored by this country's corporate media has to have sold their soul a bit.

Personally, I'm tired of the political rhetoric and catch phrases, and I'm tired of the overexposure of both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in the press and find it very suspect. Two primaries does not a president make. And yes, I know John Edwards isn't perfect either and there are also things about him that I too disagree with because I actually have read about him and not just accepted a media hyping of him giving a speech at a rally. However, when it comes to walking the walk about running the moneylenders out of the Washington DC temple, John Edwards to me is the most sincere based on his record. And as he stated we will never see change unless we break the stranglehold corporations and lobbyists have on our government. And I am truly beginning to doubt that Barack Obama is the one who will do that.
JanforGore

9 responses // Barack Obama Inc. The Birth of A Washington Machine

  • Just out of curiousity, what gives you that doubt?

    The first two bills the Senator put on the floor in Illinois and the United States Senate were regarding ethics reform. Also, like Senator Edwards, Senator Obama has not taken any money from PAC or corporate lobbyists during his campaign. In fact, the only reason we know where these candidates are getting their campaign money from in the first place is because of a bill that Senator Obama passed two years ago.

    He has been pretty adamant about cutting off the stranglehold of corporate lobbyists since the beginning of his campaign, the difference between him and Senator Edwards is really to me just that Edwards puts it at the forefront of a lot of his speeches. I commend Edwards for that. But Obama, in my opinion, has more clear stances on HOW exactly to cut the corporate stranglehold, including ideas that are obama-esque in their 21st century ingeniuity, including having real-time displays on whitehouse.gov of all money entering and leaving the white house at all time. He has also stated that when bills come around (such as universal health care) he will have the information of all major players involved in the debate, where they stand, and who they have taken money from in the past.

    I think Edwards would be really good too, and I'm really excited that we have two frontrunner candidates that have such anti-corporate lobbyists stances in the race. I was just wondering if you had some specific reasons for your doubts?
    Kurka
  • I worry that mainstream media is spinning Obama and Hillary for a reason. Maybe they know they can swiftboat either one at a later date. They control the spin, they control the message. John Edwards would be a challenge to swiftboat, he has been here before.
    I haven't read Obama's book, but I have heard that it contains things that I'm sure will be used at a later date. Hillary has issues for some who do not agree with her prior comments about the war. Republicans won't use their real ammunition while Democrats are fighting amongst themselves, they will spin it later.
    People with voices (candidates, representatives, Americans...) need to challenge spin with fact, whenever given the opportunity. Don't stand idly by and let them spin fact and spin as equal. Any time they let spin distort the facts and stay silent, they may be guilty by association. We need accountability and mainstream media would be a good place to start. Start holding them accountable, using facts. At least make them defend the spin with facts.
    Conniepae
  • http://www.legitgov.org/nh_machine_vs_paper.html

    And believe me, Obama is not the only player here. After reading this link regarding alleged discrepancies in hand counted ballots and ballots optically scanned by DIEBOLD in New Hampshire, I am now very skeptical of any results we get. And after 2000 and 2004 I think it is a mistake for Americans to simply push this under the rug and act as if all is well because I don't think it is. We should not be outsourcing the counting of our votes to CORPORATIONS on machines that are proven to be hackable. I don't know how candidates can then also say they stand for change and not address the counting of our votes in this country. Between the media hype, the secret vote counting, and the allegiance to corporate America shown by those who say they want change, How do we fight it all?
    JanforGore
  • Much of Obamas money has come from his supporters. There are allot of people who have never donated a cent to a political candidate who have donated to him, myself included. The media doesnt give Obama very much press at all. It seems that he makes allot of people uncomfortable, as does Hillary im sure, but in a different way. It seems people just wish that this particular issue, which addresses our character as people, would just go away so we wont have to deal with it. Not yet. There are many things that Obama addresses, that dont get any media attention at all. I think if he wasnt who and what he is he would be a much more popular candidate. I didnt realise this until I was 23, but racism does still exsist. Its not a conscious thing anymore, like in our parents day. Now its just "a gut feeling". Everything Hillary does and says I end up hearing about, and I dont have a TV. I dont hear very much about Obama at all, unless its really really important. When he won in Iowa the information seemed almost so ellusive, as if they wanted to detract attention away from the fact he won, and point it more towards the fact the other candidates will come back and win the next one! Am I the only one who sees this election as a total joke?? America isnt ready for a woman or a person of color to run this country and come the general election its going to show, and once again we are going to be slaves of the corporations. Simply because people fear change.
    bedajii
  • There are several factors to consider when we take mainstream media's spin at face value. 1) Did they accurately report the vulnerability of the voting machines made by Diebold? 2) Do we trust that Diebold and the political machine that controls the vote will not control the vote of the Democrats? 3) At this point things can be spun in plain sight, 'Nothing to see here, move along and we do?' 4) The problems with the voting machines make the whole process questionable. 5) Mainstream media started spinning this election a year early, distracting ordinary Americans from the problems with this administration. They have spun looking ahead, instead of looking at today. They generated the bull that got all these candidates campaigning instead of being in the Senate, doing what they were paid to do. 6) I would respect the candidate that talks honestly about today and the Constitution, over a candidate that wants to tell us what they will do tomorrow. I have a saying about that also: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Today is a Gift, that's why we call it PRESENT! They have the gift of their voices today, they should use it today. Hillary and Obama are Senator's running for office, they have the ear of mainstream media. They should stop the media from spinning facts and spin as equal and show the American people they are here today and will work hard for the future if elected.
    Conniepae
  • PAPER BALLOTS ARE THE ONLY ANSWER!!!!! OUR VOTES HAVE BEEN OUTSOURCED TO PRIVATE CONTRACTORS. OUR VOTES ARE COMPANY SECRETS? WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? WE HAVE OUTSOURCED OUR ELECTIONS?
    WE NEED OPEN VOTING! IF WE COULD PAY FOR IRAQI'S TO VOTE PAPER BALLOTS, WE CAN DEMAND OUR RIGHT TO BE ABLE TO TRUST OUR ELECTIONS.
    THERE ARE HONEST QUESTIONS, WITH NO FOLLOW-UP? WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? WHY DOES EVERYONE ACCEPT OUR VOTES CAN BE HACKED?
    Conniepae
  • Interesting link Jan, very interesting! You're right Conniepae and Incredulous, we need to sign every petition we can find and send the links to everyone we know.
    Chique
  • Paper ballots with a paper trail and accountability is the only way.The corporatization of our Democracy is a disgrace. Especially since a large majority of this country either doesn't know about it, or care...And that goes right back on the media in this country.
    JanforGore
  • Catherine Crier was on Real Time with Bill Maher last night. It was good to hear her comments about the 'Rule of Law' and the only way to have elections we can trust is with paper ballots. Catherine Crier would be a welcome voice right now; she comes with credentials and facts. Unfortunately, they had her across from Tony Snow. It's hard to go after what he is spinning, he's ill. I would love to see her talk with an equal, using facts to counter the spin. We need voices challenging spin with facts!
    Conniepae

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