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OBAMA VOX POPS IN BERLIN
Fussing about whether or not the man is allowed to speak at the Brandenburg Gate, the German chancellor Angela Merkel made no friends with her petty remarks.
But it seems like young Berlin folks and even Eastern European tourists are excited about his speech at the Victory Column. Maybe OBAMANIA comes to Berlin.
According to some polls 83% of the German population would vote him for president!
Check out the three young girls from Romania with their sexy accents... Fussing about whether or not the man is allowed to speak at the Brandenburg Gate, the German chancellor Angela Merkel made no friends ... more -
Barack Obama at NAACP Annual Conference
On Monday Barack Obama spoke at the NAACP Annual Conference
Another great great speech that will still fall on def ears and be summed up as just words and soundbites from a typical politician.
Fortunately for Obama supporters, I think hes going to win in November. On Monday Barack Obama spoke at the NAACP Annual Conference ... more -
Barack Obama at Annual NCLR Conference
This past Saturday Barack Obama spoke at the annual NCLR (The National Council of La Raza) Conference
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McCain rides the swiftboat express
John McCain is clearly in bed with the swiftboat group Vets For Freedom.
I would love to see how the right would react to Obama laying down with the moveon.org people.
McCain seems to get a pass on this and many other blunders from the so called "Liberal" media that dominates MSM.
Thanks to Jed Lewison from the jedreport.com for the article John McCain is clearly in bed with the swiftboat group Vets For Freedom. ... more -
The most adorable first-family ever
The press has always had access to presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama, but for the first time, Barack’s wife, Michelle, and daughters Malia and Sasha sat down for an interview together.
"Access Hollywood’s" Maria Menounos met up with the family in Butte, Mont., on Independence Day, where she found the Obamas in a carefree and relaxed mood.
If Barack’s wife is his rock, then his two daughters — 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha — help him keep it real by dispensing free advice on how to keep daddy cool.
Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, told Access Hollywood their famous mom and dad promised to buy a dog after the rigorous campaign season comes to an end. "Win or lose," the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said.
Malia also said she often gives her dad campaign tips on how to reach out to young people her age. The Obama girls went on to describe what kind of candy their dad prefers and how they would want their rooms decorated if they were to move into the whitehouse.
Though they find quality family time while crisscrossing the country running for president, it isn’t always easy. The Obamas, however, stay connected every day. “We are calling each other at least once a day,” Barack said. “I’m usually the one on the road so I’m calling, calling home. And we’ve got a computer that has, a monitor [and] a video feed, that we use sometimes.”
“We save our conversation – if we have issues or things to discuss with the kids – we usually do that over the phone,” Michelle added. “We’ve gotten used to being able to communicate pretty well over the phone.”
But what about romance?
Michelle splits her time between being a mom to the children at their home in Chicago and joining the senator on the busy campaign trail.
“How do you have an intimate moment with her — even just venting about something without everyone knowing?” Menounos asked.
“We have our alone time,” Michelle explained. “Our staff, they’re good about making sure that we get space. And you know, now that the primary is over, Barack is home at least once a week and we’re really doing family stuff. We’re going on bike rides and going swimming and playing tennis.”
Barack and Michelle first met following Harvard Law School, and Michelle said Barack “swept her off her feet.” They were married three years later. That was 15 years ago.
“Barack is very romantic,” Michelle said. “He brought me flowers the other day.” The press has always had access to presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama, but for the first time, Barack’s wife, Michelle, and d... more -
gObama 2008 - generation X strikes back
Dear friends,
gObama 2008 - "generation X strikes back" is raw, a work in progress.
So, my teaser is a 20 min ruffcut without a soundmix, graphics or color corrections.
I am editing at the moment and current-ly can not chat with all of you out there.
I like to put it up here because I would need your help for a first feedback-
before I go into more (10h) exciting material.
YES! Web 2.0 is a great democratic medium and I greatly appreciate your written input !
Here are a couple of brainy questions for you - to help me built up organic juice in Berlin.
Thanks for taking the time and enjoy the first bits and bytes!
Point of view - VOICE
1.Are you interested in my very personal commentary?
2.Is my voice-over distracting you or compelling enough to learn more?
3.Do you need to know more personal context - like why I did this film at the beginning?
4.Do the personal encounters interest you enough to see a story there?
Structure
1. Does the story build up to keep a momentum?
2. Is there enough tension between the different elements?
3. Do you want to follow events chronologically or otherwise thematically?
4. Is the structure compelling you to follow through with questions for part 2?
5. Do you want to see more twists that tell little side stories?
6. Was the current structure emotional enough to get a feeling for the finished film?
Theme
1.What do you think is this story really about? (Describe your first impressions)
2.What societal issue and social concern does it tell that is relevant to your life?
3.Was the theme revealed throughout the scenes or did you get lost?
4.What do you think this story should be about if you could decide ?
Style
1.Do you enjoy the freestyle (cinema verite style)?
2.What do you think of the pace of the editing? (too slow, ok, too fast)
3.Do you want to see more graphic design between the different segments?
4.Do you like the handheld camera all the time or do you want more controlled shots?
Music
1.What do you think about the use of music?
2.Do you want to hear a musical score that combines elements of the music on location?
3.Should the music be just coming from the campaign events?
4.Do you want to hear a particular style of music?
Length and Format
1.How long do you think this film should be? (26 min or 56 min or 90min)
2.Do you think the story has potential as a trilogy gObama 2009/2010?
3.Do you want to see a different format (7-10 min webisodes) altogether?
DVD/ Online Distribution
1.Would you buy the film as a DVD or prefer to watch this in a cinema?
2.Would you enjoy watch the film via IPTV on your laptop/TV?
3.Would you enjoy a download to own this on your PC/MAC via a peer2peer network?
4.How much would you pay for one copy (as a product 60 min docu)?
(less than 10$, 13$, 15$, 20$)
Dear friends, gObama 2008 - "generation X strikes back" is raw, a work in progress. ... more -
What Barack Obama means for a 2-year-old
Many have opined about what Sen. Barack Obama’s phenomenal win in the Democratic presidential primary and his possible ascension to the presidency mean to this nation.
Just the elementary historical facts are powerful enough: There has never been a black president. An African-American had never come close to winning a major-party nomination. None had been part of a majority-party ticket.
What does Sen. Obama’s nomination say about race and race relations in America? What does it say about opportunity for people of color? Those are the kinds of questions many a pundit has tried to put into perspective.
Of course, most importantly, Sen. Obama’s ascension says a lot about, well, Sen. Obama. It says his powerful gift of oratory and his message of change connected. His ability to build and manage an extraordinary campaign network and to raise funds is superior. His idealism that America can unite beyond race and politics and age worked.
As I’ve considered Sen. Obama’s accomplishment, I’ve determined the most profound impact he’s had — not considering the possibility of him becoming president and proving to be one of our better ones — is on our future more than our present or our history.
I didn’t grasp that until I took my 2-year-old to the doctor last week and he took a vision exam. It was through young Alexander’s eyes that I saw how important this moment in time could be.
The nurse administering the exam pointed to different shapes and images on a chart, asking Alexander to identify each. One of the recurring images was that of a flag. It wasn’t an American flag, but a flag just the same.
To a 2-year-old, a flag is a flag, right? Alexander is most familiar with the U.S. flag. When the nurse pointed to the flag, he answered confidently.
“Barack Obama,” he said, pronouncing it as best as a 2-year-old could.
“What did you say?” she asked.
“Barack Obama.”
As she went through the chart, she once again came to the flag.
“Barack Obama.”
“Do you know what he’s saying?” I asked her.
“No.”
“He’s saying Barack Obama.” Why? Because he was making an association. Most times when he’s seen Sen. Obama on TV, the Democratic nominee has been standing in front of the U.S. flag.
Whether Sen. Obama wins the presidency or not, he has had an untold effect on the future and psyche of America.
My son will live a lifetime in which he knows an African-American can ascend to the highest levels in this country. He won’t think it odd for a black man to seek to lead a nation. He as well as many white, Asian, Hispanic and other children, whether they like the candidate or not, won’t think it odd or a novelty to see a black man standing in front of the American flag — the ultimate display of patriotism, despite misguided and mean-spirited efforts to paint Sen. Obama as being otherwise — articulating his concerns and love for his country.
Because of Barack Obama, many of our children won’t grow up with as many of the psychological bruises those before them might have endured.
I grew up being told that I could one day be president. But much of what I saw and heard suggested otherwise. I saw and experienced the discrimination. Blacks only secured the right to vote in my lifetime. I saw many black kids in school being steered away from advanced courses and training that would have prepared them to shoot for higher goals.
Not only does Sen. Obama’s feat help shape a 2-year-old’s thoughts about himself and the world around him, but it affects so many others, from high-schoolers to college students to older folks.
Think of the many people, particularly older citizens, who had determined they would never live to see a black president. Scarcely 200 years since the end of the slave trade, there’s a good chance it could happen. Many have opined about what Sen. Barack Obama’s phenomenal win in the Democratic presidential primary and his possible ascension to th... more -
AFL-CIO endorses Obama
The largest U.S. labor federation endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday and promised to launch a huge effort to get union voters to the polls on his behalf in November.
The general board of the AFL-CIO, an umbrella group representing 56 labor unions, voted without opposition to back the Illinois senator in the White House race against Republican John McCain.
"We'll work our hearts out for Barack Obama," said Gerald McEntee, chairman of the AFL-CIO political committee and president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
"Our program is going to be worker to worker and neighbor to neighbor. We're ready to mobilize," said McEntee, who originally supported Obama's Democratic presidential rival Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.
The labor federation has budgeted about $54 million for get-out-the-vote operations on behalf of Obama, and will focus on mobilizing 13 million union members in 24 priority states.
The effort will provide critical grass-roots muscle that could help Obama in blue-collar battleground states, where he had difficulty during the Democratic primaries winning over white working-class voters.
The effort specifically targets the battleground states of Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, and the labor group promised to deploy more than 250,000 volunteers for the operation.
All of the unions in the federation expect to spend a total of more than $200 million on behalf of Democratic candidates at all levels of the 2008 election.
The endorsement was no surprise, as the AFL-CIO already had started an information campaign against Arizona Sen. McCain and many of the member unions already had backed Obama -- including unions like AFSCME that had backed Clinton.
The full AFL-CIO declined to make an endorsement in the Democratic race last year, but Clinton's withdrawal earlier this month cleared the way for the move. The group requires the support of union presidents representing two-thirds of the federation's members. The largest U.S. labor federation endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday and promised to launch a huge ef... more -
Obama opens up his iPod
The Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama showcased his diverse musical taste, ranging from Bob Dylan to Jay-Z and Bruce Springsteen, after revealing the playlist on his iPod.
In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, to be published this Friday, the Illinois senator said he had "pretty eclectic tastes".
The list of bands reads like the acts at a summer music festival, with the Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow and Ludacris all in the mix. Obama said that, growing up, he listened to Elton John and Earth, Wind & Fire but that Stevie Wonder was his ultimate musical hero during the 70s.
The Stones' track Gimme Shelter topped his favorite songs from the band. His selection also contained 30 songs from Dylan. "One of my favorites [for] the political season is [Dylan's] Maggie's Farm. It speaks to me as I listen to some of the political rhetoric." In the song, Dylan sings about trying to be himself, "but everybody wants you to be just like them".
The jazz legends Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker were also included in the compilation. Many of the musicians on Obama's iPod, such as Bruce Springsteen, are supporting his White House bid.
Earlier this month, Dylan said he believed Obama was redefining politics in the US and could bring change to a nation in upheaval. "I've got to say, having both Dylan and Bruce Springsteen say kind words about you is pretty remarkable," Obama said. "Those guys are icons."
Obama said he had not met Springsteen but that the two had talked over the phone. "Not only do I love Bruce's music, I just love him as a person," Obama said. "He is a guy who has never lost track of his roots, who knows who he is, who has never put on a front." He added that, when speaking to the singer, he addressed him by his moniker the Boss. "You've got to," Obama said.
The candidate said he thought rap music was also helping to break down barriers within the music world. Indeed it was reported last month that Obama will make a cameo performance[siiic] on the rap singer Q-Tip's next album. However, he expressed concern over his daughters – Malia, nine, and Sasha, seven – listening to some rap songs.
"I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics," he said, "but I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music."
He said the hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and the rappers Jay-Z and Ludacris were "great talents and great businessmen".
"It would be nice if I could have my daughters listen to their music without me worrying they were getting bad images of themselves," he added.
Obama appears on the cover of the Rolling Stone issue. The magazine endorsed him for president in March The Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama showcased his diverse musical taste, ranging from Bob Dylan to Jay-Z and Bruce Spring... more -
Al Gore endorses Barack Obama
Former Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Al Gore endorsed Barack Obama at a 20,000 person rally in Detroit, MI on June 16, 2008. Former Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Al Gore endorsed Barack Obama at a 20,000 person rally in Detroit, MI on June 16, 2... more
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Meet Barack
Meet Barack Obama, and visit www.barackobama.com to get involved in his campaign for the presidency.
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Obama wants to learn more about you
Four years ago, Democrats and their liberal allies scrambled to match the vast lists of personal voter information gathered by the Republicans through public records and consumer data banks.
The Democratic National Committee has since greatly improved its voter information file, which is now at Mr. Obama’s disposal. But Mr. Obama’s aides were also considering buying another huge list with information on 230 million Americans. The list is owned by Catalist, a private concern co-founded by a longtime Democratic operative, Harold M. Ickes.
In an interview, Mr. Ickes said that Mr. Obama’s campaign aides are particularly interested in new information his company has gathered about cable television viewing habits.
Obama campaign officials said that is because they are considering a specially tailored commercial campaign on niche cable networks like MTV, with its young audience, or BET, with an African-American viewership Mr. Obama’s aides consider crucial for victory.
I think a lot of people have the mistaken impression that Hillary lost because of Mark Penn's obsession with microtargeting, in contrast to the big-themed, macro-focused Obama campaign. But pretty much everything about that statement is wrong. First, the Clinton campaign had plenty of big ideas--that experience and toughness are key presidential attributes, that everyone should have health care, that we need to withdraw from Iraq. The problem was that Obama had many of the same big ideas, and, in the places where they differed, Obama's were slightly more popular.
Second, the assumption that campaigns face some sort of either/or proposition--that you either microtarget or deal in Big Ideas--is deeply flawed. Most successful campaigns do both these days; they're two largely-separate parts of the effort. The ideas are the substance of the campaign, the microtargeting is procedural--the way you convey your ideas.
So, for example, one of Obama's big ideas is the we should do something about global warming. Since young people tend to be especially concerned about this problem, you'd probably stress that idea when communicating with them. And one of the most direct ways of communicating with them is to place ads on the cable channels they watch or in the magazines they read--i.e., microtargeting. Four years ago, Democrats and their liberal allies scrambled to match the vast lists of personal voter information gathered by the Rep... more -
Who is Barack Obama?
The Obama presidential campaign introduced a new site last week, FightTheSmears.com, that it hopes will debunk persistent myths about the senator: that he's a Muslim, that he won't say the Pledge of Allegiance, etc. Restating the myths often reinforces them, no matter how persuasively they've been refuted.
Rather than restate untruths about Obama, the campaign would do better to start some rumors of its own. Here's a template e-mail the Obama campaign might consider disseminating.
From: [Redacted]
To: [Redacted]
Subject: WHO IS BARACK OBAMA?
There are many things people do not know about BARACK OBAMA. It is every American's duty to read this message and pass it along to all of their friends and loved ones.
Barack Obama wears a FLAG PIN at all times. Even in the shower.
Barack Obama says the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE every time he sees an American flag. He also ends every sentence by saying, "WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL." Click here for video of Obama quietly mouthing the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE in his sleep.
A tape exists of Michelle Obama saying the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE at a conference on PATRIOTISM.
Every weekend, Barack and Michelle take their daughters HUNTING.
Barack Obama is a PATRIOTIC AMERICAN. He has one HAND over his HEART at all times. He occasionally switches when one arm gets tired, which is almost never because he is STRONG.
Barack Obama has the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE tattooed on his stomach. It's upside-down, so he can read it while doing sit-ups.
There's only one artist on Barack Obama's iPod: FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.
Barack Obama is a DEVOUT CHRISTIAN. His favorite book is the BIBLE, which he has memorized. His name means HE WHO LOVES JESUS in the ancient language of Aramaic. He is PROUD that Jesus was an American.
Barack Obama goes to church every morning. He goes to church every afternoon. He goes to church every evening. He is IN CHURCH RIGHT NOW.
Barack Obama's new airplane includes a conference room, a kitchen, and a MEGACHURCH.
Barack Obama's skin is the color of AMERICAN SOIL.
Barack Obama buys AMERICAN STUFF. He owns a FORD, a BASEBALL TEAM, and a COMPUTER HE BUILT HIMSELF FROM AMERICAN PARTS. He travels mostly by FORKLIFT.
Barack Obama says that Americans cling to GUNS and RELIGION because they are AWESOME. The Obama presidential campaign introduced a new site last week, FightTheSmears.com, that it hopes will debunk persistent myths about ... more -
obama launches anti smear site
Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama launched a new website Thursday devoted to dousing "smears" against the first African-American with a serious shot at the presidency.
The site at www.fightthesmears.com debunks false rumors doing the rounds of the Internet and right-wing media outlets -- including one recent assertion that Obama's wife Michelle has been caught on tape slurring white people.
Obama's main campaign website already had a fact-check section to refute rumors such as the Christian candidate is a secret Muslim. But aides said the new site went further in inviting supporters to spread the word
Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama launched a new website Thursday devoted to dousing "smears" against the first African-Amer... more -
Election reform... Let's make every vote count.
Four times in our history, (most recently in 2000) the Electoral College has sent a second-place candidate to the White House. This almost happened again in 2004 and some pollsters are already predicting it could happen again in 2008. Four times in our history, (most recently in 2000) the Electoral College has sent a second-place candidate to the White House. This al... more
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Obama needs a warrior to bring the smackdown
With economic distress so high, and with John McCain claiming national security as his trump card, Democrats may again be tempted to play down foreign affairs so they can turn the election into a fight over domestic questions about which McCain has had little to say.
Evading national security, says Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), would be a disastrous mistake. "The only way we lose this election is not to engage this issue head-on," Biden said during an interview in his Capitol office the day after Obama clinched the nomination. Democrats, Biden said, should be "proactive" and not "play defense on foreign affairs" because "the case against McCain and Bush on national security is so overwhelming. . . . It should be an essential part of the case for the Democratic nominee."
He should be at the top of any list of vice presidential picks for Obama. Why Biden? Few Democrats know more about foreign policy, and few would so relish the fight against McCain on international affairs. Few are better placed to argue that withdrawal from Iraq will strengthen rather than weaken the United States.
The worst thing in a running mate is the fear of muddying his or her image in political combat. Biden would be a happy warrior.
He was born in Scranton, Pa., an essential state for Democrats, and has been a regular in the Philadelphia media market. Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, himself a plausible No. 2, has called Biden "a perfect fit." The senator has been through two of his own presidential campaigns, in which he experienced what an acquaintance of his called the "white-hot heat" of scrutiny.
Biden is Catholic and hails from a blue-collar world, two constituencies with which Obama needs help. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Biden speaks with real learning on international affairs and the judiciary -- the next vacancies on the Supreme Court should be a big issue in this campaign -- while never sounding like an elitist.
But the central reason to pick Biden is the message the choice would send about Obama's readiness to contest national security issues and his understanding that fixing American foreign policy must be one of the next president's highest priorities.
Biden has been critical of Bush's approach to Iraq and the world for the right reasons, and from the beginning. Even before the war began, Biden was warning of the costs of a lengthy occupation and predicting a decade-long intervention.
To restore its strength and influence, the United States needs to return to the realistic internationalism of FDR, Truman and, yes, the first President Bush. Whether or not Obama picks Biden, he should listen to what Biden is saying. Obama can't sidestep the foreign policy debate. He has to win it. With economic distress so high, and with John McCain claiming national security as his trump card, Democrats may again be tempted to p... more -
Diddy on Obama
Music mogul Sean Combs shares a very intimate and personal message on what Obama's historic run means to him...check it out.
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Obama 'fist bump of hope' shows them silly in love
It was probably the first time a potential first couple gave each other dap on live television. It happened Tuesday night before Senator Barack Obama gave his victory speech in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Obama and his wife Michelle gave each other a fist bump, followed by a thumbs up from Michelle, and a pat on the backside by Barack. When Obama introduces his wife on stage, he often refers to her as 'my rock,' because he admits that she keeps him focused and grounded.
On the other hand, "Michelle refers to that effort as simply -- 'Keeping Him Real.' She does this by making sure Barack travels home to attend family events, ballet recitals and parent-teacher meetings. Michelle even went the extra mile and purchased two MacBook [sic] laptops for Barack so he and the children can have video chats over the Internet.
Now that the public has seen the fist bump, the Internet is abuzz with talk about the fist bump, its origin and the significance of the gesture by a presidential candidate and his wife. It was probably the first time a potential first couple gave each other dap on live television. It happened Tuesday night before Senat... more -
Zbigniew Brzezinski: The crisis of American superpower
Dr. Brzezinski, Fmr. National Security Advisor and foreign policy super-guru, says that our position in the Middle East has deteriorated in recent years and we have very little leverage left.
Brzezinski, an Obama supporter, joined a bi-partisan group of some prominent Americans including Paul Volcker, Brent Scowcroft, Lee Hamilton, and some others, in saying that talking to Hamas is a necessary course of action. "You know, we talked to Likud when Likud was advocating the total incorporation of the West Bank into Israel. And today Likud accepts a two-state solution. Hamas will evolve, but it will not evolve if it is continuously ostracized and threatened."
"If Senator McCain becomes president and pursues the kind of policies implicit in his statements, we're going to be totally isolated in the world. Our last refuge will be to become a global gated community - truly isolated. Moreover there's something ominous in his statements - they're reminiscent of the kind of war-mongering George Bush was engaging in before the war in Iraq." Dr. Brzezinski, Fmr. National Security Advisor and foreign policy super-guru, says that our position in the Middle East has deteriorat... more
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