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Barack Obama: Why I Want to Be President

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Posted on Jan 16, 2007
Barack Obama
From BarackObama.com

Democratic Illinois Sen. (and relative political newcomer) Barack Obama on Tuesday announced the formation of a presidential exploratory committee. In this video, he explains his motivations.

  • Money quote: “I certainly didn’t expect to find myself in this position a year ago.”
  • N.Y. Times coverage

  • Watch it:

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    By Daniel, May 8 at 12:31 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Obama is a member of cfr “council on foreign relations”, some of you will know what that means

    Report this

    By Annie, April 21 at 3:06 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Hey Obama im a huge fan i think your going to make a fine president !

    Love Annie

    Report this

    By shane, March 2 at 11:31 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Wow. No one should vote for Obama because he is nice and because he knows alot, those are terrible reasons. Please do some research about all the candidates and their political policies before you even think about voting.

    Report this

    By LExi, February 5 at 2:31 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    I totally agree with u but i think Barack Obama is this person he has great characteristics and hes nice. he also knows alot so i would vote for him.

    Report this

    By John Doraemi, January 17, 2007 at 7:03 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    The guy’s another opportunist/warmonger.  He is fine with war on Iran/and or Syria. 

    I find these politicians contemptible, fascistic, and technically war criminals.

    Obama is clearly in favor of war on Iran:

    “Recently, the Democratic Party’s rising “progressive” star Barack Obama said he would favor “surgical” missile strikes against Iran.

    As Obama told the Chicago Tribune on September 26, 2004, “[T]he big question is going to be, if Iran is resistant to these pressures [to stop its nuclear program], including economic sanctions, which I hope will be imposed if they do not cooperate, at what point ... if any, are we going to take military action?”

    He added, “[L]aunching some missile strikes into Iran is not the optimal position for us to be in” given the ongoing war in Iraq. “On the other hand, having a radical Muslim theocracy in possession of nuclear weapons is worse.” Obama went on to argue that military strikes on Pakistan should not be ruled out if “violent Islamic extremists” were to “take over."”

    http://www.antiwar.com/orig/jfrank.php?articleid=4521

    Obama’s propagandistic take on international affairs, clearly delineating his version of good guys vs. bad guys, and declaring open season on the latter, is a criminal policy of aggression, with very discernible difference from Bush policy today.

    Crimes of the State Blog

    Report this

    By kath cantarella, January 17, 2007 at 1:50 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    What are his policies? Forget empty rhetoric, charisma and flair, style and pretty faces, and all such things that usually signify narcissism. Does he have the chops, the time on the ground down in the dirt and mud? Is he stating firm positions on the important issues or is he skating around them, trying to get elected by a kind of noisy gestalt silence, giving you nothing to vote against instead of something to vote for? What is his position on the war in Iraq? On Iran? Russia? Foreign policy in general? Global warming? Separation of Church and State? On the Church exerting undue influence over a free people through social services and huge amounts of money thrown in strategic directions? On cultural relativism allowing abuses of the basic rights of women and children? Tax-breaks for the rich? Raising the minimum wage? Privatisation? Especially privatisation of water? Multi-nationals? The military-industrial complex? What does he think of Imperial University’s (UK) idea of ethical pharmaceuticals? What does he think of the kind of civic education that Richard Dreyfuss was talking about recently? Who’s the power behind his campaign, who’s backing him, what do they want from him, and how obligated will he feel to them?
    Please forgive me for meddling, but I have a stake in who you elect in 2008.

    Report this

    By Rowdy!, January 17, 2007 at 1:24 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Well said WCG…
    I don’t necessarily agree with EVERYTHING he says, but what I like is that he thinks!  Remember having a leader who thought before he spoke?

    I don’t know why folks will always say, “He/She doesn’t have enough experience.” How the heck does one get experience to run a country?!  We don’t need experience in government, that’s what got us into the mess we’re in now (Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, etc.).  What we need is an intelligent person with some foresight and the ability to gather other intelligent people (not ‘yes men’)around him or her and build a consensus about important issues.  This person needs to be able to articulate the problems this nation faces and explain them, and any necessary sacrifices to the public in a clear and honest way, not lie at every turn just to win votes.

    The only ‘bad’ thing about this whole matter is Mr. Obama and the rest of Congress should be focusing on the problems at-hand and leave 2008 until 2008.

    My wish:  Presidential elections only lasted 6 months. Period.  The campaign can only be from May 1 through November 1, that’s it… no more.  No announcements for ANY elected office can be made prior to March 1 of the election year.  All campaign propaganda MUST be postmarked no earlier than May 1 and no later than November 1 or they get a big fat fine!  No more commercials on TV, all bill boards MUST be brought down by November 1, or that big fat fine applies again.

    Hey, I can dream, can’t I?

    Report this

    By WCG, January 17, 2007 at 7:44 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Obama sounds good, and I think he’s got the best chance of winning the general election (maybe not the primary). We’ll just have to see. I’m certainly not going to judge him on just one issue - ANY issue. And I don’t expect to agree with any politician - any person - about everything. But so far, he’s saying the right things and saying them well. He will take a lot of crap from extremists of all types, since some people would rather hate than think. And there are a lot of tripwires and landmines on the campaign trail. Here’s hoping he gets through them unscathed.

    Report this

    By Dan Campbell, January 17, 2007 at 7:02 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Aw, here we are; it’s politics again! Obama has more or less just thrown his hat in the ring and I already hear the objections (I don’t want to think it is racial but am not naive enough to think that has no part to play in this.). He may or may not be a good candidate. Our prejudices and misjudgement is what allowed Bush to be elected not just once but twice! I don’t think we want to repeat that mistake again (I don’t think we can survive it as a nation). I can understand people’s cynicism but that won’t change anything by it’s self. Remember this is a time for candidates and the more there are the better. (Acutally I wish there were more parties to choose from.) If Obama wishes to be President and is capable and motivated to represent ALL the people with honor and dignity; I wouldn’t care if he was a little green man from Mars! (As long as his last name isn’t Bush!!!)

    Report this

    By Joe R., January 16, 2007 at 10:16 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    I like Obama, but America is in real trouble. We need someone with real experience in running the government.  America needs someone who has a great deal of skill at diplomacy.  Someone who has a great deal of foresight.  America needs someone with common sense. 

    We have someone in the White House now who has no real skill for the job and look what happened.

    The media is picking Obama, not the Democrats.  Probably because he would lose to the Republicans.  They picked Kerry too.  The only guy who could possibly lose to George W.  Please not this time.

    Report this

    By Christopher Robin, January 16, 2007 at 9:14 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Oh how badly I wish to have someone to believe in.
    But, as disappointed and jaded as I become, I will always support the most progressive man/woman out there.

    I won’t support for trail breaking reasons alone any candidate. These are not the autopilot years any longer…

    Barack Obama does process a thoughtful demeanor and dignity that implies he’s up to the job.

    I hope this next election season the Democratic party suffers from a abundance of excellent choices....and that the people of each state form their own opinions and are not be buffaloed by the media group think. Or who’s in the lead at a given point.

    Let’s get our moneys worth out of these coming primaries. Let it be a battle of ideas not just personalities.

    And who knows, maybe then I’ll believe again?

    Report this

    By DennisD, January 16, 2007 at 7:15 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    More “shinning city on a hill”, “thousand points of light” , “I feel your pain” and “I’m a uniter not a divider” BS. If he explains what and how he intends to change things and if it makes sense, maybe I’ll listen. Otherwise - the rhetoric junk yard is already filled to capacity.

    Report this

    By sns, January 16, 2007 at 7:07 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    WARNING: EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CANDIDATE.

    (i could elaborate, but so could Obama—he will talk with people around the country and say nothing of merit or truth; he is already bought and paid for and an extremely dangerous politician irrespective of skin color and pseudo-allegiances.)

    Report this

    By keith, January 16, 2007 at 6:59 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    hi marg, im from vancouver too.  grin

    Report this

    By yours truly, January 16, 2007 at 6:32 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    First and foremost anyone who seeks to be our next president (whatever his or her celebrity, ambition and biography) has to be in favor of TROOPS OUT NOW, being that all of our lives (not to mention liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness) depend upon our ending the Iraq war & STAT.

    Report this

    By Dublin Joe, January 16, 2007 at 3:22 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    The specifics will come.

    The name calling will be exposed as fear and bigotry.

    What Senator Obama represents now is more hope and clarity than candidates from either party since JFK.

    As long as he surrounds himself with those who believe in his vision for America (which, to Hillary’s credit, she has done) and not just Democratic party mercenaries, he will connect with the American people - and win.

    America can’t afford for him not to.

    Report this

    By click212, January 16, 2007 at 2:34 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    I have yet to hear him put into words what his platform, stratedgy or programs he has on health care, Iraq, medicare drugs plans etc. I hope he’s not just another pretty face, saying sweet things that we want to hear. Enough with the uniters and more of the thinkers and doers.

    Report this

    By Quy Tran, January 16, 2007 at 1:33 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    “Why I want to be president ?” Very easy to answer. But if asked “why I wanted to be a real good man ?” Just very few can respond honestly.

    Dear Mr. Obama, you ought to be a real good man first, then from there you’ll try to move up. Just look at youself through a mirror before deciding. Stop making more drama because we have enough of that damned thing.

    Report this

    By lg, January 16, 2007 at 1:00 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    NY Times ignores the fact that Kucinich is running as a democrat.  Just like old times, the media is going to run this thing the way the media wants it to be run.

    Report this

    By HeadlessHessian, January 16, 2007 at 12:54 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    I hope he runs.  His comments were correct.  Washington is full of small politics.  We also have no leaders, just corporate puppets!
    Are we ready?  I hope so, cause another few years of this republican catastrophe will ruin this country for good.  The man is articulate, sharp, demonstrates that he thinks before he acts.
    The bulk of the south will never vote for this man for obvious reasons.  Hell I’m already getting emails from ‘so called friends’ capitalizing on Obamas middle name.  Here is what he said “...to worry about a possible President having been brought up by an atheist and two radical Muslims?”
    I mean...how stupid can these people be?  I can’t stand the incredibly prejudicial, arrogant, and outright dumb remarks.  Its a sample of what these right wing fruit cakes have injected into our society. 

    Headless

    Report this

    By rabbit, January 16, 2007 at 12:45 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    He has also said that we should be fighting Iran.
    Be careful what you wish for.
    I assume he is AIPAC bought and paid for.
    Rabbit

    Report this

    By Robert B. Livingston, January 16, 2007 at 12:43 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    “Fool’s gold.”

    Report this

    By D.S. Ellis, January 16, 2007 at 12:40 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    My primary concern with Mr. Obama is that, like many modern politicians (especially GWB), he is making lots of flowery rhetorical soundbites but they contain no substance.  He presents his ideal notion of the USA but provides no details about how to get there.  I’d like to hear some specifics, please, Sir.

    Report this

    By Margaret Currey, January 16, 2007 at 12:40 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Why not have a president like Obama who is smart, honest(at least more honest than Bush) and has a different look at the world, his father was from Africa and his mother from Kansas, I would think that he knows more about other countries than Bush and Company, after all Bush is only interested in countries that have oil, and Chaney (the man who tells Bushie Boy what to do) is all for war I say the whole gang ought to be impeached, I have never seen so much corruption in government since Nixon.

    Margaret from Vancouver Washington

    Report this

    By Dieboldcracy, January 16, 2007 at 12:21 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    He’s the real life David Palmer.  It’s too bad Hillary is tied in with the Bilderberg Group.  He could have been a fine president

    Report this

    By mite, January 16, 2007 at 12:21 pm #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Well that is nice of him. Obama is my senator and failed to respond to numerous e-mails and faxes I sent to him. Do the people of this republic really think this man will defend us against the tyrannts that control this country. Ask yourself do any of our leaders follow their ‘Oath of Office’ or do they follow the money.

    Those in power behind the scenes dress up “their”
    candidates for office, help them get elected, and then control them while in office. Supposely giving us a choice. Ha!Ha! If you really think you have a say in your elected officials your still dreaming folks.

    http://www.gemworld.com

    http://www.infowars.com

    Before the next election of any elected officials, local, state, or federal, I suggest you read history and see just how good these two political party’s have served the people.

    Review the laws passed by these party’s since President Wilson. See how our country is owned by the Bankers and Corporations. Not by US!

    Review the ‘Communist Manefesto’, review history, it takes only a weekend or so, and see if the people own their land, have a voice about their children, church, education, government, etc.

    Oh yea read some documents too:

    Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and ‘Ten Commandments’ and ask yourself “Am I A Free Individual”, or property of the ‘STATE’?

    Report this

    By KatieL, January 16, 2007 at 11:31 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Obama has it right. We are aching to get to a new place in polotics- a place which focuses on things that really make a difference, things that impact us on a greater scale than war and bitter scandals.  He can help us realize the Millennium Development Goals we already agreed on.  Afterall, ending world hunger costs a mere $19 billion according to The Borgen Project.

    Report this

    By Joel Wheeler, January 16, 2007 at 11:30 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    What is it with this story? Here and on Digg, the idiots who come up with the titles for these ought to be shot. He hasn’t said “I am running”, he said “I am forming a committee to look into the possibility of me running.” These sensational headlines need to stop. I’m just as excited as everyone else that he’s thinking about it, but lets put the story out correctly.

    Report this

    By atheist mom, January 16, 2007 at 11:25 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Did Obama support that? I’ve been wondering whether he’s too good to be true. In what way did he “cheer” the attack(s)?

    Report this

    By RAE, January 16, 2007 at 11:21 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    I have to question the wisdom of anyone who would actually WANT to follow GWB into the White House.

    What sane person would actually WANT to spend the next 8 years of his/her life CLEANING UP and REPAIRING the colossal, messy political and financial wreckage the Bush administration will inevitably leave behind?

    But on second thought, perhaps the combination of youthful, but inexperienced optimism with wide-eyed intelligence that Obama possesses is just what this country needs. Poor fellow… he might just become President… but I’ll bet he’ll wish he hadn’t before his term(s) are finished!

    Report this

    By Don Knutsen, January 16, 2007 at 10:59 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Are we ready yet ? Are those from the Red States desperate enough finally to do something they never wouldv’e a few years ago ? Here we have an articulate, intellegent man who could bring a breath of fresh air to our broken down system back in D.C. Its so true , our system is so corrupted it failes to work for all but the few wealthy and powerfull....It virtually ignores the middle class altogether and the poor, well, where does that leave them ? Bush Sr. ignored those same peopple tah make up the heart of our country, but his son has taken it to dizzing heigths by their outright criminal behavior these past 6 years. I hope Obama has a chance. I hope there’s enough of us that are sick of the status quo tah bush & Co. have shown us to be so destructive to us all.

    Report this

    By Big Al, January 16, 2007 at 10:57 am #
    (Unregistered commenter)

    Obama cheered Israel’s recent vicious assault against Lebanon.
    So you see, he’s an asshole, just like Hillary.

    Report this

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