I hope that Obama proves them wrong for a number of reasons: First, He has the ability to bring people together across social-economics, race, gender and age. I believe that our society is truly turning into a multi-ethinical society-just look at the young people today. They date and marry across ethnic lines more today than any other time and we as older American need to look this situation more critically. Obama is a step in the right direction. As any other president, he will surround himself in with experts in the field as well Clinton will too. Where is all of Clinton’s experience - yes, she is a senior Senator but she has never been president or vice president of these United States or held a cabinet level position. She lived in the White House - she did not run the country. She got her information for President Clinton who we know only tell half-truths. As we all know, effective change comes from the bottom up - with the people. Top down change without involving people is disasterous. There have been Presidents of the United States with much less experience thant Obama. They have owned stores, newspaper editiors, and farmers - were they qualified or experienced to run the country? Experience should not be the totality of what a president needs to have to effective and efficiently run this country or bring to the office. Leaders lead people, not just policies. We have some internal problems that need great attention and if we can not organize grassrootly - we will have more to worry about then terriorist, because there will be anacrchy in our metropolian cities. Obama is that man. Second, as far as Reverend Wright’s statement it certainly was taken out of context, we don’t know what came before or after that statement. I believe, this was the media attempt to smear Obama, because if it was not by now we would have heard the the entire sermon. I’m sure most of do not agree with everything our pastor, priest, rabbi speaks out of his/her mouth or any one else for that matter. What we do have to agree withis the Word of God - if he/she misrepresents the Word - ther is a problem. Third, most people are not acutely aware of the subtleness of racism. Yes, our country has become a country with the most rude people in service positions; but racism still exist and can not be excused for rudeness unless you have lived racism - ancestrally and generationally. Four, someone made the comment about Obama being African American when is mother is white. There are millions of people in his position who grew up raised by whites and ther reality there Black by virtue of their skin color. It does not matter what they call themselves - it is what society see them as. What would you call him if you saw him in your office - descriptively. Last, do not blame the victim for their plight in life. American has created a sub-standard school system for the poor and working poor and expect for the children to excell like other children with more resources. All the elite do is talk about is their high taxes how to get around the tax code. If they truly cared about this country education system they stop these bandage fix. No child left behind is a joke. How can you implement a program without the proper resources? Then create it without fixing the age-old problem. People wake up. If we don’t address our cities and education-American is going to becoming a impoverished country.

Interesting, I have been examining my decision to support Hillary, knowing that she has experience and, I don’t care what people say, its important. But I still had that little voice in my head - Am I somehow being racist not supporting Obama? But then I saw the comment about Colin Powell and realized I would vote for him in an instant (again based on experience), so maybe, just maybe people are actually moving past race and gender and starting to look at the qualifications. Plus, I’m just not sure I buy the arguement that race is the only reason people are voting the way they are. Don’t the states talked about in the article have wildly different demographics?

Well it sure seems that most of the comments indicated problems with gender and race bias, —and how how subtle. Well I won’t judge. After all the bones of this ole crone sure don’t want a practicin’ opera singer livin’ next door to her. Oh the bones would moan! However, I do want bloated lungs to have all the rights and opportunities I have. Just on another block please. And isn’t this what it should be all about? Birds of the same feathers thing? But equal food, shelter, medical, and education for all of us differing birds? Not covertly distributed and ‘districted’ to the ‘corporate neighborhoods of all the towns and cities? As long as the corporations and politico and pseudo religionists can keep the divisions dividin’ in on themselves with concepts like race, gender, pro, anti, ‘illegals’, etc. —they keep the temporairly franchised from seein’ what’s really goin’ on and how the disease creeps up from the bottom takin’ layer by layer of those who would never look down for fear of fallin’ and when the 20 percentile on down finally feels loose footed, —they look down and see the foundation is gone. Whoops, no floor! Who’da thunk? And when we really think about it, it’s just a matter of physics I suppose, in relation to good masonry. Now who was hissin’? And about whom? Was it Hillary or Michelle or Barark, or Ole John? And was there, in the conversation, anything about Issues and Solutions? Has reason entered the conversation for logic to latch onto? Or is this politically incorrect, —especially for women? I think Leslie’s essay simply and intelligently raises the question of degrees of bias on all sides, and how easy it is to overlook our own. Ya know the Chinese look at the Moon and see a Lady standin’ by a tree and a Rabbit at her foot. Hard as I try I can’t find the tree, the lady, or the damn rabbit! Perception is a trickster monkey, methinks.

A “WIN” BY FORFEIT The Obama campaign is constantly instructing Hillary to leave the race. This is because he can only grab the nomination if she forfeits. Otherwise it’s off to the convention floor where delegates will battle it out and decide like olden days. The longer this race goes on the better. Because each day we learn new things about the candidate who will become president. One thing is certain, if Obama does eventually become the Democratic nominee he’ll have a much tougher row to hoe in a general election because McCain won’t forfeit so he can become president.

If Kerry’s campaign was easily sunk by the Swiftboaters, Barak is the captain of the Titanic steaming full speed ahead for the iceberg, and the Democrat’s hopes will go down as fast surely as that “unsinkable” behemoth.

Well as a Black American, I can understand the many point of views. Although I want Obama to win the election, I have persistent doubts because of remaining racism. I believe that even if he won the election, he has a high risk of being attacked, as has occured with other black leaders(Martin Luther KIng)and supporters. But I do believe the because we are so caught up in the racism aspect that we are forgetting that perhaps Obama’s charm, skill and experience will surpass ignorant views.

Well as a Black American, I can understand the many point of views. Although I want Obama to win the election, I have persistent doubts because of remaining racism. I believe that even if he won the election, he has a high risk of being attacked, as has occured with other black leaders(Martin Luther KIng)and supporters. But I do believe the because we are so caught up in the racism aspect that we are forgetting that perhaps Obama’s charm, skill and experience will surpass ignorant views.

Well as a Black American, I can understand the many point of views. Although I want Obama to win the election, I have persistent doubts because of remaining racism. I believe that even if he won the election, he has a high risk of being attacked, as has occured with other black leaders(Martin Luther KIng)and supporters. But I do believe the because we are so caught up in the racism aspect that we are forgetting that perhaps Obama’s charm, skill and experience will surpass ignorant views.

Well as a Black American, I can understand the many point of views. Although I want Obama to win the election, I have persistent doubts because of remaining racism. I believe that even if he won the election, he has a high risk of being attacked, as has occured with other black leaders(Martin Luther KIng)and supporters. But I do believe the because we are so caught up in the racism aspect that we are forgetting that perhaps Obama’s charm, skill and experience will surpass ignorant views.

Dear Mrs. Clinton: I thank you for your letter about supporting Obama. I guess, in the end, that’s what makes a politician. However, I don’t believe in supporting someone who has not convinced me that they are true Americans. I find the Obama’s offensive and liars. I note one story at the beginning of Obama’s book. On the face of it it seems benign; however, it is so simplistic and easy to see the lie only if you are willing to see the lie in the statement rather than be carried away by the emotion of the act (which I believe is not true like so many other stories he’s told). He talks about “white” people coming with their dogs to poop in his neighborhood. I know you have a dog, so you know dogs can’t and won’t wait. They do what they have to do, when they want too. Secondly, “white” people aren’t about to travel how many blocks to go into a “black” neighborhood? So while he clearly lied on this point, it showed that he is all about race and has utter and complete contempt for this nation and more than half of its people. I live in NY, where Gov. Patterson became our governor. I don’t think of him as black, I think of him as my governor. Why? because he has never made his life about being black or being disabled. He doesn’t have unresolved issues of how life has dealt him a raw deal. He actually seems like a guy who can still enjoy life. Unlike Obama, who walks with his hands in his pockets and anger on his shoulders. I can’t support a man, who sat in a pew for 20 years and says he knew nothing of Rev. Wright’s politics. By his own admission black churches are about politics. I guess he didn’t know Farrahkhan’s politics either. He says he’s not about race, why didn’t he refer to his “white grandmother” as my maternal grandmother? Because he’s about race. When I look at Obama, I see the underbelly of animus. You do what you have to do, but I will cast my vote for McCain. I am not alone. I have been talking with friends and we are clear on this. We will not give Howard Dean and his minions a democratic victory. You would have won had Howard and Obama not taken your delegates away. Why did they is the question? I put it to you this way: Half of the primaries were over when the big Obama blunders occurred. I venture to say that that part of America that voted for him would have loved to take their votes back. Asking women who supported you to get on the Obama band wagon is like telling an abused woman to go back to her abuser. I will never behave like an abused woman and support the men that abuse me. This is what Howard Dean did to you behind the scenes. Hurting you and your chances was a blow to all women. We get it now, woman are handmaidens at the table of men. Well, we have one thing they want now more than sex. They want our vote and they will not get it. I believe with all my heart that if you were a man, you would have garnered more respect and support. If Obama identified with the white half of himself, people would have seen who and what he was immediately. I don’t believe McCain is the best, nor Obama. However, I would rather go with a known entity than the likes of Obama. I’d rather go with a man who served and suffered for this country than one who has only selfish use for it. Mark my words, Obama will screw up and hand the nomination over, and it will be the last yeehaa moment of Howard Dean’s career. I don’t believe McCain will destroy America. I do believe that Obama will. He is not a uniter, he is a divider. I don’t believe a word he has said regarding Israel. He doesn’t understand Iran. To refer to Iran as a small threat! That was like all Americans discounting the videos of Arabs training in the desert; then taking four of our own planes and plowing them into this country. I imagine Putin who isn’t even the official leader of Russia, wringing his hands waiting to bite into Obama. Does Obama really think he can approach the warlords of Somalia and say, put down your machetes and hug the boys whose arms you lopped off? His approach to diplomacy is juvenile at best. Will he walk into Haiti and say, ‘listen guys enough fighting and they will put their weapons down? Will he walk onto the streets of Bagdad and say, come on fellas, why can’t we all just get along? Warring nations and men know and respect one thing, a power stronger and harder than themselves. Better men and women have tried to deal with murderous leaders of countries from the beginning of time. It is how we arrived to today. And most importantly to me, as a naturalized citizen to this country. I found it disgusting to hear Michele Obama say she’s not proud to be an American until the day her husband decided to be President. If this isn’t the most selfish thing I’ve ever heard. I live in the greatest city in America, in the world NEW YORK. While those towers came down I was very proud to be an American. As those towers burned for 3 MONTHS, I watched the fires and smelled the carcasses of 3,000 souls filter threw my air conditioner. I was proud to be an American. How do you expect me and all those here that day to fall behind a person who with a Princeton education was unable or incapable of articulating her love for this country? Or, a man who cannot salute the flag of this country while men and women risk their lives defending this country out of duty. The Obama’s do not love this country. They are a bitter party of two. Do as you please, but don’t ask me to betray what I stand for or to support a man I believe is more like Hitler than Kennedy. Hitler was charismatic promising his people a new deal. He only garnered a reputation and a place in history for his people which still to this day leaves Germans to feel shame. Kim Jong Ile is a great speaker offering his people a change. Obama is no Kennedy. And simply because some of the Kennedy’s back him is more about not liking you than comparing Obama to JFK or RFK. Let’s go back to basics, I was raised on “show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are.” I’ve seen Obama’s friends (he’s obviously kept them in the background because he doesn’t want all of America to see and remember) Jesse Jackson (HymieTown), Al Sharpton (Twana Brawley) more recently, Sean Bell “We’re going to bring this city down.” Rev. Wright (God Damn America), Farrahkhan (Anti-Semitic/Anti-Catholic) Father Pfleger “Whitie needs to give back its money to the blacks” Shabazz (Anti-Semitic/Anti-Catholic) all except one, men of the cloth who lead with hate rather than love. Martin Luther King would be ashamed to walk with these men. He did not preach a gospel of hate but one of hope and love. These poor excuses for religious men are not prominent now, but Obama will bring them out of the wings. I will not support that. I might add the fact that Obama in asking Caroline to head the “committee” to decide the next VP demonstrates to me that he wants to blame the committee for not picking you, rather than assume the responsibility himself. The “buck” always stops with the President or President Elect. I don’t believe his administration has the vision or the knowledge to bring this country to anything but a bitter end. I don’t understand the political beast, but I respect you must do what you need too. As I and many others will do as they need too. Howard Dean made a terrible mistake and I will not add my vote to support it.