Barack Obama's Lost Years

The senator's tenure as a state legislator reveals him to be an old-fashioned, big government, race-conscious liberal.

by Stanley Kurtz | Weekly Standard | 08/11/2008, Volume 013, Issue 45

As details of Obama's early political career emerge into the light, his associations with such radical figures as Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Father Michael Pfleger, Reverend James Meeks, Bill Ayers, and Bernardine Dohrn look less like peculiar instances of personal misjudgment and more like intentional political partnerships. At his core, in other words, the politician chronicled here is profoundly race-conscious, exceedingly liberal, free-spending even in the face of looming state budget deficits, and partisan. Elected president, this man would presumably shift the country sharply to the left on all the key issues of the day-culture-war issues included. It's no wonder Obama has passed over his Springfield years in relative silence.

Obama opposes reparations for slavery

By CHRISTOPHER WILLS, Associated Press Writer |Aug 2, 3:01 PM ET

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama opposes offering reparations to the descendants of slaves, putting him at odds with some black groups and leaders.

The man with a serious chance to become the nation's first black president argues that government should instead combat the legacy of slavery by improving schools, health care and the economy for all.

Obama agrees on three debates with McCain

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Published: August 3, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) — Backing away from Senator John McCain’s challenge for several Lincoln-Douglas-style debates, Senator Barack Obama agreed Saturday to the three standard meetings proposed by the Commission on Presidential Debates.

In a letter to the commission, the Obama campaign manager, David Plouffe, said the short period between the Republican convention that ends Sept. 4 and the first proposed debate made it likely that the commission-sponsored debates would be the only ones.

“We’ve committed to the three debates on the table,” said Jen Psaki, a campaign spokeswoman for Mr. Obama. “It’s likely they will be the three appearances by the candidates this fall.”

Asked if that meant Mr. Obama rejected more debates, Ms. Psaki said, “We’re not saying that.”

new McCain ad

he's waffling, straddling, flip-flopping on drilling

Come on Obama...you've thrown all the tire gauges under the bus already?

Obama shifts, says he may back offshore drilling

By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer Fri Aug 1, 7:40 PM ET

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Friday he would be willing to support limited additional offshore oil drilling if that's what it takes to enact a comprehensive policy to foster fuel-efficient autos and develop alternate energy sources.

Shifting from his previous opposition to expanded offshore drilling, the Illinois senator told a Florida newspaper he could get behind a compromise with Republicans and oil companies to prevent gridlock over energy.

read the whole thing

what are they afraid of? Free Speech? can you spell D-R-I-L-L-I-N-G ?

Pelosi turns off lights, microphones and cameras but GOP keeps talking -- Politico

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House and turned off the light and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m. and are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess.

At one point, the lights went off in the House and the microphones were turned off in the chamber, meaning Republicans were talking in the dark. But as Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz..) was speaking, the lights went back on, and the microphones have been turned on as well.

But C-SPAN has stopped broadcasting the House floor, meaning no one is witnessing this except the assembled Republicans, their aides, and one Democrat, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), who has now left.

the Messiah gets heckled in Florida

Michelle says women need an 'advocate' in the White House

"And then we have to get them to vote. That's what we have to do, because if there's one thing that I've seen out there as I've traveled around the country over this last year is that women need an advocate in the White House now more than ever before, more than ever before."

18-year-old woman: Obama terrifies me

Democrats prove they have no energy policy. Tire gauges anyone?

Pelosi blocks offshore drilling vote

by Zachary Coile, Chronicle Washington Bureau | Friday, August 1, 2008

For weeks, pressure has been mounting in Congress to approve more domestic oil drilling, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has held the line, using her power to block a vote on offshore drilling.

. . . Even some Democrats are getting antsy, fearing the party's stance could hurt them in the fall elections. But Pelosi, who has opposed offshore drilling throughout her two decades in Congress, insists opening new areas to drilling won't lower gas prices in the short term. She believes a vote would only help the GOP blame Democrats for high gas prices.

"I will not ... give the administration an excuse for its failure," Pelosi said at an end-of-session roundtable interview Thursday.