Barack Obama is the BRAVEST Human Being to Run For President in 40 Years

Hillary Clinton's Talking Point (I refuse to call it a "gaffe") has brought to the surface an issue that has been hiding under the consciuosness in this campaign since it was announced last year that he was receiving Secret Service protection.

Barack Obama is the first African American candidate for the presidency with a real chance of winning, and that makes him the target of loonies and assorted white supremecist assholes from one end of this country to the other.

Nobody else on either side was under as much direct threat of political assassination in this cycle. Certainly John McCain isn't. Everybody knows that Hillary Clinton has had the best Secret Service protection available for the past sixteen years. But Barack Obama's situation is different.

I was a very young child in the sixties and I remember the poltical assassinations of '68 vividly. I remember the tears my mother shed when Bobby was killed and how she had known , "they'd kill him just like they killed his brother."

And Barack Obama has faced this threat with a grace, stature, and downright courage that is inspirational. Remember the bulge in the Chimp's jacket at the debate that everybody thought was a wire to transmit answers to him? Remember how his handlers claimed it was body armor? The chimp wears body armor because he's terrified somebody will go after him.

You know what? Nobody who has seen any picture of Barack Obama would think he wears body armor.

Watch him work a crowd, he's not letting concern over potential wackos stop him from reaching out to those who he wants to support him.

I remember listening to Barack Obama's great victory speech in Iowa, and being so proud that he had achieved that victory. Then I read a blog entry by a black man the next day about what African Americans experienced during that speech, and I nearly threw up at how he called friends and they were all worried because the arena he was speaking in was so open and there were so many people.

Nobody he spoke to that night really could sit back and enjoy that speech. Thoughts of Malcolm, of Medgar, and of Martin run too deep in that community.

And after reading that, the horror of being a child on the morning of June 6, 1968 came back to me, and the fear has been in my heart ever since.

Some will give Hillary Clinton a pass over her Talking Point from yesterday. For my part, I cannot and will not, nor can I ever forgive her. A fear I had suppressed for months now is back in the forefront of my mind, and it won't go away any time soon.

Lucky for me, Barack Obama is brave enough not to let that fear stop him in his quest to change the country, and thus the world. For that, he has my eternal admiration and gratitude.

...will translate to even better protection for Senator Obama and to fans keeping a better eye out for the whackos lurking in the crowds.
on edit: KnR of course.

May God Bless Barack Obama and his beloved family. :grouphug: :patriot:

And I met one woman in North Carolina who said she was too afraid to vote for him for fear he'd get assassinated.

there was a purpose in her words. It was to remind us that the danger is there and to make us afraid to support him.

Barack is aware of the danger, and I have seen secret service (or other security) walking through the crowds, their eyes watching the movements of the crowd. I'm not able to go to any of his events now, but my kids went to one of his speeches last month. They went through a metal detector and had to empty their pockets and my daughters purse. My goodness, I hope she had cleaned out her purse before she went, she stuffs it with every receipt, napkin, condiment, etc that she picks up along the way. The security may have got a shock or a laugh when they went though those contents. ;)

A lot of us were worried about Sen. Kennedy in 1980... Makes you think and appreciate the relationship between these two men?

That parallel did not hit me until I saw this thread...

After listening to the commencement speech today, I was thinking about their relationship. About what it is that Ted and his family and other liberal lions in the Senate like Durbin see in Obama. I think the truly liberal wing of the Democratic party found their voice, their candidate that could break threw barriers, heal wounds, and put this country back on the right path. Yes it takes a lot of courage to go up against the forces that brought down so many of our courageous liberal leaders.,

despite OUR fears.

...one Afro, and both of them women.

This is a fear that has lived amongst the African American community since the moment Obama became viable. And Hilly's creepy statement gave voice to that fear.

It's that simple.

NGU.

she has done a great service by bringing all the fear and hatred that lies beneath the surface into the light. Very uncomfortable truths have been exposed. At first I am horrified, and then I fear, and then I am really proud of my fellow Americans. I still fear, but what I also see is a thing of beauty. An exceptional time, that I am glad to be a part of.

He scared the pants off the Dem establishment with his wins and left the beltway pundits gobsmacked. "What does Jesse want?" was the catchphrase of the season in newspapers and on television. Plus, he was already a polarizing figure before he ran.

Eddie Murphy used to do a bit about Jackson getting in shape for his Presidency, so he could lowrun and dodge sniper fire while giving speeches.

This White Boy backed JEsse in '88.

:evilgrin:

That was the year you had white liberals PRESUMING to lecture the African American community about the evils of prejudice(most of the white liberals were pretending Jesse was an antisemite that year so they could justify selling out and not supporting him).

..he shouldn't have, he gave the best speeches, and I still have a button from that campaign..

So Barack is the bravest since Ted Kennedy and Jesse Jackson....

to be sure. America is going to come face to face with itself shortly when it fully realizes that this mixed race man TRULY might be its President soon, for real and no fooling. This summer is going to be momentous, a time of redemption or shame. Maybe even both. If Obama dwelled on it much, he'd probably never sleep again.

There was always the possibility with Jackson, but his campaign was never viewed as being viable, unlike Obama's.

Jessie never ran against a Clinton who will DO anything or SAY anything to get what she (They) want.

He had to be assigned Secret Service protection very early, like Obama. Jackson began receiving threats right away. Leonard Pitts, Jr. wrote a column about it very early in the campaign.

I don't like to see anyone threatened, but stop trying to turn your candidate into God. This is foolish.

Brave indeed.

thrilling to see so many people lining up to vote for Obama. When we caucused many participants had the rules with them, and knew them better than the officials who work the elections. Many were so bursting with pride that one of their own had made it. It never occurred to me that thoughts like that would also be going through their heads. But then I don't walk around thinking about things like that because I'm a white woman. Sure guys run ahead to open doors and things like that (I live in Texas), but I don't live with the fear that someone could simply decide to kill me because of my race. I'm not trying to say racism is worse than sexism in this country, both are evil, but can you imagine being in Michelle Obama's shoes for one day? She is extremely strong to support Barack's run knowing that even sane (well, maybe that's questionable) people like Hillary will make such statements without thinking of the repurcussions (and that's painting the situation in it's most attractive light). I have so much admiration for the Obamas.

He gambled everything and took on the machine and never flinched.


Can you imagine if had decided early on to simply make a few speeches and settle for VP?

...as soon as Obama declared, he started receiving threats (which is part of why people are so on edge about words like "assassination" being tossed around by his opponent in this race regarding why she stays in)

He so much received threats that another senator (Durbin, I think but not sure) asked for Secret Service security for him as he travelled around the country. And so he's had that ever since.

Sad, but true, I guess. That if a black man DARES to say he's running for President in the US, he immediately receives death and other threats.

It's disgusting to me, really that this happened to him. But I'm glad he has that protection and - yep, I worry about him, too.

The thing is, we in the U.S. have had SO many of our luminaries taken from us in this fashion over the past several decades, then when we have one like Obama to look up to again - we are on edge - particularly knowing he's received threats and particularly given the ruthlessness of his opponents (Hillary, AND Rove, Scaife, GOP, et al) - when that GODDAMNED word is flung around again.

It hits a nerve. And there's a history there that causes it to be such a sensitive one.

She had already endured a full decade of the most humiliating and degrading attacks lodged a female public figure in recent history. Attacks on her marriage, her daughter, her thighs, her style, her politics, her work. Attacks that were crude, misogynistic, vulgar, and many of which were just blatant lies.

To have suffered all that and still put herself forward for the campaign is an example of extraordinary grit and backbone.

She persevered to make history. She persevered to blaze the way for new generations of women. A woman president. That's something to be proud of.

She's not my candidate -- no one is.

But by God, she has the strength to be a model for us all. Never.give.up. Never.

Because her desperate greed to win at any cost, her intentional racial divisiveness, ("hard working white Americans")and her now-exposed inner vulture have done her in. Brave? Not in my book.

I don't get that at all.

Hillary is assigned "naked greed" as her motive....why?

her tactics toward that end have been abominable.

So.....

n/t

Polling of states that have already held their primary has revealed that many Hillary voters have buyers remorse. For example, if New York and California held their primaries today, instead of earlier in the process, Obama would have faired much better.

Hillary benefited in many swing states from an early primary calendar and name recognition. She has benefited towards the end of primary due to geographical demographics.

She has been foolish, not brave.

Very well said and I agree completely.

K&R

Is that true? I didn't know that.

Good post.

:rofl:

To the extent that a man's balls are indicative of his courage, he has none.

Fucking coward.

:dem:

:shrug:

He is a Black man in America running for the highest office in the land. He is wearing a target on his back every day because he is willing to speak up and stand out! As did Medgar Evers, Martin Luther King, Jr. Malcolm X and many others assassinated for asking for justice... or for just being Black. I guess you don't read or understand history. As with so many older Americans I remember, and every night I pray for the families who have lost loved ones to this and especially for the Obama family and their safety.

By having B*lls as big as Hellary!

of his country. No badge required. And what highlights this even more Colin Powell who saw battle in vietnam wasn't willing to run for these reasons.

Sen. Obama.

But bravest human being to run for President in 40 years? Maybe. I think you may be a bit over the top here.

the way he stokes the fires of racism. That piece of shit weasel needs to be dealt with harshly. I worry for Barack with those white supremacist assholes on the loose that you so rightly mention.

He paved the way for this.

:patriot:

Could you explain, what is a "CHIMP" ? FRom your paragraph below?




And Barack Obama has faced this threat with a grace, stature, and downright courage that is inspirational. Remember the bulge in the Chimp's jacket at the debate that everybody thought was a wire to transmit answers to him? Remember how his handlers claimed it was body armor? The chimp wears body armor because he's terrified somebody will go after him.

chimpy, commander in chimp...

....none of these killings were propagated by lone gunmen loonies, they were all calculated political hits by a team of assassins with patsies that took the fall. It can happen again anytime the power elite and the secret government wishes it to. All three candidates are at risk and all are being protected

Over a year ago on a cold January morning I, along with 15,000 of Senator Obama's closest friends, froze in Springfield, IL while he stood on the same slab of granite where Abraham Lincoln began his quest for the Presidency. It was an amazing and ever-remembered event. I was living history.

While others were focused upon photographing our junior Senator, I had spotted and began photographing the military snipers on the rooftops of the tall surrounding buildings. The unmentionable fear was with me then and has been with me ever since then.

Yes, I believe you have correctly labeled this situation. Senator Clinton made no gaffe. It was clearly a talking point. One she had used before and received a pass on. Her handlers had field tested this line, found it scored points with her diminishing demographic groups, and deliberately let it loose at least three recorded times.

Just like the Bosnia fabrications which were first used to justify the horrible 3 AM TV spot, then exaggerated further each time, until she was finally called for them. Even then it took several days for her to develop her almost-but-not-quite apology.

Senator Clinton's supporters would have us believe this small "mistake" was the cause of being over-tired. No, not on three or four separate occasions.

Senator Clinton's paid bloggers, silent yesterday, are now pushing the same talking points on all blogs, claiming this whole mess is somehow the fault of Senator Obama. Just not true.

One does not mention the unmentionable as an excuse to stay in the race. Never. Period.

Thank you for saying it so well.

The bravest people to run for president are those that actually stood up and opposed the Bush administration in Congress when it counted, whether or not their own party joined them.

It takes real courage to actually walk your talk, to stand on principle, to represent the people when even your own party won't stand with you.

Obama didn't do that. He runs for president on rhetoric and "inspiration."

Not on courage.

Sometimes people mention Barack's security situation as IF HE NEVER THOUGHT OF IT.

Empathy deficit people...empathy deficit...

I dunno if this is the blog post you referred to, but based on your description and your reaction, I'd bet it was. If not, then I hope this one will serve to illustrate what you were talking about in the OP, cause it's really, really good.

http://www.groupnewsblog.net/2008/01/pride-and-palpitations.html

It's by LowerManhattanite over at the Group News Blog (the fine folks who have carried on Steve Gilliard's tradition of excellence.)

LM also is a frequent DU'er, and is, IMHO, one of the best writers out there in blogland. His post following the Iowa results was one of the most powerful, memorable pieces I've read this entire campaign season. Give it a read.

Seriously. Go now.

http://www.groupnewsblog.net/2008/01/pride-and-palpitations.html

And then, once you've read that post from January, check out the followup with his take on Clinton's "gaffe".

http://www.groupnewsblog.net/2008/05/palpitations-and-no-pride-to-speak-of.html

I tried to find that blog entry, but had lost the link.

And now, to read his take on Clinton's statements, I'm glad I wrote my pathetic take on Obama above just so that you could link to his words.

How often does one say that about a politician?

This is why it was so strange to hear people try to smear him as "effete;" Barack Obama has enormous courage, as does his wife. May they be kept safe from the hate-crazed mouth breathers who would see them come to harm!

Barack Obama is willing to give his life for the people of the United States. He proves that every day he continues his bid for the Presidency.

She was literally scared that a loony will take him out. I pointed out that if that happened, America would riot. (She remained convinced that Americans, including blacks, were "sheeple" who wouldn't care if their own kids were killed in Iraq, and they are.)

I also pointed out that this was another version of the fear by which Bush and Company have ruled our nation for the last two terms. Obama doesn't want to surrender to fear; why should we?

That finally got her hoping that, in the inevitable debates, Obama would say things that would cause McCain to blow his cool and scream the "N" word on television, thus finally sinking the Republicans this term. I succeeded in cheering her up a bit.

A riot would cause many many problems for all of us, Black, White, and other. I (White, born in the 40s) have been worried about Mr. Obama for some time. If he were murdered, rioting would, of course come to mind. I don't want to do that, but I would want to do something. My idea is boycotts. Really big boycotts. A boycott made a difference once before, right? We should be thinking about what companies to boycott. Some media outlets come to mind. Anything owned by a particular media baron comes to mind. Some oil companies? If not corporate entities, then what? There should always be a plan even though we do not wish to think about it. The existence of a plan might also be a deterrent. I know this is awkward to do, but I really do think it is important.

who lost two brothers?

and odds are, he would be shamed out of the race by some scandal (either real or made up). If he did present any kind of a threat, the MSM would have sunk his campaign months ago.

True lone nuts can't get close enough to a candidate to do any harm.

Usual disclaimer:
A) I like Clinton even less than I like Obama.
B) Yes, I will vote for the Democratic nominee because s/he has to be marginally better than McCain - though I don't expect much from either of our remaining candidates and I just can't believe this is the best we could do after 8 years of Bush.