MetaFilter posts tagged with barackobama

Obama as Political Animal

Weebot — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:03:39 -0800

Making It, in which a young, black, upstart politician rises through the Chicago political scene by having his opposition stricken from the ballot, turning against his endorser, and redistricting himself into a fundraising monster. While we're debating the New Yorker's incendiary cover, it would be tragic to ignore what may be one of the most intriguing piece of political reporting this year. In the article, Ryan Lizza chronicles Barack Obama's rise in Chicago politics, from his campaign for the State Senate (where he is first endorsed by incumbent Alice Palmer while she tries to run for the House, who later tries to oust him from the primary once her congressional campaign sours), his time in the notoriously corrupt state capital, to his failed campaign against Bobby Rush for the Illinois' 1st Congressional district. It's a fascinating read.

'The Politics of Fear'

ericb — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:46:46 -0800

"The New Yorker says it's satire. It certainly will be candy for cable news." The cover illustration (by Barry Blitt) of the magazine's July 21^st. issue depicts Barack Obama in tribal African dress, fist-bumping his wife "in full revolutionary garb, an enormous afro making her look like a millennial Angela Davis, holding an automatic weapon and wearing military pants" in the Oval Office. On the wall -- a portrait of Osama bin Laden; in the fireplace a burning American flag. ABC News | Political Punch:

"Knowing the liberal politics of the magazine, it's without question that the illustration is meant ironically, as a parody of the caricature some conservatives (and some supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.) are painting of the Obamas. But it's still fairly incendiary, at least as these things go. I wonder what the reaction would be were it the Weekly Standard or the National Review putting such an illustration on their covers. Intent factors into these matters, of course, but no Upper East Side liberal -- no matter how superior they feel their intellect is -- should assume that just because they're mocking such ridiculousness, the illustration won't feed into the same beast in emails and other media. It's a recruitment poster for the right-wing."

_____________________

"Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton: 'The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree.'"

Obama supports Blue Dog

joannemerriam — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:51:30 -0800

Obama, telecoms and the Beltway system. Georgia Rep. John Barrow ran ads accusing his party of wanting to "cut and run in Iraq," and was one of the Blue Dogs to send a letter to Pelosi asking to be allowed to vote to give the President warrantless eavesdropping powers and to give lawbreaking telecoms amnesty (previously). Barrow faces a July primary challenge from State Senator Regina Thomas, whose policy positions more closely match Obama's views and the views of the Democratic base in that district. Despite this, Obama has taped a radio ad in support of Barrow.

Eat the taco. A funnel cake won't kill you.

joannemerriam — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 12:22:33 -0800

E. D. Hill has company. Jamison Foser of Media Matters for America summarizes how Obama is treated by the press. (via Jay Lake) MediaMatters has lots of stuff about McCain too.

A moment in history; Obama Wins Presidential Nomination.

Effigy2000 — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:18:49 -0800

It's official. Obama has won the Democratic Party nomination for the US Presidency. In response, McCain has launched a "verbal sortie" against him and the media has already begun disecting Hillary's campaign.

The story of the Democratic primaries so far, boiled down to seven minutes.

goodnewsfortheinsane — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:10:22 -0800

The Democratic Primary Season in 7 Minutes.

No, it's literally raining McCain.

EarBucket — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:57:12 -0800

You've probably seen Hillary4U&Me or Hillary In The House, but you should know that Senator Clinton's supporters don't have a monopoly on awesome/hilarious propaganda. Witness Barack OBollywood and The McCain Girls in "It's Rainin' McCain!"

Plagiarize a Presidential Candidate

anotherpanacea — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:57:53 -0800

Hillary Clinton's senior thesis is available online. (pdf) How the Clintons wrapped up Hillary's thesis Hillary, Soros, Alinsky, and Rush Race between Clinton and Obama surfaces radically different views of politics, citizens’ roles

Genocide Chick or Genocide Chic?

anotherpanacea — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 09:52:40 -0800

Harvard Professor Samantha Power's book A Problem from Hell is on syllabi across the country, and is the bible of humanitarian hawks who decry our failure to intervene in the Rwandan or Sudanese genocides. As one of Barack Obama's foreign policy advisors, she's getting a lot of press for her positions: pro-intervention, obviously, critical of Israel, pro-UN, pro-internationalism, and, perhaps unsurprisingly given her husband's role in ignoring the Rwandan genocide, anti-Clinton.

I Dream of Hillary... I Dream of Barack

Fuzzy Monster — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 08:26:12 -0800

I Dream of Hillary... I Dream of Barack. The world's first metaphysical poll on the Democratic contenders. Complied by Sheila Heti.