MetaFilter posts tagged with obama

The Palin Mob

4midori — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:28:14 -0800

The Palin Mob "It's no wonder that the slightest incitement from Sarah Palin or John McCain will turn one of their rallies into a lynch mob. Just talk to the folks who attend.

My camera was rolling for literally seconds before people happily said to me, on camera, that Barack Obama is a terrorist. If I hadn’t spent most of my time at the event inside, waiting for the candidates to show up, I could have gotten dozens of these people on tape."

Via Blogger Interrupted

Donna Brazile Is Not Going to the Back of the Bus

kirkaracha — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:56:21 -0800

Donna Brazile Is Not Going to the Back of the Bus. Stirring remarks from an October 4, 2008, New Yorker panel discussion, "If I Were Running This Campaign." Partial transcript:

I'm gonna say it and get it off my chest, because for the next thirty days, I'm gonna be the best Catholic woman ever....As a child who grew up in the segregated Deep South, we've come so far in this country....But I remember when I used to get on the bus: my mother would tell me, "Donna, when you get on the bus, you and your brothers go all the way to the back, and don't look at anybody." We have changed. This is a more tolerant, open, progressive society. And yet, we're having this conversation because [Obama] is biracial. He spent nine months in the womb of a white woman. He was raised...by his white grandparents...He got out of school and went to Harvard, and all of a sudden he's "uppity" and there's something wrong with him? What is wrong with us?...You can vote against him, but don't ever put me in the back of the bus. I'm not going to the back of the bus! I'm not going to be afraid! My black skin does not make me inferior! And may I add: being a female does not make me dumb! Don't let people trick you, and distract you and divide you...Don't let no one take us back! Because many of us are not going back--we're going forward! And come with us!

"Earlier, the panel's moderator, Jeff Toobin, had remarked: 'It's Donna's world; we just live in it.' Now all he could say was: "I will spare the other panelists from having to follow Donna.'"

Brief History of the Twenty-First Century

phrontist — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:34:12 -0800

A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century

Town Meeting! Town Meeting!

shiu mai baby — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:10:25 -0800

Ah, the town-hall debate. Where Joe Sixpack and Jane Chardonnay can have their chance to ask a presidential candidate just about anything. Of course, such an open format can sometimes lead to uncomfortable moments for a candidate (although tonight might not have such fireworks). First proposed by then-Governor Clinton in the 1992 campaign, the town-hall format has since become a staple of the political season, and its observers witnessing some of the most memorable campaign moments. That second debate of the Clinton-Bush season featured an exasperated George Sr. checking his watch at one point, a throwaway action that was not well-received by the public. The 2000 Bush-Gore debate saw Dubyah trotting out his now-infamous “We need a uniter, not a divider” trope. On the surface, McCain would seem to have an edge this evening, having appeared at hundreds of town hall meetings on the trail. But given the recent economic meltdown and the conversational nature of the town-hall format, he’s going to have a tough time going negative against his opponent. More reading: “What to Watch for During Round 2.” If you’re in Tennessee, hoping to attend the debate at Belmont University, you’re probably out of luck; the audience will be made up of 150 self-proclaimed “undecided” voters, hand-selected by the Gallup Organization, and tickets have been unavailable for months. Is tonight’s debate likely to be a game-changer? Probably not. But we’ll be watching all the same.

Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharped dress man (with a baby)

ThePinkSuperhero — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:25:01 -0800

Yes we can (hold babies)!

Obamix

rollbiz — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:12:38 -0800

The Obamix: King Most puts together the perfect soundtrack to pump Obama supporters up for that next phone bank or canvass. Track Listing: Intro/Smoked Sugar: I'm A Winner Roy Davis Jr.: People Get Ready Jackson 5: We're Almost There (DJ Spinna Remix) Erykah Badu: Solider (Sasaac Remix) Masta Ace: Beautifull Black Spade: We Need A Revolution Skull Snaps: It's A New Day Marvin Gaye & The Mizzel Brothers: We Are We Going? James Brown: Mind Power Antibals: Si Se Puede Grandmaster Flash: The Message (Next Message Blend Version) Dj Day: A Place To Go Double Exposure: Everyman For Himself Donald Byrd: Change Makes Ya Wanna Hustle Stevie Wonder: Blackman (Kay Sputnik Re-Edit) L.T.D.: Love To The World Cymande: Bra Pitbull: American War The Dynamics: Move On Up

VP debate highlights in song and dance

MegoSteve — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:08:43 -0800

If you missed the VP debate last night, you might enjoy this video of VP debate highlights in song and dance by Michael Gregory. (Also available: Running From Your Shadow, presidential debate highlights in song and dance.) DLYT

Barack Obama eats a Michael Phelps breakfast?

kerning — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:03:23 -0800

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, what are the most important people in the political spectrum eating for breakfast then? Obama eats eggs, McCain eats cereal, Pelosi eats... ice cream? Politicians and reporters divulge their breakfasts inside the beltway.

It's not the economy, stupid.

scodger — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:11:17 -0800

"You know, we spent $3 million to study the DNA of bears in Montana. I don't know if that was a criminal issue or a paternal issue..." (previously) The infamous bear study bought up by McCain in the first debate is one of his favourite pork barrel examples, but little actual information is given about the study. Here is the website giving details about the project, with more info, a quick fact sheet and a podcast. This is one of the rare times when a candidate will air an opinion on science in a popular setting.... However, several websites have been trying to get into the details of the candidates policies on science and technology. The science debate (previously) looks dead in the water, but they did manage to get the candidates to answer 14 questions by email. Nature, a leading scientific journal, has a special section comparing the candidates scientific credentials and a section of questions that were answered by Obama but not responded to by McCain. Key quote from Obama "I believe in evolution, and I support the strong consensus of the scientific community that evolution is scientifically validated." A more popular version is "geek the vote" from popular mechanics. McCain has gained praise for promising to introduce a science advisor, but with 71 Nobel prize winners endorsing Obama and his science plan, it is clear where the consensus lies.

The Great Schlep

tristeza — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:34:58 -0800

The Great Schlep. Sarah Silverman explains why you should get your fat Jewish ass on a plane to Florida to convince your grandparents to vote for Obama.