Long after the general election is over, Americans are going to have to stay engaged if the country's political environment is to change, Michelle Obama told a Billings crowd Monday.
The wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama told a few hundred supporters gathered at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center they had to remain active in their communities and do their own research on issues in order the change the country's political path.
"The way this campaign has been run is the way we need to be forever," Obama said. "Don't trust bloggers or someone else's opinion, because people lie."
Obama's noon visit the day before the June 3 primary was a reward to diehard volunteers who have called and canvassed hundreds of Montana households for the Illinois senator's campaign.
The cost of the admission was a little political sweat, with attendees agreeing to sign up for a get-out-the-vote shift for between now and Tuesday, which is Montana's primary election day. Volunteers had to commit to knocking on at least 50 doors or making 100 phone calls. Many of the people at the event said they met those requirements months ago.
"We started in early April," said Elizabeth Ross, 18. "We started writing personal cards to women voters in Pennsylvania."
Ross and her twin sister, Hillary, have spent the last couple of weeks calling Billings voters, which unearthed some misconceptions. One caller told the girls they must be Muslim if they were campaigning for Obama, who until recently attended the same Christian church for 20 years.
Other volunteers, like Michelle Browder, had traveled the country stumping for Obama and have been in Billings for weeks to close out the primary election season. Browder, a restaurant owner from Montgomery, Ala., said she closed her business, PJR's Fish and Barbecue, last July after hearing Obama speak deciding to campaign for him. She sported a straw cowboy hat decorated with Obama pins. In her right hand, Browder held a wooden, red white and blue Obama purse the size of a dinner plate. She was happy to be in Montana.
"Montana people are wonderful. Republicans, Libertarians, Democrats, they've been so nice," Browder said.
Michelle Obama never mentioned her husband's opponent Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-NY, by name or presumed Republican nominee Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Her brief speech didn't include details about her husband's platform. Mostly, she thanked the volunteers for believing in her husband, who she said just a few months ago was not the Democratic Party's preordained candidate.
"It's not easy to believe, sometimes. And Barack Obama isn't always an easy candidate," she said. "He's got a funny name."
She singled out supporters who contributed relatively small amounts of money. You know when someone gives you $20 that it's probably her last $20," Obama said. She noted that her husband had been adopted into an Indian tribe and he was the ecstatic when he came home and told her.
"The first thing he said when he came home was 'I've been adopted' " Obama said. "He had the biggest smile on his face. And I understand that my new in-laws are here, Sonny and Mary Black Eagle. My girls can't wait. They don't even know what it means, but they're excited."
Published on Monday, June 02, 2008. Last modified on 6/2/2008 at 3:22 pm
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Obama is who I am voting for.. Real people for real change. I think Michelle will be an awesome First Lady. She even dresses like a normal person... We don't need or want a First Lady in designer duds....
As an 85 year old MALE veteran from Montana - and ample time to research all the candidates voting records, speeches, debates - I have come to the following conclusion - trust the old we are a good judge of character if nothing else
Attended speeches in Portland by both candidates and found Sen Obama to be a great orator - his words of HOPE and CHANGE brings the crowd to a screaming frenzy - and as I look around them - I am wondering what they are hearing that I do not - CHANGE - Washington DC politics - yet accepts the endorsements of them - and how - Sen Palmer of Illinois just came out with a description of his politics in Illinois - sounds to me like Washington DC - at the end of the day when trying to recall something from the rally - I came up with NOTHING - just words - and really our own words being used back to us.
HOPE - his other key word - I would give that one to Hillary Clinton who attended a rally in New Orleans to give that city HOPE for reconstruction - even though they had voted for Obama - Obama was too busy with his campaign to attend - now is that something he plans on changing for everyone else??
And then we have the problem with the Pastors - after 20 years being unaware of his viewpoints??? I would not want someone in the White House that was not constantly being aware of Iran, Russia, China or N. Korea - and the associations with Ayers, Rezko, Wright and Pfleger that we know about - who next -
Sen Clintons speech was warm, compassionate and genuine and had SOLID SOLUTIONS to all the problems brought forth to her from healthcare, family owned farms, student loans and the economy to name but just a few issues.
Please my fellow citizens vote for the only experienced candidate with the fight, the vision, the plans and solutions and the ability to lead us forward - the only one that could defeat McCain in November - give her the popular vote so that she can go to the convention and fight for all of us - don't make this another 4 years of buyers remorse.
I would rather have Michelle Obama as First Lady than a "Barbie". And I darn sure don't want a womanizer as First Man (Slick Willie)!!! So what if Barrack is Muslim???? He is still the best man for the job. Rock on Obama, all the way to the White House!!!
I pray for Our Countries Sake we'd send SHOCKWAVES throughout the DNC and the Country when we OVER WHELMING go for the one whom can truly lead our Country , Hillary . Voters BEWARE, Obama campaign workers have the reputation for redirecting Hillary supporters to different polls to keep them from voting and they are very assertive.
Know where you polling place is and go early if possible
Michelle Obama, along with Reverend Wright and the latest Pastor, are all contributing to his surefire defeat come election time. "People lie"? We want our First Lady to talk like that? I don't think so.
The lie comes from the Obama's. They believe in the black liberation theology. Having left the Church can Obama's escape responsibility of these 20 year ties, no they can't. There connections to the radical left politics espoused by Pfleger and Wright are broad and deep. Obama shared Wright's rejection of black 'assimilation'. Obama also shared Wright's suspicion of the traditional American ethos of individual self-improvement and the pursuit of 'middle-classness. article. nationalreview.com No Liberation
Michelle Obama ought to know that people lie. After all, she and her husband have been friends with three of the most anti-American, anti semite, racist people in the USA. (Wright, Pflueger, and Ayers) Yup, she and the hubby haven't yet told us that they are SORRY for all the hatred, and racism in their activist connections. And, of course, all of the ties back to Farakkhan. Yup, she should surely be "preaching" to America right about now. We're not buying it. Neither is hubby, who just happens to be IN IRAQ.
From an Illinois citizen: Oh, gee whiz, I guess the stumbling, stammering Obama Kool Aid Kids are right.
Let's elect Obama, with his whopping two years of federal experience, most of which he has simply spent posturing and campaigning for the presidency.
Let's elect Obama so he can put his long-held Marxist beliefs into practice including that punitive marginal tax rates are good policy despite even ABC news anchor Charles Gibson explaining to him that revenues increase with lower rates.
Let's elect Obama, whose foreign relations experience consists solely of watching "The Bourne Identity" one night with his wife while the kids were upstairs asleep.
Let’s elect Obama, whose senior campaign advisor is already meeting secretly with the Palestinian terrorist organization HAMAS.
Let’s elect Obama, who has maintained a close, 25-year relationship with Jeremiah Wright and the hateful Black Nationalist movement. Then Obama pretends he didn't know Wright is a bad guy.
Let’s elect Obama, who has a 17-year relationship with Chicago's preeminant slum lord and scum bag Antoni Rezko, who helps Obama buy his house. Then Obama pretends he didn't know Rezko is a bad guy.
Let’s elect Obama, who launches his state senate campaign with an event at the home of terrorist Bill Ayers, serves on a charity board with Ayers and gives speeches with Ayers. Then Obama pretends he barely knows the guy.
Let’s elect Obama, who promised us "change" in Illinois too, but has done nothing but cut deals to enrich himself and his wife while cashing our paychecks.
Let’s elect Obama, who cleverly flips off Clinton during a speech following his loss in Pennsylvania and smirks while the crowd cheers.
Let’s elect Obama, whose wife believes “America is a downright mean country" and that “It's easier to hold on to your own stereotypes and misconceptions, it makes you feel justified in your own ignorance...that's America."
Let's elect Obama, who is a product of the Daley Machine, one of the most vile and corrupt political organizations in the history of mankind.
And the list goes on and on.
Gee, what's not to like about Obama? Sure, he has experience, character and judgment to be the most powerful leader in the world during these especially challenging times. How tough can it be? LOL
Nobama. No way.
Lee
Chicago, IL Reply »
|Report Abuse |#512 2 hrs ago
It is obvious Obama wants to go to the White House on our backs to promote HIS own agenda, not the ones who put you there. Shame on you for being so greedy, self indulgent Obama . You are NO JACK KENNEDY MY FRIEND and MICHELLE THE I'm not proud of my Country YOU ARE NO JACKIE O'
i also need to know did she request that White People and Native people only stand behind her..../.
I recieved the following email from a friend today.you decide what to think.
Subject: I'm Speechless
Obama Explains National Anthem Stance
Is this guy crazy or what!
On Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:48:04 -0400, "LT. Bill Ginn" USAF ret forwarded:
Hot on the heels of his explanation for why he no longer wears a flag pin, presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama was forced to explain why he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played.
According to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171...... During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart.
"As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides," Obama said."There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it."
WHAAAAAAAT!!!!!!!!!! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this could possibly be our next president. I, for one, am speechless . I don't think I will vote for this man.
I am always annoyed at the concept of Senator Obama is only about rhetoric. As a former Billings resident and now a resident of Indiana I had the pleasure of listneing in person at a local gym the senator speak. He clearly had plans to help vetrans, students, end this nonsense called Bushes War, etc. There were no stupid election stunts like the gas tax holiday...notice no one is talking about that anymore. I think the most magical thing about the Obama vision is that we all need to make a difference in order to make this country better. We need to be part of our communities, we need to volunteer, to sacrafice and to speak out for that which is most important to us. I don't see Senator Clinton, or is it Rodham-Clinton this week, telling us that we are part of the solution. Only she has the magic wand and tenacity that will make everything all better. McCain, well he has become far more Republican than ever before (and that's a shame). I hope that once all is said and done, no matter who wins the general election we recognize that we all can make a difference in this world !
To: Horseinaround. You're kidding, right? You want real people who dress like normal people and Michelle "O" is awesome. It just goes to show if one learns to read and write by the 1st grade the world is your oyster. Why not make some comments about Obama policies and the direction he wants to take the nation. Anything of a substantive nature will do. God forbid, I've witnessed our public school system in action.
Clinton, Obama, and McCain are pied-pipers for the New World Order. It's sad these clowns represent the best both parties have to offer? "None of the Above" has my vote this November.
It is unfortunate that Barack Obama does not represent change we can believe in. He represents Chicago machine politics. We had better become engaged in politics to keep the Chicago Democratic Machine from taking over in Washington DC.
Wizard: I hope that by the time I'm 85 years old, I won't be easily fooled into having to choose between two hard corp socialists for my election choice. I thought age was supposed to bring wisdom - another proverb bites the dust! Vote RON PAUL!
Mrs Obama said: "Don't trust bloggers or someone else's opinion, because people lie." - Another words...don't think for yourselves and give Obama your unconditional trust. The problem is that ALL politicians lie, including Mr. Obama. Senator Obama is in the U.S. Senate right now. Electricity and Gasoline prices are rising much faster than most people's incomes. What is Senator Obama doing right now to address this major problem? Absolutely nothing. I agree with Senator Obama that our country should be energy independent from OPEC. Everyone agrees with that! His party has control of both houses of Congress, yet he and his party hasn't sent a bill to President Bush to get us on the path towards this goal. What are you waiting for Senator Obama? If Senator Obama can't lead his party to pass a bill in a Congress that they control, then it is highly unlikely that he would be able to do the same as President. Let me tell you something...I've read Senator Obama's plan to change the climate and Americans are headed for large increases in energy prices if he is elected President. If you think it is bad now, just wait. The sad part is that the same argument applies to Senator McCain (Really a Democrat, but got the Republican nomination). I will be seriously considering the nominee of the Libitarian Party, Bob Barr, this November.
WELL,WELL, so the people lie do they, lets send her this message from MT. Get LOST. Take Obomba with you. Who wants a president that has no respect for the people or for our country, and the flag that our men fight so hard for to keep our country as great as it is. So beat it Mrs. OBOMBA
E pluribus Unum, the many are one, is the motto of the United States of America. Benjamin Franklin said, "A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle". And, "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both". Now more than ever national security comes from strong relationships with allies and strong negotiations with enemies. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Bush has shown us how disastrous bad diplomacy is. The only effective weapon against terror is courage. It is not just our troops that need to be courageous but our leaders and all Americans. It is courageous to face ones enemy and cowardly to avoid them. This has been so throughout our history. It is McCain by continuing with failed Bush policies that will weaken America militarily and economically. 4,041 brave Americans have died and over 28,000 wounded while taxpayers dole out $341,400,000 each day in Iraq. It is time to take your vote seriously.
Yep, "people lie" all right! And many of them use the Gazette's "Talk Back" section to do it. Tpny Rezko, Bill Ayres, meeting with Hamas, flipping Clinton off, secret Muslim, doesn't salute the flag. These stories have all been fielded by Fox News and shot down by respectable journalists. There is NO STORY in any of those places. But there is a story in the people who are afraid to have a black man become president. There is a story in the people who are afraid to have Bush's policies undone and his crimes exposed. There is a story in the people who whose idea of patriotism is letting our soldiers die to defend nothing but vainglorious pride and oil.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO MY FRIENDS IN SD
Of course Michelle would like to tell to not believe everthing you read in blogs......I beg you to go to www.larrysinclair0926.wordpress.com www.obambi.wordpress.com www.citzenwells.wordpress.com
Michelle Obama says "don't trust the blogs
people will lie." Lucky for her that most of the lying of blogs and media during this campaign - "racism of Clintons, "racism and ignorance" of West Virginians, the Clintons are monsters and would do anything to win, this race if over - and so on -
have vastly benefited Obama. And this man never showed one ounce of leadership to challenge any of these lies - Why now, Michelle?
Look back on this campaign... has Obama's new politics really been kinder, gentler - as he promised?
Please consider casting your vote for Hillary Clinton - she will work her heart out to help people who need it the most!
Yes, Michelle, you husband's foul-mouthed bloggers have been lying and smearing Senator Clinton all over the blogosphere. ARe you afraid that somebody is going to start blogging something unfavorable about you or your husband?
"Don't trust bloggers or people's opinions, because people lie". Right out of the babe's mouth. Maybe she needs to listen to her husband and he lies to the American people daily. It will be so good to have at least this round of the BS out of the way. We have listened to the political drivel for over a year now, from all candidates, and there still is no clear winner. Billary will be gone, but she surely won't go quietly. The good side is that she will be gone. Obama will be gone in November and then maybe there will be some normallcy again, but don't bank on it. Michelle needs to go back wherever and get used to being a house wife again.
In light of the new "Whitey Tape" that will be released as the October surprise it is no wonder she calls bloggers Liars..Anyone who cares about the truth go to NoQuarter.Net, Larry Johnson has an impressive resume in counter-terrorism and well respected. He knows about the tape and about the Obama camps attempts at dicrediting a tape that they say doesn't exist..LOL..No Obama Marxists in the White House come Novemeber. Hillary or John McCain will be our next President..that is "Truth We Can Believe in"
If we shouldn't trust bloggers, Michelle, then the majority of the stuff that was run through the blogoshpere by the paid Obama bloggers must now be suspect, too, I guess. Well, we knew it was all along, but thanks for confirming it.
I'll also assume that the stuff your bloggers are putting out about the "whitey" tape being a fake is lies as well. You know, the tape that features Michelle and Farrakhan ranting against "whitey" on a panel at Trinity UCC Church. The Obama campaign now has bloggers out there trying to convince the public that such a tape doesn't exist. We know it does, and the Obama campaign knows it does. Michelle hates white people and this tape will be the end of their campaign. Are the bloggers who say the tape is fake liars now, too, Michelle? Are you calling your own paid employees liars?
Wake up, America - the Obamas have no business getting anywhere near the White House.
mighty Thor, you are right on!!! So many bloggers show their ignorance here - i'm a bit embarrassed for them. So many reasons they give for not voting for Obama are the sensationalized lies and rumors of bloggers, not the real issues. And i bet there will be idiots passing around and believing the "whitey" tape. We already know about it. She is saying "why'd he", not whitey....
I asked Sen. Obama's State of Montana Campaign Manager if any of the Presidential Candidates read the blogs. He said, no, but we know there are people out there that are posting great stuff.
In my observance, we are posting against each other. I am so gullable' GO OBAMA', "Montana vote for change",
Go OBAMA!!!
This lady is completely psycotic. You poor poor pathetic sheeople in this country. All you know it all Hippy college kids and you "gimme gimme" socialists......is this what you really want? NOBODY seems to understand the gravity of the obamas. PLease!~
So far Obama has said two words, hope and change, and everyone is so d*&n excieted they can't stand it! Do you even know HOW he is going to change this country? Well, the devil is in the details and you better find out. He wants America to be like all the other weenie countries in Europe, no rules, no country. That's change my friends and you aren't going to like it when it happens.
Man. Some of you bloggers are unbelievable. Seriously. It's crazy to see how many people of the racist mindset are here in Billings. Funny thing is, most of what I see, is here on the blogs. Just goes to show that people do in fact, HIDE BEHIND THE COMPUTER ;) :p and for the person who seriously thought Obama is a Muslim, goodness gracious, he's a Christian. Read more carefully my dear.
birneygirl, You would rather have a bigot in the Whitehouse than a "barbie"? Last I checked, said bigot's husband was running for office with no platform other than change, and little to no experience for the position. Personally, I would rather have a "barbie" as first lady with a president that has the knowledge and experience to do the job.
Michelle will be passing out applications on behalf of her husband for membership in the "fellow travellers society", for you lesser read individuals thats a code word for the communist party of America. It's the real activism her and her associates support!
I hope that more and more people will look at Obama's friends. Look at his 20 years of service in a church that preaches separation and hate. Look at his record as a Chicago Democratic Machine Politician. Vote for Hillary.
Booneman-I have read and studied up on the 3 people that were put before us for the Presidency. Obama is still the best man for the job in MY opinion. I was sticking up for his wife after reading many blogs about the way she was dressed and so forth. My vote isn't going to Obama because his wife dresses more like I do. Good grief some of you people need to take a chill pill. CME is commenting on something that was proven false by snopes.com. I haven't read far enough down to see if someone has written something to disprove him yet. It scares me that people don't think for themselves and believe everything they read on the internet. Go to snopes.com and make sure you all look up stories in the news or e-mails that you get. It will make you all look a bit smarter than just forwarding lies along. Ignorance is not bliss. And on another note.... If anyone in this country doesn't think that our taxes will be a lot higher under the next Presidency (no matter who gets in office), you are all hiding with your head in the sand. Bush has broke our country and the taxpayers will be paying for it... I'm sure that everyone will blame the next president over that one as well.
Oh...I see. Michelle says bloggers lie. But she did not mention that so do POLITICIANS. Obama is a candidate that does not know who he is or who to follow. He cannot disown Rev. Wright, but ultimately he does. Obama doesn't wear a flag pin but then he does..I guess to prove he is "patriotic". He will never leave the community and church he belongs to...BUT yet again he throws them under the bus.
Fantastic orator, but not much else.
The "theft" that occurred this Saturday by the DNC committee members REWARDING a candidate that took his name off the balloted is UNBELIEVABLE.
CHANGE is great...but Obama is NOT the change we need.
Hillary Clinton has earned my respect for her TENACITY. That is presidential. She is firm, intelligent, and committed to VETERANS. ....if she could just get rid of Bill's personal baggage ...she would be PERFECT.
If not Clinton, I am voting for Mc Cain. I cannot trust someone that still has not taken off the training wheels.
Please everyone, mark my words. The issues with Sen. Obama are many. Rememeber that once he becomes the real nominee, all the dirty laundry and radical associations will come to light. Same for Ms. OBama.
I don't care if a candidate is green, black, brown, male or female....BUT this time is NOT Obama's time.
Beware, Jaymes. Read your Bible. Blasphemy against the holy spirit is the only unpardonable sin. Mark 3:28-29. Obama is an upright and honest Christian man who truly desires to heal this nation from the greed of the past few years. Listen to your heart, not ugly radio pigs and the sick viral emails.
A plea to Hillary Clinton supporters: Please look, really look, at how respectful the Obama campaign has been toward the Clintons. Yes, the fur has flown sometimes, but Obama has never said or done anything that would undermine Hillary's chances against McCain should they be competing in November. He has respected her candidacy and his supporters never boo her name at their rallies.
If Clinton should suspend her campaign this week, it is not because Obama or his supporters have played dirty. It is simply because he ran a stronger campaign, and received more delegates. We have to accept whichever outcome we get. That's democracy. I for one think that we have had a number of fantastic Democratic contenders this year, Obama, Clinton, Edwards, Richardson, and so on. I have supported many of them at one time or another, and when they dropped out, I moved on, because I felt that we had many strong candidates who would all make fine presidents. But in the end, there's got to be one nominee. Clinton and Obama have been so close in terms of policy, that this has really come down to a matter of individual personalities. Obama and Clinton supporters should both understand that their hopes and goals for this country will be realized just as well through their candidate's opponent.
Christians don't vote and work against legislation to protect born alive children. Children born in this world only to be sliced, diced, and murdered. Obama did and does. He is evil. As Alan Keyes said of Obama, Jesus would never vote for him, because Obama does not follow Christ.
Billings, your "black helicopter" paranoids and hillbilly bloggers are the embarassment of the state of Montana. Obama clearly has the potential to be a great national leader at a critical time in our history. I wonder how many of you "Reverends" and other Christian bigots remember that Jesus Christ was treated in much the same way you have treated Senator Obama and his wife.
Here's the Obama's version of activism:---------------The Network Behind the Bush-bashing Book
Cliff Kincaid
Publisher Peter Osnos, who admits to personally working with former Bush White House press secretary Scott McClellan on his new book, What Happened, began his career as an assistant to I.F. Stone, the pro-communist "journalist" named as a Soviet agent of influence who was the uncle of Weather Underground communist terrorist Kathy Boudin.
But the connections don't end there. Boudin's son Chesa was raised by Barack Obama associates Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, who were Boudin's comrades in the communist terrorist group, after Kathy Boudin went to prison for her involvement in an armed robbery and assault that took the lives of two policemen and a security guard. Dohrn later served jail time for refusing to cooperate in an official investigation of the crime.
Obama stands to benefit from the McClellan book because it was obviously crafted, under the guidance of Osnos, to inflict maximum damage on President Bush and, by extension, fellow Republican and Iraq War supporter Senator John McCain. None of this can be called an accident.
One question that has been raised by critics is whether McClellan is in it for the money. But that's less important than the fact that the network that has made this book into a reality incorporates many elements of the far left. Some of these links have been commented on already. For example, the Osnos firm, PublicAffairs Books, has also published books by George Soros, John Kerry, and Vladimir Putin. But Osnos's ties to I.F. Stone and the media constitute the story behind the story.
The network that included Stone, who died in 1989, was the subject of Susan Braudy's 2003 book, Family Circle, about the Boudin family's communist and socialist ties. Page 185 shows Kathy Boudin and Bernardine Dohrn together, "after Bernardine's return from Cuba," where she had "a warm meeting with members of the Viet Cong." That was before she and Ayers finished their bombing campaign, which included a blast that killed a San Francisco policeman, and helped launch Barack Obama's political career.
None of this background, of course, is being mentioned by those anxious and eager to interview McClellan, even though virtually all of his former friends say that what he is writing and saying now doesn't sound like him at all. The obvious explanation is that, for whatever reason or motivation, he is reading from a script prepared by Osnos & Company and the far left.
The ploy is working. So far, according to the firm's website, McClellan's interviews are scheduled to include:
NBC-TV "Today" - 5/29
CNN "The Situation Room" - 5/30
CNN "American Morning" - 6/2
Comedy Central "Daily Show" - 6/2
NPR "Fresh Air" - 6/3
NPR "Talk of the Nation" (LIVE from the Newseum in DC) - 6/11
Favorable stories about the book have already appeared in the Washington Post, New York Times, and USA Today.
This is quite impressive until you realize that Osnos says that every book he publishes includes a dedication to Benjamin C. Bradlee, I.F.Stone and Robert Bernstein, former head of Random House. The first two are worth mentioning. Bradlee was the executive editor of the Washington Post, famous for once remarking that, during coverage of the Iran-Contra affair under President Reagan, he was having "the most fun since Watergate." Bradlee was hoping to bring down Reagan, as they had brought down President Nixon in the paper's coverage of the Watergate scandal.
Nixon had developed a national reputation as a Congressman and had laid the basis for his runs for national office by helping expose Soviet spy Alger Hiss in the State Department and a communist network inside the U.S. Government. Interestingly, one of Bradlee's reporters on the Watergate story was Carl Bernstein, whose parents were members of the Soviet-controlled Communist Party.
Iran-Contra did not bring down Reagan, but the far-left apparently hopes the McClellan book will help bring down or further damage President George W. Bush. It can also, in their view, do some collateral damage to McCain.
It is a tactic that has been employed time and time again. Pegging their coverage to a book, the media create the appearance of a "scandal," this time with a former "insider," and try to inflict political damage that benefits the Democrats. The problem for McClellan is that he appears transparently foolish, reciting charges about the Iraq War and so forth that have mostly been raised before by the President's political enemies. McClellan, who never objected to the policies when he promoted and defended them, is acting like a puppet.
Osnos is the key to understanding the network that is working behind-the-scenes. A former national news editor of the Post, Osnos was an assistant to I.F. Stone in the 1960s. Stone postured as an independent radical writer but was exposed as a Soviet agent in the transcripts of Soviet messages known as the Venona intercepts and by other sources.
Former Soviet KGB Major General Oleg Kalugin had identified Stone as a Soviet agent, but under pressure from Stone's friends in the media later backed away from that precise description. However, in his book, The First Directorate: My 32 Years in Intelligence and Espionage Against the West, Kalugin still identified Stone as a "fellow traveler" of the Soviet Union who "made no secret of his admiration for the Soviet system" over a period of many years and had regular contacts and lunches with him.
Osnos is still one among many far-left journalists who do not want to accept the terrible facts about their hero and icon. But as AIM founder Reed Irvine told the New York Times back in 1992, "The charge that I.F. Stone was a Soviet agent does not surprise those who knew that as a fellow traveler, if not a [Communist] party member, Stone remained a faithful Stalinist through the purges, the Hitler-Stalin pact and the absorption of Eastern Europe..."
Braudy's book about the Boudins, Family Circle, has a lot to say about Kathy Boudin and her uncle, I.F. Stone, also known as Izzy. Before turning to a life of crime as a communist terrorist, she had wanted to work for her uncle's newsletter, which is also where Osnos worked. On page 72 of the book, which tends to avoid harsh judgments, she tells us that Stone tried to organize opposition to U.S. involvement in the Korean War, in order to make South Korea safe for communism, and that he would later work to remove U.S. forces from South Vietnam, in order to pave the way for a communist military victory there. Stone and his comrades were successful in the case of Vietnam. His pro-communist record was clear for all to see, except to Osnos and his ilk.
According to Braudy, Stone had "achieved fame in the 1950s for fighting for the rights of people who were accused of having been members of the American Communist Party."
But none of this apparently bothered Osnos, who went to work for Stone in the 1960s. And Osnos's tie to Stone didn't bother the Post. "After working for I.F. Stone, Peter Osnos became a correspondent around the world for The Washington Post and the newspaper's foreign and national editor," the official I.F. Stone website proclaims.
I first came across Osnos back in 1980, just a year or so after coming to Washington, D.C., when he was guest-lecturing at the pro-Marxist Institute for Policy Studies (IPS.) I signed up and covered the Karen DeYoung class on "foreign reporting."
DeYoung, then a foreign reporter for the Post, is now an associate editor at the paper. The IPS class was being held during a time when the old Soviet Union and its surrogate, Communist Cuba, were destabilizing Central America and hoping to install a series of communist governments. Reagan had stopped the Soviet takeover at a critical juncture when he ordered the military liberation of communist-controlled Grenada. However, Reagan was also supporting the democratic government of El Salvador, which faced a communist terrorist movement, and freedom fighters in Nicaragua. It was the latter that led to the "Iran-Contra affair" when National Security Council staffer Oliver North arranged for unofficial assistance to the Nicaraguan resistance wh en the liberal Congress was attempting to cut off their aid.
To Karen DeYoung, as she told the class, "most journalists now, most Western journalists at least, are very eager to seek out guerrilla groups, leftist groups, because you assume they must be the good guys." This betrayed the left-wing media bias that continues to this day and is reflected in the publication of the McClellan book. Any Republican president who dares to take on America's enemies is targeted for destruction.
For his part, as I noted in an April 1983 Human Events article, "The IPS and the Media: Unholy Alliance," Osnos exhibited a strange view of communism. He claimed not to know why the Soviets behaved as they did. But he had visited Cuba, where he found no evidence of Soviet control, and came away convinced that there was "'apparently genuine rapport" between Castro and the Cuban people.
On March 12, 2008, as he was preparing publication of McClellan's book, Osnos found enough time to pay tribute to I.F. Stone on the anniversary of Stone's birthday. Others paying tribute were Robert Kaiser, associate editor and former managing editor of the Washington Post, and Myra MacPherson, author of a book about Stone and former reporter for the Washington Post.
This is the milieu that has spawned the McClellan book. Whatever you may think of Bush, McCain or the Iraq War, there can be no doubt that Bush's former press secretary has fulfilled the function of "useful idiot."
Once again, the media are having their fun.
Her husband wants Isreal to give up its nuclear arsenal so the muslim states can invade without fear of being bombed, I guess. He is politically naive when it come to foreign policy.
Regardless of your stance on Obama, I thought I'd address the above comment (cme) regarding Obama's opinion on the national anthem. Entertaining as it may be, I'm afraid it's an urban legend, folks. You can learn of its origin (along with several other misconceptions about our three candidates) at snopes.com. The anthem legend is addressed specifically at www.snopes.com/politics/obama/stance.asp
In 1985 Michelle Obama, attending Princeton University, writing under her maiden name, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, stated in her thesis that America was a nation founded on "crime & hatred". And here is another ominous passage, "There was no doubt in my mind that as a member of the black community, I am obligated to this community and will utilize all of my present and future resources to benefit the black community first and foremost." It's apparant that Michelle Obama sees black and white people eternally conflicted. And it's obvious who's side she's on. And you want this lady in the white house? She doesn't like whitey, even if you vote for her man!
Careful to whom you give your vote. While McCain is touted by Obama as "Bush II", Obama is shaping up as "Carter II" - do you remember those 'glorious' Carter years? Then there are the very important choices of VP & the cabinet. Do the names Schumer, Edwards, Pelosi, Feinstein, Reid & Sebelius mean anything to you? These folks are very close to the offices of VP, attorney general, secretary of state, UN rep., etc. Be afraid, be very afraid =0
So, snopes.com has become the latest indisputable source of the truth about Obama. Takes a lot of varnish to cloud all those public gaffes and mob connections, but it's rose-colored varnish, isn't it?
Knowing Michelle hates our country (she can only now be proud of it),and being racially biased are grounds for activisim you are right. We must do what ever it takes to keep this woman from trying to become a Hillary Junior in the white house.
Your vote is appreciated? Why did you vote for a person that has no intetion of representating you? I am not pointing too any particular candidate, it is a general rule that candidates represent their constituents best interest. As a rule your ellected official has no knowledge of what your best interests are. Why? Because you have never talked to the person you elected after the election and in most cases have no idea how the person has voted on your behalf. Yup, she is right activism is necessary. The laws allow you to say what you think to your elected official at any official meeting where a vote will be taken. You have the right to say what you think, give your opinion or a factual report before the vote is taken. There are time limits that are suppose to make it efficient for the conducting of the business of the meeting but a well organized presentation can be very effective. Just complaining is generally not effective. So, get active!!
there is nothing christian about Obama's church or it's various pastors and guest speakers, it is racially and politically motivated and oriented. So is Obama. The man has continued lying about his associations with the church and his stance keeps change. He believes as Jeremiah Wright does, his truly is the same old politics as politics of change, I will change my answer, my church, my friendships, my theology,etc. when the polls indicate that I must. Nothing new. Get out of politics church.
The more I think of Obama in the White House, with his inexperience, naivete, and extreme liberal/socialist voting record, I become terrified. God only knows how much more screwed up this country will be in four years. Think the wisdom and judgement of Jimmy Carter plus the situational ethics of Slick Willie.
As first lady she will be an embarrassment. She is not proud of her country and she calls white folks "whitey". Oh and let's not forget her wonderful pastor, the hate monger of all time. This is what you people want for first lady? And we all thought Hillary was the perverbial wicked lady. She can't hold a candle to this one. Any woman who has chosen to sit in the palpit of a hate monger for 20 years and listen to his hatred towards whites and Jews. No a good thing.
The point of this article is to address the apathy and behind the scenes complaining of our society in my estimation. I find it more and more difficult to read the comments of those with nothing on their minds than their own little babbles about things which are typically negative. The reality is that unless you simply get off on antagonizing and sabbotaging anonymously in these blogs, put your face and your name to something positive. We are in critical times in today's worldly affairs and it is up to us as a society, not democrats or republicans, to come together and make a difference. Obama and his wife bring a level of possibility to the country we desperately need. Cynacists only care to divide and confuse. It is a clear reflection of your inner conflicts that many of you resort to this type of behavior. Look in the mirror and ask yourself what you have done for anyone to make the world better. I imagine that most of you that type the crap you do in here don't know your*** from a hole in the ground so you instigate and demonstrate malice and contempt. As a counselor it is very clear to me that those who have to deal with your disdain must be very tired and annoyed or just blow you off. Newsflash....it doesn't matter how cute you try to seem with your derisive comments, you are simply empty inside. Go ahead and light into me as that is expected. What would be surprising and refreshing would be for people to settle down with their negative comments and start focusing on how they could make a difference in someone else's life...ie...their children, coworkers, friends etc...It is imperative that we begin to takke action and its starts from within. God bless all those who ran for something. At least you are out making an effort to be involved in the solution and are nnot sitting around throwing anomous darts at those who are. Go America!
59301, no one is hateful, they just realize that he is not the one to lead this country. His wife is an embarrassment, she calls white folks "whitey" and she has never been proud of her country who by the way has giving her one hell of a nice life, his pastor is a hate monger from the word go and he has but 2 years ezperience. If he was so good at what he does, why didn't he clean up Chicago? Remember Chicago....where the dead are allowed to vote. That's why the democrats are able to stay in control there. I know, I lived there.
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