Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was sworn into office as a U.S. Senator on January 4, 2005. There is speculation that the popular former Illinois state senator will run for president in 2008.
Posted on 06/17/2006 11:28:04 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
EAST ORANGE, N.J. -- Barack Obama was standing before a packed high school auditorium when he noticed a familiar face in the crowd -- none other than singer Dionne Warwick. He paused, flashed a mischievous smile, then let loose with a perfectly on-key performance of the opening line of her hit song "Walk On By."
The audience of 300 students and adults roared with approval.
Obama, a first-term Democratic senator from Illinois, seems to be hitting the right notes these days. During Senate recesses, he has been touring the country at breakneck pace, basking in the sudden fame of a politician turned pop star. Along the way, he has been drawing crowds and campaign cash from Democrats starved for a fresh face and ready to cheer what Obama touts as "a politics of hope instead of a politics of fear."
His office fields more than 300 requests a week for appearances. One Senate Democrat, curious about Obama's charisma, took notes when watching him perform at a recent political event. State parties report breaking fundraising records when Obama is the speaker.
The money he is bringing in for fellow Democrats is shaping up as an important influence on 2006. And the potential Obama is demonstrating as a political performer -- less than two years after his elevation from the Illinois state legislature -- is prompting some colleagues to urge him to turn his attention to 2008 and a race for the presidency. Obama has made plain he is at least listening.
"I think he is unique," said Illinois's senior senator, Richard J. Durbin (D). "I don't believe there is another candidate I've seen, or an elected official, who really has the appeal that he does."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was sworn into office as a U.S. Senator on January 4, 2005. There is speculation that the popular former Illinois state senator will run for president in 2008.
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
He hasn't been forced to take a stand yet on anything of substance in public, so retains that "mystic". Plus, the media will protect him more than even Hillary.
It is kinda amusing...the guy has been a senator for two years and hasn't really made a single noteworthly speech. He hasn't had any special programs that he has advocated. Its all intentional...I realize...but how the media can rubber-stamp the guy...with almost no record will be a hard act to accomplish.
He must have some kind of record for lowest achievements compared to highest number of stories about how "insiders" say he's "one to watch" for the presidency.
McCain will soon find his beloved MSM have left him at the altar to give their love to someone else.
Actually, he made one noteworthy speech at the DNC Convention in '04.
It is one I'm sure he is hoping the world will forget.
I wish I had saved the link but a while back I read him describing his approach to the progressive agenda. He does his best to appear fairly moderate but in his own words that is simply the most effective path to the hard left.
If you were looking for a presidential type who simply makes the MSM love you...this guy is it. No one ever digs dirt on the guy and his entire past is almost six lines...which really invites the question of how can you support a totally unknown candidate. At least with Billy Boy....you knew his governor days and his episodes then. This guy is a phantom.
Obama has the right mix of oratory skills, voice, and public temperament to be a real danger to the conservative agenda.
He works through moderate enablement of the liberal agenda, thus retaining his moderate credentials while pushing the "progressive" agenda, and staying free of the taint of the Far Left.
And to be honest, moderation is the best way to enact either progressive or conservative agendas. Too far to the Left and too far to the Right, and the moderate middle voting bloc will swing the other way. It is how the Democrats managed to hold onto Congress decade after decade.
(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")
Wow! Sure makes me want to vote democRAT. /sarc off
I'd still like to know how he made so much money, in so short a time in office??
NOBODY seems to want to TOUCH that one, it seems......
Some of the Democrats have realized that their "records" are working against them. In this day and age, the Information Age, records are available at the touch of a few buttons. The MSM is no longer the sole arbiter of what information makes it before the American people.
A blank slate with a carefully managed public record is the Democrats best hope of creating their messiah. And Obama is being carefully managed to limit his exposure to damaging positions. His speeches are well written, populist rhetoric. But when it comes to the issues, he's publicly luke warm on pretty much everything, except where he needs to scratch a colleague's back to get something for his constituents.
Don't count your chickens.
Yawn.
I thought I was reading DU the way all these people were gushing about this stiff.
Ted Kennedy can be his spokesman: "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to introduce the next President of the United States, Osam... Osama... Osama... Obama!! *hic*"
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