By JAKE TAPPER, with ANNE-MARIE DORNING and MARK REEVESPosted on 12/11/2006 12:09:50 PM PST by Diago
By JAKE TAPPER, with ANNE-MARIE DORNING and MARK REEVESDec. 11 - After a rocking visit to N.H. this weekend, an appearance tonight on Monday Night Football is the latest sign that Barak Obama is running for president.
"We've got a series of very important decisions to make, and we have the opportunity to make them not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans," he said in a speech that mentioned health insurance, climate change, lobbying reform and the war in Iraq.
Quoting Martin Luther King Jr., Obama said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.
"It doesn't bend on its own," he added. "It bends because each of us individually, we put our hand on that arc, and we bend it in the direction of justice. That, I think, is the essence of hope. And that is what I think America is hungry for, right now. And I'm looking forward to being a part of that process, with you of bending that arc in the direction of justice."
The excitement Obama is generating among crowds in this first-in-the-nation-primary state could be bad news for his possible Democratic rivals, including Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., the presumed frontrunner.
"I was behind Sen. Clinton prior to getting to know Barack Obama," said New Hampshire resident Kim Cain. "I'm a woman. I would love to have a woman president. But I think she's too much of a politician. I think to effect change, we need somebody outside of that system."
But there is much voters do not know about Obama beyond his charisma and message of national unity. And the process through which the American people may learn more about Obama -- his relatively unstudied state legislative voting record, his teenage cocaine use, questions about a land deal he entered into with a questionable character -- may be unpleasant. And new.
"Sen. Obama has never had a rough political week in his life," said Lynn Sweet, a columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times. "He's never had one negative commercial run against him."
Before another event today for the state Democratic Party in Manchester, at which he was the featured speaker, Obama himself downplayed the voter warmth and the media heat he felt in chilly New England.
"I am suspicious of hype," he said. "I think what's going on is that people are very hungry for something new."
ABC News asked what he would say to voters who may ask what right he has to think about running for president just two years out of the Illinois state senate. Obama said that since he had yet to make up his mind about whether he was in the presidential hunt, a rebuttal would not be forthcoming.
"I don't mind people asking tough questions; I think they should of every candidate," he said. "One of the values of retail politics like New Hampshire is by the end of the process they know where you stand, and they have a sense of who you are."
Leading Democrats say this is not all just hype, and that Obama, should he decide to run, will be a force.
"If I was part of Hillary Clinton's inner circle right now, I'd be worried about Obama," said Democratic strategist Donna Brazille. "He has the ability to raise money. He also has the ability to tap into a vast network of activists."
Obama supporters point out that his mere existence brings out Clinton's greatest vulnerability as a public figure -- likeability.
His staffers jokingly say, "Don't tell mama I'm for Obama."
"Mama," of course, is Clinton.
It may be, as Clinton allies argue, that Obama does more to hurt the other Democratic presidential hopefuls, such as John Edwards or John Kerry, than the powerhouse Clinton.
Either way, Obama will leave New Hampshire tonight setting a pretty high bar for visits to the Granite State, especially considering he'd never even set foot in this state until late Saturday evening.
Absolutely. Kornheiser is more painful to listen to then Dennis Miller in the MNF booth, because as a sportswriter, Kornheiser should theoretically know better. I think Theismann secretly wants to b*tch-slap Tony straight off the set.
Also, this whole "let's spend the entire 2nd and 3rd quarters interviewing people about topics other than football while we only casually acknowledge the game" has GOT to stop.
FWIW, it's Obama vs. Romney in '08.
Thanks for ruining my favorite Christmas carol with your play on words.
I know it's not nice, but we call Tony Kornheiser, "Tony Kornhole". Then we laugh at him, grumble about MNF, and finish up with, "Hey, at least it's football".
Last night's game had a female sideline commentator - can't remember her name (Andrea Kramer??). Now, I like what she says, but her voice is so high pitched that I struggle to hear her. Sometimes, I just accept the fact that too much concentration is required and give up on her. I don't have that trouble with Suzie Kolber.
Since I'm FReeping instead of working, I'll add one more thing. Last year, I sent and email to a Pontiac marketing exec and suggested they buy the 3 minute spot when the Star Spangled Banner is sung. I think there is a good percentage of the football audience who would appreciate it and Pontiac could get some PR credit. "This performance of the SSB brought to you by Pontiac..." Lots of people would notice. They didn't take my suggestion (obviously). Hey, but we get to watch Prince during the Superbowl. Does the NFL even remember who their primary demographic is?
Maybe I'm the oddball here - I just love the game.
k.
There's an easy answer to your Monday Night Football problem. Turn the sound down and turn on the radio play-by-play with Marv Albert and Boomer Esiason. They're a pretty good team. Actually, they probably ought to be doing the TV version as well.
"...Gad, is this man, Osama Obama, gonna be shoved down our throats a million times in 2007?..."
Are you ready for some Obama?
I love Kornheiser but he'll be doing his liberal drool all over Obamma's bumma
And they just published the very negative story about the father of Chelsea's boyfriend.
Hard to figures what's up with ABC.
MNF has been a disgrace for years, as far as I can recall, before Tony Kornheiser stepped on the scene. They always have the WORST games, either obvious blowouts (like tonight's) or two teams that no one could give two hoots about.
As far as Kornheiser goes, he's obviously despirate to fill the shoes of Cosell. I must say though, I find his presence refreshing; it's kind of tiresome to hear sports commentary from old retired jocks. It's nice to hear a committed fan's opinion now and then; a committed fan who's never set foot on football field. I find it easier to relate to such a person since I like to watch the game, but I've never played either.
I used to think that Suzy Kolber was hot.
But the last year or so, she hasn't looked the same.
Maybe she's aging. I think she's near 40.
Maybe it's the hairstyle.
Hell, I don't know. But she used to look hot.
I would seriesly love to see that happen, but fear that it won't. The MSM has gotten out the "annointing oil".
This man is Islamic. In fact his middle name is Hussein. Why would the voters want to elect a crazy Islamic.
I didn't know Korny was a sportswriter. I always wondered what qualifications he had to be on MNF, and still do. Guess I could've googled him, but didn't care enough about him to do so.
My apologies. "Don we now our gay apparel" was already used.
First they put the words "Rock Star" in front of his name every chance they get as if it were his first name, now they describe his visit out of his home state as a "rocking visit".
The fawning of the media over "Rock Star Obama" makes one want to puke.
It's pretty simple. ESPN is part of the ABC/Disney family. ABC News is violently anti-Bush and pro-any-lameass-DemocRAT. It is their AGENDA to promote democrats and slur republicans. Duh.
Agreed. As Americans we need to dismantle a long list of unconstitutional Federal programs -- starting with "The Great Society".
If it hadn't been so cleverly worded, I wouldn't have minded.
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