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Recent Articles By Todd Spivak

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In the end, Tillman lost the election despite Obama's endorsement, which critics said countered his calls for clean government. Obama told the Chicago Tribune that he had backed Tillman because she was an early supporter of his 2004 U.S. Senate campaign.

Many speculate Obama only bothered to weigh in on a paltry city council election during his presidential campaign as a gesture to Chicago's powerful Mayor Richard M. Daley, a Tillman supporter. Even so, Obama should have remained neutral, says Timuel Black, a historian and City Colleges of Chicago professor emeritus who lived in Obama's state Senate district.

"That was not a wise decision," Black says. "It was poor judgment on his part. He was operating like a politician trying to win the next step up."
_____________________

Obama has spent his entire political career trying to win the next step up. Every three years, he has aspired to a more powerful political position.

He was just 35 when in 1996 he won his first bid for political office. Even many of his staunchest supporters, such as Black, still resent the strong-arm tactics Obama employed to win his seat in the Illinois Legislature.

Obama hired fellow Harvard Law alum and election law expert Thomas Johnson to challenge the nominating petitions of four other candidates, including the popular incumbent, Alice Palmer, a liberal activist who had held the seat for several years, according to an April 2007 Chicago Tribune report.

Obama found enough flaws in the petition sheets — to appear on the ballot, candidates needed 757 signatures from registered voters living within the district — to knock off all the other Democratic contenders. He won the seat unopposed.

"A close examination of Obama's first campaign clouds the image he has cultivated throughout his political career," wrote Tribune political reporters David Jackson and Ray Long. "The man now running for president on a message of giving a voice to the voiceless first entered public office not by leveling the playing field, but by clearing it."

Three years later, in September 1999, Obama was already preparing his first national campaign. He ran for U.S. Congress against veteran incumbent Bobby Rush, a former co-founder of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party.

Rush painted the largely unknown freshman lawmaker as an out-of-touch elitist, and won the 2000 primary by more than 30 percentage points.

Three years later, in January 2003, Obama announced his bid for the U.S. Senate, where he cruised to victory thanks to the self-destruction of his top opponents in both the primary and general elections.

Obama joined a crowded field of seven candidates vying to fill an open Senate seat being vacated by retiring two-term incumbent Peter Fitzgerald. For months, he polled in the middle-of-the-pack behind frontrunner and former securities trader Blair Hull, who spent $30 million of his own fortune on the primary.

But Hull's campaign imploded just weeks before the election when his divorce files were unsealed, revealing an ex-wife's charges of verbal and physical abuse.

Obama unleashed a barrage of television ads just before the election, when the other candidates had largely depleted their war chests. He won the nomination with 53 percent of the vote.

In the general election, Obama squared off against another multimillionaire: Jack Ryan, who later dropped out of the race after a judge ordered his divorce files unsealed. The documents revealed that Ryan's ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan, a former Miss Illinois best known for her role as Seven of Nine on Star Trek: Voyager, accused him of trying to coerce her to perform sex acts in public.

Obama spent several weeks facing no opponent as the Illinois Republican Party exhausted a laundry list of replacement candidates that included former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka. The GOP ended up recruiting two-time failed presidential hopeful Alan Keyes from Maryland to fill the slot.

Keyes's strategy to use bombastic rhetoric to attract headlines turned off most voters. Most memorably, he said Jesus would not vote for Obama and that homosexuals, including Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter, participated in "selfish ­hedonism."

In the end, Obama won more than 70 percent of the vote in the most lopsided Senate election in Illinois history and became the fifth African-American to win a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Three years later, in February 2007, Obama announced his bid for the White House in front of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, where Abraham Lincoln had made his famous House Divided speech.
_____________________

I moved to Springfield in early 2004 to work for the Illinois Times, where I covered Obama's U.S. Senate bid.

My first assignment was to profile Obama, who was largely unknown in central Illinois.

In fact, at that time just four years ago, Obama was still largely unknown even in his own community.

I followed Obama one wintry morning as he visited several black churches on Chicago's South Side urging people to vote for him in the upcoming primary. Congregants greeted him with lukewarm applause.

I noted in my article that one lady sitting in a pew beside me was noticeably impressed with the young man, and asked to borrow my pen. She wrote on her church pamphlet, "Obama, March 16," then underlined the date.

Over the years, most of my interviews with Obama were conducted by phone. So it felt good when he immediately recognized me and shouted my name from the end of a long, empty hallway inside the church after his speech.

After all, I admired the guy — and still do.

We shook hands and walked outside together. I asked some questions and snapped some pictures before a dark-blue Chevrolet Suburban with tinted windows whisked him off to another congregation less than a mile away. I followed behind in my beat-up Oldsmobile.

My story ran on the cover of the Illinois Times. The more I thought about it, though, the more I thought it was fluff. Obama's own public-relations flack could have produced something comparable.

At the time, the Illinois media had fallen head-over-heels in love with Obama and his squeaky-clean image. "As pedigrees go, there is not a finer one among the Democratic candidates," the Chicago Tribune gushed in its endorsement.

Write Your Comment show comments (270)

  1. "Waaaa! Obama won't return my calls!"

    So this is "journalism"?

    GO BACK TO VERMONT, YOU HICK!

    Comment by wackadoo — February 27, 2008 @ 02:42PM

  2. So you're jealous of Obama, along with some other black politicians. So what else is new.

    Comment by Media — February 27, 2008 @ 03:03PM

  3. Excellent article Mr. Spivak. Obama's fervent supporters will probably try to nitpick your story (as the previous comment indicates) to make it seem less credible, but the truth is there. Barack Obama schemes and lies like any other politician. He is the ultimate proof that the more things "change," the more they stay the same.

    Comment by NightHawk — February 27, 2008 @ 03:07PM

  4. This story sounds like such crap. You should have wrote this at the beginning of his move to becoming President. Not when he is more than ready to become President of the United States of America. You actually call yourself a journalist? Find something more concrete to write about instead of trying to sabotage Obama's candidacy or better yet, gain some sort of recognition for claiming that you know Obama. It seems to me that you are more like the pot calling the kettle black. And why should he speak "street"? He is an educated black man!

    You should write a story about how unhealthy black men have become as they age. Look at your photo. A picture tells a thousand words. Do you want a drink??

    Comment by Jasmine — February 27, 2008 @ 03:31PM

  5. Yeah, excellent article. Of course, it's no surprise that - shock, horror - Obama acted like a politician on the make in the state legislature but it's nice to have the details spelled out.

    Besides is this a generational thing for Democrats? Are they going to elect yet another centrist candidate (like Clinton or Carter) and believe they've found the next liberal messiah?

    Comment by Kevin M. — February 27, 2008 @ 03:32PM

  6. This article would be a lot better if it was less about you, and more about Obama, whatever his faults may be. As it is, the important, interesting things are buried. And you don't have much credibility left by the time you get to them, after potshots like "a reporter friend overheard him call me an asshole". Why don't you just let the facts speak for themselves...you know, like a journalist.

    Comment by JB — February 27, 2008 @ 03:43PM

  7. To Kevin M.: Obama supporters who bought into his his empty "hope and change" claptrap SHOULD feel shock and horror at this tactics because his whole campaign has been based on how he represents a "new" kind of politician. Obama called on his supporters to reject the politics of cynicism when he was practicing the very same thing. It's interesting how far people will move their own moral goalposts when their beliefs are undermined.

    Comment by NightHawk — February 27, 2008 @ 03:44PM

  8. I'm an Obama supporter, and I found this piece very interesting. I'll still be an Obama supporter of course, but it's good to read this information. I'm hoping that his policies and judgment in the future coincide with the way he's run his campaign. As far as his actions before he was a US senator, well, you bring up some important stuff.

    Comment by Steve Johnson — February 27, 2008 @ 04:36PM

  9. This reads like a pure Rick Pearson-fed Springfield fringe article. The only substance is your weak, utterly unverifiable supposed phone conversation. I can't believe this got past an editor's desk: even Houston. Innuendo, conjecture and agenda: I see talk-radio in your future, boy.

    Comment by Ed — February 27, 2008 @ 05:25PM

  10. Your article is confusing at best. At one point you complain about how he didn't do enough for the culturally rich Bronzeville, then knock Tillman for having a money consuming cultural center. You knock Barack for directing state money towards Chicago, then say he didn't give enough. Your article is riddled with inconsistencies. Sloppy journalism even for "new journalism". It's no wonder you had to leave Chicago to get a job. And $150 a month for a place in Chicago is good no matter where you are. But maybe since this paper is in Houston, no one there will be able to call you out for your blatantly false statements about Chicago.

    Comment by Jeremy — February 27, 2008 @ 05:35PM

  11. So Barack Obama got famous and you covered Chicago sort of and maybe it will help your career to hop on the bandwagon and promote yourself. Otherwise it's a list of grudges with no clear argument and some name dropping.
    Gee, somebody in big city politics was ambitious and had rivals. Oh and you knew him.

    Big whup.

    Comment by anna — February 27, 2008 @ 06:21PM

  12. Barack Hussein Obama belongs to a black supremacist church that gave Louis Farrakhan a 'humanitarian' award. Barack Hussein Obama has never done community service or any voluteer work in his life. He expresses deep dislike--some might say hatred--for America. He avoided every single potentially controversial vote as a Senator except for the one regarding whether we invade a Muslim country that was harboring terrorists that had killed over 3000 Americans, and, interestingly enough, he voted against invading that Muslim country. He is a self-serving egomaniac and what scares me is that NO ONE seems to be looking at these truly disturbing facts. He is a politician's politician, and since buying his multi-million dollar home with the proceeds of his book he is poised to become very powerful and wealthy. Unity, change, poor people, give me a break. Hillary Clinton has spent 35 years helping poor people--many of them people of color. Real change would be electing someone who really cares about America and Americans. I am proud to be an American and I will proudly vote for someone who might actually effect change--Hillary Clinton.

    Comment by jennifer — February 27, 2008 @ 06:56PM

  13. Nice biography.I especially liked the part where Barak Obama hurt your feelings.

    When somebody yells at me,and won't return my calls,the first thing I want to do is write my life story so a newspaper will pretend is some kind of shocking expose to fill a lot,and I mean a lot,of space.

    Douche.

    Comment by Fred Rouse — February 27, 2008 @ 07:31PM

  14. It just proves what a viable candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton is in comparison. I had long been a supporter of Barack Obama, but I feel that he has much yet to learn and much yet to prove. This kind of behavior does not warrant the support of the superdelegates neither the support of those that shall be voting in the upcoming primaries. It is time for America to WAKE UP and start reading the facts and the literature that is finally being released on this candidate. He had my vote, but his shocking debate style and unanswered policy questions AND tactics leave little to be desired.
    Hillary Clinton on the flip side of the coin, HAS what it takes....between the 9th-19th February, no other candidate has taken the staunch, steadfast approach that she has taken. I was in awe of her intelligence watching both the Texan and Ohion democratic debates and her solutions for America....it does not take a a great deal of intelligence to decipher exactly who is the most viable. I sure wish American would start evaluating the facts, the credentials and the experience of this candidate, before we make the massive mistake of handing the presidency to more of the same aka John McCain.

    If we want a Democratic nominee that will take us to the White House....VOTE HILLARY CLINTON. And my vote will proudly be awarded to you. Congratulations on wading the storm and I look forward to the victory that will be March 4th.

    Comment by Lauren — February 27, 2008 @ 08:12PM

  15. I have to agree with some of the earlier writers. I'm an Obama supporter, and there's some fascinating juicy stuff in this piece. But, there's a few points that make you lose credibility... but they lead to honesty. The jive talking line, the fact that he didn't get to respond to your negative article (or this article), all of it shows a narrowness of your perspective. That being said, I really needed to read something about the nitty gritty of how Obama rose so fast. He was a golden boy, and they sometimes hurt feelings on the way. He still worked hard, and he still possesses a power to encourage people to work together. It's just nice that someone pointed out the fallout of all of that. So it's a good necessary article, that isn't completely fair.

    Comment by she's right — February 27, 2008 @ 08:12PM

  16. When somebody rises so far so fast, I wonder how he is acclimating to fame. That's why I really liked this article because it gives a vantage point into Obama at all these stages of his career.

    Nobody is perfect, especially a politician.

    His supporters are going to give you hell for this.

    Comment by AJ Fish — February 27, 2008 @ 08:50PM

  17. Oh thank you for this article! The media has not vetted Obama's record at all to this point. Thank you for being willing to be a reporter for the American people.

    Comment by ginaswo — February 27, 2008 @ 08:50PM

  18. To Obama supporters:
    I am sorry that someone has uncovered your hero's true face: an opportunistic bully. Your reason for supporting Barack Obama is continually changing, just like his stance on important issues. When he first ran for President you support him because he is above politics. Now as more evidence surface that he is just another ambitious politician, you are supporting him because his campaign ran a "lean, mean political machine." Your blindness has led you into hypocrisy. You just sound pathetic now.
    Of course, intimidation is no big deal to you. That's what your campaign has been doing to black superdelegates. You better be careful and not upset your hero, because one day you may on the receiving end.

    Comment by Kim — February 27, 2008 @ 09:04PM

  19. He'a a thug. A Harvard educated thug. Wake up, Texas. It's in your hands.

    Comment by Rick Ramsay — February 27, 2008 @ 09:05PM

  20. Thank you for your courage to tell this story! You're going to get a lot of flack from the crazy Obama supporters. When the nomination process started, I thought I would vote for Obama. But the more I learned about him, the less secure I felt about electing him as our most important public servant. I trust Hillary to take care of our country and to stand up against her detractors in the Senate and the House. I trust that she can stand up against foreign leaders who might want to do harm to the US. I feel safe with her and I haven't given up yet. Vote for Hillary, Texas!

    Comment by hillarysmygirl — February 27, 2008 @ 09:06PM

  21. i commendyou for writing this article. one question has plagued the country since obama announced his bid for the presidency... you have certainly showed us a side that i think all of us knew existed.

    this article has just soldified my belief that voting for hillary clinton is the best choice for our country. it is even more clear now that barak obama is running on a platform of pure rhetoric... he claims to want to unite, yet he attacks other democrats and is not above ripping the party apart. he claims to want to unite, yet he is dividing the african american community by threatening prominent african american leaders that do not support him. maybe in time he will be ready, but after the last seven years, we do not need another empty suit in the white house. no more on the job training... this is the time for experience, not time for an experiment!

    Comment by divabunny — February 27, 2008 @ 09:09PM

  22. I don't understand how the national media hasn't looked at his past seriously, he's running for President for goodness sake, if his words aren't his own, shouldn't his legislative accomplishments be his?

    Comment by nycvoter — February 27, 2008 @ 09:15PM

  23. P.S. I think Barack Obama would make a great vice-president. He can learn a thing or two from Hillary in 8 years, then he can be President for the next 8. Poke a fork in him, he's not ready yet.

    And p.p.s., Jasmine? That's a picture of Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr. you were referring to...that's not a picture of Todd Spivak. I find it hysterically funny that Senator Clinton's supporters are supposedly the uneducated ones. At least we read captions.

    Comment by hillarysmygirl — February 27, 2008 @ 09:17PM

  24. I think we should be asking that Obama step down and out of the democratic race for his dishonest mailings about Hillary and old style politics.

    Not only does it show dishonesty, but it flies in the face of everything he says he is about. He is using old politics to get ahead.

    He has now become the devisive one to the democratic party.

    Comment by Fred — February 27, 2008 @ 09:18PM

  25. Thank you for being brave enough to tell the real story on Senator Obama. I know that you will take a lot of heat for going against "The Messiah", but stand strong. America needs more journalist like you to expose the truth about Senator Obama's past. Our Country has too much at stake to nominate and Empty Suit like him. Thank you again!

    Comment by Mathomas — February 27, 2008 @ 09:20PM

  26. HAHAHAHAH, I love the libs all pouring out condemnation on the HOUSTON PRESS of all papers. HAHAHAHA. Or I should say the OBama Sheep. They can't stand if you insult their messiah. He's the second coming right?

    Of course a bill that Obama did support that should be added to his "lengthy" record is the bill that lets babies who survive abortions, ie are alive after the procedure, die. I guess he likes to see babies die in the name of abortion. To me, that sums up the man Obama is. A typical coward, a politician, and best of all, he'll come in 2nd place come election time! Good try Barack Hussein Obama.

    Comment by Billy Deez — February 27, 2008 @ 09:23PM

  27. I knew there were local stories about Obama-Even the fawning Chicago Tribune had said in endorsements that they would like to know a little more about his going along to get along in Chicago politics. One doesn't rise that quickly through the ranks-especially in Chicago without a story- Thanks for giving it to us.

    Comment by bb60 — February 27, 2008 @ 09:24PM

  28. Thank you, Mr. Spivak for writing an honest article about Senator Obama. I have no doubt that you will receive lots of nasty comments, plenty of virtual shouting, and perhaps even threats from Senator Obama's supporters (based on Tavis Smiley's experience), but I thank you for being honest. His use of intimidation has been apparent throughout this campaign, and it is no wonder that others in the state legislature found him difficult to work with. This has confirmed my judgement of his character that he is mostly a talker, not a doer and that he has not nearly the record of accomplishment when it comes to improving the lives of Americans as his opponent.

    I hope the rest of the so-called journalists in this country will follow your example and take a closer look at Senator Obama, to highlight not only his strong points, but also his very real flaws, and his dangerous lack of experience.

    Comment by Emily — February 27, 2008 @ 09:24PM

  29. WOW!!! This answers so many questions. We need to hear from more reporters that saw Barack before. But wow that is really telling that he wasn't able to "Change" and get the Republican run congress to do "Believe" together. If they were tough on the state level what does he think is gonna happen on the Fed level? Again in the Senate no major votes against the existing grain that he is gonna change as supposed president. No ground breaking legislation nothing. Just votes as the other democratic senators who were already there votes.

    This is so ridiculous now. Please TX, OH, RI and VT stop this madness!

    Comment by BMN4O — February 27, 2008 @ 09:25PM

  30. I am glad to see some insight into Obama's personality. Nobody knows who this guy is. In his book, he said he was a "blank screen" onto which people could project anything. He has carefully cultivated a mystery man persona in order to get the presidency. Hillary, on the other hand, is well-known and everybody knows she can get the job done. Nobody knows how Obama would behave as president. Hope and change? How idiotic. I'm sick of this Obamamania. It's foolishness and a lot of people are going to be very embarrassed with the way they have fawned over this man.

    Comment by Bees — February 27, 2008 @ 09:26PM

  31. As a journalist, I have to say that anyone who recognizes this gentleman's ability to write a story as journalism, should really move beyond a high school yearbook. I may or or may not like Barack Obama, but this...my friends...is crappy journalism...and that's probably a compliment.

    Comment by Brandon — February 27, 2008 @ 09:26PM

  32. I wonder if Obama will treat his supporters the way he treated the people who helped him get into the Senate?

    Comment by Jenny — February 27, 2008 @ 09:34PM

  33. '"The white, race-baiting, hard-right Republican Illinois Senate Majority Leader James "Pate" Philip was replaced by Emil Jones Jr., a gravel-voiced, dark-skinned African-American known for chain-smoking cigarettes on the Senate floor.

    Jones had served in the Illinois Legislature for three decades. He represented a district on the Chicago South Side not far from Obama's. He became Obama's ­kingmaker.

    Several months before Obama announced his U.S. Senate bid, Jones called his old friend Cliff Kelley, a former Chicago alderman who now hosts the city's most popular black call-in radio ­program.

    I called Kelley last week and he recollected the private conversation as follows:

    "He said, 'Cliff, I'm gonna make me a U.S. Senator.'"

    "Oh, you are? Who might that be?"

    "Barack Obama."

    Jones appointed Obama sponsor of virtually every high-profile piece of legislation, angering many rank-and-file state legislators who had more seniority than Obama and had spent years championing the bills.

    "I took all the beatings and insults and endured all the racist comments over the years from nasty Republican committee chairmen," State Senator Rickey Hendon, the original sponsor of landmark racial profiling and videotaped confession legislation yanked away by Jones and given to Obama, complained to me at the time. "Barack didn't have to endure any of it, yet, in the end, he got all the credit.

    "I don't consider it bill jacking," Hendon told me. "But no one wants to carry the ball 99 yards all the way to the one-yard line, and then give it to the halfback who gets all the credit and the stats in the record book."

    During his seventh and final year in the state Senate, Obama's stats soared. He sponsored a whopping 26 bills passed into law — including many he now cites in his presidential campaign when attacked as inexperienced.'

    This is like the story by Joe Wilson debunking the "Saddam is shopping for uranium" story in the run up to the Iraq war. It shows up so late in the game that there is no time, and probably no desire on the mainstream press's part, to analyze the story and discuss it.

    Comment by vee — February 27, 2008 @ 09:46PM

  34. there's something about him that i find suspicious...i also find him arrogant and cocky...to this i add lacking experience and sexist...no, i'm not into the obama-mania crap...i like leaders who are experienced and qualified...i want the usa in the hands of someone that i trust...this is not football; i will not take a chance on the well-intentioned rookie...and, since i'm an independent voter, that leaves me with clinton or mccain...if there's no clinton, the next president will be mccain....the writing is on the wall...centrist democrats are going to vote the same way....so will a significant number of women and hispanics...and, by the way, many independants that may have voted for BO, will vote mccain in the general election....add the vote of republicans (who DO NOT jump ship like democrats) and there you have it....

    Comment by sam — February 27, 2008 @ 09:49PM

  35. Thank you for your insight on Obama. I have watched him in the debates, and read articles about slimey deals he has done in the US Senate. The one that mostly bothers me is the one that he watered down a Nuclear Bill where Exelon had leaked nuclear waste in the rivers to not mandate notification to the public. The watered down bill has given his presidental campaign $289,000 from executives at Exelon. Thank you for being honest and bringing this to light. I am a Democrat, never voted Republican, but this year I will vote for McCain. He has earned respect. I may not like his stances on the issues, but I can say he is honorable.

    Comment by Pam Fulgham — February 27, 2008 @ 09:59PM

  36. This man would be a disaster for the Democratic Party and for the country. Texas, do the right thing - vote for Hillary, and don't fail to go to the caucuses in the evening with proof of voting.

    Comment by Skip — February 27, 2008 @ 10:02PM

  37. Readers may be interested in this article on race during the campaign. lots of insight

    http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=aa0cd21b-0ff2-4329-88a1-69c6c268b304

    Comment by nycvoter — February 27, 2008 @ 10:05PM

  38. What a brilliant piece of journalism!!! I wote an email to this reporter but I also wanted to express support on a public level for this piece. I have witnessed what this reporter speaks of and it is the truth. Anyone attacking this reporter is blinded, and I truly feel sorry for them. This reporter KNEW Obama before he became the Barackstar (as I did) and he isn't blinded by the mystique of the Axelrod PR campaign. He stated he admred the man (as I do), but none of that takes away from the fact that he has hidden his past, the media have happily oblidged (probably because there are threats to shut them out), and everyone ha sucked up Axelrod's BS.

    People of Texas: Take it from an Illinoisan and vote Hillary. Sen. Obama does have te eperience or the judgment to be President and Commander-in-Chief.

    Comment by Shawn — February 27, 2008 @ 11:31PM

  39. What a brilliant piece of journalism!!! I wote an email to this reporter but I also wanted to express support on a public level for this piece. I have witnessed what this reporter speaks of and it is the truth. Anyone attacking this reporter is blinded, and I truly feel sorry for them. This reporter KNEW Obama before he became the Barackstar (as I did) and he isn't blinded by the mystique of the Axelrod PR campaign. He stated he admred the man (as I do), but none of that takes away from the fact that he has hidden his past, the media have happily oblidged (probably because there are threats to shut them out), and everyone has sucked up Axelrod's BS.

    People of Texas: Take it from an Illinoisan and vote Hillary. Sen. Obama does not have the experience or the judgment to be President and Commander-in-Chief.

    Comment by Shawn — February 27, 2008 @ 11:32PM

  40. A very interesting piece, indeed. It surely exposes Obama's lie of a "politics of change, politics of unity." It further exposes the corruption of his past political life, as well as giving insight into how he might have been running his current campaign for the nomination. The fact that this piece is written from a personal perspective does not diminish the veracity of the facts presented.

    In my observation, although all of us have based (up to a point) our choice of candidate on personal preferences, many of us who chose NOT to support Obama have taken the pains to base our choices on something other than absolute and blind devotion; the candidates' platforms and resumes should not be seen as mere unnecessary and annoying footnotes, as something to ignore or assign second priority. That is not to say that all Obama supporters chose him based on nothing but a sense of "personal relationship" with him, but my interaction with Obama supporters continues to give me the impression that many are perhaps too young or too blinded by attachment to their candidate to take seriously his faults, his questionable actions, his silence when people in his campaign do his dirty work in a manner unbecoming of his purported "clean" and "post-race" candidacy.

    Sad as it is, Obama will be easy to defeat in the GE against McCain. Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, would be a far better choice despite (or perhaps because of) her supposed flaws. Her record is extensive and commendable, though it isn't perfect; her platform, especially on health care, is a far better choice than Obama's; her personality qualifies her as someone who has what it takes to clean the mess Bush will leave us; her intelligence and presence will make her a great representative of the U.S. abroad. I had the pleasure of meeting her once in New York, and I found her to be a pleasant individual with a peculiar type of charisma all her own--something that I consider a plus, rather than a negative.

    Comment by Minina — February 27, 2008 @ 11:44PM

  41. Enjoyed the background on Barack Obama - there is just not enough information on him available. I know, because I try to do good research before making my decision. I imagine you will be attacked by some over ardent supporters of his, but the rest of us thank you for filling in some blanks. We can make a better decision on which candidate to vote for. Thanks again.

    Comment by Henry — February 28, 2008 @ 05:53AM

  42. Thank you for filling in some blanks a lot of us have about Mr. Obama. The more information we have to make an informed decision on this important Presidential race, the better.

    Comment by Mary — February 28, 2008 @ 06:24AM

  43. The Obamatons are on alert and will flood the site with rage shortly.

    Todd thanks for a very interesting piece with a unique point of view. You are a brave guy to take on the followers of our lord and savior Obama.

    Comment by Bitch is the new black — February 28, 2008 @ 06:42AM

  44. 1. I'm an Obama supporter. I'm not crazed, hypnotized and I do not think he is the second coming of the Messiah. That being said, why are Obama supporters so criticized as delusional for doubting an article in the Houston Press that is riddled with hearsay? It seems to me that it's more delusional for the rest of you to be so drawn into this article that you're behaving as though the man is the anti-Christ. Anyway...I'd like to address 5 comments in particular:

    #12. He opposed the war because it wasn't the right thing to do. And everyone with 1/2 an ounce of intelligence realized it then...and most people realize it in hindsight. Hillary now regrets that she was duped by Bush...ya really want someone running the country who could be fooled by...W? Not to mention the fact that Hillary has shown her many ugly sides throughout this campaign. I used to like Hillary (still love Bill), but her behavior of late has been disheartening. Not because she's a woman...if she were a man behaving this way, she would be considered a bully. And if Barack is poised on becoming a very wealthy man, at least he's not hiding how he earns his money...Hillary won't...not before the primary on the 4th...doesn't that seem curious to you? And if you think there's something wrong with being wealthy...you should be slightly troubled that Hillary "loaned" 5 MILLION dollars of her own money to her campaign. Sure, it was a loan...I'm sure most Americans have that kind of cash laying around.

    #14 Shocking debate style???? The man has remained calm and dignified in the face of Hillary's erratic, emotional outbursts. He's remained respectful and classy and even when he's said mildly negative things about HRC he's done so respectfully and without malice. If you want to learn his policies, go to his website...they're there for anyone to read. If you want to hand the presidency over to McCain, vote Hillary. She won't beat him..what she will do is energize conservative and apathetic repulicans to get out there and vote for McCain. Hillary is the polarizing candidate. She's behind him AND Obama in the polls. Do the math.

    #21 What side has been shown? This article is comprised almost entirely of hearsay. He's run the least negative campaign of any of the candidates. Threatening black leaders? Where are you getting your information? He's not the candidate that's been ripping the party apart...that would be HRC...who has been running a smear campaign from the start. NONE of the candidates have ANY experience running the country...HRC was only married to a president...not quite the same thing. Good Lord...the woman didn't know her husband was having an affair (and I know from experience that when your spouse is having an affair, the signs are all there...if you don't turn a blind eye), she didn't know Bush going to war was the wrong thing to do...she's clearly oblivious. Her healthcare plan failed in the past because she refuses to listen to people other than yes men, she wants things to go her way or no way at all, unwilling to be flexible to make things happen...that's exactly what we've had for the past 8 years. A stubborn leader who wants things done his way regardless of what anyone advises or wants.

    Look, everyone gets defensive when their candidate is attacked or criticized...whether justied or not...HRC supporters, McCain supporters, Obama supporters. We support these people and believe in them because we relate to them, feel like they represent us, believe in their policies and believe that they can affect change. I am a 37 year old white woman. I am not voting for gender or race. I'm voting for the candidate I believe can unite our country. Whether you believe it is because I am a blind sheep, hypnotized or whatever you believe...that is your right. But when we get on these boards and attack each other...it serves no purpose. I have done much research...and learned a lot about Obama...since my dad told me about this young man from Illinois about 8 years ago. He said..his star is rising...he brings people together in a way he hadn't seen since Bobby. I started learning about the man and his beliefs and I admire and respect him. Just because I don't flip on him based on hearsay or an article in the free press does not a fanatic make me. I stand up for my beliefs as we all have the right to do and should do.
    God Bless America.

    Comment by whee — February 28, 2008 @ 08:58AM

  45. Bravo. MSM and cable talking heads pale in comparison and make us worse off. It's high time they were called out.

    Comment by Grendel — February 28, 2008 @ 09:15AM

  46. Thank you for writing this report.

    There is no perfect candidate.
    But people need to make informed decision.

    Comment by joeysky — February 28, 2008 @ 09:39AM

  47. Thank you for writing this. My Mom grew up in Chicago and has been telling me that politics are an entirely different thing there. Your story really illustrates that. The background on Obama is disturbing, to say the least. I have no use for star-makers, I have no use for "rock star" candidates. The last two times we elected one of those, we got Reagan and Bush (substitute cowboy for rockstar when it's GOP.) It didn't work out either time. The last time we had a president that got things done and improved the lives and civil rights of our citizens. But that is forgotten because the push to elect Obama has made enemies of friends all in the name of getting him elected.

    The most disturbing aspect of the story is how many people resent this created candidate, resent his tactics (which are shamefully ugly and anti-unity), yet they go on to say that they support him! Where is the integrity in that? Does it seem odd to anyone that Obama has suddenly taken on this Southern Baptist minister style of speaking? I have no doubt that Axelrod has had him working with a vocal coach or watching videos... The Youtube video of Obama speaking then intercut with Denzell Washington playing Malcom X is almost identical -- word for word. But that is not how Obama spoke before. He's playing a part and people refuse to see it. Instead they'll attack journalists like Mr. Spivak for pointing out Obama's path to this election, and the inconsistencies.

    I'm tired of blank slate candidates. I'm not looking for a savior, I'm not looking for a preacher, I'm not looking for a rock star. I'm looking for someone that can get up in the morning, sit down at that desk in the Oval Office, and get the work of repairing the Nation done. The person that gets EVERYONE health care, reverses the deficit (again!), keeps people from losing their homes, does not have to be a feel-good candidate. The idea that all America needs is someone to inspire us to be better people is silly, and smacks of American Idol thinking. Yeah, a candidate makes us feel all warm and fuzzy with David Axelrod's words about how we're bringing the nation together... and then what? I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm pretty busy trying to keep my own life together, struggle along, and keep our heads above water. I don't really have time to help the President run the Country. Once the chanting stops, the tears stop, the signs are thrown into recycling, the person you select has to do the work. No amount of inspiration will fix the nation's problems. It's about electing someone that gets thing done. When Obama mentioned in the debate a "sermon" he gave at a church... I was shocked. I don't want a "preach"er, I want a "do"er.

    Comment by Diana — February 28, 2008 @ 10:06AM

  48. Thanks for this article and your willingness to take abuse from Obama supporters. That is something that has bothered me so very much. He is this inspirational above it all guy and so many of his supporters are vile and mean spirited in thier comments.They so gleefully trash the Clinton's using republican talking points. I often wonder if they are Democrats at all? He should be required to address this along with the misogyny that is so much worse than I realized. I saw yesterday a supporter's website that is selling sweatshirts that say, "Bros before Hos" lovely.

    Comment by susan — February 28, 2008 @ 10:12AM

  49. Todd,

    You write an article that includes a story where Obama shouts you down. Then his supporters do the same thing.

    This isn't change or uniting - it's Bush II

    Comment by angdee — February 28, 2008 @ 10:16AM

  50. Mr. Obama's color is a shield of impenetrable armor protecting him from even the slightest bit of scrutiny, and thus putting all of America and the world at risk.

    In addition to receiving Mr. Farrakhan's endorsement, Mr. Obama's church gave Mr. Farrakhan a "humanitarian" award in the last year or so. Mr. Farrakhan is an racist, a hater of Jews and white people, and someone who should be feared, reviled, and perhaps even pitied. If, for example, Hillary Clinton belonged to a church that gave the KKK a "humanitarian" award she would be forced out of office. However, Mr. Obama appears to have been given a most disturbing pass on this by almost everyone in the media. Talk about a double standard. Talk about disturbing. Talk about hypocritical. I almost choke when I hear him talk about UNITY knowing this fact. At the very least, Mr. Obama should have left the church based on their support of this racist, but as we all know he did not. This FACT alone should force him from public office.

    Let's talk about some other facts. Mr. Obama has expressed open dislike, almost hatred, for this country. I want a President that LOVES this country. Mr. Obama has never done community service or volunteer work of any kind, so when he talks about change it is empty rhetoric. Furthermore, he recently purchased a MULTI-MILLION dollar house with the proceeds of his book making him look even more the hypocrite. The Houston Press'story about Mr. Obama shows him to be a politician's politician, quoting him on pork barrel spending in Chicago as saying he doesn't just get pork he gets "steak" implying that he is better than your average politician at lining the pockets of his supporters. He has avoided every single potentially controversial vote EVER, except the one regarding whether we should invade a Muslim country suspected of hiding Muslim terrorists that took over 3,000 American lives on 9/11 and he voted AGAINST invading that Muslim country. He is, by his own words and actions, a hypocrite and a racist. Hillary Clinton has spent 35 years helping poor people--many of them people of color. Real change would be electing someone who really cares about America and Americans. I am proud to be an American and I will proudly vote for someone who might actually effect change--Hillary Clinton.

    Comment by jennifer beegle — February 28, 2008 @ 10:23AM

  51. Comment by whee — February 28, 2008 @ 08:58AM

    1) Obama supporters are crazed not just because they attack this article and call the author a "hick" but because they have done so with every other articles that uncover negative things about him. Open your eyes. This is not the first article that unveiled Obama as a typical politician. Hillary supporters do not think Obama is the antichrist (that's Republicans), but we do believe that he lacks the very principles that he base his campaign on.

    2)Wasn't the media heavily promoting Bush when he was running as the "Uniter"? As usual, Obama supporters seem to blame Hillary for everything that went wrong during the Bush administration. Guess who was in charge of the Bush administration? Bush fooled Hillary and the other senators, including Kerry and Kennedy, who believed that he would use the authorization to let the UN finish their work. It's funny that in 2004, when Obama was running for the US Senate, he took the speech off his website and said he was not privy to Senate intelligence reports. Of course not, because he wasn't a senator and could not vote! And he said in 2004, "What would I have done? I don't know."
    Hillary has no obligation to release her tax returns. As she said, the info is already public. Frankly, we could care less because she has done nothing illegal. We could care less that Obama's wife got that posh hospital job and increased their income many fold when he became US senator. Most Americans don't live in a mansion that they acquired through questionable dealings either.

    3) Barack Obama has calmly and with dignity stumbled, stuttered, and run the clock during debates while essentially saying that he agrees with Hillary's position. It's not hard to be calm and dignified when all one has to do is sit there and remember the other person's answer and change it just a little bit. While he only said mildly negative things about Hillary, his campaign used Republican scare tactics that distorted her health care position and attributed quotes to her that she didn't say. Saying one thing and doing another is something that Obama is particularly good at.

    4) Who ran a smear campaign? The one who claims to be above politics who attacks his opponent's character and personality? The one who helps people buy into the belief that Hillary is divisive? Hillary was the one who declared her intentions to run for president first, and Democrats were lining up behind her before Obama came in and started attacking her character. It was Obama who stood by while the pundits accused Bill and Hillary of being racists and it was his camp who distributed the 4-page memo while saying he wasn't commenting about the issue.
    She was only married to the president, but she was in charge of health care reform. What other first lady has ever done that? She championed health care when it was relatively unpopular. She stood by universal health care as Repubs and big businesses attack them with the same tactic that Obama is using now. And while it failed, guess what, she did not back down.
    You are another person who blamed Hillary Clinton for Bill Clinton's affair. If this is your reason for picking a president, then maybe you are delusional.

    5)I am also a woman who is voting for Hillary who would vote for her if she was a man. Good for you, 37 year old woman. But guess what, you are not unique. You are not special because you are white and voting for a black man. You are another person who thinks that he will unite the country while ignoring the fact that he is ripping the party apart. You need to do more research and not dismiss everything you read as hearsay.

    One more note...Unlike you and many people I know, I am not voting on how I think the Republicans will vote. I am not voting for another candidate because I'm afraid that Republicans will come out in large numbers to vote against her, because doing so is succumbing to their desires. I know they have been attacking Hillary ever since she was a First Lady. I know Republicans hate the Clintons' guts. But that's because they are true Democrats who will fight for the people, not big business or special interests.
    Good for your dad, but don't you find it curious that the young Kennedys, Bobby's children, all endorsed Hillary Clinton?

    Comment by Kim — February 28, 2008 @ 10:55AM

  52. Lies and corruption ?? The allegations, much less proof, are too thin in this article. A good beginning to a background bio but too anecdotal, internally inconsistent and not readily reliable. Of course, as we see, there is no shortage of those who cant read critically so they accept the last thing they heard which, if it is this article, would lead them to discount a gifted politician.

    Wonder why you havent seen this type of article in the major Chicago dailies, the Times or the Washington Post ?? It would only be published where the standards are relaxed. And please, dont start that stuff about how Hillary is virtuous. Last I knew, she ran Bill's clean up operations when one of his perennial bimbo eruptions happened. The proof is in the pudding: two terms of Clinton produced NAFTA, the first Republican Congress since Eisenhower and too many scandals to recount. McCain ?? A hundred year crusade. And this reporter is peddling second hand stories from his years as a third rate stringer in Illinois with no verification ??

    Comment by Michael — February 28, 2008 @ 11:42AM

  53. I would like to know what you know about Larry Sinclair's accusations of gay sex and smoking crack with Barack Obama in 1999? He has also accused Mr. Axelrod of hiring Mr. Parisi of Whitehousedotcom for $750,000 to give Larry a bogus polygraph. Nodody from the Obama/Axelrod campaign has addressed these accusations, but maybe you could get to the bottom of this story. Larry is posting new info daily at his webpage larrysinclair0926(dot)spaces(dot)live(dot)com/ as well as bigheaddc(dot)com. I think these are very serious charges and am hoping you might want to get the answers that that the rest of MSM is keeping so silent about.
    Thank you for the article.

    Comment by Robin — February 28, 2008 @ 11:43AM

  54. PC world gone mad - you mention the internet story that hasn't hit local newsstands... that's because nobody can get it out of cyberspace!! no one wants to touch it... o'reilly eluded to its existence, youtube censored its site on the comment ticker, even tabloids like the globe barely talk about the fact that network or cable or talk radio are scared to be the first to report it .. YOU know about it... it is explosive, but we'll let the dems vote for him before the story is out...even if the story is a crock, the suppression of this information stinks of communism and that is a BIG story...

    Comment by harry — February 28, 2008 @ 12:44PM

  55. I really liked the article. As a college senior, I am interested in what the candidates have accomplished and if they are qualified to lead this country. I dont think Obama fits the bill. He seems just a little "sneaky".

    Comment by Sunny — February 28, 2008 @ 01:30PM

  56. Why the title of your story is Obama and Me for a journalist you use limited words, I mean why not make it interesting like The Good and The Bad Times Working With Barack Obama, that sounds better than Obama and Me, who me oh you, I just wanted to point out in your article you said Obama yelled at you because he didn't agree with your last story then you said that you are impressed with Obama, you can't be impressed with someone thats always yelling when you do wrong, make up your mind Hillary Clinton or you against the war or not did you answer yes but you was hopeing the bill didn't pass....
    Why would you try to get incontact with Obama if he was that bad of a person..

    Comment by Kesha — February 28, 2008 @ 01:58PM

  57. Comment by Kim — February 28, 2008 @ 10:55AM

    1) That's quite a blanket statement you're making about Obama supporters. I don't know about you, but when I'm reading an Obama message board, there are many, many HRC supporters who appear rather crazed and blinded. They get offensive and insulting...on an OBAMA site. I've visited HRC message boards...and they're crazed and on the defense there, as well. Clearly crazed fanatacism isn't indigenous to the Obama support base. For the record, I said the HRC supporters BEHAVE as though he's the anti-christ...and I didn't really think anyone would take that comment so literally...but...hope this clarifies that for you.

    2) Obama supporters don't blame Hillary for everything that's gone wrong with the Bush administration...I believe Hillary has said that she was wrong and was duped...not really a sign of good judgement. She, by the way is running for Pres. not Kennedy.
    You're right...she's not obligated...and if you could care less...without seeing any proof...then how do you know she's done nothing illegal or immoral?? As for him living in a mansion...do you think the Clintons live in a homeless shelter???? You bring up Michelle's "posh hospital job" with a an undertone of disgust...but qualify it by saying you could care less. Questionable dealings? He has not been shown to have done anything wrong either...seems like you should care less about that as well.

    3) She's all over the board with her emotions...sarcastic and shrewish, victimized, accusatory, concilliatory...the list goes on. They don't differ that greatly on their policies...he's not repeating her answers...his policies have been out there for some time...just because their plans are similar...doesn't mean he's mimicking her responses. If you don't think Hillary has been insulting or that her campaign has done anything negative or that she's waffled on any issues...clearly you go through life with blinders on.

    4) I think anyone with 1/2 a brain can see that HRC is divisive without any help...she feeds that perception quite well enough on her own. Democrats were lining up for her before Obama...WHEN HE WASN'T RUNNING. Just like people in Michigan and Florida voted for her...BECAUSE SHE WAS THE ONLY CANDIDATE WHO DID NOT STAND ON HER WORD AND TAKE HER NAME OFF THE BALLOT. As far as her healthcare reform....it might not have failed had she been willing to bend a little. Her rigidity and inability to unite the parties is what caused it to fail. And personally, I don't believe that health insurance should be mandated...that just screams catastrophe. It isn't about backing down...it's about being able to see outside of your own tunnel vision and get people behind you.

    I didn't "blame" Hillary for her husband having an affair...perhaps you should re-read my previous post. I simply pointed out another instance where she was oblivious...just happened to be an intimate...albeit, very public example. I tried to find where I implied that had anything to do with my choice of candidate...but couldn't. So the only comment I have to that statement is that you are clearly one of those precious folks who reads/sees/hears what they want to...and go off half-cocked.

    5)Again...you are a tad too literal for my tastes...but I did not say I was unique or special..merely discounting beforehand anyone who might think I am voting for Obama based on gender, age or race. The fact that I think he is more than capable of uniting the nation does not mean I'm ignoring anything...I do not believe it is Obama that is "ripping the party apart". In fact...I don't really think anyone is "ripping the party apart". Please don't tell me I need to do more research as you have no idea as to how much I've researched both candidates. I also do not dismiss everything I read as hearsay...what you know of me is that I have dismissed this one particular article...and clearly a majority of it IS hearsay. The man references alleged phone calls and conversations...that no one has come forth to support. He has nothing to back any of it up other than his word...and quite honestly, much of it sounds pretty pedestrian for a seasoned, professional journalist. And again, you tell me how I'm basing my vote. I don't mean to be harsh...but telling someone of whom you know almost nothing on waht they are basing ANYTHING...comes of as a little ignorant. I'm not basing my vote on what the Republicans are going to do...I made a comment that I believe will happen. I will vote for a Democrat regardless of who it is....it just happens that I hope and pray that Democrat is Obama. In response to your last question...no I don't find it at all curious. Don't you find it curious that Teddy and Caroline are backing Obama...seeing that they had an intimate relationship with J & R and would know better than anyone who is more closely related in principle to the late Kennedy's? Final note: the bullying tone of your email makes it a little clearer to me how you would relate to HRC ;-) sorry...couldn't help that little jab.

    Comment by whee — February 28, 2008 @ 02:08PM

  58. People are so dismissive of articles like this which are too well documented to be without merit.
    As a black man..sort of.........Obama will always get the support of those who are dyed in the wool "we must have a black man in the White House types" whether he knows his butt from a banjo or is definitely Wiley Coyote as all politicians are finally discovered to be since they got a taste of power.
    One thing we do not need is another ego trip in the oval office. I can just picture Obama winning, having his wife redoing the place with fur covered furniture, lots of bling around both their necks and arms, and Barbecues on the WH lawn.If 1/10 of the article is true, I think America is in the hands of another ambitious but smarter choice except he is going to take two years to figure out the world he has never seen or leaders he hasn't met. Meanwhile, back in the U.S.

    Comment by Sennit Ford — February 28, 2008 @ 02:39PM

  59. I'm shocked, shocked I tell you to learn that a politician has engaged in... politics! The humanity.

    Seriously, this piece might be more appropriately titled an opinion or commentary piece. It certainly doesn't rise to any acceptable level of actual journalism, however. This being my first visit to the Houston Press, I'll reserve comment on whether this piece is indicative of the journalistic standard as employed at this newspaper. But if it is, then I understand better why Texas politics (thanks for W!) are as they are.

    I do find it interesting, however, that in every hit piece I've read about Obama, most have not risen beyond the level of hearsay or easily discredited "fact;' or in this case, a lot of sour grapes from former political rivals eclipsed by his success. This interests me because it shows that no matter how hard the attempt is to smear his name, record, heritage, patriotism, etc., that he still emerges relatively unscathed and with little of that dirt sticking to him. To me, this says that despite all best efforts to discredit him, there is little, compared with other politicians, with which to do so.

    Might we entertain the thought that this means, instead of the "fact" the MSM is going "soft" (need another pillow?) on Obama, that in fact there is no there there (in terms of any scandalous or unpatriotic background or intent)?

    Perhaps he actually is the enthralling leader and optimistic visionary he appears to be. I really think we could use that right now. Cheers

    At least that is how the Obama drama plays out for me.

    Comment by notfamous — February 28, 2008 @ 02:44PM

  60. Whee, you just don't get it. You fall into that blind to the FACTS, woman-hating, just because he is black, cult-like behaving mass of dumb and dumber voters who quote nonsense and DO NOT READ.
    First, Barack Husein Obama is a CAREER Politician. He is detested by many blacks, both in political offices and voters, in Chicago for his failure to support them (he does not want to look TOO BLACK). He belongs to a BLACK SUPREMACIST church that honors Louis Farrakhan, and unless you are a RACIST and an ANTI-SEMITE too you cannot support anyone who supports Louis Farrakhan. He has done NOTHING, NADA, NO, ZILCH, ZERO community service or volunteer work (and I do not count being a paid politician community service). He parrots Hillary on all the major issues and has not said ONE SINGLE REVOLUTIONARY or NEW IDEA other than to repeat over and over, sort of CULT-LIKE, Change and Unity. Well, as someone who speaks, lives, and breathes in a way to make sure that he is electable, rather than doing what he needs to do to actually help or change people, this makes him a LIAR, a RACIST, and a HYPOCRITE. Don't you get it??? This is like the big lie from Hitler, or the Emperor's clothes (he was really nude, remember), or like when people voted for George Bush AGAIN (as if an idiot once could change and become not an idiot the second time). YOU DISHONOR YOURSELF, and every single American who truly wants a new person, someone who wants to make America a better place by defending this man and voting for him. Take the time to actually read (read the Houston Press article on him for example), google Obama's church and the 1000's of links to articles about his support of Louis Farrakhan, the 100's of articles about him being just another politician, and then perhaps read about Hillary Clinton--a true American, a lover of America and her people, a hero, and, if we are lucky, the next American President. God bless America and God bless Hillary Clinton!

    Comment by jennifer — February 28, 2008 @ 02:46PM

  61. Learned a lot from your article about Barack's days in Hyde Park. I used to work with Mr Obama right after he got out of college, and I also have some mixed feelings, but like you I'm still a supporter.

    It really bugs me the kind of trash talk and hate mail you're getting in the comments. These people can't accept the fact that you saw the bad side as well as the good side. It's as if nobody can say anything without having some partisan ulterior motive. Take a look in the mirror, folks.

    Comment by Denko — February 28, 2008 @ 03:04PM

  62. George Bush 41 is connected with the Carlyle Group.So is Bill Clinton,along with several allies from Bill's past administration. With Hillary as President, Bill and GB41 are in line to profit billions from the Carlyle Group. The same Carlyle Group standing ready in the wings to manage the building of the Bush43 approved NAFTA corridor from Mexico to Canada, with the construction performed by Saudi based Halliburton. After all, Cheney's company will need something to do once we finish off Iraq. So we will have Hillary approving Carlyle Group or some connected private entity to insert a Bush invented privately owned and operated four football fields wide toll booth gash through the middle of our country, beginning with the beautiful wide open ranges of Texas. Note that the Carlyle Group also includes members of the Saudi royal family. Just imagine the possibilities.If Hillary is elected you can be sure Bill will be invited to continue his gifted ride on that Carlyle Group wagon train, with GB 41 & 43 swapping shotgun, along with the top dogs from Bill's former administration riding herd. Our country will be slashed up the middle by a non-regulated,non-taxable, privately built, owned, and operated super highway, and the Bush and Clinton families will be making bubbly toasts to NAFTA and tax exempt hedge funds e.g. "Carlyle" along with the Saudis and singing "what a friend we have in our pocket". They don't care about America. They have given up. They are not Democrats or Republicans. They care about themselves. Carlyle Group and related activities are why Hillary and Bill want this election so desperately.At her core, I am sure there is some light and sincerity and twisted notion that we will all be lifted up as Carlyle Group member billions add up, but the trickle down theory doesn't work when the wealth is concentrated in such few hands. Slave wages paid by Halliburton to desperate workers do not count. When I say wealth, I mean billions. Every millionaire out there who assumed you were part of the uber rich everyone keeps targeting for tax money, please sit down. You are good. You have worked hard. Join the country, the people, the solution. Know that your millions you worked so hard for will not be worth squat when our country and our dollar is destroyed by these selfish accumulating misguided Bushbots.At the very least, really think about the implications of a privately owned and operated infrastructure. Imagine a worst case scenario. Access? Privately controlled? Be an American and vote for Obama or McCain.

    Comment by LPG — February 28, 2008 @ 03:14PM

  63. Great article -- I'm glad someone in the msm final had the cajones to write the truth: Obama is the bully in class that steals other kid's homework and takes credit for the work. Obama is only out for Obama -- look at how he brags about his work on the Senate NATO subcommittee as an example of his experience, and then, when caught that he hasn't even held one conference on that committee since being appointed to it, that he was appointed when the election started. People are dying in Afghanistan, but Obama is too busy to help, he has a campaign to run. I hope the people of Houston read this and vote for the person who deserves your vote -- Hillary Clinton.

    Comment by angie — February 28, 2008 @ 03:16PM

  64. Even the title, "Barack Obama and Me," is a bit misleading, because it presumes we know or care who "me" is. How about "Barack Obama and a Self-promoting, Mediocre Writer"?

    Comment by ozamerican — February 28, 2008 @ 03:55PM

  65. You know, you guys can keep on screaming and hollering and flailing around about "crazy" and deluded Obama supporters - but if by some miracle Clinton gets the nomination, you're going to need us to send her to the White House. But she's losing us every day - every time one of you harpies pisses and moans about how "crazy" we are, one more of the crazies stays home because it's obvious that she doesn't repsect us or take our opinion seriously. Clearly, you don't.

    Why in the hell would we want to vote for a person who has spent most of her campaign belittling and making fun of us? What makes us think she's working for us?

    On the flip side, we don't need all of you for Obama to win in November. And yet, we're maintaining a level of respect toward the supporters - the REAL VOTERS - because we recognize that your opinion means something and you deserve respect as a Democrat. If that's creepy, then fine. Color me creepy.

    So enjoy your little hate fest while you can. Really, it's quite a good example of the kind of vitriol and division we can expect from a Clinton adminstration. Again.

    Comment by oh COME on — February 28, 2008 @ 03:57PM

  66. First of all, Jennifer...I am not a "woman-hater", I am not voting for Barack because he is black nor does anyone who knows me or who has ever known me considered me remotely cult-like. Please don't make assumptions on me as a person when all you know of me is a couple of posts. I do read...thank you. I'm an avid reader...have been all my life. I am a fan of fiction and non-fiction and I also read and research candidates before I choose for whom to cast my vote. Not just presidential candidates...my state representatives, governor, senators, city council..etc. I have never taken my right to vote lightly and take great care in my choice before I cast my ballot. Having said this, I also realize that anything can be spun for or against any person or issue. It's kind of how racists are able to interpret the Bible to read that minorities are inferior, etc. How people assume that all Muslims are taught to hate and kill. I guarantee you, if you read an article like this...that basically has unfounded allegations against HRC, you would be railing against the author. And that is your right...to disagree and even state your opinion. As it is my right to disagree and state mine. I don't think I've insulted you...though, reading your post, you definitely gave good reason for me to do so...and yet you've categorized me as a woman-hating racist who doesn't read??? I'm not blind...I do not thing that Barack is flawless, nor do I think he is a savior or the second coming of the Messiah. I've followed his career, I've read his policies...and being a generally good judge of character, find him to be sincere, dignified and someone I would like to see as the leader of this country. I feel he is very diplomatic and would garner the respect of world leaders. This is what I feel...having read both positive and negative articles and documents about him and your candidate. What you feel is what you feel. I could be wrong. You could be wrong. What we do is make our voices heard by casting our votes and see what happens.
    I do not wish to insult anyone...however, post #58 is one of the most bigoted, ignorant posts I've read in some time. It would be completely ridiculous if it weren't so incredibly offensive. I feel sorry for the poster...to go through life so ignorant and full of hate...must be a sad, sorry kind of life.

    Comment by whee — February 28, 2008 @ 04:14PM

  67. Interesting story. As an Obama supporter, it (a) doesn't change my mind, and (b) doesn't reveal a whole lot.

    I've read some people on the internet, in publications geared toward the black community write: "He isn't black enough."

    In publications geared toward the progressive community, some write: "He isn't progressive enough."

    Your article seems to suggest .... what.... that he didn't do enough for the community where you lived? He supported, in your opinion, the "wrong" candidate. He was an ambitious politician, who was smart enough to find an effective mentor?

    I would be disappointed in a well educated man, like Barack Obama, if he had no further ambition.

    As he (Obama) said of Ralph Nader - "Anybody should be able to run for President, if they file all the necessary papers."

    He filed all the necessary papers, and here we are. However, if you watched the 2000 Democratic convention, you should have known, at that time, it was going to happen. I did. He has superior intellect, he has charisma, he will be able to unite this country, and he will be a great President.

    You will be able to tell your grandchildren, you knew him when.

    Comment by ERW — February 28, 2008 @ 04:19PM

  68. You writing is gorgeous. I no longer care about this election - I will vote for HRC -, but I sure am knocked out by your beautiful writing. You must continue with your gift. I anticipate that I will be reading more of your work!

    Best wishes in your endevors. I loved the evocative scenes and feelings you captured.

    Comment by sheila sands — February 28, 2008 @ 04:27PM

  69. 1) SOME Obama supporters are crazed like the first poster who called the author a "hick". I am sorry that you feel insulted. I did not mean to include you in that statement. Certainly some Obama supporters have seemingly logical reasons to support him. The fact is that it's becoming clear that many of those reasons are baseless: he is not above politics, he does not have good judgment, he is not truthful. What's bad is that because Obama has not had much experience (and this is not hearsay), he runs his campaign on character and a new kind of politics. This is what angers Hillary supporters: While he managed to display a squeaky clean image in the media, his actions show that he is not. We are angry at the hypocrisy and arrogance. By saying that they are behaving as though he's the anti-Christ, you are confusing Hillary's supporters' behavior with Repubs'.
    Hillary supporters have been on the defense ever since she was First Lady. We are increasingly disgusted with the treatment that she gets. You are 37, so you must be aware of the scandals that Republicans tried to inflict on the Clintons--Whitewater, Travelgate, Vince Foster? They found nothing and wasted millions of taxpayers' money. So yes, I am not surprised that they have become defensive. Clearly they need to be because Republicans do not like them. Obama supporters, on the other hand, are defensive when someone points out the obvious--that he is not the Messiah, that he did NOT pass that nuclear bill when he said he did, that he DID copy Deval Patrick's words, that he DID say he would bomb Pakistan.

    2) Some Obama supporters do blame Hillary for Iraq because they forget that her vote counts only once. It was not her decision to invade Iraq. It was Bush who broke his promise and did not let the UN finish their inspections. If she was president, would she have done the same thing? I don't think so. You cannot compare Obama and Hillary's judgements becau