obama with children in a youth program at community ministry in zanesville, ohio
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First off, The Obama Faith Based Initiative
Barack Obama was in Zanesville, Ohio today to give a speech on his Faith-Based Initiative. Ummm????
Many on the left are looking at this with scrutiny and with just cause. After George W. Bush's horrendous program, which came out to be using the evangelical community for votes, many have come to a conclusion that church and state must be separated.
Well, let us take a look at what Obama proposes.
- I'll establish a new Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The new name will reflect a new commitment. This Council will not just be another name on the White House organization chart – it will be a critical part of my administration.
- First, if you get a federal grant, you can't use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can't discriminate against them – or against the people you hire – on the basis of their religion.
- Second, federal dollars that go directly to churches, temples, and mosques can only be used on secular programs. And we'll also ensure that taxpayer dollars only go to those programs that actually work.
- Too often, faith-based groups – especially smaller congregations and those that aren't well connected – don't know how to apply for federal dollars, or how to navigate a government website to see what grants are available, or how to comply with federal laws and regulations. We rely too much on conferences in Washington, instead of getting technical assistance to the people who need it on the ground. What this means is that what's stopping many faith-based groups from helping struggling families is simply a lack of knowledge about how the system works.
- We'll "train the trainers" by giving larger faith-based partners like Catholic Charities and Lutheran Services and secular nonprofits like Public/Private Ventures the support they need to help other groups build and run effective programs
- All across America, too many children simply can't read or perform math at their grade-level, a problem that grows worse for low-income students during the summer months and after school hours. Nonprofits like Children's Defense Fund are working to solve this problem.
- There's a lot of evidence that these kinds of partnerships work. Take Youth Education for Tomorrow, an innovative program that's being run by churches, faith-based schools, and others in Philadelphia. To help narrow the summer learning gap, the YET program hires qualified teachers who help students with reading using proven learning techniques.
- And my Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will also have a broader role – it will help set our national agenda. Because if we are going to do something about the injustice of millions of children living in extreme poverty, we need interfaith coalitions like the Let Justice Roll campaign standing up for the powerless. If we're going to end genocide and stop the scourge of HIV/AIDS, we need people of faith on Capitol Hill talking about how these challenges don't just represent a security crisis or a humanitarian crisis, but a moral crisis as well.
All the above was taken from his speech today about his Faith Based Proposal. Barack Obama will not win the whole evangelical community, but he will put a dent in it for John McCain.
As we all know, the evangelical community is not jumping for joy over John McCain, as they are skeptical of Barack Obama after having to deal with George W. Bush. One thing is clear, they still want a seat at the table, they want their voices to be heard, and if any proposal is given they want it funded, as Bush lacked on his watch.
My take, this is a program that throws Bush's plan out and implement a new one with Obama. Another thing, many are confused on Obama's faith and belief in religion. Sure, we know about Reverend Jeremiah Wright but we have not examined what Obama's faith means to him. This proposal gives us a clue, look, insight into what his faith does mean. After reading the whole speech and the link is above, I urge you to read it, he fully understands the line between church and state, but understands that government must also have outreach to the community, which includes many faiths. Where would the food banks, Christian services, all the outreach programs be without influence of not just the ordinary citizen, but the government. Many of these programs are much needed in the poorest areas of our country.
I think this is not just a heartfelt move on Obama, but a very good political one at that. Can anyone remember the last time John McCain could say, "Amen", "Thank You Jesus", "I Love You Lord" and you actually believed it?
Yes, my sentiments, exactly.
hardball, talking desk clerks
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MC CAIN IN THE HOUSE...the video speaks for itself
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Colin Powell and Obama
Sen. Barack Obama and retired Gen. Colin Powell met privately two weeks ago in Powell's personal office in Alexandria.
Peggy Cifrino, Powell's spokeswoman, confirmed that the presumptive Democratic nominee and the retired chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff chatted June 18, one-on-one for about an hour at the Armed Forces Benefit Association, where Powell rents space.
"Just an informal conversation," Cifrino told On Call.
"There’s no looming endorsement," she added. "They came to talk about issues."
Obama's campaign declined to comment.
Robert Novak, columnist, conservative penned an article that the Powell endorsement is eminent.
My take, I believe Novak and here is why.
I watched PBS' Frontline: Bush's War, an incredible insight of the run up to and current pace of the Iraq War.
The one thing that lingered in my mind was the full disrespect and backstabbing of the Bush Administration towards Colin Powell.
Colin Powell has blood on his hands. He was the puppet that was used to sell the horrible Iraq War to the United Nations, even though he did not believe the evidence. For this, Powell was a coward. Plain and simple.
Powell left quietly and with anger. Sure, Powell wants to clear his name, if possible, and come clean to do the right thing. Why? Because sometimes, larger than life figures do care how their legacy will end. Powell has been a very popular figure that was able to cross both sides of the aisle with ease, but has been scummied up by his role under the Bush Administration.
I see him endorsing Obama, before this is all over with.
Will it be powerful? Yes.
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GOP staffer busted for posing as a Dem
Well, many of the liberal, democratic blogs are being inundated with new members, posing as Dems, but only writing as purity trolls to start dissention within the community or to subtly push the GOP agenda.
Well, over on the Texas Blog, Burnt Orange Report, this troll was called out.
When a staffer for Lt. Col. Noriega made a dumb mistake and falsely represented himself as a blogger to the Cornyn campaign, he was rightfully excoriated. When a Democratic consultant created an anonymous website, he was rightfully questioned. In 2007, user Buck Smith began posting on this and other sites, mainly on threads involving Lt. Col. Rick Noriega or Sen. John Cornyn. He attacked diarists and commenters and provided pro-Cornyn spin on many items. In the interest of full disclosure, and in order to keep everything fair, and since Buck Smith has not disclosed who he is, we thought we would clue you in that he is David Beckwith, John Cornyn's senior staffer.
We found out his identity because Mr. Beckwith's email on file with the site is the same email listed on the webpage for his high school reunion class. (We also have a screenshot in case the site is removed soon.)
You know who we are and who we work for. You know who the Democratic consultants and staffers that comment on the site are, and who they work for. Now you know who is the Republican operative, and who he works for. Keep that in mind every time he leaves comments attacking you for supporting Lt. Col. Rick Noriega. Keep that in mind every time he takes to the site to spin for Senator John Cornyn. Keep that in mind when you realize that all of the staffers for Lt. Col. Rick Noriega have disclosed their day jobs, while Senator Cornyn's staffer lurk in the shadows, using age old dirty whisper campaigns in an online forum.
One thing my mother has always said, "When you start lying, it is tough keeping up with the different lies. Eventually you will get caught."
Amen on that one. Read it all here.
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More of Obama Talked to Bill Clinton?? Yippee...deflated..
I don't care what anyone says, that London Telegraph article, pushed Clinton to speak to Obama. Yes, it may or may not be true, but the thing is a former president should not be in anyone's quote as stating what he supposedly said. I think you will agree, after that article was released and in the mouths of the talking desk clerks, the phone call, COMMENCED.
and the vanity fair video on hillaryland, here and print, here.
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Clark does not back down, and Obama does not throw him under the bus
Look, the McCain Campaign is trying to paint the Obama Campaign as "they pickin' on me, they goin' after my military record, they can't do that, I am a war hero."
My take, WHATEVER.
Obama said that what Clark said what inartful, but he did not apologize for it, nor does he need to. The comments were already denounced by the Obama Campaign, enough of it. I know that McCain want this drama to continue, hell look at the recent Gallup Polling.
Americans Worry McCain Would Be Too Similar to Bush
This is something that will be extremely hard for McCain to overcome. And throw in the economy, the GOP brand is done. I don't care how angry or whatever, folks are with Barack Obama, in the end with 5.00 gas looming, jobs lost, houses foreclosed, etc., folks will hold the nose and pull for the 'D'. It will come down to the public's wallet and the GOP have not done a good job on this front, along with the bumbling of the Iraq War and Katrina, it has been one for the GOP and John McCain.
So, let McCain whine. It is all he has.
the gop desk clerks in a frenzy!!!!
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Polls
PPP NC: McCain 45, Obama 41, Barr 5
SUSA NY: Obama 57, McCain 37
PPP FL: Obama 46, McCain 44
CNN National: Obama 50, McCain 45
I am not paying much attention to the national polls, but I am eyeing the state polls. Case and point, that North Carolina Poll. Look at the numbers and internals (by clicking the link), see Bob Barr. He is a former congressman from Georgia. If he pulls enough in the south, look to see states like Georgia and North Carolina fall to Obama. That would be an upset and this is why the GOP is worried. If he pulls 6 or 7% in these states and the AA vote comes out massive, new voters and the youth come out massive, Obama can win these states. Just sayin....
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NRA to spend 40M to defeat Obama....
now McCain Campaign whining and pointing a finger at Webb, geez grow the "you know what up"...
kos, on state of the race....
mcjoan over at daily kos "Cleaning Up After the Worst Presidency in History", worth a read...
how to use google docs, by one of my favorite diarists, kid oakland...with video and step-by-step directions....this is WORTH viewing and learning to do...throw that PAPER AWAY!!!!!!!
missed keith's special comment on FISA, here....
and obama's sister becomes Asian-American surrogate....
bob herbert, nyt, fixing economy means fixing the iraq war
so, how was your day?????
This Week With Barack Obama
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