Big Dog coming to Alabama.

White House rivals Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton will be in Selma, Ala., on Sunday to mark the anniversary of a bloody civil rights struggle -- with a surprise addition, former President Bill Clinton, nicknamed the first black president.

This will mark Bill Clinton's first public appearance to bolster his wife's 2008 bid and comes as she and Obama are competing for African-American votes. The former president will be inducted into the Voting Rights Hall of Fame -- the game plan floated earlier had the New York senator picking up the honor for him.

Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said the last-minute addition came as the ex-president was "rearranging his schedule to be there" because it was "an event he did not want to miss."

Obama and Hillary Clinton will speak from pulpits of two Selma churches blocks apart Sunday morning. They are participating in ceremonies marking the 42nd anniversary of marches and violent clashes that led to African Americans winning voting rights.

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/03/sweet_column_bi...

I am told that Hil and Barack will be speaking at different churches AT THE SAME TIME.
<sigh>
I hope that's wrong, but if it is, the popularity/beauty contest continues.
I swear, we are our own worst enemies.
:-(

It being the Selma visit.

http://newsbusters.org/node/11146

(Watch the video. He does say, not political.)



EarlyShow Challenges Obama Claim Selma Trip 'Not About Politics'
Posted by Mark Finkelstein on March 2, 2007 - 08:45.



But along the way, co-host Tracy Smith , did pose a pertinent question when Obama tried to sneak an answer by her that was so disingenuous it might have made Bill Clinton blush. Smith mentioned that this weekend, both Obama and Hillary will go to Selma, Alabama for the commemoration of the civil rights marches of 1965. Barack actually had the chutzpah to claim "well, I think this weekend is actually not about politics. To me, it represents some of the best moments in American history where ordinary people stood up to injustice."

Let's see. Obama is fighting the rap that he's not "black enough." Al Sharpton is riding a publicity wave off the story that he is the descendant of slaves owned by relatives of Strom Thurmond, and sending signals he might jump into the race as the authentic African-American. And Barack just decides to meander down to one of the iconic sites of the civil rights movement.


Smith put it to Obama that "at the same time, everything tends to wind up being about politics. Is this a chance to answer some of those critics whos said you haven't been connected enough to the African-American community?"

Check Obama's head-shake, responding to Smith's challenge, that comes 45 seconds into* this video clip.* Was that a flash of his reported testinesss? In any case, he replied: "a lot of that has been stuff at the national level. It's not based on the work I've done in Illinois. You don't hear that chatter back home where I'm well known." Maybe so, but Obama is running "at the national level." Sort of sounds like a non-denial denial, doesn't it?

That is so wrong to do that. Newbusters is known for their spinning.

I watched it. Obama did an excellent job. Quite frankly I think Hillary is out of line for setting up an appearance with hubby at the same time at a different church.

Obama was very classy in that video.

a video to back it up.

He said it was not political.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/03/02/earlyshow/contributors/tracysmith/main2530275.shtml?source=mostpop_story

The spin there is outrageous.

"Check Obama's head-shake, responding to Smith's challenge, that comes 45 seconds into this video clip. Was that a flash of his reported testinesss? In any case, he replied: "a lot of that has been stuff at the national level. It's not based on the work I've done in Illinois. You don't hear that chatter back home where I'm well known." Maybe so, but Obama is running "at the national level." Sort of sounds like a non-denial denial, doesn't it?

Credit Smith for not letting Obama slide."

Read that paragraph. It is only one of many there. It is pure spin. The video is great, but you used the spin from Newsbusters.

by "unsavedtrash" on Al Forum.


SUNDAY, MARCH 4

7:30a-9:30am: Unity Breakfast, Sen. Barak Obama, $25, Wallace Comm College
9:00a-11am: Alabama Emerging Black Professionals Summit, Performing Arts Center

10:00am-1:00pm Guest speakers at various churches...
Sen Barak Obama: Brown Chapel AME Church
Sen Hillary Clinton: First Baptist Church
Charles Steele: First Baptist Church
Jessie Jackson: Tabernacle Baptist Church

1:30-2:30pm: Sen. Barak Obama, Pre March Rally, Brown Chapel AME, 410 MLK Street
2:30-3:30pm: Bridge Crossing Re-enactment, Edmund Pettus Bridge

3:30-4pm: Speakers at the foot of the bridge, Cynthia McKinney, Jesse jackson,
Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama



Looks like alot going on at the same time. I would love to go, but can't make the trip. On the Birmingham evening news, I heard more than once,there would be continuous coverage. I'm not sure on what network or cable channel. Probably several. If I find out, I'll post.