Not one person clapped when Obama said he was against the war in Iraq --

conversely, the audience ERUPTED in applause when McCain mentioned Petraeus and the surge. They ERUPTED in applause when McCain said Offshore Drilling. They ERUPTED in applause when he put for nuclear power as a viable alternative energy.

They're dumb - and I now hate them--but they vote. And they have a big voice.

but of course we need a few to win this. McClown has gained points for offshore driling and nuclear power lies. Obama needs to smack back.

and did a great job... I bet a lot of people in that audience were pleasantly surprised;
considering the vast amount of bullshit they've been fed every day by their political preachers.

We are making inroads in mainline Protestant congregations and Catholics are turning back to the democratic party. That's where Obama has been concentrating his efforts. They wont vote for any pro-choice candidate nor will they vote for a candidate that gives any, any leeway to the Gay community.

I'm not saying he shuldn't have gone there. But he shouldn't, and I know he probably doesn't, expect to win any votes with this spectacle tonight.

This was aimed at the mainline religious groups who will cheer that he went toe to toe with the Evangelicals.

This is the kind of strategy that has been lacking in the Democratic Party... a winning one.

with a better feeling about Obama simply because of his stance on Abortion, Stem Cell research and other hot blooded red meat issues that the GOP uses to their own strategic benefit.

When I ran for office against a right wing State Senator I was able to get into a Catholic Forum even though I was pro-choice. I told the gatekeeper priest that with all due respect, my opponent has railed against abortion for the last 16 years and has done absolutely nothing to prevent even one abortion from happening. Having won that verbal volley, I was never the less roundly shunned simply because I was pro-choice. It's the same.

Any political strategist will tell you the way to victory is to shore up your base, go after the undecided and then, if you have the time and resources, go after your opponents base. We are far enough away from November that Obama could waste his time appearing at this forum. He was on vacation anyway. So he wasted not one iota of his resources. Just time and verbage.

but I'm guessing any passing thought of support went out the window when they learned of McCain and the prison guard worshiping together as two Christians. Or as life begins at conception, or, or, or....

This was far enough away from the election that Obama could afford the time to show up at this event. It also sends a message to the mailine Protestant and Catholics that he efuses to embrase the myopic views of the Evangelicals.

gobsmacked that McCain actually came across better than I thought he would. I was really surprised.

And good point about the mainline Protestants and Catholics.

You pegged that one.

Small shifts of the numbers matter. McCain will likely win them 70%-30%. John Kerry only got 21% of their votes in 2004. And their turnout will regress back to the levels of the year 2000.

The majority of Americans are not in favor of the war.

Christians in name only.

CINO.

The sole requirement is that they profess belief in and acceptance of jesus as their savior.

Look up "No True Scotsman" and try again. As nice as it must feel to disclaim their christianity, it's intellectually dishonest to do so.

They are christians. Just really shitty ones.

Interpretation of Scriptures is personal, IMO, and man's "classification" into denominations has created "religion", which has created "pharisees" and brought people who call themselve "Christians" full circle again--to what Christ taught AGAINST. He was about Spirituality, imo, and the overriding message of his teaching and of the entire Bible is LOVE. So, because the "Christian" brand has become so tainted, many of us are called "Christ followers" to disassocate with the Christian "brand." I personally believe that the far right wackos are the ones raised in the "hellfire and damnation" preaching (which is different than teaching) of the Old Testament who somehow seem to overlook the New Testament.

Forward-thinking Christ followers believe in Matthew 25 (skip to the 35th verse) about loving and taking care of our "brothers" whomever they are. It IS a great philosophy of life for me.

In reference to the deficit. Even Republicans who hate taxes, are often worried about the deficit.

I think Obama did very well before an audience that is predisposed towards McCain. And most importantly, it helps tap down the Muslim smears.

In fact, everytime they erupted, I cringed. Doesn't it seem we are living on different planets?

I literally had to leave the house I was so disgusted.

same planet but different worlds.

'caring' does for far too many "pro-life" people.

Those were mostly the 25 percenters.

fundie vote that seemed to elude him. I can just see the e-mails now.

one friend's mom send's me emails, and she said she doesn't even read them, just forwards them figuring someone might want to read what she's received (um... thanks, lol), and anyhow, I get all the Obama lie forwards - goodness - the BS meter goes OFF the chart. They are saying everything about him, and I believe lots of them think he's the antichrist, and the other half just hate him because he's black. We have to have them be uninspired to vote for him - few of that "type" will vote for Obama, it will take one on one conversions if you will, pointing out policy by policy why McSame is bad for their pocket books, and Obama is good for them - so tonight was not a good thing - McLame got to bang the drum of fundiedom - and the rally cry was returned!

What I'm thinking (because really, how many PRO-McCain e-mails have you seen?) -is that now we'll be seeing e-mails like "McCain converted POW guard to Christianity - they worshipped together!" (Not what he said, but that won't stop him. "McCain promised 100% pro-life administration, Obama is pro abortion" Stuff like that. Now they've got some juice one liners from McCain to spread around.

:sarcasm:

I see everyone agrees Obama held his own, but this event is part of the reason so many (esp. here on DU) people are sick of our personal feelings on the afterlife being involved in the gov't. I know who I am in GOD, but I certainly don't believe any gov't should be pushing a religion - that invites tyranny and theocracy a la why we came here to the USA in the first place.

later gateley! (and ps - I hope Obama isn't pushing Clark away either - maybe it's a secret move and Clark's actually the VP nom)

Obama would benefit greatly by having him in his administration. I hope so bad he will be at the convention. :hi:

And let's not forget, the good pastor didn't mention the death penalty.

And Jesus said "stone the wench, she's a whore and that's the law!"

off that they are "pro-life" - it's like a buzz phrase they have picked up without thinking about what they are saying! If one is "pro-life" how does one condone murder committed in the name of war????

on our own hands.

Not something people do very well I'm afraid.

What was the question that provoked McCrud's drill for oil answer? Seems to me it was somewhat of a non sequitur.

of events leading up to it? That's what happened to me. I was so traumatized that people were applauding that, I'm blank on what transpired immediately preceding it.

"what position that you had ten years ago is different than the one you have now?" (pararphrased)

Answer: Drill offshore and drill now today.

a DUer posted it in another thread!

Thanks!

What did you expect?

Obama wasn't exactly asked to speak as a lion.

There's a semi-megachurch near us. In this small community, they really want to carry a big voice, and will toss anyone against their gladiators in their coliseum.

However, when it happens in the general populace (i.e., our big summer parade) - the rest of us generally win. Our PFLAG group, the local Filipino Dance Troup, our cops and firefighters got mega-applause. People generally ignored the 17 anti-gay, anti-abortion, pro-Iraq, flag waving bunch from Bible Baptist.

Always consider the captive audience/invitees.

For example, in Nome, after crossing under the burl to win both the Iditarod AND Yukon Quest for the first time in 2006 (he did it again in 2007), Lance Mackey, local Democrat, and his beautiful wife/business manager/dog handler Tonya -



and with his dogs, Larry and Lippy, who 10 days previously had won the very, very difficult Yukon Quest (I think the dogs are registered Green Party, but haven't verified....)



Always, always, consider the audience. It was 27 below, and everyone in the small burg, along with the Idatirod Air Force (check Google), local and national press - watched Lance do what every musher with any experience said could not be done.

And he did it again the next year.

That's what we Dems are about. We do what can't be done.

Then we do it again.

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crusade.

It makes him smile.

games then the more dead the better? The irony is so blantant that it makes me sick that the media does not pounce on this obvious display of hypocrisy...these people were part and parcel of a well laid out paid out, bought out audience, not a clear mind in the house except one it seemed, glad I didnt waste time watching it.

McCain was playing to his base and probably had plenty of time to rehearse his segment. Obama was wonderful and if he changed the mind of even one person in that room, it was worth it.

That's leadership. The goal isn't to win all their votes but to make these people not demonize as much and to pick off the 10% that actually do think.

I'd say as being someone who was once part of that community that 30% of that community thinks about more than abortion and gay rights.

was shameless and his week long coaching and prepping showed. The crowd acted as if this man who never speaks about his faith, had a big halo over his head.

I didn't see it, but I wouldn't be surprised.

serving in bush's dirty little war. Probably would have met with dead silence. Fucking hypocrites...

Here we go again, letting the GOP choose venues, screen the audience and run the show.

We just sit back and complain.

No matter what is said by either candidate if people see on TV people applauding McCain and not Obama
it will push a great many of them a little closer to choosing McCain.

We should NEVER see anything like this in s truly well run campaign.


I thought Obama was smarter than that.

Perhaps I was wrong.

offshore drilling is not being told! Will somebody in Obama's camp please come to the fore and tell the real story behind offshore drilling? Ppl INcorrectly assume that that oil will 'stay in the United States = lowering the price of gas.' Wrong! It becomes part of the WORLD supply. Won't supply/demand drive the price?McBomb's switch to include the other forms of energy is the only thing that has saved his a$$ on this energy topic, IMO.

I personally like Obama's answers - he paused, he thought carefully, and explained his viewpoint that DOES reach across the aisle.

So, yeah, I agree with a poster I read elsewhere on here that this was a set-up.

the audience would not welcome him much, but on the other hand, he left them with the very clear notion that he likely knows their faith better than they do.

A dangerously high % of "Christian" fundamentalists supported Bush's assault on Iraq. Obama's candidacy in part is a refutation of that % of voters, and a reminder that he was right and they were wrong.

It could be that some of them are not big enough people to admit when they made a grievous mistake.