in 2004, Obama said not gonna run for president in 2008...

[msongs]

amazing what one finds when searching for something else -

___________________________________________________________________

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_go1631/is_200411/ai_n9671306

Obama silences presidential talk Newly-elected senator insists his 'entire focus' is on people of Illinois
Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), November, 2004 by Eric Krol
premium

Byline: Eric Krol Daily Herald Political Writer

Democratic U.S. Sen.-elect Barack Obama made one thing clear Wednesday: he's not running for president or vice president. At least not in 2008.

"Look, I can unequivocally say I will not be running for national office in four years," said Obama, who was running on just two hours sleep following Tuesday's record-setting victory, according to aides. "My entire focus is making sure that I'm the best possible senator on behalf of the people in Illinois."

_________________________________________________________________________

looks like he changed his mind.

of course this article could have been written at that time by an agent of the not-yet-existing hillary clinton campaign.

Msongs
www.msongs.com

[MadMaddie]

1. It's America...Minds change, situations change, life outlook

changes....Maybe when he made the statement he thought that someone else would step up and fill the gap...

I am not supporting anyone either way right now....but as long as we do not have another Rethuglican in the WH in 2009 that's all I care about...

[MaineDem]

2. In 2004, Richardson said he'd stay as Governor of NM

He turned down any talk of VP. I respected that.

If I were a voter in Illinois I'd be upset by the flip-flopping it seems Obama has done after making this earlier statement. My Senator, Susan Collins, said she'd only serve two terms and she's gone back on that statement and we're making sure everyone knows it. We can't have it both ways.

[Colobo]

3. In 2004, I was a Republican.

[ronnykmarshall]

30. For reals?

You've come a long way, baby!

[draft_mario_cuomo]

4. This does not compute. Obama never changes his position nt

[geek tragedy]

5. And Edwards and Clinton thought their IWR votes were a good idea in 2004.

Advantage: Obama.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

11. No other candidate's marketing team claims he/she never changes positions

Well, aside from *'s team...

[ariesgem]

19. She was also invoking 9/11 to explain her IWR vote.....

April 2004: Larry King asks Clinton whether she's "sorry" that she voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq.

"No," she says. "I don't regret giving the president authority, because at the time it was in the context of weapons of mass destruction, grave threats to the United States, and clearly, Saddam Hussein had been a real problem for the international community for more than a decade. What I regret is the way the president used the authority."

King asks Clinton if she's "frustrated" or "rethinking" her vote on the resolution.

"No," she says. "I believe strongly that after 9/11, we have to be prepared to take action to protect our country, to protect our friends and allies, American assets around the world ... Now that we're there, we're going to have to make the best of it. I think it could have been handled differently ... For the life of me, I don't understand how they had such an unrealistic view about what was going to happen."

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0404/20/lkl.00.h...

[FrenchieCat]

33. So was John Edwards....while selling the war as a co-sponsor of the Blank Check

"The path of confronting Saddam is full of hazards. But the path of inaction is far more dangerous. This week, a week where we remember the sacrifice of thousands of innocent Americans made on 9-11, the choice could not be starker. Had we known that such attacks were imminent, we surely would have used every means at our disposal to prevent them and take out the plotters. We cannot wait for such a terrible event -- or, if weapons of mass destruction are used, one far worse -- to address the clear and present danger posed by Saddam Hussein's Iraq."
Senator John Edwards (Democrat, North Carolina)
US Senate floor statement: "Iraqi Dictator Must Go"
September 12, 2002
http://web.archive.org/web/20030219152335/edwards.senate.gov/press/2002/0912a-pr.html

[NYCGirl]

6. Hillary Clinton said no to 2004 AND 2008:

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/06/08/hillary/

Former first lady Hillary Clinton says she has no plans to launch a bid to become the country's first woman president in the next two elections.

It has often been speculated the former first lady would make a bid for the White House, but in two interviews Sunday, she said she had "no intention" to run for president in 2008 -- and would turn down invitations to run in 2004.

Clinton said she is enjoying her current political role as a senator for New York.

"I don't have any intentions or plans for running," Clinton told ABC's Barbara Walters. "I'm flattered the question gets asked. I hope that it will lead to a woman running for president."

[ellacott]

8. You beat me to it

These people need to stop trying to find dirt on a fellow Democrat. It's pretty sad and makes it understandable why the Repubs keep beating us.

[LadyJD]

7. In addition to flip-flopping...

it could also be construed as not thinking long-term. Too bad he said "unequivocally." That one term is really the only reason it can be construed as a flip-flop. And in light of this last week's revelations about the Miami Herald interview before the debate versus what he said in the debate, he really doesn't need this to reinforce an image as a flip-flopper.

[Colobo]

9. Are you serious? It is normal for politicians to "deny" their true political aspirations.

[LWolf]

14. It is normal for politicians to lie, and to use misleading propaganda.

That doesn't make it ok. It just points out the corruption in our political system.

From my perspective, I do not want to enable that corruption by excusing it, or by perpetuating it.

[Colobo]

15. President Obama will fight against it.

[LWolf]

18. Why would a

President Obama fight against something he was a willing participant in as a Senator?

That suggestion stretches the boundaries of normal human, as well as political behavior beyond believability, to say the least.

There is no evidence, anywhere, to suggest that a "president obama" would somehow be a different man than the "candidate obama" or "senator obama."

[robcon]

10. Anyone can change their mind. Any time.

Tiny issue for tiny minds, IMO.

[LWolf]

17. That's right.

No one is obliged in any way, at any time, to keep their word.

No vows, no promises, are safe or sacred. No one should be held accountable for breaking them. They didn't lie, or break promises. They just

"changed their minds."

Anyone who actually expects people to keep their word has a "tiny mind."

[ellacott]

20. I would be more terrified if a person didn't change their mind

Just like Hillary did when she said she wouldn't run in 2008.

[LWolf]

23. Frankly, I'm not terrified.

I don't get much out of fear, so I choose not to indulge.

Changing one's mind is ok much of the time. Changing one's mind about what to have for dinner, what to wear to the wedding, etc.. is not a problem at all.

Changing one's mind when it involves breaking a promise, a vow, a commitment, is something else entirely. That breaks a trust. It happens, and sometimes it happens legitimately. If the original promise was flawed to begin with, then there is at least some legitimacy in breaking it, even if it breaks other things along the way.

Politicians change their mind according to which way the wind, or spin, is blowing. That's why calls to "trust" them are so ridiculous, frankly. That's why repeating campaign talking points is like spreading a cloud over the person. When the campaign is over, that cloud of spin, propaganda, promises, and mischaracterization will burn off to reveal what the credulous voted for.

Obama's mind change has two aspects for me: First, the use of the term "unequivocal," as I interpret it, means a promise not to change his mind. That can only leave potential voters to wonder what other "unequivocal" positions he has that might shift in the wind. To his credit, he tends to leave "everything on the table." That is a serving of honesty that many don't seem to want to digest. They seem to think he doesn't really mean it when he leaves things like nuclear power plants, teacher merit pay, etc. on the table.

Secondly, it debunks the "fresh face/blood/ideas" characterization that seems to impress so many about Obama. It is politics as usual.

I don't give HRC a pass, either. It all holds true for her as well, although she spun it less "unequivocally." In other words, her propaganda was smarter, and more calculated.

[robcon]

24. Yes. Tiny mind.

At least you admit it.

[LWolf]

26. I forgot one thing which you seem to need here:

:sarcasm:

[bigdarryl]

12. Bill Clinton when running for reelection as Governor said he wasn't going to run for President .

[msongs]

13. it's just an fyi post, i've vote for him if he's the nominee nt

[goclark]

16. Delighted he changed his mind

:bounce:

[illinoisprogressive]

21. Nov. 2004??? no one takes that seriously when it is that old.

[Alamom]

25. Excellent, if this opinion applies to "all" the candidates. nm

:)


edgr

[jsamuel]

27. ...

:rofl:

[JohnnyLib2]

22. Heh, heh, heh

Gotta love this stuff.

:evilgrin: :hi:

[YOY]

28. In 1991 I said I'd never vote for a Democrat

I have in every election since.

Guess I lied...or changed my mind...or both.

[bigwillq]

29. People change their minds

to me this is no big deal. I think it's the right time for Obama to run, although this time I would rather have him be the VP choice and then he could try again in four or eight years.
It's not an endorsement for him to be the VP choice but I think he wouldn't be the worst choice to be the second name on the ticket.

[endarkenment]

31. HOLY SHIT! "looks like he changed his mind" THIS IS HUGH11!1111 IM SERIES

Did you actually have a point?

[rinsd]

32. Everyone says that shit. Especially those running for a lower office (nt)