Obama, taking heat for skipping Iowa events, will skip another

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: September 25, 2007
Obama to skip another Iowa event


Obama declines another Iowa event.

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) — Criticized last week for not attending a candidate forum in Iowa, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, will also be absent from another upcoming Hawkeye State political event, the annual Johnson County Democrats' Fall Barbeque on October 6, his office confirmed Tuesday. The event, held in the traditionally Democratic-leaning Johnson County, will include Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-New York, former Sen. John Edwards, D-North Carolina, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, and Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut.

Calls to Obama's Iowa office relating to the decision were not immediately returned, but the campaign has previously stated that the Democratic presidential candidate will limit his appearances at forums and debates not sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee in order to spend more time engaging directly with voters. The decision to miss the barbeque comes at a time when the Illinois Democrat is already taking some heat for skipping other events in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.

Most recently, Obama opted out of Thursday's AARP candidate forum in Davenport, broadcast by Iowa Public Television to a national PBS audience. Five presidential candidates were present: Clinton, Edwards, Richardson, Dodd, and Sen. Joe Biden, D-Delaware. The Des Moines Register's David Yepsen wrote in a column the next morning that while there was no clear winner of the forum, "the clear loser was Barack Obama for declining to attend."

Obama also skipped the Lance Armstrong Presidential Cancer Forum August 27 in Cedar Rapids, which was attended by the rest of the top-tier Democrats. A campaign spokesman told CNN at the time that the senator did not attend that event in order to spend "some private time with his family."

He also opted out of state Rep. Polly Bukta's annual Corn Boil fundraiser in Clinton on August 18 and the Iowa Democratic Party's Hall of Fame Dinner June 2 in Cedar Rapids. Both events incuded Obama's top-tier Democratic opponents, Clinton and Edwards, among others.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/09/25/obama-to-skip-another-iowa-event/#more-2171

[hedda_foil]

1. I'm for Obama, but this is NOT wise.

Iowa is too critical for him to refuse traditional events like these. Iowans take their presidential candidates very personally. He's getting bad advice and it could hurt him a lot. Damn it!

[DeepModem Mom]

2. I also support Obama, and agree with you. I knew he was going to skip some debates...

but I didn't consider that that would include small local events such as these in Iowa.

[bigdarryl]

3. OH PLEASE!!! the man has almost been living in Iowa to skip one...

event won't hurt him. plus people will vote or not vote for him

[Bicoastal]

4. Man, how I wish some candidate would just break down one day...

...and go "Jesus Christ, I'm SICK of this motherfucking state! I've been to TWELVE fucking Town Hall Meetings, THIRTY Barbecues, and about a HUNDRED MOTHERFUCKING County Fairs!! For the last time--I don't CARE how good you think your damn preserves taste! I don't CARE how big your fucking PUMPKINS are! Ok, Ok, Iowa's America's fucking heartland, you're the best--but JESUS! Can't I fly out of the Midwest for ONE Fucking DAY?! I'm tired of leaning on hay bales and wearing folksy overalls--I'm SICK of being friendly all the time!! Christ Almighty, there are 49 other states in the Union--can't Iowa leave me alone for FIVE FUCKING MINUTES?! HUH?!"

It would cost him or her some points, but it'd still be fun to watch.

[ElizabethDC]

5. LOL, I'd like to see that, too!

Mind you, I have nothing personal against Iowa, but watching a candidate have a meltdown like that would be frigging hilarious.

[Colobo]

7. I'd pay to watch it.

[Cameron27]

8. ROFL

That would be a riot, it will never happen, but it would be great to see.

[emilyg]

12. LOL

[DeepModem Mom]

13. LOL! I once worked with a Presidential campaign in NH --

and similar might be said there, by staffers as well as candidates.

[Justitia]

15. hysterical! You know that's playing out in their heads. I'd love to see it! -eom

[NoPasaran]

16. YEEEEEEEE- eeeaaaaaaa- rrrrrrrrgggggg- hhhhhhh!!!!!

[illinoisprogressive]

6. there is a method to his madness. We will find out eventually

[Stop Cornyn]

9. Iowa's caucus is not a good format for Obama. It's easy to see him finishing 3rd. If he comes 3rd in

Iowa, he needs to bounce back big time (top 2 at least) in New Hampshire.

A bigger threat to Obama's candidacy: I like Edwards' chances of winning Iowa, but if Hillary wins Iowa, there may be no stopping her.

[zulchzulu]

19. I completely disagree

List a reason why the Iowa caucus is not a good format for Obama.

He has a huge ground game and lots of grassroots support there already. Many WILL show up at the caucus to vote for him. I've been to Iowa recently and have seen it firsthand.

What's your logic on this?

[BeyondGeography]

10. Polly Bukta's annual Corn Boil?

Say it ain't so, Barack!

[Cameron27]

11. Oh noooooooo!

:rofl:

[DURHAM D]

14. When Obama ran for the U.S. Senate I met a young

woman (journalist) who had several friends working on his staff. She told me that there was a lot of tension and frustration among his staff because he insisted on being at home with his family several nights a week and would not let staff schedule as many events as they wanted. The staff blamed Michelle for these rules.

I told the young woman that (1) staff always blames the candidate's wife for everything and (2) I admired him for doing it his way. I also pointed out that his poll numbers were good and he didn't need to kill himself and he was young so we should think of his political future as a long distance event and not a 100 yard dash.

[JNelson6563]

17. Iowa: Bunch of spoiled fucking crybabies.

There, I said it.

Julie

[zulchzulu]

18. The self-importance of some Iowans doesn't work in this front-loaded primary

I've been to Iowa a couple times so far this primary season and it is sometimes just stunning what some Iowans expect from presidential candidates.

I've talked to people through canvassing that remain undecided even after having been to house parties where Richardson, Biden, Edwards, Obama and Dodd have been there. In house parties! We're talking a modest 1,700 square foot house with a small back yard in some cases.

Presidential candidates have to deal with how they pet some owner's dogs. Are they nice to Fifi? Did Spot like the candidate? Did she bark?

It's not all Iowans, just some.

As for flying in what many consider flyover country to use up pretty much an entire day when you're looking at a lot of expense, staff movement and setup, it boggles the mind that you'd parley thousands of dollars for a couple nods and a handshake. 20 states on February 5th in major media markets all over the country have to be covered as well. You also have to be on your game at all times with the YouTube Gotcha Gimmick at the ready at any moment.

Instead of dissing Obama for not showing up at the Mildred Mawkish Pie Contest, perhaps the other candidates who show up can talk with this sea of undecided starers and get an extra piece of pie while they're holding another dirty-diapered baby for the camera.