Top Hillary Supporter: Some Whites In Pennsylvania "Are Not Ready" To Support Black Candidate

[debatepro]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08043/856727-153.stm

Gov. Ed "Don't Call Me 'Fast Eddie' " Rendell met with the editorial board of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last week to talk about his latest budget. But before turning the meeting over to his number-crunchers, our voluble governor weighed in on the primary fight between Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama and what the Illinois senator could expect from the good people of Pennsylvania at the polls:

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," he said bluntly.

How long will we go in this thread or the General Discussion: Primaries before we see another post or thread about Obama playing the race card? Ya right?

[sniffa]

1. WHY IS OBAMA PLAYING THE RACE CARD AGAIN

:crazy:

[rodeodance]

88. Polls say some will not vote for a black nor a women. What is so unusual with the OP??

[TexasObserver]

2. Like Mark Penn, he's a tub of goo with a mouth.

[zabet]

3. An observation no different

than Michelle saying Black
America needs to get it (and
vote for Obama).

[jackson_dem]

8. Yup, and Barack himself saying he needed to "solidify" the black vote

This is when he was in the 40's with blacks (which clearly means Barack thinks 42% in an eight candidate field was too low for him among blacks). "Solidify" apparently meant getting to 80-88% and we know what tactics he used to do it.

[VolcanoJen]

73. Yes, such a crafty tactic.

He won Iowa.

:eyes:

[cd3dem]

19. I have heard Michelle argue the race issue at gatherings, but those rarely get aired..

the biggest argument that Obama has played the race card is that he never spoke up and asked for it to stop... they edited Bill Clinton's speeches to make it sound racist and Obama knew it... he played it big... and now after years of the Clinton's working for equality they are cast racist and more than 80% of the blacks will not vote for Hillary... many will say they hate the Clinton's... all in the name of winning!!!

DISGUSTING!!!!! 3rd party here I come!!!

the republicans won this game of bait and switch!

[DiamondJay]

42. "black american will wake up"

remember that one from racist Michelle Obama, who may become first lady (NOOOOOOO)! THEYRE the ones playing the actual race card. So now its Rendells turn. And he is right. When you run on no platform but speeches and skin color, you ask for this kind of stuff.

[catgirl]

45. Um, what about Hillary asking for the women votes

just because she's a woman? No difference. People make up their own
minds and that's their right as americans.

[WinkyDink]

56. That isn't the topic.

[catgirl]

65. Of course it is

Race and gender are big issues in this election. Michelle Obama was accused
here of asking black voters to come together. Well, Hillary has done the same
with women. Same thing.

[cd3dem]

72. it's one thing to be proud of who you are... it is another to use it to destroy & manipulate others!

[incapsulated]

23. Yes, the Obamas can push race as an issue but no one else

If they do they are racist pigs.

[rodeodance]

85. How true. And the media stays silent they are scared of being called racist.

[emilyg]

43. Exactly.

[gaspee]

53. Oh no,

That's completely different, Mrs Obama is *allowed* to say stuff like Black Americans have to support her husband.

But if you point out the reality - such as the fact that all the states straddling the old Mason Dixon line have active racial hate groups (according to the Southern Poverty Law Center) in numbers almost as high as the deep south --- well then you're a racist.

What other politician thinks reality is biased... hmmm...

Gah - these Obama supporters have me ready to just... just... I don't know.

The whole thing is a freakin farce. The media has crowned our nominee, again.

[beachmom]

69. Where has Obama, his spouse, or his surrogates argued against HRC on account of gender?

If they did that, it would be awful and I would condemn it, as would you. Yet, you think there is nothing wrong with using perceived racism against Obama. Do you not understand what is going on here? You Clinton supporters are operating under a double standard.

[gaspee]

74. Not a Clinton supporter

But you go on thinking that's why I am not voting for Obama, if it makes you feel better.

[beachmom]

64. WRONG! The comparison would be Obama surrogates arguing that Hillary, being a WOMAN,

was unelectable, because "a lot of men" wouldn't vote for her. They have NEVER made that argument. She, however, talks ALL THE TIME about how historic it would be for a woman to be elected president. She did so in the debate in Calif. Notice, how Obama did not dwell on identity politics.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. "Some folks say..."

Hmm.

[jackson_dem]

5. Pathetic

Both campaigns have been dirty but we voted out Edwards so we are stuck with them.

[H2O Man]

6. PA politics

are as tough as any in the country. And it gets as dirty there as anywhere in the US. I have relatives in several cities in the state, and I know that they are active in trying to advance the Good Fight there.

[Lugnut]

17. I live here.

You are correct. The game of tough politics is alive and well in PA. The state typically swings Democratic but it's a tough state to predict.

[WinkyDink]

54. I'll predict. I live in eastern PA. This state WILL go for Hillary, and it will have nothing to do

with race OR gender.
We like tough cookies, and HRC qualifies. We love her old man AND his VP. She's Old School, and so are we.
It's still the economy, stupid.

[rodeodance]

89. Nice to hear. Thanks for your post

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

59. are those whites "ready" to let black people vote?

I hope whites in Pennsylvania make a statement to their governor that they are not racists.

[Lugnut]

76. Beats me.

Rendell probably knows his state better than I do. I don't care if a candidate is purple. I vote the candidate.

[calico1]

7. He is only saying what a lot of people don't say but

think.

Like it or not, both race and gender will play a lot in this election. (And even ageism, as I have heard some people comment that McCain is "too old" to be president).

[HeraldSquare212]

15. But he didn't go on to say, "and there are a lot of people who won't vote for a woman," did he? nt

[calico1]

32. No, but if he or anyone else did, that would also be

a politically incorrect statement but nonetheless a true one as well.

[HeraldSquare212]

46. Right. But he wasn't repeating truisms - he was highlighting a particular candidate.

That's called exploiting race for political gain. He would have mentioned gender if all he were doing was describing the opinions of some people.

[AtomicKitten]

9. Good gawd almighty, ClintonCo pulls the Race Card out of their sleeve once again.

[DJ13]

10. You can tell alot about a candidate by looking at those who speak on their behalf

The Clintons have always surrounded themselves with yes men/women and political opportunists.

Thats one of the biggest strikes against her in my book.

[anamandujano]

20. Like Big Babies for Bama who whine when something doesn't go their way.

[catgirl]

49. Sarcasm, right?

Everything is going Obama's way. The only whiners around here, are Hillary
people and trolls.

[WinkyDink]

57. Do you think race is NOT a factor?!

[LibDemAlways]

11. Ed Rendell is being blunt and politically incorrect,

but he knows whereof he speaks. There are white people, particularly senior citizens with D's on their voter registration cards, who will not vote for Obama based on race. Like it or not, that's reality.

[geek tragedy]

12. "We shouldn't nominate a darkie because some of those racists

might object."

Thanks, Ed, for making me feel vindicated in my utter dislike for all things Clinton.

[papau]

13. Clinton only gets a chance because she is a women (Obama chant for last year -but is that the gender

card)

But Obama supporters do like to scream and try to dirty up Hillary because of what her supporters say - you have to keep that 90/10 race card vote among blacks if Obama is to win - I guess. Opps - did I jusy play the race card? -

or did I respond to Obama and his followers playing the race card. Maybe MLK never did make that speech about it will take those in Congress and a President to achieve a change in the law - a movement rally is needed but it is not enough - I must of dreamed that because when Hillary said it I m told by the Obama crowd that those words are racist - and if MLK said the same thing .....

It is so hard - lets just make sure women don't get to be President - surly that is something we can all agree on.

[demo dutch]

14. You haven't seen anything yet, wait until the GOP slaughters him in the GE, what will he do then,

play the race card?? It's just not going to fly. There are huge pockets in this country that aren't ready for Obama, whether we like it or no. Stop the denial because unfortunately it's a fact!

[BigDDem]

16. How dare he state the obvious!

Outrageous!

[Yael]

18. Good old corrupt Fast Eddie once again with foot-in-mouth disease

I laughed my butt off when his corruption in the Peter Paul scandal made the final cut of Hillary The Movie.

Just the other day, good old Ed said that he is reserving the right to change his endorsement (to Obama) if thats the way it is looking to go.

What a complete asshat.

There is a massive Obama organization on the ground here NOW -- and not even so much as a link to a PA Hillary group on her website yet.

[incapsulated]

21. Gov. Rendell is NOT "the Clintons"

Should I go on a hunt for everything a "supporter" of Obama blurted out and attribute it to him?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

34. Rendell endorsed Billary n/t

[Devlzown]

22. A few people I know have said the same thing.

I'm curious to know exactly how different a black man would be if elected than a white man or white woman. Would he start dressing and acting like Flava Flav or something? Is he going to redecorate the White House in some ghetto-fabulous fashion? Sure, he talks a lot about change, but I really don't think we'll see anything drastically different from an Obama presidency.

[geek tragedy]

25. How is this post not racist? n/t

[incapsulated]

27. He was being sarcastic

"Sure, he talks a lot about change, but I really don't think we'll see anything drastically different from an Obama presidency."

[Devlzown]

33. I was indeed being sarcastic.

I'm voting for Obama in the primary. I thought that my sarcasm was evident, but I guess I should have used one of the emoticons.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[incapsulated]

26. Yes, he was calling for blacks to be lynched

And people wonder why Obama and HIS supporters are accused of playing the race card.

[newmajority]

29. If you refuse to vote for someone, simply because of their level of skin pigmentation

Doesn't that make you, by definition, a racist?

[IronLionZion]

66. If you refuse to read an article, simply because you're blinded by rage

doesn't that make you, by definition, an idiot?

I caucused for Obama and delivered my state (MN) for him, but that shouldn't matter. Rendell did NOT say he was refusing to vote for Obama because of his race. He was providing an observation about some of the voters in his state. I'm from PA, and yes there are some loyal lifelong Democrats who might use race as the motivating factor.

[incapsulated]

67. Does pointinig out that they exist make you a racist?

This is the kind of non-PC but reality based discussion that goes on in politics all the time, it's no more racist to say, these people probably won't vote for Obama because he is black than pointing out that black voters will vote for him because he IS.

He wasn't approving of it, he was noting it.

Obviously, even if it is true, it's not something you say in front of a reporter, Hillary doesn't want to be known as the candidate who gets the "dem with race issues" vote.

But obviously, that is an element in this race just like sexism is.

It's like pointing out that men are not voting for Hillary in large numbers because they aren't ready for a woman president. AKA: Sexist. And they are voting for Obama instead.

[crazylikafox]

35. Your post is extremely offensive

and does not represent Rendell's point of view and DOES NOT further the interest of getting a Democrat elected in November.

Remember, the Southern Strategy has been the Racist strategy of the REPUBLICAN party for a generation. And anybody remember Willie Horton?

[newmajority]

41. Excusing racism (as DLC bastard Rendell did) is extremely offensive

The Democrat WILL be elected in November, despite everything Ed Rendell & Team BushClinton is trying to prevent it.

[debatepro]

44. Now that is offensive....

What does Willie Horton have to do with Barrack Obama? The Willie Horton "strategy" was to make people vote against Michael Dukakis because he supported a furlough program... the "race" strategy with Willie Horton was to play on peoples fears associated to crime and to question Dukakis's judgement.

Rendell is calling on white people to not vote for Barrack Obama because he is black.

[gaspee]

58. Are you stupid?

Can you read? Or haas your messiah clouded your ability to reason?

He did not say that. He said, like it or not, there ARE white people who will not vote for Obama.

And whether you want to admit it or not, it's the truth,

Did he say that people *shouldn't* vote for Obama because he's black.

Of course not, you fucking tool.

Obama is doing his best to destroy the Democratic party. Hope he's happy in November when a sure win (which we dems should have) turns into a huge loss.

I am so fucking done with this place and it's Obama KoolAid drinkers.

[debatepro]

68. Is this a rhetorical question?

Can you read? Or haas your messiah clouded your ability to reason?
ad hominem

Of course not, you fucking tool.
ad hominem

I am so fucking done with this place and it's Obama KoolAid drinkers.
ad hominem


Obama is doing his best to destroy the Democratic party. Hope he's happy in November when a sure win (which we dems should have) turns into a huge loss.
Care to support your claim with some evidence, data, and/or analysis. Let me show you why this is an minimum requirement. Say I change two words in the above statement and juxtaposition it next to yours:

Clinton is doing his best to destroy the Democratic party. Hope she's happy in November when a sure win (which we dems should have) turns into a huge loss.

There is no way for anyone to determine which one of us is correct. Where as if you provided some data and analysis with your claim that was specific to Obama then I wouldn’t be able to appropriate you cantankerous claim based rhetoric.


He did not say that. He said, like it or not, there ARE white people who will not vote for Obama.
And whether you want to admit it or not, it's the truth,
Did he say that people *shouldn't* vote for Obama because he's black.

If it was just a statement of Fact as you propose then what is the purpose of saying it? Why is the head democrat and super delegate in the state of PA providing cover for some white conservatives to vote for someone other than Barrack because he is black. And because it is posited as a statement of fact (instead of opinion) it offers “objective” cover for racism.

[ElboRuum]

84. Little confused here.

"Rendell is calling on white people to not vote for Barrack Obama because he is black."

Um... not to split hairs, but precisely where does he do this?

[MethuenProgressive]

37. Here's a real pic with his best friend:

?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF193875DCB1DD8387ABBA2EADE852DC5E6C0A40A659CEC4C8CB6

[IronLionZion]

39. Big Eddie is Jewish

FYI

[gaspee]

55. gah

You're a fucking idiot. Obama supporters need to grow the fuck up.

Guess what - he may win the primaries but he's not going to win the general if his supporters don't grow the fuck up.

Obama and his supporters may think they don't need the rest of the dems - but he does. Y'all may be in for a big surprise come November if this shit doesn't stop.

Reality is reality - whether you like it or not. And this politically correct shit is going to backfire.

[intaglio]

77. Do you know anything about arguing, gaspee?

Ad hominem attacks (your first line)

Contradiction of your original argument (No longer a certain loss now only a conditional loss)

Non sequeteur plus an unspecified threat

Statement mind numbing stupidity. Conjunction followed by a very dubious statement - this "politically correct shit" hasn't backfired yet

[bridgit]

63. well gee, that was fucking stupid...

[BeyondGeography]

28. "You've got a friend with a pointy white hood in Pennsylvania"

==If Mr. Rendell, a Clinton backer, is right about Pennsylvania's racial attitudes, maybe we should get a new state slogan. How about: "You've got a friend with a pointy white hood in Pennsylvania"?==

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. Rendell should know about this, considering who he beat in 2006

http://www.swannforgovernor.com

http://us.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/PA/G/00/index.html

[AX10]

31. PA is a true swing state.

It's not easy to win around here. Race and gender will be factors.

[my2sense]

36. Speaking the Obvious

I support both candidates, although I'm leaning towards Obama...but I feel this fellow is just saying aloud what many think. Race is a real factor in this election - we need to accept that fact. Every time I allow myself to think Obama may have a shot in the GE, I think about Katrina and how this country sat on hands for days while people died and no one will ever tell me that was NOT about race. If folk in this country continue to value the lives of African Americans as less than others, how can it as a whole place a black man in the white house?

[TexasObserver]

38. Like all of the Clinton's race baiting, this one was calculated to be a wedge

They're vile and lack principles.

[totodeinhere]

48. Yes, and it won't work this time either.

This outburst by Rendell may very well cost Hillary any chance that she may have had to get enthusiastic support from African Americans if it turns out that she gets the nomination. And the African American vote in the remaining primaries will probably go from 85% for Obama to 95%.

[TexasObserver]

60. He's an old pal of theirs, and wouldn't have done it without their OK.

[BlueStateGirl]

40. Unfortunately, it is probably true. And they probably aren't ready

to vote for a woman either.

I work in a bar in Philly, and have always talked politics with my customers. Most of them are Democrats, and the things I have heard so called Dems say about both Hillary and Obama in regards and race and gender have been um.... eye opening to me.

[Lex Talionis]

52. I thought maybe that was only

Dems here in my area who said such things. Yes, some Dems are very put out about their choices this election. This site has been an eye opener for me in that regards, too.

[Yael]

47. I will be SO thrilled if PA becomes the racist hotbed of this race

I swear to God, I will pack and move just south of me to Delaware if that happens.

[Raydawg1234]

50. sometimes my country embarrasses me........

How are so many people so very ignorant?

[southern_dem]

51. Some things are better left unsaid

and this statement by "Fast Eddie" is one of them. He's not a racist, just an idiot.

[beachmom]

61. Ah, and so the race baiting returns. And then the Clinton supporters

will start spreading the lie AGAIN that Obama was the one to bring it up.

Funny, how Obama surrogates don't make any arguments against Hillary for being a woman. They have a sense of honor.

[Skwmom]

62. So some people aren't ready to support a female commander-in-chief.

[JimGinPA]

70. I Live In One Of The Most Conservative Counties In PA...

I know a lot of people supporting Obama & many others who HATE Hillary. She would turn this state bright red in November & I doubt McCain could beat Obama here.

[zulchzulu]

71. I would imagine these "conservative whites" wouldn't vote for a woman either

I'm not sure if you're saying Rendell is playing the race card for Obama since he endorsed Hillary...

:shrug:

[indimuse]

75. I'm sorry I'm just gonna say IT!

After much time on DU And ALL the insults to me and HRC...I' gonna call it like I see it!

Obama is ONLY in this race because he wants to be the first BLACK AMERICAN PRESIDENT! From the very beginning...Michelle Barack and Oprah have made VERY LOUD and Clear their intentions and goal! AND expect ALL blacks to vote their conscience and WAKE UP! They have run a DIRTY ROTTEN campaign and I will not forgive Barack for allowing Americans to believe the Clintons are racist...He needs to look in the mirror! I'm disgusted by some of the close to slanderous remarks posted here that come from (SO CALLED) Dems...SO if you want to act and sound like a righty and try ti rip Hillary for her years of service and dedication...it's your right. But I say F*CK YOU! And IF Obama is the NOM...I will be all toooooo happy when the media releases their info on what I call a "Fraudulent Candidate!" He knows he can not survive his past.( He brought it on himself) NOT against the RW..and IF you really think that the RW will vote for Obamam...that is another lie. Every RW person I know..I know a lot...will vote for Hillary or NOT vote.

Obama is NOT ready to be Prsident Of THe US...BUT America IS Ready for a Black Man to be POTUS...JUST NOT BHO!

[democrat2thecore]

80. Well - I'M just gonna say it!!

Since you seem to know the personal motives of Barack Obama....let's just try the shoe on the other foot (using your language):

Hillary is ONLY in this race to be the first WOMAN PRESIDENT!! The Clinton's have run a dirty rotten campaign and I can't forgive them for blatantly using the race card in South Carolina. I'm disgusted by some of the posts here that are slanderous toward Senator Obama that come from (SO CALLED) Dems....So if you want to act and sound like a righty and try and rip Obama, it's your right. But I say F*UCK YOU! And IF Hillary is the nominee I will be all tooooo happy when the media and Repubs release their info on the Clinton Library, Rose Law Firm, and God knows what else. She knows she cannot survive her past (she brought it on herself). And if you think the RW will vote for HILLARY CLINTON ...that is another lie. Every RW person I know ...I know a lot.. will vote for Obama or NOT vote.

Hillary is NOT ready to be President...but America IS ready for a woman to be POTUS...just not Hillary Clinton!!

That's YOUR WORDS with the shoe on the other foot and it makes just as much sense. It's all bull$%^#.

[indimuse]

95. Nuclear $$ backs Obama..?? Rezko-Auchi-Alsammarae: power plant

((((yea..you are an Lo_bama fan...just like your idol..copy...and pretend.))))

Problem!...Hillary and Rose Law firm...Old Fabrication,NOTHING THERE!!...Obama...Rezko/Rezmar...NOT So OLD!!! Hence Tiral begin THIS mon...Feb 25th..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4355200

Captain_Nemo (917 posts) Sat Feb-02-08 06:53 PM
Original message
Obama, cheney's energy bill, Rezmar (Rezko), Iraq nuclear power plant. Lend me your ear and brain.
Obama voted for Cheney's energy bill - a giveaway to oil companies. Hillary voted no.

Rezko has a company called Rezmar. They are partnered with a British firm to build an Nuclear power plant in Iraq. Just asking...how come the MSM hasn't asked

him about this. further, how come the obama supporters haven't?

http://www.menafn.com/qn_news_story_s.asp?storyid=10211...

MENAFN - 31/07/2005

(MENAFN) Rezmar Corp., a real estate development company entered into a joint venture with a British firm in a $150-million deal to build a power plant in Iraq.

The contract, signed with Iraq's ministry of electricity, calls for joint venture to supply power to Iraq for 10 years, according to a spokesman for Chicago-based Rezmar.

The 250-megawatt power plant is slated to be one of three power plants under construction at the same time. A Brazilian firm and an Iraqi company are building the

other two.

The Rezmar joint venture will be based in Jordan. Construction is slated to begin this fall.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________
Obama supporters, ask yourself these questions regarding Senator Obama:

Why did he get a cheaper price on his house? (While Rezko's wife paid the full asking price for the land, Obama paid $300,000 under the asking price for the house.

The house sold for $1,650,000 and the price Rezko's wife paid for the land was $625,000.)

Why did he do business with a man he knew was under investigation by the FBI? (Rezko had been widely reported to be under investigation by the U.S. attorney and

the FBI at the time Obama contacted him and has since been indicted on corruption charges by a federal grand jury in a case that prosecutors say involves bribes,

kickbacks and "efforts to illegally obtain millions of dollars." )

Why did he write letters for this same man to get government contracts?
"For more than five weeks during the brutal winter of 1997, tenants shivered without heat in a government-subsidized apartment building on Chicago's South Side. It

was just four years after the landlords -- Antoin "Tony'' Rezko and his partner Daniel Mahru -- had rehabbed the 31-unit building in Englewood with a loan from Chicago

taxpayers."
"But Obama's ties with Rezko go beyond those two real estate sales and the political support, the Sun-Times found. Obama was an attorney with a small Chicago law

firm -- Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland -- that helped Rezmar get more than $43 million in government funding to rehab 15 of their 30 apartment buildings for the poor."
http://wizbangblue.com/2008/01/21/obama-revealed-in-rez...




http://rezkowatch.blogspot.com/2008/02/rezkos-power-plant-in-iraq.html

ezkoWatch will follow the adventures -- and misadventures -- of indicted Chicago political friendster-fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko and his relationship with

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Rezko-Auchi-Alsammarae: power plant in Iraq (renamed w/Updates)
Chicago Business reported July 29, 2005, that Chicago-based Rezmar Corp., owned by indicted political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko, had "entered into a joint

venture with a British firm in a $150-million deal to build a <250-megawatt> power plant in Iraq," with construction to begin in the fall. However, construction did not

commence in 2005.

The unnamed "British firm" was General Mediterranean Holding SA which belongs to Nadhmi Auchi, the corrupt Iraqi-British billionaire who provided Rezko with the

$3.5 million that caused him to lose his bond and wind up in jail to await his March 3, 2008, trial date.

The contract for the power plant had been negotiated in 2004. The agreement was signed with Aiham Alsammarae, the head of Iraq's ministry of electricity, who called

for "the soon-to-be named joint venture" to be based in Jordan. The plant was to "supply power to Iraq for 10 years," according Michael Rumman, who speaks Arabic

and who was Rezmar's spokesman, Chicago Business reported.

During a summer 2005 Chicago Sun-Times interview, Rumman, Rezko’s point man on his proposed power plant in Iraq said "Rezko used his 'formidable overseas

network of business relationships' to join energy consulting companies and win the contract."

On December 3, 2006, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Rumman "already had been to Jordan, where 'most of the negotiations and deal structures are done.' He

had hoped to begin construction on the Chamchamal plant in January of this year."

In the same article, the Sun-Times reported that, when it reached Rumman for comments, he "declined to discuss the plant or Alsammarae. The U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers confirmed that the contract for the Chamchamal project no longer is in effect." Chamchamal is a Kurdish city located to the east of Kirkuk and west of

Suleimania in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Additionally, the Sun-Times reported that

Federal authorities are investigating an Iraqi power plant deal involving Antoin 'Tony' Rezko, a former top fund-raiser for Gov. Blagojevich charged with defrauding Illinois

taxpayers.

Investigators want to talk to Iraq’s jailed former electricity minister, Aiham Alsammarae, about how Rezko landed the potentially lucrative contract, a source familiar

with the probe told the Chicago Sun-Times. ... helped Rezko get the dea

[intaglio]

81. What a really dumb set of statements

"Obama is ONLY in this race because he wants to be the first BLACK AMERICAN PRESIDENT" - well he is hardly in it because he wants to be the first white American president; so ignoring the immediate logical fallacy the problem with this statement becomes the word "ONLY". Now I may be wrong but any person with Obama's history of exceptional work in law and politics is likely to want to be president - whatever their sex or race.

"Michelle Barack and Oprah have made VERY LOUD and Clear their intentions and goal" - Duhhhh, so does any other Presidential candidate and their spouse

"They have run a DIRTY ROTTEN campaign" - in what way? Push polling? buying votes? Ignoring party rules? or do you just mean it has been a bad campaign? well who has the delegate lead?

"I will not forgive Barack for allowing Americans to believe the Clintons are racist...He needs to look in the mirror," you mean like Hillary and Bill allowed that same belief and Bill had to nearly apologise? and why should he look in a mirror? Are you saying Obama is prejudiced against other races?

"I'm disgusted by some of the close to slanderous remarks posted here that come from (SO CALLED) Dems" Hey, something we agree on, almost, because your remarks are not near slanderous they ARE slanderous.

"SO if you want to act and sound like a righty and try ti rip Hillary for her years of service and dedication" Those years of service and dedication have been examined pretty closely here and although both camps disagree (of course) there is room for honest doubt about some of those years (BTW I was going to slate you for not spell checking but the spell checker let "ti" through)

"But I say F*CK YOU! And IF Obama is the NOM...I will be all toooooo happy when the media releases their info on what I call a "Fraudulent Candidate!" He knows he can not survive his past.( He brought it on himself) NOT against the RW..and IF you really think that the RW will vote for Obamam...that is another lie. Every RW person I know..I know a lot...will vote for Hillary or NOT vote." any evidence? or links? Anyone? .... Anyone? .... Beuhler? .... Beuhler? ......

"Obama is NOT ready to be Prsident Of THe US...BUT America IS Ready for a Black Man to be POTUS...JUST NOT BHO!" Look, unlike Free Republic there is a spell checker here, please use it; then learn grammar, the correct use of CAPITALS and how not to be a foul mouthed, racist on a democratic board

Ignored

[boricua79]

90. and Hillary is in it to be the first woman president...big whoopdie doo

that's a given, brotha...

I'll tell you this much, if Obama doesn't capture the votes of whites in this country, ain't no other black guy in the country worth his dignity that will. I'm frankly surprised he's been able to run such a non-racial campaign and inspire lots of whites that would never have been reached by candidates like JEsse Jackson, Al Sharpton, or others.

As for being ready to be President, lots of others in history were not, but there's a bureaucracy in place that still runs. Many decisions are in the hands of the president, but the government of the United States will not fall apart because Obama is or is not ready. And frankly, he'll be a hell lot better than Bush.

I don't really lose sleep on Obama being ready or not. You've bought into the "vetted and tested" mantra of Clinton.

[adabfree]

97. Way too much piss in your beer..lol

You are quite bitter aren't you...

jump some rope
do some push ups

you need to release

[Cha]

78. ed rendell says "bluntly"? Bluntly

or Stealthly! Sleazy as he wants be..I'd laugh if Pennsylvanians ignored slimely ed and showed how much class they had and didn't give a damn that Obama is Black..only that he's the best one for the job.

[Alexander]

79. Coming from Ed "Gore should concede" Rendell, this is no surprise.

He obviously didn't care about black voters 8 years ago, when it mattered the most.

[Catherine Vincent]

82. I hate to say it but it's true.

Deep down we all know it's true. But hopefully we will be proven wrong.

[BigDDem]

83. Some whites not ready for a black president?

The truly naive are shocked again!

[rodeodance]

86. Polls say a certain percentage will not vote for a black or a woman.

[boricua79]

87. whites not ready to vote for an African-American candidate are plainly RACISTS

And don't give them the pedigree label of "conservative whites". If you can't vote for a black guy, you're just racist. Forget politics.

Now we can continue the discussion. I dislike softening up the truth.

[ElboRuum]

91. I'm having a little trouble with this...

...I've read, I think, three or four threads here about this very topic. And among all of them one thing stands out...

Some people seem to think that Rendell is encouraging rather then simply denoting.

In all of these, posts, never once is a line of reasoning given to support that assertion, that is, as my research into the matter wasn't entirely comprehensive, from the ones that caught my attention. In other words, I may have missed one or two that could have been the Rosetta Stone for this assertion.

I think we're not all so bloody naive to suggest that both racism and sexism don't exist in this country, and I also think we're not all so bloody naive to suggest that some of our own party may have some proclivities in that direction. Now, clearly, Rendell could have said that conservative males wouldn't vote for a woman as a counterpoint to this statement. But the overall gist of these responses seem almost agog at the idea that a person can be a registered Democrat as well as racist or sexist.

What, is there a test you have to take as a trial of admission? Some sort of brain scan where they can tell if you have any social atavism still uncorrected? At one point or another, you have to acknowledge the truth of his statement, as sad as it is to acknowledge.

However, look at the statement again.

Conservative whites aren't voting for either Obama OR Clinton. They generally tend to vote Republican. Maybe he meant conservative Democrats? I really can't tell, and I don't think the statement itself is forthcoming with any clues. So whatever he's trying to say with this statement seems hopelessly obfuscated behind the poorly selected string of words he used to express it.

So what have we learned?

1. What Rendell said was off-the-cuff and not very well thought out, ergo, it was a dumb thing to say.
2. What Rendell said was not necessary to say, ergo, it was a dumb thing to say.
3. What Rendell said should absolutely not have been said in front of a reporter, ergo, it was a dumb thing to say.

What is Rendell guilty of? Race-baiting? No. I don't think the facts support this. Being a clumsy public speaker who often says things of questionable lucidity? Well, yeah, but we've seen that enough times to be comfortable with it. Opening his yap and letting diarrhea pour out during an election cycle? Abso-frickin-lutely.

[AnnieBW]

92. My parents are in Pittsburgh

Okay, now my parents are lifelong Dems, and have been active in the Party and the AARP on and off for a while. (Not now, due to my Dad's health) They have Black friends, including my Dad's former boss. But my Mom - who is strong for Hillary - is coming out with the most racist garbage against Obama. At least she isn't saying that he's a Muslim, but it's close. Like with most things, I find it useless to argue with either of them.

Remember that Pennsylvania is Pittsburgh and Philadelphia with Alabama in between. In some ways, it's even more conservative than Alabama.

[adabfree]

98. Agreed

In Pa, black people have a place and they better stay there..

Driving through PA is still a scary thing for black people..lots of racists in between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

[eridani]

93. Get a clue. Whoever wins, we'll have to deal with either racism or misogyny n/t

[RamboLiberal]

94. I'm a Pennsylvanian and I want to make Fast Eddie

choke on that bit of cheesesteak in April. Go Obama!

[workinclasszero]

96. More race-bating from the Clinton camp

Hey it worked so well in SC, eh?:sarcasm:

These people are truly getting desperate. I predict a very ugly end to Hillary's quest for the presidency.