Barack Obama: Latest News on the Former President - Page 244

Forget the Small-Donor Myth: Big Money Still Rules

Jun 20, 2008 12:05 PM CDT

Forget the Small-Donor Myth: Big Money Still Rules

Big money men still Obama and McCain's bread and butter

(Newser) - Barack Obama often talks about how much money he’s raised from small donors, even describing it as “a parallel public financing system.” But while Obama has indeed raised record sums from little guys, big donors have kept pace, writes Jay Mandle of the Washington Post, predicting that...

Bloomberg Defends Obama Before Jewish Audience

Jun 20, 2008 11:45 AM CDT

Bloomberg Defends Obama Before Jewish Audience

NYC mayos asks Floridians to be vigilant against false rumors

(Newser) - NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg today urged Jewish voters in Florida to denounce and speak out against false rumors that paint Barack Obama as a secret Muslim, the AP reports. Bloomberg—mentioned as a potential VP for both White House contenders—spoke out against the campaign that plays off "fears...

Obama's a Pragmatist,
Not a Reformer

Analysis

Jun 20, 2008 11:06 AM CDT

Obama's a Pragmatist, Not a Reformer

His decision to opt out of public financing is right in character

(Newser) - Barack Obama’s decision to opt out of the public financing system shouldn’t come as a surprise, writes Politico’s Ben Smith. Obama has been inching away from the money for a long time now, proving once again that he’s not a traditional reformer—he’s a pragmatist....

Elian Case Returns to
the Spotlight

Jun 20, 2008 10:10 AM CDT

Elian Case Returns to the Spotlight

Great-uncle criticizes role of Obama aides in custody fight

(Newser) - When the battle over whether to send young Elian Gonzalez back to Cuba raged in 2000, Barack Obama was an Illinois state senator nowhere near the fray. But two of the candidate's current advisers played a role, and that connection has some Cuban-Americans ready to protest the senator's speech this...

Clinton to Campaign With Obama Next Week

Jun 20, 2008 9:05 AM CDT

Clinton to Campaign With Obama Next Week

Joint event coming next Friday

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will campaign together for the first time next Friday, Obama's camp revealed today, in a step toward unifying a fractured Democratic Party after a bruising primary fight. A day earlier, Obama and Clinton also plan to meet in Washington with some of her top contributors...

Death Knell Tolls for Campaign Finance

ANALYSIS

Jun 20, 2008 7:48 AM CDT

Death Knell Tolls for Campaign Finance

Obama snub of public cash highlights weakness of system

(Newser) - Barack Obama's decision to forgo public financing for his presidential campaign represents the biggest challenge yet to the troubled, loophole-filled system. But while the Illinois senator is now poised to spend a record amount to win the presidency, the explosion of Internet donations that have propelled his campaign might actually...

Dr. Obama and Mr. Hyde

opinion

Jun 20, 2008 5:20 AM CDT

Dr. Obama and Mr. Hyde

'High-minded' candidate is also cutthroat political animal

(Newser) - Barack Obama has two faces: there’s the "high-minded" liberal “Dr. Barack” and the politically calculating, win at-all-costs “Fast Eddie Obama,” writes David Brooks in the New York Times. The split personality clearly emerged in Obama’s announcement that he won’t accept public financing—a...

How Obama Could Get Gored

analysis

Jun 19, 2008 3:04 PM CDT

How Obama Could Get Gored

As in 2000, Dem could win popular vote, lose Electoral College to Republican

(Newser) - Observers are speculating about a split decision in November, with John McCain winning the presidency while Barack Obama takes the popular vote—and Harry Siegel, in Politico, says the chances might not be that slim. Obama looks likely to build massive margins in coastal states (already safely Democratic) while making...

Clyburn Is
the Perfect Ally for Obama

Jun 19, 2008 1:56 PM CDT

Clyburn Is the Perfect Ally for Obama

Dem whip brings consensus-building record to campaign

(Newser) - Jim Clyburn is exactly the kind of ally Obama needs. A pioneer in his own right, the first Southern-raised black majority whip has a strong record of building consensus among blacks, whites, Hispanics, and people of all faiths. He's the action to complement Obama's lofty words, reports Politico—and holds...

McCain Blasts Obama for Declining Funds

Jun 19, 2008 1:00 PM CDT

McCain Blasts Obama for Declining Funds

But Dem blames Mac for having to opt out of public financing

(Newser) - Following fast on Barack Obama’s decision to abandon public financing, a McCain rep said the Dem has failed “the true test of a candidate”—whether he'll stick to his word, Time reports. But Politico notes that an Obama rep blamed McCain: “Our campaign counsels met, and...

Obama Opts Out
of Public Financing

Jun 19, 2008 9:24 AM CDT

Obama Opts Out of Public Financing

Says system 'as it exists is broken,' and opponents 'masters at gaming' it

(Newser) - Barack Obama has opted out of public financing in the general election, the AP reports, reversing a joint pledge made last year with John McCain to spend only the $84 million in taxpayer cash between the party conventions and Election Day. While McCain appears set to accept public financing, Obama...

For Obama the Nominee, Even More Discipline

Jun 19, 2008 8:37 AM CDT

For Obama the Nominee, Even More Discipline

Acutely aware of scrutiny, campaign takes control of image

(Newser) - As Barack Obama's campaign transitions from Democratic frontrunner to nominee, his team is ratcheting down control over the candidate's public image and media access to him. But yesterday's revelation that Obama campaign volunteers prohibited two Muslim women wearing headscarves from sitting behind him at a rally underscores the challenges facing...

Obama Wants Nuremberg Trial
for bin Laden

Jun 19, 2008 7:10 AM CDT

Obama Wants Nuremberg Trial for bin Laden

Plan to avoid making terrorist a martyr, and US an outlaw

(Newser) - Barack Obama would use the post-war Nazi war crime trials at Nuremberg as a model for bringing Osama bin Laden to justice, to avoid making him into a martyr, the Boston Globe reports. Obama described the plan at a news conference after meetings with his freshly formed group of national...

McCain Calls For 45 New
Nuke Plants by 2030

Jun 19, 2008 5:05 AM CDT

McCain Calls For 45 New Nuke Plants by 2030

It's time for US to reinvest in nuclear energy, candidate argues

(Newser) - John McCain continued his energy campaign theme last night by calling for 45 nuclear power plants to be built by 2030, Reuters reports. He said he would eventually like to see 100 new plants to combat global warming and make the US energy independent. The nation's 104 reactors provide about...

Obama Up in Swing States, Making Red Inroads

analysis

Jun 18, 2008 7:06 PM CDT

Obama Up in Swing States, Making Red Inroads

Taking Virginia could be huge; Electoral College edge pronounced

(Newser) - Barack Obama holds a 2-point edge over John McCain in recently red Virginia, a poll margin Eric Kleefeld, on Talking Points Memo, sees allowing Obama to make “the map of competitive states really ... much broader than usual this year.” Blogger Nate at FiveThirtyEight.com reads in the numbers...

Shadowy Obama Antagonist Has Long Criminal Record

Jun 18, 2008 5:25 PM CDT

Shadowy Obama Antagonist Has Long Criminal Record

Larry Sinclair—who connects Dem to sex, drugs, murder—wanted for fraud in Colo.

(Newser) - A man working to publicize extravagant claims about Barack Obama—involving hard drug use, sex romps, and murder—has a voluminous rap sheet, including a forgery charge that earned him a 16-year jail sentence, Politico reports. Larry Sinclair is making an appearance today at the National Press Club in Washington...

Workers Bar Muslim Women From Obama Backdrop

Jun 18, 2008 2:53 PM CDT

Workers Bar Muslim Women From Obama Backdrop

Pair not allowed to sit behind candidate over headscarves; campaign apologizes

(Newser) - Two Muslim women were barred from sitting behind Barack Obama during a rally Monday, with campaign volunteers concerned about headscarves appearing on TV and in pictures, Politico reports. One woman was told the "political climate" made her presence problematic; another was told headwear of any kind was off-limits in...

Obama Wants Probe of VA Drug Tests

Jun 18, 2008 12:23 PM CDT

Obama Wants Probe of VA Drug Tests

'Outrageous' that suicide-linked drugs were tested on vets

(Newser) - Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John Cornyn are seeking a probe into reports that veterans had been recruited for tests on drugs linked to suicide, ABC News reports. An ABC News/Washington Times story noted that vets were given the anti-smoking drug Chantix in government tests, but for more than three...

Michelle Obama Takes Back
Her Image

Jun 18, 2008 7:07 AM CDT

Michelle Obama Takes Back Her Image

'Amazed at how deep the lies can be,' she hits rumors head-on

(Newser) - Michelle Obama has been called everything from a black nationalist to a "baby mama" in recent weeks, and sporting a new chief of staff, she's looking to take on the rumors. In a New York Times interview, Obama outlines her journey from Chicago's South Side to the White House...

Rivals Plan Joint Unity Event

Jun 18, 2008 2:59 AM CDT