Well, I hope that's what he felt. I haven't heard or read where he calls himself African American, only other people calling him that. But if he does then I don't see why other people shouldn't. For me personally, I like Tiger Woods's approach. He loves his Dad dearly and proud of his black heritage, but equally so towards his mom's side. He personally said he would prefer not to be refered to as African American just simply because that would eliminate his mother as a part of him. I'm sure he would prefer not to be refered to as Asian American either. 23 copies each. He's got a perfect point.

i think it would be hard to find a large amount of African Americans in this country without a mixed race background.

First up, name calling would not resonate well with Barack's message. The fact that you took a serious half a page to explain what's going on in our society proves that it's not the "stupidest" argument. It's simply what people are afraid to talk about which is not a good thing for our country. It leads to prejudiced assumption and misunderstanding. Please don't assume other people understand all this. I watch Charles Barkely on TNT and he said he prefers to be called black and not African American. He said African refers to those people who recently migrated from countries like Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia etc... and not those who had arrived here at the beginning of this nation. People should talk freely and should not be intimidated by hate speech and attack. This is the last thing Obama wants for this country. It's already ugly. Make it better.

i've worked with both union members and long-term activists, and my experience seems to be a little different than your own.  many of these, in my experience, want to forego working in the trenches and would rather pontificate than canvass.  i had a union actually withdraw their support because i mentioned to their political director that their members were returning false positives (one sheet had all ones on their voter contacts).  and both have trouble adapting to advanced campaign techniques and disciplined messaging.  i love those that do, though (and afscme was absolutely phenomenal in my last campaign).

personally, i love the energy and idealism that newbies bring into a campaign.  they are easily trained, eager to learn (and ask pertinent questions), and work hard.  i've never found a newbie hanging out at the coffee shop when they were supposed to be knocking on doors...

Obama doesn't have a prayer in Iowa. In fact, when he didn't even show for that big thing last month - it was obvious Obama wasn't interested in being president and had other motives for being in the race - becoming clearer every day.

It would be nice if Obama supporters could talk about Obama instead of doing amateur psychoanalysis of Edwards supporters.  It further convinces me that there is no depth to the Obama phenomenon at least in the way his supporters write about it.

In this report it is all about the money and how people feel.  But I keep getting this sense that they are just joining in because everyone they know is.  I still do not see what Obama offers people that they are so mesmerized.  He offers a vision of change but no specifics of how we will get there.  Obama demonstrates little leadership in the senate.  It is mostly how to get along with Republicans and give them what they want.

Obama is tepid about withdrawal from Iraq.  His health care program continues to support the health care for profit industry while not covering everyone.  His support of the coal industry is not healthy for the planet.  His foreign policy speeches particularly about Iran are more hawkish than I expected from him.

The blogoshere examines positions carefully.  Yes we are all impressed with his fundraising prowess.   George Bush was a fabulous fundraiser also.  And I do not equate Obama's politics with Bush.  However great fundraising does not mean that the policies are what we want.  Often great fundraising taps into people's dreams not the politicians specifics.  This is an accomplishment of Obama's and not one to sneer at.  I genuinely applaud him for his appeal, I just don't trust emotional appeals without enough commitment to specifics that are positive for people.  I don't see that in Obama and I think it is why in the blogosphere there are still questions.

The diarist writes:

The Obama campaign is what generational change looks like and what a movement looks like.  He has not been tested yet but it's clear that Obama is not a fad.  ....... I see it on the faces of junior high kids who run over and want to talk to me, a middle aged white guy, and ask how they can get an Obama T shirt like mine.  They are faces of hope that I just don't see on an average day.

Yes, Obama can still be a fad.  Desire for a t-shirt is not about change.  I would like to think there will be substantive change with Obama, but I have yet to see him deliver on these promises.  

I am an Obama donor and supporter but I am totally shocked by the behavior of those so-called Obama supporters on mydd. Back over at the barackobama.com blog, it's a hopeful, bright, optimistic and civil blog. Over here it's getting nasty. Calling Edward's supporters names won't win any vote for Obama. It drives his true supporters away. Please! This is the last of me. Have fun attacking!

With all due respect, a lot of Obama supporters were singing the praises of the Ny Times when they smeared Edwards. Whats changed?

Agreed pioneer111!!! Well spoken!!

DUH!  his approach of building consensus has worked.  he has proven this to be an effective technique in his career and it has proven to be an effective technique throughout the history of congress.  moreover, the call to bipartisanism is a frequent demand of the electorate -- you know, those people you keep ignoring.

democrats cave because they are conditioned that way by the democratic establishment in washington, dc.  democrats don't cave in illinois -- hell, look at the game of chicken currently going on in springfield.  you have to expand your horizons and outgrow your dlc mindset.  barack isn't talking about caving in to republicans, he's talking about appealing to republican voters who will agitate against their own elected officials.

just like he did in chicago.  y'all really need to start thinking outside the box...

Obviously Edwards and Richardson are not going to drop out before Iowa. They both are poised to do well there.

So what's your thinking on this?

I don't know why Richardson is in there, but Edwards will not drop out until he get's his tooshie handed to him in Iowa. He knows he's lost this thing, but because he had a big fat mouth about Iowa, he has to stay in. He is preparing his people for his loss by blaming the Media for not enough coverage and by pretending that he wants to raise these small amounts of money on purpose. He's going to go out the victim instead of the loser.

Agree that Richardson is all at sea on a podium - period. Give him a minute and he doesn't do too well, give him 5 minutes and he loses it. It's kinda sad really but it just won't do.

OTOH Talking in sound bites tells us nothing. So far Edwards and Hillary are best at telling us nothing.

DK delivers more substance in 30 second sound-bites than anyone but we already know he can't be pres.

Which is one reason IMO that if we're going to involve ourselves in the nonsense of premature primaries we should allow all voices on that podium. With all of this time in front of him Obama will undoubtedly master the sound-bite venue...also kinda sad.

...because NO. You don't need sound-bites to be president. You need in-depth understanding of issues.

America would be well-advised to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, restrict presidential campaigns to 60 days prior to the primary election with 30 days prior to the GE for mud-wrestling the opposition.

All of it publicly financed and leaving K Street out of it entirely.

Besides, it would require so much less time for damange control.  

(and put so many 'cargalas' out on the streets looking for honest work)

not sure what you think but his house is definitely about 10 times the average in NC

And this is why Obama is more susceptible to pressures in the senate and in the WH.  Just like Bill Clinton who went along with the corporate agenda.  They paid him well ever since.