Now there seems to be a new Barack Obama.....
read full op ed article here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/opinion/04fri1.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin
Obama plans a visit this summer to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. The Illinois senator also has said he intends to visit Iraq and Afghanistan this summer as part of an official congressional trip that would be separate from the campaign-funded Mideast and European tour.
Here are my questions:
What is the purpose of traveling to these countries? (I am excluding Iran/Afganastan as that is a congressional trip)
Do you think as a presumptive nominee he should travel and focus energy on countries other than ours especially since our own party is so divided?
How do you feel about having your dollars fund this trip rather than used for campaigning here?
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/07/080707fa_fact_hersh
Speaker Pelosi was given a mandate by the people of this country to do something about it. And what has she done? She has condoned the war by voting to fund it and she has taken "impeachment off of the table". For this reason I am supporting a true antiwar activist and believer that Bush is a criminal. Although we are on different sides of the country I am putting my money where my mouth is and supporting Cindy Sheehan for congress.
Yesterday another poster saw fit to call me out as a "troll", post my name, public information, and a comment I made on MySpace. The purpose of him/her doing this was to warn the Obama supporters on this site that "trolls are coming" because my comment invited Democrats who are not happy with this party to come here and voice opinions.
There are a couple of issues I would like to address:
Last week there was an effort to increase the number of Obama supporters on this site and silence Hillary supporters and those that are unhappy with the party. For those of you who need proof here are some links:
http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/deeannaroberts/CxYB
http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/Hillary%20Girl/CxTY
(read the comments on the one above)
http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/UnitedWeStandTogether/CxmC
As a matter of fact you can go back to the dates the posts above was posted and see many examples.
This one deserves a posting of the actual comment:
To all the trolls here. I've called in the troops. We are taking over this blog site. We do carry RAID, RID and some other pestisides to get rid of negativity in the Democratic Party. We are strong and mighty.
So you can either get on this Obama Train are you will get mowed over.
http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/michaelkrummel/Cx9t/commentary#comments
Now just to be clear. I believe that ALL of us have a right to have our voices heard. And I believe that those of you who intended to drown out dissenters were wrong. And believing that, I invited Democrats who feel disenfranchised by this party to participate in the discussion. Because you know what? The split is real. And it needs to be discussed.
And what happened?
A Obama supporter who calls her/himself "Democrat for life" decided to post the comment I placed on a My Space page for disenfranchised Democrats and the information he/she found about me on this site.
Now ask - for what purpose? It wasn't to Party Build. It was an attempt to silence me. It was a morally reprehensable act that would serve to subject me to harrassment.
When I first came onto this blog I proudly used my real name. As I spent time here I realized that it may not be a good idea - especially after someone on this blog called another and cursed at the bloggers daughter. My feeling that it was not a good idea was confirmed when I started to experience harrassment by some Obama people on this site. Fake groups and profiles were created in my name. A particular blogger posted my name, address and phone number.
I was concerned after this. Contacted the proper authorities and decided I would keep blogging and not be silenced.
I don't know how many of you have children but I have two young ones. Having children shifts your perspective and you are very aware if danger lurks. I don't know how many of you realize how many crazy people are in this world. I don't know if the people who deemed it necessary to post my personal information gave a thought as to how it may effect me? If they did then it is obvious they didn't care.
I notice that they do not use their real names.
Some people on this blog may dismiss me as an alarmist, just like I have been dismissed as a troll, a victim, a crybaby, etc .... but I want you to know that by posting my information in the manner that you did subjected me to more harrassment. And I hope that is the extent of what happens to me because of what you did. I hope you are happy. Did you accomplish what you wanted? Maybe this blog will open your eyes and you will, in the future think before you act.
I have saved every fake profile, group and post that fraudlently and hatefully used my name. If my harrassment continues because people have decided to post my personal information I will persue whatever type of legal action I can.
The sad thing is I am not alone. If you peruse any of the Hillary or Unhappy Democrat sites you will see incident after incident of Obama supporters harrassing us. What has happened within the party is unbelievable. The fighting and split in this party is sickening. And it should tell everyone something.
I lost sleep last night.
I should be able to discuss this election without fear. This is America. I should not have to wonder as I lay in bed in the dark at 3:00 am if I should quietly shut down my My Space page, or my DNC PB blog, and stop participating in this election.
I shouldn't have to decide between silence and harrassment.
I would like to end this by saying that I have been a member of this party for 29 years. I worked on my first campaign as a young teen stuffing envelopes for George McGovern. I have never voted for someone other than a Democrat. I am not a troll. I am a Democrat. BUT at this time I am unhappy with this party. And unhappy with the presumtive nominee. I have decribed my reasone in prior blogs. And even though I feel this way I would never call anyone names (although I did call MOB a fool once),I would never consider disparaging another person on this blog and I certainly would not publish their personal information.
So after many hours I decided I would not be silenced. And I would stand up, call you out, and state my name.
Lynn (Staten Island Democrat)
DeeDee graciously provided a link to the HRC questionaire that was completed by Senator Obama. In it he states:
I believe the Employment Non-Discrimination Act should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. I sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban discrimination in employment on the basis of sexual orientation.
I actually would like to clarify: the legislation he supported died in commmitee, the legislation that passed did not include his name. http://musing85.typepad.com/blog/2008/01/obama-on-gay-ri.html
I also have some questions about his answer regarding gay marrige:
His answer:
However, I do not support gay marriage. Marriage has religious and social connotations, and I consider marriage to be between a man and a woman. If I was President, however, I would oppose any effort to stifle a state’s ability to decide this question on its own. Whether it was a
Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage or a bill like the Defense of Marriage Act, I
would oppose such efforts. I think the President should do all he or she can to advance strong
families. Whatever the make-up of the family, it is the President’s role to provide policies and
leadership that enable the family to thrive.
Why should the religious aspect of marriage have anything to do with the government?
What does he mean by "social connotations" that cause him to not support gay marriage?
Is he implying that my family which does not include a husband and wife is any less of a family?
Phone: 202-863-8000
Fax: 202-863-8174
E-mail: HowardDean@dnc.org
Pam HamiltonClinton Democrats








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