Washington File

Further to Obama's story,I was reading an article in the Toronto Star that tells the story of his roots to Africa and the region his family is from.

It also told of Obama's effect on the most lowly of the poor of Africa and how it is inspiring them.

It talks of how someone who's family is very poor can actually inspire a poor person to dream and someday have their dream within their grasp.

That is the connection between Obama and Oprah.

Both are using their"black heritage'to inspire not only black's in North America but also in Africa and other countries.

It also further shows that NO MATTER where your roots,culture or ethnic back ground,you can inspire change in the world,especially when the world is ready for that change.

It has been mentioned about Obama's drug use and other things that might not look to pretty.

I think all it will do is make him more"real"to people.

It is basically saying,I messed up but I overcame it.

This makes a person more real,true and meaningful to people.

It is saying"I can relate,I understand the problems,I have been there too."

That is part of his appeal to people.

He seems approachable.

People are also underestimating the clout behind Oprah's backing of him.

Not only is she one of the most inflential women in the U.S. but she has made it her intent to reach across to Africa with a school.

If a black man can win the presidency,how does that look to the rest of the world?

Globally this can be the move that changes the way people see each other and maybe change for the good of everybody.

Only time will tell.

Just a little reminder: Presidential elections in America are based on electoral votes and not the nation wide popular vote. The Democrats are still going to have to find a way to win a good sized Red state, whoever they nominate. The Republicans only have to hold their home-ice advantage to keep the White House.

I echo the comments of many in support of an Obama presidency. Even if he is succesful I don't think he can have a great influence on domestic U.S. policy but the world is hoping that the United States can be turned toward the light in the field of foreign policy. The world community is in deep disgust at the destructive antics of the Bush administration. As someone who is a great admirer of the American people I have to say they have been let down lately and deserve much, much better.

I have seen no mention of a connection being made between the emergence of strong support for Mr. Obama in the U.S., and the rapid response by the new president of Kenya, stepping forward to promote a Unified government, in what appears to be a positive, cooperative attempt to put a stop to the potential for long term civil war in Kenya.

The president of Pakistan is also showing clear signs of wanting to assist in resolving similar internal political issues in his country.

I suspect that just the possibility of the election to President of the U.S., of the man Barak Obama shows the potential to be, has been enough to defuse the cynical, defensive, knee jerk responses we have developed world-wide, as a means to resolve the stresses of living our lives under the black cloud of impending doom.

I believe the entire world sees in Mr. Obama, the hope of a more equitable and constructive approach to beginning to deal with those with whom we do not agree.

Should Mr. Obama be elected, and should he prove to be the man he now shows the potential for being, the general population of the U.S. will have demonstrated to the world that there is hope for America, and for all the rest of us.

I believe in the Power of One. With his roots so recently in Kenya, is it not possible that Kenyans see him as an example to emulate? And because of his racial blend, might not other non-white members of the world population have a fresh perception of Americans as not entirely racist? And respond accordingly?

If Obama gets elected, which would probably be nice, he 'd better make a very careful choice of vice-president (Edwards would be a pretty good one I think). Remember ... last time they got Johnson

I too cheer the victory of Mr. Obama in Iowa. The U.S. (...and let's not forget we mere mortals here in Canada who depend on American breadcrumbs) has never needed a saint of unification and hope than now.

However, I would just like to point out to cynics, like F.A. in Winnipeg, who claim Obama is not an establishment, well-funded candidate, that a little more attention be paid to the money trail. Obama has money, lot's of it. One of his main financial backers is the Pritzker family from Illinois. They have billions. And they are white. They also happen to be fairly progressive too, which confuses the stereotype, but then the world is not so black and white anymore.

Do not project all of your hopes and dreams on Obama for you will surely be disappointed, as so many of Bill Clinton's first term supporters were. Yes, we'd love a world where money was separated from politics, but we haven't gone through that reformation yet. However, if there was ever a candidate who might move the U.S. (and the Western world) in the right direction, it's Barack Obama. I write that because I feel it in my bones.

There are a lot of rich people in the US and other countries who will do everything in their power to ensure Obama is not elected.

If an investigative journalist (not the usual reporters that parrot information) track the trillions of "Iraq" dollars, they will realize how much is at stake for the elite.

The elite will do anything, even steal the elections - how do you think puppet George made it to the White House?

The other big story is that Ron Paul got 10% of the Republican vote in a state that is generally not favorable to his anti-war Libertarian stance. Will a 3rd or 2nd place finish in New Hampshire be such a big surprise to the CBC or will they continue to ignore him?
But god forbid the CBC report anything about the the only anti-war candidate from either party or cover the phenomenal growth of the Ron Paul revolution with real Conservatives in the United States which undoubtly will spread to Canada with or without fair coverage from the Canadian media. Vegas has odds on Ron Paul (if elected) to beat Hilary Clinton easily. Is Vegas ever wrong? Do the Republicans really plan on winning the next election or passing the war torch to Hilary?

Congratulations to Mr. Barak Obama. He is a breath of fresh air. Mrs. Clinton has real challenge in Mr. Obama.

I'm afraid that from now on the Clinton campaign will concentrate on heavy negative advertisement and slogans. The crown, so to speak, was hers. Now a new game is afoot.

My guess is Mr. Obama will be the next President of the US of A. The one thing I wish for is the Republicans are soundly defeated in November.

Obama's win in Iowa was indeed impressive. I hope he can keep the momentum going. If not president then Harold Hotham's suggestion a Clinton-Obama team is the next best hope.

Obama, all the way. I look forward to seeing a US president who can write his own speeches, do his own thinking, and more importantly, is willing to talk to the enemy. Regardless of the economic chaos he will inherit, the damage the US has done in the Arab & Muslim nations must be addressed. In turn, those leaders will finally be able to talk with a man they can respect.

The Democrats need a candidate who is capable of countering the smear campaign with which the Republicans will "tar and feather" whoever wins the Democratic party's nomination. I don't believe any of the candidates vying for the Democratic nomination are up to this task.

Also, sad as it is, in order to win the presidency in November, the Democrats have to be as good, or better, than the Republicans at the "dirty" political tricks. For the Democrats to win, they have to have a well crafted smear campaign in place which will destroy their Republican rival. The Democrats are not up to this task.

Sadly, in the US (and more and more in Canada) if you do not run a very negative campaign aimed at discrediting and destroying your opponent you will not win. Just look at how Bush won two terms by skillfully crafted negative campaigning which destroyed the credibility of Gore and Kerry in the minds of voters. Sadly the Republicans are masters of the negative campaign. There will be no change in Washington since the Republicans will use their dirty tricks to put keep their party in the White House.

Change? Good grief! Gimme a break!

Since when has a politician not endlessly spouted the word "change" during an election?

Remember how Dion, during his campaign, and upon becoming the new leader, promised to "change" the Liberal party? Remember?

Well, it's been a year! Notice any "changes" yet? I didn't think so!

Come to think of it: Did Dion, while he was trying to become leader, say EXACTLY how he was going to "change" the Liberal party? Nope, no way, no how! And did the media require him to be specific? Ditto with the: nope, noway, no how!

Meanwhile, Mr. Obama also says that America's "time for change has come." Well, we've all heard that one before, haven't we? But, the problem is: we've never heard EXACTLY how these most important changes - BIG CHANGES - will be made, have we?

So let's hear it! There is PLENTY of time: 10 months till the U.S. presidentil election!!

Let's hear the nitty gritty, because the Devil is in the details. So let's hear the details now so that the Devils can be exorcised sooner rather than later! Because waiting until after you win has never worked before! Has it?

Just ask Stephan Dion!

Oh... I get it! No one wants to get into the details because they don't think our attention spans are long enough! They don't want us to get lost in the details! They don't want to confuse us of the lowly masses... We voters! We TV veiwers!

So it's sound bites and slogans for us all.

Just like before!

Change?

Gimme a break!

P.S. Dear Mr. Champ, You folks in the media could do a lot do break this cycle by forcing the candidates to give specific details when they speak of "change" instead of merely recording their dogma responses and then "moving on!"

DEMAND A SPECIFIC ANSWER TO A SPECIFIC QUESTION!

OK?

If Obama can gain grass-roots money, he can make US foreign policy a "Made for America" response to international issues as opposed to current influence of powerful foreign lobbys' in Washington.

Recently,when India wanted exemption from the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, it hired expensive "consultants" to lobby (without double-speak, it is called "bribing") politicians. Other governments,such as Isreal even use the US governments own billion-dollar aid packages to steer US policy in the Middle East.

Obama is on the right tract. Clean up campaign financing laws and then see where the results take you.

It may even restore the US as the world most popular superpower.

Obie and Huckie are still easily catchable, no worries man. It's a long and gnarly road to the Oval Office.

But is anyone really surprised by the high turnout of Christian fundamentalists for Huckie? Putting Bush on the throne of the world's most powerful Christian nation for eight years has only whetted their appetites. They may be even more dedicated and committed to their cause this time because they have a former(?) Minister to ensconce in the White House.

Though it would be nice to see someone apart from a Clinton or a Bush as President of the States, Obama is still a corporate tool like the rest of them. His positions on domestic matters are the exact same as those of Clinton, and we wont see him or any main-stream candidates break free of the corporations that own them and their campaign and their perhaps future presidency. If the American people really want change they need to vote for a Ron Paul or a Dennis Kucinich, otherwise they're just going to get the same-old shtick.

I wondered last night if this result was more than just a caucus poll in that, while it clearly signalled Obama, more importantly it highlighted his platform of change.

Considering the current administration's performance and the coziness of the Washington elite with the Clintons, I looked at it as more of a demand for change in the way government does business.

Senator Obama is saying all the right things but does he have the machinery to put it into place?

Remember that the Clintons tried to reform health care and got their fingers burned by the power of big business, a key source of financing. Business in the US has been enjoying some significant tax advantages. Will the Senator be able to wrestle their money toward his campaign?

I think Hillary has the experience to navigate the minefields. My preference would be a Clinton-Obama ticket. Give Senator Obama time to get his feet wet because Washington isnt going to change just because an election was won or lost. He needs this time for seasoning before the Oval office.

Just the observations and opinions of a Canuck on the sidelines.

How wonderful for Mr. Obama. Maybe now the white house will become the black house.
Silvio

I think that the results in Iowa are foretelling of the divide that exists between those who want change and those who do not. As in 2004 and 2000 there will be little room for compromise because if Obama is nominated he will be construed as being too liberal and if Huckabee were to be nominated he would be looked upon as being too conservative. There is a strong possiblity that these two could get their party's nomination because Ms. Clinton is unelectable (2/3 of the Democrats think so) and Mr. Kennedy hasn't got enough money to be nominated. As for the Republicans, Rudy Guliani is too liberal on social issues and Mr. McCain is probably too old,Mr. Huckabee is very conservative socially and economically. Faced with the usual divide the conservative forces will win,
they have more money and more media support and the race card will be played subliminally and effectively. Obama can win if he carries the states where the poor would make a difference but usually the poor don't vote (or if they do the vote gets stolen as it did in 2000) The tragedy is the lack of compromise for that means little progress on the domestic issues that always decide American elections.

Mr Obama is a very credible individual. He does not come with any baggage and his message is clear "change is needed". His closest rivals have been with the power brokers too long and the American people are getting tired of the elite leading them into a path of self destruction. The Bush administration has made a mess of the economy and the perception of Americans abroad. Just ask why a lot of foreign people dislike Americans! I hope that Mr. Obama can bring about the change needed to get his country back on track.

Go Obama Go!It was freshing to rarely hear the word "terrorists" or "Islamists" in last night's speaches by candidates. The era of George Bush and the politics of fear and bullying are over in the USA. The Republicans are a scary lot still, citizens of the world will hold our breath until a Democrat, Edwards or Obama or even Hillary, becomes Commander in Chief of the US.
I look forward to finding out the truth about the incompetance, the lies and the evil of the Bush administration.

I believe that Oprah helped by throwing her support behind Obama.

I believe that Hillary Clinton would have been helped by her also.

In a country that is sick of Iraq,a failing economy and the loss of respect by the world,change is needed.

It has been reported that the young,women and people wanting change voted for Obama.

I have also heard his message is likened to that of Martin Luther King's message.

I personally believe change is coming,maybe slowly but it is here.

I think people are finally begining to see that we are all more the same than different.

I think people are also really taking a good look around at the world we have created as a society and don't like what they see.

If Obama can carry the message of change and hope to the people that Martin Luther King began in the 1960s before he was killed,then he will easily win the presidency.

If people don't think that this is a possibility then they need to also remember that blacks weren't given any rights until the 1960s and that wasn't that long ago in history.

If you can believe in a dream of change,then the dream can become a reality.

That is at least the dream that I carry for my kids and grandkids and the future generations coming behind them.

I remember as a kid attending a Catholic school hearing about the breakthrough that JFK was making in the United States. While he was not the first Catholic to carry a major party banner for election he was the first to succeed. At that time there were all sorts of hinderances placed upon African-Americans even voting, not to talk about running for president. Religion is a force of negativity still lurks too deeply in U.S. politics. The only Catholic was assasinated before completing his term and no other Catholic has had a chance. And being a Jew,Moslem or Mormon is still a handicap for any candidate.
It looks like there may be a chance that another taboo of U.S. political system may be broken. While electing Hillary Clinton may be a departure from White Middle aged Male of Protestant stock, her comes from the same segment of society. The election of Obama would show a great deviation from racial taboos that have hindered the United States.
One hopes that he can succeed and does not suffer the same fate as Kennedy.

I agree that this was a huge win by Obama (although I think it is dangerous to underestimate the Clintons).

This is a victory of style over substance.

If Obama is the Democratic nominee he can't compare to McCain (who I think will be the Republican nominee) for experience and judgment especially in military and foreign affairs. The Republicans will make a lot of hay out of this.

Also, the Republicans will raise his drug use.

He is in for a long unpleasant fight.