Obama's Other Life

If Obama gets the nomination, I hope he has better sense than to find a use for a revolting, self-promoting, ass kissing opportunist like you, Joe. As soon as you gained some influence, you'd be right back to your preening, bitchy, backstabbing, "Look how important I am, it's all about meeeeeeeeeeee!" ways. If Obama wins it will be the crest of a new wave, and new waves don't need treacherous, used-up relics from the past like you.

hey joe, after all that people have said about you (myself included), i have to hand it to you: this is NEWS. this is what journalism should be about. i pay pretty close attention to both blogs and mainstream news and was following obama very closely but i had not heard anything about this. i had been curious what obama had to say regarding the situation in kenya due to his roots there.

how about writing a full article on this subject if you can get an interview.

Cool post. Thanks.

Sorry to burst your balloon Joe - but if there's a used car salesman in the field (Repub or Dem) its Obama. Guess I wont be reading about that here though.......do me a favor and wake me up after the election so I don't have to feel sick everyday seeing what passes for journalism. .

This is something I agree with wholeheartedly.

BUT:

I REMEMBER YOU JOE:

"N----r,n---r, n----r, n----r..."

Gratuitously and repetitively, Joe. YOU. One of YOUR peices, not too long ago.

Your praise seems somewhat hollow to me.

Fence sitting on the issue of race is getting a little uncumfortable with that picket sitcking so far up your derrier, aint it?

Martin Gale:

Joe's article rings like MLK getting kudos from his killer, if you ask me...

Nice piece, Joe. We need more of this (on all the candidates, to the extent there are more things like that for all the candidates).

how about writing a full article on this subject if you can get an interview.

Posted by Dave | January 7, 2008 9:35 PM

You'll be seeing all sorts of stuff like this from Joe ... for a while. And then you'll be seeing other things from Joe.

Joe is obviously working hard to ingratiate himself with the Obama people, just as he was once, for years, entangled with the Clinton people, whom he now tells to "Oh be quiet". The Clintons didn't come out too well from their relationship with Joe and his pals. They got a press corps that hated them and spent years maligning them, while Joe said nothing at all -- when he wasn't joining in himself, that is. If the Obama people can't find better than Joe to work with in the media, they're in deep trouble. But in fact, the whole rotten Joe Klein/Broder/Hunt et al era of Washington journalism needs to be swept away and something new put in its place, something a little less self absorbed. If Obama wins and is able to help facilitate that, by picking other journalists than worthless two-facers like Joe to work through and elevate, if he is able to do just that one thing, then his presidency will be a success.

i have to hand it to you: this is NEWS. this is what journalism should be about.

I guess what bothers me is the idea that the death of hundreds of Kenyas only becomes worth mentioning here because Joe got what appears to be an exclusive about Obama making a few phone calls.

What is happening in Kenya has simply been ignored by the "political reporters" who cover this campaign. Indeed, the entirety of sub-Saharan Africa may as well not exist as far as the campaign "journalists" are concerned.

Yet, if you're looking for potential "failed states" where anti-US terrorists could find safe have, Africa is where you should be focussed -- and while there is reason to hope that Kenya won't descend into full-scale civil war, the simple fact is that our political media's complete refusal to even acknowledge the existence of the Kenya situation is just one more symptom of how truly contemptible the campaign media has become.

Credit where credit is due--good article, Joe. It's interesting how Obama has gotten involved in trying to help calm tensions in Kenya, a very important nation in our efforts in Africa and one that does not get much media attention.

Count me as someone who would like a follow up article on this subject.

First of all, thank you so much for the information Mr. Klein. I had heard about the Voice Of America broadcast and there was a passing mention of Obama working w/the State Dept. on the Kenya situation on the NBC Nightly News but I had not realized the depth of his work. I think it says a lot that he hasn't advertised this or used it for political gain.

ITA, I think this speaks volumes about the kind of president we can expect. One who cares about people and extends himself to deal with the situation as it is and does what he can to help.

OBAMA '08! America couldn't do better as far as I am concerned.

So how long before the attack dogs start growling like they did over Pelosi visiting Syria? He is, after all, only a sitting Senator.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,264334,00.html

Joe - Thank you for posting about this.

But here is the thing. From Obama's quoted remarks: "The way forward is not through violence – it is through democracy, and the rule of law."

Sounds great, right? But somehow when the Progressive blogosphere was demanding that democracy be protected and the rule of law enforced you rose to stifle those cries. You told us we were not serious. And the lawlessness of the Bush administration goes unchecked and unaccountable. Ahh the glories of 'centrism'. So what happens if Obama should begin to call for investigations or hearings or impeachments? You know, actual action or change? Will you then abandon him? Call him unserious? Where is the 'center' between you and an immovable object?

I guess we are never going to really discuss this keyboard to keyboard but I would like to and I would be civil. The reason I continue to pursue it is not to anger or provoke you but to make you understand what is happening around you. I realize that the Iowa caucus is a small sample size but you got it wrong and I think you got it wrong because you underestimated the disgust that many of us hold for your 'centrism'.

And I am sure that you have some things that you could help me understand. And it would all start if you would rejoin us in the comments section. You used to be so good at it - you would even respond to multiple comments within a thread. But your very good intentions were foiled by inadequate software troll protections. But that is fixed now! I think it could work! Whaddyasay?

It's "KIBAKI" not "KIBACHI" Joe,
Just an FYI

I like that Obama hasn't been using this in the debates and such, although I guess aides must be telling reporters, as evidenced here. Edwards' reference to that poor girl who died with the insurance issue sounded sincere but yet opportunistic in the debates, I thought.

If Obama were doing this for campaign reasons, it seems to me it would be part of the stump speech, but it doesn't appear to be. It's also not visible on Obama's web page, at least not on the main pages.

53_2
For those of us out of the loop, what episode are referring to regarding, n----r, etc.?
I know Klein is anti-Affirmative Action, and has referred to Reps Charles Rangel and John Conyers as embarrassments.
Is it a reference to Klein's support of Don Imus, or a to specific article that Klein wrote?

53_2:

I know that this might sound tedious to you, but do you have a link for that quote (please)?

Joe:
Good work on this one! It's amazing that this is flying below the radar, while people sit around wondering if he has experience to lead on day one.

You still need to come clean about the FISA situation. If you'd given a more honest correction and appology in that case, you might be redeemed by this one, but I'm still hoping you'll get canned for being a Hoeskstravist and then lying about it.

But Joe, you didn't tell us how this is good for Republicans and bad for Democrats!

I find this extraordinary. This is something that, despite their abilities, it is difficult to imagine either of the Clintons doing during such a week.

And--even though some have criticized Obama's foreign policy experience--he hasn't even mentioned it this week! Again--can you imagine any other candidate--Clinton, Richardson--taking these actions this week and NOT mentioning it?

The real thing.

As X-Patriate says--in a great Theme Song for the Obama movement, "Pennsylvania Avenue":

"Let the steam rise up" all the way to "Pennsylvania Avenue":

http://xpatriate-greetingsfromlafayettepark.blogspot.com/

That article was written sometime in early april. I've spent a few hours looking but can't find it, but don't have a lot of time to spend on this.

It may not have been a Swampland blog. It may have been a peice elsewhere in Time.

Hopefully, someone else can remember the peice, but if not, I will withdraw my comments as to Joes' usage of the word.

As a further aside, the purported article was one in which he was demonstrating the right of free speech and it's usage in the Black community.

It's rare that I have something nice to say about the Bush administration, but it was good of Rice to return Obama's call. I'm glad to see for once -- however small this example may be -- they're apparently putting doing the right thing rather than pursuing a narrow partisan agenda.

"I find this extraordinary. This is something that, despite their abilities, it is difficult to imagine either of the Clintons doing during such a week."

I don't find it at all difficult to imagine, nor do I find it difficult to imagine that they wouldn't use it in public debates. I continue to be appalled at the constant media trashing of Hillary, which has had its intended result. I say this as one who thought Dodd was best, Edwards second (I have been disappointed in his attack stance, but perhaps the only way for him to get any coverage,) then Hillary, closely followed by Obama.

Even Olbermann last night trashed her -- guess he has spent too much time sitting next to Mathews.

My concern about Obama is because of things like his bringing up Social Security in the Republican talking point way as opposed to the facts. (You can find lots of info on this via Atrios.) Obama has raised some other points that if Edwards did he would be ignored and if Hillary did she would be excoriated.

I'm also afraid that Obams will be more easily "Swift Boated" if he gets the nomination. We have already heard the beginnings of it.

Sorry for the rant, living in Pennsylvania with our primary in April, I'm tired of feeling that everything is over tonight! Perhaps we won't even need to vote in November. The media can just tell us who won based on the size of the New Hampshire victories.

Paul Dirks: "So how long before the attack dogs start growling like they did over Pelosi visiting Syria? He is, after all, only a sitting Senator."

Obama is working with the State Department. Pelosi was circumventing the State Department.

"[I]n the midst of the most amazing week of his life, Barack Obama has found the time to do a some diplomatic scut-work. I suspect we'll be seeing a lot of this sort of thing if he wins the nomination and is elected President."

Look, I think, given Obama's background, he has a unique opportunity to perhaps exert some positive influence a bad situation. And I'm not going to attribute any less than noble motivations. But to think that this would be drawing away from his campaign for President, is worse than naivety. Obama must be positively giddy over the abandonment of what little critical thinking, analytical journalism there ever was by what are clearly becoming campaigners in the media.

53_2:
Thanks anyway for trying. That's very cool of you. You know how important that kind of thing is to some folks...

Hey, Joe wrote a decent column!

(agree, though, on the suck-up campaign Joe is now conducting toward the frontrunner)

if you want to get some idea of exactly Joe delivered what the Obama campaign wanted in exchange for this "exclusive" check out this "reporting".

In the days since his Iowa victory, Obama has had near-daily conversations with the U.S. Ambassador in Kenya or with opposition leader Raila Odinga.

okay, Obama's "Iowa victory" was on Jan 3. This was written on Jan. 7. So between campaign stop, Obama made 3 phone calls ("near daily") in four days.

Now, I think its nice that Obama would do this. And I expect that no presidential candidate would do less if asked to by the State Department under similar circumstances. In fact, I would expect that a President would do the same -- if not more -- during an international crisis.

Now, if Obama had put his campaign on hold to go to Kenya and see if he could help faciliate reconciliation talks, I'd be REALLY impressed. Even if Obama cancelled one campaign event in order to work the phones to call other regional leaders and ask for their help, I'd be impressed. But making a few phone calls while travelling between campaign appearances IS NOT IMPRESSIVE.

Thanks for this. It bodes well for Kenya that there is finally an honest broker on the U.S. side that can the regime in Kenya honest. Now that the neo-con Economist magazine in London is calling this a coup, Obama can use his charisma and reputation for judgement to embolden US diplomats to insist on nothing less than a full and immediate return to democracy in Kenya.

The press is genuflecting to Obama and it is outrageous. After all that we've been through over the past seven years, where are the questions? I watched MSNBC this morning and Brian Williams, Joe Scarborough, and others were practically endorsing Obama. This is not appropriate. Where is the press scrutiny? Where are the questions? I'm not saying Obama wouldn't rise to the occasion and be all we are hoping he is. But, isn't this the same press corps that has been self-flagellating about failing the American people by not asking questions in the past. E.g., what is his record? How does he measure up to MLK, JFK, RFK in terms of accomplishments by this age? Obama himself (at Saturday's debate) cited legislation to prevent Congresspeople from dining with lobbyists as the highpoint. What about Edwards? He cited the patients' bill of rights and deliberately left the impression that it had passed when it had not. I ask the press, please do your jobs without stars in your eyes.

Bishop Tutu is the closest thing we have to a living saint.

53_2
Is it possible that you are thinking of the tripe that John Ridley wrote in Time on 04/23/007 detailing how the word n-----r was OK with him?
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1565566-2,00.html
I share your anger about the word. I think Joe Klein, like Bill Kristol is a quota hire. Klein is the supposed Liberal (read Centrist) columnist.
Klein's faults being noted, he may not be the author of the free speech article that you had in mind. That would be the other muddle-headed guy who appears on Joe Scarborough-the anti Writer's Guild screenwriter, John Ridley. It's an easy mistake both have follicularly challenged scalps.

"Now, if Obama had put his campaign on hold to go to Kenya and see if he could help faciliate reconciliation talks, I'd be REALLY impressed. Even if Obama cancelled one campaign event in order to work the phones to call other regional leaders and ask for their help, I'd be impressed. But making a few phone calls while travelling between campaign appearances IS NOT IMPRESSIVE."

mediasux - from reading your posts on these boards its apparent that nothing obama could do would impress you. you should get over your bitterness or the next four years are going to be rough.

What was Bush doing during the crisis in Kenya? Barack Obama is more of an international diplomat in one very busy day than Bush has been in eight very long years. The world needs Barack now more than ever.

What ties does he have with the opposition leader who told the minority Muslim population that he would institute shari'ia law?

His father is from that region/tribe and Mr. Obama has said that he has loyalties there.

As for the muslim question, I am more concerned with the racist question regarding his affiliation with a racist church, tucc.org.

If the things written and spoken by his 'spiritual adviser' where by a white man, saying support 'white America' he would be hounded as the racist he is.