January 9, 2008
December 9, 2007
Oprah and Obama Make History
“For the first time, I’m stepping out of my pew because I’ve been inspired,” Oprah Winfrey recently told an audience of almost 30,000 who had just given the talk show host a resounding cheer.
It sounded like a college homecoming, appropriately so because the crowd was gathered at William Bryce Football Stadium where the University of South Carolina plays its games.
Oprah’s speech was consistent with the themes that she has focused on over the years on her television show.
As an NBC reporter wrote, “Oprah’s message was one of personal empowerment, similar to the stories she tells on her show everyday, telling the crowd that asking Obama to wait to run was the same as someone telling someone that they should wait to try and better their lives.”
At one point Winfrey invoked the dream speech of Dr. Martin Luther King.
“I’ve been inspired to believe that a new vision is possible for America,” she told the crowd. “Dr. King dreamed the dream. But we don’t have to just dream the dream anymore. We get to vote that dream into reality.”
The Obama campaign indicated that 18% of the first 8,500 people who showed up at the event wanted to become volunteers. 68% of those who obtained their tickets online had never been contacted by the campaign before.
Meanwhile a fresh MSNBC/Mason-Dixon poll put Clinton’s South Carolina lead over Obama at only three points.
“I got some sense, I know the difference between a book club and this seminal moment in our history,” Oprah announced.
A celebrity of Oprah’s stature is able to create a seminal moment, and this is one for the history books.
It turns out that Obama has another celebrity admirer—Will Smith.
As I reported a while back in a previous column, Smith revealed a secret ambition to someday become President of the United States.
While out promoting his upcoming film “I Am Legend,” Smith said in an interview with the U.K.’s Daily Mail, “I always wanted to be the first black president but Barack Obama stole my idea.”
The actor even expressed some policy ideas for his campaign. He said he would start with universal healthcare and shelter, indicating that he could not “see that happening under Bush. Too many bad things have happened under his presidency.”
Still, Smith distinguished himself from the Bush-hating fringe, saying, “I don’t believe he is an evil man, I just think he has an unevolved perspective. It’s a good thing he’s served his time. Now it’s time for Barack Obama.”
Smith has contributed some campaign cash and appeared in a video extolling the qualities of the Illinois senator and presidential candidate, but his support of the Obama campaign has been overshadowed by daytime TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey.
Evidently, Smith has no animus for Obama for attempting to take the same job that he himself had aspired to.
“That’s OK with me,” Smith explained. “Barack can go first and then I’ll take my turn.”
James Hirsen is a media analyst, Trinity Law School professor and teacher of mass media law at Biola University.
July 15, 2007
July 13, 2007
Bloomberg at 12% Draws Equally From Dems and G.O.P.
Draws about equal support from Republicans and Democrats
The latest USA Today/Gallup poll finds 12% of registered voters say they would vote for Bloomberg in a three-candidate race that includes Hillary Clinton as the Democratic candidate, and Rudy Giuliani as the Republican.
Hillary Clinton – 45%
Rudy Giuliani – 39%
Michael Bloomberg – 12%
Other/None/Etc – 3%
July 5, 2007
Poll: Bloomberg Hurts Giuliani
Support for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. Hillary Clinton in a theoretical general election matchup in New Jersey, with and without an independent candidacy by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
WITHOUT BLOOMBERG:
Giuliani, 47 %
Clinton, 44 %
___
WITH BLOOMBERG:
Giuliani, 36 %
Clinton, 36 %
Bloomberg, 18 %
New Jersey could be a place for Giuliani to pick up electoral votes that have gone to Democrats in recent elections. But Bloomberg could change that. New Jersey hasn’t supported a Republican for president since 1988. But the poll has 61 % of Jersey voters holding a favorable view of Giuliani, more than any other presidential contender.
The Quinnipiac University poll surveyed 1,604 New Jersey voters from June 26 to July 2, with a sampling error margin of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. It included 505 Republicans with a sampling error margin of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points, and 575 Democrats with a sampling error margin of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.
COMPLETE RESULTS AT: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1299.xml?ReleaseID1080
July 4, 2007
Pot [Clinton Didn’t Inhale] Calls Kettle Black!
Clinton criticizes Bush for Libby decision
The prince of pardons, Bill Clinton has taken a shot at President Bush for commuting the sentence of former White House aide Lewis “Scooter” Libby.
During an interview with an Iowa radio station Clinton said Bush and those in his administration “believe that they should be able to do what they want to do, and that the law is a minor obstacle,” according to CNN.
Clinton said the current situation greatly differed from those he faced while in office.
“I think the facts were different,” he said.
He’s right. Pardoning international fugitives and terrorists are quite different.
Will Al Gore’s Kid Use the Prius Defense?
So what if Al Gore’s son was arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana and prescription drugs after being pulled him over for speeding.
Al Gore III, 24, had his mind on the future of the earth. He was driving a Toyota PRIUS. He was doing about 100 miles per hour on the San Diego Freeway, apparently testing the hybrid car’s gas mileage.
The police found some marijuana, Xanax, Valium, Vicodin and Adderall. Gore Jr. was probably depressed over climate change.
July 3, 2007
Lest We Forget….
Bill Clinton pardoned 140 people on his last day in office, including fugitive financier Marc Rich and some Puerto Rican terrorists….
The Poll Truth 