By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer 

Posted March 20, 2008 – The presidential candidates wanting to relieve President Bush as Commander and Chief all used the fifth anniversary marking the start of the war in Iraq to make their case for why they should become the next president. 

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) speaking to military families gathered in Fayetteville, North Carolina, not far from Fort Bragg military base, suggested to them that Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) couldn’t be trusted to end the Iraq war because of her timing in voicing her opposition.

 ”Ask yourself,” Obama told the crowd, “Who do you trust to end a war: someone who opposed the war from the beginning, or someone who started opposing it when they started preparing a run for president?”

Obama reminded folks, he opposed the invasion as a state lawmaker, and his judgment was on point when he opposed the war while a Illinois state senator.  

As small and relativity orderly war protesters marched outside to of the White House,  President Bush spoke about the Iraq war to an audience of military and defense officials  at the Pentagon.

 His message remained the same and unwavering.  The president maintained the invasion of Iraq in March of 2003 was the right move and has resulted in making the United States and the world safer.

 “Five years into this battle, there is an understandable debate over whether the war was worth fighting, whether the fight is worth winning, and whether we can win it,” he said. “The answers are clear to me. Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision, and this is a fight that America can and must win,” Bush insisted.”

Sen. John Mr. McCain (R-Ariz), the presumptive Republican presidential nominee agrees with Bush.   McCain is visiting Iraq this week and released a statement supporting the same rationale, the United States and its allies in Iraq stand “on the precipice of winning a major victory against radical Islamic extremism.”

But at a press conference in Amman, Jordan, on Tuesday, McCain said he was concerned about Iranians “taking al-Qa’eda into Iran, training them and sending them back”.

Reporters not clear on his statement challenged his answer and he responded: “Well, it’s common knowledge and has been reported in the media that al-Qa’eda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran. That’s well known. And it’s unfortunate.”

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, an independent, who is accompanying him on the trip, whispered in his ear, and McCain said: “I’m sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al-Qa’eda.”

The foreign policy gaff brought reactions from his Democratic rival, Obama. “We heard Senator McCain confuse Sunni and Shi’ite, Iran and al-Qa’eda,” he noted. “Maybe that is why he completely fails to understand the war in Iraq has done more to embolden America’s enemies than any strategic choice that we have made in decades.”

McCain is able to travel and hold policy pow-wow’s while the Dems battle it out for the nomination.  This wasn’t his finest moment abroad, but the Dems won’t get a shot at any international travel as long as the nomination is still up for grabs.

Earlier this week Clinton delivered a speech on the war in Iraq. She renewed her pledge to begin bringing troops home within 60 days of becoming president.

This was Bush’s last anniversary speech on the war in Iraq, if things remain the same, the next anniversary speech will be delivered by Clinton, Obama or McCain.   
 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted March 18, 2008  - Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), made the most important speech of his political career Tuesday when he addressed his relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, his family and the increasing focus on race in the Democratic primary.

 “Rev. Jeremiah Wright, use incendiary language to express views that have the potential not only to widen the racial divide but views that denigrate both the greatness and the goodness of our nation that rightly offend White and Black alike,” he said.  

Again, Obama “condemned” the remarks of his former pastor that aired on the heels of Sept.  11, 2001.  At the time  Wright said, “God damn[s] America” for treating its citizens as “less than human” and blamed the Sept. 11 attacks on previous actions by our government.

“For some, nagging questions remain.  Did I know him to be an occasionally fierce critic of American domestic and foreign policy?  Of course. Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church?  Yes.  Did I strongly disagree with many of his political views?  Absolutely – just as I’m sure many of you have heard remarks from your pastors, priests or rabbis with which you strongly disagreed,” Obama said.

Wright wasn’t the first to commit this wrong. Other religious advisers have made comments considered offensive to some.  The Rev. Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Billy Graham, just to name a few, but these ministers were advisers to Republican conservative candidates and were not tied to the political leader they supported. 
 
Delivering a nationally televised speech from Philadelphia, some of those in the room were other ministers anxious to hear what he had to say.   The Rev. Kevin Johnson, pastor of Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, said after the speech, “I was quite impressed and proud of him.  I thought he demonstrated a great job of being bold and confronting the issue of race head on. Race in America is like a wound on the body, and if you do not allow the wound to heal properly, it will continue to cause a source a pain.”

A speech on race in America was most likely in the senator’s future, but the developments in the recent days gave him a national platform to do so, and he wisely broadened the topic to include the rainbow of offenders, not just Wright. 

“We can play Rev. Wright’s sermons on every channel, every day and talk about them from now until the election, and make the only question in this campaign whether or not the American people think that I somehow believe or sympathize with his most offensive words,” Obama said. “We can pounce on some gaffe by a Hillary supporter as evidence that she’s playing the race card, or we can speculate on whether White men will all flock to John McCain in the general election, regardless of his policies.

 “We can do that. But if we do, I can tell you that in the next election, we’ll be talking about some other distraction. And then another one. And then another one. And nothing will change,” he predicted.  “That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, ‘Not this time.’ ”

The Rev. Al Sharpton, who has not endorsed any candidate, released a statement following Obama’s speech supporting the need for more conversations on race in America. “Every generation has had those like Sen. Obama who seek to solve them from within government and the corporate community, as well as those outside government and corporate circles who seek to expose the issues and so to drive society to dealing with them,” Sharpton wrote.

Sydney Naylor, a 17-year-old Africana American from Phildelphia, was impressed with the senator’s remarks.  “It was magnificent… He couldn’t have done anything better. He didn’t disown his pastor; he welcomed him. …I thought it was amazing.”

Naylor represent’s the future generation Obama spoke to in his speech. “Healthcare and education are the top priorities we as Americans need to unify [around]. I can’t go to the school in my neighborhood because of the poor quality education they provide. I think together with Obama we can fix all our problems,” Naylor said.

Obama did recognize Wright’s narrow view of the present and the future.  “The profound mistake of Rev. Wright’s sermons is not that he spoke about racism in our society.  It’s that he spoke as if our society was static, as if no progress has been made; as if this country – a country that has made it possible for one of his own members to run for the highest office in the land and build a coalition of White and Black; Latino and Asian, rich and poor, young and old – is still irrevocably bound to a tragic past,” he acknowledged.

“But what we know – what we have seen – is that America can change.  That is true genius of this nation.  What we have already achieved gives us hope – the audacity to hope – for what we can and must achieve tomorrow,” Obama said.

His speech began and ended with references to “forming a perfect union,” and he restated his campaign goals of affordable healthcare, education and jobs for Americans. 

“I would not be running for president if I didn’t believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country.  This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected,” he said.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
Posted March 17, 2008 – There was little talk this weekend over about the 14 additional delegates Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) picked up from Iowa and California.  The reason, the hype surrounding controversial remarks made by Rev. Jeremiah Wright the former pastor of Obama’s south side Chicago church.

Wright’s comment, “Barack knows what it means to be a black man living in a country and a culture that is controlled by rich white people,” has brought race back to the forefront. 

Obama has condemned, rejected and denounced Wright’s comments, but the longtime spiritual adviser may have posed the first real threat to the frontrunner’s candidacy.

During a town-hall meeting in Indianapolis, Obama told folks, “We have to come together.  It reminds me: We’ve got a tragic history when it comes to race in this country.”   Adding he didn’t want to see race intruding into the contest.

David Axelrod, Obama’s campaign manager, told reporters, “Rev. Wright married him, introduced him, as he said, to the church, brought him into the church, into Christianity, baptized his children, so this is a painful thing for him because he condemns the things Rev. Wright said, but he also knows him as a person.”

This all comes at the same time Obama is widening his lead over Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) in the race for the nomination.  The Illinois senator gained nine delegates in Iowa, as the majority of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards’ delegates were awarded to him; and on Saturday, he added five delegates in California, giving him an estimated 119 delegate advantage over Clinton.

Former Sen. Bill Bradley, an Obama supporter said on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” “Barack Obama has more delegates, more votes, he’s won more states. Last night in Iowa he won 10 more votes. If you take what happened in Mississippi and Wyoming, he won more net delegates in those two races than Senator Clinton did in Ohio and Texas combined,” Bradley argued.  “So I clearly think that we’re heading into a period where, certainly, after last night, she’s [Clinton] got to win more than 60 percent of all the remaining — all the remaining states.”

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), a Clinton supporter said, the New York senator has won more key states and that she is more “electable” than Obama.

Obama is going to face mounting attacks leading up to the Pennsylvania primary, attacks similar to those he would face during a general election.  Pundits, political watchers, and voters will be watching to see how he reacts; responds; and if can rebound.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer  

Posted March 14, 2008 – What creative collaboration could bring Hip Hop, Capitol Hill and Hollywood together?  With music, politics and film making the ingredients, MoveOn.org has joined these forces together to judge a video competition for the 2008 presidential campaign.   

Hollywood powerhouses Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, John Legend and Russell Simmons are among more than 20 celebrities who will be judging the competition and selecting a winner for the contest. 

 MoveOn.org, announced Thursday, they were launching an ad contest called “Obama in 30 Seconds.” Organizers said, “Anyone can make an ad about Obama between now and April 1. The public will vote on the best ads, and a panel of top artists, film professionals, and network heroes will pick a winner from the finalists.”

The rules are fairly simple, according to the liberal group; contestants get to show their talents, receive exposure and a $20,000 gift certificate, if they win.

 The contest will be “Ads that are of the people, by the people, and for the people,” Affleck said. It’s “A chance for everyone, from aspiring filmmakers to armchair pundits, to raise their voices to put Obama over the top and help make history.”

Once the winner is selected, it will be aired nationally, the group said. Other celebrity judges will include actor Adrian Grenier, musician Eddie Vedder, Rev. Jesse Jackson, actor/director Steve Buscemi, music producer Russell Simmons, and movie producer/director Oliver Stone.

This isn’t the first time for a contest of this nature. MoveOn’s “Bush in 30 Seconds” contest in 2004, resulted in thousands of videos, and a winning video that aired nationally.

So all you aspiring filmmakers, music makers and literary masters, here’s your opportunity to shine.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted March 13, 2008 – Black lawmakers will be welcoming a familiar face to Washington when the grandson of the late Indiana congresswoman Julia Carson (D) joins their ranks.  The victory will keep the seat on the Democratic side of the aisle and adds another super delegate to the presidential mix.

Andre Carson, 33, won the seat Tuesday in a special election beating out his Republican opponent, state Rep. John Elrod.  Carson won the contest with about 55 percent of the vote to Elrod’s 44 percent.

Carson, the second Muslim ever elected to Congress, will represent the Indianapolis district for the remaining 10 months of his grandmother’s term.  ‘Miss Julia” as she was affectingly called by her constituents died December 15 of cancer.  

“We did it! We did it! Thank God we did it,” he said to a roaring crowd that packed the downtown hotel ballroom. “I want to thank each and every one of you for your sacrifice, hard work and efforts. This isn’t about me. It’s about you. I’m not going to Congress. We’re going to Congress,” he told cheering supporters in the Westin Hotel ballroom in downtown Indianapolis.

With the win Carson will now find himself beginning the next campaign in 55 days to ready himself for the May primary, followed by the November general election to win a full term in Congress and continue his grandmother’s legacy.

“The battle’s not over,” Carson told supporters following his victory.  “Friends and family, we have to hit the ground running,” he said.

This win is only the second in Carson’s political career; he won his first election last year to the City-County Council.  He called his victory an “extremely humbling experience.”

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Poltical Producer

Posted March 12, 2008 – With today’s resignation of New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), the Empire State will swear in its first African-American governor to fill the top executive spot and lead one of the country’s largest state governments.

Spitzer, told a packed room of reporters, “I’m deeply sorry I did not live up to what was expected of me, to every New Yorker and to those who believed in what I stand for, I apologies.”

David Paterson, from Harlem, is a seasoned politician who is well liked and respected among his peers.  Emile Milan, in Rep. Charles Rangel’s office told me, “He can bring people together and he’s got a great sense of humor.”

Paterson, 53, was born legally blind, he first made history in 2006 as the state’s first African-American lieutenant governor.

Pressure for Spitzer’s resignation had been mounting since the first reports of his alledged involvement in an exclusive prostitution ring.  Yesterday Spitzer and Paterson staffers started holding transition meetings.  Spitzer said today, at Paterson’s request for an “orderly transition” his resignation would not take affective until Monday, March 17. 

Paterson is no stranger to the state capitol. He follows his father Basil Paterson, a longtime political leader in state and New York City politics.

Paterson’s father was a trailblazer in New York’s political history. He served in the 1960’s as a state senator; ran in 1970 for lieutenant governor with former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg (the ticket lost to Gov. Nelson Rockefeller); and in1978 was appointed as a Deputy Mayor of New York City by Mayor Ed Koch, a post he left  to serve as New York’s Secretary of State.

Now some 30 years later, his son David, will make this historic move.  Following Spitzer’s brief press conference, Paterson released a statement saying, “Like all New Yorkers I am sadden by what we have learned over the past several days.”  

“My heart goes out to him and to his family at this difficult and painful time. Its now time for Albany to get back to work as the people of this state expect from us,” he wrote.

State senate minority leader, Malcomb Smith, spoke with Paterson this morning.  Smith told CNN, “We talked about what going forward looked like - he’s prepared.” 

Paterson is married to Michelle and the father of two children, Ashley and Alex. 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

 Posted March 11, 2008 – Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) wins the Mississippi primary and regains his frontrunner status in the Democratic race for president.

Obama was favored to win the Magnolia state, but Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) held out hope and campaigned in the state with hopes of earning enough votes to secure more delegates. Last weekend former President Bill Clinton made several appearances on her behalf around the state in small venues and town hall meetings.

But in the end, Obama won a decisive victory with 90  percent of precincts reporting in Mississippi, Obama led Clinton 60 percent to 37 percent.  The win in Mississippi will give the Illinois senator most of the 33 delegates at stake.  

Exit polling showed Obama won close to 90 percent of the Black vote, which make up more than half of the Dems in the state, scored big among young voters, but only received a third of the White vote.

Clinton was able to keep her base of older voters, but did poorly among African American in the state.  Earlier this week I asked Clinton’s campaign manager, Ann Lewis, if they were giving up on the Black vote.  “We’re going to continue to work for those votes,” she insisted.

Lewis pointed to the outreach done in Ohio and Texas with Black lawmakers Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-Ohio) and Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (D-Texas). Both surrogates worked hard on her behalf in those states. “Every vote counts,” Lewis said.    

Obama campaigned in Mississippi early Tuesday and returned to Chicago to wait for the results. He thanked the folks in Mississippi for their support during an interview on CNN.   “What we have tried to do is steadily make sure that in each state we are making the case about the need for change in this country, and obviously the people of Mississippi responded,” Obama said.

Clinton didn’t make a public statement, but her campaign manager, Maggie Williams released a statement saying, “We congratulate Senator Obama for his win in Mississippi and thank our supporters and volunteers there for their support, hard work, and long hours.  Now we look forward to campaigning in Pennsylvania and around the country as this campaign continues.”

That statement is a clear sign that the Clinton camp is turning their attention to the Pennsylvania primary on April 22.  The large industrial state has 158 delegates, the largest pool of delegates left in the remaining contest. Obama has also set their sights on the delegate rich state.

When asked if he would consider Clinton as his running mate, Obama said, it was “premature to talk about,” adding he’s sure Clinton would be on any “short list” of candidates for the number two spot.

Now both camps are waiting to see what remedy the Democratic National Committee (DNC)  will decide upon regarding the Michigan and Florida’s delegates. 

 Obama told CNN, he would agree to any process sanctioned by the DNC if it; doesn’t advantage any one candidate; respects the rules; is fair; and votes can be properly counted.

Whew! That might be a tall order to fill.  We’ll just have to wait and see.

8:30 PM

Posted March 11, 2008 – Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is the projected winner in Mississippi’s primary tonight,  re-establishing his frontrunner status in the Democratic race for president. 

Obama has also officialy won the Texas Caucus.  These two wins, in addition to the Wyoming caucus on Saturday give him three straight victories.  Tonight’s win in Mississippi will give him most of the 33 delegates at stake.

By Pamela Genty, Senior Political Producer

Posted March 11, 2008 – I’m glad to report New York Rep. Charlie Rangel, 77, is feeling better after a bout with the flu last week.

Rangel was released from Columbia Presbyterian Hospital today where he was admitted March 4, due to severe flu symptoms.  While he’s out of the hospital, he’s not back in the office.  His staff advised me he’ll be working for home to insure he’s fully recovered before retuning to Washington.

But he’ll remain in close contact with his staff. Rangel has been representing the 15th district in New York City since 1971. He said he will return to the nations’ capitol if any critical votes arise.

Good to know he’s on the road to recovery.

Send your well wishes to the Congressman, he’s a fan of my blog. 

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer

Posted March 11, 2008 –Today when Mississippi voters head to the polls all eyes will be on the state to watch who wins and by how much.  African-American voters will most likely cast the deciding votes.   

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama leads his on ly remaining rival Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.)  for the nomination. A recent poll conducted by the American Research Group shows Obama with support among 58 percent of likely primary voters to Clinton’s 34 percent.

Former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus, an Obama state co-chair said, “We’ve not taking anything for granted – we’re working very hard to show why Barack Obama is the best candidate.” 

Obama is favored to win in the state.  More than one third of the state’s electorate is African-America and so far Obama has done well garnering their support in other contest securing wide margins. But this primary is also open to Republican and Independent voters, and polls show Clinton has an advantage with those voters.     

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), co-chair with Mabus said, “We’re overwhelmed with grass root support; this is a great opportunity for Mississippi to really set the standard like other southern states; Virginia, Georgia and Alabama.”  All of those states delivered decisive victories for Obama.

Mississippi has 33 delegates and seven super delegates up for grabs. It doubtful the results of this primary will change the overall standing for the two candidates but both want a “check” in the win column.