quote:

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Obama owes me an apology by Nicklaus Lovelady

I don’t care, I’m not changing my mind on this one.

Nope.

I don’t like Sen. Barack Obama.

He might make a good president some day, but he won’t get my vote. At least not until he apologizes.

Some might say I’m holding a petty grudge but let’s see you become the butt of joke in front of 1,000 people.

Two years ago I was a full-time newspaper reporter in Illinois covering Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

I had the looks, I had the charm and I had my eye on this pretty young thing who was doing an internship for a competing paper.

It took me nearly two months of running into each other at various news events before I worked up the nerve to begin talking to her.

And then Obama shows up.

The senator made his way to SIUE one day to introduce some legislation that would increase grants for students. Prior to that, me and the girl became really cool as I let her in on a few tricks of the trade.

The day Obama came, there was a huge press conference at the university’s student center with about 100 people inside the conference room and hundreds more viewing the conference on a big screen in the lobby.

Obama did his thing, and at the end there was segment for questions by the media.

After about five questions from different television and newspaper reporters, I stood up to ask mine.

“Wait a minute son, this is for professional media only,” Obama said to me.

“What do you mean? I work for the local paper,” I said with a crackling nervous voice.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were a college student. You have such a baby face,” he said with an unremorseful grin.

At that point everyone in the room turned to look at me and laugh. The 800 people in the lobby laughed as my face was projected on the big screen.

Remembered that girl who I was trying to get with, well she was sitting next to me and guess what she was doing?

Everyone was laughing except me.

The next time I saw that young lady was at another press conference, but this time she was acting as if she never knew me. I think I saw her maybe two more times and each time, it was the cold shoulder.

Thanks to everyone’s favorite new senator, I lost big time.

Obama owes me a public apology for making me look like a court jester and for blocking my shot.

Until that time, Hillary or Giuliani will get my vote.

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Originally posted by cmc:
That's awesome. I really like how he's down to earth - he doesn't speak like a stuff. Not just from that clip, I mean in general. His 'big comment' re: football was classic.

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I saw that video today, too - awesome.
 

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Posted by Rotar Mode (Member # 9898) on :
 
That made me laugh so hard I nearly had a heart attack. Fie on you erosomniac!
How often do you get a call from the man who could be the next President of the United States of America, and to apologize of all things?
 

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Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
 
Anybody got a link to the "big comment"?
 

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Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
 
YouTube Video of his big comment
 

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Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
 
I heard the story on NPR last week while I was coming home from work. At first, I was impressed, but then I realized that he had taped the apology call. I'm just cynical enough to wonder just how sincere the apology was, since he's now using it to show what a wonderful guy he is.

He's a politician, and despite the fact that he was born and educated in Hawaii (which makes him very popular here) - I'm still skeptical.
 

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Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
 
Perhaps it was NPR who brought it to his attention, and when he said he'd call and apologize they asked if they could tape it? (I haven't listened to the clip yet, I'll do it when I get home, but if you can hear the reporter, too, and not just Obama then they would have had to get his consent in advance of taping it.)

Added: In other words, I'm attempting to give him the benefit of the doubt, even though he's a politician.
 

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Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
 
The news reporters on NPR mentioned that the call was recorded "by his staff"...

Of course, he had NO idea they had recorded it and sent it on to NPR.

Like I said, he's a politician and I'm cynical.

Which isn't to say he wasn't sincere and that he isn't a classy guy. I really have no strong feelings either way.
 

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Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
 
I really like him so far.
 

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Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by maui babe:
The news reporters on NPR mentioned that the call was recorded "by his staff"...

Of course, he had NO idea they had recorded it and sent it on to NPR.

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It's possible, maybe even probable, that the entire thing was engineered, but regardless of how it was brought to his attention, does it matter?

I'm inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt because:

1) He sounds sincere.
2) He doesn't apologize for what he said about the journalist, he apologizes for messing up the journalist's game, which strikes me as much more sincere than eating his words would have.
3) Of all the ways he could have made this apology "public," this is one of the most subdued ways I can think of. No press conference, no camera-trailing appearance at the news office, no fanfare, not even a video of him making the call on YouTube.
4) Obama's prior actions lend him credibility.

Still, calling it a scripted publicity stunt isn't a groundless accusation. I just want to disagree.
 

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Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
 
That's fine erso... as I said, I have no strong feelings about the man. I expect I will one way or the other before all is said and done. I'm a bit wearied by the last election and not really ready to jump into the next one just yet.
 

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Posted by MightyCow (Member # 9253) on :
 
He seems like a cool guy. I haven't taken much look at his platform yet, but from a charisma standpoint, he has a lot going for him.
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
I would be so disappointed if this were staged.
 

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Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
 
Staged publicity like this is what makes marketing such a beautiful field. What are people but emotions to be wielded, beaten down, and exploited?
 

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Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
 
He does say "I just want to publicly apologize."

The guy called him out on the carpet, publicly, and Obama publicly apologizes.

Its obviously "staged" to the extent that Obama KNOWS it will become public, since he says that is his goal.

Does that make it less worthy of our respect? I don't think so. Not many politicians would apologize in this way.
 

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Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
 

quote:

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Its obviously "staged" to the extent that Obama KNOWS it will become public, since he says that is his goal.

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It is also compliance with the request for a specifically public apology. So, really, he can't lose!
 

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Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
 
See, I'm just cynical enough to think that if I were going to stage something like this, I'd start by staging the original complaint, too.
 

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Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
 
I think that a conspiracy from the inital complaint would be the only event that would constitute a "staged" episode. If it comes out that the complaint is a plant, then I'd be disgusted. If it's just the case that someone from Obama's staff read the article and tipped off the Senator, then tipped off Lovelady that the Senator was going to call, then I think it's fine.

[ December 14, 2006, 11:13 PM: Message edited by: Irami Osei-Frimpong ]
 

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Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
 
That was awesome.

It may be staged but I really don't think that's Obama's style. But then again, what do I know?

Go Bears!
 

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Posted by Squish (Member # 9191) on :
 
Honestly, I'd hope Obama, his staff, and the reporter would know better than to try and stage this.

People talk too much, the internet is too big, and people who don't like him will be looking too carefully for it to go unfounded.
 

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Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
Heh, I like Obama. Hillary is my candidate in 2008, but every time I hear Obama talk, I just want him to keep talking.

I love how dumbfounded the dude on the phone sounded. Obama sounds like someone who I can't quite put my finger on. I want to say it's The Rock (Dwayne Johnson).

Yeah, he sounds like The Rock. The "People's Champion."
 

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Posted by Miro (Member # 1178) on :
 
He was called out publicly and he apologized publicly. What's the big deal?
 

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Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
 
A decade ago, I had a poli sci professor who said that the difference between Kennedy and Reagan was that Kennedy made Americans aspire to be him whereas Reagan made Americans feel proud of their individual, even middling, selves.

Miro, the big deal is that while Clinton wanted to hoard all women for himself, Obama has proven that he wants the people to get the girl. It's a deep and beautiful act of compassion.

I wish I could extend the metaphor without objectifying women, but if wishes were fishes.

[ December 15, 2006, 08:23 PM: Message edited by: Irami Osei-Frimpong ]
 

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Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by TomDavidson:
See, I'm just cynical enough to think that if I were going to stage something like this, I'd start by staging the original complaint, too.

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quote:

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I wish I could extent the metaphor with objectifying women, but if wishes were fishes.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong:
while Clinton wanted to hoard all women for himself, Obama has proven that he wants the people to get the girl.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Tante Shvester:

quote:

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Originally posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong:
while Clinton wanted to hoard all women for himself, Obama has proven that he wants the people to get the girl.

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The other night at work, one of the bible-studying women was talking to me the Book of Esther, and could I imagine holding a big contest of all the women in the land, test-driving one per night, to see who would get to be your wife?

I quipped that this was how Bill Clinton chose his interns.

OK, it has nothing to do with this discussion, but sometimes, I just crack myself the heck up.

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Sounds to me like I have to start reading the Book of Esther!
 

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Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
I thought it was fabulous. He's adorable. Whether or not I want to vote for him depends on his policies and ideas, but please oh please let him be the Democratic candidate. That would make me so happy.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 

quote:

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The other night at work, one of the bible-studying women was talking to me the Book of Esther, and could I imagine holding a big contest of all the women in the land, test-driving one per night, to see who would get to be your wife?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Storm Saxon:

quote:

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The other night at work, one of the bible-studying women was talking to me the Book of Esther, and could I imagine holding a big contest of all the women in the land, test-driving one per night, to see who would get to be your wife?

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Yes....yes, I can.

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Great. You both owe me a new monitor.
 

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Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
Heh, I like Obama. Hillary is my candidate in 2008, but every time I hear Obama talk, I just want him to keep talking.

I love how dumbfounded the dude on the phone sounded. Obama sounds like someone who I can't quite put my finger on. I want to say it's The Rock (Dwayne Johnson).

Yeah, he sounds like The Rock. The "People's Champion."

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Of course, both Hawaii boys...
 

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Posted by Javert (Member # 3076) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by erosomniac:

quote:

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Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
Heh, I like Obama. Hillary is my candidate in 2008, but every time I hear Obama talk, I just want him to keep talking.

I love how dumbfounded the dude on the phone sounded. Obama sounds like someone who I can't quite put my finger on. I want to say it's The Rock (Dwayne Johnson).

Yeah, he sounds like The Rock. The "People's Champion."

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Of course, both Hawaii boys...

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quote:

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Originally posted by Javert:

quote:

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Originally posted by erosomniac:

quote:

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Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
Heh, I like Obama. Hillary is my candidate in 2008, but every time I hear Obama talk, I just want him to keep talking.

I love how dumbfounded the dude on the phone sounded. Obama sounds like someone who I can't quite put my finger on. I want to say it's The Rock (Dwayne Johnson).

Yeah, he sounds like The Rock. The "People's Champion."

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Of course, both Hawaii boys...

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Um...hate to burst your bubble, but Dwayne isn't from Hawaii. Unless I'm terribly mistaken, he's never even lived there (of course, I don't follow celebrity news, so he very well might live there now).

He is Samoan, however. Maybe that's what you meant.

-Javert, pro wrestling trivia extraordinaire

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quote:

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See, I'm just cynical enough to think that if I were going to stage something like this, I'd start by staging the original complaint, too.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Lyrhawn:
He has ties there, but he grew up in Cali, and went to school in Miami I think.

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quote:

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There are good people in this world you know. Don't always assume the best, but assuming the worst all the time is equally bad.

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