The Official oPg Political Discussion Thread

[Jedakiah]

Meh I think debate can be fun. 

[Powdered!]

Alright since this already has been derailed here's a discussion point.

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/obama-picks-up-about-9-million-in-hollywood/13179

Obama goes to Hollywood and makes a cool 9 million at a $28,500 (per plate) dinner fundraiser with celebrities. Yet earlier in the day he said this.

Earlier in the day, the Democratic presidential candidate spoke about the public's deepening economic anxieties and portrayed Republican challenger John McCain as out of touch with the needs of hardworking people.

What? How is a $28,500 per plate dinner fundraiser in Hollywood in touch with hardworking people. $28k is more than a lot hardworking people make in a year...

HI
You don't know how a fundraiser works.
And I'm struggling to figure out how the man who made his OWN money from writing a book and is worth about $800,000 is the elitist compared to the man who is estimated to be worth $40,000,000 that he mostly inherited and his wife who is worth $100,000,000 from inheritance.

[logicaL!]

Alright since this already has been derailed here's a discussion point.

http://omg.yahoo.com/news/obama-picks-up-about-9-million-in-hollywood/13179

Obama goes to Hollywood and makes a cool 9 million at a $28,500 (per plate) dinner fundraiser with celebrities. Yet earlier in the day he said this.

Earlier in the day, the Democratic presidential candidate spoke about the public's deepening economic anxieties and portrayed Republican challenger John McCain as out of touch with the needs of hardworking people.

What? How is a $28,500 per plate dinner fundraiser in Hollywood in touch with hardworking people. $28k is more than a lot hardworking people make in a year...

HI
You don't know how a fundraiser works.
And I'm struggling to figure out how the man who made his OWN money from writing a book and is worth about $800,000 is the elitist compared to the man who is estimated to be worth $40,000,000 that he mostly inherited and his wife who is worth $100,000,000 from inheritance.

I know how a fundraiser works. I know that most of McCain's wealth was from his wife. I never stated that Obama was an elitist, I could see how you could infer that from my words though.

Although you have missed the fact that McCain actually served in the military and was a POW for 5+ years. I could hardly see how that would turn him into a elitist. Then again he never organized any communities.

[Powdered!]

POW POW POW POW POW

WHEN I WAS IN VIETNAM, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY FUND RAISERS FOR FIIIIVEEE YEARS!!!!1!!!!

[EmaDee]

From the context of hardworking people I would assume that means who Obama's supposedly running for (i.e. Middle class). I know fundraising is a big part of a campaign. But instead of getting all his money from celebrities, why doesn't he go town to town holding dinners where its $20 a plate and getting hundreds of people to help him out rather than just get everything handed to him (on a literal) silver platter? That could be a huge boost for his campaign, yet he doesn't go out and do anything.

It would be pretty damn sweet if he did that.  However, it would take a LOT of people to actually earn enough money to help the campaigns.  Unfortunately, it takes a helluva lot of money to run a campaign these days, and they have to raise the money somehow.  Romney also had one of these extravagant fund raisers not too long ago at his home in Deer Valley; the plate cost was something similar to Obama's $30,000 a plate celebrity dinner.

And I seem to remember Obama attending some sort of BBQ a couple weeks back with the residents of a small Midwestern town.  I can't remember for sure, but I don't even seem to remember reading that people had to pay much, if anything, to attend that. 

[Powdered!]

but u see, whats importent is how good he is at makin bbq u kno? liek.. how can i relait to sum1 who cant cook good ribs???

[logicaL!]

but u see, whats importent is how good he is at makin bbq u kno? liek.. how can i relait to sum1 who cant cook good ribs???

Thanks Powdered for trying to bring the conversation while Ema is trying to make a point.

I know it costs a lot to run a campaign, but look at Ron Paul, the Internets favorite canadate. Me made what $4 million online in 1 day. So it can be done without going to the usual big-pocket people.

[Latro]

Logical, Both McCain's Father and Grandfather were Admirals in the Navy.  They we're well to do and not the average working class.

You have to remember that when people refer to Elitists in Politics, they're not referring to those with money, but are talking about people on the "inner circle".  Obama is not, he had to push his way into the lead of the Democratic Party by unseating an "Elitist" in Hillary Clinton.

Bill Clinton wasn't an Elitists when he got the Democratic ticket either, but since winning the party has essentially fallen in line with his families ideas and HIS people, including his wife.   Obama changed that.

McCain has been on the inside of the Republican party for forever. Same with Bush, same with every Republican candidate for years.  

Also, holding high priced dinners for fund raisers is normal and no one would consider to be catering to the rich and elite.

Oh, and Obama made $8 million in one day too...  All following Gov. Palin's RNC speech...

[EmaDee]

Oh, and Obama made $8 million in one day too...  All following Gov. Palin's RNC speech...

Thanks for mentioning that.  Both candidates' websites (yes, I've visited both, not just Obama's  ) are set up for donations.  So you see, anybody's money is good enough for both of them. hehe

[Moomoocow]

Not to degrade service in the military, but if being locked in a cell for 5 years is what it takes to be president, just ask your local hobo about his military service. Seriously though, military service is honorable but should not be considered a big factor into how ready you are to lead the country. Would I rather have someone who knows how to shoot a gun or use the internets? I would definitely have the latter.

Logical, you are entitled to your opinions -- however I have deep respect for Obama's efforts to run a clean campaign. This integrity in the political world is hard enough to find, and to me, is far more honorable than any bullshit military awards that people can receive.

As a clarification, what I mean by "bullshit" is an award you get from just being in the war. People who run into a building and drag out 5 wounded soldiers are heroes who deserve awards, people who receive awards for vague terms (like "showing valor in battle" and "leadership in chaos" could be true... but also could be very not true. I don't suppose being locked in a cell means much. It sucks and I feel bad for McCain, but I do not feel it is award worthy.)

[Powdered!]

they beat him up for a few days til they found out who his daddy was.

[logicaL!]

Logical, Both McCain's Father and Grandfather were Admirals in the Navy.  They we're well to do and not the average working class.

You have to remember that when people refer to Elitists in Politics, they're not referring to those with money, but are talking about people on the "inner circle".  Obama is not, he had to push his way into the lead of the Democratic Party by unseating an "Elitist" in Hillary Clinton.

Bill Clinton wasn't an Elitists when he got the Democratic ticket either, but since winning the party has essentially fallen in line with his families ideas and HIS people, including his wife.   Obama changed that.

McCain has been on the inside of the Republican party for forever. Same with Bush, same with every Republican candidate for years.  

Also, holding high priced dinners for fund raisers is normal and no one would consider to be catering to the rich and elite.

Oh, and Obama made $8 million in one day too...  All following Gov. Palin's RNC speech...

Obama has been on the inside of Chicago politics for years as well. Let me fill you in on something. Chicago is the most corrupt political town in America. The infamous Chicago Political Machine coined the phrase "Vote early and often" and has elected a democrat to the mayoral spot for every election (except for one, an independent) for 81 years. Obama hasn't come out and said anything about them at all. That would be the political version of suicide. If he did anything about the corruption there nobody would have ever heard of him, and he'd be back organizing communities.

Also McCain has been a member of the Republican party, however he is often considered the most liberal Republican out there often siding with Democrats on various issues. Which means if he's elected it would be 4 more years of Bush policies.

And nobody has touched the troop withdrawal article I posted earlier...

Bah since people keep replying to this thread before I'm done... cow, have you read what he could have done? He could have been released, because the North Vietnamese wanted a propoganda point (since they found out who his parents were). He however he said he would only go if everyone else would be released. That was only 6 months into his stay as a POW. He could have gotten off free, and let everyone die but he didn't. He then suffered even more (including severe injuries to his shoulders limiting motion) because of that.

[Moomoocow]

McCain, who is the most liberal Republican -- I'll agree with you there.

I'm at the airport and it's going to be hard to do all the research i want to without a lot of battery life and a mouse, I'll respond to other stuff later.

My question is why McCain's campaign 4 years ago and the one today seems to be so different. I'm not saying people aren't allowed to change their opinions, it just seems to me that McCain has sold out to mainstream conservative politics.

[Powdered!]

McCain, who is the most liberal Republican -- I'll agree with you there.

Not after the 2000 elections.  The McCain of then is dead and gone.

And logical, if you're going to be bringing up Chicago methods of screwing with votes, let me give you the GOPs.



This IS real, it's from the 2004 election.  Shit like this happens all the time.  For instance, Michigan is currently trying to keep people who have had their homes foreclosed on from voting.

These people are disgusting and I can't believe they are still in power.

e:fixed link

[EmaDee]

Bah since people keep replying to this thread before I'm done... cow, have you read what he could have done? He could have been released, because the North Vietnamese wanted a propoganda point (since they found out who his parents were). He however he said he would only go if everyone else would be released. That was only 6 months into his stay as a POW. He could have gotten off free, and let everyone die but he didn't. He then suffered even more (including severe injuries to his shoulders limiting motion) because of that.

I actually immediately thought of this when I read Taylor's last post.  I do think McCain's Vietnam experience is commendable and would not make jokes about it.  However, I don't think it has much to do with his current run for president and am just plain sick of hearing him talk about it, especially since taking care of veterans doesn't seem to be a big priority to his party.