Evening Buzz: Obama goes global
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/07/14/art.obamacar.jpg]
Cate Vojdik
AC360° writer
Barack Obama is poised to begin a trip to Europe and the Middle East, with stops in Afghanistan and Iraq. It will be his first high-profile step onto the world stage, and he’s clearly hoping to show he’s ready for a leading role. The McCain campaign is calling the whirlwind tour a political ploy. Tonight we’ll be looking at what Obama stands to gain - and to lose - by heading overseas. How do you think his trip will play back here at home?
Also tonight, the deafening sound of ice thawing. That would be former president Bill Clinton, saying today he’s eager and ready to hit the campaign trail on behalf of Barack Obama. "I told him that whenever he wanted me to do it, I was ready, and so it's basically on their timetable." That’s how Clinton put it. He says he’s waiting for his marching orders - and really hasn’t thought about what role he’d like at the Democratic Convention next month in Denver. We’ve got the raw politics on the Big Chill.
There are also new developments concerning the troops in Afghanistan. It turns out help may not be on the way anytime soon. We’ll tell you what senior military sources told us - just one day after Defense Secretary Robert Gates promised try to send more U.S. troops to Afghanistan “sooner rather than later.”
We’ve got fireworks tonight as well. It turns out that “nuts” isn’t the only word starting with N that Jesse Jackson used last week when he thought a microphone was off. The mic was hot – and what it picked up has reignited a fierce debate over the most notorious racial slur in the English language. It’s also raised the H-word: hypocrite. That’s what some are calling Jackson tonight. Why? Two years ago, he was on a tear to banish the N-word from everyone’s vocabulary. What’s happened?
And, the plot thickens. Drew Griffin is back with a new wrinkle in his Terror Watch List story. Today, a member of Congress said she’s calling for an investigation into why Drew’s name was added to the no-fly list shortly after his investigation of the Transportation Security
Administration. Speaking to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff at a House Committee on Homeland Security meeting, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, called it "a curious and interesting and troubling phenomenon" that CNN Investigative Correspondent Drew Griffin was added to the list. Like we said, the plot thickens..
All that and more tonight on AC360° at 10 p.m. Eastern.
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Filed under: The Buzz |
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What is wrong with you people? You are ready to elect a man with absolutely no experience in government to the Office of The Presidency of the United States of America merely because you like the way he looks! After all, what else would it be? Oh yes, he was a "Community Organizer" in Chicago. Wow! Some resume! What is a Community Organizer? Do you really think he will protect this Country as Geo. Bush has? Since 911, President Bush has successfully protected America.
You better believe John McCain will protect this country. And that should be the number One issue...... because folks, they are out there waiting for an opportunity..... Obama will give it to them!
Being an African American currently working and living in Frankfurt, Germany, I know for a fact that many are interested and curious about the man Obama. Being and entertainer here, I am often questioned about Obama and racism in America. It has forced many european to re-examine their perceptions of Black people and America in general. Beware America, it is not just Obama in the spotlight but all of America and it's politics.
Why all the focus on the "N" word, I watched a program a couple of weeks back hosted by Gil Noble that reported that Black people were sought out purposelfully for sub-prime mortgages, and this may be directly linked to what has happened badly with respect to the whole foreclosure debacle going on in the nation, etc., or at least one of the problems concerning the meltdown for some in terms of losing their homes. Basically the report mentioned that steering African-American towards sub-prime mortgages had nothing to do with their credit ratings either, so looks like racism may have struck again against African-Americans. Why does not CNN report on something like that, what is all the sensationalism about the use of the "N" word, is this reporting going to change racism, such as being searched in certain neigborhoods just because you are Black, being pulled over just because you are Black, having the largest prison population, Black Folk, what about that? What does the aboloshing of the "N" word have to do with solving those kind of problems, CNN, I would like to know? I just don't get this on the surface reporting, why not get to the heart of the matter in terms of issues really hurting Black Folk in America, Racism, pure and simple. Is abolishing the "N" word going to do away with Racism, I don't think so.
Forget all the stupidness about Obama or McCain making photo ops to Iraq. As a Vietnam Marine veteran, I hear a lot of people echoing John McCain message about we need to stay in Iraq until we win. Anderson Cooper is reporting the American generals are requesting more troops for Afghanistan, but guess what, the Pentagon are telling the generals in Afghanistan there are no more troops available. Here's my point, all of you who want to stay in Iraq until we win, America needs able people to fight this war, go sign up to fill the void the generals are asking for. This is the first war that America fought, that the majority of Americans are all for us winning, just as long as I or none of my love ones has to do any of the fighting. I call that cowardly cheerleading.
he is a super star, no not McCain!!! LOL
I think Obama will ROCK Europe. Just as he has everywhere he goes. Barack is a powerful presence. I can't imagine anything going wrong for him over there. I think he's gonna get much love from the Europeans. Hopefully all the Obama haters will back off then. But if not, oh well. Where Barack goes, people follow. Doesn't that make him a LEADER? Wouldn't that make a difference in a president? OBAMA'08
mccain needs a nap not because of his age just because i thik he tired and kind of slow and physically just in general .
Obama hosting a trip to Iraq for 3 anchors from the Media known to be in the tank for Obama at taxpayers expense. Very interesting!
I believe its a good thing for us to have some positive press overseas. Obama will bring that positive press. President Bush has been the negative face of America for 8 years. It will be refreshing to read some positive press about the United States.
I think Obama's trip to Europe, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries is a smart move. First the Republicans criticize him for not going there and now they are criticizing for going. They can't have it both ways.
I think McCain/McBush is afraid of what will happen when he is over there. Other countries are excited about Obama and not about McCain. McCain promises another four years of Bush. I think everyone realizes that and are not excited about him for that reason.
The Republicans and McCain are also a little jealous of the attention that Obama is creating with the media. They won't be covering McCain as much while he is on his trip.
I hope and pray for Obama's safety. We need him so much. It's time for a change for all of us.
Please, America .... turn the page, look forward and let the youth – OBAMA – shape THEIR future! This Generation and the next ones will have to suffer terribly, if we do not come up with outstanding and courageous ideas! We can change the world.... let's get to work! G.Hoffmann
I find it sad, that the media is so in the "tank" for Obama, who has not gone overseas before now in the campaign, yet, all of the trips McCain made got little press. It is also telling to think they have so little substance. Obama has 144 days in Senate, McCain has a lifetime of service. Obama gives policy ideas after all of the other candidates have spoken, and changes them readily and for convenience. He has no clue what financially will happen when he offers ideas. And his campaign is lethal if you cross them. Not just whining, but bashing back. Quite frankly, at 58, this takes the cake, and is truly frightening to me. PS. Nancy Pelosi – when you do not let responsible and environmentally sound drilling, you let the other nations of the world do "Horizontal" drilling into our offshore territory. Dems will destroy our national security and our economics. You cannot keep blaming this administration. This is decades of ignorance and irresponsibility!
SprklestheClown here
Cindy-
Again you have failed to pay attention to the facts…Of course the media was there to cover John McCain’s trip to the Middle East. Don’t you remember the continued mistakes of confusing Sunni & Shiite? Or his statement that Iran, a mostly Shiite country was supplying weapons to Sunni militia groups. Good thing the cameras and Joe Lieberman were there to correct him time after time.
What about his most recent blunders- He’s upset about the way the Russians have diverted oil from Czechoslovakia even though the country has not existed for more than a decade.
Now imagine what the Press would do to Obama if he had made those same mistakes. With all the gaffes and slip-ups by McCain, he should consider himself fortunate the media has chosen to be less critical of him…
You watch the huge crowds that will gather to see the next President of the United States. Other countries don't even question who should be the next President here. I hope leaders from other countries show up and greet him as such. It's no ploy for Obama overseas. They want to see him as much as all of us in America. McCain has a speech and fifty people show up, or no one like outside that closed plant in Gary. Obama shows up and 75,000 people gather. It's no fluke...........He's the next President.
European photo op, that's all it is.
Why does Ms. Crowley always sound like an Obama operative? Maybe she doesn't realize it.
Mr. Obama is an accomplished Chicago politician, but simply doesn't have the national/international experience to be President.
I can certainly see where Bill Clinton will cooperate with Obama – depending on what your definition of cooperation is. After all, it's Bill's best chance to get back in the White House any time soon.
Once again all you Obama supporters go crying everytime someone questions anything about him. And for your information he is getting a pass with the press against Sen. McCain, just like he did with Sen. Clinton Y'all better stop putting this man on a pedastool, because when he falls, he is really going to have a long way to go. And his health care won't help everybody no matter what he says, learn to read and you will see that about 15 million people won't have insurance. Hey!wait a minute maybe all you Obama supporters would be willing to go without for your GOLDEN BOY?
Is it Obama's fault that the media is in a frenzy about this trip?
Cindy: Did any reporters even ask McCain for interviews on his trips??
As an Obama supporter, I wish CNN and other newscasts would cover McCain more. Campbell Brown's show and now it looks like Anderson's show is all about Obama. What about McCain collecting $ 1 929 a month from social security for the past seven years and then calling it a disgrace, or that he nor De Mint attend ANY of the Afghanistan hearings in the past two years, or about calling Iraq a success in every way but being unable to state anything in specific details. He also called Obama's universal health care plan "Hillary Care".
If anyone is getting a pass from the media, it is John McCain!!
I hope like Hell, he makes a really big mistake over there. So everybody in the world can see what a big phoney he really is.
Is it Obama's fault that the media is in a frenzy about this??
Cindy: Did McCain get asked by reporters for interbiews.
As an Obama supporter, I wish CNN and other newscasts would cover McCain's campaign.
Yes, it was quite the episode of The View where Elizabeth & Whoopi went at it; unfortunate that it never got resolved.
@ Cynthia...It is a political ploy when Obama is doing interviews with EVERY major news anchor while over there. Did McCain do that? NO! Was he trying to hold speeches at well known sites over seas to get more publicity? NO. So in my book YES..Obama's trip overseas is very much a political ploy!
Cindy...Ga.
So Drew gets a congressional investigation into why his name appeared on the list? That sounds unusual to me – is it?
Perhaps after the inquiry the TSA and the airlines will know better than to mess around with Drew!
Annie Kate
Birmingham AL
Was it a political ploy when Senator McCain was globe hoppng back a couple of months ago?
Anderson,
can we please talk about social security. i would love to hear either one of the canidates say they would take the cap off of social security. That would fix the issue with Social Security being in the negative or soon to be in the negative.