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July 31st, 2008
09:25 PM ET

The Buzz on Race and Politics

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Maureen Miller
360° Writer

Is Barack Obama playing the race card on the campaign trail?  Yes, if you ask the John McCain campaign.  And, they say Obama is playing it "from the bottom of the deck."  The fiery  words come a day after the McCain camp says Obama alluded to his own race during several campaign stops in Missouri.

Yesterday, Obama told audiences that his opponent is trying to make voters "scared" of him because he doesn't look like past presidents and has a funny name.  Today, McCain's campaign manger Rick Davis said Obama's comments are "divisive, negative, shameful and wrong".

The Obama camp responded saying, "Barack Obama in no way believes that the McCain campaign is using race as an issue, but he does believe they're using the same old low-road politics to distract voters from the real issues in this campaign, and those are the issues he'll continue to talk about."

We'll let you decide. Is Obama playing the race card?

Also tonight, a Florida congressman under fire. Democrat Robert Wexler now says he'll now lease an apartment in South Florida after some people have questioned his committment to his constituents because he wasn't living in his district. He wasn't even living somewhere else in Florida.  Wexler, his wife and three children were living in Maryland. He has never hit the fact he doesn't live in his district. He was using his in-laws' address in Delray Beach to meet residency requirements. He insists he still effectively did his job.  He says, "I had two goals as a person as I was sworn into Congress.  One, to be a full-time devoted Congressman who stood up for his constituents. And, two, to be a devoted full-time father." Is what Wexler did legal? We'll tell you what we uncovered tonight on 360.
And, what do you think: Should Wexler have a home in his distrct?

Plus, cha-ching! Exxon Mobil has reported the biggest quartely profit in U.S. history - $11.6 billion dollars. We did the math. That's $1,485.55 a second!  Of course, you're paying high prices at the pump. They're cashing in. And, spending a lot of money to find more oil, right?  We'll show you how big oil is really spending your money. We're keeping them honest.

All that and more tonight on 360°.
Hope you'll join us!


Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz
soundoff (56 Responses)
  1. cwg

    It's amazing how in denial about our true nature we Americans are. Everyone has been playing the race card during this election campaign.
    Most black & white americans have ingrained racist attitudes.

    Besides that, Obama didn't say anything that wasn't untrue. He doesn't look like all those other men on our dollar bills.

    He never mentioned his race or color in this statement. McCain was playing the reverse race card by suggesting his comment was about race.

    We need to stop living in fear of the unknown or different and embrace the precepts of our constitution.

    August 1, 2008 at 8:54 am |
  2. Mim Williams

    Well, Obama made it shockingly clear months ago that he has a particular Hate for people who love God and then spent time trying to back track – but I haven't forgotten his Hate. Now it turns out he's a racist that is trying to point the finger at someone else, unprovoked. What a shock, more Hate.

    August 1, 2008 at 8:43 am |
  3. TESAP; SAVANNAH, GA

    How does stating the obvious... your race... equal playing the race card. I think what we are witnessing here is a WHITE candidate who would like to make race an issue but can't.

    August 1, 2008 at 8:25 am |
  4. Rahni, Connecticut

    I don’t feel that Obama statement was wrong; he was only stating the obvious. He doesn’t look like the other presidents on our dollar bills. He did not call McCain a racist and the media continue to spin and spin. The McCain campaign is grabbing on to nothing. The media is turning it into something that is not “Race Card”. I really hate those words “Race Cards”

    Rahni, Connecticut

    August 1, 2008 at 7:35 am |
  5. sam

    We are losing are status around the world, to have this man Obama claiming he is the chosen one is sad beyound belief.
    All countries around the globe are licking there chops praying he wins, Do we assume that George W planned 9/11 or was it in play from Clinton era. If we as a country let this nobody take the commander job we may as well prepare now for the end of life as we know it. Me personally I would rather be pressed to make ends meat rather than wonder if I will live.
    Vote USA Vote JOHN M.

    August 1, 2008 at 5:25 am |
  6. amber T

    Larry,
    You need to get your facts right before posting on here. Obama was not born in Kenya, so how could he still have his Kenyan citizenship? Are you saying he got it when he went to visit as a young man?
    I am confused by your comment. His father who was Kenyan, came to America as do millions of other men from countries all over the world to go to school. He met Obama's American mother while in school and married her. After Obama was born, and his father left, his father eventually went back to Kenya. Obama went there as a young adult because also like millions of young men who grew up with their fathers (of all races and nationalities) he was curious to find out where he came from. I have studied Obama a lot and read up on him a lot so I can make informed decisions about whether or not to support him and I have never read that he has a Kenyan citizenship. Kenyans are just happy that his father comes from there and so that is why they are so happy for him and supporting him. Look at the Japanese people from Obama Japan. They have no relation or bond to Obama, but they are capitalizing on his name right now because it is helping their economy and putting them on the map. All nationalities, races and groups of people do that. You need to get over that.

    Also, why is it that so many Republicans are so bent out of shape that Governor Schwarzenegger is not able to run for President because he was not born here, and want the law changed, yet they try their hardest to make Obama appear to not be born here so they can discount him as a viable and legal Presidential candidate?

    Now remind me why is it again that Obama is playing the race card and tell me again why race has NOTHING to do with this election??

    August 1, 2008 at 4:18 am |
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