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Obama wins CNN's Compassion Forum!
Clinton was applauded once after she entered the arena. She refused to speak personally about her experience. Obama was applauded 15+ times. What kind of crowd was that? I would assume a religious crowd. Does that bode well for Obama as a democratic nominee in the general election? He really seem to connect with them on almost every issue he discussed.
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The Christian community is actually getting behind Obama, in numbers the Republicans are terrified by.
Rove's "f*&^%$g faith-based thing" gave them a real spiritual awakening. Now their eyes are open to the social-issues scam the republicans by which have led them astray. SO they are depending on their own spiritual senses, not their political preachers, to guide them, and that has, for SOME unexplained reason, led the to Obama.
I would bet the Evangelicals are bitter about their being taken as fools, too.
April 14, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama also stayed for awhile after and shook a lot of hands. It was great to see the smiling elderly couples waiting to shake his hand and say hello.
I noticed that there was a lot of impromptu applause for many of Obama's starements. I was wondering if Hillary received the same. I tried to watch her part, but listening to Hillary talk about religion causes my gag reflex to kick in. The new Simpsons episode that was on at 8pm wasn't that great, but Simpson's yellow, looked a lot better than Hillary yellow last night. The symbolism of the color yellow is apt for her, though.
April 14, 2008 2:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know what you mean. It took all of my willpower to listen. I wanted to hear how much bullshit she would put out there. Note that she won the coin toss, but decided to go first. In effect she made herself the warm up act. I'd say the contrast between then made her confirmed that. She obviously knew she was at a disadvantage and decided to get it over with. When Hillary walked in everyone clapped, but no handshakes. Obama walked in and shook many hands on the way to the podium.
April 14, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
I meant: I'd say the contrast between them confirmed that.
April 14, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hillary not wanting to follow Obama's act reminds me of how the Who didn't want to follow Jimi Hendrix's act at the Monterey Pop Festival. The contrast in their oratory skills doesn't seem to have been lost on the Messiah crowd last night. I was surprised to see so many smiling, nodding evangelicals during Obama's session. That overwhelming approval will spread fast through the evangelical network, those people are connected. Kudos for Obama.
April 14, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
I noticed the frequent, spontaneous applause for Obama as well, and I couldn't remember any for Clinton. I wasn't sure if that was accurate or just my perception. I thought about rewinding to check, but was too lazy and too little inclined to listen to Clinton again.
So thanks for confirming it for me.
Being an anti-religion heathen myself, I was mildly annoyed by the whole concept of the forum and questions. But looking at from the perspective of the race and the politics involved, I was pleased to see him connecting so well and speaking so comfortably about this. Yes, the Republicans are right to be afraid of his comfort with religious themes and his ability to translate religion into broader issues of social justice.
I actually felt a little bit sorry for Clinton. It's obvious that she is very uncomfortable talking about her personal faith, which I suspect is more a cultural issue than anything else. I thought she did pretty well once she was able to talk more policy and less private stuff.
Doesn't make up for the many lies and whatnot, but I do give her props for being a good policy wonk.
April 14, 2008 2:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hea"then\ (?; 277), n.; pl. Heathensor collectively Heathen. [OE. hethen, AS. h??en, prop. an adj. fr. h?? heath, and orig., therefore, one who lives in the country or on the heaths and in the woods (cf. pagan, fr. pagus village);
People have belittled rural folks for a long time. "Heathen", one who lives in the woods, on the heath or moor, was the term early Christians in England used to insult rural people who clung to their tradtional, nature-based religious beliefs.
Same thing for "pagan", from the Latin "pagus" meaning "from the village". Also a term used by early Christians in the Roman Empire who wanted rural folks to feel like uneducated "hicks from the sticks" because they, to, clung to their classical gods, as opposed to converting to Christianity, the new boutique religion in Romae at that time.
Having grown up in a rural area myself, this pagan heathen salutes the common people!
April 14, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes hrc got alot of applause. probably more than obama. i watched both. obama received a standing ovation upon walking in and hence the difference in reception. also, his responses were more honest and less nuanced. he seemed more comfortable with faith and appeared a devout christian who doesn't want to impose that faith on anyone on one hand, but doesn't feel like he should be ashamed of it or make excuses for it on the other hand.
hrc did well also, but she appeared scripted and not as comfortable linking faith with her policies.
April 14, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Phoebe said "I noticed the frequent, spontaneous applause for Obama as well, and I couldn't remember any for Clinton." Cher responded "Yes hrc got alot of applause. probably more than obama."
What!!! Was that a typo on your part?
I watched both and recorded the entire forum. Obama got way more applause the Hillary. Hillary was given a standing ovation when she walked in. She then got applauded one (1) more time.
OTOH, Obama got a standing ovation as he walked onto the podium. The difference is that he was applauded 15+ times after that.
April 14, 2008 3:41 PM | Reply | Permalink