After Barack Obama rejected public campaign financing, John McCain and conservatives criticized him for going back on his word. Shouldn't they be happy? Here we have a black man finally getting off public assistance, and the Right still isn't satisfied
Comedians are taking over the world. More from the world of NYC comedy that’s relevant to our discussions.
Sara Benincasa is on the MTV election street team. Despite having promoted disturbingly destructive or unattainable images of success to young people across the globe, MTV’s Choose Or Lose campaign is really good. I remember checking some shows out in 2004 that had me in tears, with young ladies talking about their decision to get an abortion.
This year, MTV has raised the notch, financing street teams of local journalists and media mixers all across the country.
In this interview, Sara asks fellow comedian Dean Obeidallah about Barack Obama, his middle name and Christianity vs. Islam. Sara and Dean are both great comedians but also just good people.
There is one guaranteed way to end the Democratic primary, and that is for Obama to win resoundingly over Hillary Clinton. If you are a supporter, it’s time for you to do more. Talk to your family and friends. Volunteer.Phonebank. Donate. Canvass. The premise of his presidency is that he’s offering a voice and a seat at the table to a more active citizenry. That means you. Reading about the election and feeling good inside about your vote ain’t enough.
I’m doing my part by 1) going to Texas this weekend and 2) offering this post as a set of useful tips on how to represent Obama to friends or strangers. If you’re getting on a bus to Texas, Vermont, Rhode Island or Ohio, print this out, and read it along the way. Email it to your friends. Post it on your blogs. But please, do something.
Well, Derrick is at it again. I guess I can stop claiming him since YouTube has sort of set this brotha on another level with his two videos so far. (For anyone new to the Internet, Derrick answered a man-on-the-street question about Obama a few weeks back, and that video is near 600,000 on YouTube now, plus his response is over 170,000).
So what’s next? Rather than create some punditocratous platform for himself (I kid because I love :)), he’s hoping to demonstrate that he’s not alone among young voters willing to spit substance about their stance on a candidate or issue.
Every week, citizens will upload their statements and submit to a voting process. The winner will get a $100 donation made to their candidate, and hopefully we all get a more informed, articulate election year discourse.
This letter was passed on to me recently. There’s been a lot of talk about Republicans for Obama (Obamacans), often followed by the assertion that they are faking their support for him. This writer, a Brooklyn-based reverend, no less, makes a stronger appeal to Republicans than merely Clinton-bashing…
rikyrah just told me she thought my last post about the Ohio debate should not have hidden the article I referenced in the end. I agree. Much of my case for Obama rests on his premise that “activating the civic gene in Americans” (my term) is ultimately what’s necessary to solve our biggest problems.
Ok, sounds good. But where he differs is in offering the tools to realize that engaged public. You can find it in his technology plan and government transparency initiatives. Any politician can “talk” about getting citizens engaged, but it’s a rare one who also promises to provide the tools of said engagement.
As usual, yall rocked the open thread. I was on a shaky Internet connection, so MSNBC’s stream fell off, but I kept up thanks to yall. Read the transcript on the train this morning, and I thought the following were worth highlighting from Obama on Iraq and mobilizing the American people.
BTW, I think Hillary did fine. The SNL callout and whining about getting the debate question first did look petty, but I think she did OK in explaining the breadth of her actions around trade and in discussing Russia. Her attempt to over-anti-anti-Semitism Obama also read a bit awkward.
Tim Russert was a bit of an asshole overall. If you have concerns about Obama’s church, please check the facts.
There are over 30 comedians involved in this thing. It’s a big deal with big talent.
I’m involved in two shows
The White House hosted by Elon James White http://blackcomedyexperiment.com/shows/whitehouse/
Friday Feb 29 @ 11pm
Join host Elon James White (DC Comedy Festival, Brooklyn Comedy Company) along side his White House Cabinet – Baratunde Thurston(Editor@The Onion), Hassan Madry (Opie and Anthony), Susan Prekel (Live at Gotham, Oxygen Network)
and others — discussing some of the biggest issues in the worlds of
Politics, Entertainment and overall Bullshit. Featuring some comedic
shorts and a Special Guest Performance by Wil Sylvince (Def Comedy Jam 2008), The White House is sure to be a crazy time. Hail to the Chief.
Let me put it this way. I do several shows a week in NYC, and I rarely go out of my way to ask people to come.
THESE SHOWS ARE WORTH COMING TO.
If you’ve said to yourself, “I really need to see Baratunde on stage,” now is the time.
If you have friends in NYC, tell them about this weekend. Do it!
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