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Here is the beef for those who maintained that the Obama campaign has not offered any details of its tax policy.  It is fair, balance and informative! His plan clearly  distinguishes itself from the old notion of  \"tax-and-spend.\"   Take a look, learn and share!<br></br><br>The Numbers: Obama vs McCain on Taxes </br><br>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNyNv_UfFUo</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_11:00:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971234": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "If possible, read both of these articles together.  They  explore  a time in Michelle Obama\u2019s life  \u201cwhen her views on race and American culture began to coalesce . . . .\u201d<br>Learning to be Michelle Obama: At Princeton, she came to terms with being a black achiever in a white world</br><br>http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/15/learning_to_be_michelle_obama/</br><br></br><br></br><br>In April, Michelle Obama\u2019s white roommate and her mother gave their  perspective in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in April:</br><br>Georgian recalls rooming with Michelle Obama</br><br>http://www.ajc.com/search/content/news/stories/2008/04/12/roommate_0413.html</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_11:04:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971235": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Anon 8:04-<br></br><br>Michelle Obama is not strange. She is like every single black person in America!! I wish that people could stop talking such bullshit all the time. I refuse to read the article because I do not need to read why Michelle feels the way she does because and I almost all AA's feel the same way.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_11:12:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971236": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I'm trying to forget about this speech.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_11:26:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971237": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "i agreed with the overall spirit of the speech, but i think i would have used different language to get at some of the external forces that lead so many young Black men down the path of no return. no we shouldn't be beholden to \"excuses\", but then again there are some very real issues that must first be dealt with before Black families can get back up and running (namely poverty, violence and addiction which he cites). maybe this was his \"move to the center\" but i thought it was pretty much right on.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_11:37:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9be18ad332a07779e2d58e72abc3fe28", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971238": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I'd rather hear about stories of hope like this:<br></br><br>Teen mother reared in crisis and poverty becomes a doctor</br><br></br><br></br><br>By S.A. REID</br><br>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</br><br></br><br>Published on: 06/15/08</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_12:11:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971239": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Listening to the radio right now, and the Black Station is discussing the R.Kelly verdict. In the next hour, they're going to be discussing Obama's speech. Talk about irony. If this CHILD had the right kind of Black man FATHERING HER, she would have NOT let R. Kelly piss on her. <br></br><br>I always had a problem with the statement that that girl had 'parents'. She had an egg donor and a sperm donor- parasites both. PARENTS would be IN JAIL for what they did to R.Kelly after finding out what he had done to their child. </br><br></br><br>R.Kelly is the most famous of a situation that has proliferated during my adult lifetime. When I was growing up, if you saw a teenaged mother, when pointing the finger to the father, you found yourself pointing to a teenaged boy - someone of her peer group. </br><br></br><br>No longer. With no alarm being sounded by our community, these teenaged girls are more than often pointing to GROWN MEN. Grown men who have preyed upon these young girls. What would make these GIRLS think that it's ok to be with these GROWN MEN? The hunger inside of them that they're trying to fill due to a MISSING FATHER.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_12:15:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971240": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "So Obama's speech is going to cut the teen pregnancy rate?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_12:21:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971241": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "no, ms. martin, it's not going to cut the teen pregnancy rate. <br></br><br>but, the preying on our young girls by older men IS a problem. These young girls are vulnerable to these older men, because of the hunger that they have due to that they have missing fathers. </br><br></br><br>I didn't have the issues with Obama's speech that others had. I know that he wasn't talking about my father or any man in my immediate family - because they took care of business. </br><br></br><br>But, the whole defensiveness, as if he's lying; as if he's making it up. </br><br></br><br>Maybe if we had 10,000 Black men in jail instead of 1,000,000, whose most common traits are: Fatherlessness and Illiteracy, then maybe I could see something wrong with what he said. </br><br></br><br>The flip side of that, on the female side, is our young women being preyed upon by older men, because of what they are missing. </br><br></br><br>Like I said before, I'm conservative (with a small c) on this issue.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_12:26:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971242": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"But, the whole defensiveness, as if he's lying; as if he's making it up.\"<br></br><br>No, he's not lying and I'm not defensive, I don't like the public chastizing of the community.</br><br></br><br>He never speaks about other groups' behavior in an entire speech and IMO his reason for doing it to us is suspect and it's changing my view of him.</br><br></br><br>I am not the only person who feels this way - check out the comments on a lot of sites - including his.</br><br></br><br>I think it is irresponsible of him to feed perceptions of us to those who use it as an excuse to ignore the good in many of us and loathe us.</br><br></br><br>I've heard you reel against people who think less of us as a group.  He his helping this with these types of speeches.  They really are not necessary.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_13:06:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971243": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "are we back to the whole ' dirty laundry' argument?<br></br><br>I know I disagree with folks on this issue; I guess we'll agree to disagree.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_13:14:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971244": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "rikyrah<br></br><br>Yes, we are back to the dirty laundry argument.  </br><br></br><br>I'm not so sure it's his dirty laundry though - just ours.</br><br></br><br>Why are you giving him a pass that you don't give other folks who have spoken out regarding the same issues?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_13:18:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971245": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Ms. Martin<br>He has called out the Cubans in Florida about travel restrictions and and the Jewish community about Israel's role in the mess in the middle East. I think most people didn't give Bill Cosby a pass because he was such an imperfect messenger with all the harassment suits and the fact that while he was talking about fatherhood his own children are a mess. I don't know if father's day was the right time for Obama to make this speech but he spoke a truth that some in the black community do not want to hear.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_13:25:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "75dfdb9875b46c184623abcb6df2175e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971246": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I feel that the speech is warranted. Like its been said, there are more than a few black men not handling their business. Not that other races don't have the same problem, but the perception is that we own the lion's share of inadequate fathers. <br>I read something on Pat Buchanan's blog sometime ago; someone commented that if Obama wins the presidency, that conservatives and white America as a whole can feel free to call black folks to the carpet. If we finally got a real \"black president\" under our belt, we can stop blaming 'the man' for our misfortune. </br><br>Now, I know that's a load of donkey kong, and so do you. But as this election has proven so far, perception is reality. And just as he's had to in other instances, Obama's looking to reassure white voters that he will not infact 'give black folks a pass' on our less than perfect behavior. </br><br>Now, I know you and I and many other represent the thousands upon thousands of AAs that either (A) come from strong 2 parent households, or (B) came from a strong one parent household, and didnt raise any ruckus. But, unfortunately, even tho we exist, the country likes to pretend we don't. And lets face it, in some instances, our black family unit does need some healing.</br><br>Bottom line, I thing Obama is again bridging a gap with this speech. He's telling white folks that he doesn't condone the less than stellar behavior of some black folks, he's showing and telling the black folks that have not to do better, as he did, and he telling us that do have, be a strong example! Lift someone else up! Isn't that why we love him for POTUS anyway??</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_13:28:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "b92e86eb045bb66a5bd4fb6803e18ec6", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971247": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "there is definitely a problem with parents in this world. the first totally irresponsible parent i knew of was the father of my sister's three kids. after they divorced, he never even saw the kids again until they were adults, and his child support payments of $150 a month just vanished after a year.<br></br><br>my stepdaughter's two boys have different fathers. one is in prison, the other died in a motorcycle wreck with the cops chasing him. the one in prison never once showed an interest in his son until he got locked up and bored. aaron's 10 now. he needs a daddy.</br><br></br><br>the longest lasting relationship they had with a man ended because that man, much as the boys loved him, simply refused to work. and he did ~ he just wouldn't do it. the refusal to participate in that mandatory activity ~ supporting oneself ~ was stunning. i gave him a job at a good wage with remarkable flexibility and he just went home one day and never came back. i got a friend to give him a job where he could ultimately end up making $28 an hour. he went home after two days. never worked again.</br><br></br><br>when hannah filed for survivor benefits on her younger boy after his dad died, the small social security benefit ~ small because he'd barely worked in his 26 years ~ was divided by 7. seven kids that man had, that no working, no child supporting man. seven. that's insanity.</br><br></br><br>it isn't just men. my sister's youngest adopted daughter's mother had nothing to do with her kids, nothing. </br><br></br><br>i <i>like</i> this speech and one of the things i like the most about it is that he calls people on some of the standard parenting crap that goes on now in households everywhere. </br><br></br><br>the addiction to television is a tragedy and it truly impacts the relationship between parent and child and it isolates people within the home. i'm afraid it's part of what's behind the skyrocketing diagnosis of ADD in kids. too much stimulus, too young, too constant.</br><br></br><br>we've had a pretty active propaganda campaign from this government to get us to support the war, hate muslims, etc.</br><br></br><br>i'd think that an active, everywhere you turn campaign to encourage strong parents, proper parenting behavior, all of that, would have some effect. make a turn-off-the-TV day, a read-a-book-to-your-kid day. education young people who havent' any idea how to be a parent as to exactly what it really takes for a child to thrive. </br><br></br><br>our kids can't make it without a proper foundation. there's a lot of research which shows that a kid's got to get what he/she needs before the age of 5 or it's really too late, that the intellect and the capacity for success in education is pretty much established by then. a solid foundation, security, enriched environment, attention, love in <i>action</i>, not just words. </br><br></br><br>in this country, kids ~ kids of 20, 25, 30 ~ are having babies for a lot of reasons other than building a family. my stepdaughter wanted love, she got two beautiful little boys, zero help from their fathers, and an enormous amount of work, like nothing she ever imagined. i wish she were a good mom. she's not. she says she loves them a lot, but her actions . . . not so much. it's a tragedy, a heartbreak. </br><br></br><br>i appreciate obama talking about fatherhood. it's important.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_13:30:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7f306b3009c480dcd5fc7baf547d1b80", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971248": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "khal02<br></br><br>You are the last person I'm going to try to explain this to.</br><br></br><br>It's not that I don't want to hear it.  It's not a fact about my life.  I was raised by my father and my children by my husband.  In fact, my son loves his father so much, when we separated he chose to stay with him though he loves me very much.</br><br></br><br>It feeds the NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS of us as a people and that's all it does - the people he's talking about are not listening to him and talk is cheap any fucking way.  If he is really concerned, he should go out into the community and reach one and teach one.</br><br></br><br>It ignores the large number of blacks who live their lives for the good.</br><br></br><br>and finally, if a white man was saying this shit you people would be tearing this board up in anger.</br><br></br><br>WHY GIVE HIM A PASS?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_13:32:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971249": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Obama's caught in a catch 22 where if he says nothing about the valid concerns many in our community have, then he's a sellout.<br></br><br>But if does and then doesn't provide enough balance in his comments, then he's hit another wall.</br><br></br><br>I like his speech.  I respect the fact that he said it.  Are there plenty of good black fathers out there?  Sure.  But that's what they are supposed to be, so no real cause for celebration.</br><br></br><br>And Ms. Martin, to say that O should go out into the community . .  come on now, the man was a community organizer for pete's sake.  He has been there and done that.</br><br></br><br>No, I don't think a speech from Obama will automatically change things, but it does set the tone.  It does continue to advance the idea that certain behaviors are unacceptable.  That is a good thing.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_13:50:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "bc67a38bb57ec2663caef9c8162bfd38", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971250": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "ms. martin, i understand what you're saying, but i just wanted to add that my comments above had everything to do with fathers and families in general and not black fathers and black families in particular.<br></br><br>i would hate to think that obama made this speech because he thinks it's what white america wants to hear. i can tell you that certain white americans of pat buchanan leanings will be thrilled with this speech.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_13:51:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7f306b3009c480dcd5fc7baf547d1b80", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971251": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "You can clap to his comments all you want.<br></br><br>But this speech was aimed at white conservatives. </br><br></br><br>Ms. Martin is right. This speech (like those sad little encomiums Juan Williams always writes) was him doing the dog whistle thing for white conservatives. </br><br></br><br>\"See, their lagging behind is their fault! Stop making excuses!\"</br><br></br><br>And so on.</br><br></br><br>I get it, rikyrah. You're incapable of criticizing ol' dude because you're a true believer. But as a black man who grew up in the inner city with no father, I'd kind of like someone in a prominent public role to not be patted on the back for trafficking in stereotypes about our supposed laziness.</br><br></br><br>You should point out that single parent households are on the rise across the board, not just with black folks. That black (and brown) folks have higher rates of fatherlessness isn't surprising --- they're more likely to be poor.</br><br></br><br>And this is what people don't understand on this issue. They get the causality completely backward: people aren't poor because they're families are haphazardly formed and maintained --- their families are haphazardly formed and maintained <i>because they're poor.</i></br><br></br><br>the personal reponsibility argument rules the day because it's a simple one, and draws clear moral lines.</br><br></br><br>Were it that simple in the real world, and not in the heads of bourgie self-congratulators.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_13:52:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3f39bd1ac96402d88e2d8ff1984511ea", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971252": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Adam<br></br><br>He was out organizing voter regisitration drives so we could vote him into office.</br><br></br><br>He wasn't out organizing a group of young black men teaching them about responsibility and fatherhood.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:02:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971253": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "khal02<br></br><br>\"He has called out the Cubans in Florida about travel restrictions and and the Jewish community about Israel's role in the mess in the middle East. \"</br><br></br><br>These are specific governments that he spoke about, not a race of people - it is clearly different.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:13:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971254": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Ms. Martin<br></br><br>I agree that is what he's doing now.  I'd only add that I believe he's doing that to elect himself and other Democrats, which I see as a good thing.</br><br></br><br>But I'm not sure that Obama's inital public service had the same \"getting elected focus\", but even if it did . . . the goals of improving a community and being elected aren't always mutally exclusive.</br><br></br><br>I don't see Obama's comments as much more then a black man, going in front of a black church and saying \"let's look at ourselves\" and even if he didn't say everything we may have wished he said, he said something which to me is an excellent thing.</br><br></br><br>Of course the issues of poverty and fatherhood are complex as hell and a speech doesn't exist that could cover it all but I appreciate that it was said.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:16:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "bc67a38bb57ec2663caef9c8162bfd38", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971255": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Once again blacks are being thrown in the trash by a Democrat.<br></br><br>I understand know about the \"cockiness\" he's been criticize for.</br><br></br><br>He even suggested that because blacks didn't believe in themselves they didn't believe he could be president. How fucking arrogant.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:17:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971256": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i> no alarm being sounded by our community, these teenaged girls are more than often pointing to GROWN MEN. Grown men who have preyed upon these young girls. What would make these GIRLS think that it's ok to be with these GROWN MEN? The hunger inside of them that they're trying to fill due to a MISSING FATHER. </i><br></br><br>This made me think are black men convicted of being pediphiles at the same rate as white men?  My image of a pediphile is a middle age to old creepy white guy.  I wonder if black men who prey on young black females are largely ignored as if the girl was asking for it anyway.   </br><br></br><br> The R.Kelly verdict makes me ill and I will never by one of his albums or play one of his songs again.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:23:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3b9a39f6bc38c0fc6082bf0373618c04", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971257": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I apologize in advance that I will not proofread or edit this post, so please excuse any grammatical or spelling errors.<br></br><br>I actually agree with you, MS.MARTIN but for other reasons than dirty laundry.  I agree with you because he conveniently ignores the real systemic root causes of many ills in the AA community.  A black kid with a joint gets jail and a felony record so that he can never get financial aid for college or a legitimate job while a white kid with cocaine gets to take a driving class.  </br><br></br><br>An educated AA with a graduate degree and gainfully employed can go to a doctor recommended by a white colleague with symptoms that the white colleague was given a battery of tests for and not have one test ordered even with suggestions of the tests the colleague mentioned.  It would take the AA another 3 years of trying doctor after to get someone who finally treated indiscriminately but by then it was too late because the AA died of cancer a year later but the white colleague's was caught early enough to live a productive life in remission.</br><br></br><br>A black person with degrees from the best schools could be visiting family in the south and get pulled over on a country road by a sheriff because said person has vanity plates and a university decal in the window that doesn't comport with what the sheriff expects a black person to achieve.  When questioned about the reason for the pull over, considering said person wasn't speeding or breaking any other laws, the sheriff informs the black person in this 21st century that he could take the driver's career or life without consequence, so the driver should be thankful that the sheriff is in a good mood.  The driver looking into the sheriff's eyes did not doubt his words and drove away broken and awakened to the realization that regardless of how educated, accomplished, or successful you are in the end you are still black and any person in power on any given Sunday can take everything away and get away with it.  It happens every day.</br><br></br><br>Then you have the shiftless people who are selling T-shirts and starting websites since 2007 to take advantage of Obama's run for president suddenly becoming pristine enough to sit in judgment of all other black people without any more accomplishment than a new entre into a political hustle in comparison to others.  I can hardly wait for the hustle documentaries to show up after the election, bought and paid for by people like me who donated frequent flier miles to volunteers who took the free plane tickets and their video cameras just to get some footage for the next step in hustledom (instead of actually knocking on as many doors as possible I've seen some that did 25 doors and called it a weekend because it really is about the hustle) but I don't consider them any better than the kid who gets a record & is sent to juvy for stealing a package of bologna from the 7-11 because he was hungry and had a little sibling at home who was hungry too.  I guess the former persons consider themselves better than the latter but I think the former may have too high an opinion of themselves.</br><br></br><br>I would like to know when he is going to speak about the ills of racism, discrimination, sentencing discrepancies, disproportionate funding between predominately minority schools and white schools,racial profiling, blatant murdering of blacks through lack of appropriate medical care or intentional lowering of the quality regardless of whether the black person is insured....When is his white half going to be honest with white audiences about these things and the share responsibility for the perpetuation by denying these obvious facts in the face of evidence so mounting that international organizations and other countries are publishing reports on the continued slow killing of the black community by racism, institutionalized and otherwise.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:27:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971258": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Well, I think we all knew Obama is human.  <br></br><br>If there is only criticism offered  to the AA community, Barack may dampen turnout.</br><br></br><br>If this speech is evidence of his social conservative leanings, then I would say to O that many kids are saved by not knowing their fathers.  You're not deficient if your father isn't around. </br><br></br><br>The speech made me feel down.  Don't blacks deserve to be uplifted sometimes.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:31:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971259": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "some might not have realized it, but this speech was \"ask not what your country can do for you\" ten times over. and he did not even mention that precedent. and yes, he said this to his black community, but no, this was not a play for conservatives.<br></br><br>it took guts to say these words, and many commments here confirm it. but this is how a leader has to talk. not to appease each and every group and person, but to take those to task who need it. not to offer cheap solutions, but to ask everybody to cooperate. not to put himself on top of everybody, but to lift everybody up with him.</br><br></br><br>not to demand blind submission to the leader, but to insist on the responsibility of every person so they can be leaders, each of them.</br><br></br><br>obama could have stayed silent. he did not need to speak on this occasion. he did not need to make this any more than a standard holiday speech and be a nice guy. but obama did not seek the easy way out. this is quite a unique man.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "abae42e5f15036a8e5fb7c96309de1b3", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971260": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Obama should know about absent black fathers.  Isn't he always bragging about being raised by a single mother with the help of his grandparents?  This speech given at this particular church on this particular day is pure politics.  Barack Obama wasn't talking to me or my daddy.  He was talking to white America and feeding into the sterotype.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:41:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971261": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "BPM<br></br><br>My anger is not just about dirty laundry.  Though airing does give other license to speak on it.  It is all the factors you mentioned and more that shoud render this subject closed to a few comments and know follow-up.</br><br></br><br>It is the fact that he threw in you can't blame it on racism that gave him away.  Straight fucking pandering.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:42:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971262": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "My 2 cents:<br></br><br>This was the appropriate time to address this issue, because all the black men are now paying attention. Yep, they are now watching Senator Obama and listening to him, if for no other reason than that someone who looks like them is telling them like it is. And guess what, this messenger is authentic(say, unlike Bill Cosby?)in that he, himself, had an absentee dad. He resolved to break that cycle of black fathers behaving like sperm donors. Senator Obama \"manned up\", so to speak. He is offering black men a blueprint for there own lives. African-American men need to take this challenge. </br><br></br><br>Yes, in many ways, the \"institution\" is still stacked against the black male, but what are they/we going to do? Huh? Just throw our arms up in the air and do nothing? Try nothing? Just continue this cycle of broken and dysfunctional families in our communities? </br><br></br><br>I'm sad that so many people believe that he was pandering to whoever. Oh Puhleeze. As a black woman, I certainly do not see it that way at all. The people in here who are offering this argument are total enablers of the self-defeating behavior that we partake in. The same sort of people who, perhaps, at the beginning of Obama's campaign showed little faith in his candidacy until 98%-white-Iowa sent out the message(people of Iowa it's all love!) that he is viable. Yeah, we had to get permission. Sad! </br><br></br><br>We have learnt to be the consummate victims. Not unfounded, but guess what y'all? There comes a time when we must realise that we have to stand up and face what is happening in our black community. And, it starts with the basic family structure. How mothers and fathers treat each other in front of their kids. Educate them about sex stuff. Teach them how to have repect for their bodies. And for gods sake, pay a little attention in school.</br><br></br><br>Yeah, I know, people outside of our community like to think we are not that smart but they are wrong. We may have to work twice as hard to disprove those impressions. But we must try. Now we have a chance, our black brother and sister(Barack and Michelle) is now under the spotlight and is proving that argument dead wrong. Let's take this opportunity black people. Don't fight it.</br><br></br><br>I will join the chorus, Senator Obama:</br><br>BLACK MEN, MAN THE FUCK UP! PLEASE! STOP MAKING EXCUSES! DO SOMETHING! TRY ANYTHING! RESPECT YOUR WOMEN! TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILIES!</br><br></br><br>T.</br><br>ps. This speech, though it was given from the pulpit of a black church, was universal in it message. If you either read or listened to it in its entirety, you would see.</br><br></br><br>pps. Another brother is entertaining us today. Go Tiger Woods! Good Luck!</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:43:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971263": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "wasn't he speaking to his own community church?<br></br><br>my, it's tough when you take your time but anyways some always will go back to stereotypes.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:45:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "abae42e5f15036a8e5fb7c96309de1b3", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971264": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"some might not have realized it, but this speech was \"ask not what your country can do for you\" ten times over. and he did not even mention that precedent. and yes, he said this to his black community, but no, this was not a play for conservatives.<br></br><br>it took guts to say these words, and many commments here confirm it. but this is how a leader has to talk. not to appease each and every group and person, but to take those to task who need it. not to offer cheap solutions, but to ask everybody to cooperate. not to put himself on top of everybody, but to lift everybody up with him.</br><br></br><br>not to demand blind submission to the leader, but to insist on the responsibility of every person so they can be leaders, each of them.</br><br></br><br>obama could have stayed silent. he did not need to speak on this occasion. he did not need to make this any more than a standard holiday speech and be a nice guy. but obama did not seek the easy way out. this is quite a unique man.\"</br><br></br><br>BS.  One might try to make that argument after the first time but the fact is that he is saying the same things other whites say without pointing out other factors.  He has given this speak to black churches and black rallies that we can stop pretending like he is not scoring political points on the backs of black Americans.</br><br></br><br>I can hardly wait for his speeches to the good folk in appalachia where I presume he will tell white Americans what \"needs\" to be said too.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:45:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971265": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I'm confused, but then again I am a black conservative so I am a bit slow (I'm kidding, about the slow part).  Obama speaks to a predominately black church on fathers day about an issue that does affect a lot of black people and it is wrong?  It may be uncomfortable to hear but I don't think he said anything in his speech that wasn't true.<br></br><br>As far as airing dirty laundry, the issues of our community aren't these dirty little secrets.  If anything they are blown out of proportion by people outside of the community and if the misconseptions are ever going to be corrected they need to be discussed openly.  </br><br></br><br>I don't think it was Obama's intent to call the black community out.  He was just giving what he felt was  an honest speech for the audience, the day and his experience.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:46:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3b9a39f6bc38c0fc6082bf0373618c04", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971266": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Obama shouldn't have gone there at all.  It's opening up a can of worms ...why not go to the white community and talk about divorce?  There are social leaders who talk about these issues.  It doesn't feel right for a prospective President to single out any one community for this kind of \"personal\" treatment.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:47:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971267": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>It doesn't feel right for a prospective President to single out any one community for this kind of \"personal\" treatment.</i><br></br><br>Or maybe we have never had a prospective President that cares enough to say anything.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:52:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3b9a39f6bc38c0fc6082bf0373618c04", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971268": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I'll bet you won't catch him at a catholic mass speaking about pedophilia, in Florida talking about abuses to palestinians or what some characterize as terrorism against those people, or at a white suburban high school discussing the moral and physical perils of \"friends with benefits\" activities.<br></br><br>Put him in a black church or a rally with predominately black attendees and he parrots the lazy, victimhood negro meme.  How many times is he going to call out the black community and only the black community before people stop making excuses for his pandering to the white Americans that won't vote for his behind anyway.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:56:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971269": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "A prospective president who cares my ass.<br></br><br>If he cared, he would have broached this subject in an entirely different manner!</br><br></br><br>He gave that speech for a white audience.</br><br></br><br>Like I said yesterday, there are blacks who wish to hear about issues such as the economy, healthcare and issues affecting the country as a whole.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:57:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971270": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "only the brave dare open cans of worms.<br></br><br>and did he really pull the black community down, or wasn't he rather telling them \"yes we can\"? was he asking too much?</br><br></br><br>and who else should do what he did? a white guy?</br><br></br><br>now he should talk to appalachia the same way...</br><br></br><br>but have you forgotten where his roots are? so he cannot anymore talk to his community because now that he's running for prez his words gain importance and some could get itchy? that, in my opinion, would have been an artificial and political-at-its-worst approach.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:58:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "abae42e5f15036a8e5fb7c96309de1b3", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971271": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Pamela, <br></br><br>I'm a died-in-the-wool...umm...liberal. Yep. Unapologetic. I am not in the habit of agreeing with you...umm...conservatives. But in this instance I agree with you. </br><br></br><br>Was what Obama said true? Heck, yeah! Was what Obama said, out real loud, to be heard on youtube forever and ever, supremely uncomfortbale? Heck, yeah! But, like Obama, I'm in the business of saying what people need to hear and not what they want to hear!</br><br></br><br>And even if it was not Obama's intent to call us out, I'm certainly glad he did. Black people, look at this as a challenge. Just sayin'.</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_14:59:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971272": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Or maybe we have never had a prospective President that cares enough to say anything.\"<br></br><br>New to politics? Never listened to any other speeches before Obama.  Start easy and research Bill Clinton's speeches or Ronald Reagan's.  Obama is not the first nor only to pander to white America on the backs of blacks.  As a republican, you should be quite accustomed to hearing exactly that.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:00:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971273": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Marc<br></br><br>Get real.  His roots are in Hawaii with a white family.  He came upon the black community as an adult - he was already formed.</br><br></br><br>Like he said in his speech, while he was raised by a single mother, he had the benefit of his grandparents, one who was ashamed that he was black as a child at the beach and another who thought a black man would rob her at a bus stop.  Now he has the benefit of a whole bunch of white folks and he needs to remind us after we supported him, that we, as a group, need to do better to better our lives.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:04:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971274": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I'm not an African-American, but I am a father, and insofar as Senator Obama's speech touched on fatherhood in general, I have to say it resonated with me...the themes of responsibility and setting a good example for one's kids and such.  <br></br><br>Just my 2 cents.  And really, for those who are complaining about the timing, he gave a speech about fatherhood on father's day.  Makes sense to me.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:07:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9f8c55df36cdbc0bec8c4a7023b4dfd3", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971275": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "BMP, I suppose I have my rose colored glasses on or maybe I am way too optimistic but I don't believe Obama is selling out blacks to pander to whites.  But I can see how from a cynical perspective it may look that way.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:10:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3b9a39f6bc38c0fc6082bf0373618c04", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971276": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>It is the fact that he threw in you can't blame it on racism that gave him away. Straight fucking pandering.</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>My father told me the same thing on a regular basis and he wasn't pandering to anybody. He was motivating me to work even harder, dig even deeper, even in the face of racism. He simply didn't want me to give racism more power than it ought to have in blighting my dreams.</br><br></br><br>Barack didn't say anything yesterday that he hasn't been saying for years and yet now he's beind derided.</br><br></br><br>I guess Barack's speech was more daring than I originally gave it credit for.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:11:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971277": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "In essence, he gave the same speech on MLK day, the same speech to a rally in Dallas, the same speech to several groups in SC, the same Fing speech practically each time he is in front of black people.  I guess it makes sense, black people are the source and perpetuators of all problems in America so whenever there is a black audience, he should speak to that. Makes sense to you.<br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:14:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971278": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Are y'all talking about the same speech I saw?  Because I THOUGHT he said, \"everybody, especially the black community.\"<br></br><br>He was [i]not[/i] just talking to \"us\".</br><br></br><br>ps, sorry about the anonymity, long-time lurker</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:16:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971279": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Al Gore endorses Obama. Check the campaign website.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:18:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971280": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "with all my love, ms.martin, i was referring to the religious community he was speaking to and where he did community work for years. he did grow up in other places, but his chicago experience has been very much forming him.<br></br><br>as a matter of fact, i as an \"open minded\" white man could read things into his speech which were not at all limited to black folks. i could see myself in there. so it was me who he won over (again), not any conservatives.</br><br></br><br>i think i'll leave it at that.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:18:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "abae42e5f15036a8e5fb7c96309de1b3", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971281": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Craig<br></br><br>Your father wasn't running for political office and giving the talk to you for the benefit of being heard by others.</br><br></br><br>We know racism is real and success in spite of it is completely understood by the black community and need never be spoken.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:18:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971282": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Pemala,<br></br><br>I think you have your republican colored glasses on and anytime a democrat is running with a favorite republican talking point, you probably feel warm and fuzzy and in cynical agreement with the panderer. Point me to where I called Obama a sellout please otherwise let's  keep it to what I actually wrote.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:19:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971283": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "He had 30 MINUTES people!  He cannot solve a GENERATIONAL concern.problem in that amount of time. IN FACT, he cannot solve the problem alone!  It is everyone's RESPONSIBILITY is some way.  Let each of us find our own way to ameliorate this situation!<br>God Bless Us to do so.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:21:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971284": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "There wouldn't be so many negative perceptions if so many Black people had not spiraled out of control. If we allow any criticism from others to stop us from addressing some serious pathologies then we as a people are lost! Why are so many women commentators the ones soooo offended by having Black men taken to task? Do any of you make excuses for less than stellar behavior? Do you 'love' the boys and 'raise' the girls? That's sexism 101 people. Would you rather hear yet another speech, article, or claim that it is Black women at fault? This is not defend the Black man battle. Where are they? Do you see them defending Black women with such fervor? [CRICKETS]. If it doesn't apply to you or any one you know then why be so offended? This is a problem and it should be addressed. Racism does not cause a man to impregnate a woman and disappear. Yes there are economic factors at play and external obstacles that make things difficult. Does that absolve people from all responsibility? Lack of affordable child-care doesn't stop people from having them. Some of you are reacting emotionally and not thinking critically. This isn't about white people or pandering to conservatives! Obama didn't have his own father around when he grew up though he did have his step-father for a time but mainly his grandfather. Perhaps he is speaking from personal experience. Maybe he would have liked to have had his father around more.  <br></br><br>Here's one part that I think everyone can agree with: </br><br></br><br>\u201cThe second thing we need to do as fathers is pass along the value of empathy to our children. Not sympathy, but empathy \u2014 the ability to stand in somebody else\u2019s shoes; to look at the world through their eyes.\u201d  </br><br></br><br>So how is that pandering, criticizing or demonizing?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:22:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "1572c9b90152e199379cfb228c0cc759", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971285": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Marc<br></br><br>I don't care what color you are, I don't pander to groups, I see everyone as human unless they give me a reason not to.</br><br></br><br>I used the word us because I saw the speech as a clear talking to blacks peppered with the usual uniter blacks and whites for effect.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:22:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971286": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>Now he has the benefit of a whole bunch of white folks and he needs to remind us after we supported him, that we, as a group, need to do better to better our lives.</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>As I just said, he didn't wait till we supported him before challenging us to be better. He gave a version of this speech three years ago, before he held national office, before he had the \"benefit of a whole bunch of white folks\", and has been repeating excerpts of it all along the campaign trail for the last 16 months or so.</br><br></br><br>Politicians tend to piss off their bases when they move from the primary to the general election.</br><br></br><br>Here we are.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:23:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971287": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "BMP,<br></br><br><i>Obama is not the first nor only to pander to white America on the backs of blacks.</i></br><br></br><br>No you didn't use the word sell out but I would think pandering to white America on the backs of blacks is a close statement.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:24:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3b9a39f6bc38c0fc6082bf0373618c04", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971288": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Obama is pandering and scoring political points on the backs of Black America. He is a politician that will say whatever it takes to get those votes.  Rev. Wright called that one on the real.<br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:26:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971289": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Okay... so people would rather be mad at Obama for, yes, speaking the truth, than to realize that he was talking to ALL of us.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:28:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971290": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I've got all fing day to debate this.<br></br><br>Honey101 you like an earlier anon seem to be missing the meat of this discussion.</br><br></br><br>I don't need a fucking politician pointing my race out as a group that needs a talking to.  Stick to the political issues please.</br><br></br><br>I've raised my boys to be responsible men and was raised by and married to one.</br><br></br><br>I don't want to hear Obama talk about black people in a speech.  PERIOD.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:28:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971291": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Oh ad by the way sorry for addressing you as BMP as opposed to BPM", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:29:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3b9a39f6bc38c0fc6082bf0373618c04", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971292": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"No you didn't use the word sell out but I would think pandering to white America on the backs of blacks is a close statement.\"<br></br><br>Well, it is what it is.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:31:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971293": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Does anyone have a link to the text of the speech?", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:31:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971294": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "speech<br>http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gG5nFK</br><br></br><br></br><br>AL GORE endorses Obama!!</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:33:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971295": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I just wanted to point out broadly that the themes, the issues (both positive and negative) that Sen. Obama raised in this speech <b>are not new to him</b>.  This was almost a \"best of\" speech that combines many themes and issues he's raised in speeches for many years now.<br></br><br>Having read/seen those speeches from years past I can tell you that this speech was not \"Obama going into general election mode\", but him delivering basically what he's been saying on the topic for a long time now.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:33:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971296": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "...Was I watching the same speech as some here? Sounded just like my Georgia born and raised father. <br></br><br>As for not blaming racism...what responsible black person doesn't tell their children that? My parents did, so did there's, even as the Klan was burning the cross. Why? Well a someone above hit the nail on the head. Giving into a system of racism is to be defeated. </br><br></br><br>Did you not hear the portion on Michelle's father? Did you miss the call for governmental action on behalf of families?</br><br></br><br>Obama has said there things before. And why don't we stop acting like we aren't loosing our males to prison, etc. Yes there are injustices in the system and the words that obama has used about mandatory sentencing laws gives me hope on that front. </br><br></br><br>The bully pulpit has been used in the past to affect social change, why shouldn't the first viable black candidate use it for our community? </br><br></br><br>You really think this guy only speaks to white people? Do you remember the race speech? He's trying to bring groups together, a hard, thankless task...</br><br></br><br>But what do I know, I'm young...</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:36:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ccbadf17de4c6a3cef70ff02873202a7", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971297": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "ms. martin,<br></br><br>You are correct that he was raised in Hawaii(and Indonesia - and Indonesians aren't white) with his white mother and grandparents. So what? He came upon the black community as an adult? Huh? </br><br></br><br>As he said in his 2004 Charlie Rose interview, he is \"a black man raised by a white mother with a healthy dose of self esteem.\" </br><br></br><br>Unlike a lot of black people with a white parent, who turned out actually looking black, Senator Obama, appears to be well-adjusted in accepting his african ancestry AND his dark skin-color. He has embraced it, with all the baggage it carries. If you realise he doesn't flinch about his heritage in front of white people or black people. He can empathise with both worlds. This is the gift he will give to his children.</br><br></br><br>Can you believe what a tough time this little black boy must have had in the 60's without his black father as an example? Kudos to his mother - Thank you Miss Ann Dunham(and to the grandparents). You raised a fine boy! What a gift you've given to the black community...to our country.</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:36:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971298": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Those of you who are upset by hie remarks did you have the same reaction when he made his statements about people clinging to guns and religion because they feel the government has failed them?  <br></br><br>I know it's not the same thing but in essence he was making comments about a group of people who would rather not deal with the truth of his statements.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:36:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3b9a39f6bc38c0fc6082bf0373618c04", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971299": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "BPM<br></br><br>I never called Obama a sell out!  And this discussion isn't about Reagan or Clinton, it is about Obama.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:39:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3b9a39f6bc38c0fc6082bf0373618c04", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971300": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "pemala, you referred to Obama as a sellout TWICE.  As a matter of fact, I don't recall anyone but you using that term in reference to Obama in this thread.  I questioned you and you reiterated your position.  Oh and my point was definitely about Obama, Reagan, and Clinton but the fact that you don't recognize the fallacy in your own argument doesn't surprise me at this point.<br></br><br>How are each of these three, Obama, Reagan, and Clinton, sellouts by the definition and claims you were projecting into this thread?  </br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:45:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971301": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "The problem with these type of speeches that Obama and Bill Cosby are serving isn't really with the content of the message.  The problem is that \"other people\" are eavesdropping on the message and like the game of \"Telephone,\" the message gets distorted.<br></br><br>So Obama will say \"Black dads who aren't handling their business, you need to tighten up,\" or Bill Cosby will say \"Lower class black people who are out there stealing, stop it.\"  We as black people know who and what they are talking about.  We know that the vast majority of us aren't acting a fool. The problem is \"people who are eavesdropping\" think ALL BLACKS are one and the same and are ALL engaging in the fool ass behavior and they report it as such.  So the story gets told as \"Obama tells black fathers to tighten up\" or \"Bill Cosby tells blacks to stop stealing.\"</br><br></br><br>That's why public personalities like Obama and Cosby need to be careful about what they say about black people in public, not because we don't want white people to see our dirty laundry, but because telling absentee black fathers to \"stop acting a fool\" is not news to US.  Obama has said nothing novel or new or anything that any regular black preacher isn't saying from the pulpit every Sunday morning.  They need to be careful because it's news to THEM and THEY are the ones reporting the story.</br><br></br><br>Black pathology is a national sport.  I'm pretty sure other people from other ethnic groups are telling their people to \"tighten up\" too, but we'll never hear about it because black pathology is the only one that white people care about.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:52:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "1cb6140180747707b601ebc52c1fcb5a", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971302": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Pamela, the lib'rul here again:<br></br><br>In essence the cling-to-guns-and-religion comment, though inartfully delivered, sought to highlight that those people vote/act against their own economic and social interests by embracing what is familiar to them - their long-held family traditions of gun-ownership and faith - in times of discomfort, you know, when things get tough.</br><br></br><br>Those who oppose what Senator Obama said yesterday about our community's social problems are in effect reacting the way those people do/did. Yeah, we cling to victimhood when things get rough. The truth makes them uncomfortable. Even for someone as open-minded as myself, I felt uncomfortable hearing it out loud. But it's the truth. We can use this as opportunity, or not, to rebuild our black community.</br><br></br><br>LOL! Black and white people...not so different after all. Defensive about the truth.</br><br></br><br>BLACK FAMILIES IT'S TIME TO STAND UP!</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:53:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971303": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "BPM you accused me of putting words into you post that you called Obama a sell out.  I pointed out how I came to that conclusion. I guess I was wrong. However   I have or never called Obama that so you are wrong.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:54:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3b9a39f6bc38c0fc6082bf0373618c04", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971304": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Those of you who are upset by hie remarks did you have the same reaction when he made his statements about people clinging to guns and religion because they feel the government has failed them? \"<br></br><br>Those statements were made in private and got about by accident.  They weren't given in a speech to be heard by the nation as the black ones were intended.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_15:56:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971305": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Ms. Martin<br>Obama is the only candidate to have discussed how the different sentencing between crack and powder cocaine are devastating the black community. Just last week he spoke on repealing the mandatory sentencing laws and instead focusing on diversion prgrams that will keep our black men out of prison. So he has addressed the fact that the government of late has played a role in the deterioration of the black family. However, he is not going to continue to justify black people using the government as a cop out. A lot of black men are not in the home by choice not by some type of system and our children are suffering for it. The black family has almost completely dissolved in one generation and it's going to take acceptance and work for that to change.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:00:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "75dfdb9875b46c184623abcb6df2175e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971306": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "You know, I listen to these comments and remember I grew up with  \"don't let the white people know we are just as fucked up as they are.\"<br></br><br>Get over it!   He spoke the truth.  He is not a saint.  He was raised by a single mother--his father left him.  Some of us want to be patted on the head, others don't want to be told a damn thing and others think he's a traitor and wouldn't even be happy if the man sprouted wings out of his ass and flew.</br><br></br><br>Do you want someone to pander to you?  And in the end-- this is life and  has a lot to do with the politics of this nation.  And anybody thinking he's pandering to white CONSERVATIVES has been on the planet Mars? </br><br></br><br> And bully to you all who have husbands and fathers who are and were involved in yours and your children's lives. </br><br></br><br>Life is good.</br><br></br><br>But if you are pissed 'cause he is not talking to your lot in life and you don't want a lecture-- don't fucking listen!  Somebody else a bit more wanting than you may get something from his speech.</br><br>Maybe some young brother about to be a father . . .</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:01:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "4817f7edef2360c37b89d11c07ed63fa", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971307": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"BPM you accused me of putting words into you post that you called Obama a sell out. I pointed out how I came to that conclusion. I guess I was wrong. However I have or never called Obama that so you are wrong.\"<br></br><br>pemala, as i stated I don't recall anyone but you using the word \"sellout\" in reference to Obama in this thread.  I didn't accuse you of anything but I did point I what you typed.  Apparently, you confused the word that you typed with my posts and with the above I guess you were doubly wrong.  Still, don't know what you mean when you call such people sellouts but in all fairness, I really don't care.  However, if I want to call someone a sellout I would do so and I don't need a republican or democrat with a specious argument to take it upon themselves to do so on my behalf. Thanks.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:02:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971308": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Town,<br></br><br>Listen, people know that not EVERY black person/family is engaged in this destructive cycle. But it is a problem that needs to be addressed. And addressed out loud. Yeah, part of the problem is the \"institution\" and part of it is personal responsibility. We have control over the latter, and that is what Senator Obama(and Bill Cosby) is saying. This situation is too dire in our community to fear that other people may be listening. Let 'em listen. The bottomline still remains - we need to clean up our own house so that we are in a position to fight the institutional discrimination. Together.</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:04:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971309": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Eeek..<br></br><br>When I left, there were 11 comments and now, it's 79?</br><br></br><br>Oooh, it's gotten hot in here!</br><br></br><br>LOL </br><br></br><br>Off to read another great JJP debate.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:06:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971310": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Leota2<br></br><br>Your baseless non-argument doesn't move me at all.  I don't have to get over it and neither do the many others who don't agree with it.</br><br></br><br>Dont be foolish honey we are voters.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:06:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971311": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "BPM, you are welcome.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:08:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3b9a39f6bc38c0fc6082bf0373618c04", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971312": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Eeek..<br></br><br>When I left, there were 11 comments and now, it's 79?\"</br><br></br><br>Blame Canada.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:15:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971313": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Ms. Martin,<br>It seems anyone who does not have the time to spar with you and your err--beliefs, are spouting non-arguments.  Hmmm, typical of a closed mind.</br><br></br><br>Don't be crazy \"honey\"--I vote too, work with homeless, pregnant teens, teach their children to read and will not get into this further with you.  I'm out.</br><br></br><br>Attack on Ms. Martin-- as is your right sister in these United States . . . . . .</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:21:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "4817f7edef2360c37b89d11c07ed63fa", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971314": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "leota2, there really is no need to project.  You popped into this thread attacking anyone who didn't take the 100% kneegro point of view.  Ms.Martin was the only one who took the bait because I didn't find your post worthy of a response.  However, revisionist history is such an annoyance to me.  You attacked first and when challenged you jumped to the very victimhood claim that you hypocritically decried.  Make up your mind already.<br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:29:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971315": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Leota2<br></br><br> \"And anybody thinking he's pandering to white CONSERVATIVES has been on the planet Mars?\" </br><br></br><br>You make statements like the above and accuse me of attacking.</br><br></br><br>I haven't addressed anyone personally because this is not personal, but I am entitled to express my opinion regarding my perception of the speech and you can't tell me to get over it or speak to me in condescending tones because I wasn't fatherless or raising children by myself.</br><br></br><br>It is my right to think that this speech didn't belong in the political arena.  It's not a belief, merely an opinion.</br><br></br><br>Study up and get back to me.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:31:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971316": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Craig,<br></br><br>heh heh, point taken.</br><br>:)</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:31:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971317": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I would like to know when Obama is going to speak about the ills of racism, discrimination, sentencing discrepancies, disproportionate funding between predominately minority schools and white schools,racial profiling, blatant murdering of blacks through lack of appropriate medical care or intentional lowering of the quality regardless of whether the black person is insured....When is his white half going to be honest with white audiences about these things and the share responsibility for the perpetuation by denying these obvious facts in the face of evidence so mounting that international organizations and other countries are publishing reports on the continued slow killing of the black community by racism, institutionalized and otherwise. I wonder why it is that these aren't the subjects of his speeches in front of every non-black audience he performs for.<br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:32:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971318": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"people know that not EVERY black person/family is engaged in this destructive cycle.\"<br></br><br>BLACK people know this.  Whites do not and so when they report on what Barack Obama said or what Bill Cosby about a particular group of blacks are doing, they report it as BLACKS IN GENERAL are doing it.  </br><br></br><br>\"But it is a problem that needs to be addressed. And addressed out loud. Yeah, part of the problem is the \"institution\" and part of it is personal responsibility. We have control over the latter, and that is what Senator Obama(and Bill Cosby) is saying.\"</br><br></br><br></br><br>At this point in our country's history, I'm not sure any particular racial group needs to be called out since 50% of marriages are ending in divorce and about 30% of the children in total are being born out of wedlock.</br><br></br><br>And, I don't think that telling somebody \"You need to be a better dad\" is going to help solve the problem if those kids in the hood don't know what being a better dad means.  Obama's daddy wasn't around, but he did have his granddaddy in the home to show him the way.  Pookie on the street might not know what being a dad means beyond throwing the mother of his child a couple of dollars here and there.</br><br></br><br>I mean, yeah, we can call out Pookie, but who is going to show Pookie how to handle his business?</br><br></br><br>\"The bottomline still remains - we need to clean up our own house so that we are in a position to fight the institutional discrimination. Together\"</br><br></br><br>I don't think one has anything to do with the other, really.  Our house has always had dust in the corners, so if we waited until our house was \"clean,\" we'd still be picking cotton and drinking from CULLID ONLY fountains.  </br><br></br><br>The problem is we talk endlessly about cleaning house and tightening up instead of just applying the mop to the floor and scrubbing away.  And I don't think we can talk about \"bad black fathers\" without talking about how many black women are laying down with the \"bad black fathers\" and continuing to bear children for them.  </br><br></br><br>At any rate, Obama and Cosby are preaching to the choir when they speak about \"bad black this or that.\"</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:32:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "1cb6140180747707b601ebc52c1fcb5a", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971319": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>Those statements were made in private and got about by accident. They weren't given in a speech to be heard by the nation as the black ones were intended.</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>Actually, he told Charlie Rose the same thing in a televised interview a few years ago. He didn't use the words bitter and cling but he made the same point.</br><br></br><br>There was no backlash.</br><br></br><br>Given that Barack has been giving this speech almost in its entirety for years with no fanfare, given that Barack had made the same remarks about small-town voters years ago with no fanfare, it just goes to show that there is always a \"perfect storm\" that must occur before words are blown out of proportion by those who wish to blow them out of proportion.</br><br></br><br>Someone used the word racial shame the other day on this topic.</br><br></br><br>Racial shame.</br><br></br><br>As though it only applied to Barack for making such comments in an apparent attempt to satisfy white people.</br><br></br><br>Are we who support Barack simply waiting for the other shoe to drop. Parsing anything and everything that he says because we don't believe this is really happening?</br><br></br><br>Barack is not perfect. He says so all the time. Sure, he's got the arrogance of a Leo. But he could be much worse.</br><br></br><br>He could be Bill Clinton.</br><br></br><br>Barack called out white people for accusing black people of experiencing racism only in their minds.</br><br></br><br>I'm going to repeat that:</br><br></br><br>Barack called out white people for accusing black people of experiencing racism only in their minds.</br><br></br><br>He called out white people for scapegoating brown immigrants as the cause of their economic woes.</br><br></br><br>I don't recall too many people in these parts cursing him out when he said those things.</br><br></br><br>But he's taking a beating for telling an audience of black people that we need to raise our standards for parenting.</br><br></br><br>Humph.</br><br></br><br>I think I'll leave this discussion alone.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971320": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I hope Obama gets tired of pandering at the expense of blacks soon.  It seems to me he takes those black votes for granted more than any democrat before him and that is not very smart of his typically pandering arse.<br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:38:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971321": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Two things:<br></br><br>1. It's nice to not be the object of everyone's discontent for once.</br><br></br><br>2. Obama was pandering...or, more accurately, he was saying something that-given his current stature-he probably has wanted to say for a while. Only difference is that now he has an audience.</br><br></br><br>Moments like this are to be expected. He's allowed a trip or two onto the soapbox.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:39:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0183bc94f5be8b9ec79636f3f2174ff5", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971322": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Let me repeat:<br></br><br>I'll bet you won't catch Obama at a catholic mass speaking about pedophilia, in Florida talking about abuses to palestinians or what some characterize as terrorism against those people, or at a white suburban high school discussing the moral and physical perils of \"friends with benefits\" activities. Not only will you not catch is pandering arse doing this but you won't catch him doing this repeatedly each time in front of these audiences, much less once.</br><br></br><br>Put him in a black church or a rally with predominately black attendees and he parrots the lazy, victimhood negro meme. How many times is he going to call out the black community and only the black community before people stop making excuses for his pandering to the white Americans that won't vote for his behind anyway.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:41:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971323": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Per Jessica Yelin of CNN \"Obama has proved that he is willing to criticize the AA community.\"<br></br><br>I guess he got the job done.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:42:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971324": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Actually, he told Charlie Rose the same thing in a televised interview a few years ago. He didn't use the words bitter and cling but he made the same point.<br></br><br>There was no backlash.\"</br><br></br><br>Because he carefully chose his words so as not to offend.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:43:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971325": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Ms. Martin, Shuster just asked in a segment whether Obama is using criticism of blacks to appease whites.  Shuster gets the political pandering and he had one black and one white guest responding. The political reporters definitely know exactly what he is doing because this is not new strategy but the reporters didn't just  discover politics with Obama's run.<br></br><br>BPM</br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:46:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971326": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>I get it, rikyrah. You're incapable of criticizing ol' dude because you're a true believer.</i><br></br><br>I've criticized him on certain things, in particular the AIPAC deal. I understood it, but didn't like it. </br><br></br><br>Like I said, I'm a true believer in what Obama said, not it's true because Obama said it. I believed it when Mr. Cosby said it. I believed it when others said it.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:47:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971327": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i> Shuster gets the political pandering and he had one black and one white guest responding.</i><br></br><br>What did the guests say?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:48:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3b9a39f6bc38c0fc6082bf0373618c04", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971328": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Are we who support Barack simply waiting for the other shoe to drop. Parsing anything and everything that he says because we don't believe this is really happening?\"<br></br><br>Uh no, I always believed this would happened and I also believed that he was a fair man and that he would speak the truth.  But it seems he is only able to do this unabashedly with the black community. And, that, I have a serious problem with.</br><br></br><br>I really wish he hadn't given that speech and made me feel this way.</br><br></br><br>I feel like I did when he said people of Wright's generation were holding on to anger.  He quickly adjusted that with the Race speech, but I guess he doesn't have to worry about this one - or maybe he does.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:49:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971329": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>2. Obama was pandering...or, more accurately, he was saying something that-given his current stature-he probably has wanted to say for a while. Only difference is that now he has an audience.</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>He's been saying the same thing for a while now. At least since 2004. His audiences were smaller, but he hasn't all of a sudden \"found his voice.\"</br><br></br><br>The difference between this same speech in 2004 and now?</br><br></br><br>The media wasn't covering the speech back then and telling us what to think about it.</br><br></br><br>For many, it appears that Barack is the scapegoat for the media.</br><br></br><br>But I said I was done with this discussion.</br><br></br><br>Sigh.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:50:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971330": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"He called out white people for scapegoating brown immigrants as the cause of their economic woes.<br></br><br>I don't recall too many people in these parts cursing him out when he said those things.\"</br><br></br><br>Again, he is not giving whole speeches to these groups, rather making comments.</br><br></br><br>Difference.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:51:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971331": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"He quickly adjusted that with the Race speech, but I guess he doesn't have to worry about this one - or maybe he does.\"<br></br><br>Probably not.  Democrats have a lock on the black vote and in the newly registered young & dumb votes and he probably worries less.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:51:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971332": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Obama is a political panderer like the others, a politician that Rev. Wright aptly described.  This is a fact and so it is.<br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:54:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971333": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I'll bet you won't catch Obama at a catholic mass speaking about pedophilia, in Florida talking about abuses to palestinians or what some characterize as terrorism against those people, or at a white suburban high school discussing the moral and physical perils of \"friends with benefits\" activities. Not only will you not catch is pandering arse doing this but you won't catch him doing this repeatedly each time in front of these audiences, much less once.<br></br><br>Put him in a black church or a rally with predominately black attendees and he parrots the lazy, victimhood negro meme. How many times is he going to call out the black community and only the black community before people stop making excuses for his pandering to the white Americans that won't vote for his behind anyway.</br><br></br><br></br><br>BPM please keep saying this because they're prentending that they don't hear you.</br><br></br><br>No response - anybody home.</br><br></br><br>This is the truth - someone please respond to this.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:54:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971334": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Patti Doyle was hired by Obama as chief of staff to his VP pick. Hmmmm", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_16:59:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971335": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I said:<br>\"The bottomline still remains - we need to clean up our own house so that we are in a position to fight the institutional discrimination. Together\"</br><br></br><br>Town Said:</br><br>I don't think one has anything to do with the other, really. </br><br></br><br>My Reply:</br><br>Accepting personal reponsibility for the breakdown of the social structure in our black community and subsequently working to rebuild it, strengthens us collectively, as a group. So that instead of a few disparate voices, there is a roar of voices, strong voices,  saying to the institution that perpetuates the discrimination - WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE. CHANGE IT.  </br><br></br><br>See the relationship, now? We have to try to take matters into our own hands. Change from the bottom up?</br><br></br><br>Keep talking Barack. Believe it or not, the young black boys are listening and watching you. Yeah, they are!</br><br></br><br>The evening after you clinched 2118, on 2 of the evening news programs, you recounted a story about how this woman came up to you in San Fran(AIPAC, I think) and told you a story. She said that her son works as a teacher in an inner-city school and how he had detected a change in the young African American boys, you know, how they were paying attention more, becoming more diligent in their studies. And you said, how proud that made you. Yeah, dude, these young black boys are paying attention. These young Hispanic kids are paying attention. (There is a video clip of some of these kids from South Brx discussing Obama in youtube. I think its in Barack's page. Check it out!)</br><br></br><br>T.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:02:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971336": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Obama is a politician and he is showing his true colors. Playing the Black social conservative card in order to ensure White people that he's hard on Niggas. Real Original. Black Elected officials dance this dance all the time. I have no problem with the actual statements. Its the fact that they were nothing but a pander-fest to shore up his conservative street cred. Obama is getting more played out and tired every day. Negroes will regret that they supported this fool sooner then they think.<br></br><br>Every time the right wing busts him on something, he caves like a Bitch.</br><br></br><br></br><br>1)Rev. Wright</br><br>2)Trinity Church</br><br>3)Wearing Flag Pins </br><br>4) Jim Jones, his VP committee guy that he bounced after the info about his mortgage came out. (when he first tried to say it didn't matter)</br><br>5) Saying he's going to Iraq after John McCain pressured him for not going.</br><br></br><br>Way to be a Leader who stands on his principals. This guy is such a SHAM its not funny. He's another focus group politician that doesn't stand for anything. He makes MANY democrats just want to stay home. Unfortunately, I'm gonna vote for this clown, but I recognize him for the fraud that he is, and the dissapointment he will be to the Black community. But y'all clowns here at jack and jill are still intoxicated by the empty symbolism that a Black president represents. I will not allow myself to be intoxicated, particularly when this is probably the WRONG BLACK PRESIDENT.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:07:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "d2bea8a7cd00802a3b05a165c44b4e14", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971337": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "And he could speak truth to the other factors that are destroying the black community (you know the ones that are the fault of black people) but he doesn't have the courage to keep it that real and why should he when no one does aside from the few Time Wise's of the world.  Let the little white kids, little jewish kids, little catholic kids hear him to so that they can clean up their parts of the problem.  15 innocent black men on deathrow in Illinois didn't lock themselves up for those crimes but they got there.  People are stupid to try to pretend like the problems of the black community are solely owing to the so called \"pathological\" behavior of black people; this stuff results from the pathological behavior of people other than black people too and if he is that much of a leader, that much of a truthteller, he would tell those people the things they \"need\" to hear every time he is in front of them.  Pandering arses.<br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:13:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971338": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Doyle is there for her Latino contacts, and she's a high profile woman, and they think they can keep an eye on her. Remember, she's from Chicago, her brother is big in Latino politics in Chicago, and they've known Axelrod for years.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:13:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f85f4de88a30987f0360c336da9569ae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971339": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I wonder if anybody thought Barack was pandering to midwestern voters when he picked up a shovel to help sandbagging efforts on the Mississipi or when he put out a call to action for his supporters to donate to the Red Cross and participate in flood relief.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:21:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971340": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Craig, of course. Where was he during Katrina?<br></br><br>And just to be clear I am being sarcastic.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:23:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3b9a39f6bc38c0fc6082bf0373618c04", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971341": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Ms. Martin?  Is that you?<br></br><br>You once had problems with me being critical of Barack.  I'm not surprised that you are critical of him now.  I'm just surprised you didn't already know he likes to get his Cosby on every now-and-again.  And to be clear, this isn't the first time he gave this Father's Day message with the curious barbershop (\"men acting like boys\") rhetoric:  </br><br></br><br><a href=\"http://www.barackobama.com/2007/06/15/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_15.php\" rel=\"nofollow\"><b>The contrast between the emphasis in his speech last year</b> and his speech this year does lend credence to the \"pandering\" idea though.</a></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:27:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3ecde559248958521e4cb25a77f2ee65", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971342": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>\"I'll bet you won't catch Obama at a catholic mass speaking about pedophilia, in Florida talking about abuses to palestinians or what some characterize as terrorism against those people, or at a white suburban high school discussing the moral and physical perils of \"friends with benefits\" activities. Not only will you not catch is pandering arse doing this but you won't catch him doing this repeatedly each time in front of these audiences, much less once.<br></br><br>Put him in a black church or a rally with predominately black attendees and he parrots the lazy, victimhood negro meme. How many times is he going to call out the black community and only the black community before people stop making excuses for his pandering to the white Americans that won't vote for his behind anyway.\"</br></i><br></br><br>One word: Authenticity. You can disagree but people listen to people they trust on issues close to home. I'm black and catholic and 99% of the time non-catholics don't know how to address the problem of pedophilia in a catholic audience, and if they do many of us won't take it well. Yet, get a priest or other catholic to do this (as we do) and the result is different. </br><br></br><br>So, who is another AA on the national stage who can talk about these issues? Is it not his responsibility on some level to use his bully pulpit to speak to us? Hell he's from the south side of Chicago, he's seen this shit eat communities alive. All of us who have should be angry (as he appears in the first few moments of the speech). </br><br></br><br>Should he comment on all our collective social and political ills, yes. But I think he does more than any other politician. Take his inclusion of gay rights into his stump speech, no matter if it is LA or central PA. Take his inclusion of common sense sexual education for all American children. </br><br></br><br>Does he and will he pander a bit? Damn straight, he's a pol. But the reality is that he hasn't even reached the levels of pandering we're use to on this stage. </br><br></br><br>Further, what few have responded to is the fact that his message to the AA community has not changed since he was running for the senate and before (keep in mind the majority of AA were for Hillary during the beginning of his pres. run). He's consistent and while some of this speech was obviously politics his consistence on talking about these issues begs some comment on your parts.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:29:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ccbadf17de4c6a3cef70ff02873202a7", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971343": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.<br></br><br>I like to refrain from unworthy comments unless I am in a teaching mood.  Today, I am not in a teaching mood, so I won't deal with the irrelevant, diversionary,... red herrings.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:33:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971344": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Craig,<br></br><br>I wonder why people aren't saying \"he's not running for president of Black America\" now.  It would be different if he would just as strongly, directly and loudly push issues, policies and programs for African-Americans the same way he likes to chastise.  It would also help if he did his Cosby routine in a way Cosby didn't -- i.e. without stereotypes and other assorted bs firmly in hand.</br><br></br><br>And please tell me why Obama act like he despises Farrakhan when Obama has his narrow azz all off in the MMM which was all about the topic of his Father's Day message a decade after Farrakhan made Black manhood/fatherhood central the event and community focus?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3ecde559248958521e4cb25a77f2ee65", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971345": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>Every time the right wing busts him on something, he caves like a Bitch.<br></br><br></br><br>1)Rev. Wright</br><br>2)Trinity Church</br><br>3)Wearing Flag Pins</br><br>4) Jim Jones, his VP committee guy that he bounced after the info about his mortgage came out. (when he first tried to say it didn't matter)</br><br>5) Saying he's going to Iraq after John McCain pressured him for not going.</br><br></br><br></br></i><br></br><br>Please the Rev tossed Obama under the bus for some of the spotlight. Barack defended him without doubt. If the Rev disrespected me like that I'd give him more than words. </br><br></br><br>The pin? Please again. Didn't he go through the worst political drilling possible and still defended his words during the PA debate? </br><br></br><br>Jones...bounced himself and for good reason. Why take a political hit for something that doesn't matter. Jones an old Washington player understood that.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:36:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ccbadf17de4c6a3cef70ff02873202a7", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971346": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "craig, the dude(Obama) can sure use a shovel. If only he could take that shovel to washington and excavate the useless pieces of shit who've terrorised us with fear, and crippled our economy over the last 8 years. Now, that is the type of \"pandering\" I would love. <br></br><br>T.</br><br>BTW, contrast that Obama quincy photo-op with the Bush/Bush-McCain slugs on some tarmac somewhere, with cake to boot, when New Orleans was submerged under sludge? Yeah.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:39:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971347": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Nqest<br></br><br>Yes, it's me.  It really bothered me this time.  Especially him suggesting that we don't believe in ourselves so we couldn't believe he could be president.  Such bullshit.</br><br></br><br>People are afraid to say wait a minute because we thought he was above this so instea they're trying to justify it.</br><br></br><br>When somebody tells me why he can call us out and  not others  I'll give it a thougt, but until then, he's fucked up with me.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:45:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971348": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Wow.....<br></br><br>Looks like I'm going to have to register MORE new voters. From the looks in this piece, Obama just lost the black vote.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:47:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971349": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Okay,<br></br><br>So if it wasn't Barack saying this, but your church pastor, what would be the issue then, because I'll tell you, this speech other than being seen on a national stage, is exactly the type of sermons that I grew up hearing from my pastor.  I grew up in one of the nastiest projects in New Orleans.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:48:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "4a3ff90563340827d723c2f8681aa022", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971350": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Further, what few have responded to is the fact that his message to the AA community has not changed since he was running for the senate \"<br></br><br>What you're missing though is that he was running in a heavy Republican state - again pandering though I didn't know this - I only knew of his popeye and someother bullshit speech in Texas which also pissed me off, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:50:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971351": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"this speech other than being seen on a national stage\"<br></br><br>I guess you didn't read the other comments because this is PRECISELY my problem!</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:53:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971352": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "It is obviously political pandering  and since he cared so much I have to now wonder why he didn't attend the State of the Black Union to say these things.<br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:56:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971353": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Teen pregnancy, gang/drug violence was bad.  I am the result of an unwed teen mother.  My cousins had her first child at 13.  Teen pregancy got so prevelant that the local school decided to put a day care on the premises.  And tht was just over 19 years ago.  <br></br><br>So yeah, my pastor would have sermons with the same message as this one.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:59:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "4a3ff90563340827d723c2f8681aa022", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971354": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I emailed the Obama campaign and told them I could do without anymore black folk speeches.<br></br><br>I hope he's finished criticizing black folks, maybe I can heal.  I really want to cancel my t-shirt order.</br><br></br><br>If not, I won't be voting for him.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_17:59:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971355": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "lamh<br></br><br>yes, let's let your pastor speak to his congregation an Obama can speak to the nation regaring issues affecting all Americans.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:02:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971356": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<i>What you're missing though is that he was running in a heavy Republican state - again pandering though I didn't know this - I only knew of his popeye and someother bullshit speech in Texas which also pissed me off, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.</i><br></br><br>Agreed. But then I have no problem admitting he was pandering. However, the truth and personal reflection in his words (read: Dreams of My Father) make this one not so offensive to me. </br><br></br><br>I'm not sure what some of those angry over this were expecting. I suppose I'm so jaded that I didn't buy the \"new politics\" angle and focused my support on policy.</br><br></br><br>However, unlike some Dems I don't think he's going to sell out blacks and others like some (Bill Clinton) when the rubber hits the road of governing.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:04:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ccbadf17de4c6a3cef70ff02873202a7", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971357": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "T that register new voters comment was directed at me because I said I would register new voters to replace the racist Hillary supporters who wouln't vote for Obama.<br></br><br>I won't except race-baiting from him anymore than I will Hillary or McCain.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:07:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971358": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"Wow.....<br></br><br>Looks like I'm going to have to register MORE new voters. From the looks in this piece, Obama just lost the black vote.\"</br><br></br><br>Dontcha just love these binary thinkers?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:08:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "aedda92d645e540d5d4d78a25c550ffc", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971359": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "However, unlike some Dems I don't think he's going to sell out blacks and others like some (Bill Clinton) when the rubber hits the road of governing.<br></br><br></br><br>I'm not worried about that either, but I don't like him making spectacles out of us.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:09:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971360": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "...\"national stage\".  It seems to me that you feel like Obama personally called \"you\" out.  As you said, this is not your situation, but I can tell you that I know a lot of AA in that situation, not just in my family, but in the community where I grew up.  <br></br><br>Besides, as I understand it, Obama has been saying these things all along, it's just with this campaign that so much media attention is on Obama. Does that make what is said any less pertinant to many people's situation.  An newsflash, AA don't have a monopoly on unwed mothers, or dead beat dads.  Would it have been better for you if he had made this same speech in a predominantly white church.  It still would have gotten national media coverage, but would you still feel like he was putting black folks business out there, or that he was talking about white people?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:10:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "4a3ff90563340827d723c2f8681aa022", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971361": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "lamh,<br></br><br>Duh, its not new and blacks talk about it despite public opinion, we have addressed issues of black manhood and fatherhood however if you know anything about respectablitiy then you would know that you dont do things like this on a national stage unless you want to make a point. You dont scold your own in public. And dont tell me that he was in a black church because he knew damn well that it would be on television. He is running for president.</br><br></br><br>As I said before on this blog, I attended Obama's former church (Trinity United Church of Christ, the name of the church before Obama got famous). We talked about black fatherhood and manhood in a way that is celebatory. We praised those who do the right thing. On Father's Day, we make them stand up and clap for them like they do in other churches! We do the same thing on Mother's Day! Wright used to deliver sermons about the power of the strong black family to overcome obstacles.Moss has also delivered similar. However this was different. This did not sit right with me. Some of his choice of words were offensive. </br><br></br><br> When I was an infant my father walked out after losing his job. The pain of not having a job was too much. My parents were not married. It was the seventies and times were tough. A lot of that happened back then! He returned when I was 6 and my brothers: 8, 10 & 11. My sister was 8. He went to his grave regreting those years that he missed. He made them up in our book because he was there for us for the majority of our lives. He did so much for us and we have so many wonderful memories. However, he never saw it that way. He still felt guilty about the time he missed. He was a good man and a good father. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2005. I miss him dearly.</br><br></br><br>I had a wonderful father's day with my husband, three brothers and my sister's husband. Four good black fathers who according to public opinion do not exist. We laughed, talked, went out for seafood and remembered pops.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:15:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "f8196abc4eed1f09b28cc223bd497673", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971362": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"An newsflash, AA don't have a monopoly on unwed mothers, or dead beat dads. Would it have been better for you if he had made this same speech in a predominantly white church.\"<br></br><br>You should probably ask yourself why he doesn't say anything like that to white churches in light of your quote above?  If they have problems why is he not preaching to them about those problems too? I suspect that if he did this in front of a white church it would be no different that the all black bashing all the time that he is starting to enjoy too much. </br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:15:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971363": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Ms. Martin, <br><i>\"If not, I won't be voting for him.\"</i></br><br></br><br>Regardless, I hope that isn't a McCain vote. Given your high standards I also hope you didn't vote for Clinton the second time (Some would include the first I don't but Welfare, Lani Guinier or \"quota queen\",crime bill?, mandatory min laws?), because he sure as hell threw us under the bus. And these were policy and laws that actually hurt black people. </br><br></br><br>I have no problem with people having more qualms than me, I do hate hypocrisy though. </br><br></br><br>-Chaz</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:16:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ccbadf17de4c6a3cef70ff02873202a7", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971364": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Chaz<br></br><br>Dont assume you know me.  I didnt vote for Clinton either time and am not threatening to hold my vote for McCain.</br><br></br><br>But SBO is the one who ran on change and if he is going to use black voters to gain white ones, that's no change and I won't be interested.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:22:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971365": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I guess for me pandering means going against your principles, changing your policies even, and/or promoting bullshit policies in order to attract votes from a demographic.<br></br><br>Take, for instance, John McCain telling Hillary's supporters in a private metting that he's willing to support her choices for the Supreme Court. Well, unless Hillary has become an enemy of Roe v. Wade while none of us were looking, I can't imagine he's really going to support her choices for Supreme Court. And if he is, then he's flatout lying to his base to try to make himself appear more conservative than he is.</br><br></br><br>Like them or not, Barack's stances on the matters in question in this speech are consistent.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:23:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971366": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Obama doesn't speak exclusively for the blk community but he is giving off that impression with every pandering speech pimping out the black community to get votes from other communities. Typical pandering arse.<br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:26:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971367": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Also, some of you dont seem to understand the reason why some were not okay with the speech. Last time I checked, Barack was a politican. Why can't he address the issues that he can really help change in regards to government and the black community but can attack the short comings of some of us. How many times and how many people have said the same thing? Obama is not going to change certain things and he knows it. I know what he was trying to do with this.<br></br><br>I mean some of you said it! Blacks have no monopoly on any of the issues that people consider to be \"bad black pathology\" however we as a sociey still perpetuate it. I thought that Obama believed in American issues. I thought that he refused to label an issue exclusive to a race but he does it to us.</br><br></br><br>Also, some of you dont seem to understand that the only thing that people hear coming out of the black community is the negative. It doesnt matter if this does not apply to those with fathers or those who are fathers. We are al getting slapped with the label as everything else esp. when it is done on a national stage for all to see. The good never get the time of day only the bad. Yet with whites and others, the bad never gets the time of day. </br><br></br><br>I was angry with Obama when he told blacks in Texas to stop feeding their children \"cold chicken for breakfast\". That was not cute. </br><br></br><br>You see, my friends (McCain style) sometimes its not the message but how the message is framed and how it is presented. Whatever good intention he had was lost because of his failure to do the latter.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:29:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "cbd40bd4a675a59c12f3216f7b123aae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971368": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Like them or not, Barack's stances on the matters in question in this speech are consistent.<br></br><br>Well then, he shouldn't just limit his teachings to the black community, he should be willing to take them to a white church as well.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:31:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971369": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Hi everybody,<br></br><br>I am quietly reading the conversation.</br><br></br><br>I will respond later.</br><br></br><br>Hi, Rhonda! (other poster with the name Rhonda)</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:32:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971370": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Did it cross anyone's mind that Barack's targeted audience every single time he gives this speech is comprised of young black boys who don't have a father figure in their lives who will tell them these things? <br></br><br>Clearly he knows that young black boys look up to him. </br><br></br><br>Clearly he knows that as the most prominent black male politician in the nation this day, his words will fall on many of their ears.</br><br></br><br>If this speech makes Barack unelectable, so be it.</br><br></br><br>But his message is important and I couldn't care less where he delivers it and what those who overhear it might think.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:34:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9bf0971c139c9dc33659e8ed441e4f5e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971371": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "ms. martin, <br></br><br>I never assumed anything. I apologize if you felt put upon. I merely took your comment as a springboard to make a broader comment. It was premature and the result of ending up in the same place during discussions of a similar trajectory. Again, I didn't intend to insult. </br><br></br><br>I'm going to reserve judgment on whether Obama is \"using\" black people. I haven't seen enough to convince me. </br><br></br><br>Regardless I think the charge of unequivocal pandering is a reach. Given his history of statements it does seem consistent. </br><br></br><br>Unlike some I think he has a responsibility as a black man and  politician to speak to the community. Why? Because we're in a special moment, we could elect the first AA president and with that comes a powerful moment for that candidate to change the minds of young and old. </br><br></br><br>For me the process isn't just about pandering for votes. True mature politics is give and take. Not just politicians doing and saying what I want and not saying what won't offend. Is BO perfect, not by far. No, and I've criticized his shortcomings. But this speech doesn't muster for me.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ccbadf17de4c6a3cef70ff02873202a7", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971372": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Yep, Obama is a common panderer who is solicit votes on the backs of Black America.  The very politicians he studied he emulates.<br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:38:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971373": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Rhonda, <br></br><br>He did address where the government can help in this process of strengthening families. But once again I'll say, being a politician isn't just about making laws. We should expect more from elected officials not less. </br><br></br><br>Like it or not they become role models and it has long been a tradition for those in positions of authority to speak to issues beyond pure policy.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:40:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ccbadf17de4c6a3cef70ff02873202a7", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971374": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Yea, Obama is a role model as he is being looked upon as the only black man whose got it together. It works for his electability to make it seem that way.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:45:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "cbd40bd4a675a59c12f3216f7b123aae", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971375": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Rhonda, <br></br><br>No, like most non-scandalicous politicians in the top tier of national politics he's seen as a role model because most people don't make it to such a level of prominence.</br><br></br><br>All,</br><br></br><br>Regardless I understand all the sides to the wonderful debate over the father's day issue. Unfortunately  I'm outta time. </br><br></br><br>Peace. </br><br>-Chaz</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:50:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ccbadf17de4c6a3cef70ff02873202a7", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971376": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Remember when the late Tim Russert pointed his finger at Obama and made him renounce and reject Louis Farrahkan?  Remember when Louis Farrahkan organized the Million MAN march and preached about the exact same thing Obama preached about in his so called Fathers' Day Sermon?  <br>Obama wasn't talking to our about my Daddy, his Daddy or his Daddy's Daddy. Nor was he talking about my brothers, my uncles or my cousins.  The people he was talking about weren't listening because they are probably in prison for using or selling dope.  Or they can't vote because they are convicted felons for using or selling dope because they can't find jobs that will support their families. Barack must have been talking about his own Daddy being MIA. Speaking of which, his Daddy was MIA and he turned out OK. Obama can't have it both ways, he can't brag about being the product of a single mom then criticize other single moms.  Obama might have just lost the single mom vote.  Maybe he can make up for it with the blue collar worker vote that his speech obviously pandered to.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:54:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971377": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I don't have a problem with the speech. I think it is warranted and long overdue.  Who better to give it than a black man (even if he is half white) who was raised without a father.  So there is no better time than now. Obama touched upon fatherhood in a broader scope so in areas of his speech he touched on all fathers, however his focus in this setting was on the black community as his speech was given to a mostly black forum and spoke to those needs.  He pointed out that there are great fathers, ones who stand up and take responsibility and who are active in the lives of their children.  Then he turned his attention on the ones who needed it . . . the children without fathers.  I have no problems with him calling a spade a spade.  None at all.  I understand the context of the speech and I understand and agree with it.  I wouldn't change one word.  <br></br><br>I hear the ones who say, well this is going to give \"whites\" the feeling that they have a pass at saying whatever they want to the black community.  So what.  Who cares what others think . . .One has nothing to do with the other and you don't have to accept negative statements if untrue.  What is more important to me is that this speech could give dead beat fathers a wake up call to push them into taking a more active role in their children's lives.  You never know . . . the child you reject may just be the next President of the United States. </br><br></br><br>Long overdue.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_18:55:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "1231fd2a873665b8a67c9bd4abf4525c", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971378": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I feel like absentee fathers is a problem that affects all Americans in one way or another, but AA communities in particular. Growing up in the my neighborhood was hard, but it could have been worse without a steady hand (my father) at home. My father is old school, and this weekend we talked about this speech and we talked about Bill Cosby's comments and the 'dirty laundry' argument. He said some may call it pandering, but he called it the truth. Obama's prominence doesn't hurt his cause or diminish the truth and it shouldn't be a problem to address this issue. It used to be a shameful thing to be a man who didn't take care of his family, but now it's a joke and common, and maybe TV is the only place we can hear that it still isn't cool, and that it still carries harmful repurcussions.  It would have seemed like pandering had I NOT heard him address this issue before and all of a sudden he was on TV putting it all out there. He knows what it feels like to be raised without his father as well as the sense of emptiness and confusion that situation can foster.  I'm glad he made the speech, and I'm glad that he's using the national stage to do so. I personally don't give a damn what other people think of me.  No one else can define me, and Barack doesn't define US. We are continually allowing our complacency with our family situations and defeatism define us, and white people or anyone else for that matter, don't need Obama to point it out. The evidence IS on the streetcorners, and bullshitting in school. Come on man, it's not all good. We've been saying it in closed circles to each other for years, in Black forums and SOU's for years, and what's different? Nothing, so I'm glad he said it where he did, maybe folks will hear him a little better. Not just us, but everyone.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_19:04:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971379": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"So what. Who cares what others think\"<br></br><br>If it were only about what they thought, but it's not, their thoughts affect their actions and the way treated and the way legislation is passed.</br><br></br><br>Them being the majority is what makes what they think important - hence the pandering.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_19:09:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971380": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Anon 4:04<br></br><br>What a lot of people heard was justification for the way the think of black people</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_19:11:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971381": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Where was all this self responsibility and family values during slavery when the slave masters were raping black girls and selling off their children and not allowing black men to be men?  What about the women who couldn't recieve aide for this dependent children if there was a man in the house?  Obama needs to get his history straight.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_19:11:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971382": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Val-<br></br><br>\"I don't have a problem with the speech. I think it is warranted and long overdue.\"</br><br></br><br>You obviously have not been paying attention if you never heard this.</br><br></br><br> Its like saying that you never heard someone ridicule young people for using the \"n-word\" garbege. However if Obama made a speech about what I just mentioned, I would go crazy. </br><br></br><br></br><br></br><br>I think that some of you are missing the point as to why some are not ok with this \"speech\". </br><br></br><br>I am going to refrain from posting here because I am not interested in arguing. However, I will write about it on my blog tonight. Come on over in about two hours if you would like to read it.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_19:15:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971383": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "oh please.<br></br><br>I don't have a problem with it at all and I certainly do not interpret it as \"Its like saying that you never heard someone ridicule young people for using the \"n-word\" garbege.\"  </br><br></br><br>Apples and oranges. I don't see the connection.  I really don't.</br><br></br><br>I say the same things to my nieces and nephews all the time.  I say it to the folks in my neighborhood, to teens I mentor at my church and at teen community forums, I especially say it to the teen boys in my outreach program, and I say it when hanging out in groups with my adult friends.  I don't have a problem with it. It is the truth.    </br><br></br><br>This isn't the first time Obama talked about these issues and he didn't just say these things to blacks.  Go to youtube or google his speeches on fatherhood and parenting.  He says pretty much the same thing to ALL parents in all walks of life.  This speech was more specific because it was tailored to the attendees.  I have no problems with it.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_19:27:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "1231fd2a873665b8a67c9bd4abf4525c", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971384": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Last response and then I have to go all.  <br></br><br>Regarding:Anonymous said... </br><br>Where was all this self responsibility and family values during slavery when the slave masters were raping black girls and selling off their children and not allowing black men to be men? What about the women who couldn't recieve aide for this dependent children if there was a man in the house? Obama needs to get his history straight.</br><br></br><br></br><br>One word . . . BULLSHIT</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_19:31:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "1231fd2a873665b8a67c9bd4abf4525c", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971385": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "To me, it seems like people are upset that a biracial man made the comments. Look at how many times his white heritage has been brought up in this thread. <br></br><br>If a Tavis Smiley or a Al Sharpton or another leader with two black parents had said the same thing, there wouldn't have been any backlash. </br><br></br><br>The irony is that while people are complaining about how his speech will cause white people to see us, they're using talking points of white people -- who have proven on more than one occasion that they'll slice and dice anything we say to make a story -- to criticize Obama! </br><br></br><br>And why isn't all this outrage posted in the thread about Al Sharpton using us to fill his bank accounts? If you're gonna be so upset when a black politician uses us for personal gain, be consistant and call out ALL OF THEM.  </br><br></br><br>Finally, let's stop acting like Obama has never talked about the economy, healthcare, crime and unfair sentencing when it comes to rock and powder cocaine.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_19:48:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971386": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Anon 4:48-<br></br><br>Becuase he's biracial? No! You are being silly!</br><br></br><br>Val-</br><br></br><br>You obviously dont get it. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT ON A REGULAR BASIS...DUH...roll from under your rock!</br><br></br><br>Obama is not original in what he said...duh!</br><br></br><br>Thats not the point!</br><br></br><br>I grew up in a conservative black family! This is not new but one aspect of our respectablity is that you never do things like this in public. I dont care if Obama was in a black church, he was live on C-Span. </br><br></br><br></br><br>The fact that only the negativity about blacks is advertised and given attention is the reason why my cousin visiting his family from Cornell canget dragged out of a car and embarrased on a main road. We talk about the 1 in 9 who go to prison So the one who goes to prison is the face of the black community in the same way that the absent black father was the face of the black community for Father's Day .</br><br></br><br>No wonder my white professor once said \"Black men are incapable of being fathers...it is probably genetic.\" She never Hears about the ones who are and when she sees a black man she probably simply assumes that regardless of the circumstance. A white boy thought that my father was just some random man! \"That's you father!\" As if the hundreds of black families in the neighborhood do not exist. </br><br></br><br></br><br>I dont think people understand why some are not okay with this speech at this time.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_20:03:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971387": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Chaz - \"Unlike some I think he has a responsibility as a black man and politician to speak to the community.\"<br></br><br></br><br>Hmmm...  <b>I wonder why people aren't saying \"he's not running for president of Black America\" now. It would be different if he would just as strongly, directly and loudly push issues, policies and programs for African-Americans the same way he likes to chastise. It would also help if he did his Cosby routine in a way Cosby didn't -- i.e. without stereotypes and other assorted bs firmly in hand.</b></br><br></br><br></br><br>I want to know who the hell he and other are talking about in terms of making \"excuses\" when there's a consensus that this type of stuff is said every day (or on the regular) in the Black community/church AND why the curious (and most definitely) FALSE DICHOTOMY.</br><br></br><br>Who the hell has said the reason why Black men aren't being fathers is because of racism?  How many dead-beat Black dads said the reason why they have shirked their responsibility is because of racism?</br><br></br><br><b>\"It's racism, man.  If it wasn't for racism, I would be taking care of my kids right now.  Because it still exist... I can't.\"</b></br><br></br><br>Who has ever heard some bs like that?  Where the hell did Barack hear that sh*t (other than from Bill Cosby or Juan Williams)?</br><br></br><br>I mean, this simple azz thinking comes from the brother people credited with having such a nuanced view on things Race in America.  Hmmm...  It must have been too tempting for him to fall right in line and go with the simplistic, stereotype laden STRAW MAN instead.</br><br></br><br>UNACCEPTABLE!!!!</br><br></br><br></br><br>And DAMN YOU BARACK!!!</br><br></br><br><i>\"Yes, we need more cops on the street. Yes, we need fewer guns in the hands of people who shouldn't have them. Yes, we need more money for our schools, and more outstanding teachers in the classroom, and more afterschool programs for our children. Yes, we need more jobs and more job training and more opportunity in our communities.  But we also need families to raise our children.\"</i></br><br></br><br><a href=\"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcI0njqh1iw\" rel=\"nofollow\">WHY THE DIFFERENCE IN TREATMENT?</a></br><br></br><br></br><br>How come Black people are the only people who are \"encouraged\" to take \"personal responsibility\"?  And, worse, this is the same mf who tried to rationalize that \"bitter\" White sh*t with the idea that \"they don't feel particularly privileged.\"  </br><br></br><br>Somehow, the notion of having to fix a problem that is not (completely) of your own making is something only Black folks are held responsible for.  Obama says \"those (past) injustices are real\" but does NOT account for THE REAL CONSEQUENCES of them.  Instead, he regards that nuance as EXCUSES.  Typical and UNACCEPTABLE!!!</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_20:27:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3ecde559248958521e4cb25a77f2ee65", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971388": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "O-Force is slapping his kids around to show off for company.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_20:32:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971389": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Obama sure has a lot of fair weather friends here.<br></br><br>You can disagree with his sentiment, but he's said this numerous times in numerous venues. Why the surprise? Why didn't you call him on it before? And how is it political pandering if he's been saying the same thing for years?</br><br></br><br>Disagree with him all you want, but don't act like it's a sudden, horrible change in him that has you reconsidering your support.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_21:56:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "93f7d5482c73e626b3c1aa6eb2a6ed8f", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971390": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Honey101 you like an earlier anon seem to be missing the meat of this discussion.<br></br><br>Hi Ms. Martin,</br><br></br><br>I may have missed someone using  Honey101 as a tag in this thread (did not see where you could be replying to), but just wanted to check as I sign \"Honey01\" and this is my first post in this particular thread.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_22:14:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "cda55c7832b52db750659b8f518a520f", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971391": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Obama is a panderer....Shocking<br></br><br>Obama singles out black fathers for criticism but still expects all of their votes...Shocking</br><br></br><br>Black people continue to make excuses for him..Shockingly Sad</br><br></br><br>Are we this desperate for \"hope\"? </br><br></br><br></br><br><i>Abstain in Nov</i></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_22:20:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "062e76f233ac6530a05388fe7eff5f5d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971392": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "If you read or listen to the entire speech he said this is a problem in America, not just black America, but ALL America.  He was not pandering, it is his belief.  It is the belief of most of us (AA).  We know it is a problem.  An entire generation of AAs<br>has been lost.  You need to search within in order to discover the real reason this speech bothers you.  Whether he gave the speech or not, all Americans see this problem and know the answers.  This problem applies to white youth as well as black.  It was the perfect speech for Father's  Day and it was given in a respectful manner.  He is trying to lift up the black youth</br><br>because he is black.  Not voting for him would be a mistake.  Surely</br><br>no other candidate understands or cares as much as he does.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_22:25:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c36c5e8bd4d56491f8a60b53ae8e9eb4", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971393": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I never doubted Obama's humanity.  On that day, in that venue, he was giving the stereotypically predictable speech...predictable from the standpoint of only race.  O could have spoken from the standpoint of humanity..and wished them a happy father's day.  He could have honoured the good fathers.<br></br><br>I am sure that O's kids didn't greet him of Sunday morning with a list of things he'd done wrong all year, then proceed to read him the riot act.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_22:32:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "0e63fda3bc8752465623f674ffcc5f40", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971394": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Black people have always been poor<br>while dealing with much more racist times than the present.  Yet a generation ago, 75% of black children were not born out of wedlock.  This cannot simply be blamed on the economy or racism.  That is only a small portion of the problem.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_22:34:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "c36c5e8bd4d56491f8a60b53ae8e9eb4", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971395": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I was really torn on this issue, but after seeing the speech and reading all the comments here, sadly I have to agree with Rhonda, Truth, Ms Martin and Nquest.<br></br><br>It is most definitely pandering and I wrote a comment on JJP some weeks back when CPL wrote that post that went along the lines of \"Black people need to do better\"</br><br></br><br>Running off a laundry list of negative things that I would think many on here cannot attribute to themselves.</br><br></br><br>Once again my point is, why is it okay to constantly label and judge \"The Black community\" by the least of us instead of uplifting and supporting the best of us?</br><br></br><br>I don't want to vote for someone for the color of their skin but by the content of their character. However Obama has given me hope that he would at least attempt to be a fair Ambassador and leader for ALL Americans not just the majority or for that matter the minority.</br><br></br><br>However the truth is simple, he has a job to do and it will never get done if he does not open the eyes of America to the fact that we are in this shit TOGETHER.</br><br></br><br>It's all fine and good not to call white people the boogeyman but why is it all too convenient to make Black America as a whole, their own boogeyman.</br><br></br><br>I don't know if this is coming across as intended but it's a sore subject. I can see both sides, but unfortunately my opinion falls on the side that is disappointed, in the end with Obama's choice in making this a national speech for his own electability.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_22:36:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "ae84a1f516965138dcc59937fe7a7ac1", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971396": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "We don't need Obama or Cosby or any damn one else to tell us we have issues with families.  We know that.<br></br><br>Do you not think that black conservatives were criticizing poorer black people even when the out-of-wedlock birth rate was lower.  They did because the less fortunate (of all races) are the easiest targets.  </br><br></br><br>It just occurred to me that what Obama said about poor white people behind closed doors (fear and clinging to their guns and religion) he feels perfectly at ease saying the equivalent about black people for white consumption. </br><br></br><br>But none of you highly educated Obama supporters want to talk about that.</br><br></br><br>Does that not give you pause?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_22:51:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6f484f63f88827ac5d30808049dedcd0", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971397": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Is this the open thread? I've been reading so long I don't remember.<br></br><br>I AM NOT FEELING ANDERSON COOPER WITH HIS SHOW ABOUT ANOTHER DISEASE COMING OUT OF AFRICA FROM MONKEYS. Color me crazy, and I know it upsets white people, but I do think these diseases are created in a lab and given to the Africans in vaccintions so \"they\" can have the continent staight out.</br><br></br><br>I'm reading the opinions of those, pro & con, re: O's speech. It reminded me that, a few months ago, a judge kicked all the white people out of his courtroom so he could address the kinfolk. The next day he was on tv apologizing because people accused him of being racist for excluding the non-Blacks. The hammer really dropped on him, but he thought he was trying to help. I've invited Black students to the hallway many, many times, to give them an earful tailored specifically for kinfolk. I'm not going to stop either.</br><br></br><br>We are really adamant about our opinions on this subject. Please try to be respectful.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_22:56:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "889c732285beb0fc252d78b61edaa231", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971398": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "honey101<br></br><br>I am so sorry, it was not you I was responding too it was heartsandflowers.  Forgive me.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_23:18:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971399": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Ms. Martin, I really feel sad that you have been adversely effected by this speech. I wish there was something I could say, not to get you to change your vote, but to help you stop feeling like you (we) have been betrayed. I know how I felt when hillbilly started playing the race card, and I reached the point of no return with them. HEY! THEY ARE OFF THE RADAR!!!!! Same with Truthseeker. I respect both of you so much. Please try to be open to redemption.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-16_23:44:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "889c732285beb0fc252d78b61edaa231", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971400": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Thanks Teacher, I respect you too and really enjoyed the posts you left on the open thread yesterday.<br></br><br>Thanks for hearing me.  I have felt queasy before as I mentioned and I can't ignore it again lest I be the same old person who went away head bowed thinking well that's just the way it is for us.</br><br></br><br>I certainly didn't think Obama would be the black person's president nor want him to be, but I surely didn't think him to be the game player who would use us as others have.  I believed the one America meme because it was a part of my desire long before I heard of him.  Yesterday was not about America, it was about black folks and it hurt.</br><br></br><br>Well, again I have that head bowed feeling.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_00:08:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971401": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"But none of you highly educated Obama supporters want to talk about that.\"<br></br><br>That's a very big assumption that seems inaccurate.  It is the highly educated ones that are actually addressing his pandering because voting for someone doesn't mean following them with blind stupidity unless one is young and/or dumb.  It seems that for too many \"support\" means blind allegiance and lack of critical analysis.  I don't plan to live on a plantation just because Obama is half black.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_00:35:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971402": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Well, Ms. Martin, the political system of our nation is corrupt, as is the judicial, educational, financial, health care, etc. Sometimes, we just feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the corruption and wonder why it has to be corrupt.It is discouraging, especially if you think about it too much. It could make a person depressed. <br></br><br>If O starts reading individual groups, he may as well endorse hillary. I pray he doesn't single out Blacks  again (because he can get away with it), because too many people have been discouraged, even though I know this was not his conscious intent. I pray he can redeem himself with you & the others who have been offended. We are racially sensitive especially since we are bombarded with insidious racism on a daily basis.It hurts worse when it comes from family. I'm glad you let him know how you feel via his website. I think he would want to know.  There are times when we will have to let him know, \"We love you and we need you to clean it up.\" He will be the president of the whole nation, but he will be the 1st one who might really care about us. And I believe he does care about us, even though he made a mistake. Keep speaking truth to power.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_01:03:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "889c732285beb0fc252d78b61edaa231", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971403": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I guess it is true.  Black people are harder on each other than any other race ever will be.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_08:54:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3c728c42f8fb8a79b2e030e7d9a3f949", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971404": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Thank you g.d.,<br></br><br>You said it all.  This was a speech I am sure his handlers told him he had to make to appeal to white conservatives.</br><br></br><br>Now when will he make that speech about white folks who are holding onto their perceived entitlement of whiteness because they don't have an education, skills, jobs, etc... but have the audacity to talk about the inadequacies of other folks (Black) while ignoring their own high rates of the same societal ills.  </br><br></br><br>I am going to wait for that speech, but I won't be holding my breath.  Obama has determined that he has the Black vote and doesn't have to pander to us, so in his own way, we will be the bogeyman for the entitlement-prone white man who lives his life thinking that his superiority trumps all, and Barack Obama is playing their game, don't forget he is half white and has heard it all before.  If he demonizes Black folks he won't be called on it because he is Black so he can give out those dog whistles that Black folks can hear but are choosing to ignore.  </br><br></br><br>I am truly disgusted.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_08:56:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "555b9b929d53b153dec595af7090ac7a", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971405": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I didn't like parts of the speech as well.  <br></br><br>And, yes, it was opportunistic and Obama should be criticized for it.  I wouldn't necessarily call it a \"pander\" because I think he honestly believes what he's saying.  But the timing seemed politically motivated.  And it appears as though the speech was designed to serve three objectives:</br><br></br><br>1.  To reinforce his centrist, all-American/\"he's one of us\" bona fides; </br><br></br><br>2.  To serve as a direct rebuttal to his critics' charges of elitism (a central theme being:  \"I didn't have it easy growing up and neither did Michelle\"); and </br><br></br><br>3.  To strengthen his status as a family man, particularly among female voters <i><b>of all races</b></i> (his speech can be seen as being just as pro-black single mother as it was anti-black absent father).</br><br></br><br>So I agree that the speech was politically opportunistic.  Either he or someone from his staff must have thought this would be a good time for some tough love.  Obama should have been aware of how the media would spin this.  In that sense, his speech was a bit sloppy and reckless.</br><br></br><br>HOWEVER. . . </br><br></br><br>I respectfully disagree with those who feel that this somehow disqualifies Obama as a viable candidate.  The punishment doesn't fit the crime as far as I'm concerned.</br><br></br><br>If it did, there'd be much worse transgressions to hold him accountable for than this; and much more cause to have never supported him in the first place (take, for example, Obama's centrist position on affirmative action).</br><br></br><br>But while I agree with some of the criticism I also agree that his speech is nothing new.  Thus, I don't get the sense of shock that I see in this thread.  He's said this stuff like this before.  And I think many of us factored his Cosby-like leanings into our initial considerations of his campaign <i>before</i> before we decided to support him in the first place.  </br><br>................................</br><br></br><br>On a separate note, I think it's important that we not automatically dismiss the black conservative view on this issue fatherhood.  </br><br></br><br>Notwhitstanding Obama's speech, the issue of black fatherhood is very serious.  And, while I abhor the demonization and scapegoating of the black boogey-man, I have little interest in defending deadbeat fathers (particularly those in my own community).</br><br></br><br>There are many principled black folk who don't see this as the demonization of black men.  Rather, they see this as the <i><b>protection</b></i> of black children and the support of black women who've been overburdened with the responsibility of raising families all by themselves.</br><br></br><br>I agree with the person who said it's a matter of recognizing the millions of black fathers who DO take responsibility for their children.  I'm all for tough love.  But tough love means very little without positive examples and positive influence.  Young black men should be held accountable, but they should also have goals with which to aspire.</br><br></br><br>Finally. . . we've got to have better arguments.  Regardless of which side we fall on, I think our arguments have grown stale and hopelessly predictable on this subject.  </br><br></br><br>Just last night, Marc Lamont Hill lost a debate (in my opinion) to Bill O'Reilly on the subject of absent fathers because he could not avoid two very simple arguments:</br><br></br><br>1.  Regardless of structural inequality, fatherhood is a CHOICE -- no one forces you to be a father, that's a choice that you make on your own; and</br><br></br><br>2.  Regardless of structural inequality, there are millions of black men who handle their responsibilities and don't abandon their children.</br><br></br><br>It may very well be true that black conservatives go too far in their criticism and black progressives don't go far enough.  Many conservatives refuse to acknowledge the structural shortcomings of unemployment, lack of resources and assistance.  But, if we are to get to discussing solutions, black progressives should do a better job at acknowledging that this problem does exist.  </br><br></br><br>Politics aside. . . political scapegoating aside. . . we have to diagnose the illness before we can treat it.  And that takes a certain amount of soul searching that we haven't fully come to grips with as of yet.  </br><br></br><br>The Fox News/O'Reilly debate was too predictable.  Marc Lamont Hill downplayed the illness while focusing on the solution.  Not surprisingly, O'Reilly downplayed the solutions while emphasizing the illness.</br><br></br><br>I fall somewhere in the middle.  I can't stand cultural stereotypes and the demonization of black men.  But my empathy only goes as far as that father's willingness to take responsibility for his family.  That black mother and black baby are jumping through similar hurdles of inequality and oppression. . . but they don't get the luxury to leave when times get rough.    </br><br></br><br>Don't ge me wrong. . . we should do everything in our power to support the brothas that DO take responsibility.  We should fight on their behalf and hold them up as an example for other men in our community. </br><br></br><br>But I have NO love or respect for a man who willingly abandons his family.  I won't waste time and effort defending his, yes, excuses.  </br><br></br><br>At that point, my efforts are better spent helping the family get back on it's feet than tending to an absent father's bruised ego.</br><br>...............................</br><br></br><br>So, while Obama is justifiably criticized for his approach, I've yet to see someone address the content and truthfullness of his statement.  </br><br></br><br>Forget the politics at play for a second. . .just ask: IS IT TRUE? </br><br></br><br>Are the statistics true?  Does anyone have any statistics or studies to disprove Obama or Cosby's assertions?  Does anyone have any studies to disprove the conventional wisdom (a la Janks Morton's <i>What Black Men Think</i>)?</br><br></br><br>If so, I'd like to see them.</br><br></br><br>Because that will help us shape a solution and strategy for our community.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_09:00:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "d1a8e45844ef20a90904a65e60371f42", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971406": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Marc,<br></br><br>You finally answered my question.  From many of your comments I assumed before knowing that obviously you were a white person and your comments bare that out.</br><br></br><br>From your perspective as a white person, you did not see anything wrong in what Obama did, yet I am going to wait to hear his speeches to the communits BPM mentioned.</br><br></br><br>BPM to all your comments:  AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_09:13:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "555b9b929d53b153dec595af7090ac7a", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971407": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"But the timing seemed politically motivated.\"<br></br><br>Isn't this a catch-22? He's made this same basic speech in similar venues before. Wouldn't a decision not to give that kind of talk in that venue this time be politically motivated?</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_09:19:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "aedda92d645e540d5d4d78a25c550ffc", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971408": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "B-Serious,<br></br><br>The problem with all that \"regardless of structural inequality\" is the tacit acceptance of it.  That's the last thing a politician should be floating.</br><br></br><br>And all this is old news.  When was the Million Man March again??</br><br></br><br>That's right.  Don't credit \"Black conservatives\" for having a focus on manhood/fatherhood and self-help.  I don't know why folks act like they don't know what's really going on here.</br><br></br><br><a href=\"http://www.prometheus6.org/node/21316#comments\" rel=\"nofollow\">P6 is about the only person to get close to the real issue</a> of the internalized racism \"we\" have where we not only think it's acceptable to have the EXTRA BURDEN of \"structural inequality\" et al but feel not only that it's a noble thing to succeed \"IN SPITE OF\" it but that \"we\" should do just that, leaving the \"structural inequality\" in tact and, worse, that none of us should show no ill effects of it.</br><br></br><br>But let me reiterate, especially in a \"post-racial\" era with this \"post-racial\" campaign, THE LAST THING a politician should ever do is what Obama did.</br><br></br><br>Again, he didn't do that when he was in front a Native American audience even though he said they were \"doing worse\" on every indicator.  He damn sure didn't do it with respect to White Americans, not even the \"bitter\" White folks...  </br><br></br><br>No.  He painted them as VICTIMS.  He made EXCUSES for them and NEVER insisted that they take any \"personal responsibility\" for their situation.  Instead of blaming anything on them, he placed the blame external to poor - working - middle class Whites.</br><br></br><br><b> Anger over welfare and affirmative action helped forge the Reagan Coalition. Politicians routinely exploited fears of crime for their own electoral ends. Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism.</b></br><br></br><br>Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze - a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. </br><br></br><br>For some reason, Barack Obama has a problem with telling anybody but Black people that they should \"squarely face [their] own complicity in [their] condition.\"</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_10:08:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "3ecde559248958521e4cb25a77f2ee65", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971409": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "squarepeg, i have said before that i'm white. so, as such things don't tend to change much, i can safely say again: i'm white.<br></br><br>now that we have that settled, i'd like to remind you that color was only an issue in my comment you refer to insofar as that i, as a white man, could relate to what obama said. the problems he spoke about are (oh, again) no exclusives  for blacks.</br><br></br><br>and i could relate to what he said for how he said it. i did see the criticism, and i did not see him as being negative, but quite the contrary. i'm quite happy to repeat: there was the yes we can in it all over.</br><br></br><br>and i think the fact that a normal guy who just happens to be white sees himself in that speech might possibly show that he was not pandering to the white conservatives. in the very worst case they would anyway just see their preconceived ideas confirmed, not enough to make them vote him.</br><br></br><br>so, in the end, obama wins over a white guy who anyways thinks him to be a good candidate.</br><br></br><br>i don't think obama counted on winning any klansies, i don't think he was pandering, pandering would not work anyways here and i don't think that obama is stupid.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_10:16:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "abae42e5f15036a8e5fb7c96309de1b3", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971410": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Marc,<br></br><br>Congratulations on your whiteness, as you tell us how he was not negative.</br><br></br><br>I suggest you go to the Chicago Tribune or any other paper that carried the story of Obama's speech and read the post from many of your fellow white folks who were impressed by how Obama spoke truth to power to the Black men in our community who needed to hear the truth.  How he was impressive, forthright, truthful, said what needed to be said, all the while not plucking that plank out of their eyes.  </br><br></br><br>I sat amazed at the arrogance and condescending attitudes of SOME people when referring to others they deem as less (inferior) to them (superior) when referring to responsibility.  </br><br></br><br>You have read most of the posts to that blog, yet have you not comprehended the responses from a Black perspective?  </br><br></br><br>I can't go there with you because evidently you just don't get it and no matter how much many continue to try and communicate that to you, you just don't understand.  That is why there will always be two Americas, one black and one white, and why Obama actually did choose to pander to get votes from people who appreciate him confirming that misconceived opinions about Black folks, but who still will not vote for him.</br><br></br><br>As BPM said, lets see him give \"responsibilty\" speeches in the BPM mentioned and see how he does with that!</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_10:56:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "555b9b929d53b153dec595af7090ac7a", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971411": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Marc,<br></br><br>We weren't the ones the target of the pander.  Mr. Obama knew exactly what he was doing.</br><br></br><br>It worked.</br><br>----------------------------------</br><br>so, in the end, obama wins over a white guy who anyways thinks him to be a good candidate.</br><br>-----------------------------------</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_11:15:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "555b9b929d53b153dec595af7090ac7a", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971412": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "peg, i just had to be told! because i don't get it even if people try to explain.<br></br><br>now, certainly, you get it all. you get what blacks say and mean, and you get what whites say and mean.</br><br></br><br>ok, in my world it's all a wee bit more complicated. i do understand what was said here, i just happen to disagree.</br><br></br><br>not being black must be the reason.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_11:33:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "abae42e5f15036a8e5fb7c96309de1b3", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971413": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "nquest,<br></br><br><i>\"the internalized racism \"we\" have where we not only think it's acceptable to have the EXTRA BURDEN of \"structural inequality\" et al but feel not only that it's a noble thing to succeed \"IN SPITE OF\" it but that \"we\" should do just that. . .\"</i></br><br></br><br>Success \"in spite of\" is a <i><b>necessity</b></i> when a black man's got mouths to feed.  Especially when having those kids was his CHOICE in the first place.  </br><br></br><br>He has NO choice but to overcompensate for societal failures.  He has no excuse to abandon his family.  There's nothing noble in that.  It's what he's supposed to do.  I'ts what a single mother does all the time.  </br><br></br><br>We can list the sacrifices single mothers make on a daily basis.  But we often struggle to find similar sacrifices from the fathers in those same situations.  </br><br></br><br>I'll fight for brothas who are kept away from their kids because of an unjust prison system or unfair family laws.  I'll speak out against unemployment and wage gaps that make it hard for a black man to provide for his family.</br><br></br><br>But the black community needs to draw a line in the sand with some of these brothas.  And my line is drawn at \"choice.\"  I will not waste time and effort on a brotha who <i>willingly</i> chooses to abandon his family.  I'd rather spend that same time and effort helping the single mother and kids the father left behind.  </br><br></br><br>The black community must ask itself whether the number of black men who willingly abandon their families is higher than we'd like to admit.</br><br></br><br>This doesn't let the government off the hook.  But you can do both.  You can fight for a fair shake and hold black men accountable at the same time.</br><br></br><br>So my main interest is the truth behind the numbers.  If someone tells me that 70% of black children are born out of wed-lock and that the majority of our black babies have no fathers in their lives, then I first have to identify the problem before I get to the solution.</br><br></br><br>What accounts for these numbers?</br><br></br><br>Are the statistics true?</br><br></br><br>If so, what percentage of absent fathers are absent for reasons beyond their control?</br><br></br><br>If we can focus on those issues then we'll have something to work with.  We can fight for the rights of those kept away from their children and throw the book at those who willingly abandon their families.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_11:40:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "d1a8e45844ef20a90904a65e60371f42", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971414": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"For some reason, Barack Obama has a problem with telling anybody but Black people that they should \"squarely face [their] own complicity in [their] condition.\"<br></br><br>b-serious</br><br></br><br>All things addressed being true, it is still not the issue for me.  You're entitled to your opinion and me to mine and I will try and overlook you telling me how I should receive the speech and form judgments of Obama.  The statement above really sums it up for me.</br><br></br><br>That being said, I don't know why so many are missing the point of the statement above and proceed to arguing the merits of the statements in the speech rather than addressing his attempt to publicly chastise a particular group or agreeing that it was political and then trying to justify with the fact that the statements are true.</br><br></br><br>They are two separate issues.</br><br></br><br>I will thank you not to tell me that I can't decide what to do with my vote and for what reasons.</br><br></br><br>Also, surely you can't believe that any of us condone absentee fathers or self-destructive behavior that cripples the black community and other communities.</br><br></br><br>So let me try this again:  Barack Obama should not give speeches that bring to the national stage that bring forth the shortcomings of one group and not bother to give speeches to other groups equally recognizing their failings.  When he does this, it is clear that there was an objective.  PERIOD.  </br><br></br><br>IT IS VERY SIMPLE.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_12:33:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "9fcb7c771a7713dda01aa936fd426bfe", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971415": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Marc,<br></br><br>Without putting words in my mouth,</br><br>you said it, you don't understand.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_12:36:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "555b9b929d53b153dec595af7090ac7a", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971416": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "B-Serious,<br></br><br>I do not think that people are defending deadbeat dads nor denying that they exist. I resent them.  The effects of this on the children and the burden on the mother is not fair. </br><br></br><br>Many speak about this and it is  a predictable conversation. It is surely not a black conservative conversation. I avoided the local community center out here in Brooklyn on Saturday in favor of holding a cookout for fathers. I really did not feel like sitting through yet another talk about absentee black fathers. It was Father's Day weekend, I prefered to celebrate the amazing black fathers. I had a tremendous turnout.</br><br></br><br>I am a womanist, black womanist. I have never witnessed (personally) a black man abandon his family. I had my father and saw strong male rolemodels in my grandfathers, uncles, cousins, family friends, friend's fathers and neighbors. </br><br></br><br>The stats are there but they are a lot more to many of these statistics. </br><br></br><br>Nonetheless, I work effortessly speaking about the issues that occur in the black community (even though I know they are not exclusive to us). I am not denying the issue of too many absentee fathers, I am rejecting the political manner by which this was done.</br><br></br><br>I also despise the fact that yet again the absentee black father is the face of black fatherhood rather than my dad and so many others.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_19:08:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971417": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Here, I think it speaks for itself in regards to this<br></br><br><a href=\"http://assaultonblacksanity.blogspot.com/2008/06/well-thanks-much-barack\" rel=\"nofollow\">Here You Go</a></br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_19:27:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "6b8623e8e850161265a6267d83471b3d", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971418": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Well, I was getting ready to write practically a whole essay on the topic du jour, but instead let me just say this:<br></br><br>Those of you who weren't fans of the speech and are subsequently comparing Barack's critiques of the Black community with Bill Cosby's are, in my opinion, so far off base it's not even funny. For one thing, Bill Cosby probably thinks \"Barack Hussein Obama\" is way way way to \"ethnic/urban\" a name and that if Barack REALLY wants to make something of himself he should change his name to...oh let's say William...just sayin'.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_20:58:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971419": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Okay, I'm anonymous 5:58, and I do have to say one more thing: It seems a lot of the criticism of Obama's speech above is rooted in a framing of \"what will/White people (media) think? How will White people (media) respond?\"  Which I think runs the risk of shutting down legitimate, honest criticism of the Black community by the Black community when it is most needed. <br></br><br></br><br>I am no fan of airing out dirty laundry for the sake of airing out dirty laundry/appearances of being above the community (hence my disdain for Bill Cosby's recent rantings) and when I heard of the speech I didn't want to listen to or read it because I had just recovered from the AIPAC speech (which pissed me off quite a bit, the very very first time that's happened with this candidate) and was not in the mood.  But then I came to this blog, which I currently enjoy and respect,  and I read some of the responses to the speech and found they were so over the top negative that it made me think \"something is off here\". So I read the transcript of the speech to see what the deal was for myself, and honestly, it was not at all as harsh or crucifying as some people here are making it out to be. It's actually one of the better, fairer and sincere speeches I've heard on the issue given by a public official.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_21:14:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971420": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Anonymous 5:58 again.<br></br><br>ms.martin - </br><br></br><br>You said:</br><br></br><br><i>Barack Obama should not give speeches that bring to the national stage that bring forth the shortcomings of one group and <b>not bother to give speeches to other groups equally recognizing their failings.</b></i></br><br></br><br>But wouldn't that also meet the overly simplified implicit definition of pandering being thrown around here? And what if he is in no position to speak on the failings of the other group? Part of the reason Obama can speak on this issue is because he happens to be a Black man who grew up without a father (who I'm sure he would have liked to have had around). Whereas I doubt, for example, the Chinese community would take kindly to him talking about their shortcomings at length, given that he's not Chinese.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-17_21:26:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "7c4455626754e1b9bc3be232b1024136", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "1971421": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "ok, peg, i won't put words in your mouth. let's see what came out of it: \"white person and your comments bare that out\".<br></br><br>i wonder when i have last used the \"you're obviously black\" in connection with \"you don't understand\".</br><br></br><br>anyways, i must concede you one: i truely can't jump.</br>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2008-06-18_01:47:00", "killed": false, "user_key": "abae42e5f15036a8e5fb7c96309de1b3", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "1 year ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}}, "integration": {"receiver_url": "", "theme": 4, "reply_position": true, "disqus_logo": false}, "timer": {"timer_url": "http://localhost:8005", "thread_id": "1531622", "user_id": "anonymous", "forum_id": "21630", "hash": -2029177690072360485}, "thread": {"days_alive": 0, "slug": "barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day", "paginate": false, "num_pages": 1, "num_posts": 189, "per_page": 0, "total_posts": 0, "realtime_paused": true, "id": 1531622, "queued": false}, "reactions_limit": 10, "context": {"show_reply": true, "use_fb_connect": true, "forum_facebook_key": "bd6a8bc56f8eb204984f34b6fefe228d", "use_yahoo": false, "subscribed": false, "use_twitter_signin": true, "use_openid": false, "realtime_speed": 5000}, "reactions_start": 0, "settings": {"debug": false, "disqus_url": "http://disqus.com", "media_url": "http://media.disqus.com"}, "media_url": "http://media.disqus.com"};
	/* */ this.jsonData.cookie_messages = {"user_created": null, "post_has_profile": null, "post_twitter": null, "post_not_approved": null}; this.jsonData.session = {"url": null, "name": null, "email": null}; /* */

	
	this.curPageId = 'dsq-comments';

	this.frames = {};
};

var disqus_popup_reference = null;

if(typeof DsqLocal == 'undefined') {
	DsqLocal = {};
}



/**
 * Dsq.Strings: UI strings
 */
Dsq.Strings = new function() {
	this.ADD_NEW_COMMENT = "Add New Comment";
	this.LOG_INTO_DISQUS = "Log into DISQUS";
	this.USE_MEDIA = "Use Media";
	this.LOGOUT = "Logout";
	this.SHARING_OPTIONS = "Sharing options";
	this.SHARE_ON = "Share on";
	this.TWEET_THIS_COMMENT = "Tweet this comment";
	this.SHARE_ON_NEWSFEED = "Share on news feed";
	this.SEND_UPDATE_TO_YAHOO = "Send update to Yahoo!";
	this.REBLOG_ON = "Reblog on";
	this.CONFIGURE_OPTIONS = "Configure options";
	this.POST_AS = "Post as";
	this.SORT_BY = "Sort by";
	this.SUBSCRIBE_BY_EMAIL = "Subscribe by email";
	this.SUBSCRIBE_BY_RSS = "Subscribe by RSS";
	this.POPULAR_NOW = "Popular now";
	this.BEST_RATING = "Best Rating";
	this.NEWEST_FIRST = "Newest first";
	this.OLDEST_FIRST = "Oldest first";
	this.HIGHLIGHTED = "Highlighted";
	this.UNSUBSCRIBE = "Unsubscribe";
	this.REQUIRED = "Required";
	this.OPTIONAL = "Optional";
	this.YOU_ARE_COMMENTING_AS_A = "You are commenting as a";
	this.LOGIN_BELOW = "Login below";
	this.PLEASE_LOGIN_BELOW_TO_COMMENT = "Please login below to comment.";
	this.SUBSCRIBE_TO_ALL_COMMENTS_BY_EMAIL = "Subscribe to all comments by email";
	this.DO_NOT_SUBSCRIBE_TO_COMMENTS = "Do not subscribe to comments";
	this.REALTIME_UPDATING_IS = "Real-time updating is";
	this.ENABLED = "enabled";
	this.PAUSED = "paused";
	this.PAUSE = "Pause";
	this.RESUME = "Resume";
	this.SHOW = "Show";
	this.JUST_NOW = "Just now";
	this.REPLY = "Reply";
	this.EDIT = "Edit";
	this.FLAG = "Flag";
	this.MODERATE = "Moderate";
	this.CANCEL = "Cancel";
	this.REPLYING_TO = "Replying to";
	this.REPORT_MISSING_REACTIONS = "Report missing reactions";
	this.POST_A_COMMENT = "Post a comment";
	this.FLAG_INAPPROPRIATE_COMMENT = "Flag inappropriate comment";
	this.FLAGGED = "Flagged";
	this.NO = "No";
	this.YES = "Yes";
	this.NEVER_MIND = "Never mind";
	this.ARE_YOU_SURE_YOU_WOULD_LIKE_TO_REPORT_THIS_COMMENT_TO_A_MODERATOR = "Are you sure you would like to report this comment to a moderator";
	this.THIS_WILL_FLAG_COMMENTS_FOR_MODERATORS_TO_TAKE_ACTION = "This will flag comments for moderators to take action";
	this.TO_RATE_PLEASE_LOG_IN = "To rate, please log in";
	this.JUST_A_MOMENT = "Just a moment...";
	this.GUEST = "Guest";
	this.NAME = "Name";
	this.EMAIL = "Email";
  this.WEBSITE = "Website";
  this.SETTINGS = "Settings";
  this.MODERATOR_OPTIONS = "Moderator options: ";
};
// Dsq.Strings

/**
 * Dsq.FmtStrings: functions that return interpolated UI strings
 */
Dsq.FmtStrings = new function() {
	// Seems we have to use named interpolation for Django to translate. Investigate more.
	this.LOGGED_IN_AS = function(username) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate('Logged in as %(username)s', {username:username});
	};

	this.LOGOUT_FROM = function(disqus) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate('Logout from %(disqus)s', {disqus:disqus});
	};

	this.SHOWING_COMMENTS_FULL = function(total, num) {
		if (num === 1) {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> of <span id='dsq-total-posts'>%(total)s</span> comment", {num:num, total:total});
		} else {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> of <span id='dsq-total-posts'>%(total)s</span> comments", {num:num, total:total});
		}
	};

	this.SHOWING_COMMENTS_WITHOUT_PAGINATION = function(num) {
		if (num === 1) {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> comment", {num:num});
		} else {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> comments", {num:num});
		}
	};

	this.NUMBER_OF_COMMENTS = function(num) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
			(num == 1
				? '%(num)s comment'
				: '%(num)s comments'
			), {num:num});
	};

	this.NUMBER_OF_LIKES = function(num) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
			(num == 1
				? '%(num)s like'
				: '%(num)s likes'
			), {num:num});
	};

	this.NUMBER_OF_POINTS = function(num) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
			(num == 1
				? '%(num)s point'
				: '%(num)s points'
			), {num:num});
	};
};
// Dsq.FmtStrings





Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN = '3a1994e3330279e78957da82fb64f754';
Dsq.COMMENTS_RE = /(<li.*?id="?dsq-comment-(\d+)"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*?)(<\/li>)/gim;
Dsq.POST_RE = /(<div.*?id="?dsq-comment-header-(\d+)"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*?)(<\/div>)\s*(<div.*?class="?dsq-comment-body"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*)(<\/div>)/gim;
Dsq.POST_BODY_RE = /\s*(<div.*?id="?dsq-comment-message-(\d+)"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*)(<\/div>)/gim;
// HACK: Safari ends with "-->" while other browsers end with "--&gt;" as expected.
Dsq.MEDIA_POST_RE = /&lt;!--\[(.*?)\]--(?:>|&gt;)/gim;



var FragmentPacket = function(reader, writer, writer_url, is_child, receiveCallback) {
	var that = this;
	this.reader = reader;
	this.writer = writer;
	this.writer_url = writer_url;

	this.is_child = is_child || false;
	this.receiveCallback = receiveCallback;

	this._lastHash = null;

	this._accumMsg = '';

	this._lastSeqno = 0;

	this.MAX_DATA_LEN	= 1024;

	this.WAIT_TIME		= 10;

	this.READY		= 0x1;
	this.WRITING	= 0x2;
	this.FIN		= 0x4;
	this.ACK		= 0x8;

};

FragmentPacket.prototype.createListener = function() {
	var that = this;
	var listener = function() {
		that.recv();
	};
	return window.setInterval(listener, 10);
};

FragmentPacket.prototype.log = function(msg) {



};

FragmentPacket.prototype.recv = function() {
	var hash;
	if (/MSIE/.test(navigator.userAgent)) {

		hash = this.reader.name;
	} else {

		var hashIndex = this.reader.location.href.indexOf('#');
		if (hashIndex == -1) {
			return;
		}
		hash = this.reader.location.href.substring(hashIndex+1);
	}
	var flags = parseInt(hash.substring(0, 4), 10);
	var seqno = parseInt(hash.substring(4, 24), 10);
	var data  = hash.substring(24);

	if (this._lastHash !== hash) {
		this._lastHash = hash;
		this.log('recv: ' + hash);

		this.log(' flags: ' + flags);
		this.log(' seqno: ' + seqno + ' len: ' + hash.substring(4, 24).length + ' (' + hash.substring(4, 24) + ')');
		this.log(' data: ' + data + ' len: ' + data.length);

		this._lastSeqno = seqno;

		if (flags & this.WRITING) {
			this._accumMsg += data;
			this.sendFlag(this.ACK, seqno);
			if (flags & this.FIN) {
				this.log('recv finished: ' + decodeURIComponent(this._accumMsg));
				this.receiveCallback(decodeURIComponent(this._accumMsg));

				this._accumMsg = '';

				this.sendFlag(this.READY | this.ACK, this._lastSeqno);
			}
		}
	}

	return {
		flags: flags,
		seqno: seqno,
		data: data
	};
};

FragmentPacket.prototype.sendRawPacket = function(packet) {
	if (/MSIE/.test(navigator.userAgent)) {
		this.writer.name = packet;
	} else {

		this.writer.location.href = this.writer_url + '#' + packet;
	}

};

FragmentPacket.prototype.sendFlag = function(flag, seqno) {
	this.sendRawPacket(this._zerofill(flag, 4) + this._zerofill(seqno, 20));
};

FragmentPacket.prototype.send = function(msg) {
	this._send(0, encodeURIComponent(msg));
};

FragmentPacket.prototype._send = function(packetNum, msg) {
	var that = this;
	var recvBuf = this.recv();

	if (packetNum === 0) {

		if (!(recvBuf.flags & this.READY)) {
			this.log('client is not ready, waiting...');
			window.setTimeout(function() { that._send(packetNum, msg); }, this.WAIT_TIME);
			return;
		}
	} else {

		if (!( (recvBuf.flags & this.ACK) && (recvBuf.seqno === this._lastSeqno) )) {
			this.log('waiting for ack from client...');
			window.setTimeout(function() { that._send(packetNum, msg); }, this.WAIT_TIME);
			return;
		} else {
			this.log('received ack: ' + this._lastSeqno + ' ' + recvBuf.seqno);
		}
	}

	var flags = this.WRITING;
	var num_packets = Math.ceil(msg.length / this.MAX_DATA_LEN);
	this.log('num_packets: ' + num_packets);

	if (num_packets === packetNum) {

		this.log('message successfully sent!');
		this.sendFlag(this.READY | this.ACK, this._lastSeqno);
		return true;
	}

	this._lastSeqno++;

	if (packetNum == num_packets-1) {
		flags |= this.FIN;
	}

	var data = msg.substring(packetNum * this.MAX_DATA_LEN, (packetNum+1) * this.MAX_DATA_LEN);
	var packet = this._zerofill(flags, 4) + this._zerofill(this._lastSeqno, 20) + data;

	this.log('sending raw packet: ' + packet);
	this.sendRawPacket(packet);

	return this._send(packetNum + 1, msg);
};

FragmentPacket.prototype._zerofill = function(num, width) {
	var retval = num.toString();
	var retval_len = retval.length;
	for (var i = 0; i < width - retval_len; i++) {
		retval = '0' + retval;
	}
	return retval;
};

var PostMessagePacket = function(receiver, receiveCallback, id, receiverId) {
	var that = this;
	this.receiver = receiver;
	this.receiveCallback = receiveCallback;
	this.id = id;


	this.receiverId = receiverId;
};

PostMessagePacket.prototype.createListener = function() {
	var that = this;

	var listener = function(e) {

		if (!that.id) {
			that.id = e.data;
			return;
		}


		var id = e.data.split(';')[0];
		if (id !== that.id) {
			return;
		}
		var data = e.data.substring(e.data.indexOf(';') + 1);

		that.receiveCallback(data);
	};

	if (typeof window.attachEvent == 'function') {
		window.attachEvent('onmessage', listener);
	} else if (typeof window.addEventListener == 'function') {
		window.addEventListener('message', listener, false);
	} else {
		throw new Error('No method found to create event listener for PostMessagePacket.');
	}
};

PostMessagePacket.prototype.send = function(msg) {



	var needs_reget = false;
	try {
		if (typeof this.receiver.id == 'undefined' || typeof this.receiver.postMessage == 'undefined') {
			needs_reget = true;
		}
	} catch(e) {


	}
	if (needs_reget && typeof this.receiverId != 'undefined') {
		this.receiver = document.getElementById(this.receiverId).contentWindow;
	}

	var packet;
	if (!msg) {

		packet = this.id;
	} else {
		packet = this.id + ';' + msg;
	}
	this.receiver.postMessage(packet, '*');
};

PostMessagePacket._last_unique_id = null;
PostMessagePacket._get_unique_id = function() {
	var id = (new Date()).getTime();
	if (id == PostMessagePacket._last_unique_id) {
		id++;
	}
	PostMessagePacket._last_unique_id = id;
	return id.toString();
};

var JsonRpc = function() {

	this.ids = {};

	this.objectToJSON = function(obj) {
		var json = '';
		var results = [];

		if (obj === undefined || obj === null) {
			return 'null';
		}

		switch (obj.constructor) {
			case Object:
				for (var property in obj) {
					if (obj.hasOwnProperty(property)) {
						results.push(this.objectToJSON(property) + ': ' + this.objectToJSON(obj[property]));
					}
				}
				json = '{' + results.join(', ') + '}';
				break;
			case Array:
				for (var i = 0; i < obj.length; i++) {
					results.push(this.objectToJSON(obj[i]));
				}
				json = '[' + results.join(', ') + ']';
				break;
			case Number:
			case Boolean:
				json = obj.toString();
				break;
			case String:

				var specialChars = {'\b': '\\b', '\t': '\\t', '\n': '\\n', '\f': '\\f', '\r': '\\r', '\\': '\\\\'};

				json = obj.replace(/[\x00-\x1f\\]/g, function(match) {
					var ch = specialChars[match];
					return ch ? ch : '\\u00' + match.charCodeAt().toPaddedString(2, 16);
				});

				json = '"' + json.replace(/"/g, '\\"') + '"';
				break;
			default:

				json = 'null';
				break;
		}

		return json;
	};

	this.createHandler = function(send_func, registered_funcs) {
		var that = this;
		var handler = function(message) {

			try {
				var rpc = eval('(' + message + ')');
			} catch(e) {
				alert('bad JSON: ' + message);
				return;
			}
			if (rpc.method) {

				if (!registered_funcs[rpc.method]) {
					return;
				}

				var retval = registered_funcs[rpc.method].apply(null, rpc.params);
				if (rpc.id) {
					var response = {
						result: retval,
						error: null,	// TODO
						id: rpc.id
					};
					send_func(that.objectToJSON(response));
				}
			} else if(rpc.result) {

				if (!that.ids[rpc.id]) {
					return;
				}

				that.ids[rpc.id](rpc.result);
				delete that.ids[rpc.id];
			}
		};
		return handler;
	};

	this.execute = function(send_func, method, params, response_callback) {
		response_callback = response_callback || null;
		var id = (response_callback) ? (new Date()).getTime() : null;

		var request = {
			method: method,
			params: params,
			id: id
		};

		send_func(this.objectToJSON(request));

		if (id) {
			this.ids[id] = response_callback;
		}
	};
};
JsonRpc = new JsonRpc();

var ParentMessenger = function(childUrl, receiverUrl, container, receiveCallback) {


	if (navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Safari') >= 0 && parseInt(navigator.userAgent.substring(navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Version/') + 8), 10) == 3) {
		throw new Error("unsupported.");
	} else if (window.opera) {
		throw new Error("unsupported.");
	}



	if (!receiverUrl &&
		navigator.userAgent.indexOf('Gecko') >= 0 &&
		parseFloat(navigator.userAgent.slice(navigator.userAgent.indexOf('rv:') + 3, navigator.userAgent.indexOf('rv:') + 6)) < 1.9) {
		throw new Error("unsupported.");
	}


	if (/msie/i.test(navigator.userAgent) && !/opera/i.test(navigator.userAgent)) {


		if (document.domain == window.location.hostname) {
			receiverUrl = '';
		}
	}

	var that = this;
	this.childUrl = childUrl;
	this.receiverUrl = receiverUrl;
	this.container = container || document.body;

	this.packetHandler = null;


	this._ready = false;
	this._error = false;


	var _createReceiverForFragmentPacket = function() {

		that.receiver = document.createElement('iframe');
		that.receiver.src = receiverUrl;
		that.receiver.id = 'receiver_' + (new Date()).getTime();
		that.receiver.name = that.receiver.id;

		that.receiver.frameBorder = '0';
		that.receiver.frameSpacing = '0';
		that.receiver.style.borderStyle = 'none';

		var receiver_onload = function() {
			var receiver = document.getElementById(that.receiver.id).contentWindow;

			try {
				receiver.document.body.innerHTML = '';
			} catch(e) {

				that._error = true;
			}
			receiver.document.body.style.padding = '0px';
			receiver.document.body.style.margin = '0px';

			var child = receiver.document.createElement('iframe');
			child.id = 'child';
			child.name = 'child';
			child.src = that.childUrl;

			child.frameBorder = '0';
			child.frameSpacing = '0';
			child.style.borderStyle = 'none';
			child.style.width = '100%';
			child.style.height = '100%';
			receiver.document.body.appendChild(child);

			that.child = receiver.document.getElementById('child').contentWindow;
			that.receiver = receiver;

			that.packetHandler = new FragmentPacket(that.receiver, that.child, that.childUrl, false, receiveCallback);

			that._listener = that.packetHandler.createListener();

			that.packetHandler.sendFlag(that.packetHandler.READY, 0);

			that._ready = true;
		};

		that.receiver.onreadystatechange = function() {
			if (this.readyState == 'complete') {
				receiver_onload();
			}
		};

		that.receiver.onload = receiver_onload;







		if (Dsq.Utils.ie) {
			if (that.container.clientWidth === 0) {

				var _waitForWidth = function() {
					if (that.container.clientWidth > 0) {
						Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(that.container.id);
					} else {
						window.setTimeout(_waitForWidth, 100);
					}
				};
				_waitForWidth();

				that._once = false;
				that.receiver.onresize = function() {
					if (!that._once) {
						Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(that.container.id);
					}
					that._once = true;
				};
			}
		}

		that.container.appendChild(that.receiver);
	};


	var _createReceiverForPostMessage = function() {

		var receiver_onload = function() {

			that.packetHandler.send();
			that._ready = true;
		};

		var id = PostMessagePacket._get_unique_id();
		var receiverId = 'child_' + id;


		ParentMessenger['_receiver_onload_' + receiverId] = receiver_onload;

		that.container.innerHTML += '<iframe ' +
			'src="' + childUrl + '" ' +
			'id="' + receiverId + '" ' +
			'name="' + receiverId + '" ' +
			'onload="ParentMessenger._receiver_onload_' + receiverId +'();" ' +
			'></iframe>';

		that.receiver = document.getElementById(receiverId).contentWindow;
		that.packetHandler = new PostMessagePacket(that.receiver, receiveCallback, id, receiverId);
		that._listener = that.packetHandler.createListener();
	};

	if (typeof window.postMessage == 'function') {
		_createReceiverForPostMessage();
	} else {
		_createReceiverForFragmentPacket();
	}

};

ParentMessenger.prototype.sendMessage = function(message) {
	var that = this;
	if (!this._ready) {

		window.setTimeout(function() { that.sendMessage(message); }, 10);
		return;
	}
	this.packetHandler.send(message);
	return true;
};

Dsq.NewFrames = function(url) {
	this.url = url;
};

Dsq.NewFrames.prototype.init = function(onFailure) {
	var that = this;

	try {
		this.messenger = new ParentMessenger(this.url, Dsq.jsonData.integration.receiver_url, this.container, this.receive_callback);
	} catch(e) {
		if (typeof onFailure == 'function') {
			onFailure();
		}
	}

	if (typeof onFailure == 'function') {
		var iId = window.setInterval(function() {
			if (typeof that.messenger == 'undefined') {
				window.clearInterval(iId);
				return;
			}
			if (that.messenger._ready) {
				window.clearInterval(iId);
			} else if (that.messenger._error) {
				window.clearInterval(iId);
				onFailure();
			}
		}, 10);
	}
};

Dsq.NewFrames.prototype._execute = function(method, args, callback) {
	var that = this;
	if (typeof that.messenger == 'undefined') {
		return false;
	}
	JsonRpc.execute(
		function(msg) { that.messenger.sendMessage(msg); },
		method,
		args || [],
		callback);
	return true;
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame = function(container, parent_post_id) {
	var that = this;
	this.container = container;
	this.parent_post_id = parent_post_id;

	var sendFunc = function(msg) {

		Dsq.Debug.log('Dsq.ReplyFrame.sendFunc');
		that.messenger.sendMessage(msg);
	};


	var postComment_onSuccess = function(response) {
		Dsq.jsonData.posts[response.message.id] = response.message.post_meta;
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.users[response.message.post_meta.user_key]) {
			Dsq.jsonData.users[response.message.post_meta.user_key] = response.message.user_meta;
		}


		var reply_position = (typeof(disqus_insert_wrt_sort) == 'undefined' 
			? (Dsq.jsonData.forum.reply_position ? -1 : null) 
			: (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 2 ? null : -1));
		
		if (response.message.post_meta.approved) {
			Dsq.Post.insert(response.message.post_meta.parent_post_id || reply_position, response.message.id, response.message.post_meta.message);
		}

		Dsq.Templates.postComment_onSuccess(response, parent_post_id, response.message.id);
	};

	var postComment_onFailure = function(response) {
		Dsq.Popup.popModal(response.message, 'Error');
		Dsq.Templates.postComment_onFailure(response, parent_post_id, response.message.id);
	};

	var editComment_onSuccess = function(response) {
		var post_id = parent_post_id;
		var message = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + post_id);
		
		message.innerHTML = response.message;
		Dsq.Templates.toggleEdit(post_id);
		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};
	
	var editComment_onFailure = function(response) {
		var post_id = parent_post_id;
		
		Dsq.Popup.popModal('Sorry, there was an error editing this comment.', 'Edit Error');
		Dsq.Templates.toggleEdit(post_id);
		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};

	var getUserByEmail_onSuccess = function(response) {
		var msg = response.message;
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(parent_post_id);

		if (msg.username) {

			Dsq.Templates.lightboxAuthenticate(parent_post_id, 'login', {
				'username': msg.username,
				'display_name': msg.display_name,
				'avatar_url': msg.avatar_url,
				'verified': msg.verified,
				'email': fields.email.value
			});
		} else {

			Dsq.Templates.lightboxAuthenticate(parent_post_id, 'register');
		}
	};

	var validateAuth_onSuccess = function(response, auth_choice) {
		Dsq.Templates.postComment(parent_post_id, null, true, auth_choice);
	};

	var validateAuth_onFailure = function(response, auth_choice) {
		var pid = parent_post_id ? '-' + parent_post_id : '';
		var msg = response.message;

		if (auth_choice == 'register') {
			var fields = ['email', 'username', 'password'];

			for (var i = 0; i < fields.length; i++) {
				var field = fields[i];
				var errorDiv = Dsq.$('dsq-' + field + '-errors' + pid);

				if (msg[field]) {
					errorDiv.innerHTML = msg[field];
				} else {
					errorDiv.innerHTML = '';
				}
			}
		} else if (auth_choice == 'login') {
			Dsq.$('dsq-lightbox-errors' + pid).innerHTML = '<p>We couldn\'t log you in. Please verify your login.</p>';
		}
		
		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};

	this.receive_callback = JsonRpc.createHandler(sendFunc, {
		'postComment.onSuccess': postComment_onSuccess,
		'postComment.onFailure': postComment_onFailure,
		'editComment.onSuccess': editComment_onSuccess,
		'editComment.onFailure': editComment_onFailure,		
		'getUserByEmail.onSuccess': getUserByEmail_onSuccess,
		'validateAuth.onSuccess': validateAuth_onSuccess,
		'validateAuth.onFailure': validateAuth_onFailure,
		'reload': function() { window.location.reload(); }
	});

	this.url = Dsq.Urls.REPLY +
		'?' + (new Date()).getTime() +
		'&f=jackandjillpolitics' +
		'&t=barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day' +
		'&ff=' + Dsq.Thread.ff +
		'&default_text=' + disqus_default_text +
		'&ifrs=' + encodeURIComponent(disqus_iframe_css);
	if (this.parent_post_id) {
		this.url += '&parent_post=' + this.parent_post_id;
	}
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype = new Dsq.NewFrames(Dsq.ReplyFrame.url);

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.post = function(author_name, author_email, author_url, authenticate, sharing_services, subscribe) {
	this._execute('postComment', [author_name, author_email, author_url, authenticate, sharing_services, subscribe]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.edit = function(post_id, message) {
	this._execute('editComment', [post_id, message]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.setState = function(parent_post_id, depth) {
	this._execute('setState', [parent_post_id, depth]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.getUserByEmail = function(email) {
	this._execute('getUserByEmail', [email]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.validateAuth = function(auth_choice, email, username, password) {
	this._execute('validateAuth', [auth_choice, email, username, password]);
};

Dsq.ReplyFrame.prototype.authenticateFacebook = function(session, forum_url) {
	this._execute('authenticateFacebook', [session, forum_url]);
};

	Dsq.Facebook = function() {
	var that = this;

	var handleSessionData = function(session) {

		var forum_url = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;




		if (typeof disqus_facebook_forum != 'undefined') {
			forum_url = disqus_facebook_forum;
		}
		Dsq.frames.reply_0.authenticateFacebook(session, forum_url);
	};

	var onLogin = function() {
		FB.Connect.getSignedPublicSessionData(handleSessionData);
	};

	this.login = function() {
		FB.Connect.requireSession(onLogin, true);
	};
};
Dsq.Facebook = new Dsq.Facebook();


	






Dsq.Themes = {};

Dsq.Themes.narcissus = new function() {
	this.addPostContainer = 'dsq-form-area';
	this.textareaContainer = 'dsq-textarea-wrapper';



	
	this.header = function() {
		var comments_count, total_posts, num_posts;
		var html = '';
		var missing_perm_tmpl;

		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.missing_perm) {
			missing_perm_tmpl = Dsq.Templates.missingPermissions();
			if (missing_perm_tmpl) {
				html += '<div class="dsq-missing-permissions">' + missing_perm_tmpl + '</div>';
			}
		}

		total_posts = Dsq.jsonData.thread.total_posts;
		num_posts = Dsq.jsonData.thread.num_posts;

		if (total_posts) {
			comments_count = Dsq.FmtStrings.SHOWING_COMMENTS_FULL(total_posts, num_posts);
		} else {
			comments_count = Dsq.FmtStrings.SHOWING_COMMENTS_WITHOUT_PAGINATION(num_posts);
		}

		html += ' \
		<div id="dsq-comments-title"> \
			<h3>' + comments_count + '</h3> \
		</div> \
		';

		html += ' \
		<div class="dsq-options"> \
			<span class="dsq-item-sort">'
				+ Dsq.Strings.SORT_BY + ' \
				<select id="dsq-sort-select" onchange="Dsq.Thread.sortBy(this.value);"> \
					<option value="hot" ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 4 ? 'selected="selected"' : '') + '>' + Dsq.Strings.POPULAR_NOW + '</option> \
					<option value="best" ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 3 ? 'selected="selected"' : '') + '>' + Dsq.Strings.BEST_RATING + '</option> \
					<option value="newest" ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 2 ? 'selected="selected"' : '') + '>' + Dsq.Strings.NEWEST_FIRST + '</option> \
					<option value="oldest" ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sort == 1 ? 'selected="selected"' : '') + '>' + Dsq.Strings.OLDEST_FIRST + '</option> \
				</select> \
				&nbsp; \
			</span> \
			<span class="dsq-subscribe-email"> \
				<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/email.png" style="width:12px;height:12px;vertical-align:middle"> \
				<span id="dsq-subscribe">'
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.subscribed
						? '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(0); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.UNSUBSCRIBE + '</a>'
						: '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.SUBSCRIBE_BY_EMAIL + '</a>')
				+ '</span> \
			</span> \
			<span class="dsq-subscribe-rss" style="width:12px;height:12px;vertical-align:middle"> \
				<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/bullet-feed.png" alt="" /> \
				<a href="http://jackandjillpolitics.disqus.com/barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day/latest.rss">' + Dsq.Strings.SUBSCRIBE_BY_RSS + '</a> \
			</span> \
		</div> \
		';

		
		

		return html;

	};
	
	this.footer = function() {
		var html = '';

		html += Dsq.Templates.pagination();

		
		
			html += Dsq.Templates.realtime();
			html += Dsq.Templates.showThreadSettings();
			html += Dsq.Templates.postBox();

		html += Dsq.Templates.reactions();

		
			html += Dsq.Templates.trackbacks();
		


		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator) {
 			html += ' \
				<div class="dsq-global-moderator-extras">'
					+ '<strong>shortname:</strong> ' + Dsq.jsonData.forum.url
					+ '<strong>thread id:</strong> ' + Dsq.jsonData.thread.id
					+ '<strong>thread slug:</strong> ' + Dsq.jsonData.thread.slug
				+ '</div> \
			';
		}

		return html;
	};
	
	this.realtime = function() {
		var html = '';
		
		if (Dsq.jsonData.realtime_enabled) {
			html += '<div id="dsq-realtime-options" class="dsq-options">'
					 + Dsq.Strings.REALTIME_UPDATING_IS + ' <strong id="dsq-realtime-status" style="text-transform: lowercase">' + Dsq.Strings.ENABLED + '</strong>. \
					 <a href="#" id="dsq-realtime-toggle" style="text-transform: capitalize"></a> \
					</div>';
		}

		if (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.streaming_realtime) {
			html += ' \
				<div style="display: none" id="dsq-realtime-alert" class="dsq-realtime-alert"><span id="dsq-realtime-queued"></span> <a href="#" id="dsq-realtime-show"></a></div> \
			';
		}
		
		return html;
	};

	this.showThreadSettings = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator) {
			return '';
		}

		html = '<div id="dsq-thread-settings" class="dsq-thread-settings">' + Dsq.Strings.MODERATOR_OPTIONS;
		html += '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.showSettings(); return false;">' + Dsq.Strings.SETTINGS + '</a>';
		if (Dsq.jsonData.forum.reactions_enabled && Dsq.jsonData.reactions.length === 0) {
			html += '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Reaction.reportMissingReactions(); return false;">'
						+ Dsq.Strings.REPORT_MISSING_REACTIONS
						+ '</a>';
		}
		html +='</div>';

		return html;
	};

	this.postBox = function(post_id, use_fallback_iframe) {


		var html;
		var display_sharing_options = Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated;

		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated && Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled && !Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post) {
			return '';
		}
		
		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote) {


			if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.hasOwnProperty(Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain)) {
				display_sharing_options = false;
			}
		}
		
		if (post_id) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
			var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];				
		}
		
		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';

		var _requestUserInfo = function() {
			var html;



			var user_has_email = false;

			html = '<div class="dsq-request-user-info"> <!-- // If authenticated --> \
				<a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT + '?ctkn=' + Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN + '" class="dsq-request-user-logout">' + Dsq.Strings.LOGOUT + '</a> \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td rowspan="2">'
							+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? '<a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE + '">' : '')
								+ '<img src="' + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_AVATAR + '" width="48" height="48" class="dsq-request-user-avatar">'
							+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? '</a>' : '')
						+ '</td> \
						<td class="dsq-request-user-name">'
								+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
									 ? '<span class="dsq-badge-small dsq-badge-' + Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain + '">' + Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain + '</span>'
									 : (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_verified
											? '<span class="dsq-badge-small dsq-badge-verified">Verified</span>'
											: '<span class="dsq-badge-small dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span>'))
							+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? ' <a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE + '">' : '') 
								+ Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username 
							+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? '</a>' : '')
							+  (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote && user_has_email ? ' <small>(<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.remoteAccountSettings(); return false;">change settings</a>)</small>' : '')
							+  (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote && !Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? ' <small>(<a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/profile/info/" target="_blank">change name</a> or <a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/profile/avatar/" target="_blank">picture</a>)</small>' : '')
						+ '</td> \
					</tr> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-request-user-stats"> \
							<span><big>' + Dsq.jsonData.request.comments_count + '</big> ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.comments_count == 1 ? 'comment' : 'comments') + '</span> \
							<span><big>' + Dsq.jsonData.request.likes_count + '</big> ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.likes_count == 1 ? 'like' : 'likes') + '</span> \
							<span><big>' + Dsq.jsonData.request.points + '</big> ' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.points == 1 ? 'point' : 'points') + '</span> \
						</td> \
					</tr> \
				</table> \
			</div> \
			';
			return html;
		};

		var _loginOptions = function() {
			var html;
			html = ' \
			<div class="dsq-authenticate"> \
				<p class="dsq-autheneticate-copy">'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
					? Dsq.Strings.YOU_ARE_COMMENTING_AS_A + ' <a class="dsq-help" title="Click for more information" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges(); return false">Guest</a>. ' + Dsq.Strings.OPTIONAL + ': ' + Dsq.Strings.LOGIN_BELOW + '.'
					: Dsq.Strings.REQUIRED + ': ' + Dsq.Strings.PLEASE_LOGIN_BELOW_TO_COMMENT + '.')
				+ '</p> \
				<ul class="dsq-login-buttons">'
					+ (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-disqus.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Facebook.login(); return false;"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-facebook.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_twitter_signin ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Twitter.startTwitterConnect(); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-twitter.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_openid ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.OpenID.requestURL(); return false" ><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-openid.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_yahoo ? '<li class="dsq-login-button"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Yahoo.startYahooConnect(); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/login-yahoo.gif" /></a></li>' : '')
				+ '</ul> \
			</div> \
			';
			return html;
		};

		if (!Dsq.jsonData.context.show_reply) {


			if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {



				return '<div id="dsq-form-area" style="display:none"><div id="dsq-textarea-wrapper"></div></div>' + _loginOptions();
			} else {
				return '';
			}
		}

		html = ' \
		<div id="' + (post_id 
			? 'dsq-reply-post-' + post_id
			: 'dsq-new-post')
		 	+ '" class="dsq-post-area"> \
			<div class="dsq-dc-logo"> \
				<a href="http://disqus.com/comments" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/disqus-logo.png"></a> \
			</div>'
			+ (post_id 
				? '<h3>' + Dsq.Strings.REPLYING_TO + ' ' + userData.display_name + '</h3>'
				: '<h3>' + Dsq.Strings.ADD_NEW_COMMENT + '</h3>')
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated 
				? _requestUserInfo()
				: _loginOptions() )
			+ '<div id="dsq-form-area' + pid + '">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-textarea"> \
				<div class="dsq-textarea-wrapper" id="dsq-textarea-wrapper' + pid + '"></div> \
			</div>'
			+ (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated
			? ' \
			<div class="dsq-post-fields"> \
				<form action="." method="GET" onsubmit="Dsq.Templates.postComment(' + post_id + ', this, false); return false;"> \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-post-fields-left"><div class="dsq-input-wrapper"><input id="dsq-field-name' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + (disqus_def_name ? disqus_def_name : (Dsq.jsonData.session.name ? Dsq.jsonData.session.name : Dsq.Strings.NAME + '" class="dsq-placeholder')) + '" onfocus="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'name\')" onblur="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'name\')" /></div></td> \
						<td class="dsq-post-fields-right"><div class="dsq-input-wrapper"><input id="dsq-field-website' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + (Dsq.jsonData.session.url ? Dsq.jsonData.session.url : Dsq.Strings.WEBSITE + ' (' + Dsq.Strings.OPTIONAL.toLowerCase() + ')" class="dsq-placeholder') + '" onfocus="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'website\')" onblur="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'website\')" /></div></td> \
					</tr> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-post-fields-left"><div class="dsq-input-wrapper"><input id="dsq-field-email' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + (disqus_def_email ? disqus_def_email : (Dsq.jsonData.session.email ? Dsq.jsonData.session.email : Dsq.Strings.EMAIL + '" class="dsq-placeholder')) + '" onfocus="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'email\')" onblur="Dsq.Templates.handlePlaceholder(event, this, \'email\')" /></div></td> \
						<td class="dsq-post-fields-right"> \
							<div class="dsq-subscribe"> \
								<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.chooseSubscribe(' + post_id + '); return false" class="dsq-subscribe-menu"><span id="dsq-subscribe-select' + pid + '">' + (Dsq.jsonData.request.subscribe_on_post ? Dsq.Strings.SUBSCRIBE_TO_ALL_COMMENTS_BY_EMAIL : Dsq.Strings.DO_NOT_SUBSCRIBE_TO_COMMENTS) + '</span> <small>&#9660;</small></a> \
								<ul class="dsq-panel" id="dsq-subscribe-menu' + pid + '"> \
									<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.setSubscribe(2, this, ' + post_id + '); return false">Subscribe to all comments by email</a></li> \
									<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.setSubscribe(0, this, ' + post_id + '); return false">Do not subscribe to comments</a></li> \
								</ul> \
								<input id="dsq-subscribe-on-post' + pid + '" type="hidden" value="' + Dsq.jsonData.request.subscribe_on_post + '" /> \
							</div> \
						</td> \
					</tr> \
				</table> \
				</form> \
			</div>'
			: '')
			+ '<div class="dsq-post-footer"> \
				<div class="dsq-sharing-options" ' + (!display_sharing_options ? 'style="display:none;"' : '') + '> \
					<button class="dsq-button-small" onfocus="document.getElementById(\'dsq-post-button' + pid + '\').focus();"><span>' + Dsq.Strings.SHARING_OPTIONS + ' <small>&#9660;</small></span></button> \
					<div class="dsq-panel"> '
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.twitter !== undefined
								&& Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.twitter.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-twitter' + pid + '"'
								  + (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.twitter.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-twitter' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Twitter</label> \
								 </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.facebook
								&& (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.facebook.enabled === true ||
										(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote && Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain == 'facebook'))
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-facebook' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.facebook.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-facebook' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Facebook</label> \
								 </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.yahoo !== undefined
								&& Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.yahoo.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-yahoo' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.yahoo.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-yahoo' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Yahoo!</label> \
								</div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.tumblr !== undefined
								&& Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.tumblr.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-tumblr' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.tumblr.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-tumblr' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Tumblr</label> \
								 </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.wordpress !== undefined
								&& Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.wordpress.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-wordpress' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.wordpress.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-wordpress' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Wordpress</label> \
								 </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.movabletype !== undefined
							  && Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.movabletype.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-movabletype' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.movabletype.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
									<label for="dsq-sharing-movabletype' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' Movable Type</label> \
							   </div>'
							: '')
						+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.typepad !== undefined
							  && Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.typepad.enabled === true
							? '<div><input type="checkbox" id="dsq-sharing-typepad' + pid + '"'
									+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.sharing.typepad.auto === true ? 'checked=true' : '') + '/> \
								  <label for="dsq-sharing-typepad' + pid + '">' + Dsq.Strings.SHARE_ON + ' TypePad</label> \
							   </div>'
							: '')
						+ '<div><a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/profile/connections/" target="_blank" class="dsq-configure-options">' + Dsq.Strings.CONFIGURE_OPTIONS + '</a></div>'
					+ '</div> \
				</div>'
				+ '<button class="dsq-button" id="dsq-post-button' + pid + '" onclick="Dsq.Templates.postComment(' + post_id + ', this, false)"><span>' + Dsq.Strings.POST_AS + ' '
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username
					? Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username
					: Dsq.Strings.GUEST)
				+ '</span></button>'
				+ (post_id
					? '<button class="dsq-button" id="dsq-cancel-button' + pid + '" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleReply(' + post_id +', this)"><span>' + Dsq.Strings.CANCEL + '</span></button>'
					: '')
			+ '</div>'
			+ '</div>' // end dsq-form-area
		+ '</div> \
		';
		
		return html;
	};




	this.appendPost = function(post_id) {
		var html = '<div id="dsq-append-post-' + post_id + '"></div>';
		return html;
	};

	this.postPrependHeader = function(post_id) {
		var html;
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		
		html = ' \
		<table> \
			<tr> \
				<td id="dsq-header-avatar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-header-avatar" onmouseover="Dsq.Post.dropProfile(' + post_id + ')"> \
					<a id="dsq-avatar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-avatar" href="' + userData.url + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">'
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.show_avatar
					? '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.users[_meta.user_key].avatar + '" alt="" />'
					: '')
				+ '</a> \
				</td> \
				<td class="dsq-comment-header-meta"> \
		';

		
		return html;
	};
	
	this.postAppendHeader = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var html;
		var parent_display_name = '';
		
		if(_meta.parent_post_id) {

			var _parent_meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[_meta.parent_post_id];

			if (_parent_meta) {
				var parentUserData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_parent_meta.user_key];
				parent_display_name = parentUserData.display_name;
			}
		}

		html = ' \
		<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/themes/narcissus/moderator.png" class="dsq-moderator-star" title="Moderator" /> \
		<span class="dsq-comment-header-time"><a href="#comment-' + post_id + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.permalink(' + post_id + ')" title="Permalink">' + (_meta.is_realtime ? Dsq.Strings.JUST_NOW : _meta.date) + '</a></span> '
		+ (_meta.parent_post_id && parent_display_name
			? '<a href="#comment-' + _meta.parent_post_id + '" title="Jump to comment">in reply to ' + parent_display_name + '</a>'
			: '')
		+ '</td> \
		<td id="dsq-like-pts-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-comment-header-likes">'
		+ (_meta.points
			? _meta.points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(_meta.points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this.'
			: '')
		+ '</td> \
		</tr> \
		</table> \
		';
		return html;
	};

	this.preBody = function(post_id) {
		var html = '';
		return html;
	};

	this.postFooter = function(post_id) {
		var html;
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		if(_meta.killed || !_meta.approved) { return ''; }
		
		html = ' \
		<div class="dsq-comment-footer" id="dsq-comment-footer-' + post_id + '"> \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer-left">'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator
					? '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.moderateOptions(' + post_id+ '); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.MODERATE + '</a>'
					: '')
				+ '<a href="#" id="dsq-post-report-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-post-report" onclick="Dsq.Post.report(' + post_id + ', false); return false;">' + Dsq.Strings.FLAG + '</a> \
			</div> \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer-right">'
				+ (_meta.votable 
					? '<span id="dsq-like-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-like">'
					+ (!_meta.up_voted
						? '<button class="dsq-button-small" onclick="Dsq.Post.rate(this, ' + post_id + ', 1)" >Like</button>'
						: 'You liked this.&nbsp;&nbsp;')
					+ '</span>'
					: '')
				+ (_meta.can_reply && !_meta.has_replies && _meta.from_request_user
					? '<button class="dsq-button-small dsq-post-edit" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + ')" >' + Dsq.Strings.EDIT + '</button>'
					: '')
				+ (_meta.can_reply
					? '<span class="dsq-comment-footer-reply" id="dsq-comment-footer-reply-' + post_id + '" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleReply(' + post_id +', this)"> \
						<button class="dsq-button-small">' + Dsq.Strings.REPLY + '</button> \
						<button class="dsq-comment-footer-reply-tab">' + Dsq.Strings.REPLY + '</button><span></span> \
					</span>'
					: '')
			+ '</div> \
		</div> \
		';
		
		return html;
	};



	
	this.showRetweets = function(id, limit, element_id /* Optional */) {
		var source, html = '';

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			if (reaction.id === id) {
				source = reaction.retweets;
			}
		}

		if (source) {
			if (limit === 0) {
				limit = source.length;
			}

			for (var j = 0; j < limit; j++) {
				var rt = source[j];
				html += '<a href="' + rt.url + '">' + rt.author_name + '</a>'	+ ((j === (limit - 1)) ? '.' : ', ');
			}
		}

		if (element_id === undefined) {
			return html;
		}

		var element = document.getElementById(element_id);
		element.innerHTML = html;
		return element;
	};

	this.showMoreReactions = function(reactions, has_more, start, limit) {
		var link = document.getElementById('dsq-show-more-reactions');
		var container = link.parentNode;
		container.removeChild(link);

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = reactions[i]; i++) {
			var el = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (el) {
				container.innerHTML += el;
			}
		}

		if (has_more) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = start;
			var l = limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			container.innerHTML += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions" class="dsq-show-more-reactions"><button class="dsq-button-small" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</button></li>';
		}
	};

	this.generateReactionHTML = function(reaction) {
		if (reaction.body === null || reaction.body == '') {
			return;
		}

		if (reaction.author_name === '') {
			reaction.author_name = '&nbsp;';
		}

		if (reaction.url === '') {
			reaction.url = reaction.get_service_url;
		}

		var item = '<li class="dsq-comment dsq-reaction" id="dsq-reaction-' + reaction.id + '">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-comment-header"> \
			<table> \
			<tr> \
			<td class="dsq-header-avatar"> \
			';

		if (reaction.author_url && reaction.author_url !== '') {
			item += '<a target="_blank" href="' + reaction.author_url +'" class="dsq-avatar">';
		}

		if (reaction.avatar_url && reaction.avatar_url !== '') {
			item += '<img src="' + reaction.avatar_url + '"/>';
		} else {

			item += '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/noavatar92.png"/>';
		}

		var service_icon = (reaction.get_service_name == 'trackback' || reaction.get_service_name == 'pingback' ? 'rss' : reaction.get_service_name.replace(' ', ''));
		item += (reaction.author_url && reaction.author_url !== ''
				? '</a>'
				: '')
			+ '</td>'
			+ '<td><cite class="dsq-comment-cite">' + reaction.author_name + '</cite> <span class="dsq-comment-header-time">' + reaction.date_created + '</span></td>'
			+ '<td class="dsq-comment-header-likes"></td>'
			+ '</tr></table></div>' // end dsq-comment-header
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-header" \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-reaction-header-left">'
							+ '<img class="dsq-service-icon" src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/reactions/services/' + service_icon + '.png" />'
							+ ' From <a class="dsq-service-name" target="_blank" href="' + reaction.url + '">' + reaction.get_service_name + '</a> '
							+ 'via ' + (reaction.source == 'backtype' ? '<a href="http://backtype.com/">BackType</a>' : '<a href="' + reaction.source_url + '">UberVU</a>')
						+ '</td>'
						+ '<td class="dsq-reaction-header-right">';
			
			if(reaction.retweets) {
				var num_retweets = reaction.retweets.length;
				if (num_retweets > 0) {
					if (num_retweets == 1) {
						item += 'One more retweet from <a href="' + reaction.retweets[0].url + '">'  + reaction.retweets[0].author_name + '</a>';
					} else {
						item += (num_retweets + ' more retweets from ');
						item += '<span id="dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '">';
						var n_tweets = (num_retweets > 3) ? 3 : num_retweets;
						item += Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(reaction.id, n_tweets);
						if (n_tweets != num_retweets) {
							item += '</span> <a onclick="Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(' + reaction.id + ', 0, \'dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '\');'
								+ 'this.parentNode.removeChild(this); return false;" href="#">Show all</a>';
						}
					}
				}
			}	
			item += '</td></tr> \
			</table> \
			</div>' // end dsq-reaction-header
			+ '<div class="dsq-comment-body"> \
				<div class="dsq-comment-message">' + reaction.body + '</div>'
			+ '</div> \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer"> \
				<div class="dsq-comment-footer-left"> \
				</div>'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator 
					? ' \
					<div class="dsq-comment-footer-right"> \
						<button class="dsq-button-small dsq-hide-reaction" onclick="Dsq.Reaction.hide(' + reaction.id + ')">Hide</button> \
					</div>'
					: '')
			+ '</div>'
		item += '</li>'; /* Reaction HTML ends */
		return item;
	};

	this.reactions = function() {
		var html, reaction;

		if (Dsq.jsonData.reactions === undefined || Dsq.jsonData.reactions.length === 0) {
			return '';
		}

		html = '';
		for (var i = 0; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			var item = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (item) {
				html += item;
			}
		}

		if (Dsq.jsonData.has_more_reactions) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_start;
			var l = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			html += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions" class="dsq-show-more-reactions"><button class="dsq-button-small" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</button></li>';
		}

		return '<h3 id="dsq-reactions-title" class="dsq-h3-reactions">Reactions</h3><ul id="dsq-reactions" class="dsq-reactions">' + html + '</ul>';
	};
	
	this._popupGeneric = function(content) {
		return ' \
		<div class="dsq-popup-container"> \
			<table> \
				<tbody> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-tl"></td><td class="dsq-popup-b"></td><td class="dsq-popup-tr"></td> \
					</tr> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-b"></td> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-body"> \
							<div class="dsq-popup-content"> \
								<div class="dsq-popup-title"> \
									<button class="dsq-button-small" style="float:right" onclick="Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true)">Close</button>' 
									+ content['header'] 
								+ '</div>'
								+ content['body']
							+ '</div> \
							<div class="powered-by"><a href="http://disqus.com/comments/">Powered by <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-logo.png" alt="Disqus Comments" style="margin-bottom:-5px" /></a></div> \
						</td> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-b"></td> \
					</tr> \
					<tr> \
						<td class="dsq-popup-bl"></td><td class="dsq-popup-b"></td><td class="dsq-popup-br"></td> \
					</tr> \
				</tbody> \
			</table> \
		</div> \
		';
	};



	
	this.chooseSubscribe = function(post_id) {

		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		var menu = Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-menu' + pid);
		
		menu.style.display = menu.style.display == 'block' ? 'none' : 'block';
		
	};
	
	this.setSubscribe = function(value, el, post_id) {

		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		var input = Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-on-post' + pid);
		var select = Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-select' + pid);
		var menu = Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-menu' + pid);
		
		select.innerHTML = el.innerHTML;
		input.value = value;
		this.chooseSubscribe(post_id);
	};
	
	this.getFormFields = function(post_id) {

		var fields = {};
		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		var name = Dsq.$('dsq-field-name' + pid);
		var email = Dsq.$('dsq-field-email' + pid);
		var website = Dsq.$('dsq-field-website' + pid);
		var username = Dsq.$('dsq-field-username' + pid);
		var password = Dsq.$('dsq-field-password' + pid);

		fields = {
			'name': name,
			'email': email,
			'website': website,
			'username': username,
			'password': password
		}
		
		return fields;
	}
	
	this.validateFields = function(post_id) {
		
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) { return true; }
		
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);
		
		var nameField = fields.name;
		var websiteField = fields.website;
		var emailField = fields.email;
		
		websiteField.value = (websiteField.value == Dsq.Templates.placeholder['website']) ? '' : websiteField.value;
		
		var v = [{

			validator: Dsq.Validators.name,
			value: nameField.value
		}, {

			validator: Dsq.Validators.email,
			value: emailField.value
		}, {

			validator: Dsq.Validators.url,
			value: websiteField.value
		}];
		
		return Dsq.Validators.validate(v, function(e) { Dsq.Popup.popModal(e, 'Oops...') } );
	};
	
	this.checkExistingUser = function(post_id) {
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);		
		Dsq.Popup.loading(post_id);
		
		if (post_id) {
			Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id].getUserByEmail(fields.email.value);
		} else {
			Dsq.frames['reply_0'].getUserByEmail(fields.email.value);
		}
	};

	this.validateAuth = function(el_clicked, post_id, auth_choice) {
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);
		var email = fields.email ? fields.email.value : '';
		var username = fields.username ? fields.username.value : '';
		var password = fields.password ? fields.password.value : '';
		
		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(el_clicked, post_id);
		
		if (post_id) {
			Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id].validateAuth(auth_choice, email, username, password);
		} else {
			Dsq.frames['reply_0'].validateAuth(auth_choice, email, username, password);
		}
	};

	this.lightboxUpdateEmail = function(post_id, new_email) {
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);
		fields.email.value = new_email;
	};

	this.lightboxAuthenticate = function(post_id, auth_choice, auth_data) {
		var title, body;
		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';

		if(typeof(auth_data) == 'undefined') {
			var auth_data = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);
		}

		d = auth_data;

		switch(auth_choice) {
			case 'register':
				var suggestedUsername = d.name.value.replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9-]/g,'').toLowerCase();
			
				title = Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post ? 'Optional:' : 'Required:';
				title += ' Register a <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-profile.png" alt=Disqus Profile" />';

				body = ' \
				<ul class="dsq-lightbox-register-reasons"> \
				<li>Verify your comments</li> \
				<li>Edit and delete comments</li> \
				<li>Manage comments and replies</li> \
				</ul> \
				';

				body += ' \
				<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-fields"> \
					<table> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Email</td> \
							<td><input type="text" value="' + d.email.value + '" onchange="Dsq.Templates.lightboxUpdateEmail(' + post_id + ', this.value)" /><div id="dsq-email-errors' + pid + '"></div></td> \
						</tr> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Username</td> \
							<td><input id="dsq-field-username' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + suggestedUsername + '"/><div id="dsq-username-errors' + pid + '"></div></td> \
						</tr> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Password</td> \
							<td><input id="dsq-field-password' + pid + '" type="password" /><div id="dsq-password-errors' + pid + '"></div></td> \
						</tr> \
					</table> \
					<div class="dsq-lightbox-switch-auth"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.lightboxAuthenticate(' + post_id + ',\'login\'); return false">Login instead</a></div> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-lightbox-errors' + pid + '" class="dsq-lightbox-errors"></div> \
				<div class="dsq-lightbox-submit"> \
					<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-post"><button class="dsq-button" onclick="Dsq.Templates.validateAuth(this, ' + post_id + ',\'' + auth_choice + '\')">Register and Post comment</button></div>'
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
						? '<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-skip"><button class="dsq-button-small" onclick="Dsq.Templates.postComment(' + post_id + ', this, true)">Just post as a Guest</button></div>'
						: '')
				+ '</div> \
				';
				break;
			case 'login':
				title = Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post ? 'Optional:' : 'Required:';
				title += ' Login to your <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-profile.png" alt=Disqus Profile" />';
				body = '';
				
				if(d.avatar_url) {
					body += '<div class="dsq-lightbox-recognized"><table><tr>';
					body += '<td><img src="' + d.avatar_url + '" alt="" /></td>';
					body += '<td><span class="dsq-badge ' + (d.verified ? 'dsq-badge-verified' : 'dsq-badge-registered') + '">' + (d.verified ? 'Verified' : 'Registered') + '</span></td>';
					body += '<td>Hey <strong>' + d.display_name + '</strong>, is that you? Login below to claim this comment.';
					body += '</tr></table></div>';
				}

				body += ' \
				<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-fields"> \
					<table> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Username or Email</td> \
							<td><input id="dsq-field-username' + pid + '" type="text" value="' + (d.avatar_url ? d.username : '') + '" /></td> \
						</tr> \
						<tr> \
							<td>Password <a href="http://disqus.com/forgot" target="_blank">(cannot log in?)</a></td> \
							<td><input id="dsq-field-password' + pid + '" type="password" /></td> \
						</tr> \
					</table> \
					<div class="dsq-lightbox-switch-auth"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Templates.lightboxAuthenticate(' + post_id + ',\'register\'); return false">Register instead</a></div> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-lightbox-errors' + pid + '" class="dsq-lightbox-errors"></div> \
				<div class="dsq-lightbox-submit"> \
					<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-post"><button class="dsq-button" onclick="Dsq.Templates.validateAuth(this, ' + post_id + ',\'' + auth_choice + '\')">Login and Post comment</button></div>'
					+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
						? '<div class="dsq-lightbox-auth-skip"><button class="dsq-button-small" onclick="Dsq.Templates.postComment(' + post_id + ', this, true)">Just post as a Guest</button></div>'
						: '')
				+ '</div> \
				';
				break;
			default:
				break;
		}
		Dsq.Popup.lightbox(body, title, post_id);
		Dsq.$('dsq-field-username' + pid).focus();
	};
	
	this.buttonsToRestore = [];
	this.setLoadingButton = function(btn, post_id) {
		var pid = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		if (btn) {

			var loadingBtn = document.createElement('button');
			loadingBtn.id = btn.id + '-loading';
			loadingBtn.innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-lite.gif" alt="" /> Just a moment...';
			loadingBtn.className = btn.className + ' dsq-post-loading';
			btn.parentNode.appendChild(loadingBtn);
			btn.style.display = 'none';
			var cancelBtn = Dsq.$('dsq-cancel-button' + pid);
			if(cancelBtn) { cancelBtn.style.display = 'none'; this.buttonsToRestore.push(cancelBtn); }
			this.buttonsToRestore.push(btn);
		} else {

			var buttons = this.buttonsToRestore;
			for(var i = 0; i < buttons.length; i++) {
				buttons[i].style.display = 'inline';
				Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(Dsq.$(buttons[i].id + '-loading'));
			}
		}
		
	};

	this.postComment = function(post_id, el_clicked, force, auth_choice) {
		var append_id = post_id ? '-' + post_id : '';
		var fields = Dsq.Templates.getFormFields(post_id);

		if (Dsq.Templates.validateFields(post_id)) {

			if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated && !force &&
				((!Dsq.Utils.readCookie('skipped_auth') && !disqus_skip_auth && !Dsq.jsonData.forum.disqus_auth_disabled) || !Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post)) {
				Dsq.Templates.checkExistingUser(post_id);
				return false;
			}
			var params = [];
			if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {
				params.push(fields.name.value,
					fields.email.value,
					fields.website.value);

				if (auth_choice == 'login' || auth_choice == 'register') {
					params.push({
						auth_choice: auth_choice,
						username: fields.username.value,
						password: fields.password.value,
						email: fields.email.value
					});
				} else {
					params.push(null);
				}

				params.push(null /* sharing options */, Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe-on-post' + append_id).value);
			} else {
				var service_checked = function(name) {
					var el = Dsq.$('dsq-sharing-' + name + append_id);
					return (el !== null && el.checked === true) ? '1' : '0';
				};
				params.push(null, null, null, null, {
					tw: service_checked('twitter'),
					fb: service_checked('facebook'),
					tr: service_checked('tumblr'),
					wp: service_checked('wordpress'),
					mt: service_checked('movabletype'),
					tp: service_checked('typepad'),
					yh: service_checked('yahoo')
				});
			}

			var frame = Dsq.frames['reply_' + (post_id ? post_id : 0)];
			frame.post.apply(frame, params);

			if (el_clicked) {
				Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(el_clicked, post_id);
			}
			
			if (force) {
				Dsq.Utils.createCookie('skipped_auth', true);	
			}
			
		} else {
			return false;
		}
	};

	this.editComment = function(el_clicked, post_id) {
		var edited_message = Dsq.$('dsq-edit-textarea-' + post_id).value;

		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(el_clicked, post_id);
		Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id].edit(post_id, edited_message);
	};

	this.toggleEdit = function(post_id) {
		var body = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-body-' + post_id);
		var message = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + post_id);

		if (!Dsq.Post.stateEditToggled[post_id]) {


			message.style.display = 'none';
			if (Dsq.$('dsq-edit-' + post_id)) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-edit-' + post_id).style.display = 'block';
			} else {

				var edit_area = document.createElement('div');
				edit_area.id = 'dsq-edit-' + post_id;
				edit_area.className = 'dsq-edit dsq-textarea';
				edit_area.innerHTML = ' \
				<div class="dsq-textarea-wrapper"> \
					<textarea class="dsq-edit-textarea" id="dsq-edit-textarea-' + post_id + '">' + message.innerHTML + '</textarea> \
				</div> \
				<div class="dsq-save-edit"> \
					<button onclick="Dsq.Templates.editComment(this, ' + post_id + ')" class="dsq-button-small">Save Edit</button> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-edit-iframe-' + post_id + '" style="display: none"></div> \
				';

				body.appendChild(edit_area);

				if (!Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id]) {
					var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
					Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id] = new Dsq.ReplyFrame(Dsq.$('dsq-edit-iframe-' + post_id), post_id);
					Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id].init();
					Dsq.frames['edit_' + post_id].setState(post_id, _meta.depth);
				}
			}
		} else {

			message.style.display = 'block';
			Dsq.$('dsq-edit-' + post_id).style.display = 'none';
		}
		
		Dsq.Post.stateEditToggled[post_id] = !Dsq.Post.stateEditToggled[post_id];
	};
	
	this.edit = function(el, post_id) {

		Dsq.Templates.toggleEdit(post_id);
	};

	this.toggleReply = function(post_id, button) {
		
		if(!this.stateReplyToggled[post_id]) {

			if (Dsq.$('dsq-reply-post-' + post_id)) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).style.display = 'block';
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.postBox(post_id);
				var container = Dsq.$('dsq-textarea-wrapper-' + post_id);
				if (!Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id] && container) {
					var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id] = new Dsq.ReplyFrame(container, post_id);
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id].init(function() {

						Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.postBox(post_id, true);
						Dsq.$('dsq-form-area-' + post_id).innerHTML = '';

						var theme = (typeof disqus_frame_theme == 'undefined') ? 'default' : disqus_frame_theme;
						Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(Dsq.$('dsq-form-area-' + post_id), post_id, {theme: theme});

					});
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + post_id].setState(post_id, _meta.depth);
				}
			}
			Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).className = 'dsq-append-post';
			Dsq.$('dsq-comment-footer-reply-' + post_id).className = 'dsq-comment-footer-reply-active';
			
		} else {

			Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).style.display = 'none';
			Dsq.$('dsq-append-post-' + post_id).className = '';
			Dsq.$('dsq-comment-footer-reply-' + post_id).className = 'dsq-comment-footer-reply';
		}
		
		this.stateReplyToggled[post_id] = !this.stateReplyToggled[post_id];

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie && this.stateReplyToggled[post_id]) {

		}

		Dsq.Events.fire(Dsq.Events.REPLY_IFRAME_TOGGLED, {
			postId: post_id,
			opened: this.stateReplyToggled[post_id]
		});
	};
	
	this.moderateOptions = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		
		if(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator && !Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator) { return false; }

		var html;
		
		html = ' \
		<div class="dsq-moderate-options"> \
		<table>'
		+ (_meta.email ? '<tr><td>Email</td><td>' + _meta.email + '</td></tr>' : '')
		+ (_meta.ip ? '<tr><td>IP address</td><td>' + _meta.ip + '</td></tr>' : '')
		+ '<tr> \
			<td>Actions</td> \
			<td><ul>'
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.moderator_can_edit
				? '<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + '); Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false;">Edit Comment</a></li>'
				: '')
			+ '<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.removePost(' + post_id + ', 1); Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false;">Delete Comment</a></li> \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.reportSpam(' + post_id + '); Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false;">Mark Spam</a></li> \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.blacklist(' + post_id + '); return false">Block User</a></li> \
			</ul></td> \
			</table> \
		</div> \
		';
		
		html += '<p>Go to the full <a href="http://disqus.com/comments/moderate/" target="_blank">moderate panel</a> for more options.</p>';
		
		return Dsq.Popup.popModal(html, 'Moderate Options', post_id);
	};
	
	this.placeholder = {
		'class': 'dsq-placeholder',
		'name': Dsq.Strings.NAME,
		'email': Dsq.Strings.EMAIL,
		'website': Dsq.Strings.WEBSITE + ' (' + Dsq.Strings.OPTIONAL.toLowerCase() + ')'
	};
	
	this.handlePlaceholder = function(evt, el, key) {
		var placeholder = Dsq.Templates.placeholder[key];
		var className = Dsq.Templates.placeholder['class'];
		
		switch(evt.type) {
			case 'focus':
				if(el.value == placeholder) {
					el.value = '';
					el.className = '';
				}
				break;

			case 'blur':
				if(el.value == '') {
					el.value = placeholder;
					el.className = className;
				}
				break;
			default:
				break;
		}
	};
	
	this.paginate = function(page, el_clicked) {

		var extra_params = '';

		if(typeof disqus_per_page != 'undefined') {
			extra_params += '&per_page=' + disqus_per_page;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_sort != 'undefined') {
			extra_params += '&sort=' + disqus_sort;
		}

		Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML += '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
		
		if(el_clicked) {
			Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(el_clicked);
		}
		
		Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/thread.js'
			+ '?slug='	+ 'barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day'
			+ '&p='		+ page
			+ extra_params);
	};
	
	
	this.rate = function(el, id, vote) {


		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated || Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_votes) {
			if(vote == 1) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-like-' + id).innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
			}
			Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/vote.js'
				+ '?post_id='    + id
				+ '&vote='        + vote);
		} else {
			Dsq.Popup.login('To rate, please log in');
		}
	};

	this.voted = function(post_id, points, vote) {

		Dsq.$('dsq-like-pts-' + post_id).innerHTML = points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this.';

		if(vote) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-like-' + post_id).innerHTML = 'You liked this.&nbsp;&nbsp;';
		}
	};




	this.postComment_onSuccess = function(response, parent_post_id, post_id) {
		var approved = response.message.post_meta.approved;

		if (parent_post_id) {
			Dsq.Post.toggleReply(parent_post_id);
		}

		Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true);
		
		if (approved) {
			Dsq.Post.incrementPostCount();
			Dsq.Post.outlineComment(post_id);
		} else {			
			var unapproved_msg = 'Thanks for posting!\
	 Your comment must be approved by a moderator before appearing here.\
			';
			Dsq.Popup.popModal(unapproved_msg, 'Comment awaiting approval', post_id);
		}

		var sharing_results = response.message.sharing_results;
		var sharing_errors = '';
		for (var service in sharing_results) {
			if (sharing_results.hasOwnProperty(service) === true) {
				if (sharing_results[service].error === true) {
					sharing_errors += service + ', ';
				}
			}
		}

		if (sharing_results.facebook && sharing_results.facebook.callback) {
			FB.ensureInit(function() {
				FB.Connect.streamPublish('', sharing_results.facebook.attachment);
			});
		}

		if (sharing_errors !== '') {
			var message = 'Your comment was posted, but there were errors sharing with the following connections: ';
			message += sharing_errors.replace(/,\s$/, '');
			message += '<p><a href="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/profile/connections" target="_blank">Configure your connections here</a></p>'
			Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, 'Sharing options');
		}

		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};

	this.postComment_onFailure = function(response, parent_post_id, post_id) {

		Dsq.Templates.setLoadingButton(false);
	};
};




// TODO: It might be faster to use string methods to find all <li (...) </li> blocks and pass to Dsq.PostHandler manually.
Dsq.CommentsHandler = function(str, head, post_id, content, tail, offset, s) {
	var prepend_post = Dsq.Templates.prependPost(post_id);
	var append_post = Dsq.Templates.appendPost(post_id);

	content = content.replace(Dsq.POST_RE, Dsq.PostHandler);
	Dsq.Templates.postLoopCounter++;
	head = Dsq.Templates.Filters.commentContainer(post_id, head);
	return prepend_post + head + content + tail + append_post;
};

Dsq.PostHandler = function(str, h_head, post_id, h_content, h_tail, b_head, b_content, b_tail, offset, s) {
	var prepend_header = Dsq.Templates.postPrependHeader(post_id);
	var append_header = Dsq.Templates.postAppendHeader(post_id);
	var prepend_body = Dsq.Templates.preBody(post_id);
	var append_body = Dsq.Templates.postBody(post_id);
	var append_footer = Dsq.Templates.postFooter(post_id);

	b_content = b_content.replace(Dsq.POST_BODY_RE, Dsq.PostBodyHandler);
	return h_head + prepend_header + h_content + append_header + h_tail + b_head + prepend_body + b_content + append_body + b_tail + append_footer;
};

Dsq.PostBodyHandler = function(str, head, post_id, content, tail, offset, s) {
	content = Dsq.Templates.Filters.commentContent(post_id, content);
	return head + content + tail;
};

Dsq.MediaPostHandler = function(str, args, offset, s) {
	args = args.split(' ');
	if(args[0] == 'seesmic') {
		return '<br />' + Dsq.Templates.mediaSeesmic(args[1], args[2]);
	}
	return '';
};


/**
 * Shorcuts
 */
Dsq.$ = function(element) { return document.getElementById(element); };
Dsq.$b = document.body || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0];


/**
 * Dsq.Debug: Logging functions.
 */

Dsq.Debug = new function() {this.log=function(s){};this.profile=function(f){if(typeof f == 'function')return f();else return eval(f);};};


/**
 * Dsq.Urls: URL paths
 */
Dsq.Urls = new function() {
	this.LOGIN = '/profile/login/';
	this.LOGOUT = '/logout/';
	this.REPLY = 'http://jackandjillpolitics.disqus.com/barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day/reply.html';
	this.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE = '/AnonymousUser/';
	this.REQUEST_USER_AVATAR = 'http://media.disqus.com/images/noavatar92.png';
};
// Dsq.Urls

/**
 * Dsq.Validators: Validation for form fields
 */
Dsq.Validators = new function() {
	this.VALID_EMAIL_RE = /^[a-z0-9\-\_\+]+(\.[a-z0-9\-\_\+]+)*\@(([a-z0-9\-\_\+]+(\.[a-z0-9\-\_\+]+)*)+\.[a-z]{2,}|([0-9]+\.){3}[0-9]+)$/i;
	this.name = function(name) {
		var error = false;

		if(typeof Dsq.Templates.placeholder !== 'undefined' &&
		   name == Dsq.Templates.placeholder.name) {
			error = true;
		}
		if(name.length <= 1) {
			error = true;
		}

		if(error) {
			return "Please enter a name to comment.";
		} else {
			return true;
		}
	};
	this.email = function(addr) {
		if(Dsq.Validators.VALID_EMAIL_RE.test(addr)) {
			return true;
		} else {
			return "Please enter a valid email to comment.";
		}
	};
	this.url = function(addr) {
		if(!addr || addr.indexOf('.') != -1) {
			return true;
		} else {
			return "Please check your website URL (this field is optional).";
		}
	};

	this.validate = function(bulk_validation, failure_callback) {
		failure_callback = failure_callback || function(e){ alert(e); };

		for(var i = 0; i < bulk_validation.length; i++) {
			v = bulk_validation[i];
			ret = v.validator(v.value);
			if(ret !== true) {
				failure_callback(ret);
				return false;
			}
		}
		return true;
	};
};

/**
 * Dsq.Utils: Generic utility functions.
 */
Dsq.Utils = new function() {
	this.ie = /msie/i.test(navigator.userAgent) && !/opera/i.test(navigator.userAgent);
	this.ie7 = (document.all && !window.opera && window.XMLHttpRequest) ? true : false;
	this.ie6 = (!window.XMLHttpRequest) ? true: false;
	this.webkit = navigator.userAgent.indexOf('AppleWebKit/') >= 0;
	this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache = {};
	this._styleSheet = null;

	this.gebiFromElement = function(el, id, tag) {
		// This only method only helps IE.
		if(!this.ie) {
			return Dsq.$(id);
		} else {
			var cacheKey = el.id + '-' + tag;
			tag = tag || 'div';
			if(typeof this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache[cacheKey] != 'undefined') {
				collection = this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache[cacheKey];
			} else {
				collection = el.getElementsByTagName(tag);
				this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache[cacheKey] = collection;
			}

			for(var i = 0; i < collection.length; i++) {
				if(collection[i].id == id) {
					return collection[i];
				}
			}
			return null;
		}
	};

	this.execOnReady = function(func) {
		var node = document.createElement('document:ready');
		try {
			node.doScroll('left');
			func();
			node = null;
		} catch(err) {
			setTimeout(function() { Dsq.Utils.execOnReady(func); }, 10);
		}
	};


	// Courtesy of http://www.quirksmode.org/js/cookies.html
	this.createCookie = function(name,value,days) {
		if (days) {
			var date = new Date();
			date.setTime(date.getTime()+(days*24*60*60*1000));
			var expires = "; expires="+date.toGMTString();
		}
		else var expires = "";
		document.cookie = name+"="+value+expires+"; path=/";
	};

	this.readCookie = function(name) {
		var nameEQ = name + "=";
		var ca = document.cookie.split(';');
		for(var i=0;i < ca.length;i++) {
			var c = ca[i];
			while (c.charAt(0)==' ') c = c.substring(1,c.length);
			if (c.indexOf(nameEQ) == 0) return c.substring(nameEQ.length,c.length);
		}
		return null;
	};

	this.eraseCookie = function(name) {
		Dsq.Utils.createCookie(name,"",-1);
	};

	this.deleteNode = function(node) {
		if(node) {
			this.deleteChildren(node);
			if(typeof node.outerHTML != 'undefined') { node.outerHTML = ''; }
			else if(node.parentNode) { node.parentNode.removeChild(node); }
			delete node;
		}
	};

	this.deleteChildren = function(node) {
		if(node) {
			for(var x = node.childNodes.length-1; x >= 0; x--) {
				var childNode = node.childNodes[x];
				if(childNode.hasChildNodes()) { this.deleteChildren(childNode); }
				if(typeof childNode.outerHTML != 'undefined') { childNode.outerHTML = ''; }
				else node.removeChild(childNode);
				delete childNode;
			}
		}
	};

	this.findPos = function(obj) {
		var curleft = 0;
		var curtop = 0;
		if (obj.offsetParent) {
			do {
				curleft += obj.offsetLeft;
				curtop += obj.offsetTop;
			} while (obj = obj.offsetParent);
		}
		return [curleft,curtop];
	};

	this.getWindowSize = function() {
		var windowWidth = -1;
		var windowHeight = -1;

		if(typeof(window.innerWidth) == 'number') { //Non-IE
			windowWidth = window.innerWidth;
			windowHeight = window.innerHeight;
		} else if(document.documentElement) { // IE 6+ in 'standards compliant mode'
			windowWidth = document.documentElement.clientWidth || document.body.clientWidth;
			windowHeight = document.documentElement.clientHeight || document.body.clientHeight;
		}

		return [windowWidth, windowHeight];
	}

	this.getScrollPos = function() {
		var scrollWidth, scrollTop;

		if(document.documentElement && (document.documentElement.scrollTop || document.documentElement.scrollWidth)) {
			scrollWidth = document.documentElement.scrollWidth;
			// IE is weird here.  If no doctype is provided, document.body.scrollTop is 0,
			// otherwise document.documentElement.scrollTop is 0.
			scrollTop = document.documentElement.scrollTop || document.body.scrollTop;
		} else if(document.body.scrollTop && document.body.scrollWidth) {
			scrollWidth = document.body.scrollWidth;
			scrollTop = document.body.scrollTop;
		}

		return [scrollWidth, scrollTop];
	}

	this.addEventListener = function(instance, eventName, listener) {
		var listenerFn = listener;
		if (instance.addEventListener) {
			instance.addEventListener(eventName, listenerFn, false);
		} else if (instance.attachEvent) {
			listenerFn = function() {
				listener(window.event);
			};
			instance.attachEvent("on" + eventName, listenerFn);
		} else {
			throw new Error("Event registration not supported");
		}
		return {
			instance: instance,
			name: eventName,
			listener: listenerFn
		};
	};

	this.removeEventListener = function(event) {
		var instance = event.instance;
		if (instance.removeEventListener) {
			instance.removeEventListener(event.name, event.listener, false);
		} else if (instance.detachEvent) {
			instance.detachEvent("on" + event.name, event.listener);
		}
	};

	this.fixIframesIE = function(id) {
		var disqusThread = Dsq.$(disqus_container_id);
		var iframes = disqusThread.getElementsByTagName('iframe');

		if(id) {
			var container = Dsq.$(id);
		} else {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-content');
		}

		for(i = 0; i < iframes.length; i++) {
			if (container) {
				iframes[i].style.width = container.offsetWidth;
			}
		}
	};

	this.getElementsByClassName = function(oElm, strTagName, strClassName) {
	/* Credit: Jonathan Snook [http://www.snook.ca/jonathan], Robert Nyman [http://www.robertnyman.com] */
		var arrElements = (strTagName == "*" && oElm.all)? oElm.all : oElm.getElementsByTagName(strTagName);
		var arrReturnElements = new Array();
		strClassName = strClassName.replace(/\-/g, "\\-");
		var oRegExp = new RegExp("(^|\\s)" + strClassName + "(\\s|$)");
		var oElement;
		for(var i = 0; i < arrElements.length; i++) {
			oElement = arrElements[i];
			if(oRegExp.test(oElement.className)) {
				arrReturnElements.push(oElement);
			}
		}
		return (arrReturnElements);
	};

	this.postToUrl = function(url, post_data, opt_redirect) {
		var form = document.createElement('form');
		var iframe_container = document.createElement('div');
		var id = 'dsq-temp-iframe-' + (new Date()).getTime();

		form.method = 'POST';
		form.action = url;
		if (!opt_redirect) {
			form.target = id;
		}
		iframe_container.innerHTML = '<iframe style="display:none" name="' + id + '" id="' + id + '"></iframe>';

		for(var key in post_data) {
			if(post_data.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				var input = document.createElement('input');
				input.name = key;
				input.type = 'hidden';
				input.value = post_data[key];

				form.appendChild(input);
			}
		}

		Dsq.$b.appendChild(iframe_container);
		Dsq.$b.appendChild(form);
		form.submit();
	};

	// Strips integer id from id of element in the form ('some-id-###')
	this.extractId = function(e) {
		var chunks = e.id.split('-');
		if(chunks.length <= 1) {
			return 0;
		} else {
			return parseInt(chunks[chunks.length-1]);
		}
	};

	this.getStyle = function(el, styleProp) {
		if(el.currentStyle) {
			var y = el.currentStyle[styleProp];
		} else if(window.getComputedStyle) {
			var y = document.defaultView.getComputedStyle(el, null).getPropertyValue(styleProp);
		}

		if(y == 'transparent' || y == '') {
			this.getStyle(el.parentNode, styleProp);
		} else {
			return y;
		}
	};

	this.execScript = function(url, append_qs, container) {
		var script = document.createElement('script');
		append_qs = typeof append_qs == 'undefined' ? true : append_qs;
		container = container || Dsq.container;

		if(append_qs) {
			var j = (url.indexOf('?') >= 0) ? '&' : '?';
			url += j + (new Date()).getTime();
		}
		script.type = 'text/javascript';
		script.charset = 'UTF-8';
		script.src = url;
		container.appendChild(script);
		return script;
	};

	this.pluralize = function(num, singular, plural) {
		return (num != 1) ? plural || 's' : singular || '';
	};

	this.getRequestParams = function(queryString /* optional */) {
		var pairs, tuple;
		var params = {};

		queryString = queryString || window.location.search.substring(1);
		pairs = queryString.split('&');

		for (var i = 0, pair; pair = pairs[i]; i++) {
			tuple = pair.split('=');
			params[tuple[0]] = (tuple[1] || true);
		}

		return params;
	};

	this.addCssRule = function(selector, styleText, index) {
		var stylesheet;
		index = index || 0;

		if(!this._styleSheet) {
			var styleEl = document.createElement('style');
			document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(styleEl);
			this._styleSheet = styleEl.sheet;
			if(!this._styleSheet) {
				// IE does not like our newly created stylesheet.
				this._styleSheet = document.styleSheets[document.styleSheets.length-1];
			}
		}
		stylesheet = this._styleSheet;

		if(stylesheet.insertRule) {
			var ruleText = selector + ' { ' + styleText + ' }';
			if(index == -1) {
				index = stylesheet.cssRules.length;
			}
			stylesheet.insertRule(ruleText, index);
		} else if(stylesheet.addRule) {
			stylesheet.addRule(selector, styleText, index);
		}
	};

	this.forEachIn = function(obj, callback) {
		for(var key in obj) {
			if(obj.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				callback(key, obj[key]);
			}
		}
	};

	this._interpolateGlobalContext = {
		// values that get used a lot and are global to the request
		'profile_url': Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE,

		'disqus_url': Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url,
		'media_url': Dsq.jsonData.settings.media_url,
		'request_username': Dsq.jsonData.request.username,
		'request_display_username': Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username,
		'forum_name': Dsq.jsonData.forum.name
	};

	this.renderFromContextStack = function(key, contexts) {
		// Returns the first instance of `key` in the array of objects `contexts` or else ''
		for (var i=0; i<contexts.length; i++) {
			if (contexts[i][key] !== undefined) {
				return String(contexts[i][key]);
			}
		}
		throw new Error('key ' + key + ' not found in context');
	};

	var that = this;
	this.interpolate = function(fmt, opt_localContext) {
		// Interpolate `fmt` named-format string with an assumed global context.
		// Based on `interpolate` in django.views.i18n
		var contextStack = [opt_localContext || {}, that._interpolateGlobalContext];
		return fmt.replace(/%\(\w+\)s/g, function(match){
			return that.renderFromContextStack(match.slice(2,-2), contextStack);
		});
	};

	this.stripTags = function(s) {
		// Removes HTML tags from `s`
		return s.replace(/(<([^>]+)>)/g,"");

	};

	this.assert = function(b) {
		if (!b) {
			throw new Error('Assertion error.');
		}
	};

};
// Dsq.Utils

/**
 * Dsq.Popup: Popup helper functions.
 */
Dsq.Popup = new function() {
	this.timeHide = new Array();
	this.timeShow = new Array();
	this.activePopup = {};
	this.profileCache = {};
	this.statusCache = {};

	this.showTimer = function(post_id) {
		// clear the hide timer
		clearTimeout(this.timeHide[post_id]);

		// start the timer
		if(!Dsq.Popup.profileIsOn && !Dsq.Thread.adminIsOn) {
			this.timeShow[post_id] = setTimeout("Dsq.Popup.popProfile(\"" + post_id + "\")", 400);
		}
	};

	this.hideTimer = function(post_id) {
		// clear the show timer
		clearTimeout(this.timeShow[post_id]);
	};

	this.updateProfile = function(username) {
		// Callback from /embed/profile.js
		if (this.statusCache[username]) {
			var statusEl = Dsq.$('dsq-profile-status-' + username);
			statusEl.innerHTML = this.statusCache[username];
			statusEl.style.display = 'block';
		}

		if (this.profileCache[username]) {
			var _cache = this.profileCache[username];

			var _genhtml = function(text) { return '<span><big>' + text + '</big></span>'; };
			var _no_comments = _genhtml(Dsq.FmtStrings.NUMBER_OF_COMMENTS(_cache.comments_count));
			var _no_likes = _genhtml(Dsq.FmtStrings.NUMBER_OF_LIKES(_cache.likes_count));
			var _no_points = _genhtml(Dsq.FmtStrings.NUMBER_OF_POINTS(_cache.points));

			var statsEl = Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-user-stats-' + username);
			statsEl.innerHTML = '';

			if (Dsq.jsonData.users[username].registered) {
				statsEl.innerHTML = _no_comments + _no_likes;
			}
			statsEl.innerHTML += _no_points;

			var activeSites = '';
			for (var i = 0; i < _cache.active_sites.length; i++) {
				var site = _cache.active_sites[i];
				activeSites += '<li><a href="' + site.url + '"> \
					<img src="' + site.favicon + '"/ width="16" height="16"/></a>\
					<a href="' + site.url + '">' + site.name + '</a></li>';
			}
			if (activeSites !== '') {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-' + username).innerHTML = activeSites;
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-' + username).innerHTML = 'This site.';
			}

			var moderatedSites = '';
			for (var i = 0; i < _cache.moderated_sites.length; i++) {
				var site = _cache.moderated_sites[i];
				moderatedSites += '<li><a href="' + site.url + '"> \
					<img src="' + site.favicon + '"/ width="16" height="16"/></a>\
					<a href="' + site.url + '">' + site.name + '</a></li>';
			}
			if (moderatedSites !== '') {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-moderated-' + username).innerHTML = moderatedSites;
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-moderated-wrapper-' + username).innerHTML = '';
			}
		}

		// Reposition popup after full HTML is rendered
		if(Dsq.Popup.activePopup && Dsq.Popup.activePopup.el) {
			Dsq.Popup.initPopup(Dsq.Popup.activePopup.el, Dsq.Popup.activePopup.id, Dsq.Popup.activePopup.type);
		}

	};

	this.showCookieMsgs = function() {
		var title = '';
		var message = '';
		var numAlerts = 0;

		Dsq.Utils.forEachIn(Dsq.jsonData.cookie_messages, function(k, v) {
			if (!v) return;

			switch(k) {
				// Cookie: Twitter
				case 'post_twitter':
					if (v === 'error') {
						title = 'Twitter Error!';
						message += '<li id="dsq-msg-twitter-error">Oops, we couldn\'t tweet this comment. Please check your <a href="http://disqus.com/account/services">account settings</a>.</li>';
					} else {
						var _msg = v.split(':');
						title = 'Tweeted!';
						message += '<li id="dsq-msg-twitter-success">Your comment was successfully tweeted. <a href="http://twitter.com/' + _msg[0] + '/status/' + _msg[1] + '">Click here to view the tweet</a>.</li>';
					}
					break;
				// Cookie: Unapproved Post
				case 'post_not_approved':
					title = 'Comment awaiting approval by a moderator';
					message += '<li id="dsq-msg-post-not-approved">Your comment must be approved by a moderator before appearing here.</li>';
					break;
				// Cookie: Profile Found
				case 'post_has_profile':
					title = 'Use your existing commenter profile';
					message += '<li id="dsq-msg-post-has-profile">You have just posted your commment as a <span class="dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span>, but you may already have a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile.<br /><br /><a href="http://disqus.com/claim">Log in and claim this comment!</a></li>';
					break;
				case 'user_created':
					var _data = v.split(':');
					title = 'Profile created!';
					message += '<li id="dsq-msg-user-created">You have just created a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile, the best way to claim, manage, and track your comments all over the web. \
					<br /><br />A confirmation is being sent to <strong>' + _data[1] + '</strong>. Please check for this email in order to verify your profile. \
					<ul class="dsq-list-tick"> \
						<li>Your username is <strong>' + _data[0] +'</strong>. <a href="http://disqus.com/people/' + _data[0] + '/" target="_blank">Click here to view your public profile</a>.</li> \
						<li>Be sure to set your profile picture, as well as connect your <span class="dsq-badge-facebook">Facebook</span> and <span class="dsq-badge-twitter">Twitter</span> accounts. <a href="http://disqus.com/account/" target="_blank">Click here for account settings</a>.</li> \
					</ul> \
					</li>'
					break;
				default:
					break;
			}
			numAlerts++;
		});

		if(numAlerts > 1) {
			message = '<ul class="dsq-list-bluebullet">' + message;
			message += '</ul>';
			title = 'Thanks for posting!';
		}
		if(numAlerts > 0) {
			if(typeof(disqus_cookie_msgs) == 'function') {
				disqus_cookie_msgs(message, title);
			} else {
				Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);
			}
		}
	};

	this.helpBadges = function(post_id) {
		var html = ' \
			<ul class="dsq-popup-help"> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-verified">Verified</span> has a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile with a confirmed email address.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span> has a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile, but has not yet confirmed his or her email address.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span> is not logged in with any account and has not claimed his or her comments.</li> \
				<li class="dsq-help-otheraccts">Other accounts</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-facebook">Facebook</span> is using his or her Facebook profile via Facebook Connect.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-twitter">Twitter</span> is using his or her Twitter profile via Twitter Sign-in.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-openid">OpenID</span> is using his or her OpenID.</li> \
			</ul> \
		';

		this.popModal(html, 'Help: Types of Commenters', post_id);
		return;
	};

	this.permalink = function(post_id) {
		var header = 'Link to this comment';
		var body = '<strong>You are anchored to</strong>:<br />' + document.location.protocol + '//' + document.location.host + document.location.pathname + document.location.search + '#comment-' + post_id;

		this.popModal(body, header, post_id);
	};

	this.login = function(header, body) {
		var h = header || 'Login or Register';
		var b = body || '';
		b += Dsq.Templates.frameLogin({id: 'dsq-popup-login'});
		b += '</iframe>'; // HACK: Sometimes there is something funky with the IFRAME SRC that causes no end tag
		this.popModal(b, h, null, true, 'dsq-popup-login');
	};

	this.blacklist = function(id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		var title = 'Add to Blacklist';
		var message = ' \
		Adding this person to the blacklist will block him or her from commenting on this site. Check the following types that you would like to add to the blacklist:'
		+ (userData['registered'] ?
			'<div class="dsq-blacklist-option"> \
				<input id="dsq-blacklist-username" type="checkbox" checked> \
				<label for="dsq-blacklist-username"><strong>Username</strong>: ' + userData['username'] + '</label> \
			</div>'
			: '')
		+ (_meta.email ?
			'<div class="dsq-blacklist-option"> \
				<input id="dsq-blacklist-email" type="checkbox" checked> \
				<label for="dsq-blacklist-email"><strong>Email address</strong>: ' + _meta.email + '</label> \
			</div>'
			: '')
		+ '<div class="dsq-blacklist-option"> \
			<input id="dsq-blacklist-ip" type="checkbox" onclick="Dsq.$(\'dsq-blacklist-ip-warning\').style.display=\'block\'"> \
			<label for="dsq-blacklist-ip"><strong>IP address</strong>: ' + _meta.ip + '</label> \
		</div> \
		';

		message += ' \
			<p id="dsq-blacklist-ip-warning" style="display:none">	\
				Note: Blocking this person\'s IP address may also unintentionally prevent others, who share his/her IP address, from commenting on this site. \
				This may include people who are sharing the same computer, living in the same house, or using the same Internet provider. Only block an IP address as a last resort. \
			</p> \
		';

		message += ' \
			<p style="text-align:center"><button onclick="Dsq.Post.blockUser(' + id + '); this.disabled=true; this.innerHTML=\'Just one moment...\'">Add to Blacklist</button></p> \
		';

		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);
	};

	this.remoteAccountSettings = function() {
		var body = '';
		// Set up IFrame.
		var params = {};
		var base_url = 'http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/_auth/embed/remote_settings/';
		var attributes = {id: 'dsq-popup-account-settings'};
		if (typeof disqus_frame_theme != 'undefined') {
			params['theme'] = disqus_frame_theme;
		}

		body = Dsq.Templates._frameGeneric(base_url, params, attributes);
		this.popModal(body, 'Account Settings', null, true, 'dsq-popup-account-settings');
	};

	this.popModal = function(message, title, post_id, use_listener, extra_classes) {
		var container = document.createElement('div');
		var header, body;

		Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true);

		if(typeof(title) == 'undefined') { title = ''; }
		if(typeof(use_listener) == 'undefined') { use_listener = true; }

		if(post_id) {
			container.id = 'dsq-popup-message-' + post_id;
		} else {
			container.id = 'dsq-popup-message';
		}

		header = title;
		body = message;

		container.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.popupModal(header, body);
		Dsq.Popup.initPopup(container, post_id, 'message', extra_classes);
		if(use_listener) {
			Dsq.Popup.popupListener = Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(document, 'mouseup', Dsq.Popup._closePopup);
		}
	};

	this.popAlert = this.popModal;

	this.loading = function(post_id) {
		var title = Dsq.Strings.JUST_A_MOMENT;
		var body = '<div style="text-align:center; padding: 5px 0 10px 0"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading.gif" alt="" /></div>'
		Dsq.Popup.lightbox(body, title, post_id);
	};

	this.lightbox = function(message, title, post_id) {
		// Wraps Dsq.Popup.popModal

		var overlay = document.createElement('div');
		overlay.id = 'dsq-overlay';
		overlay.className = 'dsq-overlay';
		Dsq.$b.appendChild(overlay);
		
		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title, post_id, false, 'dsq-lightbox');
	};

	this.popProfile = function(post_id, userKey) {
		var post = Dsq.jsonData['posts'][post_id];
		if (post && post.has_been_anonymized) {
			Dsq.Popup.popModal('This message was anonymized by its previous owner.', 'Anonymized', post_id);
			return;
		}

		if(post_id) {
			userKey = Dsq.jsonData['posts'][post_id].user_key;	
		}
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][userKey];
		var elId = 'dsq-popup-profile-' + userKey;
		var container = document.createElement('div');

		if(this.activePopup.el) {
			this._closePopup(null, true);
			if(this.activePopup.linkClicked) {
				this.activePopup.linkClicked = false;
				return;
			}
		}

		container.id = elId;
		container.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.popupProfile(userKey);

		this.initPopup(container, post_id, 'profile');
		this.popupListener = Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(document, 'mouseup', this._closePopup);

		if(!this.profileCache[userKey]) {
			Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/embed/profile.js'
				+ '?username=' + userKey
				+ '&anon=' + (userData['registered'] ? 0 : 1)
				+ '&f=' + Dsq.jsonData['request'].forum);
		} else {
			this.updateProfile(userKey);
		}
	};

	this._closePopup = function(e, force) {
		var activePopup = Dsq.Popup.activePopup.el;
		var id = Dsq.Popup.activePopup.id;
		var link = 'dsq-avatar-' + id; // HACK: Specific to profile toggle target

		// HACK: This event should be gone if there is no active popup.
		if(!activePopup) {
			return;
		}
		if(force || !Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, activePopup.id)) {
			// TODO: This is breaking iE?
			if(Dsq.Popup.popupListener) {
				Dsq.Utils.removeEventListener(Dsq.Popup.popupListener);
			}
			
			// Kill overlay
			var overlay = Dsq.$('dsq-overlay');
			if(overlay) { Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(overlay); }
			
			try {
				Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(activePopup);
			} catch(e) {
				// HACK: IE6 throws an error when using deleteNode() with a node containing a <table> in the html.
				activePopup.parentNode.removeChild(activePopup);
			}
			Dsq.Popup.activePopup = {};
		}

		if(!force && Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, link)) {
 			Dsq.Popup.activePopup.linkClicked = true;
		}

	};

	this.initPopup = function(popup, post_id, type, extra_classes) {
		popup.className = 'dsq-popup dsq-popup-' + type + ' ' + (extra_classes ? extra_classes : '');
		if(Dsq.Utils.ie6 || Dsq.Utils.ie7) {
			// HACK: We can't modify the body before it's ready, so we need
			//       to use an IE-safe "DOMReady" workaround before loading
			//       our popup.
			Dsq.Utils.execOnReady(function() {Dsq.$b.appendChild(popup); });
		} else {
			Dsq.$b.appendChild(popup);
		}

		popup.style.display = 'block';

		var xPos = (Dsq.Utils.getWindowSize()[0] - popup.offsetWidth) / 2;
		var yPos = (Dsq.Utils.getWindowSize()[1] - popup.offsetHeight) / 2;

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) {
			yPos += Dsq.Utils.getScrollPos()[1];
		}

		popup.style.left = xPos + 'px';
		popup.style.top = yPos + 'px';

		Dsq.Popup.activePopup = {
			'el' : popup,
			'id' : post_id,
			'type': type,
			'linkClicked' : false
		};
	};

	this.isClicked = function(e, id) {
		var t = e.target || e.srcElement;
		while(t && t.parentNode) {
			if(t.id == id) {
				return true;
			}

			t = t.parentNode;
		}
		return false;
	};
};
// Dsq.Popup

/**
 * Dsq.Templates
 */
Dsq.Templates = new function() {
	/*
	 * Counter keeping track of the number of posts iterated over.
	 */
	this.postLoopCounter = 0;
	this.filters = {};
	this.addPostContainer = 'dsq-post-add';
	this.textareaContainer = 'dsq-post-add';

	this.registerTemplate = function(name, func) {
		this['$$_' + name] = func;

		if(typeof DsqLocal.Filters != 'undefined'
		&& typeof DsqLocal.Filters[name] == 'function') {
			// Push filters to this.filters to unify code.
			this.filters[name] = this.filters[name] || [];
			this.filters[name].push(DsqLocal.Filters[name]);
		}

		this[name] = function() {
			var ret;

			if(typeof DsqLocal.Templates != 'undefined'
			&& typeof DsqLocal.Templates[name] == 'function') {
				ret = DsqLocal.Templates[name].apply(this, arguments);
			}

			if(ret === undefined) {
				ret = this['$$_' + name].apply(this, arguments);
			}

			if(this.filters[name]) {
				var args = [ret];

				args.push.apply(args, arguments);
				for(var i = 0; i < this.filters[name].length; i++) {
					ret = this.filters[name][i].apply(this, args);
				}
			}

			return ret;
		};
	};

	this.registerFilter = function(name, func) {
		this.filters[name] = this.filters[name] || [];
		this.filters[name].push(func);
	};

	/**
	 * Dsq.Templates.Filters
	 */
	this.Filters = new function() {
		this.commentContainer = function(post_id, s) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
			var classes = [];
			if(Dsq.jsonData.request.page > 1) {
				classes.push('dsq-append');
			}

			//
			// Extra classes used for custom themes
			//

			if(_meta.depth) {
				classes.push('dsq-comment-child', 'dsq-depth-' + _meta.depth, 'dsq-parent-is-' + _meta.parent_post_id);
			}


			//

			if(_meta.author_is_creator) {
				// TODO: We need to deprecate the "special" class since it is not properly prefixed.
				classes.push('special', 'dsq-special');
			}
			if(_meta.author_is_moderator) {
				classes.push('dsq-moderator');
			}
			classes.push(['dsq-odd', 'dsq-even'][Dsq.Templates.postLoopCounter % 2]);

			s = s.substring(0, s.lastIndexOf('>'));
			return s + ' class="dsq-comment ' + classes.join(' ') + '" style="margin-left:' + _meta.depth*30 + 'px">';
		};

		this.commentContent = function(post_id, s) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
			if (_meta.killed) {
				return '<em>Comment removed.</em>';
			} else if (!_meta.approved) {
				return '<em>This comment was flagged for review.</em>';
			}

			s = s.replace(Dsq.MEDIA_POST_RE, Dsq.MediaPostHandler);
			return s;
		};
	};

	//
	// Thread
	//
	// TODO: These need to be stripped of all Django template tags.

	this.authPost = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.context.show_reply) {
			return '';
		}
		var result = [];
		result = result.concat([
				'<div id="dsq-auth"',
						Dsq.jsonData.integration.reply_position ? 'class="dsq-auth-bottom"' : '',
						'>',
					'<div class="dsq-by">',
						'<a href="http://disqus.com" target="_blank">',
							(Dsq.jsonData.integration.disqus_logo ?
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<img src="%(media_url)s/images/embed/by-disqus.png" alt="discussion by DISQUS">') :
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<img src="%(media_url)s/images/embed/dsq-button-120x19.png" alt="discussion by DISQUS">')
							),
						'</a>',
					'</div>',
					'<div class="dsq-auth-header">',
						'<h3 id="dsq-add-new-comment" class="dsq-h3-addcomment">',
								Dsq.Strings.ADD_NEW_COMMENT,
						'</h3>',
						'<div id="dsq-login">',
						(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated && Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
								? '<p class="dsq-login-message" id="dsq-login-message">You are commenting as a <a class="dsq-help" title="Click for more information" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges(); return false">Guest</a>. You may select one to log into:</p>'
								: '')
		]);
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {
			result = result.concat([
							Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
								'<a id="dsq-login-toggle" href="%(disqus_url)s%(login_url)s?next=article:%(thread_id)s" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false"><img class="dsq-login-icon" src="%(media_url)s/images/dsq-profile-btn.png" title="%(log_into)s" alt="%(log_into)s"/></a>',
								{login_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGIN, thread_id: Dsq.jsonData.thread.id, log_into: Dsq.Strings.LOG_INTO_DISQUS}
								),
							'&nbsp; ',
							(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect ?
								'<div id="dsq-fbc-login" onlogin="DisqusFbcParentController.onLogin()" size="medium" background="light" length="short" style="display:inline; margin-right:7px"></div>' :
								''
							),
							(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_twitter_signin ?
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
									'<div id="dsq-twitter-login" class="dsq-twitter-login" onclick="Dsq.Twitter.startTwitterConnect();" style="display:inline; cursor: pointer"><img src="%(media_url)s/images/twitter-signin-short.png" style="margin-right:7px" /></div>', {}) : ''),
							(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_openid ?
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
									'<div id="dsq-openid-login" class="dsq-openid-login" onclick="Dsq.OpenID.requestURL();" style="display:inline; cursor:pointer;"><img src="%(media_url)s/images/openid-login-button.png"/></div>', {}
								) : '')
			]);
		}
		result = result.concat([
						'</div>', // dsq-login
					'</div>', // dsq-auth-header
					'<div id="dsq-authenticated" class="dsq-authenticated" ',
						Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated ? 'style="display:block"' : '',
						'>',
						'<div class="dsq-authenticated-pic">',
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(url)s" title="%(request_display_username)s">' +
																			'<img class="dsq-post-avatar" src="%(avatar_url)s" alt="" /></a>',
																			{avatar_url: Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_AVATAR,
																			url: (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
																					 ? Dsq.jsonData.request.url
																					 : Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE) }),
						'</div>',
						'<div class="dsq-authenticated-info">',
							'<ul>',
								'<li>',
									(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
										? Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGGED_IN_AS(
												Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(url)s" title="%(request_display_username)s">%(request_display_username)s</a>', {url:Dsq.jsonData.request.url})
										  )
										: Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGGED_IN_AS(
												Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(profile_url)s" title="%(request_display_username)s">%(request_display_username)s</a>')
											)
									),
								'</li>',
								'<li class="logout">',
									(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
										? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<img class="dsq-login-icon" src="%(media_url)s/images/dsqicon12.png" alt="%(logged_in_as)s"/>&nbsp',
											{logged_in_as: Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGGED_IN_AS(Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username)})
										: ''),

									(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
										? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(logout_url)s?ctkn=%(csrf_token)s" title="%(logout_from_disqus)s">',
											{logout_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT, csrf_token: Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN, logout_from_disqus: Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGOUT_FROM('DISQUS')})
										: ((Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain == 'twitter')
												? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('using Twitter (<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(logout_url)s?ctkn=%(csrf_token)s" title="Logout">Logout</a>)',
												 {logout_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT, csrf_token: Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN})
												: ((Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain == 'openid')
													 ? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('using OpenID (<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(logout_url)s?ctkn=%(csrf_token)s" title="Logout">Logout</a>)',
													 {logout_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT, csrf_token: Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN})
													 : ''
													)
											)
									),

									(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote ? Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGOUT_FROM('<span class="logo-disqus">DISQUS</span>') : ''),
									'</a>',
								'</li>',
							'</ul>',
						'</div>',
					'</div>'
		]);
		if (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect) {
			result = result.concat([
					'<div id="dsq-fbc-authenticated" class="dsq-authenticated">',
						'<div id="dsq-fbc-profilepic" class="dsq-authenticated-pic" uid="loggedinuser" type="FB.XFBML.ProfilePic" size="square" facebook-logo="true"></div>',
						'<div class="dsq-authenticated-info">',
							'<ul>',
								'<li>',
									'Logged in as <span id="dsq-fbc-name" uid="loggedinuser" type="FB.XFBML.Name" linked="true" useyou="false"></span>',
								'</li>',
								'<li class="logout">using Facebook Connect <a href="#" onclick="javascript:DisqusFbcParentController.logout();return false;">(Logout)</a></li>',
							'</ul>',
						'</div>',
					'</div>'
			]);
		}
		result = result.concat([
				'</div>', // dsq-auth
				'<div id="dsq-toolbar-items">',
				'</div>'
		]);
		result = result.concat([
					//
					//
					//
				((!Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post && !Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) ?
					// Needs to be translated:
					('<p id="dsq-no-anon-msg">Required: Please log into <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> ' +
					(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect ? 'or connect with Facebook ' : '') +
					(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_twitter_signin ? 'or sign in with Twitter ' : '') +
					(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_openid ? 'or sign in using OpenID ' : '') +
					Dsq.Utils.interpolate('to comment on <strong>%(forum_name)s</strong>.</p>')) :
					''
				),
				'<div id="dsq-post-add"></div>',
				'<div style="margin:10px 0">',
				((Dsq.jsonData.forum.use_media) ?
						'<a href="#" id="dsq-media-link" onclick="Dsq.Post.showMenu(this, false, \'media\'); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.USE_MEDIA + ' <small>&#9660;</small></a>' :
						''),
				'</div>'
		]);
		return result.join('');
	};


	this.header = function() {

		var html = '\<h3 id="dsq-comments-count" class="dsq-h3-commentcount">\
	 <span id="dsq-num-posts">189</span> Comments\
	 &nbsp;\
	 <span class="dsq-item-feed">\
	 <a href="http://jackandjillpolitics.disqus.com/barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day/latest.rss"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/bullet-feed.png"></a>\
	 </span>\
	 </h3>\
	 <div id="dsq-options" style="margin:15px 0">\
	 <span class="dsq-item-sort">\
	 Sort by\
	 <select id="dsq-sort-select" onchange="Dsq.Thread.sortBy(this.value);">\
	 <option value="hot" selected="selected">Popular now</option>\
	 <option value="best" >Best Rating</option>\
	 <option value="newest" >Newest first</option>\
	 <option value="oldest" >Oldest first</option>\
	 </select>\
	 &nbsp;\
	 </span>\
	 <span class="dsq-item-cp"><a href="http://jackandjillpolitics.disqus.com/barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day/">Community Page</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>\
	 <span class="dsq-item-subscribe">\
	 <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/email.png" style="width:12px;height:12px;vertical-align:middle">\
	 <span id="dsq-subscribe">\
	 <a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1); return false">Subscribe by email</a>\
	 </span>\
	 </span>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-alerts">\
	 <p><a href="http://disqus.com/profile/login/?next=article:1531622" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false">You must log into your Disqus Profile in order to post comments.</a></p>\
	 </div>\
		';

		

		
		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator) { 
			html = ' \
			<div class="dsq-alert-message dsq-upgrade-message"> \
				<strong>Disqus upgrade available.</strong> Hi ' + Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username + ', this message is being displayed to you because you are a moderator of this site. <a href="#" onclick="Dsq.$(\'dsq-upgrade-message\').style.display=\'block\';this.style.display=\'none\';return false">Click here for details.</a> \
				<div style="display:none; margin-top:10px;" id="dsq-upgrade-message"> \
					A new theme is available with added features. <a href="http://disqus.com/comments/settings/' + Dsq.jsonData.forum.url + '/?p=customize">To change your theme, click here</a> and choose the theme Narcissus. \
					If you do not upgrade, you are missing out on features such as: real-time commenting, new sign-in integrations, and an upgrade interface. \
					<strong>This message will automatically go away in one week.</strong> \
				</div> \
			</div> \
			' + html; 
		}
		return html;
	};

	this.footer = function() {
		var html = Dsq.Templates.pagination();

		
			html += Dsq.Templates.authPost();
		

		html += Dsq.Templates.reactions();

		
			html += Dsq.Templates.trackbacks();
		

		return html;
	};

	this.pagination = function() {
		var html = '';
		
		if (Dsq.$('dsq-pagination')) { Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML = ''; }
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.thread.paginate) { return ''; }

		//
		// TODO: num_paginator still uses the template tag for pagination, 
		// 		while append_paginator does it all in JavaScript.
		//		This should all be in JavaScript.
		//

		if (Dsq.jsonData.thread.num_pages > 1 && Dsq.jsonData.request.page < Dsq.jsonData.thread.num_pages) {
			html = ' \<a class="dsq-paginate-append-text" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.paginate(Dsq.jsonData.request.page + 1, this); return false">Show more comments...</a>\
	 <button class="dsq-button-small dsq-paginate-append-button" onclick="Dsq.Thread.paginate(Dsq.jsonData.request.page + 1, this);">Load more comments</button>\
			';
		}
		
		if (Dsq.$('dsq-pagination')) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML = html;
			return '';
		} else {
			return '<div id="dsq-pagination" class="dsq-pagination">' + html + '</div>';
		}
	};

	this.trackbacks = function() {
		var html = '';

		if(typeof DsqLocal != 'undefined' && DsqLocal.trackback_url && DsqLocal.trackbacks) {
			var trackbacks = DsqLocal.trackbacks;
			var trackback_url = DsqLocal.trackback_url;
		} else {
			var trackbacks = [
			
			
			];
			var trackback_url = 'http://jackandjillpolitics.disqus.com/barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day/trackback/';
		}

		html += '<div class="dsq-item-trackback">Trackback URL&nbsp;&nbsp;<input class="dsq-trackback-url" onclick="this.select()" readonly="true" value="' + trackback_url + '"></div>';

		if(trackbacks.length) {
			html += '<ul id="dsq-references">'
			for(var i = 0; i < trackbacks.length; i++) {
				var trackback = trackbacks[i];
				html += '<li><cite><a href="' + trackback.author_url + '" rel="nofollow">' + trackback.author_name + '</a></cite> \
						<p class="dsq-meta">' + trackback.date + '</p> \
						<p class="dsq-content">' + trackback.excerpt + '</p></li>';
			}
			html += '</ul>';
			html = '<h3 class="dsq-h3-trackbacks">Trackbacks</h3>' + html;
		}

		return html;
	}

	this.showRetweets = function(id, limit, element_id /* Optional */) {
		var source, html = '';

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			if (reaction.id === id) {
				source = reaction.retweets;
			}
		}

		if (source) {
			if (limit === 0) {
				limit = source.length;
			}

			for (var j = 0; j < limit; j++) {
				var rt = source[j];
				html += '<a href="' + rt.url + '">' + rt.author_name + '</a>'	+ ((j === (limit - 1)) ? '.' : ', ');
			}
		}

		if (element_id === undefined) {
			return html;
		}

		var element = document.getElementById(element_id);
		element.innerHTML = html;
		return element;
	};

	this.showMoreReactions = function(reactions, has_more, start, limit) {
		var link = document.getElementById('dsq-show-more-reactions');
		var container = link.parentNode;
		container.removeChild(link);

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = reactions[i]; i++) {
			var el = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (el) {
				container.innerHTML += el;
			}
		}

		if (has_more) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = start;
			var l = limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			container.innerHTML += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions"><a href="#" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</a></li>';
		}
	};

	this.generateReactionHTML = function(reaction) {
		if (reaction.body === null || reaction.body == '') {
			return;
		}

		if (reaction.author_name === '') {
			reaction.author_name = '&nbsp;';
		}

		if (reaction.url === '') {
			reaction.url = reaction.get_service_url;
		}

		/* Reaction HTML begins */
		var item = '<li class="dsq-reaction" id="dsq-reaction-' + reaction.id + '">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-header">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-header-avatar">';

		if (reaction.author_url && reaction.author_url !== '') {
			item += '<a target="_blank" href="' + reaction.author_url +'">';
		} else {
			item += '<a target="_blank" href="#" onclick="return false;">';
		}

		if (reaction.avatar_url && reaction.avatar_url !== '') {
			item += '<img src="' + reaction.avatar_url + '"/>';
		} else {
			item += '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/noavatar32.png"/>';
		}

		var service_icon = (reaction.get_service_name == 'trackback' || reaction.get_service_name == 'pingback' ? 'rss' : reaction.get_service_name.replace(' ', ''));
		item += '<img class="dsq-service-icon" src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/reactions/services/' + service_icon + '.png"/>'
			+ '</a></div>'
			+ '<cite><span>' + reaction.author_name + '</span></cite>'
			+ '<span class="dsq-header-meta"><a class="dsq-header-time">' + reaction.date_created + '</a></span>'
			+ '</div><div class="dsq-reaction-body">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-message">' + reaction.body + '</div>'
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-footer">From <a class="dsq-service-name" target="_blank" href="' + reaction.url + '">' + reaction.get_service_name + '</a> '
			+ 'via ' + (reaction.source == 'backtype' ? '<a href="http://backtype.com/">BackType</a>' : '<a href="' + reaction.source_url + '">UberVU</a>')
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator ? '&nbsp;&bull;&nbsp;<a class="dsq-hide-reaction" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Reaction.hide(' + reaction.id + '); return false;">Hide</a>' : '') + '</div></div>';

		if(reaction.retweets) {
			var num_retweets = reaction.retweets.length;
			if (num_retweets > 0) {
				item += '<div class="dsq-reaction-retweets">';
				if (num_retweets == 1) {
					item += 'One more retweet from <a href="' + reaction.retweets[0].url + '">'  + reaction.retweets[0].author_name + '</a>';
				} else {
					item += (num_retweets + ' more retweets from ');

					item += '<span id="dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '">';
					var n_tweets = (num_retweets > 15) ? 15 : num_retweets;
					item += Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(reaction.id, n_tweets);

					if (n_tweets != num_retweets) {
						item += '</span> <a onclick="Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(' + reaction.id + ', 0, \'dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '\');'
							+ 'this.parentNode.removeChild(this); return false;" href="#">Show all</a>';
					}
				}
				item += '</div>';
			}
		}

		item += '</li>'; /* Reaction HTML ends */
		return item;
	};

	this.reactions = function() {
		var html, reaction;

		if (Dsq.jsonData.reactions === undefined || Dsq.jsonData.reactions.length === 0) {
			return '';
		}

		html = '';
		for (var i = 0; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			var item = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (item) {
				html += item;
			}
		}

		if (Dsq.jsonData.has_more_reactions) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_start;
			var l = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			html += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions"><a href="#" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</a></li>';
		}

		return '<h3 class="dsq-h3-reactions">Reactions</h3><ul id="dsq-reactions" class="dsq-reactions">' + html + '</ul>';
	};
	
	this.missingPermissions = function() {
		return '	<p><a href="http://disqus.com/profile/login/?next=article:1531622" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false">You must log into your Disqus Profile in order to post comments.</a></p> \n';
	};

	//
	// Post
	//

	this.prependPost = function(post_id) {
		var html = '<div id="comment-' + post_id + '"></div>';
		return html;
	};

	this.appendPost = function(post_id) {
		var html = '<div id="dsq-comment-reply-' + post_id + '"></div>';
		return html;
	};

	this.postPrependHeader = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];

		var _includeServices = function() {
			var userServices = Dsq.Post.getUserServices(null, post_id);
			var html = '';
			var hiddenThreshold = 3; // Define # of services to show before stuffing them in hidden div

			for(var i = 0; i < userServices.length; i++) {
				html +=
				(i == hiddenThreshold
					? '<li id="dsq-drop-hidden-' + post_id +'" class="dsq-drop-hidden"><ul>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="dsq-drop-services"> \
					<a class="dsq-service-' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" href="' + userServices[i].url + '" target="_blank"> \
						<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/embed/services/' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '.png" alt="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '">'
					+ userServices[i].name
					+ '</a> \
				</li>';
			}

			if(i >= hiddenThreshold) {
				html += '</ul></li> \
				<li id="dsq-drop-more-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-drop-more"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.dropProfileMore(this, '+ post_id + '); return false"><small>&#9660;</small></a></li> \
				';
			}
			return html;
		};

		return ' \
			<div class="dsq-header-avatar" id="dsq-header-avatar-' + post_id + '" onmouseover="Dsq.Post.dropProfile(' + post_id + ')"> \
				<a id="dsq-avatar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-avatar" href="' + userData.url + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">'
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.show_avatar
				? '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.users[_meta.user_key].avatar + '" alt="" />'
				: '')
			+ '</a>'
			+ '</div> \
		';
	};

	this.postAppendHeader = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];

		return ''
			+ (_meta.author_is_moderator
				? '<img class="dsq-mod-star" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/bullet-star.png" title="Moderator" alt="" />'
				: '')
			+ '<span class="dsq-header-meta"> \
				<a id="dsq-time-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-header-time" href="#comment-' + post_id + '" title="Permalink">' + _meta.date + '</a> \
			</span>';
	};

	this.preBody = function(post_id) {
		return '';
	}

	this.postBody = function(post_id) {
		// TODO: Deprecate flagging conditional
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		return ''
			+ (_meta.edited
				? '<p class="dsq-editedtxt">(Edited by a moderator)</p>'
				: '')
			;
	};

	this.postFooter = function(post_id) {
		// TODO: Use media should be conditional
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		if(_meta.killed) { return ''; }

		return ' \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer" id="dsq-comment-footer-' + post_id + '"> \
				<div id="dsq-points-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-likedtxt">'
				+ (_meta.points
					? _meta.points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(_meta.points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this comment.'
					: '')
				+ '</div>'
				+ '<ul class="dsq-comment-options dsq-list-style">'
				+ (_meta.votable
					? '<li class="dsq-list-first dsq-rate" id="dsq-rate-cont-' + post_id + '">'
					+ (!_meta.up_voted
						? '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.rate(this, ' + post_id + ', 1); return false;">Like</a>'
						: 'You liked this.') + '</li>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="dsq-report' + (!_meta.votable ? ' dsq-list-first' : '') + '" id="dsq-post-report-' + post_id + '"><a href="#" class="dsq-post-report" onclick="Dsq.Post.report(' + post_id + ', false); return false;">Report</a></li> \
				</ul> \
				<ul class="dsq-list-style">'
				+ (_meta.can_reply
					? '<li class="dsq-list-first"><a href="#" id="dsq-reply-link-' + post_id +'" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleReply(this, ' + post_id +'); return false;">Reply</a></li>'
					: '')
				+ (_meta.can_reply && !_meta.has_replies && _meta.from_request_user
					? '<li id="dsq-edit-el-' + post_id + '"><a id="dsq-edit-link-' + post_id + '" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + '); return false;">Edit</a></li>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="' + (!_meta.can_reply ? 'dsq-list-first' : '') + '" id="dsq-more-el-' + post_id + '"><a id="dsq-more-link-' + post_id + '" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.showMenu(this, ' + post_id + ', \'more\'); return false">More <small>&#9660;</small></a></li>'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.use_media
					? '<li id="dsq-media-el-' + post_id +'" style="display:none"><a id="dsq-media-link-' + post_id + '" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.showMenu(this, ' + post_id + ', \'media\'); return false">Use Media <small>&#9660;</small></a></li>'
					: '')
				+ '</ul>'
				+ '<div id="dsq-reply-bar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-reply-bar" style="display:none"> \
						<div id="dsq-reply-bar-items-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-reply-bar-items"> \
						</div> \
						<div id="dsq-reply-bar-auth-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-reply-bar-auth"> \
							 \
								 \
									<a href="#" class="dsq-help dsq-reply-req-opt" title="You must log into an account in order to comment on Jack and Jill Politics" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges(); return false">Required:</a> \
								 \
								<img class="dsq-login-icon" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/dsq-favicon-16x16.png" alt="" /> \
								<a id="dsq-reply-login-' + post_id + '" href="http://disqus.com/profile/login/?next=article:1531622" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false">Login</a> \
								 \
									&nbsp;or&nbsp; \
									<img class="fb_login_image" src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/fbconnect/login-buttons/connect_light_small_short.gif" alt="Facebook Connect"/> \
									<a href="#" onclick="FB.Connect.requireSession(DisqusFbcParentController.onLogin); return false;">Connect</a> \
								 \
								&nbsp;or&nbsp; \
									<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/twitter-signin-icon.png" alt="" /> \
									<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Twitter.startTwitterConnect(); return false">Sign-in</a> \
								 \
								 \
							 \
						</div> \
					</div> \
					<div id="dsq-reply-' + post_id + '"></div> \
			</div> \
		';
	};

	//
	// Iframes
	//

	this._makeAttributes = function(attributes) {
		// Makes a tag attributes string out of an object.
		// Caller is responsible for making sure nothing needs to be escaped.
		var result = [];
		for (key in attributes) {
			result.push(' ' + key + '="' + attributes[key] + '"');
		}
		result = result.join('');
		return result;
	};

	this._frameGeneric = function(base_url, params, attributes) {
		if(typeof(disqus_callback_params) == 'undefined') {
			disqus_callback_params = '';
		}

		var default_params = {
			// TODO: These should be moved to Dsq.jsonData.
			'f'				: 'jackandjillpolitics',
			't'				: 'barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day',
			// Do we need encodeURIComponent here?
			'ifrs'			: encodeURIComponent(disqus_iframe_css),
			'to_redirect'	: encodeURIComponent(window.location),
			'cbp'			: disqus_callback_params,
			'ff'			: Dsq.Thread.ff,
			'fc'			: Dsq.Thread.fc,
			'ac'			: Dsq.Thread.ac,
			'default_text'	: disqus_default_text
		};

		base_url += '?' + (new Date()).getTime();
		// Add params to default_params.
		if(params) {
			for(var key in params) {
				if(params.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
					default_params[key] = encodeURIComponent(params[key]);
				}
			}
		}
		// Build querystring.
		for(var key in default_params) {
			if(default_params[key] && default_params.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				base_url += '&' + key + '=' + default_params[key];
			}
		}

		return [
			'<iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" frameborder="0"',
			(' allowtransparency="true" src="' + base_url + '"'),
			this._makeAttributes(attributes),
			'</iframe>'].join('');
	};

	this.frameLogin = function(opt_attributes) {
		var params = {};
		var base_url = 'http://disqus.com/embed/login.html';
		var attributes = opt_attributes || {};
		attributes['class'] = 'dsq-post-login';

		if(typeof disqus_frame_theme != 'undefined') {
			params['theme'] = disqus_frame_theme;
		}
		return this._frameGeneric(base_url, params, attributes);
	};

	this.frameReply = function(post_id, extra_params, attributes) {
		// Returns the HTML for a reply iframe. Called by Dsq.Iframes.setReplyIframeToContainer
		var _meta = (typeof post_id != 'undefined') ? Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id] : false;
		var base_url = Dsq.Urls.REPLY;
		var params = {
			'def_email'		: disqus_def_email,
			'def_name'		: disqus_def_name
		};
		if(extra_params) {
			for(var key in extra_params) {
				if(extra_params.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
					params[key] = extra_params[key];
				}
			}
		}
		if(_meta) {
			params['parent_post'] = post_id;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_per_page != 'undefined') {
			params['per_page'] = disqus_per_page;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_frame_theme != 'undefined') {
			params['theme'] = disqus_frame_theme;
		}
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {
			attributes['class'] += '-authenticated';
		}
		return this._frameGeneric(base_url, params, attributes);
	};

	this.frameEdit = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = (typeof post_id != 'undefined') ? Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id] : false;
		var base_url = 'http://disqus.com/embed/edit.html';
		var params = {
			'p' : post_id
		};
		return this._frameGeneric(base_url, params, {'class': 'dsq-post-edit', 'name': 'dsq-edit_' + post_id + '-frame'});
	};

	//
	// Menus
	//

	this.menuMore = function(post_id) {
		// TODO: "Remove post" button should hide menu.
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		return ' \
			<li><a href="#comment-' + post_id + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.permalink(' + post_id + ')">Link</a></li> \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">Profile</a></li>'
	+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator
		? '	<li class="dsq-menu-sep"></li>' + (_meta.email ? '<li class="dsq-admin-email">' + _meta.email + '</li>' : '')
		+ '	<li class="dsq-admin-ip">' + _meta.ip + '</li> \
			<li class="dsq-menu-sep"></li>'
		+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.moderator_can_edit
			? ' <li class="dsq-admin-edit"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + '); return false;">Edit Comment</a></li>'
			: '')
		+ ' <li class="dsq-remove"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.removePost(' + post_id + ', 1); return false;">Remove Comment</a></li> \
			<li class="dsq-report-spam"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.reportSpam(' + post_id + '); return false;">Mark Spam</a></li> \
			<li class="dsq-block-user"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.blacklist(' + post_id + '); return false">Block User</a></li>'
		: '');
	};

	this.menuMedia = function(post_id) {
		return ' \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleMediaReply(this, ' + post_id + ', \'seesmic\'); return false;">Record video</a></li> \
		';
	};

	this.dropProfile = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];

		var _includeServices = function() {
			var userServices = Dsq.Post.getUserServices(null, post_id);
			var html = '';
			var hiddenThreshold = 3; // Define # of services to show before stuffing them in hidden div

			for(var i = 0; i < userServices.length; i++) {
				html +=
				(i == hiddenThreshold
					? '<li id="dsq-drop-hidden-' + post_id +'" class="dsq-drop-hidden"><ul>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="dsq-drop-services"> \
					<a class="dsq-service-' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" href="' + userServices[i].url + '" target="_blank"> \
						<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/embed/services/' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '.png" alt="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '">'
					+ userServices[i].name
					+ '</a> \
				</li>';
			}

			if(i >= hiddenThreshold) {
				html += '</ul></li> \
				<li id="dsq-drop-more-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-drop-more"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.dropProfileMore(this, '+ post_id + '); return false"><small>&#9660;</small></a></li> \
				';
			}
			return html;
		};


		var menu = '<li class="dsq-drop-showlnk"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">Expand &#8663;</a></li>';
		var pointsMessage = '';
		if (userData['registered']) {
			pointsMessage = 'with ' + userData['points'] + ' points (more points are better).';
		}

		if (userData['is_remote']) {
			var domain = userData['remote_domain_name'];
			menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' is a ' + domain + ' user ' + pointsMessage + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()">';
			menu += '<span class="dsq-badge-' + domain.toLowerCase() + '">' + domain + '</span></li>';
		} else if (userData['registered']) {
			if (userData['verified']) {
				menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' has a verified commenter profile ' + pointsMessage + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()">';
				menu += '<span class="dsq-badge-verified">Verified</span></li>';
			} else {
				menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' has a registered, but unverified, commenter profile ' + pointsMessage + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()">';
				menu += '<span class="dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span></li>';
			}
		} else {
			menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' has not claimed this commenter profile." onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()"><span class="dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span></li>';
		}

		menu += _includeServices();
		return menu;
	};

	//
	// Popups
	//

	this._popupGeneric = function(content) {
		return ' \
		<div class="dsq-popup-content"> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-top"></div> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-body" class="clearfix"> \
				<div class="dsq-popup-body-padding"> \
					<div class="dsq-popup-header"> \
						<a class="dsq-close-link" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/modal-close.png" alt="" /></a>'
						+ content['header']
					+ '</div>'
					+ content['body']
					+ '<div class="powered-by"><a href="http://disqus.com/comments/">Powered by <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-logo.png" alt="Disqus Comments" style="margin-bottom:-5px" /></a></div> \
				</div> <!-- padding --> \
			</div> <!-- body --> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-bottom"></div> \
		</div> \
		';
	};

	this.popupProfile = function(user_key) {
		var userServices = Dsq.Post.getUserServices(user_key, null);
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][user_key];
		var headerHtml = '';
		var bodyHtml = '';
		var content = {};

		var _includeServices = function() {
			var html = '';
			for(var i = 0; i < userServices.length; i++) {
				html +=
				(i == 0
					? '<h4>Connections</h4><ul>'
					: '')
				+ '<li> \
					<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/embed/services/' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '.png" alt="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" title="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" /> \
					<a class="dsq-service-' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" href="' + userServices[i].url + '" target="_blank">'
					+ userServices[i].name
					+ '</a> \
				</li>'
				+ (i+1 == userServices.length ? '</ul>' : '');
			}
			return html;
		};

		headerHtml = ' \
			<table> \
				<tr> \
					<td> \
						<a class="dsq-profile-userurl" href="' + userData.url + '"><img class="dsq-popup-profile-avatar" src="' + userData['avatar'] + '" alt="" /></a> \
					</td> \
					<td> \
						<div class="dsq-popup-profile-user"> \
							<h3>' + userData['display_name'] + '</h3> \
							<div class="dsq-popup-profile-user-stats" id="dsq-popup-profile-user-stats-' + user_key + '">Loading...</div> \
						</div> \
					</td> \
				</tr> \
			</table> \
		';

		bodyHtml = ' \
			<div class="dsq-popup-profile-state"> \
				This is a&nbsp;<span class="'
					+ (userData['registered']
						? (userData['verified']
							? ' dsq-badge-verified'
							: (userData['is_remote']
								? ' dsq-badge-' + userData['remote_domain_name'].toLowerCase()
								: ' dsq-badge-registered')
							)
							: ' dsq-badge-guest') + '">'
			+ (userData['registered']
				? (userData['verified']
					? 'Verified'
					: (userData['is_remote']
						 ? userData['remote_domain_name']
						 : 'Registered')
					)
				: 'Guest')
			+ '</span>&nbsp;commenter profile.'
			+ '&nbsp;<a class="dsq-profile-userurl" href="' + userData.url + '"><strong>View more comments </strong></a>'
			+ (!userData['points']
				? '<p class="dsq-popup-notice">If this is you, <a href="http://disqus.com/profile" target="_blank">claim it now</a> to manage your comments.</p>'
				: '')
			+ ((userData['registered'] && !userData['verified'] && (Dsq.jsonData.request.username && (Dsq.jsonData.request.username == userData['username'])) && !userData['is_remote'])
				? '<p class="dsq-popup-notice"><strong>Alert</strong>: You have not verified this account. <a href="http://disqus.com/verify">Verify it now.</a></p>'
				: '')
			+ '</div> \
			<div id="dsq-profile-status-' + user_key + '" class="dsq-popup-profile-status" style="display:none"></div> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-profile-snapshot"> \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td> \
							<div id="dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-wrapper-' + user_key + '"> \
								<h4>Most active sites</h4> \
								<ul id="dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-' + user_key + '"> \
									<li>Loading...</li> \
								</ul> \
							</div> \
						</td> \
						<td>'
							+ _includeServices()
							+ '<div id="dsq-popup-profile-moderated-wrapper-' + user_key + '"> \
								<h4>Moderator of</h4> \
								<ul id="dsq-popup-profile-moderated-' + user_key + '"> \
									<li>Loading...</li> \
								</ul> \
							</div> \
						</td> \
					</tr> \
				</table> \
			</div> \
			';

		content = {
			'header': headerHtml,
			'body': bodyHtml
		};

		return this._popupGeneric(content);
	};

	this.popupReblog = function() {
		var headerHtml = '';
		var bodyHtml = '';
		var content = {};

		headerHtml = ' \
			<cite><span>Reblog this comment</span></cite> \
		';

		bodyHtml = ' \
			<div id="dsq-reblog-form" class="dsq-reblog-form"> \
			</div> \
		';

		content = {
			'header': headerHtml,
			'body': bodyHtml
		};

		return this._popupGeneric(content);
	};

	this.popupModal = function(title, message) {
		var headerHtml = '';
		var bodyHtml = '';
		var content = {};

		headerHtml = ' \
			<h3>' + title + '</h3> \
		';

		bodyHtml = message;

		content = {
			'header': headerHtml,
			'body': bodyHtml
		};

		return this._popupGeneric(content);
	};

	this.alertContent = function(name, post_id) {
		var alert = {
			'post_not_approved': {
				'title': 'Comment awaiting approval by a moderator',
				'message': 'Thanks for posting. Your comment must be approved by a moderator before appearing here.'
			},
			'post_has_profile': {
				'title': 'Use your existing commenter profile',
				'message': 'You have just posted your commment as a <span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span>, but you may already have a <span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span> commenter profile.<br /><br /><a href="http://disqus.com/claim">Log in and claim this comment!</a>'
			}
		};
		return alert[name] || false;
	};

	//
	// Actions
	//

	this.voted = function(post_id, points, vote) {
		// Update number of points
		Dsq.$('dsq-points-' + post_id).innerHTML = points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this comment.';

		// Update link text
		if(vote) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-rate-cont-' + post_id).innerHTML = 'You liked this.';
		}
	};

	this.subscribed = function(status) {
		var title, message;

		if(status) {
			title = 'Subscribed!';
			message = 'You have subscribed to this comment thread. New comments will be sent directly to your email inbox, where you may read and respond by email.';
			Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe').innerHTML = ' \
				<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(0); return false">Unsubscribe</a> \
			';
		} else {
			title = 'Unsubscribed';
			message = 'You have unsubscribed to this comment thread. New comments will no longer be sent to your email inbox.';
			Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe').innerHTML = ' \
				<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1); return false">Subscribe by email</a> \
			';
		}

		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);

	};
	
	this.highlighted = function() {
		Dsq.Popup.popModal('This comment has been highlighted.', 'Highlighted comment');
	};

	//
	// Media
	//

	this.mediaSeesmic = function(id, thumb) {
		return ' \
			<div id="dsq-seesmic-' + id + '_preview" class="dsq-seesmic-preview"><a href="http://www.seesmic.com/video/' + id + '" target="_blank" class="see_link">&nbsp;</a> \
				<div style="display:block;width:160px; height:120px; border:none; background-image:url(http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/' + thumb + ')"> \
					<div id="dsq-seesmic-' + id + '_hide" class="seePlayOverlay" style="display:none;"><img onclick="see_play_video(\'' + id + '\',false)" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/seesmic/stopOverlay.png" width="50" height="50" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; padding-top: 30px; padding-left: 50px" alt="" /></div> \
					<div id="dsq-seesmic-' + id + '_show" class="seePlayOverlay"><img onclick="see_play_video(\'' + id + '\',true)" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/seesmic/playOverlay.png" width="50" height="50" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; border:none; padding-top: 30px; padding-left: 50px" alt="" /></div> \
				</div> \
			</div> \
			<div id="' + id + '_content" style="display:block; width:100%; padding-top:5px"></div> \
		';
	};

	//
	// Callbacks
	//

	this.postComment_onSuccess = function(parent_post_id) {
		// Increment post count
		var num_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-num-posts');
		var total_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-total-posts');
		
		if (num_posts) { 
			num_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(num_posts.innerHTML) + 1;
		}
		if (total_posts) { 
			total_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(total_posts.innerHTML) + 1;
		}
	};
};
// Dsq.Templates


/**
 * Dsq.Post
 */
Dsq.Post = new function() {
	this.openedMenu = {};
	this.menuEventListener = null;
	this.stateReplyToggled = {};
	this.stateEditToggled = {};
	this.stateRecordLink = {};

	/**
	 * Inserts a new post into the document.
	 *
	 * @param after_id {Number}	Insert a post before specified id.  If after_id
	 *							evaluates to false, then post in the front.  If
	 *							after_id is -1, post at the end.
	 */
	this.insert = function(after_id, id, message, author) {
		// Skeleton template from thread_posts.html.
		var skeleton = ' \
			<li id="dsq-comment-%(id)s"> \
				<div id="dsq-comment-header-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-header"> \
					<cite id="dsq-cite-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-cite"> \
						<a id="dsq-author-user-%(id)s" href="%(author_url)s" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">%(author_name)s</a> \
					</cite> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-comment-body-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-body"> \
					<div id="dsq-comment-message-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-message">%(message)s</div> \
				</div> \
			</li> \
		';
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
		var _user_meta = Dsq.jsonData.users[_meta.user_key];
		var markup = Dsq.Utils.interpolate(skeleton, {
			id: id,
			message: message,
			author_url: _user_meta.blog,
			author_name: _user_meta.display_name
		});
		var div = document.createElement('div');
		markup = markup.replace(Dsq.COMMENTS_RE, Dsq.CommentsHandler);
		div.innerHTML = markup;

		if (after_id === -1) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-comments').appendChild(div);
		} else if (!after_id) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-comments').insertBefore(div, Dsq.$('dsq-comments').firstChild);
		} else if (Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + after_id)) {
			// Get next node after "after_id", so we can insert before it.
			// If "after_id" is the last comment, the target node is the
			// last node.
			
			// var append_post_id = Dsq.Templates.appendPost(after_id).replace('<div id="','').replace('"></div>', '');
			var append_post_id = 'dsq-append-post-' + after_id;
			var node = Dsq.$(append_post_id);
			while (node = node.nextSibling) {
				if (!node || node.nodeType == 1) { // 1 == Node.ELEMENT_NODE
					break;
				}
			}
			if (!node) {
				node = Dsq.$(append_post_id);
			}
			node.parentNode.insertBefore(div, node);
		}
	};

	this.incrementPostCount = function() {
		
		var num_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-num-posts');
		var total_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-total-posts');

		if (num_posts) {
			num_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(num_posts.innerHTML, 10) + 1;
		}
		if (total_posts) {
			total_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(total_posts.innerHTML, 10) + 1;
		}
	}
	
	this.outlineComment = function(post_id) {
		Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + post_id).className += ' dsq-comment-outline';
		setTimeout("(function () { Dsq.Post.clearOutlineComment(" + post_id + ") })()", 3000);
	};
	
	this.clearOutlineComment = function(post_id) {
		Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + post_id).className = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + post_id).className.replace('dsq-comment-outline', '');
	};

	this.showMenu = function(el, id, name) {
		var anchorPos = Dsq.Utils.findPos(el);
		var menu = document.createElement('ul');

		if(this.openedMenu) {
			if(this.openedMenu.linkClicked) {
				this.openedMenu.linkClicked = false;
				return;
			}
		}

		switch(name) {
			case 'more':
				menu.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.menuMore(id);
				break;
			case 'media':
				menu.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.menuMedia(id);
				break;
			default:
				break;
		}

		// Add menu to document body
		menu.id = 'dsq-menu-' + id;
		menu.className = 'dsq-menu';
		Dsq.$b.appendChild(menu);

		// Position and show
		anchorPos[1] += 15;
		menu.style.left = anchorPos[0] + 'px';
		menu.style.top = anchorPos[1] + 'px';
		menu.style.display = 'block';

		// Set global reference
		this.openedMenu = {
			'el' : menu,
			'id' : id,
			'name' : name,
			'linkClicked' : false
		};

		// Set listener
		this.menuEventListener = Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(document, 'mouseup', this._hideMenu);
	};

	this._hideMenu = function(e) {
		var el = e.target || e.srcElement;
		var openedMenu = Dsq.Post.openedMenu.el;
		var id = Dsq.Post.openedMenu.id;

		if(!id) {
			var link = 'dsq-' + Dsq.Post.openedMenu.name + '-link';
		} else {
			var link = 'dsq-' + Dsq.Post.openedMenu.name + '-link-' + id;
		}

		if(!openedMenu) {
			return;
		}

		if(!Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, openedMenu.id)) {
			openedMenu.style.display = 'none';
			Dsq.Utils.removeEventListener(Dsq.Post.menuEventListener);
			Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(openedMenu);

		} else {
			// Hide the menu if a link was clicked inside the menu.  We can't
			// completely remove the menu until the onclick event on the link
			// fires, but the menuEventListener will prevent multiple menus
			// from polluting the DOM.
			if(el && typeof el.href != 'undefined') {
				openedMenu.style.display = 'none';
				Dsq.Post.openedMenu.el = null;
			}
		}

		if(Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, link)) {
 			Dsq.Post.openedMenu.linkClicked = true;
		}
	};


	this.getUserServices = function(user_key, id) {
		if(!user_key && id) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
			user_key = _meta.user_key;
		}
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][user_key];
		var userServices = [];

		// Keep a full list of supported services. This is the order they will display in the drop-profile.
		// Each service must have a corresponding case in _buildServiceUrl()
		var supportedServices = ['blog', 'twitter', 'facebook', 'tumblr'];

		function _buildServiceUrl(serviceName) {
			var data = userData[serviceName];
			var services = {
				blog:		function(d) { return d; },
				twitter:	function(d) { return d; },
				facebook:	function(d) { return d; },
				tumblr:		function(d) { return 'http://' + d + '.tumblr.com'; }
			};
			return services[serviceName](data);
		}

		for(var i = 0; i < supportedServices.length; i++) {
			if(userData[supportedServices[i]]) {
				var serviceUrl = _buildServiceUrl(supportedServices[i]);
				userServices.push({'name' : supportedServices[i], 'url' : serviceUrl});
			}
		}
		return userServices;
	}

	this.dropProfile = function(id) {
		var dp = Dsq.$('dsq-drop-profile-' + id);

		// IE6 needs JS to display/hide. All other browsers use CSS.
		if(dp) {
			if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) dp.style.display = (dp.style.display == 'inline') ? 'none' : 'inline';
			return false;
		} else {
			dp = document.createElement('ul');
		}

		dp.id = 'dsq-drop-profile-' + id;
		dp.className = 'dsq-drop-profile';

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) { dp.style.display = 'inline'; }

		var container = Dsq.$('dsq-header-avatar-' + id);
		dp.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.dropProfile(id);
		container.appendChild(dp);
	};

	this.dropProfileMore = function(el, id) {
		var hiddenItems = Dsq.$('dsq-drop-hidden-' + id);

		hiddenItems.style.display = 'inline';
		el.parentNode.style.display = 'none';
	};

	this._updateReplyLinks = function(el, id) {
		// Update "reply / cancel" links based on state.
		var displayDict = {};

		if(id) {
			if(this.stateReplyToggled[id]) {
				el.innerHTML = 'Cancel';
				displayDict['media'] = 'inline';
				displayDict['edit'] = 'none';
			} else {
				el.innerHTML = 'Reply';
				displayDict['media'] = 'none';
				displayDict['edit'] = 'inline';
			}
		}

		for(var key in displayDict) {
			if(displayDict.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				var	linkEl = Dsq.$('dsq-' + key + '-el-' + id),
					spacer = Dsq.$('dsq-' + key + '-spacer-' + id);

				if(linkEl) {
					linkEl.style.display = displayDict[key];
					if(spacer) spacer.style.display = displayDict[key];
				}
			}
		}
	};

	this._updateMediaLinks = function(el, id) {
		// Update "use media / cancel" links based on state.
		var appendId = (id) ? ('-' + id) : '';
		var link = Dsq.$('dsq-media-link' + appendId);

		if(this.stateRecordLink[id]) {
			link.innerHTML = 'Cancel Media';
			link.onclick = function() { Dsq.Post.toggleMediaReply(link, id); return false; };
		} else {
			link.innerHTML = 'Use Media <small>&#9660;</small>';
			link.onclick = function() { Dsq.Post.showMenu(link, id, 'media'); return false; };
		}
	};

	this.toggleReply = function(el, id) {
		// Create reply IFrame
		if (window.disqus_use_postmessage) {
			if (!this.stateReplyToggled[id]) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id).style.display = 'block';
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'block';
				// Create IFrame if it doesn't exist.
				if (!Dsq.frames['reply_' + id]) {
					var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + id] = new Dsq.ReplyFrame(Dsq.$('dsq-reply-frame-' + id), id);
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + id].init();
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + id].setState(id, _meta.depth);
				}
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id).style.display = 'none';
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'none';
			}
		} else {
			// DEPRECATED
			if(!this.stateReplyToggled[id]) {
				// Reply toolbar
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'block';
				Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainerIfAllowed(Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id), id);
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'none';
				Dsq.Iframes.hideAllInContainer(Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id));
				if(this.stateRecordLink[id]) {
					// HACK: Cancel media before canceling self.
					this.toggleMediaReply(Dsq.$('dsq-media-link-' + id), id);
				}
			}
		}

		this.stateReplyToggled[id] = !this.stateReplyToggled[id];
		this._updateReplyLinks(el, id);

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE('dsq-reply-' + id); }

		Dsq.Events.fire(Dsq.Events.REPLY_IFRAME_TOGGLED, {
			postId: id,
			opened: this.stateReplyToggled[id]
		});
	};

	this.toggleMediaReply = function(el, id, xtype) {
		id = id || 0;
		if(id) {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id);
		} else {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-post-add');
		}

		if(!this.stateRecordLink[id]) {
			Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(container, id, {xtype:xtype}, 'dsq-post-video');
		} else {
			Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(container, id);
		}
		this.stateRecordLink[id] = !this.stateRecordLink[id];
		this._updateMediaLinks(el, id);

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(); }
	};

	this.edit = function(el, id) {
		Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + id).innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.frameEdit(id);
		el.parentNode.style.display = 'none';
		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE('dsq-comment-message-' + id); }
	};

    this.rate = function(el, id, vote) {
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated || Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_votes) {
			if(vote == 1) {
                Dsq.$('dsq-rate-cont-' + id).innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
            }

            Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/vote.js'
                + '?post_id='    + id
                + '&vote='        + vote);

		} else {
			Dsq.Popup.login(Dsq.Strings.TO_RATE_PLEASE_LOG_IN);
		}
    };

	this.report = function(id, confirmed) {
		if(confirmed) {
			Dsq.Utils.postToUrl('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day/post_report/', {'post_id': id});
			Dsq.Popup.popModal('Thank you. This comment has been flagged for moderator attention.', 'Successfully flagged');
			Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(Dsq.$('dsq-post-report-' + id));
		} else {
			var title = Dsq.Strings.FLAG_INAPPROPRIATE_COMMENT;
			var message = Dsq.Strings.ARE_YOU_SURE_YOU_WOULD_LIKE_TO_REPORT_THIS_COMMENT_TO_A_MODERATOR + '? \
			<br /><br /> \
			<button onclick="Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true)"><strong>' + Dsq.Strings.NO + '</strong>, ' + Dsq.Strings.NEVER_MIND + '</button>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<button onclick="Dsq.Post.report(' + id + ', true);"><strong>' + Dsq.Strings.YES + '</strong>, ' + Dsq.Strings.FLAG_INAPPROPRIATE_COMMENT + '</button><br /><br />'
			+ Dsq.Strings.THIS_WILL_FLAG_COMMENTS_FOR_MODERATORS_TO_TAKE_ACTION + '. \
			';

			Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title, id);
		}
	};



	this.showAlert = function(id, msg) {
		var msgEl = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + id);
		var alert = '<div class="dsq-comment-alert">' + msg + '</div>';

		msgEl.innerHTML = alert + msgEl.innerHTML;
	};

};
// Dsq.Post


/**
 * Dsq.Thread
 */
Dsq.Thread = new function() {
	this.fc = null;
	this.ff = null;
	this.ac = null;

	
	this.adminIsOn = false;

	
	
	

	this.hlComment = null;
	this.hlCommentClass = null;

	this.getNextComment = function(el) {
		var start_id = el.id;
		while(el = el.nextSibling) {
			if(el.id && el.id.indexOf('dsq-comment-') != -1 && el.id != start_id) {
				return el;
			}
		}
		return null;
	};

	this.getActiveCommentId = function() {
		if (document.URL.indexOf('#comment-') >= 0) {
			var anchor = document.URL.slice(document.URL.indexOf('#') + 1);
			return anchor.replace('comment-', '');
		}
		return null;
	};

	this.highlightAnchor = function() {
		var i = this.getActiveCommentId();
		if (i == null) return false;
		var id = 'dsq-comment-' + i;
		var hash = window.location.hash;

		// Toggle the hash incase the comment isn't available when the page loads
		// for WebKit-based browsers.
		if (Dsq.Utils.webkit) {
			window.location.hash = '';
			window.location.hash = hash;
		}

		this.hlComment = Dsq.$(id);
		// Adding this conditional guard pending #289
		if (!this.hlComment) {
			return;
		}
		this.hlCommentClass = this.hlComment.className;
		this.hlComment.className += ' dsq-hl-anchor';

		setTimeout("Dsq.Thread.highlightClear()", 3000);
	};

	this.highlightClear = function() {
		if (!this.hlComment) {
			return;
		}
		this.hlComment.className = this.hlCommentClass;
	};

	this.login = function(toggle) {
		// toggle id is #dsq-reply-login-[id]
		var postId;
		if(toggle.id.indexOf('dsq-reply-login') != -1) {
			postId = toggle.id.slice(16);
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + postId);
		} else {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-post-add');
		}

		if(toggle) {
			if(toggle.className == 'dsq-login-active') {
				Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainerIfAllowed(container, postId);
				toggle.className = '';
			} else {
				Dsq.Iframes.showLoginIframeInContainer(container, postId);
				toggle.className = 'dsq-login-active';
			}
		} else {
			Dsq.Iframes.showLoginIframeInContainer(container, postId);
		}

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(); }
	};


	this.paginate = function(page, el_clicked, per_page) {
		// Use extra_params to pass any override parameters that we need to persist.
		var extra_params = '';

		// "Per page" can either be overriden by providing it as an argument
		// (per-call) or setting the disqus_per_page override variable (global).
		if(typeof per_page == 'undefined') {
			per_page = null;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_per_page != 'undefined' && per_page === null) {
			per_page = disqus_per_page;
		}

		if(typeof disqus_sort != 'undefined') {
			extra_params += '&sort=' + disqus_sort;
		}
		if(per_page !== null) {
			extra_params += '&per_page=' + per_page;
		}

		Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML += '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
		
		if(el_clicked) {
			el_clicked.style.display = 'none';
		}
		
		Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/thread.js'
			+ '?slug='	+ 'barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day'
			+ '&p='		+ page
			+ extra_params);
	};

	this.sortBy = function(sort) {
		var disqus_script = document.createElement('script');
		var disqus_date = new Date();

		if (location.hash != '') {
			location.hash = '#disqus_thread';
		}

		if(typeof(disqus_url) == 'undefined') {
			disqus_url = disqus_href;
		}
		disqus_script.type = 'text/javascript';
		disqus_script.src = 'http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/thread.js'
			+ '?slug='	+ 'barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day'
			+ '&sort='	+ sort
			+ '&title='
			+ '&'		+ disqus_date.getTime();

		Dsq.$('dsq-comments').innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading.gif">';
		Dsq.container.appendChild(disqus_script);
	};

	this.subscribe = function(status, email) {
		// `status` is an int -- 1 to subscribe, 0 to unsubscribe
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated || email) {
			// If authenticated user OR anonymous email provided

			if(email) {
				Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true);
			}

			Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/subscribe.js'
				+'?status=' 	+ status
				+ '&slug='		+ 'barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day'
				+ '&email=' 	+ encodeURIComponent(email));

		} else if(!email) {
			// If anonymous user and no email has been provided yet, prompt for email

			var title = 'Subscribe to this comment thread';
			var message = ' \
				New comments will be sent directly to your email inbox! \
				<div class="dsq-subscribe-submit"> \
					<p><strong>Enter your email address below.</strong></p> \
					<input type="text" id="dsq-subscribe-email"> \
					<button onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1, Dsq.$(\'dsq-subscribe-email\').value)">Subscribe</button> \
				</div> \
			';

			Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);
		}
	};

	this.showSettings = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator) {
			return;
		}

		/* The form has to be re-designed when more options will come out. */
		var html = 'Automatically close comments after <input size="3" id="dsq-thread-days-alive" value="' + Dsq.jsonData.thread.days_alive + '" type="text" /> days. Existing comments will still be displayed.<br /><br />(Using 0 days will disable this feature)<br /><br />'
								 + '<button onclick="Dsq.Thread.updateDaysAlive();" class="dsq-button-small"><span>Save</span></button>'
								 + '<span id="dsq-thread-settings-status" class="dsq-options-status"></span>';
		Dsq.Popup.popModal(html, 'Settings');
	};

	this.updateDaysAlive = function() {
		var days = Dsq.$('dsq-thread-days-alive').value;
		var status = Dsq.$('dsq-thread-settings-status');
		Dsq.Utils.postToUrl('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/update_days_alive.js', {days:days,thread:Dsq.jsonData.thread.id});
		status.innerHTML = 'Saved!';
		window.setTimeout(function() { status.innerHTML = ''; }, 1000);
	};
};
// Dsq.Thread

Dsq.Events = function() {
	var obj = {};

	// Private
	var handlers = {};
	var getHandlers = function(event) {
		if (handlers[event] === undefined) {
			handlers[event] = [];
		}
		return handlers[event];
	};

	// Public
	// Value keys : postId, node, xtype
	obj.REPLY_IFRAME_CREATED = 1;
	// Value keys : postId, opened
	obj.REPLY_IFRAME_TOGGLED = 2;
	obj.fire = function(event, opt_value) {
		if (!event) {
			throw new Error('Unknown event');
		}
		var value = opt_value || {};
		for (var i=0; i<getHandlers(event).length; i++) {
			getHandlers(event)[i](value);
		}
	};
	obj.addHandler = function(event, callback) {
		getHandlers(event).push(callback);
	};

	return obj;
}();

/**
 * Dsq.Realtime
 */
Dsq.Realtime = new function() {
	var initialized = false;
	var interval = null;
	var last_checked = Dsq.jsonData.request.timestamp;
	var new_posts = [];
	var ongoing_request = false;
	var prev_script = null;

	function updateNewPostCount() {
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-alert').style.display = new_posts.length ? 'block' : 'none';

		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-queued').innerHTML = new_posts.length
		+ ' new '
		+ Dsq.Utils.pluralize(new_posts.length, 'comment', 'comments')
		+ Dsq.Utils.pluralize(new_posts.length, ' was', ' were')
		+ ' just posted.';

		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-show').innerHTML = '(' + Dsq.Strings.SHOW + ')';
	}

	function insertNewPosts() {
		var post_id = null;
		var after_id = Dsq.$('dsq-sort-select').value === 'oldest' ? -1 : null;

		for (var i=0; i<new_posts.length; i++) {
			post_id = new_posts[i];
			Dsq.Post.insert(after_id, post_id, Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id].message);
			Dsq.Post.incrementPostCount();
			Dsq.Post.outlineComment(post_id);
		}
		new_posts = [];
	}

	this.enableInterval = function() {
		interval = setInterval(Dsq.Realtime.check, Dsq.jsonData.context.realtime_speed);
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-status').innerHTML = Dsq.Strings.ENABLED;
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-toggle').innerHTML = '(' + Dsq.Strings.PAUSE + ')';
	}

	this.disableInterval = function() {
		if (interval) {
			clearInterval(interval);
			interval = null;
		}
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-status').innerHTML = Dsq.Strings.PAUSED;
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-toggle').innerHTML = '(' + Dsq.Strings.RESUME + ')';
	}

	this.toggleInterval = function() {
		if (!interval) {
			Dsq.Realtime.enableInterval();
		} else {
			Dsq.Realtime.disableInterval();
		}
		return false;
	}

	this.initialize = function() {
		if (!initialized) {
			initialized = true;
			Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-toggle').onclick = this.toggleInterval;
			if (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.streaming_realtime) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-show').onclick = this.show;
				updateNewPostCount();
			}
			if (Dsq.jsonData.thread.realtime_paused) {
				Dsq.Realtime.disableInterval();
			} else {
				Dsq.Realtime.enableInterval();
			}
		}
	}

	this.show = function() {
		insertNewPosts();
		updateNewPostCount();
		return false;
	}

	this.check = function() {
		if (!ongoing_request && Dsq.jsonData.realtime_enabled) {
			if (prev_script) {
				prev_script.parentNode.removeChild(prev_script);
			}
			ongoing_request = true;
			prev_script = Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/1531622/realtime.js?timestamp=' + last_checked);
		}
	};

	this.update = function(timestamp, posts, users) {
		ongoing_request = false;
		last_checked = timestamp;

		if (users) {
			for (var user_id in users) {
				if (users.hasOwnProperty(user_id)) {
					if (!Dsq.jsonData.users[user_id]) {
						Dsq.jsonData.users[user_id] = users[user_id];
					}
				}
			}
		}

		if (posts) {
			for (var post_id in posts) {
				if (posts.hasOwnProperty(post_id)) {
					if (!Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id]) {
						Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id] = posts[post_id];
						new_posts.push(post_id);
					}
				}
			}

			if (Dsq.jsonData.forum.streaming_realtime) {
				insertNewPosts();
			} else {
				updateNewPostCount();
			}
		}
	};

}();

// DEPRECATED
Dsq.Iframes = function() {
	// Different style of object from the above. Hoping to switch to this for some reason.
	var obj = {};

	// Private
	var showIframeInContainer = function(container, id, markup) {
		// Look through container for iframes, hiding them, except show one that matches id
		// If none of them matched id, create a new iframe using markup and insert it.
		// Returns the iframe node if and only if it was newly created.
		var found = false;
		for (var i=0; i<container.childNodes.length; i++) {
			var child = container.childNodes[i];
			if (child.nodeName == 'IFRAME') {
				if (child.id == id) {
					child.style.display = 'block';
					found = true;
				} else {
					child.style.display = 'none';
				}
			}
		}
		if (found) {
			return;
		}
		// The iframe wasn't found, so construct it and add it to the container.
		// Don't use innerHTML because it might reload iframes
		var div = document.createElement('div');
		div.innerHTML = markup;
		var iframe = div.childNodes[0];
		div.removeChild(iframe);
		container.appendChild(iframe);
		return iframe;
	};

	// Public
	obj.makeReplyIframeId = function(opt_postId, opt_xtype) {
		var id = 'dsq-post-add-iframe';
		if (opt_xtype) {
			id += '-' + opt_xtype;
		}
		if (opt_postId) {
			id += '-' + opt_postId;
		}
		return id;
	};
	obj.makeLoginIframeId = function(opt_postId) {
		if (!opt_postId) {
			return 'dsq-login-iframe';
		}
		return 'dsq-login-iframe-' + opt_postId;
	};
	obj.makeReplyIframeName = function(opt_postId, opt_xtype) {
		var name = 'dsq-reply-frame';
		if (opt_xtype) {
			name += '-' + opt_xtype;
		}
		if (opt_postId) {
			name += '-' + opt_postId;
		}
		return name;
	};
	obj.showReplyIframeInContainer = function(container, opt_postId, opt_extraParams, opt_className) {
		// Construct the id so we can check if it's already present.
		// Hide any other iframes we find, and show this one if it's found.
		var params = opt_extraParams || {};
		// use xtype in the id and name so we can distinguish media replies from text replies:
		var id = Dsq.Iframes.makeReplyIframeId(opt_postId, params.xtype);
		var name = Dsq.Iframes.makeReplyIframeName(opt_postId, params.xtype);
		var attributes = {
			'id': id,
			'name': name,
			'class': opt_className || 'dsq-post-reply'
			};
		var markup = Dsq.Templates.frameReply(opt_postId, opt_extraParams, attributes);
		var iframe = showIframeInContainer(container, id, markup);
		// It was newly created
		if (iframe) {
			Dsq.Events.fire(Dsq.Events.REPLY_IFRAME_CREATED, {
				postId: opt_postId,
				node: iframe,
				xtype: params.xtype
			});
		}
	};
	obj.showLoginIframeInContainer = function(container, opt_postId) {
		var id = Dsq.Iframes.makeLoginIframeId(opt_postId);
		var markup = Dsq.Templates.frameLogin({id: id});
		showIframeInContainer(container, id, markup);
	};
	obj.showReplyIframeInContainerIfAllowed = function(container, opt_postId) {
		if (Dsq.jsonData.context.show_reply) {
			obj.showReplyIframeInContainer(container, opt_postId);
		} else {
			obj.hideAllInContainer(container);
		}
	};
	obj.hideAllInContainer = function(container) {
		for (var i=0; i<container.childNodes.length; i++) {
			var child = container.childNodes[i];
			if (child.nodeName == 'IFRAME') {
				child.style.display = 'none';
			}
		}
	};

	return obj;
}();

Dsq.Twitter = new function() {
	var that = this;

	this.startTwitterConnect = function() {
		var popupParams = 'location=0,status=0,width=800,height=400';
		that._twitterWindow = window.open(Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/_ax/twitter/begin/', 'twitterWindow', popupParams);
		that._twitterInterval = window.setInterval(that.completeTwitterConnect, 1000);
	};

	this.completeTwitterConnect = function() {
		if (that._twitterWindow.closed) {
			window.clearInterval(that._twitterInterval);
			window.location.reload();
		}
	};
};

Dsq.Yahoo = new function() {
	var that = this;

	this.startYahooConnect = function() {
		var popupParams = 'location=0,status=0,width=800,height=400';
		that._yahooWindow = window.open(Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/_ax/yahoo/begin/', 'yahooWindow', popupParams);
		that._yahooInterval = window.setInterval(that.completeYahooConnect, 1000);
	};

	this.completeYahooConnect = function() {
		if (that._yahooWindow.closed) {
			window.clearInterval(that._yahooInterval);
			window.location.reload();
		}
	};
};

Dsq.OpenID = new function() {
	var that = this;

	this.requestURL = function() {
		var message = '<table class="dsq-openid-form"><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;" rowspan="2"><img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.settings.media_url + '/images/openid-icon-100x100.png" /></td>';
		message += '<td><label for="dsq-openid-url">OpenID URL:</label></td><td><input type="text" id="dsq-openid-url" /></td></tr>';
		message += '<tr><td><label for="dsq-openid-username">Display name:</label></td><td><input type="text" id="dsq-openid-username" /></td></tr>';
		message += '<tr><td class="dsq-openid-submit" colspan="3"><input type="button" value="Sign in" onclick="Dsq.OpenID.startConnect();" /></td></tr>';
		message += "</table>";

		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, 'Sign in using OpenID');
	};

	this.startConnect = function() {
		var isblank = function(str) {
			return /^\s*$/.test(str);
		};

		var openid_url = Dsq.$('dsq-openid-url').value;
		var username = Dsq.$('dsq-openid-username').value;

		if (isblank(openid_url)) {
			return;
		}

		var popupParams = 'location=0,status=0,width=800,height=500';
		var url = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/_ax/openid/begin/' + '?url=' + encodeURIComponent(openid_url) + '&username=' + encodeURIComponent(username);
		that._openidWindow = window.open(url, 'openidWindow', popupParams);
		that._openidInterval = window.setInterval(that.completeConnect, 1000);
	};

	this.completeConnect = function() {
		if (that._openidWindow.closed) {
			window.clearInterval(that._openidInterval);
			window.location.reload();
		}
	};
};

Dsq.Reaction = new function() {
	var that = this;

	this.hide = function(id) {
		Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/jackandjillpolitics/hidereaction.js?' + 'reaction_id=' + id);
	};

	this.reportMissingReactions = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || !Dsq.jsonData.forum.reactions_enabled) {
			return;
		}

		if (Dsq.jsonData.thread.queued) {
			Dsq.Popup.popModal('Your report has been received. The system will automatically search for new reactions; if any are found, they will be displayed on this comment thread.<br/><br/>Thank&nbsp;you.',
												 'Reported missing reactions');
			return;
		}

		Dsq.Utils.execScript(Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + '/forums/jackandjillpolitics/queueurl.js');
	};
};

Dsq.CNN = function() {
	var obj = {};

	obj.authenticate = function() {
		var url = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + "/saml/cnn/try/";
		Dsq.Utils.postToUrl(url, {'target': document.location}, true);
	};

	return obj;
}();


if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) {
	(function() {
		DSQ_HEADER_AVATAR_RE = /<div class="dsq-header-avatar"(.*?)>/gim;
		Dsq.Templates.registerFilter('postPrependHeader', function(html, post_id) {
			// Add "onmouseout" for dsq-header-avatar for dropProfile
			// functionality since IE6 cannot use :hover.
			function _headerAvatarReplace(content, inner, _unused, html) {
				return '<div class="dsq-header-avatar" '
					+ inner
					+ ' onmouseout="Dsq.Post.dropProfile(' + post_id + ')">';
			}
			html = html.replace(DSQ_HEADER_AVATAR_RE, _headerAvatarReplace);
			return html;
		});
	})();
}





	// TODO: Move Seesmic code outside of the main script.  Don't let this script clobber the global namespace.
	if(typeof seesmic == 'undefined') { var seesmic = {}; }
	seesmic.widget = new function () {
		this.callback = function (data) {
			playerVersion = data.disqusplayer;
		};
	};

	
	var scriptEl = document.createElement('script');
	scriptEl.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript');
	scriptEl.setAttribute('src', 'http://seesmic.com/version.js?callback=seesmic.widget.callback');
	document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(scriptEl);

	
	var scriptEl = document.createElement('script');
	scriptEl.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript');
	scriptEl.setAttribute('src', 'http://media.disqus.com/javascript/library/swfobject.js');
	document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(scriptEl);

	function see_play_video(_videoUri, _add) {
		var swf = !!playerVersion ? playerVersion : 'http://seesmic.com/embeds/StandalonePlayer.swf';

		flashcontentDiv = Dsq.$(_videoUri + '_content');
		previewDiv = Dsq.$('dsq-seesmic-' + _videoUri + '_preview');
		hideDiv = Dsq.$('dsq-seesmic-' + _videoUri + '_hide');
		showDiv = Dsq.$('dsq-seesmic-' + _videoUri + '_show');
		if(_add) {
			// push flash widget
			var so = new SWFObject(swf, 'sotester', '300', '270', '9', '#000000');
			so.addVariable('video', _videoUri);
			so.addParam('allowFullScreen', 'true');
			so.addParam('allowScriptAccess','always');
			so.useExpressInstall('swfobject/expressinstall.swf');
			so.write(_videoUri + '_content');

			previewDiv.style.display = 'none';
			hideDiv.style.display = 'block';
			showDiv.style.display = 'none';
		}
		else {
			flashcontentDiv.innerHTML = '';
			previewDiv.style.display = 'block';
			hideDiv.style.display = 'none';
			showDiv.style.display = 'block';
		}
	};





(function() {
	//
	// Load theme.  This overrides the base templates with template functions
	// from the respective themes.
	//
	if (Dsq.jsonData.integration.theme == 4) {
		var theme = 'narcissus';
		// HACK: Set variable on window to use post message.
		window.disqus_use_postmessage = true;

		
		for(var prop in Dsq.Themes[theme]) {
			if(Dsq.Themes[theme] && Dsq.Themes[theme].hasOwnProperty(prop)) {
				Dsq.Templates[prop] = Dsq.Themes[theme][prop];
			}
		}
		
		for(var prop in Dsq.Post) {
			if(Dsq.Themes[theme] && Dsq.Themes[theme].hasOwnProperty(prop)) {
				Dsq.Post[prop] = Dsq.Themes[theme][prop];
			}
		}
	}

	//
	// Register templates.  This must be done after all themes are loaded.
	//
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('authPost', Dsq.Templates.authPost);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('header', Dsq.Templates.header);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('footer', Dsq.Templates.footer);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('trackbacks', Dsq.Templates.trackbacks);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('reactions', Dsq.Templates.reactions);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('prependPost', Dsq.Templates.prependPost);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('appendPost', Dsq.Templates.appendPost);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('postPrependHeader', Dsq.Templates.postPrependHeader);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('postAppendHeader', Dsq.Templates.postAppendHeader);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('preBody', Dsq.Templates.preBody);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('postBody', Dsq.Templates.postBody);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('postFooter', Dsq.Templates.postFooter);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('_popupGeneric', Dsq.Templates._popupGeneric);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('voted', Dsq.Templates.voted);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('popupProfile', Dsq.Templates.popupProfile);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('postBox', Dsq.Templates.postBox);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('pagination', Dsq.Templates.pagination);
	Dsq.Templates.registerTemplate('postComment_onSuccess', Dsq.Templates.postComment_onSuccess);

})();

Dsq.container.className = "clearfix";
Dsq.container.innerHTML = ' \
<ul id="dsq-comments">\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971233">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971233" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971233" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971233">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971233" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971233" class="dsq-comment-message">Where is the Beef? Here is the beef for those who maintained that the Obama campaign has not offered any details of its tax policy.  It is fair, balance and informative! His plan clearly  distinguishes itself from the old notion of  "tax-and-spend."   Take a look, learn and share!<br></br><br>The Numbers: Obama vs McCain on Taxes </br><br>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNyNv_UfFUo</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971234">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971234" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971234" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971234">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971234" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971234" class="dsq-comment-message">If possible, read both of these articles together.  They  explore  a time in Michelle Obama’s life  “when her views on race and American culture began to coalesce . . . .”<br>Learning to be Michelle Obama: At Princeton, she came to terms with being a black achiever in a white world</br><br>http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/06/15/learning_to_be_michelle_obama/</br><br></br><br></br><br>In April, Michelle Obama’s white roommate and her mother gave their  perspective in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in April:</br><br>Georgian recalls rooming with Michelle Obama</br><br>http://www.ajc.com/search/content/news/stories/2008/04/12/roommate_0413.html</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971235">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971235" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971235" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971235">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971235" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971235" class="dsq-comment-message">Anon 8:04-<br></br><br>Michelle Obama is not strange. She is like every single black person in America!! I wish that people could stop talking such bullshit all the time. I refuse to read the article because I do not need to read why Michelle feels the way she does because and I almost all AA\'s feel the same way.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971236">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971236" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971236" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971236">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971236" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971236" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'m trying to forget about this speech.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971237">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971237" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971237" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971237">Ronni</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971237" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971237" class="dsq-comment-message">i agreed with the overall spirit of the speech, but i think i would have used different language to get at some of the external forces that lead so many young Black men down the path of no return. no we shouldn\'t be beholden to "excuses", but then again there are some very real issues that must first be dealt with before Black families can get back up and running (namely poverty, violence and addiction which he cites). maybe this was his "move to the center" but i thought it was pretty much right on.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971238">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971238" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971238" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971238">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971238" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971238" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'d rather hear about stories of hope like this:<br></br><br>Teen mother reared in crisis and poverty becomes a doctor</br><br></br><br></br><br>By S.A. REID</br><br>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution</br><br></br><br>Published on: 06/15/08</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971239">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971239" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971239" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971239">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971239" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971239" class="dsq-comment-message">Listening to the radio right now, and the Black Station is discussing the R.Kelly verdict. In the next hour, they\'re going to be discussing Obama\'s speech. Talk about irony. If this CHILD had the right kind of Black man FATHERING HER, she would have NOT let R. Kelly piss on her. <br></br><br>I always had a problem with the statement that that girl had \'parents\'. She had an egg donor and a sperm donor- parasites both. PARENTS would be IN JAIL for what they did to R.Kelly after finding out what he had done to their child. </br><br></br><br>R.Kelly is the most famous of a situation that has proliferated during my adult lifetime. When I was growing up, if you saw a teenaged mother, when pointing the finger to the father, you found yourself pointing to a teenaged boy - someone of her peer group. </br><br></br><br>No longer. With no alarm being sounded by our community, these teenaged girls are more than often pointing to GROWN MEN. Grown men who have preyed upon these young girls. What would make these GIRLS think that it\'s ok to be with these GROWN MEN? The hunger inside of them that they\'re trying to fill due to a MISSING FATHER.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971240">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971240" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971240" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971240">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971240" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971240" class="dsq-comment-message">So Obama\'s speech is going to cut the teen pregnancy rate?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971241">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971241" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971241" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971241">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971241" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971241" class="dsq-comment-message">no, ms. martin, it\'s not going to cut the teen pregnancy rate. <br></br><br>but, the preying on our young girls by older men IS a problem. These young girls are vulnerable to these older men, because of the hunger that they have due to that they have missing fathers. </br><br></br><br>I didn\'t have the issues with Obama\'s speech that others had. I know that he wasn\'t talking about my father or any man in my immediate family - because they took care of business. </br><br></br><br>But, the whole defensiveness, as if he\'s lying; as if he\'s making it up. </br><br></br><br>Maybe if we had 10,000 Black men in jail instead of 1,000,000, whose most common traits are: Fatherlessness and Illiteracy, then maybe I could see something wrong with what he said. </br><br></br><br>The flip side of that, on the female side, is our young women being preyed upon by older men, because of what they are missing. </br><br></br><br>Like I said before, I\'m conservative (with a small c) on this issue.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971242">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971242" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971242" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971242">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971242" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971242" class="dsq-comment-message">"But, the whole defensiveness, as if he\'s lying; as if he\'s making it up."<br></br><br>No, he\'s not lying and I\'m not defensive, I don\'t like the public chastizing of the community.</br><br></br><br>He never speaks about other groups\' behavior in an entire speech and IMO his reason for doing it to us is suspect and it\'s changing my view of him.</br><br></br><br>I am not the only person who feels this way - check out the comments on a lot of sites - including his.</br><br></br><br>I think it is irresponsible of him to feed perceptions of us to those who use it as an excuse to ignore the good in many of us and loathe us.</br><br></br><br>I\'ve heard you reel against people who think less of us as a group.  He his helping this with these types of speeches.  They really are not necessary.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971243">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971243" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971243" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971243">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971243" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971243" class="dsq-comment-message">are we back to the whole \' dirty laundry\' argument?<br></br><br>I know I disagree with folks on this issue; I guess we\'ll agree to disagree.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971244">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971244" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971244" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971244">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971244" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971244" class="dsq-comment-message">rikyrah<br></br><br>Yes, we are back to the dirty laundry argument.  </br><br></br><br>I\'m not so sure it\'s his dirty laundry though - just ours.</br><br></br><br>Why are you giving him a pass that you don\'t give other folks who have spoken out regarding the same issues?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971245">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971245" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971245" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971245">khal02</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971245" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971245" class="dsq-comment-message">Ms. Martin<br>He has called out the Cubans in Florida about travel restrictions and and the Jewish community about Israel\'s role in the mess in the middle East. I think most people didn\'t give Bill Cosby a pass because he was such an imperfect messenger with all the harassment suits and the fact that while he was talking about fatherhood his own children are a mess. I don\'t know if father\'s day was the right time for Obama to make this speech but he spoke a truth that some in the black community do not want to hear.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971246">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971246" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971246" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971246">DevyneMyzT</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971246" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971246" class="dsq-comment-message">I feel that the speech is warranted. Like its been said, there are more than a few black men not handling their business. Not that other races don\'t have the same problem, but the perception is that we own the lion\'s share of inadequate fathers. <br>I read something on Pat Buchanan\'s blog sometime ago; someone commented that if Obama wins the presidency, that conservatives and white America as a whole can feel free to call black folks to the carpet. If we finally got a real "black president" under our belt, we can stop blaming \'the man\' for our misfortune. </br><br>Now, I know that\'s a load of donkey kong, and so do you. But as this election has proven so far, perception is reality. And just as he\'s had to in other instances, Obama\'s looking to reassure white voters that he will not infact \'give black folks a pass\' on our less than perfect behavior. </br><br>Now, I know you and I and many other represent the thousands upon thousands of AAs that either (A) come from strong 2 parent households, or (B) came from a strong one parent household, and didnt raise any ruckus. But, unfortunately, even tho we exist, the country likes to pretend we don\'t. And lets face it, in some instances, our black family unit does need some healing.</br><br>Bottom line, I thing Obama is again bridging a gap with this speech. He\'s telling white folks that he doesn\'t condone the less than stellar behavior of some black folks, he\'s showing and telling the black folks that have not to do better, as he did, and he telling us that do have, be a strong example! Lift someone else up! Isn\'t that why we love him for POTUS anyway??</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971247">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971247" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971247" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971247">BigAssBelle</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971247" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971247" class="dsq-comment-message">there is definitely a problem with parents in this world. the first totally irresponsible parent i knew of was the father of my sister\'s three kids. after they divorced, he never even saw the kids again until they were adults, and his child support payments of $150 a month just vanished after a year.<br></br><br>my stepdaughter\'s two boys have different fathers. one is in prison, the other died in a motorcycle wreck with the cops chasing him. the one in prison never once showed an interest in his son until he got locked up and bored. aaron\'s 10 now. he needs a daddy.</br><br></br><br>the longest lasting relationship they had with a man ended because that man, much as the boys loved him, simply refused to work. and he did ~ he just wouldn\'t do it. the refusal to participate in that mandatory activity ~ supporting oneself ~ was stunning. i gave him a job at a good wage with remarkable flexibility and he just went home one day and never came back. i got a friend to give him a job where he could ultimately end up making $28 an hour. he went home after two days. never worked again.</br><br></br><br>when hannah filed for survivor benefits on her younger boy after his dad died, the small social security benefit ~ small because he\'d barely worked in his 26 years ~ was divided by 7. seven kids that man had, that no working, no child supporting man. seven. that\'s insanity.</br><br></br><br>it isn\'t just men. my sister\'s youngest adopted daughter\'s mother had nothing to do with her kids, nothing. </br><br></br><br>i <i>like</i> this speech and one of the things i like the most about it is that he calls people on some of the standard parenting crap that goes on now in households everywhere. </br><br></br><br>the addiction to television is a tragedy and it truly impacts the relationship between parent and child and it isolates people within the home. i\'m afraid it\'s part of what\'s behind the skyrocketing diagnosis of ADD in kids. too much stimulus, too young, too constant.</br><br></br><br>we\'ve had a pretty active propaganda campaign from this government to get us to support the war, hate muslims, etc.</br><br></br><br>i\'d think that an active, everywhere you turn campaign to encourage strong parents, proper parenting behavior, all of that, would have some effect. make a turn-off-the-TV day, a read-a-book-to-your-kid day. education young people who havent\' any idea how to be a parent as to exactly what it really takes for a child to thrive. </br><br></br><br>our kids can\'t make it without a proper foundation. there\'s a lot of research which shows that a kid\'s got to get what he/she needs before the age of 5 or it\'s really too late, that the intellect and the capacity for success in education is pretty much established by then. a solid foundation, security, enriched environment, attention, love in <i>action</i>, not just words. </br><br></br><br>in this country, kids ~ kids of 20, 25, 30 ~ are having babies for a lot of reasons other than building a family. my stepdaughter wanted love, she got two beautiful little boys, zero help from their fathers, and an enormous amount of work, like nothing she ever imagined. i wish she were a good mom. she\'s not. she says she loves them a lot, but her actions . . . not so much. it\'s a tragedy, a heartbreak. </br><br></br><br>i appreciate obama talking about fatherhood. it\'s important.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971248">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971248" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971248" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971248">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971248" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971248" class="dsq-comment-message">khal02<br></br><br>You are the last person I\'m going to try to explain this to.</br><br></br><br>It\'s not that I don\'t want to hear it.  It\'s not a fact about my life.  I was raised by my father and my children by my husband.  In fact, my son loves his father so much, when we separated he chose to stay with him though he loves me very much.</br><br></br><br>It feeds the NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS of us as a people and that\'s all it does - the people he\'s talking about are not listening to him and talk is cheap any fucking way.  If he is really concerned, he should go out into the community and reach one and teach one.</br><br></br><br>It ignores the large number of blacks who live their lives for the good.</br><br></br><br>and finally, if a white man was saying this shit you people would be tearing this board up in anger.</br><br></br><br>WHY GIVE HIM A PASS?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971249">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971249" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971249" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971249">Adam</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971249" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971249" class="dsq-comment-message">Obama\'s caught in a catch 22 where if he says nothing about the valid concerns many in our community have, then he\'s a sellout.<br></br><br>But if does and then doesn\'t provide enough balance in his comments, then he\'s hit another wall.</br><br></br><br>I like his speech.  I respect the fact that he said it.  Are there plenty of good black fathers out there?  Sure.  But that\'s what they are supposed to be, so no real cause for celebration.</br><br></br><br>And Ms. Martin, to say that O should go out into the community . .  come on now, the man was a community organizer for pete\'s sake.  He has been there and done that.</br><br></br><br>No, I don\'t think a speech from Obama will automatically change things, but it does set the tone.  It does continue to advance the idea that certain behaviors are unacceptable.  That is a good thing.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971250">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971250" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971250" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971250">BigAssBelle</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971250" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971250" class="dsq-comment-message">ms. martin, i understand what you\'re saying, but i just wanted to add that my comments above had everything to do with fathers and families in general and not black fathers and black families in particular.<br></br><br>i would hate to think that obama made this speech because he thinks it\'s what white america wants to hear. i can tell you that certain white americans of pat buchanan leanings will be thrilled with this speech.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971251">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971251" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971251" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971251">G.D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971251" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971251" class="dsq-comment-message">You can clap to his comments all you want.<br></br><br>But this speech was aimed at white conservatives. </br><br></br><br>Ms. Martin is right. This speech (like those sad little encomiums Juan Williams always writes) was him doing the dog whistle thing for white conservatives. </br><br></br><br>"See, their lagging behind is their fault! Stop making excuses!"</br><br></br><br>And so on.</br><br></br><br>I get it, rikyrah. You\'re incapable of criticizing ol\' dude because you\'re a true believer. But as a black man who grew up in the inner city with no father, I\'d kind of like someone in a prominent public role to not be patted on the back for trafficking in stereotypes about our supposed laziness.</br><br></br><br>You should point out that single parent households are on the rise across the board, not just with black folks. That black (and brown) folks have higher rates of fatherlessness isn\'t surprising --- they\'re more likely to be poor.</br><br></br><br>And this is what people don\'t understand on this issue. They get the causality completely backward: people aren\'t poor because they\'re families are haphazardly formed and maintained --- their families are haphazardly formed and maintained <i>because they\'re poor.</i></br><br></br><br>the personal reponsibility argument rules the day because it\'s a simple one, and draws clear moral lines.</br><br></br><br>Were it that simple in the real world, and not in the heads of bourgie self-congratulators.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971252">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971252" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971252" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971252">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971252" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971252" class="dsq-comment-message">Adam<br></br><br>He was out organizing voter regisitration drives so we could vote him into office.</br><br></br><br>He wasn\'t out organizing a group of young black men teaching them about responsibility and fatherhood.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971253">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971253" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971253" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971253">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971253" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971253" class="dsq-comment-message">khal02<br></br><br>"He has called out the Cubans in Florida about travel restrictions and and the Jewish community about Israel\'s role in the mess in the middle East. "</br><br></br><br>These are specific governments that he spoke about, not a race of people - it is clearly different.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971254">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971254" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971254" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971254">Adam</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971254" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971254" class="dsq-comment-message">Ms. Martin<br></br><br>I agree that is what he\'s doing now.  I\'d only add that I believe he\'s doing that to elect himself and other Democrats, which I see as a good thing.</br><br></br><br>But I\'m not sure that Obama\'s inital public service had the same "getting elected focus", but even if it did . . . the goals of improving a community and being elected aren\'t always mutally exclusive.</br><br></br><br>I don\'t see Obama\'s comments as much more then a black man, going in front of a black church and saying "let\'s look at ourselves" and even if he didn\'t say everything we may have wished he said, he said something which to me is an excellent thing.</br><br></br><br>Of course the issues of poverty and fatherhood are complex as hell and a speech doesn\'t exist that could cover it all but I appreciate that it was said.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971255">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971255" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971255" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971255">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971255" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971255" class="dsq-comment-message">Once again blacks are being thrown in the trash by a Democrat.<br></br><br>I understand know about the "cockiness" he\'s been criticize for.</br><br></br><br>He even suggested that because blacks didn\'t believe in themselves they didn\'t believe he could be president. How fucking arrogant.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971256">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971256" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971256" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971256">Pamela</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971256" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971256" class="dsq-comment-message"><i> no alarm being sounded by our community, these teenaged girls are more than often pointing to GROWN MEN. Grown men who have preyed upon these young girls. What would make these GIRLS think that it\'s ok to be with these GROWN MEN? The hunger inside of them that they\'re trying to fill due to a MISSING FATHER. </i><br></br><br>This made me think are black men convicted of being pediphiles at the same rate as white men?  My image of a pediphile is a middle age to old creepy white guy.  I wonder if black men who prey on young black females are largely ignored as if the girl was asking for it anyway.   </br><br></br><br> The R.Kelly verdict makes me ill and I will never by one of his albums or play one of his songs again.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971257">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971257" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971257" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971257">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971257" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971257" class="dsq-comment-message">I apologize in advance that I will not proofread or edit this post, so please excuse any grammatical or spelling errors.<br></br><br>I actually agree with you, MS.MARTIN but for other reasons than dirty laundry.  I agree with you because he conveniently ignores the real systemic root causes of many ills in the AA community.  A black kid with a joint gets jail and a felony record so that he can never get financial aid for college or a legitimate job while a white kid with cocaine gets to take a driving class.  </br><br></br><br>An educated AA with a graduate degree and gainfully employed can go to a doctor recommended by a white colleague with symptoms that the white colleague was given a battery of tests for and not have one test ordered even with suggestions of the tests the colleague mentioned.  It would take the AA another 3 years of trying doctor after to get someone who finally treated indiscriminately but by then it was too late because the AA died of cancer a year later but the white colleague\'s was caught early enough to live a productive life in remission.</br><br></br><br>A black person with degrees from the best schools could be visiting family in the south and get pulled over on a country road by a sheriff because said person has vanity plates and a university decal in the window that doesn\'t comport with what the sheriff expects a black person to achieve.  When questioned about the reason for the pull over, considering said person wasn\'t speeding or breaking any other laws, the sheriff informs the black person in this 21st century that he could take the driver\'s career or life without consequence, so the driver should be thankful that the sheriff is in a good mood.  The driver looking into the sheriff\'s eyes did not doubt his words and drove away broken and awakened to the realization that regardless of how educated, accomplished, or successful you are in the end you are still black and any person in power on any given Sunday can take everything away and get away with it.  It happens every day.</br><br></br><br>Then you have the shiftless people who are selling T-shirts and starting websites since 2007 to take advantage of Obama\'s run for president suddenly becoming pristine enough to sit in judgment of all other black people without any more accomplishment than a new entre into a political hustle in comparison to others.  I can hardly wait for the hustle documentaries to show up after the election, bought and paid for by people like me who donated frequent flier miles to volunteers who took the free plane tickets and their video cameras just to get some footage for the next step in hustledom (instead of actually knocking on as many doors as possible I\'ve seen some that did 25 doors and called it a weekend because it really is about the hustle) but I don\'t consider them any better than the kid who gets a record & is sent to juvy for stealing a package of bologna from the 7-11 because he was hungry and had a little sibling at home who was hungry too.  I guess the former persons consider themselves better than the latter but I think the former may have too high an opinion of themselves.</br><br></br><br>I would like to know when he is going to speak about the ills of racism, discrimination, sentencing discrepancies, disproportionate funding between predominately minority schools and white schools,racial profiling, blatant murdering of blacks through lack of appropriate medical care or intentional lowering of the quality regardless of whether the black person is insured....When is his white half going to be honest with white audiences about these things and the share responsibility for the perpetuation by denying these obvious facts in the face of evidence so mounting that international organizations and other countries are publishing reports on the continued slow killing of the black community by racism, institutionalized and otherwise.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971258">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971258" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971258" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971258">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971258" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971258" class="dsq-comment-message">Well, I think we all knew Obama is human.  <br></br><br>If there is only criticism offered  to the AA community, Barack may dampen turnout.</br><br></br><br>If this speech is evidence of his social conservative leanings, then I would say to O that many kids are saved by not knowing their fathers.  You\'re not deficient if your father isn\'t around. </br><br></br><br>The speech made me feel down.  Don\'t blacks deserve to be uplifted sometimes.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971259">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971259" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971259" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971259">marc</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971259" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971259" class="dsq-comment-message">some might not have realized it, but this speech was "ask not what your country can do for you" ten times over. and he did not even mention that precedent. and yes, he said this to his black community, but no, this was not a play for conservatives.<br></br><br>it took guts to say these words, and many commments here confirm it. but this is how a leader has to talk. not to appease each and every group and person, but to take those to task who need it. not to offer cheap solutions, but to ask everybody to cooperate. not to put himself on top of everybody, but to lift everybody up with him.</br><br></br><br>not to demand blind submission to the leader, but to insist on the responsibility of every person so they can be leaders, each of them.</br><br></br><br>obama could have stayed silent. he did not need to speak on this occasion. he did not need to make this any more than a standard holiday speech and be a nice guy. but obama did not seek the easy way out. this is quite a unique man.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971260">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971260" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971260" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971260">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971260" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971260" class="dsq-comment-message">Obama should know about absent black fathers.  Isn\'t he always bragging about being raised by a single mother with the help of his grandparents?  This speech given at this particular church on this particular day is pure politics.  Barack Obama wasn\'t talking to me or my daddy.  He was talking to white America and feeding into the sterotype.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971261">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971261" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971261" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971261">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971261" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971261" class="dsq-comment-message">BPM<br></br><br>My anger is not just about dirty laundry.  Though airing does give other license to speak on it.  It is all the factors you mentioned and more that shoud render this subject closed to a few comments and know follow-up.</br><br></br><br>It is the fact that he threw in you can\'t blame it on racism that gave him away.  Straight fucking pandering.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971262">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971262" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971262" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971262">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971262" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971262" class="dsq-comment-message">My 2 cents:<br></br><br>This was the appropriate time to address this issue, because all the black men are now paying attention. Yep, they are now watching Senator Obama and listening to him, if for no other reason than that someone who looks like them is telling them like it is. And guess what, this messenger is authentic(say, unlike Bill Cosby?)in that he, himself, had an absentee dad. He resolved to break that cycle of black fathers behaving like sperm donors. Senator Obama "manned up", so to speak. He is offering black men a blueprint for there own lives. African-American men need to take this challenge. </br><br></br><br>Yes, in many ways, the "institution" is still stacked against the black male, but what are they/we going to do? Huh? Just throw our arms up in the air and do nothing? Try nothing? Just continue this cycle of broken and dysfunctional families in our communities? </br><br></br><br>I\'m sad that so many people believe that he was pandering to whoever. Oh Puhleeze. As a black woman, I certainly do not see it that way at all. The people in here who are offering this argument are total enablers of the self-defeating behavior that we partake in. The same sort of people who, perhaps, at the beginning of Obama\'s campaign showed little faith in his candidacy until 98%-white-Iowa sent out the message(people of Iowa it\'s all love!) that he is viable. Yeah, we had to get permission. Sad! </br><br></br><br>We have learnt to be the consummate victims. Not unfounded, but guess what y\'all? There comes a time when we must realise that we have to stand up and face what is happening in our black community. And, it starts with the basic family structure. How mothers and fathers treat each other in front of their kids. Educate them about sex stuff. Teach them how to have repect for their bodies. And for gods sake, pay a little attention in school.</br><br></br><br>Yeah, I know, people outside of our community like to think we are not that smart but they are wrong. We may have to work twice as hard to disprove those impressions. But we must try. Now we have a chance, our black brother and sister(Barack and Michelle) is now under the spotlight and is proving that argument dead wrong. Let\'s take this opportunity black people. Don\'t fight it.</br><br></br><br>I will join the chorus, Senator Obama:</br><br>BLACK MEN, MAN THE FUCK UP! PLEASE! STOP MAKING EXCUSES! DO SOMETHING! TRY ANYTHING! RESPECT YOUR WOMEN! TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILIES!</br><br></br><br>T.</br><br>ps. This speech, though it was given from the pulpit of a black church, was universal in it message. If you either read or listened to it in its entirety, you would see.</br><br></br><br>pps. Another brother is entertaining us today. Go Tiger Woods! Good Luck!</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971263">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971263" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971263" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971263">marc</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971263" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971263" class="dsq-comment-message">wasn\'t he speaking to his own community church?<br></br><br>my, it\'s tough when you take your time but anyways some always will go back to stereotypes.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971264">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971264" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971264" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971264">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971264" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971264" class="dsq-comment-message">"some might not have realized it, but this speech was "ask not what your country can do for you" ten times over. and he did not even mention that precedent. and yes, he said this to his black community, but no, this was not a play for conservatives.<br></br><br>it took guts to say these words, and many commments here confirm it. but this is how a leader has to talk. not to appease each and every group and person, but to take those to task who need it. not to offer cheap solutions, but to ask everybody to cooperate. not to put himself on top of everybody, but to lift everybody up with him.</br><br></br><br>not to demand blind submission to the leader, but to insist on the responsibility of every person so they can be leaders, each of them.</br><br></br><br>obama could have stayed silent. he did not need to speak on this occasion. he did not need to make this any more than a standard holiday speech and be a nice guy. but obama did not seek the easy way out. this is quite a unique man."</br><br></br><br>BS.  One might try to make that argument after the first time but the fact is that he is saying the same things other whites say without pointing out other factors.  He has given this speak to black churches and black rallies that we can stop pretending like he is not scoring political points on the backs of black Americans.</br><br></br><br>I can hardly wait for his speeches to the good folk in appalachia where I presume he will tell white Americans what "needs" to be said too.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971265">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971265" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971265" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971265">Pamela</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971265" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971265" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'m confused, but then again I am a black conservative so I am a bit slow (I\'m kidding, about the slow part).  Obama speaks to a predominately black church on fathers day about an issue that does affect a lot of black people and it is wrong?  It may be uncomfortable to hear but I don\'t think he said anything in his speech that wasn\'t true.<br></br><br>As far as airing dirty laundry, the issues of our community aren\'t these dirty little secrets.  If anything they are blown out of proportion by people outside of the community and if the misconseptions are ever going to be corrected they need to be discussed openly.  </br><br></br><br>I don\'t think it was Obama\'s intent to call the black community out.  He was just giving what he felt was  an honest speech for the audience, the day and his experience.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971266">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971266" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971266" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971266">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971266" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971266" class="dsq-comment-message">Obama shouldn\'t have gone there at all.  It\'s opening up a can of worms ...why not go to the white community and talk about divorce?  There are social leaders who talk about these issues.  It doesn\'t feel right for a prospective President to single out any one community for this kind of "personal" treatment.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971267">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971267" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971267" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971267">Pamela</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971267" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971267" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>It doesn\'t feel right for a prospective President to single out any one community for this kind of "personal" treatment.</i><br></br><br>Or maybe we have never had a prospective President that cares enough to say anything.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971268">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971268" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971268" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971268">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971268" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971268" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'ll bet you won\'t catch him at a catholic mass speaking about pedophilia, in Florida talking about abuses to palestinians or what some characterize as terrorism against those people, or at a white suburban high school discussing the moral and physical perils of "friends with benefits" activities.<br></br><br>Put him in a black church or a rally with predominately black attendees and he parrots the lazy, victimhood negro meme.  How many times is he going to call out the black community and only the black community before people stop making excuses for his pandering to the white Americans that won\'t vote for his behind anyway.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971269">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971269" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971269" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971269">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971269" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971269" class="dsq-comment-message">A prospective president who cares my ass.<br></br><br>If he cared, he would have broached this subject in an entirely different manner!</br><br></br><br>He gave that speech for a white audience.</br><br></br><br>Like I said yesterday, there are blacks who wish to hear about issues such as the economy, healthcare and issues affecting the country as a whole.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971270">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971270" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971270" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971270">marc</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971270" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971270" class="dsq-comment-message">only the brave dare open cans of worms.<br></br><br>and did he really pull the black community down, or wasn\'t he rather telling them "yes we can"? was he asking too much?</br><br></br><br>and who else should do what he did? a white guy?</br><br></br><br>now he should talk to appalachia the same way...</br><br></br><br>but have you forgotten where his roots are? so he cannot anymore talk to his community because now that he\'s running for prez his words gain importance and some could get itchy? that, in my opinion, would have been an artificial and political-at-its-worst approach.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971271">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971271" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971271" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971271">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971271" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971271" class="dsq-comment-message">Pamela, <br></br><br>I\'m a died-in-the-wool...umm...liberal. Yep. Unapologetic. I am not in the habit of agreeing with you...umm...conservatives. But in this instance I agree with you. </br><br></br><br>Was what Obama said true? Heck, yeah! Was what Obama said, out real loud, to be heard on youtube forever and ever, supremely uncomfortbale? Heck, yeah! But, like Obama, I\'m in the business of saying what people need to hear and not what they want to hear!</br><br></br><br>And even if it was not Obama\'s intent to call us out, I\'m certainly glad he did. Black people, look at this as a challenge. Just sayin\'.</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971272">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971272" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971272" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971272">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971272" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971272" class="dsq-comment-message">"Or maybe we have never had a prospective President that cares enough to say anything."<br></br><br>New to politics? Never listened to any other speeches before Obama.  Start easy and research Bill Clinton\'s speeches or Ronald Reagan\'s.  Obama is not the first nor only to pander to white America on the backs of blacks.  As a republican, you should be quite accustomed to hearing exactly that.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971273">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971273" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971273" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971273">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971273" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971273" class="dsq-comment-message">Marc<br></br><br>Get real.  His roots are in Hawaii with a white family.  He came upon the black community as an adult - he was already formed.</br><br></br><br>Like he said in his speech, while he was raised by a single mother, he had the benefit of his grandparents, one who was ashamed that he was black as a child at the beach and another who thought a black man would rob her at a bus stop.  Now he has the benefit of a whole bunch of white folks and he needs to remind us after we supported him, that we, as a group, need to do better to better our lives.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971274">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971274" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971274" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971274">Timmy Mac</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971274" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971274" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'m not an African-American, but I am a father, and insofar as Senator Obama\'s speech touched on fatherhood in general, I have to say it resonated with me...the themes of responsibility and setting a good example for one\'s kids and such.  <br></br><br>Just my 2 cents.  And really, for those who are complaining about the timing, he gave a speech about fatherhood on father\'s day.  Makes sense to me.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971275">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971275" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971275" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971275">Pamela</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971275" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971275" class="dsq-comment-message">BMP, I suppose I have my rose colored glasses on or maybe I am way too optimistic but I don\'t believe Obama is selling out blacks to pander to whites.  But I can see how from a cynical perspective it may look that way.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971276">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971276" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971276" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971276">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971276" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971276" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>It is the fact that he threw in you can\'t blame it on racism that gave him away. Straight fucking pandering.</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>My father told me the same thing on a regular basis and he wasn\'t pandering to anybody. He was motivating me to work even harder, dig even deeper, even in the face of racism. He simply didn\'t want me to give racism more power than it ought to have in blighting my dreams.</br><br></br><br>Barack didn\'t say anything yesterday that he hasn\'t been saying for years and yet now he\'s beind derided.</br><br></br><br>I guess Barack\'s speech was more daring than I originally gave it credit for.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971277">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971277" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971277" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971277">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971277" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971277" class="dsq-comment-message">In essence, he gave the same speech on MLK day, the same speech to a rally in Dallas, the same speech to several groups in SC, the same Fing speech practically each time he is in front of black people.  I guess it makes sense, black people are the source and perpetuators of all problems in America so whenever there is a black audience, he should speak to that. Makes sense to you.<br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971278">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971278" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971278" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971278">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971278" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971278" class="dsq-comment-message">Are y\'all talking about the same speech I saw?  Because I THOUGHT he said, "everybody, especially the black community."<br></br><br>He was [i]not[/i] just talking to "us".</br><br></br><br>ps, sorry about the anonymity, long-time lurker</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971279">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971279" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971279" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971279">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971279" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971279" class="dsq-comment-message">Al Gore endorses Obama. Check the campaign website.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971280">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971280" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971280" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971280">marc</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971280" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971280" class="dsq-comment-message">with all my love, ms.martin, i was referring to the religious community he was speaking to and where he did community work for years. he did grow up in other places, but his chicago experience has been very much forming him.<br></br><br>as a matter of fact, i as an "open minded" white man could read things into his speech which were not at all limited to black folks. i could see myself in there. so it was me who he won over (again), not any conservatives.</br><br></br><br>i think i\'ll leave it at that.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971281">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971281" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971281" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971281">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971281" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971281" class="dsq-comment-message">Craig<br></br><br>Your father wasn\'t running for political office and giving the talk to you for the benefit of being heard by others.</br><br></br><br>We know racism is real and success in spite of it is completely understood by the black community and need never be spoken.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971282">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971282" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971282" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971282">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971282" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971282" class="dsq-comment-message">Pemala,<br></br><br>I think you have your republican colored glasses on and anytime a democrat is running with a favorite republican talking point, you probably feel warm and fuzzy and in cynical agreement with the panderer. Point me to where I called Obama a sellout please otherwise let\'s  keep it to what I actually wrote.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971283">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971283" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971283" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971283">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971283" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971283" class="dsq-comment-message">He had 30 MINUTES people!  He cannot solve a GENERATIONAL concern.problem in that amount of time. IN FACT, he cannot solve the problem alone!  It is everyone\'s RESPONSIBILITY is some way.  Let each of us find our own way to ameliorate this situation!<br>God Bless Us to do so.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971284">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971284" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971284" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971284">heartsandflowers</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971284" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971284" class="dsq-comment-message">There wouldn\'t be so many negative perceptions if so many Black people had not spiraled out of control. If we allow any criticism from others to stop us from addressing some serious pathologies then we as a people are lost! Why are so many women commentators the ones soooo offended by having Black men taken to task? Do any of you make excuses for less than stellar behavior? Do you \'love\' the boys and \'raise\' the girls? That\'s sexism 101 people. Would you rather hear yet another speech, article, or claim that it is Black women at fault? This is not defend the Black man battle. Where are they? Do you see them defending Black women with such fervor? [CRICKETS]. If it doesn\'t apply to you or any one you know then why be so offended? This is a problem and it should be addressed. Racism does not cause a man to impregnate a woman and disappear. Yes there are economic factors at play and external obstacles that make things difficult. Does that absolve people from all responsibility? Lack of affordable child-care doesn\'t stop people from having them. Some of you are reacting emotionally and not thinking critically. This isn\'t about white people or pandering to conservatives! Obama didn\'t have his own father around when he grew up though he did have his step-father for a time but mainly his grandfather. Perhaps he is speaking from personal experience. Maybe he would have liked to have had his father around more.  <br></br><br>Here\'s one part that I think everyone can agree with: </br><br></br><br>“The second thing we need to do as fathers is pass along the value of empathy to our children. Not sympathy, but empathy — the ability to stand in somebody else’s shoes; to look at the world through their eyes.”  </br><br></br><br>So how is that pandering, criticizing or demonizing?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971285">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971285" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971285" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971285">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971285" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971285" class="dsq-comment-message">Marc<br></br><br>I don\'t care what color you are, I don\'t pander to groups, I see everyone as human unless they give me a reason not to.</br><br></br><br>I used the word us because I saw the speech as a clear talking to blacks peppered with the usual uniter blacks and whites for effect.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971286">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971286" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971286" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971286">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971286" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971286" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>Now he has the benefit of a whole bunch of white folks and he needs to remind us after we supported him, that we, as a group, need to do better to better our lives.</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>As I just said, he didn\'t wait till we supported him before challenging us to be better. He gave a version of this speech three years ago, before he held national office, before he had the "benefit of a whole bunch of white folks", and has been repeating excerpts of it all along the campaign trail for the last 16 months or so.</br><br></br><br>Politicians tend to piss off their bases when they move from the primary to the general election.</br><br></br><br>Here we are.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971287">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971287" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971287" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971287">Pamela</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971287" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971287" class="dsq-comment-message">BMP,<br></br><br><i>Obama is not the first nor only to pander to white America on the backs of blacks.</i></br><br></br><br>No you didn\'t use the word sell out but I would think pandering to white America on the backs of blacks is a close statement.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971288">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971288" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971288" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971288">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971288" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971288" class="dsq-comment-message">Obama is pandering and scoring political points on the backs of Black America. He is a politician that will say whatever it takes to get those votes.  Rev. Wright called that one on the real.<br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971289">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971289" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971289" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971289">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971289" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971289" class="dsq-comment-message">Okay... so people would rather be mad at Obama for, yes, speaking the truth, than to realize that he was talking to ALL of us.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971290">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971290" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971290" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971290">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971290" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971290" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'ve got all fing day to debate this.<br></br><br>Honey101 you like an earlier anon seem to be missing the meat of this discussion.</br><br></br><br>I don\'t need a fucking politician pointing my race out as a group that needs a talking to.  Stick to the political issues please.</br><br></br><br>I\'ve raised my boys to be responsible men and was raised by and married to one.</br><br></br><br>I don\'t want to hear Obama talk about black people in a speech.  PERIOD.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971291">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971291" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971291" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971291">Pamela</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971291" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971291" class="dsq-comment-message">Oh ad by the way sorry for addressing you as BMP as opposed to BPM</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971292">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971292" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971292" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971292">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971292" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971292" class="dsq-comment-message">"No you didn\'t use the word sell out but I would think pandering to white America on the backs of blacks is a close statement."<br></br><br>Well, it is what it is.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971293">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971293" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971293" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971293">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971293" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971293" class="dsq-comment-message">Does anyone have a link to the text of the speech?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971294">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971294" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971294" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971294">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971294" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971294" class="dsq-comment-message">speech<br>http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/stateupdates/gG5nFK</br><br></br><br></br><br>AL GORE endorses Obama!!</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971295">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971295" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971295" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971295">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971295" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971295" class="dsq-comment-message">I just wanted to point out broadly that the themes, the issues (both positive and negative) that Sen. Obama raised in this speech <b>are not new to him</b>.  This was almost a "best of" speech that combines many themes and issues he\'s raised in speeches for many years now.<br></br><br>Having read/seen those speeches from years past I can tell you that this speech was not "Obama going into general election mode", but him delivering basically what he\'s been saying on the topic for a long time now.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971296">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971296" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971296" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971296">Chaz</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971296" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971296" class="dsq-comment-message">...Was I watching the same speech as some here? Sounded just like my Georgia born and raised father. <br></br><br>As for not blaming racism...what responsible black person doesn\'t tell their children that? My parents did, so did there\'s, even as the Klan was burning the cross. Why? Well a someone above hit the nail on the head. Giving into a system of racism is to be defeated. </br><br></br><br>Did you not hear the portion on Michelle\'s father? Did you miss the call for governmental action on behalf of families?</br><br></br><br>Obama has said there things before. And why don\'t we stop acting like we aren\'t loosing our males to prison, etc. Yes there are injustices in the system and the words that obama has used about mandatory sentencing laws gives me hope on that front. </br><br></br><br>The bully pulpit has been used in the past to affect social change, why shouldn\'t the first viable black candidate use it for our community? </br><br></br><br>You really think this guy only speaks to white people? Do you remember the race speech? He\'s trying to bring groups together, a hard, thankless task...</br><br></br><br>But what do I know, I\'m young...</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971297">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971297" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971297" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971297">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971297" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971297" class="dsq-comment-message">ms. martin,<br></br><br>You are correct that he was raised in Hawaii(and Indonesia - and Indonesians aren\'t white) with his white mother and grandparents. So what? He came upon the black community as an adult? Huh? </br><br></br><br>As he said in his 2004 Charlie Rose interview, he is "a black man raised by a white mother with a healthy dose of self esteem." </br><br></br><br>Unlike a lot of black people with a white parent, who turned out actually looking black, Senator Obama, appears to be well-adjusted in accepting his african ancestry AND his dark skin-color. He has embraced it, with all the baggage it carries. If you realise he doesn\'t flinch about his heritage in front of white people or black people. He can empathise with both worlds. This is the gift he will give to his children.</br><br></br><br>Can you believe what a tough time this little black boy must have had in the 60\'s without his black father as an example? Kudos to his mother - Thank you Miss Ann Dunham(and to the grandparents). You raised a fine boy! What a gift you\'ve given to the black community...to our country.</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971298">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971298" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971298" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971298">Pamela</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971298" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971298" class="dsq-comment-message">Those of you who are upset by hie remarks did you have the same reaction when he made his statements about people clinging to guns and religion because they feel the government has failed them?  <br></br><br>I know it\'s not the same thing but in essence he was making comments about a group of people who would rather not deal with the truth of his statements.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971299">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971299" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971299" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971299">Pamela</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971299" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971299" class="dsq-comment-message">BPM<br></br><br>I never called Obama a sell out!  And this discussion isn\'t about Reagan or Clinton, it is about Obama.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971300">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971300" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971300" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971300">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971300" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971300" class="dsq-comment-message">pemala, you referred to Obama as a sellout TWICE.  As a matter of fact, I don\'t recall anyone but you using that term in reference to Obama in this thread.  I questioned you and you reiterated your position.  Oh and my point was definitely about Obama, Reagan, and Clinton but the fact that you don\'t recognize the fallacy in your own argument doesn\'t surprise me at this point.<br></br><br>How are each of these three, Obama, Reagan, and Clinton, sellouts by the definition and claims you were projecting into this thread?  </br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971301">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971301" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971301" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971301">Town</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971301" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971301" class="dsq-comment-message">The problem with these type of speeches that Obama and Bill Cosby are serving isn\'t really with the content of the message.  The problem is that "other people" are eavesdropping on the message and like the game of "Telephone," the message gets distorted.<br></br><br>So Obama will say "Black dads who aren\'t handling their business, you need to tighten up," or Bill Cosby will say "Lower class black people who are out there stealing, stop it."  We as black people know who and what they are talking about.  We know that the vast majority of us aren\'t acting a fool. The problem is "people who are eavesdropping" think ALL BLACKS are one and the same and are ALL engaging in the fool ass behavior and they report it as such.  So the story gets told as "Obama tells black fathers to tighten up" or "Bill Cosby tells blacks to stop stealing."</br><br></br><br>That\'s why public personalities like Obama and Cosby need to be careful about what they say about black people in public, not because we don\'t want white people to see our dirty laundry, but because telling absentee black fathers to "stop acting a fool" is not news to US.  Obama has said nothing novel or new or anything that any regular black preacher isn\'t saying from the pulpit every Sunday morning.  They need to be careful because it\'s news to THEM and THEY are the ones reporting the story.</br><br></br><br>Black pathology is a national sport.  I\'m pretty sure other people from other ethnic groups are telling their people to "tighten up" too, but we\'ll never hear about it because black pathology is the only one that white people care about.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971302">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971302" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971302" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971302">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971302" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971302" class="dsq-comment-message">Pamela, the lib\'rul here again:<br></br><br>In essence the cling-to-guns-and-religion comment, though inartfully delivered, sought to highlight that those people vote/act against their own economic and social interests by embracing what is familiar to them - their long-held family traditions of gun-ownership and faith - in times of discomfort, you know, when things get tough.</br><br></br><br>Those who oppose what Senator Obama said yesterday about our community\'s social problems are in effect reacting the way those people do/did. Yeah, we cling to victimhood when things get rough. The truth makes them uncomfortable. Even for someone as open-minded as myself, I felt uncomfortable hearing it out loud. But it\'s the truth. We can use this as opportunity, or not, to rebuild our black community.</br><br></br><br>LOL! Black and white people...not so different after all. Defensive about the truth.</br><br></br><br>BLACK FAMILIES IT\'S TIME TO STAND UP!</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971303">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971303" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971303" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971303">Pamela</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971303" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971303" class="dsq-comment-message">BPM you accused me of putting words into you post that you called Obama a sell out.  I pointed out how I came to that conclusion. I guess I was wrong. However   I have or never called Obama that so you are wrong.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971304">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971304" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971304" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971304">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971304" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971304" class="dsq-comment-message">"Those of you who are upset by hie remarks did you have the same reaction when he made his statements about people clinging to guns and religion because they feel the government has failed them? "<br></br><br>Those statements were made in private and got about by accident.  They weren\'t given in a speech to be heard by the nation as the black ones were intended.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971305">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971305" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971305" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971305">khal02</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971305" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971305" class="dsq-comment-message">Ms. Martin<br>Obama is the only candidate to have discussed how the different sentencing between crack and powder cocaine are devastating the black community. Just last week he spoke on repealing the mandatory sentencing laws and instead focusing on diversion prgrams that will keep our black men out of prison. So he has addressed the fact that the government of late has played a role in the deterioration of the black family. However, he is not going to continue to justify black people using the government as a cop out. A lot of black men are not in the home by choice not by some type of system and our children are suffering for it. The black family has almost completely dissolved in one generation and it\'s going to take acceptance and work for that to change.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971306">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971306" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971306" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971306">Leota2</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971306" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971306" class="dsq-comment-message">You know, I listen to these comments and remember I grew up with  "don\'t let the white people know we are just as fucked up as they are."<br></br><br>Get over it!   He spoke the truth.  He is not a saint.  He was raised by a single mother--his father left him.  Some of us want to be patted on the head, others don\'t want to be told a damn thing and others think he\'s a traitor and wouldn\'t even be happy if the man sprouted wings out of his ass and flew.</br><br></br><br>Do you want someone to pander to you?  And in the end-- this is life and  has a lot to do with the politics of this nation.  And anybody thinking he\'s pandering to white CONSERVATIVES has been on the planet Mars? </br><br></br><br> And bully to you all who have husbands and fathers who are and were involved in yours and your children\'s lives. </br><br></br><br>Life is good.</br><br></br><br>But if you are pissed \'cause he is not talking to your lot in life and you don\'t want a lecture-- don\'t fucking listen!  Somebody else a bit more wanting than you may get something from his speech.</br><br>Maybe some young brother about to be a father . . .</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971307">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971307" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971307" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971307">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971307" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971307" class="dsq-comment-message">"BPM you accused me of putting words into you post that you called Obama a sell out. I pointed out how I came to that conclusion. I guess I was wrong. However I have or never called Obama that so you are wrong."<br></br><br>pemala, as i stated I don\'t recall anyone but you using the word "sellout" in reference to Obama in this thread.  I didn\'t accuse you of anything but I did point I what you typed.  Apparently, you confused the word that you typed with my posts and with the above I guess you were doubly wrong.  Still, don\'t know what you mean when you call such people sellouts but in all fairness, I really don\'t care.  However, if I want to call someone a sellout I would do so and I don\'t need a republican or democrat with a specious argument to take it upon themselves to do so on my behalf. Thanks.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971308">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971308" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971308" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971308">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971308" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971308" class="dsq-comment-message">Town,<br></br><br>Listen, people know that not EVERY black person/family is engaged in this destructive cycle. But it is a problem that needs to be addressed. And addressed out loud. Yeah, part of the problem is the "institution" and part of it is personal responsibility. We have control over the latter, and that is what Senator Obama(and Bill Cosby) is saying. This situation is too dire in our community to fear that other people may be listening. Let \'em listen. The bottomline still remains - we need to clean up our own house so that we are in a position to fight the institutional discrimination. Together.</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971309">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971309" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971309" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971309">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971309" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971309" class="dsq-comment-message">Eeek..<br></br><br>When I left, there were 11 comments and now, it\'s 79?</br><br></br><br>Oooh, it\'s gotten hot in here!</br><br></br><br>LOL </br><br></br><br>Off to read another great JJP debate.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971310">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971310" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971310" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971310">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971310" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971310" class="dsq-comment-message">Leota2<br></br><br>Your baseless non-argument doesn\'t move me at all.  I don\'t have to get over it and neither do the many others who don\'t agree with it.</br><br></br><br>Dont be foolish honey we are voters.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971311">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971311" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971311" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971311">Pamela</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971311" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971311" class="dsq-comment-message">BPM, you are welcome.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971312">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971312" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971312" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971312">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971312" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971312" class="dsq-comment-message">"Eeek..<br></br><br>When I left, there were 11 comments and now, it\'s 79?"</br><br></br><br>Blame Canada.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971313">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971313" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971313" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971313">Leota2</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971313" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971313" class="dsq-comment-message">Ms. Martin,<br>It seems anyone who does not have the time to spar with you and your err--beliefs, are spouting non-arguments.  Hmmm, typical of a closed mind.</br><br></br><br>Don\'t be crazy "honey"--I vote too, work with homeless, pregnant teens, teach their children to read and will not get into this further with you.  I\'m out.</br><br></br><br>Attack on Ms. Martin-- as is your right sister in these United States . . . . . .</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971314">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971314" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971314" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971314">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971314" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971314" class="dsq-comment-message">leota2, there really is no need to project.  You popped into this thread attacking anyone who didn\'t take the 100% kneegro point of view.  Ms.Martin was the only one who took the bait because I didn\'t find your post worthy of a response.  However, revisionist history is such an annoyance to me.  You attacked first and when challenged you jumped to the very victimhood claim that you hypocritically decried.  Make up your mind already.<br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971315">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971315" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971315" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971315">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971315" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971315" class="dsq-comment-message">Leota2<br></br><br> "And anybody thinking he\'s pandering to white CONSERVATIVES has been on the planet Mars?" </br><br></br><br>You make statements like the above and accuse me of attacking.</br><br></br><br>I haven\'t addressed anyone personally because this is not personal, but I am entitled to express my opinion regarding my perception of the speech and you can\'t tell me to get over it or speak to me in condescending tones because I wasn\'t fatherless or raising children by myself.</br><br></br><br>It is my right to think that this speech didn\'t belong in the political arena.  It\'s not a belief, merely an opinion.</br><br></br><br>Study up and get back to me.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971316">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971316" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971316" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971316">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971316" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971316" class="dsq-comment-message">Craig,<br></br><br>heh heh, point taken.</br><br>:)</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971317">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971317" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971317" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971317">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971317" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971317" class="dsq-comment-message">I would like to know when Obama is going to speak about the ills of racism, discrimination, sentencing discrepancies, disproportionate funding between predominately minority schools and white schools,racial profiling, blatant murdering of blacks through lack of appropriate medical care or intentional lowering of the quality regardless of whether the black person is insured....When is his white half going to be honest with white audiences about these things and the share responsibility for the perpetuation by denying these obvious facts in the face of evidence so mounting that international organizations and other countries are publishing reports on the continued slow killing of the black community by racism, institutionalized and otherwise. I wonder why it is that these aren\'t the subjects of his speeches in front of every non-black audience he performs for.<br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971318">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971318" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971318" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971318">Town</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971318" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971318" class="dsq-comment-message">"people know that not EVERY black person/family is engaged in this destructive cycle."<br></br><br>BLACK people know this.  Whites do not and so when they report on what Barack Obama said or what Bill Cosby about a particular group of blacks are doing, they report it as BLACKS IN GENERAL are doing it.  </br><br></br><br>"But it is a problem that needs to be addressed. And addressed out loud. Yeah, part of the problem is the "institution" and part of it is personal responsibility. We have control over the latter, and that is what Senator Obama(and Bill Cosby) is saying."</br><br></br><br></br><br>At this point in our country\'s history, I\'m not sure any particular racial group needs to be called out since 50% of marriages are ending in divorce and about 30% of the children in total are being born out of wedlock.</br><br></br><br>And, I don\'t think that telling somebody "You need to be a better dad" is going to help solve the problem if those kids in the hood don\'t know what being a better dad means.  Obama\'s daddy wasn\'t around, but he did have his granddaddy in the home to show him the way.  Pookie on the street might not know what being a dad means beyond throwing the mother of his child a couple of dollars here and there.</br><br></br><br>I mean, yeah, we can call out Pookie, but who is going to show Pookie how to handle his business?</br><br></br><br>"The bottomline still remains - we need to clean up our own house so that we are in a position to fight the institutional discrimination. Together"</br><br></br><br>I don\'t think one has anything to do with the other, really.  Our house has always had dust in the corners, so if we waited until our house was "clean," we\'d still be picking cotton and drinking from CULLID ONLY fountains.  </br><br></br><br>The problem is we talk endlessly about cleaning house and tightening up instead of just applying the mop to the floor and scrubbing away.  And I don\'t think we can talk about "bad black fathers" without talking about how many black women are laying down with the "bad black fathers" and continuing to bear children for them.  </br><br></br><br>At any rate, Obama and Cosby are preaching to the choir when they speak about "bad black this or that."</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971319">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971319" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971319" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971319">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971319" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971319" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>Those statements were made in private and got about by accident. They weren\'t given in a speech to be heard by the nation as the black ones were intended.</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>Actually, he told Charlie Rose the same thing in a televised interview a few years ago. He didn\'t use the words bitter and cling but he made the same point.</br><br></br><br>There was no backlash.</br><br></br><br>Given that Barack has been giving this speech almost in its entirety for years with no fanfare, given that Barack had made the same remarks about small-town voters years ago with no fanfare, it just goes to show that there is always a "perfect storm" that must occur before words are blown out of proportion by those who wish to blow them out of proportion.</br><br></br><br>Someone used the word racial shame the other day on this topic.</br><br></br><br>Racial shame.</br><br></br><br>As though it only applied to Barack for making such comments in an apparent attempt to satisfy white people.</br><br></br><br>Are we who support Barack simply waiting for the other shoe to drop. Parsing anything and everything that he says because we don\'t believe this is really happening?</br><br></br><br>Barack is not perfect. He says so all the time. Sure, he\'s got the arrogance of a Leo. But he could be much worse.</br><br></br><br>He could be Bill Clinton.</br><br></br><br>Barack called out white people for accusing black people of experiencing racism only in their minds.</br><br></br><br>I\'m going to repeat that:</br><br></br><br>Barack called out white people for accusing black people of experiencing racism only in their minds.</br><br></br><br>He called out white people for scapegoating brown immigrants as the cause of their economic woes.</br><br></br><br>I don\'t recall too many people in these parts cursing him out when he said those things.</br><br></br><br>But he\'s taking a beating for telling an audience of black people that we need to raise our standards for parenting.</br><br></br><br>Humph.</br><br></br><br>I think I\'ll leave this discussion alone.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971320">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971320" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971320" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971320">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971320" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971320" class="dsq-comment-message">I hope Obama gets tired of pandering at the expense of blacks soon.  It seems to me he takes those black votes for granted more than any democrat before him and that is not very smart of his typically pandering arse.<br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971321">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971321" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971321" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971321">D.</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971321" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971321" class="dsq-comment-message">Two things:<br></br><br>1. It\'s nice to not be the object of everyone\'s discontent for once.</br><br></br><br>2. Obama was pandering...or, more accurately, he was saying something that-given his current stature-he probably has wanted to say for a while. Only difference is that now he has an audience.</br><br></br><br>Moments like this are to be expected. He\'s allowed a trip or two onto the soapbox.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971322">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971322" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971322" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971322">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971322" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971322" class="dsq-comment-message">Let me repeat:<br></br><br>I\'ll bet you won\'t catch Obama at a catholic mass speaking about pedophilia, in Florida talking about abuses to palestinians or what some characterize as terrorism against those people, or at a white suburban high school discussing the moral and physical perils of "friends with benefits" activities. Not only will you not catch is pandering arse doing this but you won\'t catch him doing this repeatedly each time in front of these audiences, much less once.</br><br></br><br>Put him in a black church or a rally with predominately black attendees and he parrots the lazy, victimhood negro meme. How many times is he going to call out the black community and only the black community before people stop making excuses for his pandering to the white Americans that won\'t vote for his behind anyway.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971323">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971323" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971323" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971323">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971323" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971323" class="dsq-comment-message">Per Jessica Yelin of CNN "Obama has proved that he is willing to criticize the AA community."<br></br><br>I guess he got the job done.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971324">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971324" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971324" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971324">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971324" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971324" class="dsq-comment-message">"Actually, he told Charlie Rose the same thing in a televised interview a few years ago. He didn\'t use the words bitter and cling but he made the same point.<br></br><br>There was no backlash."</br><br></br><br>Because he carefully chose his words so as not to offend.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971325">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971325" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971325" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971325">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971325" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971325" class="dsq-comment-message">Ms. Martin, Shuster just asked in a segment whether Obama is using criticism of blacks to appease whites.  Shuster gets the political pandering and he had one black and one white guest responding. The political reporters definitely know exactly what he is doing because this is not new strategy but the reporters didn\'t just  discover politics with Obama\'s run.<br></br><br>BPM</br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971326">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971326" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971326" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971326">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971326" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971326" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>I get it, rikyrah. You\'re incapable of criticizing ol\' dude because you\'re a true believer.</i><br></br><br>I\'ve criticized him on certain things, in particular the AIPAC deal. I understood it, but didn\'t like it. </br><br></br><br>Like I said, I\'m a true believer in what Obama said, not it\'s true because Obama said it. I believed it when Mr. Cosby said it. I believed it when others said it.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971327">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971327" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971327" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971327">Pamela</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971327" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971327" class="dsq-comment-message"><i> Shuster gets the political pandering and he had one black and one white guest responding.</i><br></br><br>What did the guests say?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971328">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971328" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971328" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971328">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971328" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971328" class="dsq-comment-message">"Are we who support Barack simply waiting for the other shoe to drop. Parsing anything and everything that he says because we don\'t believe this is really happening?"<br></br><br>Uh no, I always believed this would happened and I also believed that he was a fair man and that he would speak the truth.  But it seems he is only able to do this unabashedly with the black community. And, that, I have a serious problem with.</br><br></br><br>I really wish he hadn\'t given that speech and made me feel this way.</br><br></br><br>I feel like I did when he said people of Wright\'s generation were holding on to anger.  He quickly adjusted that with the Race speech, but I guess he doesn\'t have to worry about this one - or maybe he does.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971329">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971329" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971329" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971329">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971329" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971329" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>2. Obama was pandering...or, more accurately, he was saying something that-given his current stature-he probably has wanted to say for a while. Only difference is that now he has an audience.</i><br></br><br>::</br><br></br><br>He\'s been saying the same thing for a while now. At least since 2004. His audiences were smaller, but he hasn\'t all of a sudden "found his voice."</br><br></br><br>The difference between this same speech in 2004 and now?</br><br></br><br>The media wasn\'t covering the speech back then and telling us what to think about it.</br><br></br><br>For many, it appears that Barack is the scapegoat for the media.</br><br></br><br>But I said I was done with this discussion.</br><br></br><br>Sigh.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971330">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971330" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971330" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971330">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971330" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971330" class="dsq-comment-message">"He called out white people for scapegoating brown immigrants as the cause of their economic woes.<br></br><br>I don\'t recall too many people in these parts cursing him out when he said those things."</br><br></br><br>Again, he is not giving whole speeches to these groups, rather making comments.</br><br></br><br>Difference.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971331">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971331" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971331" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971331">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971331" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971331" class="dsq-comment-message">"He quickly adjusted that with the Race speech, but I guess he doesn\'t have to worry about this one - or maybe he does."<br></br><br>Probably not.  Democrats have a lock on the black vote and in the newly registered young & dumb votes and he probably worries less.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971332">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971332" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971332" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971332">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971332" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971332" class="dsq-comment-message">Obama is a political panderer like the others, a politician that Rev. Wright aptly described.  This is a fact and so it is.<br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971333">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971333" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971333" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971333">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971333" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971333" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'ll bet you won\'t catch Obama at a catholic mass speaking about pedophilia, in Florida talking about abuses to palestinians or what some characterize as terrorism against those people, or at a white suburban high school discussing the moral and physical perils of "friends with benefits" activities. Not only will you not catch is pandering arse doing this but you won\'t catch him doing this repeatedly each time in front of these audiences, much less once.<br></br><br>Put him in a black church or a rally with predominately black attendees and he parrots the lazy, victimhood negro meme. How many times is he going to call out the black community and only the black community before people stop making excuses for his pandering to the white Americans that won\'t vote for his behind anyway.</br><br></br><br></br><br>BPM please keep saying this because they\'re prentending that they don\'t hear you.</br><br></br><br>No response - anybody home.</br><br></br><br>This is the truth - someone please respond to this.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971334">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971334" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971334" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971334">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971334" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971334" class="dsq-comment-message">Patti Doyle was hired by Obama as chief of staff to his VP pick. Hmmmm</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971335">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971335" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971335" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971335">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971335" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971335" class="dsq-comment-message">I said:<br>"The bottomline still remains - we need to clean up our own house so that we are in a position to fight the institutional discrimination. Together"</br><br></br><br>Town Said:</br><br>I don\'t think one has anything to do with the other, really. </br><br></br><br>My Reply:</br><br>Accepting personal reponsibility for the breakdown of the social structure in our black community and subsequently working to rebuild it, strengthens us collectively, as a group. So that instead of a few disparate voices, there is a roar of voices, strong voices,  saying to the institution that perpetuates the discrimination - WE ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE. CHANGE IT.  </br><br></br><br>See the relationship, now? We have to try to take matters into our own hands. Change from the bottom up?</br><br></br><br>Keep talking Barack. Believe it or not, the young black boys are listening and watching you. Yeah, they are!</br><br></br><br>The evening after you clinched 2118, on 2 of the evening news programs, you recounted a story about how this woman came up to you in San Fran(AIPAC, I think) and told you a story. She said that her son works as a teacher in an inner-city school and how he had detected a change in the young African American boys, you know, how they were paying attention more, becoming more diligent in their studies. And you said, how proud that made you. Yeah, dude, these young black boys are paying attention. These young Hispanic kids are paying attention. (There is a video clip of some of these kids from South Brx discussing Obama in youtube. I think its in Barack\'s page. Check it out!)</br><br></br><br>T.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971336">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971336" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971336" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971336">Non Delusional</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971336" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971336" class="dsq-comment-message">Obama is a politician and he is showing his true colors. Playing the Black social conservative card in order to ensure White people that he\'s hard on Niggas. Real Original. Black Elected officials dance this dance all the time. I have no problem with the actual statements. Its the fact that they were nothing but a pander-fest to shore up his conservative street cred. Obama is getting more played out and tired every day. Negroes will regret that they supported this fool sooner then they think.<br></br><br>Every time the right wing busts him on something, he caves like a Bitch.</br><br></br><br></br><br>1)Rev. Wright</br><br>2)Trinity Church</br><br>3)Wearing Flag Pins </br><br>4) Jim Jones, his VP committee guy that he bounced after the info about his mortgage came out. (when he first tried to say it didn\'t matter)</br><br>5) Saying he\'s going to Iraq after John McCain pressured him for not going.</br><br></br><br>Way to be a Leader who stands on his principals. This guy is such a SHAM its not funny. He\'s another focus group politician that doesn\'t stand for anything. He makes MANY democrats just want to stay home. Unfortunately, I\'m gonna vote for this clown, but I recognize him for the fraud that he is, and the dissapointment he will be to the Black community. But y\'all clowns here at jack and jill are still intoxicated by the empty symbolism that a Black president represents. I will not allow myself to be intoxicated, particularly when this is probably the WRONG BLACK PRESIDENT.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971337">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971337" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971337" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971337">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971337" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971337" class="dsq-comment-message">And he could speak truth to the other factors that are destroying the black community (you know the ones that are the fault of black people) but he doesn\'t have the courage to keep it that real and why should he when no one does aside from the few Time Wise\'s of the world.  Let the little white kids, little jewish kids, little catholic kids hear him to so that they can clean up their parts of the problem.  15 innocent black men on deathrow in Illinois didn\'t lock themselves up for those crimes but they got there.  People are stupid to try to pretend like the problems of the black community are solely owing to the so called "pathological" behavior of black people; this stuff results from the pathological behavior of people other than black people too and if he is that much of a leader, that much of a truthteller, he would tell those people the things they "need" to hear every time he is in front of them.  Pandering arses.<br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971338">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971338" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971338" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971338">rikyrah</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971338" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971338" class="dsq-comment-message">Doyle is there for her Latino contacts, and she\'s a high profile woman, and they think they can keep an eye on her. Remember, she\'s from Chicago, her brother is big in Latino politics in Chicago, and they\'ve known Axelrod for years.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971339">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971339" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971339" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971339">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971339" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971339" class="dsq-comment-message">I wonder if anybody thought Barack was pandering to midwestern voters when he picked up a shovel to help sandbagging efforts on the Mississipi or when he put out a call to action for his supporters to donate to the Red Cross and participate in flood relief.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971340">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971340" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971340" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971340">Pamela</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971340" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971340" class="dsq-comment-message">Craig, of course. Where was he during Katrina?<br></br><br>And just to be clear I am being sarcastic.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971341">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971341" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971341" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971341">Nquest</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971341" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971341" class="dsq-comment-message">Ms. Martin?  Is that you?<br></br><br>You once had problems with me being critical of Barack.  I\'m not surprised that you are critical of him now.  I\'m just surprised you didn\'t already know he likes to get his Cosby on every now-and-again.  And to be clear, this isn\'t the first time he gave this Father\'s Day message with the curious barbershop ("men acting like boys") rhetoric:  </br><br></br><br><a href="http://www.barackobama.com/2007/06/15/remarks_of_senator_barack_obam_15.php" rel="nofollow"><b>The contrast between the emphasis in his speech last year</b> and his speech this year does lend credence to the "pandering" idea though.</a></br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971342">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971342" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971342" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971342">Chaz</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971342" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971342" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>"I\'ll bet you won\'t catch Obama at a catholic mass speaking about pedophilia, in Florida talking about abuses to palestinians or what some characterize as terrorism against those people, or at a white suburban high school discussing the moral and physical perils of "friends with benefits" activities. Not only will you not catch is pandering arse doing this but you won\'t catch him doing this repeatedly each time in front of these audiences, much less once.<br></br><br>Put him in a black church or a rally with predominately black attendees and he parrots the lazy, victimhood negro meme. How many times is he going to call out the black community and only the black community before people stop making excuses for his pandering to the white Americans that won\'t vote for his behind anyway."</br></i><br></br><br>One word: Authenticity. You can disagree but people listen to people they trust on issues close to home. I\'m black and catholic and 99% of the time non-catholics don\'t know how to address the problem of pedophilia in a catholic audience, and if they do many of us won\'t take it well. Yet, get a priest or other catholic to do this (as we do) and the result is different. </br><br></br><br>So, who is another AA on the national stage who can talk about these issues? Is it not his responsibility on some level to use his bully pulpit to speak to us? Hell he\'s from the south side of Chicago, he\'s seen this shit eat communities alive. All of us who have should be angry (as he appears in the first few moments of the speech). </br><br></br><br>Should he comment on all our collective social and political ills, yes. But I think he does more than any other politician. Take his inclusion of gay rights into his stump speech, no matter if it is LA or central PA. Take his inclusion of common sense sexual education for all American children. </br><br></br><br>Does he and will he pander a bit? Damn straight, he\'s a pol. But the reality is that he hasn\'t even reached the levels of pandering we\'re use to on this stage. </br><br></br><br>Further, what few have responded to is the fact that his message to the AA community has not changed since he was running for the senate and before (keep in mind the majority of AA were for Hillary during the beginning of his pres. run). He\'s consistent and while some of this speech was obviously politics his consistence on talking about these issues begs some comment on your parts.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971343">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971343" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971343" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971343">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971343" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971343" class="dsq-comment-message">Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.<br></br><br>I like to refrain from unworthy comments unless I am in a teaching mood.  Today, I am not in a teaching mood, so I won\'t deal with the irrelevant, diversionary,... red herrings.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971344">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971344" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971344" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971344">Nquest</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971344" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971344" class="dsq-comment-message">Craig,<br></br><br>I wonder why people aren\'t saying "he\'s not running for president of Black America" now.  It would be different if he would just as strongly, directly and loudly push issues, policies and programs for African-Americans the same way he likes to chastise.  It would also help if he did his Cosby routine in a way Cosby didn\'t -- i.e. without stereotypes and other assorted bs firmly in hand.</br><br></br><br>And please tell me why Obama act like he despises Farrakhan when Obama has his narrow azz all off in the MMM which was all about the topic of his Father\'s Day message a decade after Farrakhan made Black manhood/fatherhood central the event and community focus?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971345">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971345" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971345" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971345">Chaz</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971345" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971345" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>Every time the right wing busts him on something, he caves like a Bitch.<br></br><br></br><br>1)Rev. Wright</br><br>2)Trinity Church</br><br>3)Wearing Flag Pins</br><br>4) Jim Jones, his VP committee guy that he bounced after the info about his mortgage came out. (when he first tried to say it didn\'t matter)</br><br>5) Saying he\'s going to Iraq after John McCain pressured him for not going.</br><br></br><br></br></i><br></br><br>Please the Rev tossed Obama under the bus for some of the spotlight. Barack defended him without doubt. If the Rev disrespected me like that I\'d give him more than words. </br><br></br><br>The pin? Please again. Didn\'t he go through the worst political drilling possible and still defended his words during the PA debate? </br><br></br><br>Jones...bounced himself and for good reason. Why take a political hit for something that doesn\'t matter. Jones an old Washington player understood that.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971346">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971346" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971346" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971346">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971346" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971346" class="dsq-comment-message">craig, the dude(Obama) can sure use a shovel. If only he could take that shovel to washington and excavate the useless pieces of shit who\'ve terrorised us with fear, and crippled our economy over the last 8 years. Now, that is the type of "pandering" I would love. <br></br><br>T.</br><br>BTW, contrast that Obama quincy photo-op with the Bush/Bush-McCain slugs on some tarmac somewhere, with cake to boot, when New Orleans was submerged under sludge? Yeah.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971347">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971347" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971347" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971347">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971347" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971347" class="dsq-comment-message">Nqest<br></br><br>Yes, it\'s me.  It really bothered me this time.  Especially him suggesting that we don\'t believe in ourselves so we couldn\'t believe he could be president.  Such bullshit.</br><br></br><br>People are afraid to say wait a minute because we thought he was above this so instea they\'re trying to justify it.</br><br></br><br>When somebody tells me why he can call us out and  not others  I\'ll give it a thougt, but until then, he\'s fucked up with me.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971348">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971348" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971348" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971348">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971348" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971348" class="dsq-comment-message">Wow.....<br></br><br>Looks like I\'m going to have to register MORE new voters. From the looks in this piece, Obama just lost the black vote.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971349">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971349" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971349" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971349">lamh</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971349" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971349" class="dsq-comment-message">Okay,<br></br><br>So if it wasn\'t Barack saying this, but your church pastor, what would be the issue then, because I\'ll tell you, this speech other than being seen on a national stage, is exactly the type of sermons that I grew up hearing from my pastor.  I grew up in one of the nastiest projects in New Orleans.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971350">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971350" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971350" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971350">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971350" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971350" class="dsq-comment-message">"Further, what few have responded to is the fact that his message to the AA community has not changed since he was running for the senate "<br></br><br>What you\'re missing though is that he was running in a heavy Republican state - again pandering though I didn\'t know this - I only knew of his popeye and someother bullshit speech in Texas which also pissed me off, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971351">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971351" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971351" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971351">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971351" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971351" class="dsq-comment-message">"this speech other than being seen on a national stage"<br></br><br>I guess you didn\'t read the other comments because this is PRECISELY my problem!</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971352">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971352" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971352" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971352">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971352" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971352" class="dsq-comment-message">It is obviously political pandering  and since he cared so much I have to now wonder why he didn\'t attend the State of the Black Union to say these things.<br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971353">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971353" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971353" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971353">lamh</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971353" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971353" class="dsq-comment-message">Teen pregnancy, gang/drug violence was bad.  I am the result of an unwed teen mother.  My cousins had her first child at 13.  Teen pregancy got so prevelant that the local school decided to put a day care on the premises.  And tht was just over 19 years ago.  <br></br><br>So yeah, my pastor would have sermons with the same message as this one.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971354">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971354" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971354" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971354">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971354" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971354" class="dsq-comment-message">I emailed the Obama campaign and told them I could do without anymore black folk speeches.<br></br><br>I hope he\'s finished criticizing black folks, maybe I can heal.  I really want to cancel my t-shirt order.</br><br></br><br>If not, I won\'t be voting for him.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971355">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971355" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971355" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971355">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971355" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971355" class="dsq-comment-message">lamh<br></br><br>yes, let\'s let your pastor speak to his congregation an Obama can speak to the nation regaring issues affecting all Americans.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971356">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971356" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971356" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971356">Chaz</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971356" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971356" class="dsq-comment-message"><i>What you\'re missing though is that he was running in a heavy Republican state - again pandering though I didn\'t know this - I only knew of his popeye and someother bullshit speech in Texas which also pissed me off, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt.</i><br></br><br>Agreed. But then I have no problem admitting he was pandering. However, the truth and personal reflection in his words (read: Dreams of My Father) make this one not so offensive to me. </br><br></br><br>I\'m not sure what some of those angry over this were expecting. I suppose I\'m so jaded that I didn\'t buy the "new politics" angle and focused my support on policy.</br><br></br><br>However, unlike some Dems I don\'t think he\'s going to sell out blacks and others like some (Bill Clinton) when the rubber hits the road of governing.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971357">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971357" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971357" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971357">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971357" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971357" class="dsq-comment-message">T that register new voters comment was directed at me because I said I would register new voters to replace the racist Hillary supporters who wouln\'t vote for Obama.<br></br><br>I won\'t except race-baiting from him anymore than I will Hillary or McCain.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971358">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971358" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971358" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971358">Plantsmantx</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971358" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971358" class="dsq-comment-message">"Wow.....<br></br><br>Looks like I\'m going to have to register MORE new voters. From the looks in this piece, Obama just lost the black vote."</br><br></br><br>Dontcha just love these binary thinkers?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971359">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971359" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971359" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971359">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971359" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971359" class="dsq-comment-message">However, unlike some Dems I don\'t think he\'s going to sell out blacks and others like some (Bill Clinton) when the rubber hits the road of governing.<br></br><br></br><br>I\'m not worried about that either, but I don\'t like him making spectacles out of us.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971360">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971360" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971360" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971360">lamh</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971360" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971360" class="dsq-comment-message">..."national stage".  It seems to me that you feel like Obama personally called "you" out.  As you said, this is not your situation, but I can tell you that I know a lot of AA in that situation, not just in my family, but in the community where I grew up.  <br></br><br>Besides, as I understand it, Obama has been saying these things all along, it\'s just with this campaign that so much media attention is on Obama. Does that make what is said any less pertinant to many people\'s situation.  An newsflash, AA don\'t have a monopoly on unwed mothers, or dead beat dads.  Would it have been better for you if he had made this same speech in a predominantly white church.  It still would have gotten national media coverage, but would you still feel like he was putting black folks business out there, or that he was talking about white people?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971361">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971361" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971361" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971361">Melissa</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971361" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971361" class="dsq-comment-message">lamh,<br></br><br>Duh, its not new and blacks talk about it despite public opinion, we have addressed issues of black manhood and fatherhood however if you know anything about respectablitiy then you would know that you dont do things like this on a national stage unless you want to make a point. You dont scold your own in public. And dont tell me that he was in a black church because he knew damn well that it would be on television. He is running for president.</br><br></br><br>As I said before on this blog, I attended Obama\'s former church (Trinity United Church of Christ, the name of the church before Obama got famous). We talked about black fatherhood and manhood in a way that is celebatory. We praised those who do the right thing. On Father\'s Day, we make them stand up and clap for them like they do in other churches! We do the same thing on Mother\'s Day! Wright used to deliver sermons about the power of the strong black family to overcome obstacles.Moss has also delivered similar. However this was different. This did not sit right with me. Some of his choice of words were offensive. </br><br></br><br> When I was an infant my father walked out after losing his job. The pain of not having a job was too much. My parents were not married. It was the seventies and times were tough. A lot of that happened back then! He returned when I was 6 and my brothers: 8, 10 & 11. My sister was 8. He went to his grave regreting those years that he missed. He made them up in our book because he was there for us for the majority of our lives. He did so much for us and we have so many wonderful memories. However, he never saw it that way. He still felt guilty about the time he missed. He was a good man and a good father. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2005. I miss him dearly.</br><br></br><br>I had a wonderful father\'s day with my husband, three brothers and my sister\'s husband. Four good black fathers who according to public opinion do not exist. We laughed, talked, went out for seafood and remembered pops.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971362">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971362" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971362" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971362">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971362" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971362" class="dsq-comment-message">"An newsflash, AA don\'t have a monopoly on unwed mothers, or dead beat dads. Would it have been better for you if he had made this same speech in a predominantly white church."<br></br><br>You should probably ask yourself why he doesn\'t say anything like that to white churches in light of your quote above?  If they have problems why is he not preaching to them about those problems too? I suspect that if he did this in front of a white church it would be no different that the all black bashing all the time that he is starting to enjoy too much. </br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971363">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971363" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971363" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971363">Chaz</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971363" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971363" class="dsq-comment-message">Ms. Martin, <br><i>"If not, I won\'t be voting for him."</i></br><br></br><br>Regardless, I hope that isn\'t a McCain vote. Given your high standards I also hope you didn\'t vote for Clinton the second time (Some would include the first I don\'t but Welfare, Lani Guinier or "quota queen",crime bill?, mandatory min laws?), because he sure as hell threw us under the bus. And these were policy and laws that actually hurt black people. </br><br></br><br>I have no problem with people having more qualms than me, I do hate hypocrisy though. </br><br></br><br>-Chaz</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971364">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971364" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971364" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971364">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971364" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971364" class="dsq-comment-message">Chaz<br></br><br>Dont assume you know me.  I didnt vote for Clinton either time and am not threatening to hold my vote for McCain.</br><br></br><br>But SBO is the one who ran on change and if he is going to use black voters to gain white ones, that\'s no change and I won\'t be interested.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971365">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971365" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971365" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971365">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971365" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971365" class="dsq-comment-message">I guess for me pandering means going against your principles, changing your policies even, and/or promoting bullshit policies in order to attract votes from a demographic.<br></br><br>Take, for instance, John McCain telling Hillary\'s supporters in a private metting that he\'s willing to support her choices for the Supreme Court. Well, unless Hillary has become an enemy of Roe v. Wade while none of us were looking, I can\'t imagine he\'s really going to support her choices for Supreme Court. And if he is, then he\'s flatout lying to his base to try to make himself appear more conservative than he is.</br><br></br><br>Like them or not, Barack\'s stances on the matters in question in this speech are consistent.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971366">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971366" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971366" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971366">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971366" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971366" class="dsq-comment-message">Obama doesn\'t speak exclusively for the blk community but he is giving off that impression with every pandering speech pimping out the black community to get votes from other communities. Typical pandering arse.<br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971367">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971367" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971367" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971367">Rhonda</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971367" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971367" class="dsq-comment-message">Also, some of you dont seem to understand the reason why some were not okay with the speech. Last time I checked, Barack was a politican. Why can\'t he address the issues that he can really help change in regards to government and the black community but can attack the short comings of some of us. How many times and how many people have said the same thing? Obama is not going to change certain things and he knows it. I know what he was trying to do with this.<br></br><br>I mean some of you said it! Blacks have no monopoly on any of the issues that people consider to be "bad black pathology" however we as a sociey still perpetuate it. I thought that Obama believed in American issues. I thought that he refused to label an issue exclusive to a race but he does it to us.</br><br></br><br>Also, some of you dont seem to understand that the only thing that people hear coming out of the black community is the negative. It doesnt matter if this does not apply to those with fathers or those who are fathers. We are al getting slapped with the label as everything else esp. when it is done on a national stage for all to see. The good never get the time of day only the bad. Yet with whites and others, the bad never gets the time of day. </br><br></br><br>I was angry with Obama when he told blacks in Texas to stop feeding their children "cold chicken for breakfast". That was not cute. </br><br></br><br>You see, my friends (McCain style) sometimes its not the message but how the message is framed and how it is presented. Whatever good intention he had was lost because of his failure to do the latter.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971368">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971368" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971368" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971368">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971368" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971368" class="dsq-comment-message">Like them or not, Barack\'s stances on the matters in question in this speech are consistent.<br></br><br>Well then, he shouldn\'t just limit his teachings to the black community, he should be willing to take them to a white church as well.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971369">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971369" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971369" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971369">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971369" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971369" class="dsq-comment-message">Hi everybody,<br></br><br>I am quietly reading the conversation.</br><br></br><br>I will respond later.</br><br></br><br>Hi, Rhonda! (other poster with the name Rhonda)</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971370">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971370" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971370" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971370">Craig Hickman</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971370" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971370" class="dsq-comment-message">Did it cross anyone\'s mind that Barack\'s targeted audience every single time he gives this speech is comprised of young black boys who don\'t have a father figure in their lives who will tell them these things? <br></br><br>Clearly he knows that young black boys look up to him. </br><br></br><br>Clearly he knows that as the most prominent black male politician in the nation this day, his words will fall on many of their ears.</br><br></br><br>If this speech makes Barack unelectable, so be it.</br><br></br><br>But his message is important and I couldn\'t care less where he delivers it and what those who overhear it might think.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971371">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971371" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971371" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971371">Chaz</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971371" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971371" class="dsq-comment-message">ms. martin, <br></br><br>I never assumed anything. I apologize if you felt put upon. I merely took your comment as a springboard to make a broader comment. It was premature and the result of ending up in the same place during discussions of a similar trajectory. Again, I didn\'t intend to insult. </br><br></br><br>I\'m going to reserve judgment on whether Obama is "using" black people. I haven\'t seen enough to convince me. </br><br></br><br>Regardless I think the charge of unequivocal pandering is a reach. Given his history of statements it does seem consistent. </br><br></br><br>Unlike some I think he has a responsibility as a black man and  politician to speak to the community. Why? Because we\'re in a special moment, we could elect the first AA president and with that comes a powerful moment for that candidate to change the minds of young and old. </br><br></br><br>For me the process isn\'t just about pandering for votes. True mature politics is give and take. Not just politicians doing and saying what I want and not saying what won\'t offend. Is BO perfect, not by far. No, and I\'ve criticized his shortcomings. But this speech doesn\'t muster for me.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971372">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971372" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971372" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971372">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971372" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971372" class="dsq-comment-message">Yep, Obama is a common panderer who is solicit votes on the backs of Black America.  The very politicians he studied he emulates.<br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971373">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971373" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971373" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971373">Chaz</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971373" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971373" class="dsq-comment-message">Rhonda, <br></br><br>He did address where the government can help in this process of strengthening families. But once again I\'ll say, being a politician isn\'t just about making laws. We should expect more from elected officials not less. </br><br></br><br>Like it or not they become role models and it has long been a tradition for those in positions of authority to speak to issues beyond pure policy.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971374">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971374" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971374" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971374">Rhonda</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971374" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971374" class="dsq-comment-message">Yea, Obama is a role model as he is being looked upon as the only black man whose got it together. It works for his electability to make it seem that way.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971375">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971375" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971375" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971375">Chaz</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971375" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971375" class="dsq-comment-message">Rhonda, <br></br><br>No, like most non-scandalicous politicians in the top tier of national politics he\'s seen as a role model because most people don\'t make it to such a level of prominence.</br><br></br><br>All,</br><br></br><br>Regardless I understand all the sides to the wonderful debate over the father\'s day issue. Unfortunately  I\'m outta time. </br><br></br><br>Peace. </br><br>-Chaz</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971376">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971376" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971376" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971376">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971376" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971376" class="dsq-comment-message">Remember when the late Tim Russert pointed his finger at Obama and made him renounce and reject Louis Farrahkan?  Remember when Louis Farrahkan organized the Million MAN march and preached about the exact same thing Obama preached about in his so called Fathers\' Day Sermon?  <br>Obama wasn\'t talking to our about my Daddy, his Daddy or his Daddy\'s Daddy. Nor was he talking about my brothers, my uncles or my cousins.  The people he was talking about weren\'t listening because they are probably in prison for using or selling dope.  Or they can\'t vote because they are convicted felons for using or selling dope because they can\'t find jobs that will support their families. Barack must have been talking about his own Daddy being MIA. Speaking of which, his Daddy was MIA and he turned out OK. Obama can\'t have it both ways, he can\'t brag about being the product of a single mom then criticize other single moms.  Obama might have just lost the single mom vote.  Maybe he can make up for it with the blue collar worker vote that his speech obviously pandered to.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971377">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971377" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971377" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971377">Val</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971377" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971377" class="dsq-comment-message">I don\'t have a problem with the speech. I think it is warranted and long overdue.  Who better to give it than a black man (even if he is half white) who was raised without a father.  So there is no better time than now. Obama touched upon fatherhood in a broader scope so in areas of his speech he touched on all fathers, however his focus in this setting was on the black community as his speech was given to a mostly black forum and spoke to those needs.  He pointed out that there are great fathers, ones who stand up and take responsibility and who are active in the lives of their children.  Then he turned his attention on the ones who needed it . . . the children without fathers.  I have no problems with him calling a spade a spade.  None at all.  I understand the context of the speech and I understand and agree with it.  I wouldn\'t change one word.  <br></br><br>I hear the ones who say, well this is going to give "whites" the feeling that they have a pass at saying whatever they want to the black community.  So what.  Who cares what others think . . .One has nothing to do with the other and you don\'t have to accept negative statements if untrue.  What is more important to me is that this speech could give dead beat fathers a wake up call to push them into taking a more active role in their children\'s lives.  You never know . . . the child you reject may just be the next President of the United States. </br><br></br><br>Long overdue.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971378">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971378" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971378" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971378">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971378" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971378" class="dsq-comment-message">I feel like absentee fathers is a problem that affects all Americans in one way or another, but AA communities in particular. Growing up in the my neighborhood was hard, but it could have been worse without a steady hand (my father) at home. My father is old school, and this weekend we talked about this speech and we talked about Bill Cosby\'s comments and the \'dirty laundry\' argument. He said some may call it pandering, but he called it the truth. Obama\'s prominence doesn\'t hurt his cause or diminish the truth and it shouldn\'t be a problem to address this issue. It used to be a shameful thing to be a man who didn\'t take care of his family, but now it\'s a joke and common, and maybe TV is the only place we can hear that it still isn\'t cool, and that it still carries harmful repurcussions.  It would have seemed like pandering had I NOT heard him address this issue before and all of a sudden he was on TV putting it all out there. He knows what it feels like to be raised without his father as well as the sense of emptiness and confusion that situation can foster.  I\'m glad he made the speech, and I\'m glad that he\'s using the national stage to do so. I personally don\'t give a damn what other people think of me.  No one else can define me, and Barack doesn\'t define US. We are continually allowing our complacency with our family situations and defeatism define us, and white people or anyone else for that matter, don\'t need Obama to point it out. The evidence IS on the streetcorners, and bullshitting in school. Come on man, it\'s not all good. We\'ve been saying it in closed circles to each other for years, in Black forums and SOU\'s for years, and what\'s different? Nothing, so I\'m glad he said it where he did, maybe folks will hear him a little better. Not just us, but everyone.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971379">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971379" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971379" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971379">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971379" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971379" class="dsq-comment-message">"So what. Who cares what others think"<br></br><br>If it were only about what they thought, but it\'s not, their thoughts affect their actions and the way treated and the way legislation is passed.</br><br></br><br>Them being the majority is what makes what they think important - hence the pandering.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971380">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971380" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971380" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971380">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971380" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971380" class="dsq-comment-message">Anon 4:04<br></br><br>What a lot of people heard was justification for the way the think of black people</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971381">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971381" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971381" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971381">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971381" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971381" class="dsq-comment-message">Where was all this self responsibility and family values during slavery when the slave masters were raping black girls and selling off their children and not allowing black men to be men?  What about the women who couldn\'t recieve aide for this dependent children if there was a man in the house?  Obama needs to get his history straight.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971382">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971382" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971382" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971382">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971382" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971382" class="dsq-comment-message">Val-<br></br><br>"I don\'t have a problem with the speech. I think it is warranted and long overdue."</br><br></br><br>You obviously have not been paying attention if you never heard this.</br><br></br><br> Its like saying that you never heard someone ridicule young people for using the "n-word" garbege. However if Obama made a speech about what I just mentioned, I would go crazy. </br><br></br><br></br><br></br><br>I think that some of you are missing the point as to why some are not ok with this "speech". </br><br></br><br>I am going to refrain from posting here because I am not interested in arguing. However, I will write about it on my blog tonight. Come on over in about two hours if you would like to read it.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971383">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971383" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971383" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971383">Val</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971383" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971383" class="dsq-comment-message">oh please.<br></br><br>I don\'t have a problem with it at all and I certainly do not interpret it as "Its like saying that you never heard someone ridicule young people for using the "n-word" garbege."  </br><br></br><br>Apples and oranges. I don\'t see the connection.  I really don\'t.</br><br></br><br>I say the same things to my nieces and nephews all the time.  I say it to the folks in my neighborhood, to teens I mentor at my church and at teen community forums, I especially say it to the teen boys in my outreach program, and I say it when hanging out in groups with my adult friends.  I don\'t have a problem with it. It is the truth.    </br><br></br><br>This isn\'t the first time Obama talked about these issues and he didn\'t just say these things to blacks.  Go to youtube or google his speeches on fatherhood and parenting.  He says pretty much the same thing to ALL parents in all walks of life.  This speech was more specific because it was tailored to the attendees.  I have no problems with it.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971384">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971384" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971384" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971384">Val</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971384" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971384" class="dsq-comment-message">Last response and then I have to go all.  <br></br><br>Regarding:Anonymous said... </br><br>Where was all this self responsibility and family values during slavery when the slave masters were raping black girls and selling off their children and not allowing black men to be men? What about the women who couldn\'t recieve aide for this dependent children if there was a man in the house? Obama needs to get his history straight.</br><br></br><br></br><br>One word . . . BULLSHIT</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971385">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971385" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971385" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971385">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971385" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971385" class="dsq-comment-message">To me, it seems like people are upset that a biracial man made the comments. Look at how many times his white heritage has been brought up in this thread. <br></br><br>If a Tavis Smiley or a Al Sharpton or another leader with two black parents had said the same thing, there wouldn\'t have been any backlash. </br><br></br><br>The irony is that while people are complaining about how his speech will cause white people to see us, they\'re using talking points of white people -- who have proven on more than one occasion that they\'ll slice and dice anything we say to make a story -- to criticize Obama! </br><br></br><br>And why isn\'t all this outrage posted in the thread about Al Sharpton using us to fill his bank accounts? If you\'re gonna be so upset when a black politician uses us for personal gain, be consistant and call out ALL OF THEM.  </br><br></br><br>Finally, let\'s stop acting like Obama has never talked about the economy, healthcare, crime and unfair sentencing when it comes to rock and powder cocaine.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971386">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971386" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971386" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971386">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971386" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971386" class="dsq-comment-message">Anon 4:48-<br></br><br>Becuase he\'s biracial? No! You are being silly!</br><br></br><br>Val-</br><br></br><br>You obviously dont get it. I KNOW THAT PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT ON A REGULAR BASIS...DUH...roll from under your rock!</br><br></br><br>Obama is not original in what he said...duh!</br><br></br><br>Thats not the point!</br><br></br><br>I grew up in a conservative black family! This is not new but one aspect of our respectablity is that you never do things like this in public. I dont care if Obama was in a black church, he was live on C-Span. </br><br></br><br></br><br>The fact that only the negativity about blacks is advertised and given attention is the reason why my cousin visiting his family from Cornell canget dragged out of a car and embarrased on a main road. We talk about the 1 in 9 who go to prison So the one who goes to prison is the face of the black community in the same way that the absent black father was the face of the black community for Father\'s Day .</br><br></br><br>No wonder my white professor once said "Black men are incapable of being fathers...it is probably genetic." She never Hears about the ones who are and when she sees a black man she probably simply assumes that regardless of the circumstance. A white boy thought that my father was just some random man! "That\'s you father!" As if the hundreds of black families in the neighborhood do not exist. </br><br></br><br></br><br>I dont think people understand why some are not okay with this speech at this time.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971387">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971387" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971387" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971387">Nquest</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971387" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971387" class="dsq-comment-message">Chaz - "Unlike some I think he has a responsibility as a black man and politician to speak to the community."<br></br><br></br><br>Hmmm...  <b>I wonder why people aren\'t saying "he\'s not running for president of Black America" now. It would be different if he would just as strongly, directly and loudly push issues, policies and programs for African-Americans the same way he likes to chastise. It would also help if he did his Cosby routine in a way Cosby didn\'t -- i.e. without stereotypes and other assorted bs firmly in hand.</b></br><br></br><br></br><br>I want to know who the hell he and other are talking about in terms of making "excuses" when there\'s a consensus that this type of stuff is said every day (or on the regular) in the Black community/church AND why the curious (and most definitely) FALSE DICHOTOMY.</br><br></br><br>Who the hell has said the reason why Black men aren\'t being fathers is because of racism?  How many dead-beat Black dads said the reason why they have shirked their responsibility is because of racism?</br><br></br><br><b>"It\'s racism, man.  If it wasn\'t for racism, I would be taking care of my kids right now.  Because it still exist... I can\'t."</b></br><br></br><br>Who has ever heard some bs like that?  Where the hell did Barack hear that sh*t (other than from Bill Cosby or Juan Williams)?</br><br></br><br>I mean, this simple azz thinking comes from the brother people credited with having such a nuanced view on things Race in America.  Hmmm...  It must have been too tempting for him to fall right in line and go with the simplistic, stereotype laden STRAW MAN instead.</br><br></br><br>UNACCEPTABLE!!!!</br><br></br><br></br><br>And DAMN YOU BARACK!!!</br><br></br><br><i>"Yes, we need more cops on the street. Yes, we need fewer guns in the hands of people who shouldn\'t have them. Yes, we need more money for our schools, and more outstanding teachers in the classroom, and more afterschool programs for our children. Yes, we need more jobs and more job training and more opportunity in our communities.  But we also need families to raise our children."</i></br><br></br><br><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcI0njqh1iw" rel="nofollow">WHY THE DIFFERENCE IN TREATMENT?</a></br><br></br><br></br><br>How come Black people are the only people who are "encouraged" to take "personal responsibility"?  And, worse, this is the same mf who tried to rationalize that "bitter" White sh*t with the idea that "they don\'t feel particularly privileged."  </br><br></br><br>Somehow, the notion of having to fix a problem that is not (completely) of your own making is something only Black folks are held responsible for.  Obama says "those (past) injustices are real" but does NOT account for THE REAL CONSEQUENCES of them.  Instead, he regards that nuance as EXCUSES.  Typical and UNACCEPTABLE!!!</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971388">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971388" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971388" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971388">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971388" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971388" class="dsq-comment-message">O-Force is slapping his kids around to show off for company.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971389">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971389" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971389" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971389">scruncher</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971389" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971389" class="dsq-comment-message">Obama sure has a lot of fair weather friends here.<br></br><br>You can disagree with his sentiment, but he\'s said this numerous times in numerous venues. Why the surprise? Why didn\'t you call him on it before? And how is it political pandering if he\'s been saying the same thing for years?</br><br></br><br>Disagree with him all you want, but don\'t act like it\'s a sudden, horrible change in him that has you reconsidering your support.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971390">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971390" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971390" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971390">honey01</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971390" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971390" class="dsq-comment-message">Honey101 you like an earlier anon seem to be missing the meat of this discussion.<br></br><br>Hi Ms. Martin,</br><br></br><br>I may have missed someone using  Honey101 as a tag in this thread (did not see where you could be replying to), but just wanted to check as I sign "Honey01" and this is my first post in this particular thread.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971391">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971391" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971391" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971391">Lele..I&#39;m an independent now</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971391" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971391" class="dsq-comment-message">Obama is a panderer....Shocking<br></br><br>Obama singles out black fathers for criticism but still expects all of their votes...Shocking</br><br></br><br>Black people continue to make excuses for him..Shockingly Sad</br><br></br><br>Are we this desperate for "hope"? </br><br></br><br></br><br><i>Abstain in Nov</i></br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971392">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971392" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971392" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971392">jelana</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971392" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971392" class="dsq-comment-message">If you read or listen to the entire speech he said this is a problem in America, not just black America, but ALL America.  He was not pandering, it is his belief.  It is the belief of most of us (AA).  We know it is a problem.  An entire generation of AAs<br>has been lost.  You need to search within in order to discover the real reason this speech bothers you.  Whether he gave the speech or not, all Americans see this problem and know the answers.  This problem applies to white youth as well as black.  It was the perfect speech for Father\'s  Day and it was given in a respectful manner.  He is trying to lift up the black youth</br><br>because he is black.  Not voting for him would be a mistake.  Surely</br><br>no other candidate understands or cares as much as he does.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971393">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971393" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971393" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971393">TruthSeeker</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971393" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971393" class="dsq-comment-message">I never doubted Obama\'s humanity.  On that day, in that venue, he was giving the stereotypically predictable speech...predictable from the standpoint of only race.  O could have spoken from the standpoint of humanity..and wished them a happy father\'s day.  He could have honoured the good fathers.<br></br><br>I am sure that O\'s kids didn\'t greet him of Sunday morning with a list of things he\'d done wrong all year, then proceed to read him the riot act.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971394">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971394" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971394" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971394">jelana</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971394" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971394" class="dsq-comment-message">Black people have always been poor<br>while dealing with much more racist times than the present.  Yet a generation ago, 75% of black children were not born out of wedlock.  This cannot simply be blamed on the economy or racism.  That is only a small portion of the problem.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971395">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971395" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971395" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971395">N. Mahana</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971395" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971395" class="dsq-comment-message">I was really torn on this issue, but after seeing the speech and reading all the comments here, sadly I have to agree with Rhonda, Truth, Ms Martin and Nquest.<br></br><br>It is most definitely pandering and I wrote a comment on JJP some weeks back when CPL wrote that post that went along the lines of "Black people need to do better"</br><br></br><br>Running off a laundry list of negative things that I would think many on here cannot attribute to themselves.</br><br></br><br>Once again my point is, why is it okay to constantly label and judge "The Black community" by the least of us instead of uplifting and supporting the best of us?</br><br></br><br>I don\'t want to vote for someone for the color of their skin but by the content of their character. However Obama has given me hope that he would at least attempt to be a fair Ambassador and leader for ALL Americans not just the majority or for that matter the minority.</br><br></br><br>However the truth is simple, he has a job to do and it will never get done if he does not open the eyes of America to the fact that we are in this shit TOGETHER.</br><br></br><br>It\'s all fine and good not to call white people the boogeyman but why is it all too convenient to make Black America as a whole, their own boogeyman.</br><br></br><br>I don\'t know if this is coming across as intended but it\'s a sore subject. I can see both sides, but unfortunately my opinion falls on the side that is disappointed, in the end with Obama\'s choice in making this a national speech for his own electability.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971396">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971396" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971396" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971396">Lele</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971396" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971396" class="dsq-comment-message">We don\'t need Obama or Cosby or any damn one else to tell us we have issues with families.  We know that.<br></br><br>Do you not think that black conservatives were criticizing poorer black people even when the out-of-wedlock birth rate was lower.  They did because the less fortunate (of all races) are the easiest targets.  </br><br></br><br>It just occurred to me that what Obama said about poor white people behind closed doors (fear and clinging to their guns and religion) he feels perfectly at ease saying the equivalent about black people for white consumption. </br><br></br><br>But none of you highly educated Obama supporters want to talk about that.</br><br></br><br>Does that not give you pause?</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971397">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971397" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971397" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971397">teacher</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971397" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971397" class="dsq-comment-message">Is this the open thread? I\'ve been reading so long I don\'t remember.<br></br><br>I AM NOT FEELING ANDERSON COOPER WITH HIS SHOW ABOUT ANOTHER DISEASE COMING OUT OF AFRICA FROM MONKEYS. Color me crazy, and I know it upsets white people, but I do think these diseases are created in a lab and given to the Africans in vaccintions so "they" can have the continent staight out.</br><br></br><br>I\'m reading the opinions of those, pro & con, re: O\'s speech. It reminded me that, a few months ago, a judge kicked all the white people out of his courtroom so he could address the kinfolk. The next day he was on tv apologizing because people accused him of being racist for excluding the non-Blacks. The hammer really dropped on him, but he thought he was trying to help. I\'ve invited Black students to the hallway many, many times, to give them an earful tailored specifically for kinfolk. I\'m not going to stop either.</br><br></br><br>We are really adamant about our opinions on this subject. Please try to be respectful.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971398">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971398" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971398" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971398">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971398" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971398" class="dsq-comment-message">honey101<br></br><br>I am so sorry, it was not you I was responding too it was heartsandflowers.  Forgive me.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971399">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971399" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971399" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971399">teacher</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971399" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971399" class="dsq-comment-message">Ms. Martin, I really feel sad that you have been adversely effected by this speech. I wish there was something I could say, not to get you to change your vote, but to help you stop feeling like you (we) have been betrayed. I know how I felt when hillbilly started playing the race card, and I reached the point of no return with them. HEY! THEY ARE OFF THE RADAR!!!!! Same with Truthseeker. I respect both of you so much. Please try to be open to redemption.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971400">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971400" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971400" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971400">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971400" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971400" class="dsq-comment-message">Thanks Teacher, I respect you too and really enjoyed the posts you left on the open thread yesterday.<br></br><br>Thanks for hearing me.  I have felt queasy before as I mentioned and I can\'t ignore it again lest I be the same old person who went away head bowed thinking well that\'s just the way it is for us.</br><br></br><br>I certainly didn\'t think Obama would be the black person\'s president nor want him to be, but I surely didn\'t think him to be the game player who would use us as others have.  I believed the one America meme because it was a part of my desire long before I heard of him.  Yesterday was not about America, it was about black folks and it hurt.</br><br></br><br>Well, again I have that head bowed feeling.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971401">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971401" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971401" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971401">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971401" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971401" class="dsq-comment-message">"But none of you highly educated Obama supporters want to talk about that."<br></br><br>That\'s a very big assumption that seems inaccurate.  It is the highly educated ones that are actually addressing his pandering because voting for someone doesn\'t mean following them with blind stupidity unless one is young and/or dumb.  It seems that for too many "support" means blind allegiance and lack of critical analysis.  I don\'t plan to live on a plantation just because Obama is half black.</br><br></br><br>BPM</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971402">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971402" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971402" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971402">teacher</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971402" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971402" class="dsq-comment-message">Well, Ms. Martin, the political system of our nation is corrupt, as is the judicial, educational, financial, health care, etc. Sometimes, we just feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the corruption and wonder why it has to be corrupt.It is discouraging, especially if you think about it too much. It could make a person depressed. <br></br><br>If O starts reading individual groups, he may as well endorse hillary. I pray he doesn\'t single out Blacks  again (because he can get away with it), because too many people have been discouraged, even though I know this was not his conscious intent. I pray he can redeem himself with you & the others who have been offended. We are racially sensitive especially since we are bombarded with insidious racism on a daily basis.It hurts worse when it comes from family. I\'m glad you let him know how you feel via his website. I think he would want to know.  There are times when we will have to let him know, "We love you and we need you to clean it up." He will be the president of the whole nation, but he will be the 1st one who might really care about us. And I believe he does care about us, even though he made a mistake. Keep speaking truth to power.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971403">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971403" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971403" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971403">BlackLiterature</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971403" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971403" class="dsq-comment-message">I guess it is true.  Black people are harder on each other than any other race ever will be.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971404">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971404" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971404" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971404">SquarePeg</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971404" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971404" class="dsq-comment-message">Thank you g.d.,<br></br><br>You said it all.  This was a speech I am sure his handlers told him he had to make to appeal to white conservatives.</br><br></br><br>Now when will he make that speech about white folks who are holding onto their perceived entitlement of whiteness because they don\'t have an education, skills, jobs, etc... but have the audacity to talk about the inadequacies of other folks (Black) while ignoring their own high rates of the same societal ills.  </br><br></br><br>I am going to wait for that speech, but I won\'t be holding my breath.  Obama has determined that he has the Black vote and doesn\'t have to pander to us, so in his own way, we will be the bogeyman for the entitlement-prone white man who lives his life thinking that his superiority trumps all, and Barack Obama is playing their game, don\'t forget he is half white and has heard it all before.  If he demonizes Black folks he won\'t be called on it because he is Black so he can give out those dog whistles that Black folks can hear but are choosing to ignore.  </br><br></br><br>I am truly disgusted.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971405">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971405" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971405" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971405">B-Serious</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971405" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971405" class="dsq-comment-message">I didn\'t like parts of the speech as well.  <br></br><br>And, yes, it was opportunistic and Obama should be criticized for it.  I wouldn\'t necessarily call it a "pander" because I think he honestly believes what he\'s saying.  But the timing seemed politically motivated.  And it appears as though the speech was designed to serve three objectives:</br><br></br><br>1.  To reinforce his centrist, all-American/"he\'s one of us" bona fides; </br><br></br><br>2.  To serve as a direct rebuttal to his critics\' charges of elitism (a central theme being:  "I didn\'t have it easy growing up and neither did Michelle"); and </br><br></br><br>3.  To strengthen his status as a family man, particularly among female voters <i><b>of all races</b></i> (his speech can be seen as being just as pro-black single mother as it was anti-black absent father).</br><br></br><br>So I agree that the speech was politically opportunistic.  Either he or someone from his staff must have thought this would be a good time for some tough love.  Obama should have been aware of how the media would spin this.  In that sense, his speech was a bit sloppy and reckless.</br><br></br><br>HOWEVER. . . </br><br></br><br>I respectfully disagree with those who feel that this somehow disqualifies Obama as a viable candidate.  The punishment doesn\'t fit the crime as far as I\'m concerned.</br><br></br><br>If it did, there\'d be much worse transgressions to hold him accountable for than this; and much more cause to have never supported him in the first place (take, for example, Obama\'s centrist position on affirmative action).</br><br></br><br>But while I agree with some of the criticism I also agree that his speech is nothing new.  Thus, I don\'t get the sense of shock that I see in this thread.  He\'s said this stuff like this before.  And I think many of us factored his Cosby-like leanings into our initial considerations of his campaign <i>before</i> before we decided to support him in the first place.  </br><br>................................</br><br></br><br>On a separate note, I think it\'s important that we not automatically dismiss the black conservative view on this issue fatherhood.  </br><br></br><br>Notwhitstanding Obama\'s speech, the issue of black fatherhood is very serious.  And, while I abhor the demonization and scapegoating of the black boogey-man, I have little interest in defending deadbeat fathers (particularly those in my own community).</br><br></br><br>There are many principled black folk who don\'t see this as the demonization of black men.  Rather, they see this as the <i><b>protection</b></i> of black children and the support of black women who\'ve been overburdened with the responsibility of raising families all by themselves.</br><br></br><br>I agree with the person who said it\'s a matter of recognizing the millions of black fathers who DO take responsibility for their children.  I\'m all for tough love.  But tough love means very little without positive examples and positive influence.  Young black men should be held accountable, but they should also have goals with which to aspire.</br><br></br><br>Finally. . . we\'ve got to have better arguments.  Regardless of which side we fall on, I think our arguments have grown stale and hopelessly predictable on this subject.  </br><br></br><br>Just last night, Marc Lamont Hill lost a debate (in my opinion) to Bill O\'Reilly on the subject of absent fathers because he could not avoid two very simple arguments:</br><br></br><br>1.  Regardless of structural inequality, fatherhood is a CHOICE -- no one forces you to be a father, that\'s a choice that you make on your own; and</br><br></br><br>2.  Regardless of structural inequality, there are millions of black men who handle their responsibilities and don\'t abandon their children.</br><br></br><br>It may very well be true that black conservatives go too far in their criticism and black progressives don\'t go far enough.  Many conservatives refuse to acknowledge the structural shortcomings of unemployment, lack of resources and assistance.  But, if we are to get to discussing solutions, black progressives should do a better job at acknowledging that this problem does exist.  </br><br></br><br>Politics aside. . . political scapegoating aside. . . we have to diagnose the illness before we can treat it.  And that takes a certain amount of soul searching that we haven\'t fully come to grips with as of yet.  </br><br></br><br>The Fox News/O\'Reilly debate was too predictable.  Marc Lamont Hill downplayed the illness while focusing on the solution.  Not surprisingly, O\'Reilly downplayed the solutions while emphasizing the illness.</br><br></br><br>I fall somewhere in the middle.  I can\'t stand cultural stereotypes and the demonization of black men.  But my empathy only goes as far as that father\'s willingness to take responsibility for his family.  That black mother and black baby are jumping through similar hurdles of inequality and oppression. . . but they don\'t get the luxury to leave when times get rough.    </br><br></br><br>Don\'t ge me wrong. . . we should do everything in our power to support the brothas that DO take responsibility.  We should fight on their behalf and hold them up as an example for other men in our community. </br><br></br><br>But I have NO love or respect for a man who willingly abandons his family.  I won\'t waste time and effort defending his, yes, excuses.  </br><br></br><br>At that point, my efforts are better spent helping the family get back on it\'s feet than tending to an absent father\'s bruised ego.</br><br>...............................</br><br></br><br>So, while Obama is justifiably criticized for his approach, I\'ve yet to see someone address the content and truthfullness of his statement.  </br><br></br><br>Forget the politics at play for a second. . .just ask: IS IT TRUE? </br><br></br><br>Are the statistics true?  Does anyone have any statistics or studies to disprove Obama or Cosby\'s assertions?  Does anyone have any studies to disprove the conventional wisdom (a la Janks Morton\'s <i>What Black Men Think</i>)?</br><br></br><br>If so, I\'d like to see them.</br><br></br><br>Because that will help us shape a solution and strategy for our community.</br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971406">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971406" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971406" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971406">SquarePeg</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971406" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971406" class="dsq-comment-message">Marc,<br></br><br>You finally answered my question.  From many of your comments I assumed before knowing that obviously you were a white person and your comments bare that out.</br><br></br><br>From your perspective as a white person, you did not see anything wrong in what Obama did, yet I am going to wait to hear his speeches to the communits BPM mentioned.</br><br></br><br>BPM to all your comments:  AMEN, AMEN, AMEN!</br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971407">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971407" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971407" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971407">Plantsmantx</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971407" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971407" class="dsq-comment-message">"But the timing seemed politically motivated."<br></br><br>Isn\'t this a catch-22? He\'s made this same basic speech in similar venues before. Wouldn\'t a decision not to give that kind of talk in that venue this time be politically motivated?</br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971408">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971408" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971408" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971408">Nquest</span>\
	 </cite>\
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	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971408" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971408" class="dsq-comment-message">B-Serious,<br></br><br>The problem with all that "regardless of structural inequality" is the tacit acceptance of it.  That\'s the last thing a politician should be floating.</br><br></br><br>And all this is old news.  When was the Million Man March again??</br><br></br><br>That\'s right.  Don\'t credit "Black conservatives" for having a focus on manhood/fatherhood and self-help.  I don\'t know why folks act like they don\'t know what\'s really going on here.</br><br></br><br><a href="http://www.prometheus6.org/node/21316#comments" rel="nofollow">P6 is about the only person to get close to the real issue</a> of the internalized racism "we" have where we not only think it\'s acceptable to have the EXTRA BURDEN of "structural inequality" et al but feel not only that it\'s a noble thing to succeed "IN SPITE OF" it but that "we" should do just that, leaving the "structural inequality" in tact and, worse, that none of us should show no ill effects of it.</br><br></br><br>But let me reiterate, especially in a "post-racial" era with this "post-racial" campaign, THE LAST THING a politician should ever do is what Obama did.</br><br></br><br>Again, he didn\'t do that when he was in front a Native American audience even though he said they were "doing worse" on every indicator.  He damn sure didn\'t do it with respect to White Americans, not even the "bitter" White folks...  </br><br></br><br>No.  He painted them as VICTIMS.  He made EXCUSES for them and NEVER insisted that they take any "personal responsibility" for their situation.  Instead of blaming anything on them, he placed the blame external to poor - working - middle class Whites.</br><br></br><br><b> Anger over welfare and affirmative action helped forge the Reagan Coalition. Politicians routinely exploited fears of crime for their own electoral ends. Talk show hosts and conservative commentators built entire careers unmasking bogus claims of racism while dismissing legitimate discussions of racial injustice and inequality as mere political correctness or reverse racism.</b></br><br></br><br>Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze - a corporate culture rife with inside dealing, questionable accounting practices, and short-term greed; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests; economic policies that favor the few over the many. </br><br></br><br>For some reason, Barack Obama has a problem with telling anybody but Black people that they should "squarely face [their] own complicity in [their] condition."</br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971409">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971409" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971409" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971409">marc</span>\
	 </cite>\
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	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971409" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971409" class="dsq-comment-message">squarepeg, i have said before that i\'m white. so, as such things don\'t tend to change much, i can safely say again: i\'m white.<br></br><br>now that we have that settled, i\'d like to remind you that color was only an issue in my comment you refer to insofar as that i, as a white man, could relate to what obama said. the problems he spoke about are (oh, again) no exclusives  for blacks.</br><br></br><br>and i could relate to what he said for how he said it. i did see the criticism, and i did not see him as being negative, but quite the contrary. i\'m quite happy to repeat: there was the yes we can in it all over.</br><br></br><br>and i think the fact that a normal guy who just happens to be white sees himself in that speech might possibly show that he was not pandering to the white conservatives. in the very worst case they would anyway just see their preconceived ideas confirmed, not enough to make them vote him.</br><br></br><br>so, in the end, obama wins over a white guy who anyways thinks him to be a good candidate.</br><br></br><br>i don\'t think obama counted on winning any klansies, i don\'t think he was pandering, pandering would not work anyways here and i don\'t think that obama is stupid.</br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971410">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971410" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971410" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971410">SquarePeg</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971410" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971410" class="dsq-comment-message">Marc,<br></br><br>Congratulations on your whiteness, as you tell us how he was not negative.</br><br></br><br>I suggest you go to the Chicago Tribune or any other paper that carried the story of Obama\'s speech and read the post from many of your fellow white folks who were impressed by how Obama spoke truth to power to the Black men in our community who needed to hear the truth.  How he was impressive, forthright, truthful, said what needed to be said, all the while not plucking that plank out of their eyes.  </br><br></br><br>I sat amazed at the arrogance and condescending attitudes of SOME people when referring to others they deem as less (inferior) to them (superior) when referring to responsibility.  </br><br></br><br>You have read most of the posts to that blog, yet have you not comprehended the responses from a Black perspective?  </br><br></br><br>I can\'t go there with you because evidently you just don\'t get it and no matter how much many continue to try and communicate that to you, you just don\'t understand.  That is why there will always be two Americas, one black and one white, and why Obama actually did choose to pander to get votes from people who appreciate him confirming that misconceived opinions about Black folks, but who still will not vote for him.</br><br></br><br>As BPM said, lets see him give "responsibilty" speeches in the BPM mentioned and see how he does with that!</br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971411">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971411" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971411" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971411">SquarePeg</span>\
	 </cite>\
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	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971411" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971411" class="dsq-comment-message">Marc,<br></br><br>We weren\'t the ones the target of the pander.  Mr. Obama knew exactly what he was doing.</br><br></br><br>It worked.</br><br>----------------------------------</br><br>so, in the end, obama wins over a white guy who anyways thinks him to be a good candidate.</br><br>-----------------------------------</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971412">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971412" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971412" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971412">marc</span>\
	 </cite>\
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	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971412" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971412" class="dsq-comment-message">peg, i just had to be told! because i don\'t get it even if people try to explain.<br></br><br>now, certainly, you get it all. you get what blacks say and mean, and you get what whites say and mean.</br><br></br><br>ok, in my world it\'s all a wee bit more complicated. i do understand what was said here, i just happen to disagree.</br><br></br><br>not being black must be the reason.</br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971413">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971413" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971413" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971413">B-Serious</span>\
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	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971413" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971413" class="dsq-comment-message">nquest,<br></br><br><i>"the internalized racism "we" have where we not only think it\'s acceptable to have the EXTRA BURDEN of "structural inequality" et al but feel not only that it\'s a noble thing to succeed "IN SPITE OF" it but that "we" should do just that. . ."</i></br><br></br><br>Success "in spite of" is a <i><b>necessity</b></i> when a black man\'s got mouths to feed.  Especially when having those kids was his CHOICE in the first place.  </br><br></br><br>He has NO choice but to overcompensate for societal failures.  He has no excuse to abandon his family.  There\'s nothing noble in that.  It\'s what he\'s supposed to do.  I\'ts what a single mother does all the time.  </br><br></br><br>We can list the sacrifices single mothers make on a daily basis.  But we often struggle to find similar sacrifices from the fathers in those same situations.  </br><br></br><br>I\'ll fight for brothas who are kept away from their kids because of an unjust prison system or unfair family laws.  I\'ll speak out against unemployment and wage gaps that make it hard for a black man to provide for his family.</br><br></br><br>But the black community needs to draw a line in the sand with some of these brothas.  And my line is drawn at "choice."  I will not waste time and effort on a brotha who <i>willingly</i> chooses to abandon his family.  I\'d rather spend that same time and effort helping the single mother and kids the father left behind.  </br><br></br><br>The black community must ask itself whether the number of black men who willingly abandon their families is higher than we\'d like to admit.</br><br></br><br>This doesn\'t let the government off the hook.  But you can do both.  You can fight for a fair shake and hold black men accountable at the same time.</br><br></br><br>So my main interest is the truth behind the numbers.  If someone tells me that 70% of black children are born out of wed-lock and that the majority of our black babies have no fathers in their lives, then I first have to identify the problem before I get to the solution.</br><br></br><br>What accounts for these numbers?</br><br></br><br>Are the statistics true?</br><br></br><br>If so, what percentage of absent fathers are absent for reasons beyond their control?</br><br></br><br>If we can focus on those issues then we\'ll have something to work with.  We can fight for the rights of those kept away from their children and throw the book at those who willingly abandon their families.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971414">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971414" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971414" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971414">Ms.Martin</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971414" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971414" class="dsq-comment-message">"For some reason, Barack Obama has a problem with telling anybody but Black people that they should "squarely face [their] own complicity in [their] condition."<br></br><br>b-serious</br><br></br><br>All things addressed being true, it is still not the issue for me.  You\'re entitled to your opinion and me to mine and I will try and overlook you telling me how I should receive the speech and form judgments of Obama.  The statement above really sums it up for me.</br><br></br><br>That being said, I don\'t know why so many are missing the point of the statement above and proceed to arguing the merits of the statements in the speech rather than addressing his attempt to publicly chastise a particular group or agreeing that it was political and then trying to justify with the fact that the statements are true.</br><br></br><br>They are two separate issues.</br><br></br><br>I will thank you not to tell me that I can\'t decide what to do with my vote and for what reasons.</br><br></br><br>Also, surely you can\'t believe that any of us condone absentee fathers or self-destructive behavior that cripples the black community and other communities.</br><br></br><br>So let me try this again:  Barack Obama should not give speeches that bring to the national stage that bring forth the shortcomings of one group and not bother to give speeches to other groups equally recognizing their failings.  When he does this, it is clear that there was an objective.  PERIOD.  </br><br></br><br>IT IS VERY SIMPLE.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971415">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971415" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971415" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971415">SquarePeg</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971415" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971415" class="dsq-comment-message">Marc,<br></br><br>Without putting words in my mouth,</br><br>you said it, you don\'t understand.</br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971416">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971416" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971416" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971416">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971416" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971416" class="dsq-comment-message">B-Serious,<br></br><br>I do not think that people are defending deadbeat dads nor denying that they exist. I resent them.  The effects of this on the children and the burden on the mother is not fair. </br><br></br><br>Many speak about this and it is  a predictable conversation. It is surely not a black conservative conversation. I avoided the local community center out here in Brooklyn on Saturday in favor of holding a cookout for fathers. I really did not feel like sitting through yet another talk about absentee black fathers. It was Father\'s Day weekend, I prefered to celebrate the amazing black fathers. I had a tremendous turnout.</br><br></br><br>I am a womanist, black womanist. I have never witnessed (personally) a black man abandon his family. I had my father and saw strong male rolemodels in my grandfathers, uncles, cousins, family friends, friend\'s fathers and neighbors. </br><br></br><br>The stats are there but they are a lot more to many of these statistics. </br><br></br><br>Nonetheless, I work effortessly speaking about the issues that occur in the black community (even though I know they are not exclusive to us). I am not denying the issue of too many absentee fathers, I am rejecting the political manner by which this was done.</br><br></br><br>I also despise the fact that yet again the absentee black father is the face of black fatherhood rather than my dad and so many others.</br></div>\
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	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971417">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971417" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971417" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971417">RhondaCoca</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971417" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971417" class="dsq-comment-message">Here, I think it speaks for itself in regards to this<br></br><br><a href="http://assaultonblacksanity.blogspot.com/2008/06/well-thanks-much-barack" rel="nofollow">Here You Go</a></br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971418">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971418" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971418" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971418">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
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	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971418" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971418" class="dsq-comment-message">Well, I was getting ready to write practically a whole essay on the topic du jour, but instead let me just say this:<br></br><br>Those of you who weren\'t fans of the speech and are subsequently comparing Barack\'s critiques of the Black community with Bill Cosby\'s are, in my opinion, so far off base it\'s not even funny. For one thing, Bill Cosby probably thinks "Barack Hussein Obama" is way way way to "ethnic/urban" a name and that if Barack REALLY wants to make something of himself he should change his name to...oh let\'s say William...just sayin\'.</br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971419">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971419" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971419" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971419">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971419" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971419" class="dsq-comment-message">Okay, I\'m anonymous 5:58, and I do have to say one more thing: It seems a lot of the criticism of Obama\'s speech above is rooted in a framing of "what will/White people (media) think? How will White people (media) respond?"  Which I think runs the risk of shutting down legitimate, honest criticism of the Black community by the Black community when it is most needed. <br></br><br></br><br>I am no fan of airing out dirty laundry for the sake of airing out dirty laundry/appearances of being above the community (hence my disdain for Bill Cosby\'s recent rantings) and when I heard of the speech I didn\'t want to listen to or read it because I had just recovered from the AIPAC speech (which pissed me off quite a bit, the very very first time that\'s happened with this candidate) and was not in the mood.  But then I came to this blog, which I currently enjoy and respect,  and I read some of the responses to the speech and found they were so over the top negative that it made me think "something is off here". So I read the transcript of the speech to see what the deal was for myself, and honestly, it was not at all as harsh or crucifying as some people here are making it out to be. It\'s actually one of the better, fairer and sincere speeches I\'ve heard on the issue given by a public official.</br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971420">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971420" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971420" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971420">Anonymous</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971420" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971420" class="dsq-comment-message">Anonymous 5:58 again.<br></br><br>ms.martin - </br><br></br><br>You said:</br><br></br><br><i>Barack Obama should not give speeches that bring to the national stage that bring forth the shortcomings of one group and <b>not bother to give speeches to other groups equally recognizing their failings.</b></i></br><br></br><br>But wouldn\'t that also meet the overly simplified implicit definition of pandering being thrown around here? And what if he is in no position to speak on the failings of the other group? Part of the reason Obama can speak on this issue is because he happens to be a Black man who grew up without a father (who I\'m sure he would have liked to have had around). Whereas I doubt, for example, the Chinese community would take kindly to him talking about their shortcomings at length, given that he\'s not Chinese.</br></div>\
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	 <li id="dsq-comment-1971421">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-1971421" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-1971421" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-1971421">marc</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-1971421" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-1971421" class="dsq-comment-message">ok, peg, i won\'t put words in your mouth. let\'s see what came out of it: "white person and your comments bare that out".<br></br><br>i wonder when i have last used the "you\'re obviously black" in connection with "you don\'t understand".</br><br></br><br>anyways, i must concede you one: i truely can\'t jump.</br></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 </ul>\
';

(function() {
	
	





Dsq.Debug.profile(function() {
	if(Dsq.jsonData.request.page == 1 && Dsq.jsonData.request.is_initial_load) {
		Dsq.container.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.header() + Dsq.container.innerHTML + Dsq.Templates.footer();
	}
	Dsq.$(Dsq.curPageId).innerHTML = Dsq.$(Dsq.curPageId).innerHTML.replace(Dsq.COMMENTS_RE, Dsq.CommentsHandler);
}); // Dsq.Debug.Profile

// HACK: Resetting cache because we're done with.
Dsq.Utils.gebiFromElementCollectionCache = null;


	
	
	var dsq_styleEl = document.getElementById(disqus_container_id);
	var dsq_anchorEl = document.getElementsByTagName('a')[0];
	
	Dsq.Thread.fc = Dsq.Utils.getStyle(dsq_styleEl, 'color');
	if(dsq_anchorEl) { Dsq.Thread.ac = Dsq.Utils.getStyle(dsq_anchorEl, 'color'); }
	Dsq.Thread.ff = Dsq.Utils.getStyle(dsq_styleEl, (Dsq.Utils.ie || window.opera ? 'fontFamily' : 'font-family'));
	// For Safari / Opera: strip quotes.
	Dsq.Thread.ff = Dsq.Thread.ff.replace(/['"]/g, '');
	Dsq.Thread.fc = encodeURIComponent(Dsq.Thread.fc);
	Dsq.Thread.ac = encodeURIComponent(Dsq.Thread.ac);
	Dsq.Thread.ff = encodeURIComponent(Dsq.Thread.ff);

	
	
	
	if(Dsq.$(Dsq.Templates.addPostContainer)) {
		// TODO: Check to see if theme uses postmessage.
		if (window.disqus_use_postmessage) {
			Dsq.frames['reply_0'] = new Dsq.ReplyFrame(Dsq.$(Dsq.Templates.textareaContainer));
			Dsq.frames['reply_0'].init(function() {
				// Use fallback iframe
				Dsq.$(Dsq.Templates.addPostContainer).innerHTML = '';
				var theme = (typeof disqus_frame_theme == 'undefined') ? 'default' : disqus_frame_theme;
				Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(Dsq.$(Dsq.Templates.addPostContainer), null, {theme: theme});
				// if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(); }
			});
		} else {
			// DEPRECATED
			Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(Dsq.$('dsq-post-add'));
		}
	}

	
	

	
	if(document.location.hash != '') {
		document.location.hash = document.location.hash.substring(1);
	}

	Dsq.Popup.showCookieMsgs();

	
	if(document.location.search != '' && location.hash != '#disqus_thread') {
		var reply_id = Dsq.Utils.getRequestParams().dsq;
		if(reply_id) { document.location.hash = 'comment-' + reply_id; }
	}

	
	if((typeof OB_Script != 'undefined') && (typeof OB_versionNum != 'undefined')) {
		if(navigator.userAgent.indexOf("Firefox") != -1) {
			if(window.frames['dsq-reply-frame']) {
				window.frames['dsq-reply-frame'].location = Dsq.Urls.REPLY + (new Date()).getTime() + '&f=jackandjillpolitics&t=barack_obama8217s_speech_on_father8217s_day&to_redirect=' + encodeURIComponent(window.location) + '&ifrs=' + encodeURIComponent(disqus_iframe_css);
			}
		}
	}

	if (Dsq.jsonData.integration.theme == 4) {
		if (Dsq.jsonData.realtime_enabled) {
			Dsq.Realtime.initialize();
		}
	}

	



	window.ExecuteWhen = (function () {
	var obj = {}
	
	// Private
	var running = false;
	var timer = null;
	var pending = [];
	var startTimer = function() {
		running = true;
		timer = setInterval(obj.heartBeat, 100);
	};
	var stopTimer = function() {
		running = false;
		clearInterval(timer);
	};
	
	// Public
	obj.add = function (condition, code) {
		pending.push([condition,code]);
		this.heartBeat(); //!
		if (!running) {
			startTimer();
		}
	};
	obj.heartBeat = function() {
		if (!pending.length) {
			stopTimer();
		}
		var newPending = [];
		for (var i=0; i<pending.length; i++) {
			var cond = pending[i][0];
			var code = pending[i][1];
			// FIXME: if cond or code throw an error, they never get removed from pending
			if (cond()){
				code();
			}
			else {
				newPending.push([cond, code]);
			}
		}
		pending = newPending;
	};
	return obj;
})();

// also used in embed_thread.js:
window.fbIsReady = function () {return window.FB && FB.init;};
// NOTE: This script gets executed again without threadEl
//       set when we are loaded again as the fbc_receiver.
//       In this case, we don't need the hidden container.

if(!window.FB || !FB.init) {
	if(window.Dsq && Dsq.container) {
		// container is not present when init.js is loaded from an xd-receiver iframe; in this case,
		// we don't need the FB_HiddenContainer anyway.
		var fbDiv = document.createElement('div');
		fbDiv.id = "FB_HiddenContainer";	// Required or else FeatureLoader will execute a document.write.
		fbDiv.style.position = 'absolute';	// This is intentionally not setting display to none as this breaks
		fbDiv.style.top = '-10000px';		// Flash in Safari.
		fbDiv.style.left = '-10000px';
		fbDiv.style.width = '0px';
		fbDiv.style.height = '0px';
		Dsq.container.appendChild(fbDiv);
	}
	var fbJS = document.createElement('script');
	fbJS.type = "text/javascript";
	fbJS.src = "http://static.ak.connect.facebook.com/js/api_lib/v0.4/FeatureLoader.js.php";
	document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(fbJS);

	ExecuteWhen.add(window.fbIsReady,
		function () {
			// HACK: This is a workaround FBC's single domain limitation by
			//		 allowing sites to create multiple forums with different
			//		 Facebook API keys.  This must be used in conjunction with
			//		 disqus_facebook_forum (see authenticateFacebook).
			var facebook_api_key = 'bd6a8bc56f8eb204984f34b6fefe228d';
			if (typeof disqus_facebook_api_key != 'undefined') {
				facebook_api_key = disqus_facebook_api_key;
			}

			FB.init(facebook_api_key, window.facebookXdReceiverPath || null,
				{fetchSignedPublicSessionData: true});
		});
}


	


if(typeof(disqus_callback) == 'function') {
	var callback_params = Dsq.Utils.getRequestParams()['dsq_cbp'] || null;

	// We don't care about any errors in third-party code
	try {
		disqus_callback(callback_params);
	} catch (x) {
		if (typeof(console) != 'undefined' && typeof(console.log) == 'function') {
			// But it would be nice to let developers know about them
			console.log(x);
		}
		// pass
	}

	// HACK: We don't know if the callback wraps our container, which may
	// possibly result in a new DOM element.
	Dsq.container = document.getElementById('dsq-content');
}

})();




