CNN Barack Obama: "FL Beauty Contest"

[UALRBSofL]

Wolf Blitzer just said again that Obama called the florida primary just a BEAUTY CONTEST. That bothers me because I feel like him saying that he's discounting florida voters. Whether our vote counts or not it's important to me.

[BeyondGeography]

Obama is bad

[LostinVA]

1. Did he actually say that?

If so... oh my god.

[bigwillq]

70. Yes

I thought I heard it on MSNBC....I don't remember which post-SOTU show I was watching.

[LostinVA]

73. Thanks -- you're a psoter I trust not to spin this

[yardwork]

2. It bothers me because it sounds sexist.

First Obama ticked me off by pandering to homphobes. Now he's throwing around sexist little digs at his opponent. He's making me madder at him.

[LostinVA]

6. That's because it is

Saying it was just a "popularity contest" would just be be snarky and kinda obnoxious, but saying the "beauty contest" thing (if he said it), takes it to a different level.

[yardwork]

13. That was my instant reaction. And the Miss America pageant was this past weekend.

So everyone who watches a lot of TV will hear that statement by Obama and think "Miss America" which is a way of putting down "Mrs. Clinton." And by extension, all women. I don't like it at all.

[LostinVA]

26. Yup

And, even though some "supporters" on here have said I call everything sexist when I call them on their garbage, I don't. But, if this is what was said, this statement is not cool.

[MontecitoDem]

98. not sexist

this is what lawyers call it when they try to become counsel for a client - it's not meant in a perjorative way as it is the lawyers (mostly men at my past firm) referring to themselves. It's just a term of art and you can try to see it as sexist - I understand how you could - but it isn't meant that way.

[tekisui]

9. Thanks for pointing that out.

I hadn't realized why that phrase bothered me.

You sexism is so ingrained, it is hard to notice it sometimes.

[MadBadger]

14. Oh Please I've heard many refer to it as a beauty contest.

[yardwork]

15. Got a link?

[MadBadger]

20. Like 20 minutes ago on MSNBC

[yardwork]

24. Were they repeating Obama or did they make it up themselves?

If Obama is repeating stupid-head sexist media memes, he should be careful. They're never good role models. If he made it up himself, I'm really ticked off at him.

[joshcryer]

46. Probably repeating Obama talking points.

[jenmito]

64. That's not true. Good try.

[Jai4WKC08]

90. How do you know?

MSNBC has become the anti-Hillary channel. Now, that doesn't mean they're getting talking points from Obama. But it doesn't mean they aren't either.

You say "That's not true" like you know it. I don't think so.

[jenmito]

92. Unless they say, "As Obama says,..." it's not true...

And Eugene Washington just called it a "beauty pageant" a couple minutes ago.

[Jai4WKC08]

93. You must not know what talking points are

They are not necessarily direct quotes from the candidate. They are a list, provided by a campaign or other staff, of points to make during an argument or when interviewed.

The Bush administration routinely provides talking points to the news networks on any hot topic they expect to be covered. The network accepts them because it means they don't have to do any research on their own. They usually do not get attributed back to the White House.

I don't know whether Obama or Clinton provide talking points to the networks. I suspect they do, but I don't know. And I don't know whether they get used either. But I doubt you know either.

[MadBadger]

35. Here are specific links

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/news/stories/2008/01/28/floridafaq_0128.html

Written by a female too!

David Shuster actually just said it btw

http://fieldnotes.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/29/617700.aspx

Apparently Sen Nelson and Rep Hastings agrees too

[yardwork]

39. Just because a female talking head said it, that doesn't make it ok.

Obama should know better. I don't expect anything competent from the media morans.

[MadBadger]

51. And what about Sen Nelson and Rep Hastings?

[yardwork]

52. They're not running for president.

[Lucinda]

25. Not to mention telling all those voters in Florida that they don't matter

Though I haven't seen the OP comments, I've seen others that do the same thing.

[rodeodance]

38. Correct, Obama just told the voters to take a hike.

[jenmito]

36. MANY people have called it "just a beauty contest." Jeez, get thicker skin.

[yardwork]

45. Insulting me for being offended doesn't help your candidate. Just a tip.

You know, every time anyone criticizes anything Obama does, the reaction of many of his supporters is to hammer us with insults. That's dumb.

It's a dumb way to run a campaign.

[jenmito]

62. I'm not running a campaign. I'm not involved with his campaign.

Get real. He called it a "beauty contest" just like so many pundits called it. Except CNN-they're treating it very seriously. :eyes:

[Big Blue Marble]

55. Then you are being irrational....

or ignorant. Calling a race without delegates a beauty contest is an old political term. Get a grip.

Obama did not just make up this term to diss all women or even just Hillary.

[VotesForWomen]

95. this is a perfect example of the double standard; let's see if the MSM screams about the 'sexism' of

this statement for the next three weeks. and let's see if the hillary supporters whine about it for that long. and will obama folks express outrage at the sexism-baiting? probably not.

[Lucinda]

3. That's not good.

[Big Blue Marble]

72. That is it then.

Let's just have the Clinton Coronation tommorrow.

I mean first Obama didn't shake her hand and now this.

It is just too much. :sarcasm:

And we wonder why we can no longer get go representation in this country.

Hillary supporters have met the problem and it is them.

[MADem]

4. That's a rather tone deaf comment. Are you sure you heard right? nt

[yardwork]

7. It matches some other tone deaf things Obama has done and said.

The guy is not ready for prime time. He should stay in the senate a little longer. My opinion.

[AX10]

5. Oye. The GOP is going to use that against him in the GE in Florida.

:eyes:

Asshat. :thumbsdown:

[Maven]

8. Of course, it's all about him

He doesn't care about offending voters and screwing us in the GE as long as he wins this little "point."

And the truth is he's not going to win it anyway because people will VOTE, and that's what people care about. VOTERS. Not DNC party mechanics.

The story will matter going into Super Tuesday, and that's where this race will be decided.

[AX10]

10. I look forward to seeing the Kennedy machine being crushed next week.

[Maven]

41. You notice Ted sort of moderating his stance today

indicating his endorsement was so not about rebuking the Clintons. ;)

Frankly I think the story of that telephone call between Bill and Ted (heh!) clarifies where this endorsement came from--Ted wanted to throw his weight around as a Kennedy and Clinton probably told him to stick it. So the result was that media spectacle yesterday which was basically an ego-trip to reaffirm the importance of the Kennedy family name by appointing an "heir."

[R_M]

59. The Kennedy dynasty had it's day. The Bush dynasty just had it's day.

Time to give it a rest already.

[LostinVA]

66. I have noticed that

Senator Kennedy and Senator Clinton have worked very closely together in the Senate, and part of his close family is endorsing her. And, maybe he's doing some damage control for the perceptions of last night. But yeah, it is noticeable.

[sunonmars]

71. probably thinking what have i done after watching Obama's 2 fuck ups in a few hrs

[BeyondGeography]

11. Obama is bad

[bunnies]

29. And he also sucks.

:P

[desi]

12. I'm calling my kids/family down there and telling them

to make sure and wear their Sunday best to the polls. Sounds like the snubber is in melt-down mode.

[jberryhill]

84. "Sunday best"

Are you some sort of religious bigot then?

Got something against folks who wear casual clothes on Sunday?

Fundie right-wing religious zealot?

Get a grip.

[desi]

89. I really hate replying to any sort of knee-jerk...

especially the jerk part. What is it to you about my religion or lack thereof? YOU get a fucking grip.

[jberryhill]

105. Irony much? /nt

[psychopomp]

96. Get a grip on *yourself*

Geez, it is just surreal how quickly people are willing to take offense...

[jberryhill]

104. Agreed /nt

[bidenista]

16. sexist. nt

[forsberg]

17. So I guess SC was a "Race Contest"

An Obama won because of the black vote, let's discount that too.

Oh and Barack, how do the polls look in California, NY, NJ, and Mass.?

[Metric System]

18. God, he's arrogant (and NO I don't mean uppity) n/t

[jenmito]

19. And THEN Wolf went on to stress the "importance" of FL, saying all of the candidates' names are on

the ballot there unlike in MI. :eyes: We know who will be covering her "astounding victory" in FL tonight. (Matthews said earlier today that we'll see who's rooting for Hillary by their coverage of her "win." If they make it a big deal they're on her side. If not, they're reflecting the agreed-to rules.)

[flpoljunkie]

56. Thanks, Jen. Tweety got one right today!

[Metric System]

58. "If they make it a big deal they're on her side. If not, they're reflecting the agreed-to rules."

That's absolutely ridiculous, but I'd expect nothing less from Tweety. The media makes a big deal out of polls and their significance, but when people actually cast votes we're supposed to believe the results have no significance?

[bunnies]

21. They've been calling FL a beauty contest all day on MSNBC...

just like MI. Where was the outrage then? :shrug:


edit: sp

[yardwork]

28. First I've heard of it. Is "they" the media talking moran heads?

Obama should know better than to copy the bad kids.

[bunnies]

43. Yes.

They = the same asshats that have been pushing the Obama snubbed Hillary BS. However... that doesnt change the fact that FL has no delegates and is, in effect, a beauty contest (just like MI was).

[Bok_Tukalo]

34. The Handshake That Wasn't sucked up all the outrage oxygen earlier

But it is losing steam. Need another outrage fix.

... hey, I'm not addicted .... I can quit anytime.

[Skidmore]

22. The cable media has been calling Florida this since about the middle of last week.

Get lives. I've heard Blitzer, Matthews, and others on both of those channels calling Florida a beauty contest since before SC. Go back and check.

[yardwork]

37. Obama should not copy the stupid things that the media says.

[Missy M]

44. So is that where Obama gets his talking points from?

[rodeodance]

23. If indeed obama did say that it was a stupid political move.

[zulchzulu]

27. It IS a beauty contest... oh, wait...that's SEXIST!

:sarcasm:

[UALRBSofL]

48. I am sorry if I misquoted Wolf

But I swear I heard him say it. And the thing is, I'll vote for Barack in the GE but it just bothers me that he seems to be discounting florida by saying that. :(

[NJSecularist]

30. More fodder for the Obama Derangement Syndromers

Really, it's not a big deal. It pretty much is a beauty contest. The results mean nothing in the grand scheme, because neither candidate was ground campainging there.

[nancyharris]

31. For Democrats,

Florida is a beauty contest. It is a primary election that elects no delegates to the National convention. No one did a local campaign there, no one made personal appearances there, no candidate organized the GOTV and no candidate made phone calls or sent out mailings.

[KatieW]

57. Exactly, for pitty sake, people need to calm down and not look for insults when none are intended.

I swear some people are going way out of their way to find fault to try and put down a candidate. You have Obama supporters going out of their way finding fault against something Bill or Hillary may say, and Hillary supporters going out of their way finding fault for something Obama has said. Makes me wish Edwards could win this thing.

[Tom Strong]

32. Another gaffe by Obama the Rookie.

[killbotfactory]

33. For shame!

He's lost my vote.

[joshcryer]

40. Sexism. Absolutely.

Yes, I used the word. Yes it is applicable.

[BeyondGeography]

42. Obama is bad

[rinsd]

47. STFU Obama, the primary isn't the only thing on the ballot

[joshcryer]

54. OMFG I forgot all about that. Another huge point as to why FL votes matter.

[R_M]

49. So he is sexist and wants to piss off an entire state.

There are 25 Electoral Votes in Florida you jackass. This is not Georgia. Florida is a swing state.
This guy is just as shallow and petty as Occupant Bush. :eyes:

[Araxen]

50. I for one hope

Hillary continues to waste her time in Florida.

[wyldwolf]

53. Remember FL if you make it to the GE, Obama. They're going to remember you.

[tyne]

60. Wolf did not

say that Obama called it a "beauty contest". He said John Kerry did (and he did). I was watching too.

[Barack_America]

61. Please provide a link to a direct quote.

Thank you.

Sorry, but I try not to buy into MSM spin.

[MadBadger]

63. He said it, but so did Howard Dean

[bluedog]

65. It's a beauty contest. yup he said it

On Florida and Clinton saying she would reinstate Florida’s delegates... the Democratic National Committee told First Read months ago that any eventual nominee would likely work with a credentialing committee to seat a non-voting Florida delegation.

“Those decisions would be made after the nomination not before,” Obama said. “The DNC has been clear about its positions. Obviously I care a lot about the people in Michigan and the people in Florida, and I want their votes in the general election and will be actively campaigning for it.”

He added that he thinks today’s voting in Florida “probably is a snapshot. It's a beauty contest. It's similar to a poll, but none of us have campaigned there, so people have no idea what the respective candidates stand for -- no

chance to lift the hoods and kick the tires.”


http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/29/618263.aspx

[Cass]

67. I really don't like that remark.

He is writing off Florida voters like they're yesterday's garbage. And his terminology is odd, to say the least. Not cool at all.

[sunonmars]

68. Obamas just made a fucking stupid comment

How is he going to campaign there if he gets the Nom. They are furious as it is.

What an assholic thing to say.

He's going to regret saying that. HE gets that Kennedy endorsement and within hours blows it up with 2 snubs, 1 to Flroida and 1 to Clinton, the man is thick as shit.

[ProSense]

77. The phony outrage around here never ceases:

more sexism and stupidity

Even more





edited typo

[golddigger]

69. I'm an Edwards supporter and I endorse this thread...n/t

:evilgrin:

[beachmom]

74. Then complain to your state party who engineered this fiasco. n/t

[tandem5]

75. ouch! nt

[Madam Mossfern]

76. If its a beauty contest

then Edwards should win. ;)

Really, are you people serious. In the governmental office where I work, we call election time "silly season". Now I understand why.

[tandem5]

79. yes, he does have good hair! nt

[Texas_Kat]

78. The primary isn't the only thing on the ballot in FLorida

By denigrating the vote, Obama may be helping Crist pass a property tax 'cut' that Democratic organizations are fighting against.

Big business aids Crist on tax cut vote
Gov. Charlie Crist's campaign for the Jan. 29 property tax amendment has been made possible with the help of corporate contributions.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/story/380939.html

...Labor unions, local government officials and many Democrats are working to defeat the amendment. One opposition group, Florida is Our Home, has raised $855,000 and is sending voters mail urging a no vote.

The Florida AFL-CIO is handing out leaflets at work sites throughout the state this week urging its members to reject the amendment

Thanks, Barry.

[demo dutch]

83. Exactly, What a stupid move on Obama's part!

[GoldieAZ49]

80. check it out Another non issue

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/29/florida_primary_results_might_prove_difficult_to_ignore/

On paper, the Democratic primary is a glorified straw poll or beauty contest, with no delegates at stake and all the candidates forswearing an active campaign in Orlando.

[Scurrilous]

81. Beauty Contest?

OMIGOD!!1!

Q&A on Florida primaries: Beauty contest and a battle

http://www.ajc.com/search/content/news/stories/2008/01/28/floridafaq_0128.html

<snip>

Q: And for Democrats?

A: The Democratic primary is a beauty contest of little consequence because the national party stripped all delegates from the contest as punishment for moving it earlier in the year.



Florida Primary Predictions

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/2008/01/florida_primary_predictions/

<snip>

"As for the Democrats, it’ll be a complete shock if Hillary Clinton doesn’t win the meaningless beauty contest. She’s ahead by an average of 19 percent in recent polls and by no less than 13 in any of them."


US election at-a-glance: 29 Jan

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7215705.stm

<snip>

"Assuming Clinton wins tonight, it's a smart tactical decision on her part to try and get as much media mileage as she can out of today's meaningless beauty contest."

Tom Levan, RealClearPolitics.com



FIRST THOUGHTS: FL SHOWDOWN, SIDESHOW

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/29/617344.aspx

<snip>

"While everything is on the line in Florida's GOP primary, that's certainly not the case on the Dem side, given that the DNC stripped Florida of all of its delegates for moving up its primary before February. In turn, it has become nothing more than a beauty contest. But that hasn't stopped the Clinton campaign -- and some pundits as well -- from trying to make it count, even though the Democratic candidates all pledged not to campaign in the state. In fact, Clinton holds a victory rally of sorts tonight in Davie, FL. But the Obama folks seem to have a point: If the nomination is about winning the most delegates, as the Clinton campaign says, then Florida shouldn't count, right?"



Clinton To Host A Rally In Davie After Voting Ends

http://cbs4.com/local/hilary.clinton.election.2.640737.html

<snip>

"Clinton is considered the front runner in the primary, which currently is nothing more than a beauty contest since the winner will not receive a single delegate. However, Clinton has said she plans to fight to have the Florida delegates reinstated by the Democratic convention."

[demo dutch]

82. Perfect piss off all the Dems and Indies leaning Dem will remember that too

[publicatlarge]

85. Florida 'Beauty Contest' to Obama...

'You're good looking, enough...'

heh

[my3boyz]

86. Oh please....

The MSM has been referring to it ALL DAY LONG as a beauty contest. "IF" he said that he is probably repeating their words back to them. The Hillary supporters are really getting ridiculous complaining about everything he says or does.

[my3boyz]

87. Oh and if it was

a beauty contest she would surely lose! Obama and Edwards are much easier on the eyes.

[Scurrilous]

88. Welcome to DU!

:thumbsup:

[SoxFan]

91. Nobody else has ever used that term, right?

WJXT-TV, Jacksonville
http://www.news4jax.com/politics/15161664/detail.html?rss=jax&psp=news

Daytona Beach News-Journal
http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/Opinion/Columnists/Footnote/colFOOT010608.htm

St. Petersburg Times
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/05/09/State/Dems__primary_may_not.shtml

WFOR-TV, Miami
http://cbs4.com/local/hilary.clinton.election.2.640737.html

Palm Beach Post
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/floridapolitics/entries/2008/01/28/will_obamomentum_tighten_the_f.html

Ocala Star-Banner
http://www.ocala.com/article/20080126/NEWS/980884838/1368/googlesitemapnews

Boston Globe
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/28/vast_diversity_in_florida_tests_republicans/

New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/us/politics/28dems.html?hp

Marc Ambinder/The Atlantic Online
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2007/09/the_primary_calendar_begins_to.php

Atlanta Journal-Constitution
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/news/stories/2008/01/28/floridafaq_0128.html

[bagimin]

94. Thank you

thats what its being called down here. You hear it on tv and radio everyday.

[Name removed]

97. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[lonestarnot]

99. Hillary is alot of things, but she is not ugly.

[mrmx9]

100. Maybe not on the outside - but perhaps on the inside (at least her campaign has become ugly!)

[Mark Twain Girl]

102. This kind of thing really backfires with me. Ugly? Lovely.

[krabigirl]

103. she's not ugly, come on. that's a horrible thing to say.

[krabigirl]

101. that's bad if that's true..