How the mighty douth fall Obama.

[Slevin57]

RICHMOND, Va. - Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record), caught up in the fervor of a campaign speech Tuesday, drastically overstated the Kansas tornadoes death toll, saying 10,000 had died. The death toll was 12.

"In case you missed it, this week, there was a tragedy in Kansas. Ten thousand people died — an entire town destroyed," the Democratic presidential candidate said in a speech to 500 people packed into a sweltering Richmond art studio for a fundraiser.

Obama mentioned the disaster in Greensburg, Kan., in saying he had been told by the office of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius that the state's National Guard had been depleted by its commitment to the Iraq War.

"Turns out that the National Guard in Kansas only had 40 percent of its equipment and they are having to slow down the recovery process in Kansas," Obama said, his shirt sleeves rolled up and his head glistening with sweat.

As the Illinois senator concluded his remarks a few minutes later, he appeared to realize his gaffe.

"There are going to be times when I get tired," he said. "There are going to be times when I get weary. There are going to be times when I make mistakes."

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said later that the senator meant to say "at least 10," instead of 10,000.

During his speech, Obama stirred the crowd as he often does by skewering President Bush over the unpopular war and noting that he opposed it from the outset.

"How could we have been involved in a war that never should have been authorized, that has already cost us half a trillion dollars," Obama said.

It was Obama's third visit to Virginia's capital in eight months. It came as national polls show him trailing rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., by double digits.

Now obviously it was an honest mistake--but to me it shows that Obama is being converted to a normal politician now.


He's already forgot about talking about problems, and is now just trying to rally support by blaming it on others.

I knew it wouldn't take very long for him to get caught up in all of this but it's a shame it happened this quick.

Hillary better slap the democratic party out of la la land.

[Inactive Cargo]

Learn to copy and paste from the internet, seriously. There's plenty of JavaScript (how you got that with a copy and paste I don't know), and not enough link to the actual story.

In before Inactive Cargo saves thread:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070509/ap_on_el_pr/obama_tornadoes_4


RICHMOND, Va. - Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record), caught up in the fervor of a campaign speech Tuesday, drastically overstated the Kansas tornadoes death toll, saying 10,000 had died. The death toll was 12.

"In case you missed it, this week, there was a tragedy in Kansas. Ten thousand people died — an entire town destroyed," the Democratic presidential candidate said in a speech to 500 people packed into a sweltering Richmond art studio for a fundraiser.

Obama mentioned the disaster in Greensburg, Kan., in saying he had been told by the office of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius that the state's National Guard had been depleted by its commitment to the Iraq War.

"Turns out that the National Guard in Kansas only had 40 percent of its equipment and they are having to slow down the recovery process in Kansas," Obama said, his shirt sleeves rolled up and his head glistening with sweat.

As the Illinois senator concluded his remarks a few minutes later, he appeared to realize his gaffe.

"There are going to be times when I get tired," he said. "There are going to be times when I get weary. There are going to be times when I make mistakes."

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said later that the senator meant to say "at least 10," instead of 10,000.

During his speech, Obama stirred the crowd as he often does by skewering President Bush over the unpopular war and noting that he opposed it from the outset.

"How could we have been involved in a war that never should have been authorized, that has already cost us half a trillion dollars," Obama said.

It was Obama's third visit to Virginia's capital in eight months. It came as national polls show him trailing rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., by double digits.

In after Inactive Cargo saves thread.

[Evonus]

God damn it, things are looking bad for Obama, and I really don't want Hilary to win.

[Inactive Cargo]

Mike Gravel 4 President.

[Slevin57]

I dunnno what your talking about IC :P

[Hacky]

Not even 10,000 people lived in Greensburg, but the city was completely destroyed. I think like two or three buildings were left recognizable, and only one was truly standing.

He made a slip, big deal. It's not like it is the worst thing that could have happened.

[2nd Runner]

God damn it, things are looking bad for Obama, and I really don't want Hilary to win.

Take heart. She may win the Democratic nomination, but she certainly won't get the Presidency.

[flaran]

I agree. All politicians, all speakers, make honest mistakes like this. Obama has good policies (IMO), and I hope the public thinks about that. Clinton.. well, err.. if she gets the nomination we may have the first ever independent president.

[Jack90]

I can't stand on one politician's bandwagon fully as of yet - it's still early in the game. I have my considerations on all parties, but it's a matter of who will end up being the best person for the job.

This is one of the more important elections for me - I'll be able to vote because I'll be of age then - my first election that I can really participate in.

I just hope the good guys don't spoil in the world of politics - hopefully this was just the heat that made Obama slip and look like a politician. Perhaps not.

[Denali]

I cannot explain how badly I want Obama to be our next president. There are no words to describe it. I figure there are enough people who hate Hillary that she won't get the Democratic nomination, and even if she does, she probably won't win the race, and either McCain or Giuliani will be president, and I'm cool with both of them.

[Evonus]

I cannot explain how badly I want Obama to be our next president. There are no words to describe it. I figure there are enough people who hate Hillary that she won't get the Democratic nomination, and even if she does, she probably won't win the race, and either McCain or Giuliani will be president, and I'm cool with both of them.

McCain is a joke, no one in their right mind would vote for that guy. So far, it appears Romney is in the lead for the republican nomination.

[Smith]

I cannot explain how badly I want Obama to be our next president. There are no words to describe it.

You should really attempt to write down exactly why you're so gung-ho about Obama gaining the presidency. I was initially very supportive of him, mainly because of the progressive message behind seeing a minority elected to such a high position, aided by the good image and press surrounding the man up to now.

Digging deeper, I've found a lot of flash and idealistic speeches, but very little else. That doesn't make Obama a horrible politician, or indeed, make him any less fit for the presidency when compared to the majority of those who've filled the position thus far. But it also doesn't make him special or different from the rest of the pack. Woohoo, he's black. If he was black and the better candidate on top of that, its a definite bonus. But he's not.

Content of character, not color of skin, etc., etc.

Of the current group, the majority of my support lies with Bill Richardson.

[IceCubeOfDoom]

If I do end up voting, I'll probably end up voting for the Green Party.

[pnemethy]

I love it when Democrats use cost as an anti-war argument.

[Slevin57]

I need a doer, not a sayer.

As it turns out Al Gore was a doer, unfortunately I was not able to see any of that during his campaign because he was too busy telling me what has been done wrong and not what needs to be done to fix it.

[flaran]

If candidates had signs that they held up with "doer" and "sayer" printed on them, it would make the whole thing much easier. I think they should make that a requirement.

[Smith]

I wonder if they'd lie.

[NeverSoft]

See a small mistake like that people will focus on when it comes time for the BIG election so we need to decide if we want him past the primarys in the democratic party. Hillary is a fairly weak candidate if you ask me, she is just isn't being agressive enough on any of the topics and we need someone who will stand up.

[Aesthetic]

I love it when Democrats use cost as an anti-war argument.

I love it when people fail at making a point.

[spzattk]

That's hardly something to make a big deal over (the media).

[Slevin57]

See a small mistake like that people will focus on when it comes time for the BIG election so we need to decide if we want him past the primarys in the democratic party. Hillary is a fairly weak candidate if you ask me, she is just isn't being agressive enough on any of the topics and we need someone who will stand up.

Hilary is being a good politician.

Obama is being fairly decisive.

Obama is picking and choosing his sides. This means people are already deciding they don't like him.

Hilliary is trying to keep her field of voters are wide as possible and you better believe she has a very good team of people analyzing the voting field with polls and demographical data.

I mean I'm sure Obama does too, but he's going on the offensive much too soon imo.