Tom Brokaw: Asking the Right Questions About Obama

[Yar-El]

Tom Brokaw: Asking the Right Questions About Obama

How can you rationally vote for someone if this is the case. Did the media stop short of asking the right questions? It looks to be the case.

 

Video: Conversation With Tom Brokaw

Interview With Charlie Rose on PBS

 

ROSE: I don't know what Barack Obama's worldview is.

 

BROKAW: No, I don't, either.

 

ROSE: I don't know how he really sees where China is.

 

BROKAW: We don't know a lot about Barack Obama and the universe of his thinking about foreign policy.

 

ROSE: I don't really know. And do we know anything about the people who are advising him?

 

BROKAW: Yeah, it's an interesting question.

 

ROSE: He is principally known through his autobiography and through very aspirational speeches.

 

BROKAW: Two of them! I don't know what books he's read.

 

ROSE: What do we know about the heroes of Barack Obama?

 

BROKAW: There's a lot about him we don't know.

[mimartin]

How can you rationally vote for someone if this is the case.

Because you know the alternatives worldview views and they scares the hell out of you. I cannot rationally vote for McCain or his policies because I really do not know them. They were ones I respected 8 years ago, but they have unfortunately changed and now seem more in tuned with Bush’s views.

[Yar-El]

Because you know the alternatives worldview views and they scares the hell out of you. I cannot rationally vote for McCain or his policies because I really do not know them. They were ones I respected 8 years ago, but they have unfortunately changed and now seem more in tuned with Bush’s views.

You didn't answer the question. McCain is not George Bush.

 

My question is a very focused question.

[jrrtoken]

Put it this way: I don't know jack about McCain's policies. From what I know about Obama, he wants to give 95% of America a tax cut, begin eventual withdrawal from Iraq, reinstate more troops into Afghanistan; Do I need to go on?

 

Now, what I know about McCain..... well, if he focused his advertising to actually talking about his policies as president, then maybe the American people would know what he would do. So far, he hasn't really said much about his actual plan, therefore, why should I even consider voting for him?

[Yar-El]

Put it this way: I don't know jack about McCain's policies. From what I know about Obama, he wants to give 95% of America a tax cut, begin eventual withdrawal from Iraq, reinstate more troops into Afghanistan; Do I need to go on?

 

Now, what I know about McCain..... well, if he focused his advertising to actually talking about his policies as president, then maybe the American people would know what he would do. So far, he hasn't really said much about his actual plan, therefore, why should I even consider voting for him?

Here is the problem. What do you know about Obama's past that allows him to have earned your respect? What did he do in the past that has earned the world's respect? What did he do in the past that makes you feel he can be trusted?

 

Were not talking about McCain, so please stay on topic.

[Litofsky]

You didn't answer the question. McCain is not George Bush.

 

My question is a very focused question.

 

Actually, he did, albeit in an indirect form: he votes for Obama because the alternative is just as (if not more so) 'irrational.' McCain is not George Bush. However, from his voting record in the Senate, the two share similar views.

 

To put this out there, I'm not sure the point of this thread. In many thread, I believe that it has been established that the majority opinion is that Obama will do a better job than McCain, if elected.

[Yar-El]

Actually, he did, albeit in an indirect form: he votes for Obama because the alternative is just as (if not more so) 'irrational.' McCain is not George Bush. However, from his voting record in the Senate, the two share similar views.

 

To put this out there, I'm not sure the point of this thread. In many thread, I believe that it has been established that the majority opinion is that Obama will do a better job than McCain, if elected.

We are not talking about McCain, so please see the above posts for the questions. This is a Obama question. Please focus.

[mimartin]

You didn't answer the question. McCain is not George Bush.

But his worldview and view on issues have morphed into the same as Bush’s. He has voted with the President around 94% of the time, some Maverick.

 

So yes I answered the question, I’m voting for Obama first thing in the morning because it will be a change from the last 8 years. That and I made the mistake of voting republican in 2000 that cured my appetite for voting that way for a while. I always ask myself the same question when voting, am I better off today than I was 8 years ago. Then in a less selfish vain I ask myself, is the country better off than it was 8 years ago. If I honestly answer those questions, they would be so what and definitely no. That is another reason I will be voting for the Democrat.

 

At least Obama attempted to get people to vote for him, McCain only message was to try to scare the electronic into not voting for Obama.

 

Why does it matter if I do not know what books Obama reads? I know the couple Bush has read and it has done nothing to help the economy, improve education or get Bin-Laden.

[Yar-El]

But his worldview and view on issues have morphed into the same as Bush’s. He has voted with the President around 94% of the time, some Maverick.

 

So yes I answered the question, I’m voting for Obama first thing in the morning because it will be a change from the last 8 years. That and I may the mistake of voting republican in 2000 that cured my appetite for voting that way for a while. I always ask myself the same question when voting, am I better off today than I was 8 years ago. Then in a less selfish vain I ask myself, is the country better off than it was 8 years ago. If I honestly answer those questions, they would be so what and definitely no. That is another reason I will be voting for the Democrat.

 

At least Obama attempted to get people to vote for him, McCain only message was to try to scare the electronic into not voting for Obama.

 

Why does it matter if I do not know what books Obama reads? I know the couple Bush has read and it has done nothing to help the economy, improve education or get Bin-Laden.

 

This is not a thread about McCain. Please read the above posts for the questions. Thank you. These questions are about Obama.

[TriggerGod]

How can you rationally vote for someone

 

Is that a trick question?

 

Thats the problem. You can't. Everyone has a bias. Some people are able to hide their bias really well, and read everything possible (even smears. I'm looking at you, Garfield ), but, tomorrow, the election will come down to preference, and what you hear. There is very little 'rational voting' that is going to happen. Its all personal preference. If someone doesn't like how Obama knew Ayers, they'll vote McCain, or if someone doesn't like McCain's choice of VP (or healthcare), they'll vote Obama.

[mimartin]

We are not talking about McCain, so please see the above posts for the questions. This is a Obama question. Please focus.

So this is another bash Obama thread and not a real discussion on why we are voting for Obama?

[Yar-El]

Is that a trick question?

 

Thats the problem. You can't. Everyone has a bias. Some people are able to hide their bias really well, and read everything possible (even smears. I'm looking at you, Garfield ), but, tomorrow, the election will come down to preference, and what you hear. There is very little 'rational voting' that is going to happen. Its all personal preference. If someone doesn't like how Obama knew Ayers, they'll vote McCain, or if someone doesn't like McCain's choice of VP (or healthcare), they'll vote Obama.

Avoiding the question by remarking about McCain is not facing the questions. Read post five please.

 

So this is another bash Obama thread and not a real discussion on why we are voting for Obama?

 

Nope. They are straight-forward questions.

[jrrtoken]

Here is the problem. What do you know about Obama's past that allows him to have earned your respect? What did he do in the past that has earned the world's respect? What did he do in the past that makes you feel he can be trusted?

Lots of things, actually. The fact that Obama was a community organizer, is always respectable in my opinion, and the fact that he taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago for twelve years, he passed a law in the Illinois legislature that banned state senators to accept gifts from lobbyists, the fact that he worked with Dick Lugar in preventing weapons from getting into the hands of terrorist organizations..... the point is, there's a lot of thing that Obama has done which I believe sets and example fro what he might do as president. Those who say that they don't know much about Obama's past, they just haven't look hard enough.

[Litofsky]

First, please, Yar, with all due respect, ignoring counter-responses inevitable in any two-sided debates is just plan irresponsible.

 

Second, why do I trust Obama (over McCain)? He's a seemingly intelligent member of the United States Senate (not an easy place to get into, considering that there are only one hundred of them and the character test that is every election), who can vociferate his opinion without stumbling over his opinion (a significant improvement over our current President). Those are just two reasons. If you want more, I'm positive that I can procure more sources (however, I can already see that Pastrami beat me to naming a few).

[Yar-El]

Lots of thing, actually. The fact that Obama was a community organizer, is always respectable in my opinion, and the fact that he taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago for twelve years, he passed a law in the Illinois legislature that banned state senators to accept gifts from lobbyists, the fact that he worked with Dick Lugar in preventing weapons from getting into the hands of terrorist organizations..... the point is, there's a lot of thing that Obama has done which I believe sets and example fro what he might do as president. Those who say that they don't know much about Obama's past, they just haven't look hard enough.

What is his views on foreign policy? What has he done to become respected by people from a foreign country?

 

First, please, Yar, with all due respect, ignoring counter-responses inevitable in any two-sided debates is just plan irresponsible.

 

Second, why do I trust Obama (over McCain)? He's a seemingly intelligent member of the United States Senate (not an easy place to get into, considering that there are only one hundred of them and the character test that is every election), who can vociferate his opinion without stumbling over his opinion (a significant improvement over our current President). Those are just two reasons. If you want more, I'm positive that I can procure more sources (however, I can already see that Pastrami beat me to naming a few).

See questions above. You are still not answering the questions. What has he done for him to be trusted? How did he deserve the respect of foreign nations? ex- 200,000 people in Germany.

[TriggerGod]

Avoiding the question by remarking about McCain is not facing the questions. Read post five please.

 

I'd also like for you to notice I remarked about Obama.

 

Anyways, if you looked at my entire post, I responded to your question "How can you rationally vote for somebody". Although that might not have been your exact question, it was a question in your statement.

[Litofsky]

See questions above. You are still not answering the questions. What has he done for him to be trusted? How did he deserve the respect of foreign nations? ex- 200,000 people in Germany.

 

I believe that I've reasonably answered questions as to why I should trust him. Why does he deserve the respect of foreign nations? Perhaps he doesn't. I'd wager that, because Obama is such an improvement over Bush, people are ready for his change (in Washington).

[jrrtoken]

What is his views on foreign policy? What has he done to become respected by people from a foreign country?

Uh... Obama has done a lot to improve international relations with the U.S. Other than traveling to former Soviet territories to dismantle missile silos, he's also traveled to Palestine to state, and I quote, "the U.S. will never recognize winning Hamas candidates unless the group renounces its fundamental mission to eliminate Israel."

 

The point: Obama has shown to be a diplomat to the international community, and I expect that he will try to discuss peace with several of our more unsavory nations rather than stay the course with the Bush administration and issue veiled threats.

 

In case you'd like to be enlightened, then here's some more reading material:

Political positions of Barack Obama

[Yar-El]

I'd also like for you to notice I remarked about Obama.

 

Anyways, if you looked at my entire post, I responded to your question "How can you rationally vote for somebody". Although that might not have been your exact question, it was a question in your statement.

You made an accusation; thus, you avoided the questions dead on. Only one person came close to a rational one.

 

My questions are pretty simple. I respect you guys; thus, I'm trying to bring something to light. Try answering the questions without using Bush or McCain in the answer. You will find out something very illuminating. Use something about him personally.

[Litofsky]

Further support of Obama on Foreign Policy. (closer to the source. Scroll down to the "Foreign Policy" box)

[mimartin]

Nope. They are straight-forward questions.

 

All right since this is a bash, I will set the record straight on Obama’s heroes. We know them: Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and Cesar Chavez. Replace Cesar Chavez with Earl Campbell and Barbara Jordan and you have mine too.

 

Obama favorite book is Toni Morrison’s 1977 novel “Song of the Solomon.” Asked and answered in a interview with Katie Couric.

 

I guess Rose and Brokaw did not pick up their copy of Newsweek from June 3 2008, if they had they would have know Obama’s advisors.

 

As to his worldview, there is no way to know anyones worldview or how they will react as President. History has taught us that.

[Yar-El]

Further support of Obama on Foreign Policy. (closer to the source. Scroll down to the "Foreign Policy" box)

Those are not Obama's foreign policies.

[Litofsky]

Those are not Obama's foreign policies.

 

May I ask why you say that?

[jrrtoken]

All right since this is a bash, I will set the record straight on Obama’s heroes. We know them: Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi and Cesar Chavez. Replace Cesar Chavez with Earl Campbell and Barbara Jordan and you have mine too.

 

Obama favorite book is Toni Morrison’s 1977 novel “Song of the Solomon.” Asked and answered in a interview with Katie Couric.

Pretty good, but you forgot to say what is Obama's favorite color.

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

May I ask why you say that?

preemptive source has a liberal bias and cant be trusted hth