Charlie Rose

Ted B  08/28/2008 11:49 PM Report

Obama's acceptance speech was a failure. The substance fell short of his speech in 2004, and the setting removed him from connecting with the crowd while failing to make him the rockstar that the stage was designed to do for him. I felt rather sorry for him and wife and Joe Biden standing on that little island, almost like they needed the bigger-than-life Nancy Pelosi up there to fill it up for them so they would not be all alone. It was a flop.

leon  08/27/2008 04:20 PM Report

Wow, some of you yanks are starting to sound a little nervous about having a "black" man as president. Can it really happen? That's the big question. All the rest is rhetoric. Let's face it, America has a big hurdle to jump here. If Barak wins then maybe a dent will be made to that profound legacy of slavery/racism. If McCain wins, well, we know you America. We love you, and hate you, but we know you.

daniel  08/27/2008 03:45 PM Report

Bill, What the heck are you talking about?? I don't see any charges...

Bill  08/27/2008 03:13 PM Report

so i miss a show and I have to pay now to watch it? what is that all about? NO ONE does that. shame. your on PBS for crying out loud.

PW  08/27/2008 01:12 PM Report

Thank you to Adam Nagourney for pointing out that there are plenty of reasons not to support Obama other than being a racist - he has no accomplishments, very little experience, a huge (even by politician standards) ego, an inability to admit when he's wrong, a disturbing tendency to crack under pressure, & general spinelessness. He gave Hillary the finger after the Philadelphia debate & petulantly refused to do any more debates, he's flip-flopped on FISA, offshore drilling, gun control, & even disrespected his own grandmother to score a political point. Perhaps "typical white people" don't like having a candidate forced on them by the media & don't appreciate being accused of racism when it does not apply anymore than it applied to their vote for Republicans over Dukakis or Kerry or Carter in 1980.

MATTHEW ROSE  08/27/2008 11:53 AM Report

Hello all, I'll be brief: Take a look at my McCain Campaign Poster:

http://storefrontwindows.blogspot.com/

Best to all and thank you Charlie Rose.

MR

Wally  08/27/2008 01:24 AM Report

Zohaledekim, you are correct. This election is all about race. In southern Ohio, rural PA, WV and KY. The Clinton's (and Biden) can help there. I hope that they will. Peace out!

CAROL STANTON   08/27/2008 01:23 AM Report

HELLO ALL YOU REPUBLICANS; WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU. HILLARY MADE A GREAT SPEACH TONIGHT, ONLY GUESS WHAT IT WAS NOT JUST A SPEACH, IT WAS WHAT SHE BELIEVES. WHAT US AMERICAN BELIEVE. WE ARE BEHIND HER ALL THE WAY.

WHY DO YOU REPORTERS HAVE TO DISECT EVERYTHING. WHEN SOMETHING GOOD HAPPENS TO AMERICAN DO NOT TRY TO DESTROY IT BUT HELP IT GROW

C. Armstrong  08/26/2008 11:45 PM Report

Did anyone notice the Cmm segway??

-- from Hillary's speach to

- interviewing an afro-american woman who supports Hillary and is deeply and emotionally unsure about Obama-- to a

.. commercial with Hillary questioning Barak during the primaries...

- sponsored by... McCain.

Cmm-- Morons and transparent.

That is why we love you, Charlie.

Conversational, independent... not transparent propaganda.

Thanks again, Charlie.

Chris

Stefanie Davis  08/26/2008 11:38 PM Report

Connie, you are off your rocker if you think people are stifling their racist leanings and are bursting to express themselves. Maybe in Ohio, but in the regular world, color has not been an issue, no one is speaking in code.

ADELE FEDERMAN  08/26/2008 10:57 PM Report

Those of you who claim that those of us who do not vote for Obama are racists are people who don't know their rears from their elbows! Race is not an issue here. Capability, character, truthfulness, a good strong record, the ability to think fast, taking resonsibility for one's mistakes & not blaming one's listeners for "misinterpreting" or "twisting" your words, to use your own words or tell when you use the words of others, & to be able to apologize when necessary are the issues. How many of these does Obama possess?

ADELE FEDERMAN  08/26/2008 10:38 PM Report

As a voting Democrat for over 60 years, this is the 1st time that I probably will not vote for President. The choice that has been foisted on us by the leaders of the Party is a non-performer of meager proportions. In order to boost his image, his campaign is full of untruths, misinformaton, & it has deleted some of his more negative info such as his relationship with Rev. Wright.

For a Presidential candidate to give a speech in a foreign country [ Israel \ & claim to be the Chairman of The Banking Committee so that he could pander to their Iranian fears is an absolute disgrace. On hearing Obama's words, a political panel that I was watching, laughed. This is no laughing matter! Why was he not censured?

This ploy of Obama's is not new. He has used it throughout his campaign, claiming family history that has been disproven, offering opposite solutions to opposite blocs of voters, claiming he does not take from lobbyists but owes favors to over 360 bundlers who have funded his campaigns wih millions, possibly billions, of $'s. Last year an earmark for $8 million was created for 1 of his bundlers [ of which over $1 million has already been paid \. How can the country afford to pay 360 more of this candidate's debts?

The political pundits wonder why Obama has not pulled ahead of McCain in the polls. They

think it might be McCain's ads against him. I believe that a lot us know a lot more about Obama than is healthy for his candidacy. We can find nothing about him to trust. His beautiful words lay a curtain over his deeds so that they must be ferreted out into the light which the media is loathe to do. We will not vote for him, no matter what Hillary says. The media has done a disservice to the voters & the nation by kowtowing to Obama & not investigating these reports about him that surfaced but were ignored. What can be done at this late date? Can anything be done that will change the course of a disaster about to happen? I doubt it. The other choice for us is more of Bush's policies & a man who owes favors to over 400 bundlers. We are between the devil & the deep blue sea......

Keith  08/26/2008 09:53 PM Report

It is no wonder that American politics has become the way it is. The panel of "experts" spent the entire evening discussing the talking points of both parties, instead of the issues; the wars, health care, the environment, economic issues, etc.. This is why we now see Obama, a declared progressive, moving closer and closer on the issues to McCain. Obama won't end the Iraq war, he will only downsize it. His "energy policy" is no match for the climate crisis, and his close advisors are corporate America and the same old guard Democrats as in the past. As for the, "we don't know Obama", and he doesn't "connect" with working class people, it is code for racism. No white candidate would be seen in the same way.

California_DINO  08/26/2008 08:13 PM Report

Ditto Matthew Dowd's astute observation that there's a serious lack of vested enthusiasm among the delegates at the convention. I want to add that this lack of vested enthusiasm also exist among the electorate, especially among us democrats.

I’ve been a lifelong Democrat; however, I feel completely disenfranchised by the Democratic Party.

The party has failed to maintain core values that reflect the working middle class that they used to be champions for. Worst yet, the Party has failed to produce presidential candidates who have the capacity to galvanize and energize the electorate at large.

Zohaledekim  08/26/2008 07:49 PM Report

I'm surprised by the comments here - so much negativity.

Connie Schultz had the most perceptive comment of the evening, when she mentioned that racism is part of the underlying reason that Obama has trouble winning over white voters. People can get their back up over this being an unfair accusation, but to pretend that we have somehow morphed into a post-racial era is pure fantasy.

Those on the Democratic side who refuse to give Obama their vote, for whatever rationalization, should do so with the knowledge that the next president will fill vacancies on the Supreme Court. Good luck putting up with another Alito or two.

I thought Michelle Obama's speech was a tour de force - she did better than most of the pols who do that for a living. Kennedy's appearance was riveting.

tell me true, Michelle!  08/26/2008 07:25 PM Report

wow wee - where can I get a public service job that pays 300K? Yippeee - screw working my ass off in corporate America! Tell me true, Michelle!

Neil MacCallister  08/26/2008 06:16 PM Report

Excuse me, but who are the “racists” here? Mark Halperin pushed that “This election is Sen. Obama’s to lose”, and “If he is not elected now, it will be a long time before we again have an African-American candidate”. Why is that, Mark? We do have MANY talented African-Americans! And who are the “vote suppressors” here? Michele Norris, and especially Connie Schultz, were uncontested in their statements against voters who are “slow, or hesitant, to vote for Barack” by claiming they feel he is “not patriotic enough” (see Harkin photo), or that his beliefs are “too little known”. These two claimed that, “These are ALL codes for the racism you will find if you dig down deeper.” Wow!!!! I am sorry people: It is MY vote, ..MY president, ..and MY choice! And as far as I am concerned, Sen. Obama should have cut out the vacation to Hawaii, and instead been packing his bags for the opening of the convention last night, which he missed. Another bad decision, Sen. Obama, ..try harder next time!

RE Mant  08/26/2008 05:48 PM Report

Sowwy, opening cewemony vewy nice, hab firewowks, but Oowimpwics better. Sewiously, the primary system has made conventions irrelevant. The only ppl who don't seem to realize that are not the voters. The parties, themselves, are actually irrelevant, too, only occasioned by electing the president directly, and that's why no one in them can ever agree about anything except winning. The new Joe Biden may be a more mature version, but he still has no shortage of baggage or vanity, and Delaware doesn't have many electoral votes.

Alan  08/26/2008 04:28 PM Report

Al Hunt's consistent and illogical condemnation of Bill Clinton reveals a person who is very biased and unworthy of beinf a jounalist.

Every time he is on the show he exhibits a vitriolic dislike foe Bill Clinton and bases his conclusion on the most specious reasons imaginable.

This type of vitriol certainly lends credence to the Clinton argument that they were not given a fair and unbiased hearing by the Press and some members of the DNC.

No wonder so many of Hillary's supporters are staying with her.

This type of general bias and prejudice will quite likely cause the Democrats to once again lose an election which should never be lost.

molly frantz  08/26/2008 04:24 PM Report

Monday night's show was great, as always. I have a question I would like your panel to address--especially tonight since the evening will feature Hillary Clinton.

I am fascinated that John McCain and his campaign cannot say enough good things about Hillary Clinton in their pursuit of her supporters, yet I haven't seen one commentator draw the contrast with the John McCain who smiled, chuckled and didn't disown or challenge his Town Hall supporter this Spring who pointedly asked him "How are we going to beat the B*****? Just what are John McCain's true feelings toward Hilliary Clinton, and by association, her supporters?

I certainly have an opinion on this, but would like to hear your panels' views. Especially as they pertain to why Hillary Clinton supporters are now in John McCain's camp. Am I missing something?

Thank you for taking my question. Keep up the wonderful work--even though it means I don't go to bed every night until after midnight!!!

TABS  08/26/2008 03:38 PM Report

Oil and water don't mix. The Clinton's and the Kennedy's don't mix. So why in the world does anyone even think that Hillary could or would even be considered for the VP job?.................... Without Edward Kennedy's 50 years of political muscle, Obama would have been easily pushed aside by Hillary. Obama would have ultimately been an also ran against Hillary. At the beginning of the race expectations for Obama were low, he was mainly out their to gain some experience and to see how well he would do on the campaign trail. It was all aimed for at a later run for the Presidency by Obama. They however succeeded beyond their wildest expectations.

James Brancheau  08/26/2008 10:41 AM Report

With the restoring on Michigan and Florida to full voting status the counts might swing or come close enough that the super delegates in each state vote for the state designated candidate might make the out come very interesting.

I know in Ohio only 4 counties went to Obama as for Florida and Pennsylvania all I know is that that Hillary won big. In Ohio Obama might get one or two votes. Many of the larger states went to Hillary. A floor vote might show how foolish those who were on the selection committee were. Hillary carried a lot of weight in the primary. Hillary was snubbed by the selection committee and Obama. This could be the difference in winning in the fall.

TABS  08/26/2008 04:41 AM Report

Dontcha get it......Trust is not built overnight, but over time. One needs to see how one handles themselves over time, to be able to see a consistent pattern of behavior over a range of circumstances. Once that pattern of behavior is established one can trust that individual will act in a proscribed manner under a given set of circumstances. With Mr Obama the only such pattern that exists is his legislative record in the Illinois Legislature. That record is far from allaying the fears of a great many Americans who would view him as being nothing but an extremely liberal Democrat. Only time can change or verify that perception.

Kathy Bosteder  08/26/2008 04:13 AM Report

As one of those Democrats that will not vote for Mr. Obama I resent the comment that I have some deep seated racial fear.

Let me explain. I chose my president like my personal physician. In many ways the President of the United States can make life and death decisions on my behalf. That being said...Would you like a one year intern to be hired as Chief of Staff in the hospital you will be cared for? Would you ask a one year intern to perform a complicated procedure on you? Even if he had an experienced doctor on staff to help him if he needs help?

I am not racist and I don't have some deep seated fear of someone who has colored skin. I want someone who carries a little red box with him every where he goes to have more than 100 days experience before he applies for the "Chief of staff" job.

TABS  08/26/2008 03:56 AM Report

The Ms Obama speech at the Democratic convention sure sounded like it took a page from Thornton Wilder's "Our Town."...........................................Mr Kennedy came to the convention to show that he still is a force to be dealt with, to show that he could still bite politically. All with the aim of dampening down a Hillary insurrection.This is after all a Kennedy Production..........................................

Mr Obama is incapable of "coming down to earth from 30,000 feet." Obama has learned to live in the rarefied air of intellectualism as an avoidance mechanism for facing the uncertainties and insecurities of his upbringing.

tevo durham  08/26/2008 03:15 AM Report

Big Thanks to the panelists. I found Dowd's idea about addressing white voters hesitancy to vote for a black candidate so on the money. Uttering "I just don't know what it means to have a black man run our country" isn't something that easily rolls off the tongue. In part, I never speak this way because I am sensitive to the suffering of black people.

The other reason i am only going to type those words about race- and probably never speak them aloud- is because I don't want to be labled racist for voicing an honest thought ( not a mean-spirited slight.)

I realize this could sound profoundly racist to some- but I say it in earnest candor.

We ALL suffer from the rage of racism. Most of us have felt discriminated against in life. Many of us- of every color- have heard vitriol come out of the mouths of people of every color. It is churlish at best. It hateful and violent at worst. I don't put this out a a good reason to deny a candidate of color a vote ..I put this out as an underlying feeling that voting for a man who looks black - although we all know he is black and white -brings up the powerful nervousness of race relations./psychology.

I agree with panel members that this fear needs to be bridged into calm hope. I wish I knew how Obama could do that. Not so black and white, is it...I agree with the panelists that "getting him" - that gut level feeling of why he is pursuing this grueling job - is mandatory.

It is exciting that he is Black. And it is terrifying . It is easily forgotten that he is White. And that is terrifying . If we- the voting public- could find a way to trust these two facts of his existence I think we would find the "Everyman" we so desperately want to go forth with and the "Messiah" we likely need.

Final two cents: Their children are quite young. I enjoy hearing and seeing Michelle Obama, but the idea that she will go back to raising her girls while Dad runs the country just doesn't ring true. I wonder why they chose now instead of four or eight years from now, when the impact of lost parental time would be so much less. It makes me doubt their dedication to serve. It reads as limitless ambition.

Barbara Bouchey  08/26/2008 01:47 AM Report

Three comments: on the Vice-President: the importance of this office has changed with Dick Cheney and Americans' persception of the influence of this office - this was not discussed in the show on August 25. The perception is that Cheney was very influential and now VPs can have that power. 2nd - there needs to be more discussion as to how people's opinions of the President have changed over the last eight years. Of course, history should be considered, but the failure of the last 8 years are right in front of us. As much as McCain talks about OBamas' lack of experience, what could be worse than what "W" brought to the table. Maybe "fresh eyes' are what we need. It's not just where the country is today, but who and how we got here should be considered. The comments on tonight's show about race should not be downplayed. There are thousands, if not millions, of Americans (probably mostly Dems) who have always voted Democratic, but will not do so this year because Obama is black. I have two aunts in their 90s who have voted every election as Dems, but will not vote for Obama - they have some reason, but it all boils down to race.

rick  08/26/2008 01:33 AM Report

I want a brilliant, charismatic, exceptional man in the presidency, and I would imagine that such a person doesn't really spend his weekends watching sports. I was gratified at the end when your panel finally got to the truth behind the petty reservations about Obama. Too much airtime in general is spent dignifying ignorance.

Michael Wildman  08/26/2008 01:14 AM Report

For the most part, I enjoyed tonight's show. I would absolutely agree with Martha - Al Hunt IS an idiot! At least I can sleep better tonight confidently knowing that even If I were to change careers tomorrow, I'd still have to put up with the Al Hunts of the world. If it was journalism I sought a career in, it would be literally. Of all the guests on the panel, I think Michelle Norris and Matheew Dodd contributed the most insightful and constructive analysis, regarding "...code for race", and "Obama as the every-man".

TABS  08/26/2008 01:10 AM Report

Ms Obama's speech at the Democratic Convention was worthy of a Frank Capra award for schmaltz. Ms Obama hit every note, all designed not to leave a dry eye in the house. To cast Barrack Obama as the American everyman a veritable Jimmy Stewart of a character. As the only man who can save American and return it to a path of righteousness and well being.....Further it is most likely that Ms Obama writes her husbands speech's. Her syntax is very clear and precise which is the hallmark of Mr Obama's rhetoric whereas her husbands speech pattern is equivocal and halting. Anything but clear and precise.

eudine  08/26/2008 12:59 AM Report

Americans need to grow up. I'm so tired of hearing the pundits whine that people don't know Obama or who he really is. There's been a huge amount of information about his life and career and he has written two autobiographies--do your homework!...read the books, look at the policies on his website, research his votes.

I'm voting for someone who understands my concerns; he or she doesn't have to be someone like me...I'm not looking for a friend or someone to have coffee or a drink with. I want to elect someone who is smarter than I am. FDR and the Kennedy's had more money,and a better education than the majority of Americans, but they were able to understand people's problems and concerns.

David  08/26/2008 12:42 AM Report

2 Things:

First, the Obama message is ostensibly about HOPE but that presupposes that things are SO bad, so scary, that we must act or face utter destruction. It almost feels a bit like scare tactics but I don't think it's intentional. The McCain message is more confident, more "I've seen bad and this ain't it. We'll come through just fine Thank You." This may be pure fantasy, and the truth probably lies somewhere in between, but McCain appeals to the eternally hopeful, proud, optimistic streak in all Americans.

Second I think Barack's race is an issue, but so is OTHERNESS for MANY other reasons. I went to a website and saw a picture or Rep. Rangel and I hadn't seen him in a while and I just felt like, "Man, I really connect with him, know where he is coming from." I am a white man from NYC, and I feel really close to him. Barack seemed to literally come out of nowhere, with 2 years in the US Senate and start a bid for the presidency. He is more my age and generation, but I just feel he is too inert. Clever, clinical, and maybe a bit brittle.

TABS  08/26/2008 12:34 AM Report

The old lion of the Senate, Edward Kennedy showed that he still has political teeth and moreover he still has the WILL to wield that political power. His mental alacrity showed that he is still a power to be reckoned with, even though physically he is waning. With Caroline traveling with the Obama campaign, she acts as his proxy and has great political influence over Obama. Caroline Kennedy is the heir to the Kennedy political fortune. She is the new "Godfather" or "Godmother" as it may be, waiting in the wings.....Caroline's deflection "It is confidential" of Wolf Blitzer's question about the vetting of the VP candidate was masterful. Further her comment about what is on her political horizon, as wanting to hang with CNN's 3 blind mice was as disarming as JFK........Unfortunately Senator Kennedy's desire to be there in January to help a President Obama might not come to pass. The desire expressed in that line had a certain wishfulness to it that belies a certain ironic finality.

James Brancheau  08/26/2008 12:28 AM Report

Monday August 25, 2008

Following the first night of the Democratic Convention the commentary by you and the panel including the reporters at the convention was stimulating. Many of the reporters at the convention felt that the participants at the convention were not unified be hind Barack Obama. Michele Norris did not feel that most of the delegates had a true sense of what Barack was think as for what he wanted to achieve.

As a Democrat viewing from home on a LCD 40 inch TV I do not feel that Barack Obama has conveyed to me what he wants to do. When Hillary Clinton wanted to remove all tax breaks that the oil industry and tax the excess profits of the oil industry Obama was not in favor of that how ever later he wanted to remove the tax breaks and tax the excess profits and give the nations middle class families a $1,000.00 tax rebate form that money. Hillary would come up with a program and at first Obama rejected it and after is proved to be something the people grabbed hold of he said me to on that then added an additional twist to it.

Obama's brother in law talked about all the good legislation that was done in Illinois as did Jessie Jackson son Jessie Jr. bragging about the work he did in the Illinois senate. How ever on Night Line an ABC program pointed out that 51% of the Illinois votes were present. What kind of vote is present?

Many of the field reporters on the floor and at the convention did not feel the unity of the party behind Obama. Hopefully after Hillary Clinton's speech she will bring the party together. It is not as yet.

One panel member said that Bill Clinton held hostilities about the loss to Obama. I am not so sure he is hostile about the loss but the lack of information from Obama him self. Like many of us we do not have any idea as to "Yes we Can" means and where he is leading the party. We want a direction so we know what we are behind.

The members of the party need to know what he stands for and where he is going to lead the party.

James Brancheau

uncisu  08/26/2008 12:22 AM Report

Michelle Obama's speech tonight was the definition of pandering. You could create a drinking game on how many cliches she used tonight. I have heard this speech hundreds of times before for years and years.

Carol  08/25/2008 11:59 PM Report

It's pretty evident that Obama has sold himself to the lobbyists that are wooing him and his supporters.

The media, the Dnc, and the Obama machine has brought about the dissention that you see at the convention.

I'm amazed at your commentators and their analysis.

Hillary and Bill have nothing to do with the voters apprehension at supporting the DNC's choice for president.

The DNC and the Obama machine have divided the party. Snubbing voters, referring to non supporters as racist. It's absurd.

You can't disenfransise 18 million voters.

Please give us more credit, This is still America, don't tell us how to think, don't tell us how to feel, don't tell us to get over it, and don't tell us how we should fall in line.

Martha  08/25/2008 11:57 PM Report

NET and all of us should be ashamed of your terrible show, with a bunch of nattering nabobs of negativism ignoring what is in front of their faces in favor of yakking about Hillary and Bill.

What a quartet of predictable, paale, wan, self-important mainstream bores (including an obnoxious idiot Al Hunt!)—why anyone cares even a tiny bit about what they think is utterly beyond this viewer, who is going to tune away immediately.

TABS  08/25/2008 11:50 PM Report

The CNN coverage of the Democratic Convention is pure horse manure. Sugar coated pablum. One might call their analysts the 3 Blind Mice. Where is the old time reporters hard boiled political cynicism. Where are the insighfull illuminating remarks, that polk and prod. With what CNN audience got from the 3 Blind Mice, they might as well have been reading from a script written by the Democatic Party itself.

Connecticut Dem  08/25/2008 11:25 PM Report

I'm curious what the panelists think about the DNC set, staging and production. It looks like a paneling set out of the 1970s and the music isn't very fitting either. After the over-the-top production of the Olympics opening and closing, this 2008 convention set is very disappointing. With all the Dem's connections to Hollywood, this is also surprising.