Media titan Oprah Winfrey is throwing her considerable weight behind Barack Obama’s bid to become America’s first black president after dismissing public opinion suggesting she should make a run for office.
Winfrey admits she’s a huge fan of Obama’s opponent and fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton, but Obama has her vote.
Speaking on Ellen DeGeneres’ chat show today, Winfrey admits, “I’m feeling Barack.” She continues, “I don’t just love him. I respect him. I think he’s a fresh new voice in politics. I think what he can do for this country would be amazing.”
Winfrey has spent the past four years dismissing reports she’s planning a political charge for the White House.
[ via STARPULSE ]
Many more of these to come….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNCLomrqIN8
CONDI IS A REBULICAN SO HER VIEWS ARE DIFFERENT.
Who said anyone was going to vote for him just because he was black or because he’s charming?
I love how everybody is sitting up here with high & mighty attitude against Barack Obama. “Oh, I’m not going to be voting for him just because he’s black” or “you can’t vote for him because of his lack of experience”.
Barak Obama has enough support that he could probably win the election WITHOUT the black vote. Which he will probably end up having to do because most of you are so hell bent about proving to white people that we aren’t just voting for our own. I swear some of you get caught up in details TOO MUCH and miss the big picture. Trying to prove something to white people…
Barack’s appeal reaches far beyond the black community, do your homework!
And I’d love to know how critical are you all being of Mrs. Clinton’s incurably wishy washy ass. If you thought John Kerry could never hold a firm opinion, I hope you aren’t expecting anything different from Hillary. She changed her stance on the war 3 times. We don’t need a indecisive leader in middle of a war! That lady has her own agenda and seems like some of you have already been brainwashed by it.
its amazing how ignorant we as blacks are, we endlessy make ignorant decisions then complain when the consequences arise.
vote for obama if you agree with his policies and believe hand on heart he will change the course of history. dont vote for him cus he’s black. the man admits he has never faced the level of discrimination most african-americans have faced because of his biracial background, so how do u know he gives a damn about helping black people? do ur research before u vote so u can find out. he seems like a nice guy and all but that doesnt mean he will make a great president. however if he posses the attributes that u want ur president to possess then vote for BO
thank god im not american, but ur decision doesnt just affect americans, it affects the world (inc the UK) cus we always end up following the decision of american presidents
I really like Obama. I think his experience or lack there of is an advantage to him. He’s open minded. This country needs him. I do wish that he and John Edwards would run together. Pres and VP.
I’m just so sick and tired of the path that we are going down. I just got into an argument with a really good friend of mine last night. Her brother is over in Iraq. I said he shouldn’t even be there, none of our men and women should be there. Those people over there have been fighting and killing each other since before Christ set foot on this earth. The U.S isn’t going to change anything. She said that the military were fighting for our freedom and against terrorism. Our freedom to do what? And terrorism? If we’re so concern about terrorism how about closing the U.S borders instead of worrying about the borders of Iraq and Iran.
It’s very frustrating and I’m just ready for a change.
@ 55 i’m black so i’m aware that I am of african descent but caribbean blacks are not the same as african american blacks because they’re CARIBBEAN. dominicans are caribbean. are you going to say that they are like african-americans? come on, i grew up speaking another language, eating different foods, etc. the only thing that i share with aa’s is racism but i have a much different mentality than most aa’s
blacks in the UK have african descent but does that mean that if a british black couple were to have a child here, that their child would be african-american? no the child would be british american. think before you type
@ 63 no one’s trying to prove anything to white people. none of my white friends even know who i’m voting for so how would i be proving something to them. i just don’t agree with ppl who think that blacks HAVE to vote for him b/c we have to stick together. that’s a stupid mentality. vote for who you think is the best regardless of race. that shows intelligence
#63, you would be surprised at how many black folks would vote for someone because they are black. Even some of the posters have indicated that. Have you not read the posts here?
And who said anything about trying to prove anything to white people? You have advised us to do our homework but it looks like you need to hit the books before anyone here. You will find that most black people who support Clinton over Obama do so because of the experience issue and not because we want to prove something to white America.
And I am so sick of people criticizing Hillary for voting for the war. She voted for it because she was presented with evidence there were weapons of mass distruction. After it was revealed the evidence she was given was not true, she changed her mind. Is that really as bad as people are making it out to be? There are a lot of things that happen that turn out not to be like you think. I was against the war from the very beginning but that doesn’t mean I should be President.
Again, with America’s vulnerable position in the world right now, experience must not be downplayed. A President with lack of experience has gotten us in the jam we are in now.
I’m not trying to be negative but, I really feel this country is not ready for a black president. Shit just the other day I got called a Nigger in the parkinging lot by this white lady because I beat her to the parking space. I feel like as long as we still have people like her in the world, no black president is safe.
Oprah cosigns Obama, get outta here…
Oh hell, with Oprah backing him he’s straight. Hillary should have jumped on the Oprah train long ago.
Oprah could promote a pile of shit and it would win tons of votes.
@ HBIC, I fully understand where you are coming from as far as having a different mentality than a lot of African Americans, I too am from the Caribbean. However, my point is that whether you were born in America or the Carribbean, ALL black people originally came from Africa. I guess what I got from your original comment was that you weren’t trying to claim the ‘African’ part, anyway, my bad! Lets keep this post movin
)
He has his work cut out for him if he does make president The Obama Spammers already on they job but I am not trying to hear it.
66 & 67:
You’ve got a president running the country now who served 2 terms as Govenor of Texas, what good has his “experience” done for this country? Maybe, just maybe Barack Obama would be the first presidential candidate in years who actually doesn’t have an agenda. Maybe this guy is intrested in America as a whole. Maybe this guy is going to reform politics as we know it. These are all reasons beyond his ethnic identity as to why people might want to vote for him.
That having been said, I would never vote for someone based on color, sex, sexual orientation or any other factors that have nothing to do with deciding what makes a person fit to run the country but I refuse to accept this crap about experience or lack their of. I stand behind the fact that people, especially black people, are grilling Obama beyond the usual because he’s black.
#73 your first sentence is a point I made in my last post (not to mention Obama is not running against George Bush). OUR COUNTRY IS IN TROUBLE and to disregard Barak Obama’s lack of experience because it is cloaked in hope and charisma is dangerous to us all. We now know first hand the dangers of a President having little political experience.
And I don’t know where you got your “fact” that black people who are grilling him is due to him being black. No, I’m sorry but not in this case. Black people are concerned about his experience, him being killed, and their nostalgic for the “good” years with a Clinton. Black folk are not trying to be hard on Barack because he is black.
*note* People please do not be fooled into thinking just because a person doesn’t have much political experience, they don’t have their own agenda’s. We are dealing with politicians. I love hearing Barack speak just like the next man and am pretty optimistic about his future in politics, but I’m no fool either. This man is being placed on a pedestal too high, too quickly and that can be dangerous.
I like Obama because he came out bucking “the establishment,” and going against the status quo, but those might be the very things that get him in trouble.
Let’s face it, people, whether you are black, purple, pee standing up or sitting down, you CANNOT succeed (or stay) in the White House without the good ol’ boy network. That’s just a cold, hard fact. They run this shit, and that ain’t gonna change with a brother in the White House.
Obama might have the best intentions (and I believe he does), but he is going to have to suck some major d**k to get elected, and then more to stay alive. Hilary’s already done some d**k sucking. Not necessarily literally (or maybe so), but I’m very serious that I’m sure she’s paid her dues in the backrooms of our Capitol. I think the average person would be very afraid if they knew the inner workings of politics.
The President, alone, is not a powerful figure. Big corporations and vet politicians run the game, and they take care of each other. That will not stop because of a popular black presidential candidate who could win the popular vote.
I ***WILL*** vote for Obama for President, but I am going to say that I agree with those folks who say he is too green (inexperienced) because he is. He better have some serious allies in high places if he makes it to the White House.
Let’s not fool ourselves (young people who don’t understand the significance of MLK, Jr. or Jesse Jackson)…they do NOT want a black man in the White House, and what Obama is doing is very dangerous. We need to pray for that man and his family. America is an old country that is set in her ways, and she don’t like change. Change will happen, but true progress is painful.
I don’t know where any of these news reports are getting this “lack of experience” idea from. In all actuality the only people truly qualified to run for president are people in congress and senators. They are the ones dealing with national and foregin policy. As of right now anything is better than the current administration that is in power now. My only question is, is AMERICA rather “WHITE AMERICA” ready for a black President? I know I’m ready for an administration that will but a stop to this stupid war, lower gas prices, adjust medicare and fix tax cuts for the working poor and middle class. DAMN THE RICH, HOW IS CUTTING THERE TAXES BENEFITING MOST OF THIS COUNTRY???? I just know the IRS will be on my ass first if I don’t pay my taxes. My hope is whether it is Obama or Clinton that things change for the better for this country. On the real they need to work on building relationships with other nations, WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER. WHAT ARE WE ACCOMPLISHING IN IRAQ???? NOT A DAMN THING BUT THE LOST OF LIFE AND THE DISTRUCTION OF A COUNTRY.
#75 ~ I agree.
Obama is charismatic and idealistic. However, he is lacking in experience and industrial connections to fulfill his current political ambition.
I have contributed to his campaign efforts and will support him as long as he can tow the rope…
I don’t think Obama would win, and if he did I’d fear for his life.
I’m also wondering if people are trying to get Obama to distance himself from Hilary because they fear it would be a sure victory if they ran as a team for the White House. The big hoopla over what David Geffen said seems as if he’s working for Republicans. How can he be so hateful twards the Clintons now after he’s dumped money into Bill’s run years ago? Someting seems phony about the whole situation.
If they did run as partners, who’d play “Bush” and who’d play “Cheney”? Makes me wonder…..
What’s so funny is that America prides it’s self on progress and change, however in other parts of the world we are behind when it comes to our political landscape. Liberia can pick a female President, England has had a female Prime Minister. But in America we second guess anyone who isn’t a WHITE MALE. I guess the glass ceiling still exist when it comes to the office of President.
There is no question that AMERICA will have a BLACK president SOON ENOUGH. & I APPLAUD this man for STANDING UP & DOING THIS 100%!
The REAL question is HOW LONG will he be PRESIDENT if & when the time comes? This world is PREJUDICE, RACIST, & SO FULL OF EVIL & HATRED (despite the fact that it is 2007).
If & when it does happen…LET’S PRAY for the man.
He’s half black………not the same thing to me…….. I like him though yet I can’t shake the feeling that if he wins and he’s inducted and is known as our first black president that it’d be an insult to call him the first black president because he’s part white.
Being a Black running for president is twice as hard.
1) you got your own Black people who feel somewhat embarrassed to support you_ from fear of being labeled “racist”. They think, “oh if I vote for him, it’s coz he’s black and I dont wanna get into that whole “stick together BS”,it goes against everything we stand for,blabla”. Sadly, one doesnt even consider getting informed, they automatically block him out.
2) Then the rest of the Nation, who for the most part are gonna vote for their people_ sure aint gonna support you anyhow.
This is the situation at hand, today, in 2006. WE NEED A CHANGE… AND THE TIME HAS COME. There had to be a Rosa Parks to push down barriers, there had to be a Alice Boise Wood to open doors for us, there had to be a Carl Stokes to break down stereotypes AND I COULD GO ON!
Most of y’all don’t even get it. It’s deeper than that… After our ancestors died, were killed, hanged, beaten, suffered for more than 6 centuries, you gon come to tell me that an eminent Black politician, who’s a brilliant senator and father figure (not to mention positive role model for many young people) is running for PRESIDENT and you all go around yapping bout the fact that you shouldn’t vote for him “just because he’s black??”
Is that the important issue HERE?? “Dont vote just because he’s black”?? ttchipps
Leave that BS on a KKK-loop not here! C’mon y’all, wake up!!
Let’s find ways to celebrate this achievement(instead of bringing up C. Rice and Colin Powell’s malfunctions). Give the man a RATIONNAL and OBJECTIVE chance before getting all on the defensive.
Sometimes I feel like we, (Black America), need a psychological healing. We’ve been so beaten down and devalued that we can’t even see ourselves or people like us in positions of power or in prestigious positions.
So I say to you all today, before you post a a CAUTION comment againt “voting-just-coz-he’s-black”, do an inner search and ask yourself- WHY AM I ON THE DEFENSIVE, WARNING PEOPLE NOT TO VOTE FOR HIM JUST CAUSE HE’S BLACK? What motivates my eagerness to lash out on that subject- OF ALL THE ISSUES I could adress on this matter?
He’ll mess around and win just off the strength of Oprah backing him lol!!! I don’t care if it’s Hilary Clinton or Obama just as long as Bush get’s the hell out!!!!
He is half AFRICAN, and in case you all have not noticed, many AFRICANS, (particularly NIGERIANS) feel no kinship toward American blacks and actually feel rather superior. I do not claim any bond with Africans after hearing the honest opinions of my former best friends and her family. They openly stated that almost all American blacks are lazy and ignorant, and that the black American women are morally loose, whorish females who are too dumb to get married before getting pregnant. Now, I believe that being a single mother before getting married is nothing to be happy about or proud of, but these statements were completely out of line and I could no longer tolerate these individuals in my life. OF course these people emphasized that I was an exception, and thus should not be offended. To make a long story short, you would be surprised by how the majority of them really view US. As far as I am concerned, no one would ever look at me and mistake me for being African, given my skin color, features, and hair, and many Africans make it clear that they do not respect us. So, while I consider myself very “pro black”, I am “pro BLACK AMERICAN”. Remember this, before you blindly embrace others simply because they happen to be black.
#76-
I will not support someone who does not promote tax cuts for higher income people. In this country, the more money you make, the higher PERCENTAGE you pay in taxes. I handled my business when it came to education and graduated high school at an age when many were still in their sophomore years, and committed to 8 years of school AFTER high school. I do not deserve to be penalized for my work. For those of you who care only about lower and middle class tax cuts, it is really unfair to ignore the fact that those who make the highest incomes unfairly pay a higher percentage of taxes. Don’t forget that there are plenty of black doctors, lawyers , computer engineers, and other highly trained professionals (let alone performers) who deserve to be heard just like everyone else, and we WORKED for what we earn.
If you disagree, maybe YOU need more ambition and a career change. Hopefully there is a Democrat running who understands that.
@ 82- i’m sorry that I’m educated enough to look beyond color and think about qualifications. no one is saying “don’t vote for him”. we’re saying that you should vote for him because you think he’s the best not because of his skin color.there are many white actors and actresses backing him up instead of backing Clinton up. why do we have to be the ones so caught up on color? and do you think that Obama would be proud to know that he only won the election b/c most black people felt that they had to “stick together”? no, i think he would want to win it b/c black people thought he was qualified for the job
@ 84- i think the african person meant african-american not black american, because many caribbean people and caribbean americans feel the same way about african americans. i’m not defending any side, i’m just stating facts. but it’s not one-sided because african americans aren’t exactly that kind to africans and caribbean/caribbean-americans either. how many times have you heard someone say “oh she looks african” or “oh she’s a refugee” in a demeaning tone? if africans want to be biased against african-americans (they are biased against them) then let them because african americans don’t love them either (unless they’re running for President lol).
obama 4 prez!!!!!!!! i jus luv those two!
#84
so why is he married to an ARICAN AMERICAN woman and not an African one??
I find it funny that a good number of black people are only going to vote for Barack because he is black. First of all, Barack is a black John Kerry. He has no political platform and hardly any plans for the future that I have heard him voice. Black Americans should check out all the candidates and see who is better qualified to run our country as a whole. It doesn’t surprise me that Oprah is backing Obama. I’m sure her efforts will not pay off. The same huge white following that Oprah has, those same people watch Bill O’Reiley every night and he does not back him. Furthermore, yes Obama has a dark hue but he does not share the same heritage as black Americans. He is not a descendant of African slaves. Barack himself says in his biography, “Audacity of Hope,” he states that he cannot claim that he has lived the life of a black American. His mother was a white woman and his father was a Kenyan immigrant. He went to school in Indonesia for a while after his mother married an Indonesian businessman. Primarily his mother and her parents raised Obama. It’s not until Obama got into politics that he started calling him self a black American. Also, many white people that I converse with have stated that they are voting for Obama because, “it’s time to have a black president.” Although this is well over due and I agree, it’s obvious that they are only doing this to sooth their white guilt. Because Barack does not share out history they don’t feel responsible or threatened by him. All I’m saying is, what have we really accomplished if Barack Obama becomes president…he’s not really a black American in the traditional sense. So this talk about him being the first black American president is folly. If he does become president it is quite possible that all we have fought for would be reversed: affirmative action will quite possibly be thrown out the window…it’s not like we can say we don’t have equal rights anymore if we have a so-called black president. I’m going to re-evaluate all of the presidential candidates and make sure I choose the right person for my country…not just the right person for black people.
I wonder if the people on here saying they can’t accept Obama because he’s part white really think just because their own parents and grandparents are black that they don’t have any mixture of races in their bloodline? Most likely if you are were born over here in the USA and have roots back to slavery you got something else besides black in your bloodline.
We as black folk are so damn predjudice against each other. It’s a shame. It really is.
No we shouldn’t vote for people just because they are Black, Brown, or White. But do you think a lot of White people would NOT vote for Obama, just because he IS Black?
We need to examine his positions as well as everyone elses. Also, we should not hold him to any higher standard than anyone elses. Both Bill Clinton and George Bush were untested on a national level during their first campaigns. Obama has been working in Illinois state government for years before ascending to the Senate. Also, he was a track record of being a community organizer. With Ivy League degrees from both Columbia and Harvard, he definitely could have taken a much more lucrative route.
And it’s damn good to see he’s got a Black black wifey!!!!
As far a Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton saying they have to see where he is, the same scrutiny needs to be applied to all candidates. Let’s not forget Hillary took her own damn sweet time meeting with Sharpton and appearing at the National Action Network during her first Senate bid.
I think we do ourselves a disservice sometimes and individuals of African descent, when we say, oh, I’m not Black, I’m Caribbean, or I’m Haitian. The truth is people of expressed African ancestry face some fucked shit throughout the Americas. I think the divisions by countries is a good one that has been put over on all of us. We’ed rather be nationalistic, rather than confronting the realities that we all on a global scale face some discriminatory indignities.
Again, white people lock arms and act as voting block, military allies, and arbiters of everything tasteful (why is it that PEOPLE Magazine generally feature Gringos and actors and the “50 MOST BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD?). Jewish people act as voting blocks in Brooklyn when it comes to school board elections where their children don’t attend. Cubans act as a voting block in Miami.
I heard Obama speak about a week ago and I was on the wary side myself, but I heard him speak to people issues. Hey, maybe some degree of childishness set in, but believing in what could happen started many battles that created change for African Americans in this country. We ain’t there yet, but the individuals of African descent out side of the continent with the greatest level of mobility, income and education reside right here in America. This is true despite the fact that the greatest population of people of professed African identity live in Brazil.
O.k. Enough of the history lesson, I know y’all want to talk about Beyonce’s lace front wig.
BTW, Tyra hasn’t gained weight, it’s that heavy ass wig she be wearin!
Standing ovation to #29, #43, #44, #64 and #79.
I think the main reason there are more responses to Nick Cannon is because a lot of people (no specific age) are happy to live in a fantasy world rather than face reality.
I could care less what color BO is. All I want to know is what his record and agenda is. If he doesn’t have one then what am I basing my vote on? His good looks? His financial status? His promise of a better tomorrow?
Someone with little or no experience can do as good a job as a seasoned veteran to the game. The reasons are plenty: fresh perspective, the ability to be coached, greater empathy, and so on. But for me to vote for someone simply because they’re black and supported by another influential person is unsound judgment.
Furthermore, if Black Americans really believe that BO getting into the White House means a better tomorrow for all Blacks they’re fooling themselves. Any president whose agenda only fits and supports one class is known as a DICTATOR or FASCIST. That is not what America is about. We’re supposed to elect presidents who will make decisions for the greater good. And the same one that vote BO into the house JUST because of his color are going to be really pissed when “Massa” don’t come through like he “promised.”
Some Blacks really need to spend more time getting their own sh-t together rather than worrying about someone else doing it for them. Maybe then they wouldn’t be so focused on race and what a Black President can do in the White House.
go oprah!
LMAO @ 43.
On the serious tip though, i think a lot of us on here are jumping the gun. People are saying I’ll vote for Obama, but he’s gotta win the vote of his party first. He might not get the nomination. So, right now, what we need to be doing is researching all of the candidates, because we might end up with someone on the democratic or republican ticket that we’ve never heard of before.
Regardless of what people say about Barack being half african and half sweedish or whatever he is, people still see him as a black male. He says he’s black, so..the level of blackness thing is outta line. I like him because he’s a fresh face. Do I think this is the time for him to be president? Nope. But hey if he wins the nomination I will consider voting for him.
Finally, I just want to stick in the fact that I got a chance to go to the State of The Black Union, here on the campus of the illustrious Hampton University, the better HU. A lot of people (CORNELL WEST) were not being supportive of Barack because he chose not to make his presidential announcement at the conference, and it was on the same day. My thing is, you say you want a black candidate, you get one, then you question his blackness and ask if he’s really going to support the black community when he gets in office because he didn’t come to the state of the black union. Get real. If Mr. Obama is elected, his job is to look out for the country as a whole…not just the black or white communities. We need to stop focusing on race and look at these issues.
On a lighter note, I love Oprah. She’s great, but she does not need to be the president!! LOL
Oprah is backing Obama because he is black. (she has mentioned that in the past, that it is her goal to make that happen.) Her comment about “It’s ok for woman to change there mind” She pretty much said that us woman have no brains of our own, and that we are following like cows in a herd. To be voting for Hillary, just because she is a woman. The fact that us WOMAN have a brain of our owns and still think Hillary is the RIGHT choice. Not someone because he is black. Woman are smart enough to known that it isn’t about Man/Woman, Black/White. It’s about the politics, and what they bring to the table. Oprah I use to love you, but as the years go on, I find you VERY racist!!!!!!!!!!!
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Oprah is the most predjudice bitch on the planet