Obama: "Change can't just be a Slogan"

Well - I hope Obama's team calls Hillary out on her polling "ready for change" slogan.

It appears Obama may call her on this.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0 707/Obama_Change_isnt_a_slogan.html

asked Obama, at his press conference today, about Bill Clinton's striking remark that "yesterday's news was pretty good" -- a veiled shot at Obama's promise of generational change.

"My campaign is not premised on running against the past - my campaign is based on what we can accomplish in the future," Obama responded, before delivering, essentially, a critique of the limits of Bill Clinton's tenure.

" I do think that we have not had in a long time a sense of common purpose where we've got a working majority to work on the big issues - on healthcare, we haven't been able to get a system that works for everybody because it is continually blocked both in Congress and by special interests and lobbying."

......

And then, firing back at Hillary -- whose new slogan is, "Ready for Change, Ready to Lead" -- he said, "Change can't just be a slogan." 

good for him - the faster democrats call out these empty slogans the better.

Tags: obama (all tags)

Comments

76 Comments

"Change can't just be a Slogan"

But it is a slogan when it comes to WAL-MART.  see the diary below.

by truthteller2007 2007-07-04 03:29PM | 0 recs
Re: "Change can't just be a Slogan"
you know thats a nice slogan
ready for change,ready to lead.
Actually captures everything the voters want,change and leadership, nice.
by bebe 2007-07-04 03:33PM | 0 recs
How many hit pieces have you written today?

How many hit pieces have you written today? I'm amazed that Obamaniacs accused me of writing positive diaries but ignored this guy's bad behavior.

Obamaniacs, based on your standard, should this guy be banned?

by areyouready 2007-07-04 03:33PM | 0 recs
Re: How many hit pieces have you written today?

and you should have not been allowed to open another account.  and how is this a hit piece?  

by icebergslim 2007-07-04 04:21PM | 0 recs
Re: How many hit pieces have you written today?

Yes.  This guy should be banned.  

by noquacks 2007-07-04 08:25PM | 0 recs
talking about slogan

It's just laughable. Talking about slogan, Obama is the typical politician with only empty slogans. What record is he going to run? Hope, hope, hope, are all he has.

Community organier? Give me a break.

by areyouready 2007-07-04 03:36PM | 0 recs
How come you critize others for

just posting press releases and newspaper clips supporting their candidates and then you turn around and do it

by bebe 2007-07-04 03:38PM | 0 recs
Re: How come you critize others for

Nope. I don't care if this guy writes 10 or 20 hit pieces a day. But it's interesting all the other Obamaniacs seem to ignore this guy's behavour but accuse me.

by areyouready 2007-07-04 03:43PM | 0 recs
yeah,Everyone should post what they want

by bebe 2007-07-04 03:45PM | 0 recs
Re: How come you critize others for

It's really pretty clear you've not spent much time reading MyDD.  Otherwise you would know Tarheel supports Edwards.

by Vox Populi 2007-07-04 04:22PM | 0 recs
Re: How come you critize others for

We all know areyouready is a paid clinton operative.

by jed 2007-07-04 09:07PM | 0 recs
Re: How come you critize others for

I don't believe that ANYONE on this website is a paid operative.  Especially someone as ineffective at getting their point out as Areyouready.  Posting style is similar to CarolineZhang.  But I don't think they are paid.

by Vox Populi 2007-07-05 07:19AM | 0 recs
Re: How come you critize others for

Thank you.  This individual does disservice to the Clinton followers.

by icebergslim 2007-07-04 04:22PM | 0 recs
Have

You ever been a community organizer? Have you ever seen what it does?

And to say that's all he's ever done. C'mon. He was editor of the Harvard Law Review, Community Organizer, Ran a massive voter registration drive, civil rights law practice, constitutional law professor, nonprofit director, state senate leader, US Senator. You can say he has only been in Washington for a few years but you can't say he hasn't done anything with his life. You're in the Hillary club. What has she done?

by Populista 2007-07-04 04:09PM | 0 recs
Re: Have

No offense, but let's be realistic here. What he has done is great. However, it'll be hard pressed to tell voters that's a great resume built up for president.

by areyouready 2007-07-04 04:12PM | 0 recs
Re: Have

and Clinton is a senator for 6 years and a WIFE of a governor and president.

by icebergslim 2007-07-04 04:24PM | 0 recs
Re: Have

This guy knows Obama has more behind him than community organizing, his obsession with this theme really exposes his hand. Denegrating the this particular aspect of Obama's background is especially telling, because he knows that most of these candidates (particulalry his candidate) has so little experience actually working in the community when they are not trolling for votes.  Hillary comes across as stiff, rehearsed, and pandering, and it may not be because she is, it just may be that she has very little experience talking to people on the real. That's why she had to go get Bill, even though she knew she was bringing all his baggage with him so she would have someone out there with her who could speak extemporaneously and connect with the people. What is the experience that prepares you for the President? Thirty years in the Senate only gave opponents lots of ways to find Kerry on both sides of any issue. The beltway is known for being insulated and isolated from what everyday people are dealing with, so what experience is more important if the ultimate goal is to find someone who can take our problems seriously and work on them as if they affects their lives too?

by jazzyjay 2007-07-05 05:02AM | 0 recs
Re: talking about slogan

This is not a hit-piece. Wise up.

by rapcetera 2007-07-04 06:10PM | 0 recs
Re: talking about slogan

thank you.

by TarHeel 2007-07-05 04:15AM | 0 recs
Re: talking about slogan

>>>What record is he going to run? Hope, hope, hope, are all he has.

And Hillary's running on Bubba, Bubba, Bubba!

by annefrank 2007-07-04 07:23PM | 0 recs
LOL

Hey,

Look who immediatly showed up?

The two POWTS Trolls.

Just like flies to the seet aroma that is Barack.

by BlueDiamond 2007-07-04 03:45PM | 0 recs
"Change can't just be a Slogan"

OK. I'll call one out:

"The Audacity of Hope"...

People, don't think that your candidate's [slogans] don't stink, just like everyone elses.

by hwc 2007-07-04 03:49PM | 0 recs
Re: "Change can't just be a Slogan"

Looks like Obama is going to run an anti-Bill-Clinton campaign. It'll be interesting to see what's going to happen.

I can't wait. popcorn.

by areyouready 2007-07-04 03:50PM | 0 recs
Re: "Change can't just be a Slogan"

two wal-mart candidates having it out.  interesting.  butter on popcorn?

by truthteller2007 2007-07-04 03:51PM | 0 recs
Re: "Change can't just be a Slogan"

Edwards is also a Wal-Mart stockholder.

by robliberal 2007-07-04 04:01PM | 0 recs
Re: "Change can't just be a Slogan"

He owned WalMart stock in a blind trust.  I believe he has since divested it.

by Vox Populi 2007-07-04 04:23PM | 0 recs
Re: "Change can't just be a Slogan"
I rarely shop at Wal-Mart because I hate contributing to the buildup
of the Chinese Army.
by annefrank 2007-07-04 07:26PM | 0 recs
No prob

Robo has no problem with WalMart since his Hillary served on their board.

by bode78 2007-07-04 04:07PM | 0 recs
wal-mart

The most bizarre thing is that many democrats have to lash out at Wal-Mart. I love Wal-Mart. Actually Zogby did a poll which showed whoever won the Wal-Mart shoppers won the election.

by areyouready 2007-07-04 04:10PM | 0 recs
Yeah Walmart has to good and bad side

but there is no use bashing them,we all shop there.even those who bash.They should however be pressured to allow for unions so they can negotiate better lifestyle for employees who want the union.

by bebe 2007-07-04 04:19PM | 0 recs
This is quite funny...

Because Obama has been touting this and saying this since FEBRUARY, and now Clinton come with "Are you ready for Change?"  I mean, yes, we are but not you.  Why it took so long for her to grasp this is the one for me?  She for the LONGEST kept talking about the 90's, but the reality is you can not go back, you can only go forward to the future.  I am glad she finally let this concept sink in, but change, yes, but again, not you.

by icebergslim 2007-07-04 04:20PM | 0 recs
polls show its her

change and leadership,perfect combo for dems.

by bebe 2007-07-04 04:22PM | 0 recs
Re: polls show its her

Early polls, yes.  Early polls told us that Liebermann, Dean, Clark, and Kerry should have been the nominee in 2004.  I guess they were right 1/4 of the time.  

by JeremiahTheMessiah 2007-07-04 05:25PM | 0 recs
Re: polls show its her

You can't compare 2004 with 5 ho-hum candidates nobody really cared for with today.   They traded tiny leads on low levels between each other (like 22% to 19% to 17% to 13%,) which is nothing like today.   Remember, whenever Hillary Clinton was included in any poll she would kick all of them to the curb to the tune of 4 to 1 usually (like she would get 42% while the others, who nobody really cared for, would get 12%, 10%, 8%, and the like.)  

by georgep 2007-07-04 06:02PM | 0 recs
Re: Obama

Hillary has often used "change" in her campaigns, including her senatorial campaigns and her speeches.

Since when did Obama win the monopoly on "change"?

The Hillary slogan that I like best is "I'm In and I'm In to Win".  That was directed right at the GOP; right at Karl Rove, Giuliani and the bunch of them.  

Now, back to Barack.  If Barack begins to go negative on the Clintons because he has run out of things on which to promote himself with (skant experience), then yes, pass the popcorn, because Hillary will take Barack down, and it will be swift and sure.

by samueldem 2007-07-04 05:28PM | 0 recs
Why?

Why do you want another president in bed with the media??

by annefrank 2007-07-04 07:28PM | 0 recs
"Change can't just be a Slogan"

I think Obama is gearing up undertones so the stage can be set for an attack on hypocrisy if he feels necessary.  If he's saying now that "Change can't just be a slogan."  He'll be ready to ellaborate / playback this slogan if he decides to criticize Hillary for this whole "Change now, but universal health care will come in my second term."

It's rather hypocritical, and an achilles heel for cricizing her.  

by JeremiahTheMessiah 2007-07-04 05:29PM | 0 recs
Re: "Change can't just be a Slogan"

criticizing*

by JeremiahTheMessiah 2007-07-04 05:30PM | 0 recs
Re: "Change can't just be a Slogan"

People really underestimate Obama.  Oh, well.  Probably works to his advantage.

by noquacks 2007-07-04 08:29PM | 0 recs
Now a photo-op
           
           IN Fairfield, Iowa, cool ride....
by icebergslim 2007-07-04 06:03PM | 0 recs
Re: Now a photo-op

The owner of that car is a lucky guy.  I'd drive that around a little bit for fun.  Catch some attention for advertising.  

by JeremiahTheMessiah 2007-07-04 06:55PM | 0 recs
Re: Now a photo-op

Why did you rate this photo a one?  I read your other diary.  You need to be banned.

Your hatred for Obama is personal and has nothing to do with this campaign.  You are on this website to stir up shit for anyone who supports Obama.

You have been here one day.  You've written a disproved hit-piece on Obama and then proceeded to insult, claim, lie and insult Obama supporters who responded to it.

Other than that piece, I see no history of you on this site.

by noquacks 2007-07-04 08:32PM | 0 recs
Re: Obama:

Oh, I bet the Iowa farmers just love that car.

It is so perfect for his entire campaign.  All flash.  

by samueldem 2007-07-04 06:05PM | 0 recs
Re: Obama:

Oh, stop hatin', if it said Clinton you would be fawning all over it.  It is a cool car and looks like a classic.  Get over it.

by icebergslim 2007-07-04 06:09PM | 0 recs
Re: Obama:

dude, it's not even the campaign's car. It belonged to a supporter. Sheesh!

by rapcetera 2007-07-04 06:14PM | 0 recs
Re: Obama:

The more he's doing these empty stunts, the better for Hillary or even Edwards.

I'm afraid Obama supporters' money is in dead water.

by areyouready 2007-07-04 06:15PM | 0 recs
Re: Obama:

Pretty soon your account here will be DEAD.  And not a minute too soon.

by icebergslim 2007-07-04 06:17PM | 0 recs
Re: Obama:

along with truthteller2007 who is going around giving out "1's", LOL....whoa, both of these accounts will be royally deactivated soon...

And giving "1's" for photos?  How stupid is that?  

by icebergslim 2007-07-04 06:47PM | 0 recs
Re: Obama:

"The more he's doing these empty stunts"

As was mentioned, it isn't the campaign's car.  It's a supporters car.  He's showing up to aknowledge the dedication of a supporter?  Since when is that an empty stunt?  

by JeremiahTheMessiah 2007-07-04 06:54PM | 0 recs
Re: Obama:

dude, it's not even the campaign's car. It belonged to a supporter. Sheesh!

by rapcetera 2007-07-04 06:15PM | 0 recs
huh?

dude, it's not even the campaign's car. It belonged to a supporter. Sheesh!

by rapcetera 2007-07-04 06:15PM | 0 recs
This is what Obama is about...
         
          Bringing us TOGETHER....
by icebergslim 2007-07-04 06:20PM | 0 recs
Re: This is what Obama is about...

that is what every democrat supports.  troll rated for claiming others do not.

by truthteller2007 2007-07-04 06:41PM | 0 recs
Re: This is what Obama is about...

Isn't that what all democrats are about, bringing us together?  and you are troll rating that?  dude, you would never last on DKos...for real...

by icebergslim 2007-07-04 06:48PM | 0 recs
Re: This is what Obama is about...

Icebergslim never said other Democrats don't.  

If I said Obama likes apples.  That doesn't mean Hillary and Edwards don't just because I didn't include them.  Your logic is flawed.  

by JeremiahTheMessiah 2007-07-04 07:09PM | 0 recs
Re: This is what Obama is about...
Wow! Obama is the only candidate with a pic of an elderly white man with an AA child.  THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING!!  THIS IS WHAT OBAMA IS ALL ABOUT!!! Why isn't this all over the NEWS???
Holy Moly!!!
OK - I have to ask:  what is the average age of Obama supporters?
by annefrank 2007-07-04 07:34PM | 0 recs
Re: This is what Obama is about...

They have 'HOPE. LOL.

by areyouready 2007-07-04 07:51PM | 0 recs
Re: This is what Obama is about...

That Kid looks scared he has gonna take a dive lol,thats not a hopeful look.

by bebe 2007-07-04 08:52PM | 0 recs
Re: This is what Obama is about...

but he is cute as a button though...

by icebergslim 2007-07-04 08:56PM | 0 recs
Re: This is what Obama is about...

yeah he is

by bebe 2007-07-04 09:00PM | 0 recs
Re: This is what Obama is about...

I agree he's damn scared. Get that poor kid off.

by areyouready 2007-07-04 08:58PM | 0 recs
But it is not what Mitch McConnell is about

Or John Boehner.  Or 98% of the Republicans in DC and across this country.

How is Obama going to stop Mitch and his gang in the Senate from thwarting just about every Democratic iniative that comes down the pike?

How?

There are a lot of smart well meaning people in this country.  I suspect the gentleman in the picture is one.  That doesn't qualify you to be President.

by dpANDREWS 2007-07-05 03:37AM | 0 recs
it's about strategy not personality...

well, that's simple.  first of all, obama has a chance that NO ONE believes hillary has, and that is to win the presidency with a mandate for change.  having a mandate for change makes republican obstructionism easier to isolate.

secondly, obama has another advantage over hillary: he'll have coattails and every democratic candidate everywhere will be begging for him to come and campaign with them.  so he'll have a much more united democratic party in congress.

obama has a third advantage over hillary -- he believes in the process of building consensus.  will republicans have a seat at the table?  sure.  will republicans be given a veto over what he does?  hell, no.  look at the tiff between obama and mccain on ethics reform.  barack knows how to stand on his own two feet.

a fourth advantage that obama has over hillary here is that he won't come to office with a stereotype richly ingrained into everyone's consciousness.  republicans won't be united in opposing whatever he says; obama is a wedge issue with republicans.  the interest of republican voters in obama means that republicans like lott, mcconnell, et al have to at least been seen as open to him.  republicans don't have to be open to a single thing clinton says because she unites them against her instinctively.

hillary brings paralysis to the federal government, and paralysis plays into the hands of republican ideology, not democratic.  i keep wondering how long it will take for democrats to realize that...

by bored now 2007-07-05 11:40AM | 0 recs
Change Smange

Look no furhter than the "governator" in Cali.  He was different.  He was going to change the way it was done.  The Democratic Legislature promply said "screw you" (good for them).  

by dpANDREWS 2007-07-05 04:37PM | 0 recs
Arnold ended up haveing to swing to the left

Farthur than he had intended just to get some bills passed.

by dpANDREWS 2007-07-05 04:38PM | 0 recs
Re: Change Smange

hmmm, i don't recall him working towards building a broad consensus.  do you?  if so, in what areas did he reach across the state and work to include all kinds of opinions in whatever he was working on?

i don't see ahnold in the same mold.

we know that barack has done this, not only in the us senate, or even in the illinois senate, but in the southside where he worked hard to include black churches, block clubs and neighborhood associations and independent political groups in what he was doing.  experience that produces results, now that's something i can support...

by bored now 2007-07-05 05:29PM | 0 recs
broad consensus

I don't see anyone building such a thing.  I just hear a lot of talk.  Not just from Obama either.  Listen to Romney, listen to Huckabee, listen to Thompson, listen to Richardson, listen to Edwards.   They are claiming they will wave a magic wand and unite and change and create this bi-partisanship that doesn't exist now.

by dpANDREWS 2007-07-06 06:55AM | 0 recs
Re: broad consensus

afaik, the only one at the federal pulpit is george bush.  maybe dick cheney has a side pulpit.  otherwise, i agree that no one else is president, so no other politician has the current ability to build the broad consensus we speak of.

what i can say is that barack obama has done this.  he's done in through his civic activism, he's done in through his experience in the state house, he did it when he was running for senate, and he says he will do it again as president.  i have no reason to doubt this, given the fact he hasn't failed so far...

by bored now 2007-07-06 08:38AM | 0 recs
Just tell me

What will Obama do to build consensus with the Republicans on the Hill who are lead by some very partisan rightwing types with serious ties to the oil and gas industry, the NRA, the religious right, and the military industrial complex.

What type of compromises will he strike with them to get them to vote with his on his issues?  Do you think his words alone will be enough?   Do you think Mitch McConnell or the boys at the NRA will be impress by an Obama speech?

I have asked this many times.  How will Obama get the Republicans to go along and actually change things?

by dpANDREWS 2007-07-06 09:21AM | 0 recs
Re: Just tell me

i already have.  you are stuck with a dlc paradigm.  obama would discard that paradigm.  philosophically, you are focused on what obama would tell those mean republicans.  i'm focused on his listening to people, including those mean republicans, including them in the process of developing long term goals and gateways to achieve those goals, and using the electorate as a means for creating parameters.

sinceyou are stuck in the dlc paradigm, i'll repeat my rejection of it: i'd rather move the center than move to the center.  this requires broad consensus.  it does not necessarily require compromise.

in the end, it does require vision, determination and leadership.  obama has all three...

by bored now 2007-07-06 01:31PM | 0 recs
Exactly!

Now Obama can tell us how he is going to change Washington.  Meaning, how he is going to change Mitch McConnell, Trent Lott, Tom Coburn and every Republican d-bag in the Senate (and the House, and on K Street and at the think tanks and on am radio).

Talk of change is just that unless you can spell out how you will deal with the Republcans are standing firmly in our way.

by dpANDREWS 2007-07-05 03:35AM | 0 recs
Re: Exactly!

talk of change is meaningless unless you understand what change requires.  i'm guessing you don't, so it's not really worth the time to walk you through it.  but other people know.  other people understand.  it's not a secret, you just have to be open to it...

by bored now 2007-07-05 11:41AM | 0 recs
I Understand Totally

Want change?  The only way we see change in the next 10 to 20 yrs is if 1) people swing to one party or the other by a big margain and breal the gridlock, or 2) the gerrymander of districts comes to an end the red / blue safe districts become more open and winnable by either side (#2 ain't gonna happen).

But you don't get just with cheap talk in an expensive suit.  

Nobody has ever told me, no one can, how Obama would make Blunt, Boehner, McConnell, Lott, etc., etc., change.  Tell me.  Tell me how he will take on the Republicans and win.  Don't give me BS that I don't understand.  Tell me.

by dpANDREWS 2007-07-05 04:42PM | 0 recs
Re: I Understand Totally

yeah, sorry, i guess i'm more pragmatic.  when i was growing up and we learned that the next county over was going to take some of the money that the black churches raised so that their children (in still segregated schools but within a unified school district) could have air conditioning, we didn't think about parties or big margins or breaking gridlock.  we thought about unifying the outraged, pounding the pavement and working towards results.

strangely, other people i know -- including obama -- who have worked for real change with real results have had similar experiences.  i'm sorry that you haven't been able to share in actually changing the world or in impacting people's lives.  it's probably why you can't identify with the rhetoric about process, about progress, about change.

the difference between you and i is that i don't think changing those minds is possible -- or necessary.  obama's message of bipartisanship is not about caving in towards the center, but actually moving the center towards progress.  that's certainly a more democratic approach.  i know that democrats believe that government is the solution to all problems but i don't share that bit of idealism.  change can occur in various ways, and i still appreciate rev. jesse jackson for his willingness to take on sears and change corporate policies through confrontation and economic boycotts.

obama will have to be completely engaged with the population in order to bring the results he desires.  he will have to use the bully pulpit as well as the airways to inspire.  he'll have to talk to people who don't agree with him and to sideline those who stand in his way.  fortunately, he's already had that experience.  and he's learned and internalized lessons about how change happens.  this is why we have hope in obama, because he's been there, done that -- and knows that it is neither quick nor easy...

by bored now 2007-07-05 05:40PM | 0 recs
Changing DC

Isn't as simple as putting in some air conditioning.

Secondly, you speak of uniting the outraged.  The problem with that, as far as I see it, is that there is not a lot of outrage in this country at the moment.  People are largely ... not all, and not everyone totally ... happy.  

If people were outraged about anything you would think it would be the war.  But even now they are not.  Frustrated yes.  Outraged no.  I have not seen a decent protest made up of a wide segement of Americans yet.  Heck, even the polling on whether we should withdraw immediately is still somewhat mixed.  

I think the only way to truely outrage Americans these days is to take away our cable or DirecTV.

by dpANDREWS 2007-07-06 06:32AM | 0 recs
Re: Changing DC

nor so difficult as you believe.  these are all cultures that can be hacked.  most presidents don't even try because they come to washington thinking they're the shit.  like most people who go to dc, they figure, hey, i'm here!  y'all are saved!

as for everyone being happy, then obviously this won't be a change election.  bush will be able to designate his successor.  the country will feel good about it.  now that doesn't correspond with what i hear in the streets or focus groups, but you certainly have a right to that view...

by bored now 2007-07-06 08:40AM | 0 recs

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