Since it’s an essential part of the overall presidential endorsement package, I thought it would be a good idea to post Warren’s dissenting column on the blog as well. I don’t know about you, but I thought he did a good job with it. — Brad
By WARREN BOLTON
Associate Editor
WHO WILL lead us through these extraordinary times — John McCain or Barack Obama?
Which of these men — both uniquely qualified to be president — can not only return confidence and stability to a country shaken at its foundation, but get Americans to see and embrace a future beyond today’s challenges?
The top question Americans confront as foreclosures rise, credit dries up, jobs are cut and financial markets free-fall is: Are you better off today than you were yesterday? We’re engaged in two wars — one of which was an ill-timed war of opportunity that has distracted us from the war on terror. Other threats and hot spots dot the globe.
While America remains a beacon of hope, our light doesn’t shine as brightly. The next president must shoulder the dual burdens of strengthening the home front while leading globally.
Mr. McCain and Mr. Obama are both capable, but only one possesses extraordinary qualities to shepherd our country through these extraordinary times.
That’s Sen. Barack Obama.
Under Mr. McCain, I see an America that’s safe, stuck and satisfied. The middle class would remain stuck, while only the wealthy would be satisfied.
But Mr. Obama’s a game-changer. He’s a gifted leader who possesses the right judgment, leadership skills, temperament and steadiness. He has a consistent, coherent vision for America, whereas Mr. McCain has been all over the place.
Mr. Obama’s health care plan is far superior and will actually expand the number of people covered. And if we’re going to have tax cuts, it should be for the many working people who have seen their wages stagnate, their plans for their children’s future endangered and their lifestyles dwindle.
Mr. McCain has lots of experience in national politics and a record of legislative and diplomatic leadership. He’s worked across party lines and is rightly hailed for his service to this great country. But there are questions about his temperament as well as his ability to craft a cohesive vision.
The John McCain of 2008 isn’t the stalwart leader many admired in 2000. He walked away from some of his independence in exchange for a shot at the White House. He embraced positions straight from the Bush playbook, including wanting to continue tax cuts he once denounced.
For a man who said he would rather lose an election than a war, he has gone to great lengths to win, even to point of saying that if he is elected and something happens to him, Gov. Sarah Palin, who is clearly not ready, is the one he would choose.
That irresponsible choice says a lot about Mr. McCain’s judgment. A number of things he’s done or has allowed to be done on behalf of his campaign suggest that he’ll do anything to win.
Mr. McCain’s unrelenting support of the Iraq war and inability to clearly articulate the “victory” he speaks of is troubling. Yes, he was right about the surge. It brought violence under control. But now what? Where’s the victory? Where’s the political progress in Iraq? It’s time we get out and allow Iraqis to run and defend their country.
Sen. Obama would be much wiser about getting out of Iraq. He would focus us back on the dangerous situation in Afghanistan, the war on terror and Osama bin Laden.
One of Sen. Obama’s greatest strengths is the fact that he thinks. Wow, a thinking president. I know. Wild isn’t it? Many who have sat with him — including me — notice quickly he doesn’t give stock answers, and genuinely considers questions and issues.
As intelligent as he is, Sen. Obama won’t hesitate to surround himself with other smart people who will challenge him. He would build an experienced, credible and bipartisan Cabinet. He’s already given us a glimpse of the kind of choices he would make by selecting Sen. Joe Biden.
Some have mocked Mr. Obama’s rhetorical prowess as being “just speeches.” Powerful oratory has built nations and reshaped civilizations. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s “speeches” transformed the soul of America. John F. Kennedy’s “speeches” united America to do the extraordinary — to go to the moon.
Sen. Obama has energized millions of all races, ages and socio-economic backgrounds. People are engaged, waiting for the messenger to lay out the vision. He’s shown he can and is willing to talk about tough issues with Americans when he gave his speech on race.
Mr. Obama is one of those rare leaders who come along too seldom. His bi-racial background and multicultural experiences give him a unique lens through which to see an America that is becoming more like him. He represents where America is headed, and might be the one who can convince a broad range of people to help mend our fractured country, already the greatest on earth, and make its light shine brighter both at home and abroad.
His well-organized, record-setting campaign has been well-managed, features an awesome army of staff and volunteers in nearly every state and hasn’t suffered the infighting that characterizes — and kills — so many campaigns. Mr. McCain’s campaign has been woefully disorganized and has done a pitiful job of capturing who Mr. McCain really is and why he should be elected.
Has there been anyone more unflappable, more consistent, more thoughtful, more engaging — when he speaks, the nation listens — than Sen. Obama? Has anyone been more presidential?
No. That’s why we need an Obama presidency.
Reach Mr. Bolton at (803) 771-8631 or wbolton@thestate.com.
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You touched on another of Obama’s greatest strengths–the people he surrounds himself with. He reaches out to the brightest and best and actually listens to their input and advice. Obama makes the final decision, I’m sure, but he knows that he needs a lot of information to make the best decision. And he won’t be rushed into anything. That’s why is campaign has been so successful and that’s why his presidency will be so successful.
Compare this to what we have now–a man who retreats to his office surrounded by yes men and has his wife read the paper to him.
And let’s look at McCain. He surrounds himself with Rovian types and people like Phil Gramm. He loves our country so much that, if he dies, he just knows that Palin will do a super job of putting America on the right track. He knew, or should have known, that she was being investigated for an ethics violation when he picked her. And maybe people ought to take a second look at all the videos on YouTube that show McCain verbally abusing people he disagrees with. Actually, he’s probably more verbally abusive toward women. But that’s no surprise–his vp choice showed that he has no respect for women.
I have to stop sometime, but I haven’t even brushed the surface of why our country needs a strong intelligent leader to clean up this mess we’re in.
How can anyone who loves America want 4 more years?
How can anyone who loves America want 4 more years?
Good point, Laraine. I’ve had enough of Obama in the year or so he’s been running for president.
Besides give speeches, what has Obama ever DONE? Seriously, Warren- name something…anything. Could one person just tell me something Obama has done (other than cocaine)?
“Has there been anyone more unflappable, more consistent, more thoughtful, more engaging — when he speaks, the nation listens — than Sen. Obama? Has anyone been more presidential?”
Someone who writes a column for The State actually asked such an embarrassingly ridiculous pair of questions?
Here’s an answer, Mr. Bolton: Start with “Ich bin ein Berliner,” regress to FDR, think about Lincoln overseeing a nation in a Civil War, consider Washington making the Constitution work when the Articles of Confederation didn’t, and then go over in your mind everything you know Barack Obama has actually done.
Voting present doesn’t seem so supremely presidential, does it?
The list of presidents more presidential than Obama includes most of them.
Obama is professorial, not presidential. He’d make a better talk-show host than president.
Today Huckabee on the Fox News channel, tomorrow Obama on CNN, talking without preconditions to important leaders such as Oprah, Dr. Phil and Judge Judy.
who would have thought,,,,,
Mr. Bolton’s description of McCain’s vehemence about the War in Iraq is far too kind to McCain: “Mr. McCain’s unrelenting support of the Iraq war and inability to clearly articulate the ‘victory’ he speaks of is troubling.”
What is a war and how do wars end? The Revolutionary War ended with the Treaty of Paris, when Britain recognized the USA as an independent nation. The Civil War ended on May 10, 1865, when Jefferson Davis was captured. World War II ended on what we now call VE and VJ days, with the surrender of Germany and Japan, respectively.
Our War in Afghanistan ended when military forces from USA and other nations overthrew the Taliban and returned the responsibility of governing Afghanistan to the people of Afghanistan, who elected President Hamid Karzai.
Our War in Iraq ended when military forces from the USA and other nations overthrew the Baathist government of Saddam Hussein and returned the responsibility of governing Iraq to the people of Iraq, who elected President Jalal Talabani.
We WON both wars. The wars are over. Yet Bush and McCain say that we are still at war and that we won’t come home until we achieve victory. Palin accuses Obama of waving the white flag of surrender. McCain and Palin are completely misrepresenting what’s going on. And Harry Reid is absolutely stupid in agreeing with their perspective.
We are staying because Bush, McCain, Palin, and Reid are all stuck in a Vietnam-era mentality that tells them, “The USA cannot leave a country with victory until every single person in the country we invaded tells us ‘Thank you.'” It is they who are trying to turn our military victories into defeat, and it is Obama who is properly recognizing the victory of our military.
McCain wants us to stay until Iraq throws us out, which means that we will never, ever be able to declare victory. Obama insists that we leave now, by our own choice, because we won — our military was victiorius, and the missions were accomplished. Which one is pro-America?
McCain’s position in not just “troubling.” It’s horrifying.
As I commented to Brad on his blog, It is disheartening to see how the media, and a gazillion dollars worth of advertising, can manipulate so many intelligent people in to a frenzy of blind support for Obama. I don’t mind you supporting a democrat, but it doesn’t take a lot of research to see that Obama is a liberal democrat through and through. He is not a change agent, it is a change of political party, and you could have gotten that with Clinton, Biden, Richardson – any of them. They are all democrats. Look at his record Warren. He has been, and always will be a liberal democrat. If you want a change of political party, support him for that, but please don’t imply that based on some speeches and advertising that he is a change agent. For the most part, he hasn’t done anything to indicate he will be different than any other liberal democrat, except probably better looking and well spoken. I expected some real meat to your argument, but got the same fluff as most everyone else.
Saying Obama is just another Democrat is like saying Reagan was just another Republican. It’s ludicrous.
Joe Biden is the main protector of the credit card industry and payday lending in the U.S. Senate.
Obama’s campaign is run by a bunch of lobbyists for the banks which run payday lending as subsidiaries, or finance the payday lenders at high rates of interest.
Apparently, Obama being half-African and proposing to give out TRILLIONS in new welfare to blacks made Warren Bolton forget all about the exploitation of blacks by lenders.
Police fear riots by Obama supporters
Oct 23, 2008 … US police fear riots could break out if John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, wins the election next month.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/…/Police-fear-riots-if-Barack-Obama-loses-US
-election.html
Police departments in cities across the country are beefing up their ranks for Election Day,
preparing for possible civil unrest and riots after the …
thehill.com/leading-the-news/police-prepare-for-unrest-2008-10-21.html
One thing the McCain campaign has done is to bring out hatred , paranoia and fear. That in and of itself is clear proof that McCain is not a unifier but a divider. If this election was to rest solely on S.C. we would have yet another Republican president who is out of touch with the middle class. I think it’s irresponsible for this newspaper to endorse McCain. If god forbid he should die in office Palin would become president. For all the complaints people have regarding Obama how can anyone say Palin has the experience to lead this country ? This paper’s endorsement is just as reckless has the past eight years of George Bush. I’m personally voting for change and come November 4 I will be voting for “That One”
Obama brought out the racial hatred and class division, and he is not finished. If elected, this socialist will be the most divisive president since Lincoln was elected with barely 1/3 of the votes.
If any Obama supporters want to take bets on specifics of how he will screw things up, I am ready with my list. You can bet your next stimulus check. It’s not your money, anyway.
the final thing the GOP will do to taint the electorate is fear mongering, which they have done so many times the last 8 years. And Lee is punting for them with the tired fear mongering line about riots. Please…
Obama Thugs Attempt to Disrupt McCain-Palin Rally
Posted on Sun, Oct. 26, 2008
http://www.thestate.com/statewire/story/568218.html
Confrontations emerge at Palin event in NC
The Associated Press
ASHEVILLE, N.C. —
Supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama are confronting people attending a North Carolina event featuring Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.
The faceoff in downtown Asheville included loud yelling and vulgar signs. The event showcased the tension between people who live in the liberal enclave and the others living in conservative counties that surround Asheville.
Authorities stood between the crowds, which included a couple of hundred Obama supporters and several thousand Palin supporters waiting to enter the event.
Both sides crowded the sidewalks of a downtown street, at times disrupting traffic as they spilled into the road to confront each other. Some heated arguments devolved into minor shoving.
Funny. The case supporters make for Obama is to attack McCain and Palin, on the blog, in the streets of Asheville, etc.
And the Obama supporters praise their would-be president with such unsupported statements as Mr. Bolton’s above: “Mr. Obama is one of those rare leaders who come along too seldom.”
Really? Apart from running for president and voting present, what has he done?
Warren,
Thank you for a thoughtful and well-delivered article. Please know that there ARE voters in South Carolina focusing on the future, aware that the fabric of our world is changing, and that we are fated to change along with it.
I believe Barack Obama has the ability, intelligence and focus to be a great leader. None of us can predict what will happen after our next President takes office, but I feel a glimmer of hope for the future that has long been missing.
Again, thank you for your contribution to The State’s endorsement.
What has Obama done? Barack Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and served as President of the Harvard Law Review. John McCain finished in the bottom 5 of his class at the Naval Academy and crashed something like a half dozen planes. Obama was also a constitutional law professor, Illinois State Senator and a U.S. Senator. He is also an author, a brilliant orator and a level-headed consensus builder.
Thank you, Mr. Bolten, for a well written endorsement. I agree with you completely.
Thanks, Warren, for your endorsement of Barack Obama.
Obama is the one we need to heal our racial divide as well as restore fiscal sanity. No, I don’t expect his or anybody else’s presidency to be perfect, but his presence in the White House will confirm that America has taken another big step toward equality and social justice.
Obama was the first “social appointment” to Harvard Law Review in its history. He did not earn it with superior grades.
Obama never wrote a Law Review article.
Obama was a adjunct professor of law and taught a few classes. His contract was not renewed.
Obama’s college education was paid for by Saudis. Why?
Obama has never held a job in the private sector.
Obama only passed 3 pieces of legislation in his life that had his name as a CO-sponsor.
Most of Obama’s sudden wealth came from working on real estate deals with Tony Rezko, who is now in prison for misuse of federal redevelopment funds, and bribery of politicians. Rezko helped Obama buy his mansion.
REAL ISSUE # 3: Obama is a racist.
His mother was tramp, who shacked up with a string of men, all non-white. You can see how she became a racist when you read Obama talk about her father.
Obama’s mother remarried an Indonesian Muslim, and sent Barack to fundamentalist Muslim schools, which taught that Jews and Christians were evil.
His grandfather was a white liberal racist, who saw his own racism as inherent, and saw it in every action of whites, however reasonable and colorblind, through is own racist prism. He inculcated into Obama the notion that white people were inherently racist.
Fatherless Barack looked to a friend of his grandfather as a mentor – Frank Marshal Davis, a card-carrying Communist, who hated whites, Jews and capitalism.
Obama fed himself the radical writings of Malcolm X and others.
At Columbia University, Obama roomed off campus with a Pakistani smuggler. His mentor at Columbia was professor Khalidi, a member of the PLO.
In Chicago, Obama hooked up with the Nation of Islam as a community organizer for ACORN. His mentor became Khalid Monsour, the middleman between Saudi money Black Muslims. That is also where Obama met Bill Ayers and his communist circle.
Khalid Monsour got Percy Sutton, the lawyer for Malcolm X. Sutton pulled strings to get Barack into Harvard Law School. Khalid got the money to pay for it from Prince Alween of Saudi Arabia.
After law school, Obama struggled to make a living until being hired by the Daley machine. Abner Mikva, a socialist Democrat, reconnected him with Farakan’s real estate projects and Tony Rezko.
Barack and his radical, racist wife, Michelle, joined the personality church of Jeremiah Wright, a former Black Muslim not teaching his own mix of Islam, New Testament Gospel, and his hatred of whites and Jews.
Obama’s advisors include Bill Ayers, Michael Klonsky (another Weatherman), bomber Bernadine Dorn, Harold Ickes (Stalinist upbringing), Leon Panetta (Castro Brigades), Laura Tyson (Romanian communism), etc ad nauseum.
Warren, that was an excellent endorsement. It was well thought out and hit on the main points. This was much better than the main endorsement that was little more than Brad’s man-crush for McCain put in writing.
I don’t recall Warren Bolton ever writing a news story, column, or editorial that was not about race. The endorsement of Obama was no different.
You idiot, the headline is “Confrontations emerge at Palin event in NC.” The article does not mention thugs at all. It’s Asheville, NC, for God’s sake– hippies, Wiccans and mountain people.
It takes two to argue and start minor shoving. Keep trying, Lee
Hundreds of Obama followers came to a McCain-Palin rally for the express purpose of disrupting it and intimidating Republican voters.
Yes, I called them THUGS.
What would you call them?
Goons.
Brownshirts.
Hooligans.
Gang.
I see Warren’s blinders are on nice and tight. “He represents where America is headed” Are you sure you want to stand behind that statement? When you get beyond the rhetoric, he’s about as hard left as you can get, not the change I would believe in.
Mr. Bolten wrote:
“Which of these men — both uniquely qualified to be president — can not only return confidence and stability to a country shaken at its foundation, but get Americans to see and embrace a future beyond today’s challenges?”
UNIQUELY QUALIFIED???? Hmmmmm, MAYBE SOMEONE NEEDS TO TELL THAT TO JOE BIDEN SINCE DURING THE PRIMARIES A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO HE SAID REFERRING TO OBAMA THAT HE (OBAMA) WAS NOT QUALIFIED AND THAT “THERE IS NO TIME FOR ON THE JOB TRAINING IN THE PRESIDENCY” AND WHEN ASKED BY GEORGE STEPHANOPOLIS IF HE STOOD BY THAT STATEMENT HE ANSWERED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE.
BOTH, BIDEN AND OBAMA ARE TWO-FACED LIARS!
ObamaNation = reparations
Now that the radio interview has come out with Obama talking about how we need to ignore the Constitution in order to set up reparations to blacks for slavery, will Warren Bolton denounce that part of the Obama agenda? Or is down with reparations?
Obama is consistant alright – consistanly socilaist and Marxist in where he wants to lead this country. He,Biden and his campaign have also shown that they can get thuggish when confronted with questions they wish not to answer. Joe the plumber comes to mind. Obama is probably the biggest threat to our Democracy that we have ever had! He and his leftist ideology that is constantly being pushed through our colleges, coupled with what will surely become a leftist supreme court will put this republic in a free fall. People had better put on their seatbelts because if Obama becomes prez, we are in for a very bumpy ride -especially people who are producers and own property.
“FROM EACH ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITIES, TO EACH ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS.”
This was a quote from Karl Marx. This statement also sounds like Obama’s statement about “spreading the wealth around” that he made to Joe The Plumber.
If you want a socialist/Marxist, Obama is your man!
The State’s endorsement:
. Obsessed over the surge, but didn’t address the broader issue of Iraq, Warren’s did.
. Discussed the minor, yet complicated, issue of Colombian Free trade. Warren’s, as with virtually all newspaper endorsements, wisely stayed away from this, focusing rather on Obama’s intelligence and ability to properly address these types of issues.
. Suggested that Obama’s objection to Robert and Alito was wrong somehow. Isn’t that what a senator does, advise and consent? Warren didn’t get into the court question. Perhaps that’s an area he should have brought up, it’s a critically important concern in this election.
. Ignored the VP picks. Warren discussed the inexplicable choice by McCain of Palin that called into question McCain’s judgment. (Actually Warren’s comments were pretty obvious, but for the State to completely ignore this is almost a crime of journalism).
Warren’t endorsement gives me hope that The State may one day break out of it’s fawning over the GOP presidential nominee. I won’t hold my breath however.
Bob, nobody accuses McCain of being a Nazi. I’m sure you could find a quote of his to support such a claim. But liberals are above that kind of name calling nonsense. Bob joins Lee in showing the world how desperate and out of touch the supporters of the GOP have become. They demonstrate yet again that the far right in this country doesn’t understand what it’s like to be an American. Their rants are, ironically, UN-American.
Warren laid out a reasonable and well thought out response. It is why those that support Obama do so. Isn’t it interesting that many that oppose Obama throw out the Socialist/Marxist accusations. I also find it fascinating that they assume being a Liberal is some sort of insult. I am proud to be a liberal. And liberals can work hard, go to church, be good parents, serve in the military and support our country. Those that accuse Obama of wanting to usurp state’s rights need to look at McCain’s agenda. His health plan takes all state’s rights out of the mix as it overrides state legislation on coverages. McCain’s plan is to prohibit abortion and Gay marriage through federal legislation. So who is the state’s rights candidate? It’s interesting that when logical argument fails, the hate and name calling begin.
Barack Obama called himself a socialist.
Barack Obama is the one using Marxist lingo in his campaign.
Barack Obama was a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, which arose from the ashes of the collapse of the Soviet Union, as a means to advance socialism by electing socialists to office in democratic nations. The DSA is not a political party, but it has over 40 Democrat members of the U.S. Congress as members. One of the many socialist political parties affiliated with it was the New Party in Chicago, Daniel Cantor, a former staffer for Jesse Jackson’s 1988 presidential campaign, and Joel Rogers, a sociology and law professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Barack Obama in 1995 sought the endorsement of the New Party, and received it, because he worked for ACORN, another socialist group. The New Party required Obama and the other candidates to sign a contract supporting socialism.
Article on the New Party with quotes from their newspaper:
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=26913
Photos of Obama and scans of New Party newsletter:
http://newzeal.blogspot.com/2008/01/obama-file-4-obama-was-endorsed-by-far.html
Lee? Have you? Everything I’ve read by you is about race…whether you realize it or not.
Look at the calendar,Lee. It’s not 1958 anymore.
Joanne, you need to read all my other posts about taxes, economic policy, the war on terror, energy, and global warming.
I am not talking about race, but responding to the racism of Obama, Jeremiah Wright and Warren Bolton.
I really get disgusted when the Obama racists call everyone who calls them on it, “a racist”. They are so childish.
I was registering blacks to vote in SC for the Voter Education Project and League of Women Voters beginning in 1972. I have worked as a poll watcher and poll manager in all sorts of precincts, including some that are 90% black. Have you done anything personally to insure honest elections, Joanne?
Also, Joanne, read my post directly above about Obama being a member of the Socialist New Party.
There is no mention of race in it.
The L.A. Times Suppresses Obama’s Khalidi Bash Tape
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZDFkMGE2MmM1M2Q5MmY0ZmExMzUxMWRhZGJmMTAyOGY=
Obama, Ayers, and PLO supporters at 2003 toast o fEdward Said’s successor, but the press doesn’t think it’s quite as newsworthy as Sarah Palin’s wardrobe.
Bud says “liberals are above that kind of name-calling nonsense.”
Which is how, I suppose, I learned the term “McSame” on this blog.
And why “h” addressed Lee with the phrase “you idiot” above.
Truth to tell, bud, you can’t spell “liberal” without “l-a-b-e-l.”
Democrats plan to kill 401-k plans
Barack Obama and other radicals in the Democratic Party are calling tax-free contributions to
401-k plans a “loophole” and readying legislation to end all employer contributions and pre-tax
contributions.
“We’ve invested $80 billion into subsidizing this activity,” said Rep. George Miller, D-Calif,
chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, referring to tax breaks allowed for
401(k) contributions and savings.
Rep. Jim McDermott, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, recently invited Teresa
Ghilarducci, a professor at the New School of Social Research, to testify before a subcommittee
on her idea to eliminate the preferential tax treatment of the popular retirement plans. In place
of 401(k) plans, she would have workers transfer their savings into government-created
“guaranteed retirement accounts” for every worker.
The government would deposit $600 (inflation indexed) every year into the GRAs. Each worker would
also have to save 5 percent of pay into the accounts, to which the government would pay a measly
3 percent return.
Did you get that? Workers who saved would be forced to sell out of stocks at the bottom of the
market, and deposit the cash into a government savings account.
A 3% return on $10,000 yields $22,000 in 40 years.
A 7% return from the stock market average yeilds $150,000.
The amount of wealth which would be destroyed on the front end would be devastating to economic
growth, and leave millions of hard-working Americans dependent on government retirement plan
promises.
The majority of Obama supporters have no savings, and no retirement plans. They welcome taking
money from “the rich”. This scheme has appeal to the reparations crowd as more get-back on “rich
white folks”.
Investment News
http://www.investmentnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081007/REG/810079894
US News & World
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/capital-commerce/2008/10/23/would-obama-dems-kill-401k-plans.html
Dear Warren.. OMGoodness. please do not lump my views with some of these others.. I disagree with your arguments for Obama, but I like you, and I like Democrats too, and appreciate you putting your thoughts out there for us to see..
You’r not proud enough of Obama to use your real name, or even tell us why you like Obama.