NY Times Reports Obama Qualms Among Democrats

In a surprising article that may indicate that some of the overwhelming Obama bias in the mainstream press may be diminishing as Senator Obama flip-flops and shows his inexperience, the NY Times reports of the misgivings of some leading Democrats.

Perhaps Obama’s missteps regarding Russia’s brutal invasion and conquest of Georgia have caused concerns, or perhaps his attempts to move to the right have angered and upset his supporters. Whatever the reasons, it is somewhat unusual for comments like these to air just as the Democratic convention is about to begin.

Among other comments cited were these, and I quote, “I particularly hope he strengthens his economic message — even Senator Obama can speak more clearly and specifically about the kitchen-table, bread-and-butter issues like high energy costs,” said Gov. Ted Strickland of Ohio. “It’s fine to tell people about hope and change, but you have to have plenty of concrete, pragmatic ideas that bring hope and change to life.”

Or, in the blunter words of Gov. Phil Bredesen, Democrat of Tennessee: “Instead of giving big speeches at big stadiums, he needs to give straight-up 10-word answers to people at Wal-Mart about how he would improve their lives.”

Allies Ask Obama to Make ‘Hope’ More Specific

August 17, 2008 New York Times (Excerpt)

“As Senator Barack Obama prepares to accept the Democratic presidential nomination next week, party leaders in battleground states say the fight ahead against Senator John McCain looks tougher than they imagined, with Mr. Obama vulnerable on multiple fronts despite weeks of cross-country and overseas campaigning.

These Democrats — 15 governors, members of Congress and state party leaders — say Mr. Obama has yet to convert his popularity among many Americans into solutions to crucial electoral challenges: showing ownership of an issue, like economic stewardship or national security; winning over supporters of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton; and minimizing his race and experience level as concerns for voters.

Mr. Obama has run for the last 18 months as the candidate of hope. Yet party leaders — while enthusiastic about Mr. Obama and his state-by-state campaign operations — say he must do more to convince the many undecided Democrats and independents that he would address their financial anxieties rather than run, by and large, as an agent of change — given that change, they note, is not an issue.” NY Times