CNN called the Indiana primary for Clinton at 1 a.m. today with 99% of the vote counted. At that time she had a 2% lead; however more than 1% of the vote in Lake County remained to be counted. He won by large margins in the four counties that Kerry won in 2004--which are considered to be Democratic party strongholds in a state that traditionally votes Republican.

In North Carolina he had a decisive victory with a 14% lead. Taking both elections together his vote count exceeded hers by more than 200,000.

Anatoly Kirichenko
Wright or Wrong

In my review, Taking Back America in the books section of the Journal, I discussed a conference on the subject of political framing and propaganda sponsored by George Soros and featuring an article by George Lakoff as well as a discussion of George Orwell's seminal work. (Lot's of George's!) Anyway, it seems like the Rockbridge Foundation has just disbanded.

When the infamous Rev. Wright sound bites began to dominate world news, I like many Americans really cringed. It was not only that his remarks were jarring--"Could he really believe that killing two thousand innocent Americans was just retribution for......... for anything?" I asked myself. And so on, and on and on and on as the news media relentlessly repeated the same story line.

The Falls Church News Press has gotten more recognition. Here is an excerpt from a press release Nick sent me.

WASHINGTON CITY PAPER DECLARES THE FALLS CHURCH
NEWS-PRESS "BEST REMNANT OF THE LIBERAL MEDIA"

The following is extracted from this week's Washington, D.C., City Paper, "Best of D.C." Edition, April 18, 2008. It's the first time in 15 years the City Paper has produced a "Best of D.C." edition. Some "winners" were based on reader polls, this is one of many the editors sought to award:

'BEST REMNANT OF THE LIBERAL MEDIA: Falls Church News-Press"

The phrase "the liberal media" might be a big lie outside of Falls Church. But not inside. Since 1991, publisher Nicholas F. Benton has made sure his Falls Church News-Press has afflicted the comfortable within the wealthy and historically conservative city's borders.
While the rest of the reporting world has been zigging right, Benton has zagged left -- and thrived: He was named 2007's Business Person of the Year by the Falls Church city council.
"One thing I have said, 'It's more important to be right than to be fair'," says Benton.

As is my custom I am posting his latest editorial with his permission.

Robert Reich was a long-time personal friend of the Clintons as well as Labor Secretary during the Clinton Adminsitration. I am posting his remarks on his endorsement of Barack Obama here.

Friday, April 18, 2008
Obama for President

Robert Reich has given us permission to post from his blog. I highly recommend his blog in general, and I thought this post in which he takes on media spin and the elephant no one is looking out--ie the worsening economic melt down that will have us all feeling a lot less happy unlesss the ramifications are addressed quickly.

Obama, Bitterness, Meet the Press, and the Old Politics

posted by permission of Nicholas Benton, owner/editor of the Falls Church News Press.

three distinct phases of Barack Obama’s reaction to the wildly-disseminated YouTube snippets of sermons by his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, took him from the depths to the heights over the last two weeks.

His “three steps to redemption” not only carried this observer’s opinion of Obama from the pits to the pinnacle, but so, I believe, it has done for his presidential aspirations.

Ambition Gone Wild or the New "New World Order"
Poised in the Wings?

Michael Collins
"Scoop" Independent News

Video embed of Obama's speech, via YouTube, added by GreyHawk.

I am sure that the release of Rev. Wright's statements about race and religion were of concern to most American's whether or not they support Barack Obama in his bid for the presidency. The question was on the table--How could Obama have chosen the someone with the Reverend's views to be his pastor and to be a party of his campaign team? Did these revalations disqualify Obama from the presidency?

I think that Obama's reply is an important statement on the question of race and politics in this country as well as an affirmation of his fundamental committment to a better more just society. I am providing a link which gives the pre-released print version of the speech and a video, here.

Full speech, via YouTube, now embedded below.