Even as John McCain tries to convince the media that he no longer wants to discuss the issue of race, his campaign released a new ad today which aims to stir-up ethnic tensions between Latinos and African Americans by reminding viewers of the Black Brown Divide

The new web ad, entitled: "Barack Obama Forgot Latin America", was uploaded to YouTube today. It features exclusively Spanish-language super-titles and a saucy Latin percussion rhythm. It is not directed toward low-information, white voters but to Latin Americans.

See for yourself after the jump.

This is the first diary of a two-part series on John McCain's anti-Obama smear campaign.

This diary begins a discussion of contributions by MSM to the propagation of political propaganda and the injection of its biases into the national political debate.

The latest NBC/WSJ Survey conducted July 18-21, 2008 was published on July 23, 2008.

Following the release of the NBC/WSJ survey, this writer conducted an unscientific survey of MSM including cable news channels like MSNBC, CNN and Fox News and the week ending Sunday news programs to assess their treatment of the survey results. My unscientific survey revealed that nearly all TV news coverage centered only on three survey results and, whether deliberately or not, the media deemphasized or ignored at least 2 critical details of the survey's findings; that Obama retains a 13 percentage point lead over McCain when measured in a 4 way race which includes Ralph Nader and Bob Barr and Obama also leads by 6 percentage points in a 2 way race between himself and John McCain.

This diary began as a response to a comment posted to a really great diary; entitled Barack-Iraq-Gate: Anatomy of a Media Smear by The Jed Report.

Let me begin by stating that I am not an attorney. I don't pretend to be an expert on the law. But I am an avid reader with an analytical mind and a detail oriented approach to problem solving.

There are three reasons why I'm posting this diary. The first is that it was simply becoming too long to be considered a comment. The second is that it pertains to a subject that I and many others are very interested in. Lastly, I'm posting it because I believe and hope it will add yet another perspective to the current political dialogue.

For the sake of honoring the right of privacy of the person to whom I was originally responding I will use a fictitious user name when referencing him or her.  

In recent days, Presumptive Nominee Barack Obama has pivoted his entire campaign into general election mode. He is hiring new staff members, dispatching ground crews to important states, and preparing a television ad campaign to acquaint millions of Americans with his views and biography. By implementing these changes Mr. Obama’s campaign strategy has been effectively transformed into a fine-tuned general election machine.

Here's a summary of the changes to the Obama campaign follows.

This is the first article in a series entitled; "Anatomy of an Anti-Obama  Smear Campaign". The purpose of this series is to explore the history and impact of concerted efforts by Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign staff to impugn the reputation of Senator Barack Obama and generate doubts about his electability by means of smear and whisper campaigns.

The 2008 Democratic presidential campaign began on such an inspiring note. The candidate field as a whole was the best in years, and included Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton who, in particular, were two intelligent, skilled, historic candidates.

UPDATED

Following a successful primary campaign in the South Dakota Democratic Primary, Senator Rodham Clinton delivered a non-concession speech at the Baruch College gym. The Baruch College event was attended by a large crowd of Clinton supporters who were denied access to news of Senator Obama's win of the Democratic nomination because of the abbsence of  TV monitors.

In her speech, Senator Clinton she emphasized that she had won more votes in primaries and caucuses than Obama, and she refused to say she was ending her campaign. She also hailed Senator Barack Obama and his supporters for an extraordinary race but stopped short of recognizing his victory in the race for their party's presidential nomination.

Moreover, Clinton told supporters that she would consult Party leaders in coming days on how to move forward, but that, "I will be making no decisions tonight." She also urged her supporters who chanted, "Denver, Denver, Denver" that they should write-in to her Website and offer suggestions on policy issues she should focus on this fall.

promoted with title editing by DemFromCT

Senator Ted Kennedy will undergo brain surgery this morning at Duke University Medical Center for the treatment of his recently diagnosed brain tumor.

Statement of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy

DURHAM, NC — U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy this morning released the following statement:

"I am deeply grateful to the people of Massachusetts and to my friends, colleagues and so many others across the country and around the world who have expressed their support and good wishes as I tackle this new and unexpected health challenge. I am humbled by the outpouring and am strengthened by your prayers and kindness. Over the past several days, Vicki and I, along with my outstanding team of doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital, have consulted with experts from around the country and have decided that the best course of action for my brain tumor is targeted surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation.

A new Gallup poll indicates that Senator Obama is now competitive among women, whites, and the less educated.

Support among Democratic voters for Sen. Obama has increased from a four-percentage-points lead in early May to a sixteen percentage-point lead, his highest percentage-point lead thus far.

In the period including May 1st -13th Senator Obama led Senator Clinton 49% to 45% in the Democratic Presidential Nomination Preference among Democratic voters and voters leaning Democratic.

In the period including May 16th –May 18th Senator Obama outpaced Senator Clinton by a margin of 55% to 39%.

If there were any remaining doubts about the bias displayed by ABC News' Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos in the now infamous April 16, 2008 Democratic Presidential Campaign debate, they can now be put to rest.

Two days before the Indiana and NC primaries on May 6, 2008, ABC News will air a town hall meeting for presidential candidate; Hillary Rodham Clinton. The program will be hosted by a close associate of Senator Clinton and former top aide to President Bill Clinton, George Stephanopoulos.  

The April 16th Democratic debate was widely criticized and described by many viewers as shoddy and inferior journalism. The first half of program was considered tabloid and tawdry and lacking journalistic merit.

Even though Bill Clinton won four primaries on Tuesday even though many of them concede there is probably no stopping Mr. Clinton now dozens of Democratic senators and representatives remain reluctant to endorse him.

Of 264 Superdelegates in the House and Senate, 93, or 35 percent, have endorsed Mr. Clinton so far, according to a continuing survey by The New York Times. Most are Southern, and most made their statements some time ago. A much larger number remain officially uncommitted.

"The voters haven't embraced Clinton, so I don't see any reason why I should endorse him," Mr. Eckart said. Look at the exit polls. People have terrible doubts about this guy, and we're talking about Democrats."

Ronald H. Brown, the party chairman, has been phoning uncommitted delegates and others... He denied putting pressure on anybody, but others in the party said he was sending a subtle but clear message that it was time to halt the squabbling.

This is not a news article. It is not intended to inform or shape public discourse or political opinion. Heck, I’m not even a professional journalist.

But – and this is a big –BUT- I’m sick and tired of calls by the press, MSM and even some Obama supporters on this site for Obama to further explain his relationship with Rev. Wright.

Barack has already explained his relationship with his former Pastor. Jeremiah Wright is not a politician. He is not Obama’s political mentor. This means that if Obama wins the General Election his decisions will not be influenced by Jeremiah Wright’s input.

On Friday, April 25, 2008 Rev. Dr., Jeremiah Wright, Jr., former Pastor of Presidential candidate, Barack Obama gave his first televised interview, since snippets of his preaching were thrust into the public domain for nefarious reasons by ABC News and Fox News earlier this year.

Dr. Wright was interviewed on PBS by acclaimed journalist Bill Moyer who is also affiliated with the United Church of Christ by way of his membership at Riverside Church (UCC/American Baptist) in New York City.

The interview was excellent and viewers had the opportunity to search beyond the snippets and sound bites to find the person and purpose of Jeremiah Wright and Trinity United Church of Christ.

The Jed Report provides a fuller backstory and explains how this links to Hillary Clinton

This story was written by Ari Berman at The Nation

Republicans are sharpening their knives against Barack Obama. No smear is too insignificant to broadcast. According to Time Magazine's Michael Scherer, Floyd Brown, the creator of the infamous Willie Horton ad--credited with sinking Michael Dukakis's candidacy in 1988--is launching a new ad campaign against Obama.

The ad, set to run in North Carolina, all-but accuses Obama of murder.

An April 19, 2008 news article written by Kenneth P. Vogel of politico.com sufficiently supported the argument that Senator Barack Obama dishonestly claimed that he believes in the Constitutional right to bear arms.  Or did it?

The article; "Obama Linked to Gun Control Efforts" highlights Sen. Obama’s service on the Board of Directors of the Joyce Foundation while arguing against the veracity  of his public positions on the right to bear arms and gun control. The Joyce Foundation, a charitable non-profit organization, located in Chicago, IL awards grants to initiatives that promise to have an influence on public policies.

An important aspect of the Joyce Foundation’s mission is to advance the public debate about important policy issues as well as help policymakers understand how public policies are working and where improvements are needed.  

George Stephanopoulos and Charles Gibson's moderation of Wednesday evening's Democratic Presidential Debate on ABC has been widely criticized for channeling Karl Rove's politics of personal destruction and condemned for propagating the toxicity of right-wing Conservative tactics against Democratic candidates.

However, as Glen Greenwald of Salon.com pointed out, "not everyone was displeased with Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos' conduct of the debate.To the contrary, two constituencies which frequently work in harmony are quite impressed and very pleased with the whole spectacle -- right-wing noise machine members and establishment journalists."

On Friday, April 11, 2008 Mayhill Fowler; a self described "over-educated sixty year-old woman with politics in my blood"  entered a blog on the Huffington post Web site  entitled; Obama: No Surprise That Hard-Pressed Pennsylvanians Turn Bitter." The blog included excerpts of remarks  Senator Barack Obama made during a closed (no press allowed) fundraiser in San Francisco on April 6, 2008.

In reviewing Fowler’s notes, it seems apparent that Sen. Obama was responding to a question posed by someone at the fundraiser about the reluctance of some voters to support his political campaign.

Senator Obama's response and remarks he subsequently made during a campaign rally on April 11, 2008 revealed his desire to avoid oversimplifying the issues underlying voter resistance to his candidacy.  

The Washington Post's In the Loop reports that Mark Penn, former chief campaign strategist for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign was spotted at lunch Wednesday at the pricey D.C. restaurant Il Mulino with none other than President G.W. Bush's longtime aid; Karen P. Hughes, White House counselor and State Department public diplomacy czar.  

According to the report, the Power Luncheon was arranged by mutual friends of Penn and Hughes and characterized as a  "get-to-know-you lunch" while she was in town for a State Department public diplomacy award.

Penn is a long time Clinton campaign strategist and CEO of the DC public relations firm; Burson-Marsteller. He is also the President of the polling firm; Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates.

Thanks for your comments on the poll. I'm unable to amend it because of dailykos rules. Sorry about the confusion.

Jezreel

A much touted rally by supporters of presidential hopeful; Sen. Hillary Clinton was scheduled for today in New York City to protest against what many believe to be sexism by the media and voter suppression in FL and MI.

An ad promoting the rally, located  here, claimed that it was not endorsed by or affiliated with the Hillary Clinton for President 2008 campaign.

In reviewing reader posts here it does not appear that the rally was successful. And it also does not appear to have received much coverage by the media.