The Fact-Checker, by Michael Dobbs

Don't or hasn't lots of politicians had to quit for embellishing. A lie is a lie. So you are saying this is a little lie.Why are Obama's lies little lies and Hillary's are all whoppers?

Also didn't we spend $60 million on an investigation trying to decide what the definition of is, is?

Looks like we should spend more time learning the difference between Professor and professor.

Biden has to quit one campaign because he was accused for plagerism. Obama gets praise as a great orator when he xeroxes(love that word)

OBAMA THE GOD!

You cannot ask Obama to explain anything because he is exempt from all questions, explanations, background, experience, relationships, real estate, religious beliefs, religious relationships, his current/past religion. The lord Obama has risen, please go prone. Let the world stop for a minute's silence. Praise be Obama.

I would like to issue a warning to the Obama supporters, your pure hatred and divisiveness will cost your candidate the election should he win the nomination, first of all you are f following a man that has based his platform on being a uniter, yet you are so vicious, and hate filled in your criticism of Senator Clinton, it's one thing to pitch for your candidate, but it is another thing to just be plane out hateful, many see it and many are turned off by it and if you think that Obama can win the General election on is own without the Clinton Supporters you better think again, do the numbers and that should sober you up from the Kool-Aid that you have been drinking, if Obama supporters are so ready to turn a deaf ear to certain facts about their candidate and put him up on a pedestal as if he is some sort of Messiah, then they will not hold him accountable and that in itself is scary, watch what you say and how you say it because you are consistently alienating the Clinton Supporters and we do have options come November which consist of:
1. Start a write in Campaigned for Hillary
2. Stay at Home
3. Vote for Nader
4. Vote for McCain
All of which will cost your candidate the election, and when this occurs, I hope that you blame yourselves for your despicable behavior. It is evident to me that most of the individuals on this site are young disrespectful people, and if not, that is even more disgraceful, your have dragged Senator Clinton through the mud with you vicious accusations and lies, if your would do your research and look at her record objectively, you would see that the majority of the things that you accuse her of are simply media driven, Republican driven hate mongering. You take this woman who is a champion for children's rights, who was a key player in pushing for the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to protect the rights of women and families, who under the good old boy corporate America would loose their jobs if they had to go out on leave to have their children, or take care of their sick parents, a woman that went to China and stood in front one of the most hateful regimes and spoke out against the injustice and slaughter of thousands of female infants due to their Nazi mentality that one Gender is more worthy to live, a woman that yes sat on the board of Wal-Mart, which your candidate was quick to point out, but never pointed out that she was a throne in their sides because of her constant demand for equal pay and equal rights for women, a woman who started her political Career years ago, sitting on the Nixon impeachment panel and being a part of the American Political system. A woman who is so intelligent, that she could be at any large Corporate Firm making millions, but chose to be a champion for children and all people, a woman who had to publicly endure the type of deception that most women have in their lifetime, but not in the public eye and still was made out to be part of the problem instead of the victim, I guess that mean that every woman who has been cheated on, it is somehow their fault according to her critics, how truly disgusting, you chastise her for staying with her husband, but how many of you have stayed through worst, but no one in the world knows. Have you researched her, have you really taken a truly good look at her policies, as I have your candidate, because as an American you owe it to yourself and your fellow American to give each candidate a good hard look. Be careful what you hope for, because it just may come true, she may lose this thing but if you continue to viciously attack her, your candidate will be the biggest loser come November. A word to the wise.

OBAMA THE GOD!

You cannot ask Obama to explain anything because he is exempt from all questions, explanations, background, experience, relationships, real estate, religious beliefs, religious relationships, his current/past religion. The lord Obama has risen, please go prone. Let the world stop for a minute's silence. Praise be Obama.

I would like to issue a warning to the Obama supporters, your pure hatred and divisiveness will cost your candidate the election should he win the nomination, first of all you are f following a man that has based his platform on being a uniter, yet you are so vicious, and hate filled in your criticism of Senator Clinton, it's one thing to pitch for your candidate, but it is another thing to just be plane out hateful, many see it and many are turned off by it and if you think that Obama can win the General election on is own without the Clinton Supporters you better think again, do the numbers and that should sober you up from the Kool-Aid that you have been drinking, if Obama supporters are so ready to turn a deaf ear to certain facts about their candidate and put him up on a pedestal as if he is some sort of Messiah, then they will not hold him accountable and that in itself is scary, watch what you say and how you say it because you are consistently alienating the Clinton Supporters and we do have options come November which consist of:
1. Start a write in Campaigned for Hillary
2. Stay at Home
3. Vote for Nader
4. Vote for McCain
All of which will cost your candidate the election, and when this occurs, I hope that you blame yourselves for your despicable behavior. It is evident to me that most of the individuals on this site are young disrespectful people, and if not, that is even more disgraceful, your have dragged Senator Clinton through the mud with you vicious accusations and lies, if your would do your research and look at her record objectively, you would see that the majority of the things that you accuse her of are simply media driven, Republican driven hate mongering. You take this woman who is a champion for children's rights, who was a key player in pushing for the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to protect the rights of women and families, who under the good old boy corporate America would loose their jobs if they had to go out on leave to have their children, or take care of their sick parents, a woman that went to China and stood in front one of the most hateful regimes and spoke out against the injustice and slaughter of thousands of female infants due to their Nazi mentality that one Gender is more worthy to live, a woman that yes sat on the board of Wal-Mart, which your candidate was quick to point out, but never pointed out that she was a throne in their sides because of her constant demand for equal pay and equal rights for women, a woman who started her political Career years ago, sitting on the Nixon impeachment panel and being a part of the American Political system. A woman who is so intelligent, that she could be at any large Corporate Firm making millions, but chose to be a champion for children and all people, a woman who had to publicly endure the type of deception that most women have in their lifetime, but not in the public eye and still was made out to be part of the problem instead of the victim, I guess that mean that every woman who has been cheated on, it is somehow their fault according to her critics, how truly disgusting, you chastise her for staying with her husband, but how many of you have stayed through worst, but no one in the world knows. Have you researched her, have you really taken a truly good look at her policies, as I have your candidate, because as an American you owe it to yourself and your fellow American to give each candidate a good hard look. Be careful what you hope for, because it just may come true, she may lose this thing but if you continue to viciously attack her, your candidate will be the biggest loser come November. A word to the wise.

All these polls seem pretty meaningless. Chris Matthews was giving Hillary's obituary before New Hampshire voting even took place. There is something I find puzzling about Obama and FOX is probably the only network that will cover it. Obama votes present on 130 controversial votes, and he votes and says he made a mistake, but when it came to voting on allowing a doctor in the delivery room for partial birth abortions to treat the infant if it was born alive, he VOTED AGAINST ALLOWING A DOCTOR TO TREAT THE INFANT! For a man that's so wishy washy and flip floppy on his voting record, that is a pretty strong liberal vote. A disgusting one, but it shows his true colors. Pregnancy is punishment after all.

Obama always tells little lies, in your opinion, and Hillary always tells whoppers.

Didn't we spend $60 million investigating what is is and what sex is.

Looks like we could look at the difference between Professor and professor a little closer. I'm not recommending $60 million.

Didn't Joe Biden get forced out of an earlier campaign for xeroxing. Ole Obama got praised as a great orator for xeroxing.
Sounds like a double standard to me.

I would still like Mr. Fact Checher to check the little lies Obama told in his interviews before his speech, lies in his speech, and lies he told in his post interviews about when, where, and how he heard about his pastor comments.

On a lighter note, I still chuckle over a story that the late, great comedian Dennis Wolfberg like to tell. He taught English at a high school and was perturbed that in this informal, familiar, and sometimes class-less era, that his students would refer to him as Dennis or Denny. Finally, in response to one of his students who was one of the worst culprits in this regard, he exclaimed: "That's Mr. Wolfberg, to you!" The lad sputtered in reply, "I didn't know that you were married."

The blog is correct. In this instance the two titles reflect a distinction without a difference. If, on the other hand, Obama were to use the title of professor, say, after his signature on a letter, he would be overstepping.

Richard Cross
Professor of English
University of Maryland

On a lighter note, I still chuckle over a story that the late, great comedian Dennis Wolfberg like to tell. He taught English at a high school and was perturbed that in this informal, familiar, and sometimes class-less era, that his students would refer to him as Dennis or Denny. Finally, in response to one of his students who was one of the worst culprits in this regard, he exclaimed: "That's Mr. Wolfberg, to you!" The lad sputtered in reply, "I didn't know that you were married."

The blog is correct. In this instance the two titles reflect a distinction without a difference. If, on the other hand, Obama were to use the title of professor, say, after his signature on a letter, that would be Pinocchio in the other direction.

Richard Cross
Professor of English
University of Maryland

So, Professor Cross, you are saying that a signature on a LETTER is more important than lying to the American people?

Obama reported that he was a professor, and that's a lie.
just like he lied about being poor, lied about being raised by a single mom, lied about his grandmother being prejudice,lied about Rezko, lied about Wright.

he's a professional liar.

we all know this is the Obama is GOD column, but really, get over it.

Statement: Obama wasn't a law professor.

Fact: Obama WAS a law professor.

And only one Pinocchio? How much clearer does a Clinton campaign lie get than this one?

Come on. This whole "issue" is TOTAL BUNK! The UofC Law School has confirmed Obama is / was a professor.

Read, learn, live:
http://www.law.uchicago.edu/media/index.html

"From 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Barack Obama served as a PROFESSOR in the Law School."

Duh!

Case CLOSED!

The kitchen sink is worn mighty thin no?

1 Pinocchio is generous IMHO.

This deserves zero! University of Chicago press release said Obama was a professor, albeit not tenured. Taught 3 classes a year for 3 years straight (plus 3 years when he had adjunct status). How about at least printing the full response from University of Chicago? It's not like he gave a lecture or two - he taught classes for 3 years for Pete's sake. Is there anyone in the world who wouldn't consider that a 'professor.'!? The key point is that he understands the Constitution in detail, which is far better than any of the morons running our country right now.

Wow the Hillary supporters are really grasping at staws here. You should really drop it, it makes the Hillary campaign look petty and mean-spirited.

RE: Singer "Are we really making a mountain out of a mole hill? If so, why did Obama change his website to reflect his actual title?..."

Please. This is retarded.

Here's why he changed his website: Because he wants to be 100% accurate and isn't seeking to intentionally mislead people.

AND

Because no matter how silly or petty or inaccurate HRC's attacks are, they have an impact.

Remember how a significant of HRC's supporters believe Obama is a Muslim? Yeah, that's an example.

Does it matter that he actually isn't a Muslim? Does it matter that if he was a Muslim, it shouldn't matter (since when is it ok to discriminate based on religion)?

So congrats. You've got this whole "Politics" thing pretty wired team HRC.

But is this helping?

The large 'P', small 'p' distinction is a real one-- as the Fact Checker found for himself, anyone who teaches at a college or university is often called 'professor' even if that's not his or her title. The University of Chicago itself referred to Obama as 'professor.'

This is a silly dispute. And I write this as a tenured professor, myself, teaching political science at Cornell.

The University of Chicago alreadly issued a statement affirming Obama's title as Sr. Lecturer and Obama's status as professor. In fact, the University of Chicago offered him a position to become a tenured or full-time professor, but he declined.

So I don't see how a Pinnochio test is even warranted. At best he would have half a Pinnochio.

It is easy to see the jealousy and dare I say it, hate, in some of the responses of the Obama-haters.

Do you have a site where you total up the Pinocchios given to each candidate and what the cause was?

AJ:

I don't "hate" Barack HUSSEIN Obama.

BTW: I doubt that his spokesman PHIL Singer e-mailed that "UPDATE" above ; )

FactChecker is on Clinton payroll:

How does that explain the MULTIPLE threads (and maximum number of Pinocchios) on her Bosnia trip?

Anyone else:

Is there an April Fools' Day joke going on at the main thread (I can't access the comments)?

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/03/31/mccain_derides_obamas_national.html#comments

To "The Truth" and "Mike":

You've got it exactly. I worried for half a second when I heard about this Clinton-fabricated lie, but forgot completely about it when I read what UChicago Law School had to say about it. They should have the last word: it is, after all, their school and their faculty.

However, Singer and co. are definitely changing something about this campaign, for me at least. I used to say that I was for Obama but would be happy (more or less) if Clinton won the nomination. In the last several weeks that has changed for me. I am still for Obama, but would not vote at all if Hillary becomes my party's nominee. She and Bill and especially Chelsea exhibit an arrogance and disdain for, and dismiss out of hand, any thought or idea that differs from their own. Don't we already have a president like that?

Jake D:

Can't you find some other blog in which to exhibit your profound intelligence? Or do you frequent them all? I'm quite sure your depth of understanding would be put to better use somewhere else.

The Truth:

Would it matter to you if Obama were lying about not being Muslim?

janedoe:

No, to both questions.

First of all, the one Pinocchio is for Phil Singer, who works for Hillary Clinton.

Secondly, the University of Chicago Law School released this statement regarding this:

"The Law School has received many media requests about Barack Obama, especially about his status as "Senior Lecturer."

From 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Barack Obama served as a professor in the Law School. He was a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996. He was a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004, during which time he taught three courses per year. Senior Lecturers are considered to be members of the Law School faculty and are regarded as professors, although not full-time or tenure-track. The title of Senior Lecturer is distinct from the title of Lecturer, which signifies adjunct status. Like Obama, each of the Law School's Senior Lecturers has high-demand careers in politics or public service, which prevent full-time teaching. Several times during his 12 years as a professor in the Law School, Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time tenure-track position, but he declined."

Obama was considered a professor by the University, and was offered a tenure-track professorship several times over the 12 years he spent teaching there.

All the trolling and ranting in the world won't change these facts a bit.

If anything, I think the "Fact-Checker" is going very easy on Phil Singer by issuing only one Pinocchio, probably because his job in the Clinton campaign is to "spin" anything he can to damage Obama and/or help Clinton.

JakeD:

I think Professor Cross' point was that if Obama had given himself the title of "Professor", then that would have been a lie. But all of our "Lecturers" are addressed as "professor" by the students.

I agree with mike that this is all very silly. If you teach in a university/college setting, who cares what label you're given? I certainly don't -- most times I'm addressed as "Dr." and not "Professor" anyways. The real distinction is having tenure (or being on the tenure track) or not.

Obviously, pagun, some of us think there's a difference between tenured professors and "Senior Lecturer" -- you, not so much -- I also think that Barack HUSSEIN Obama should get Pinnochios on this one, not Phil Singer.

Notwithstanding my forty plus years in the professorate,I regret the slime which the Clinton campaign insists on presenting as evidence. bruf

mnteng:

He (and his campaign) HAS referred to himself as "Professor" -- from Phil Singer above: "Senator Obama has often referred to himself as 'a constitutional law professor' out on the campaign trail." I think that's the rub.

Chalk up another Pinnochio for the Clinton campaign. Jeez, the sad thing is she doesn't need to engage in this kind of crap. I voted for her in 2000 because I thought she had what it takes to be a senator, and I found her a viable candidate for president based on her actual (not imaginary or trumped-up) experience. She didn't need to make up stuff about her own experience any more than she needed to attack Obama on false premises.

I'm kind of frustrated, because even a couple of months ago I was happy that the Democratic party had two excellent frontrunners, and now Clinton seems determined to drag it down into the mud.

The entire thread above asks the question: "But was Obama out of line when he called himself a "law professor"? You really need me to look for the exact speech / book that Obama made that claim himself?

You always seem ready to excuse Obama's exaggerations. Giving yourself the title, "constitutional law professor" when you've been a lecturer is a significant exaggeration. It is far different from being referred to as "professor" by students.
Obama's "overstating" the Kennedy family's role in the program that brought his father to study in the US was an outright lie. Surely Obama knew his father came the year before the Kennedy family became involved in the program. You didn't even give that falsehood a rating.
When it comes to Hillary Clinton, though, her exaggerations are blown up out of proportion. Today's New York Times has an op-ed explaining that what Clinton said about her Bosnia trip was based on the truth.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/opinion/01muscatine.html?ref=opinion
Clinton's exaggeration wasn't as bad as you made it to be. It was always obvious that Clinton was told precautions were being taken because of the possibility of sniper fire.
You evidently base your judgments of the two candidates on different standards.

Good points, Carol.

The obvious response to JakeD's silly argument here:

"He (and his campaign) HAS referred to himself as "Professor" -- from Phil Singer above: "Senator Obama has often referred to himself as 'a constitutional law professor' out on the campaign trail." I think that's the rub."

The actual rub is this: SO HAS THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO LAW SCHOOL. One would think that a Stanford Law grad like JakeD wouldn't have missed that point. ;-)

"The University of Chicago says that Obama "served as a professor in the Law School." "

mnteng:

Here's the quote: "Alongside my own deep personal faith, I am a follower, as well, of our civic religion," he says. "I am a big believer in the separation of church and state. I am a big believer in our constitutional structure. I mean, I'm a law professor at the University of Chicago teaching constitutional law.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/falsani/726619,obamafalsani040504.article

of course:

Again, some of us think there's a difference between tenured professors and "Senior Lecturer" -- you, and pagun, not so much -- I got that.

So, mnteng, if Obama had given himself the title of "Professor", then that would have been a lie, right?

"Senior Lecturer" Is a University of Chicago title which is meaningless anywhere else. The University regards it as equivalent to a professor (although part-time and non-tenurred).
The Clintonians chalenged it, and Obama switched to using the technically-correct but meaningless term. He wants to stay on the issues rather than quibbling about words.
Hillary supporters want to make this the equivalent of her lying about her stance on NAFTA and being under sniper fire. It's not.

Both were lies, Frank Palmer (and I am not a Clinton suppoerter ; )

The only difference, of course, is that when Hillary lies, she gets Pinnochios -- there were MULTIPLE threads on the Bosnia lies -- when Obama lies, she gets Pinnochios too.

I'm beginning to think that SNL skit was pretty close to the mark.

Let's turn it around: What if Obama denied that he had ever been a professor? Wouldn't he be excoriated for hiding the truth that he had taught in a law school for a number of years? If you asked him the question, yes or no, "Have you ever been a professor", which would be the more honest answer, yes or no?

There is no doubt that most people would feel that "yes" is the much more honest and accurate answer.

Clinton's people deserve more than a single P on this one. They deserve an additional "P" for "petty".

Duh.

If you teach in a college or university, you are referred to as a Professor. Period. Now, based on recent behavior, I'm not surprised the Clinton camp tried to spin this as some sort of embellishment, but I'm really surprised that once they were caught, they STILL keep pushing it. Didn't they learn from the Bosnia thing? The way in which they can never admit they were wrong or apologize reminds me of a certain sitting president. Even Hillary supporters are beginning to defect over these nonsensical but calculated attempts to inject distractions into this campaign.

Nonetheless, I'm glad the Fact Checker is also giving out pinocchios to the people who falsely accuse others of lying.

One of those SNL skits mocked a CNN debate with cast members parodying three reporters asked Clinton absurdly difficult questions while fawning over Obama.

"Like nearly everyone in the news media, the three of us are totally in the tank for Senator Obama," said a faux Campbell Brown, introducing the debate.

"I myself have been clinically diagnosed as an Obamaniac while my associate John King just last week suffered his third Barack attack," she added.

Later, a cast member playing Univision anchor Jorge Ramos asked Obama, "Are you mad at me?" When Obama answered in the negative, Ramos said he was relieved because "all the shilling for you in my campaign coverage has been so obvious and because I spend every night sitting in front of your house in a parked car."

The sketch also featured a question from "an ordinary citizen chosen completely at random from the audience." The questioner turned out to be a lip-synched Obama Girl singing "I've Got a Crush on Obama." When Hillary pointed out that was not a question, Campbell Brown slapped her down.

As someone who teaches at the University of Chicago and does not have an axe to grind (I cannot even vote, as I am not yet a citizen of the US), I can vouch for the veracity of this blog. It is simply not true that only tenured professors have the right to be called professors. I am an Associate Professor, without tenure (but on tenure track), and am perfectly entitled to call myself a professor. However, I cannot call myself a Professor, which is a title that comes with tenure. JakeD cites Obama's statement - "I'm a law professor at the University of Chicago teaching constitutional law". This is a valid statement. If Obama had said that he is a Professor of Law, he would be guilty of embellishment. Small distinction, but important.

Another SNL skit had (Darrell Hammond?) Tim Russert asking Hillary all the tough questions first, telling her she was wrong and then giving the correct answer. Russert would then say: "Senator Obama, same question?" I forget which actor was playing Brian Williams, but at the end of the skit, he declares Obama the winner.

Funny stuff -- almost as good as The Colbert Report.

Jake D: Dude. You've posted 15 times already.

We get it. You are really worked up about this non-issue. Get over it. He's a professor. Accept it and move on.

Oh and nice trick using Obama's middle name in all caps. Very clever. What are you trying to imply? That you are a bigot?

You've got me convinced.

Oh, please, surpass! The University of Chicago has every reason to cover for him -- even if it is true that no one from the campaign was in contact with them regarding that statement -- I suppose you think it's O.K. if a non-lawyer calls himself an "attorney" just not an "Attorney at Law" too? Thank God you can't vote!

JakeD - is fourteen, cut him some slack.

The Truth:

I am trying to imply that his middle name means "blessed". Now, can you answer my question to you: "Would it matter to you if Obama were lying about not being Muslim?"

J_thinks:

I'm actually 76 years old. How old are you?

I find it amusing that certain posters would attempt to justify the idea that Hillary Clinton's "sniper fire" account is the same as Barack Obama's claim to being a constitutional law professor at the University of Chicago.

The only similarity is that both repeated their positions several times publicly.

There are numerous differences, however.

(1) Sen. Clinton vividly described a corkscrew landing, being in the immediate presence of sniper fire, a cancelled welcoming ceremony on the tarmac and running to an armored vehicle.

The pilot of her plane flatly contradicted the account of the landing, saying that the only reason it was steep at all was due to hilly terrain, NOT snipers. The CBS News video (not to mention numerous on-site accounts) flatly contradicted the rest of Sen. Clinton's recollection.

Sen. Obama described himself as a constitutional law professor. His actual title was Senior Lecturer (notice the capitalization).

The University of Chicago Law School says that they distinguish between the titles of "Lecturer" and "Senior Lecturer". The school goes further to say that Senior Lecturers are treated as non-tenure-track professors.

So, since the insititution at which he taught says that he's at least semantically correct, I'm confused as to how this is an issue.

I agree with Fact Checker's analysis on both statements. Clinton's Bosnia fabrication is a flat-out lie, that she not only repeated, but enhanced as time went on. Hers is made worse by the fact that she's repeatedly used the Bosnia trip as a cornerstone of her foreign policy "experience". Obama can't get the Geppetto check mark, but his claim is at worst a one-Pinocchio statement.

Obama's black - he'll never be pres.

JakeD:

If Obama had said he was a Professor of Constitutional Law, then that's a lie. Calling himself "a constitutional law professor", not a lie. Semantics, maybe, but an important distinction in academia.

Don't lecture me on the difference between tenured professors and senior lecturers. I'm a tenure-track assistant professor. I don't co around prefacing my "title" as an untenured assistant professor. I'm a professor, when I care enough to make that known. But when I go to teach, there's no distinction in my academic standing from that of one of our tenured professors or our senior lecturers.

Zzzzz..... *koff*, eh?

Oh, sorry, dozed off. Were we talking about something important?

No? Man, some people just have way too much time on their hands.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

Happy April Fool's Day!

I'll answer the Muslim question, JakeD.

Yes, it would matter - NOT because, in that hypothetical, he's Muslim, but rather because he felt the need to lie about it.

This is, in fact, much the same reason why Hillary Clinton's Bosnia lies matter. Except, in her case, this particular lie not only goes straight to the heart of her "35 years of experience" argument, it also brings up some ugly reminders of the Clintons' "difficult relationship with the truth" (Carl Bernstein).

That relationship includes her self-inflation of her involvement with the Belfast agreement, her involvement with opening the Macedonian borders, her criticism of NAFTA, and her role with SCHIP and FMLA.

The sad part of this is, she didn't have to conflate ANY of these experiences. She could have told the complete truth and still painted herself as "more experienced" without calling attention to her baggage. Now, she's crapped all over any credibility she had on those issues.

By the way, can you be honest enough to admit that your emphasizing Obama's middle name had NOTHING to do with the meaning of the name "Hussein"?

BMR:

I noticed the "capitalization" in the newspaper article too -- how do you think Obama signifies said "capitalization" during his speeches -- you think he holds up two fingers on both hands, winks, and makes the international "quotation mark" sign?

mnteng:

I am certainly not lecturing you, as I simply quoted you and asked some questions. Here's another question: Do you think it's O.K. if a non-lawyer calls himself an "attorney" and only crosses the line if he capitalizes it as "Attorney at Law"?

Actually, this is a grievous mis-statement by Senator Obama. It probably ranks right up there with Hillary's little lies such as:

"This is the woman who insisted for more than a decade that she was named after the late, great mountain-climber Sir Edmund Hillary -- never mind that she was born six years before he scaled Mt. Everest in 1953." or

"This is the woman who told "Dateline NBC" that daughter Chelsea was on a jog in New York City when the jihadists struck on Sept. 11, 2001 -- never mind that Chelsea later wrote a magazine essay revealing that she watched the attacks on television from a friend's apartment."

I think if Mr. Singer has time to spend on this, then he is clearly getting paid too much. I can see now why Team Hillary is in serious trouble.

I have to agree that the Clinton campaign is picking the flycrap out of the pepper on this one.

It's not like there aren't legitimate concerns about Mr. Obama's background, experience, political views, associates, etc. to focus on.

Seems pretty desperate.

P.S. thanks for answering that question -- our posts crossed in the night -- to answer your latest question: I am being honest.

rvloser and jblog:

It certainly is not as significant as when Obama admitted he didn't know how he would have voted on Iraq had he been a Senator at the time. Even the Great Pyramids were built one brick at a time though.

jakeD,

mnteng has it absolutely right. Your distinction between a non-lawyer and an attorney is specious. Obama has exactly the same qualifications as any tenured professor - he has a law degree and in fact graduated magna cum laude from Harvard. That was enough to get him a tenure track position at any law school, if he so chose.
I will not respond to your ad hominem attack on my ability to vote. Unlike you, I have no inclination or desire to engage in vituperative talk. Let me just say that when I do get a chance to vote, I will do so without consulting you.

JakeD: The question of capitalization during a speech is "a wee bit silly", to quote Lord Trimble on Clinton's claims to have "helped bring peace to Northern Ireland.

Academically, this is a non-issue - and if this is all Phil Singer has to do, I would suggest the Sen. Clinton pink-slip him and save the wasted salary for more ad buys.

I have to agree that the Clinton campaign is picking the flycrap out of the pepper on this one.

It's not like there aren't legitimate concerns about Mr. Obama's background, experience, political views, associates, etc. to focus on.

Seems pretty desperate.

mnteng (April 1, 2008 11:55 AM):

"I think Professor Cross' point was that if Obama had given himself the title of 'Professor', then that would have been a lie ... The real distinction is having tenure (or being on the tenure track) or not."

Your words, not mine.

surpass:

I made no "ad hominem attack" on your ability to vote -- but here in America, we pray to the One True God and thank Him for everything, big and small -- BTW: I also agree that mnteng had it absolutely right (in the FIRST post, above, see excerpt).

Who cares if husienn is a professor. Being a professor of anything does not make him any better than anyone else.I doubt he is qualified to teach law any way, because he doesn't comply with laws unless it serves his purpose. The rest of the time he talks in riddles, which no one knows what he is talking about but him.The Mesia has come, but he is in the costume of the Devil.

elmerick:

I don't care if he was a Professor or just professor -- it's just one more lie he's been caught in -- they all add up.

JakeD,
I don't get it. Where's the lie? Did he state that he was a Professor, or that he taught and was thus, a professor?

Clintons logic split hairs about the formal academic definition of professor as the fact checker notes
"The University of Chicago says that Obama "served as a professor in the Law School." "

From the crew that had no problem with Hillary Bosnia adventure.

I think most are tired of this kind of petty attack.As they are the Bush- Clinton -Rove style of politics.

BMR, the Pinocchio is for Singer and the Clinton campaign, not for Obama. Just clarifying.

cjohnson:

Per the linked article, above, he indeed stated: "... I'm a law PROFESSOR at the University of Chicago teaching constitutional law." (Emphasis Added)

As for other Obama lies, start here:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/03/obamas_camelot_connection.html

Also, try "flip-flops" here:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/02/dem_flipflops.html

Vince:

I will agree it is not Obama's most significant "lie" but Rome was not built in a day either. We are slowly meaning the Case Against Obama for November 4th.

B.S. Part-time instructors are NOT referred to as professors. Some students might call them that, but the field and the profession do NOT consider part-time Adjunct faculty to be PROFESSORS.

That honorific is reserved for tenured, and tenure-track full-time faculty. And everyone in academia knows. it.

It was a bald-faced resume enhancement. Just part of a pattern.

meaning = mounting

JakeD:

The distinction between tenure/tenure-track and non-tenure track, which I was referring to, is the stability of your job. Once you have tenure, it's hard to get fired. Otherwise, you can be terminated relatively easily. It has nothing to do with whether you are a professor or not.

Your example of a non-lawyer calling himself an "attorney" does not parallel Obama's "professor". If I called myself an "attorney", that would be a lie because I have none of the qualifications for being an attorney (graduate law school, pass the bar, etc.). But if I had all the qualifications and performed "attorney-like" functions without being part of a practice, then I wouldn't have a problem calling myself an "attorney". I don't know the distinction between that and an "Attorney at Law" though.

JakeD,
Sounds like you're intentionally trying to antagonize Obama supporters. You're not suggesting that lies and flip-flops don't abound from both Clinton and Obama, are you? Seems like the biggest gaffe so far was Clinton's Bosnia mis-remembering (thanks Rocket). As for this professor argument, it's weak. The University said he was a professor, which supports his usage of the term. By the way, since you're not a Clinton supporter (I think you wrote that above). How are you not all over her Bosnia problems?

Instructor not Professor:

It seems as if Dobbs (temporary "professor of journalism"), Cross (Professor of English, no less), mike (tenured professor teaching political science at Cornell), Bruce Fetter (with forty plus years in the professorate), and mnteng (assistant tenure-track assistant professor) disagree with us ...

chjohnson:

I am not suggesting that Hillary DIANE Clinton is as pure as the driven snow -- that link to flip flops includes her's as well -- at least you "get it" now, right?

mnteng:

Depending on the jurisdiction you live in, calling yourself an attorney or Attorney at Law (no distinction -- I just capitalized it to make my point above) to commit fraud or actually practice law WITHOUT A LICENSE can indeed get you jail time.

I read in Slate and elsewhere that Obama's father was actually born and raised in San Francisco?

What about that? Is that fact or fiction? Why did slate print it if it's not true? If it is true, why hasn't there been more about it?

That certainly seems worthy of a Fact-Check inquiry.

You people are nuts -- go back and read the last 50-60 posts on this thread.... What a waste of time.

For Gods sake -- get a life.

And, Jake... if you are really 76 years old --

which I doubt --

Your life is almost finished --

Why don't you go out and do something kind for someone else rather than passing on to the rest of us the evidence that you are a miserable old fossil with some sort of unfilled psychological Ebenezer Scrooge thing going on.

You really must be lonely -- 76 years old and all you have left is to spew venom out at the world through these useless little blogs.

Go outside -- get some sun -- take a walk talk to some kids...smile...

Life is too short, Jake, for all the vile nonsense you try to imagine is a contribution to an intellectual discourse.

GandalftheGrey:

"Venom" and "vile nonsense"? Let me guess: "HUSSEIN"?

My husband has often taught at many colleges and universities to supplement our income. His degree is MSEE (Masters in Electrical Engineering) he also has his PE (engineering equivalent to JD).

When he teaches, he is referred to as prof but when I tell our children that their dad is a professor, he gets embarrassed and replies,"That is what they call me but I am really an adjunct. I would have to receive my PhD. and tenure to be a professor. It is just an honorary title."

I guess that is the difference between an honest, humble man and an arrogant one.

I have become a FOX News watcher because they are the only station not willing to annoint Obama king.

I hope that Hillary stays the course because I am sure that, although you will be the last to know, the American people won't stand for another 4-8 years of arrogance and disdain.

Why don't you refer to the fact that Obama had to hire someone to teach him how to behave less arrogant in order to win a Senate seat? He was taught to BEHAVE less arrogant, that didn't change his arrogance, just shrouded it.

GandalftheGrey: JakeD has no life other than pushing McCain.

This topic never even rose to a level worthy of discussion. He was a professor. He taught three classes a week.

The motives of anyone stating that they actually believe otherwise are clear.

That's right, CDC -- not sure why my motives are relevant -- we never caught Obama at this particular lie until recently.

JakeD:

So, if you have all the qualifications of being an attorney, including licensure, you can call yourself an attorney and it would not be a lie even if you aren't associated with a law practice? You've said before that you're retired, but you should still have all the qualifications, right? Would you call yourself an attorney (if you have a license)?

I guess the "motives" of anyone stating that they actually believe his middle name is not HUSSEIN are "clear" as well?

mnteng:

Are you asking about a sole practitioner? Even if sole practitioners are not associated with other attorneys in a formal "law practice", they can practice law, hold themselves out as attorneys, etc. I am retired (my license is not current, however, and I don't practice law any more, but my technical status with the State Bar is "inactive, but is eligible to become active" -- if I paid my bar dues today, I could practice law again -- why do that when I'm having so much fun here for free?). Without the current license, I would not call myself a attorney.

"Inactive members have chosen this status voluntarily and may transfer to active at any time upon request."

http://www.calbar.ca.gov/state/calbar/calbar_generic.jsp?cid=12532&id=6962

JakeD:

OK. So, given that professors (or Professors) don't have to have a license to teach, the University of Chicago deemed that Obama was qualified to "serve as a professor" in the U of C Law School, though in an adjunct (or "sole practitioner") capacity. In what way does that not make him a law professor?

I've got office hours now, but I'll check back later.

Okay - Jake -- after that explanation about being a "recovering" attorney - I do believe that you ARE likely 76 years-old.

Now -- someone else posted that you are a McCain guy (although I would have guessed Ron Paul) so instead of ranting about what's wrong with Obama -- why not take a shot at telling us what is right (no pun intended) about McCain.

Do you have an opinion about McCain?

In the way that Abby and "Instructor not Professor" pointed out above -- bottom line, no tenure.

P.S. to GandalftheGrey -- I would be happy to give you my opinions on John SIDNEY McCain: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/04/01/mccains_unruly_passions_1.html#comments

The only party who can affirm Obama's claim that his position was as a professor in all substantial aspects of the job he had at the University of Chicaco, is not surprisingly the University itself, and they have indeed come out to verify Obama's claim 100 % recently. That should be the end of the affair.

And, Jake -- you are wrong about the distinction between Senior Lecturer and identifying oneself as a law professor.

In fact, like most of the Ph.D.'s (or those holding a terminal degree - i.e., JD, MD, MFA, etc) posting herein - I can tell you that the authority on the subject is the institution who bestows the title and/or the position.

Obama represented himself as holding a position. To my knowledge he NEVER referred to himself as Professor of Law.

He was Senior Lecturer of Law who was a law professor.

If you had ever labored in the halls of academe as some of us may have done for a lifetime, you would know the difference -- the term is not a legal one but rather a means of identifying what one has done to earn(?) compensation within the misty realm of a profession - so called.

In my case, the term "emeritus" applies.

That term cannot be self-proclaimed if official - but must be awarded by the institution in which it might still matter. And, it carries with it certain rights, privileges and responsibilities.

In my case, free parking - not an inconsequential asset on a University campus.

As to the term "profesor" -- it applies to anyone who professes -- it is not a title but a job description.

The "Fact Checker" in this paper does not have his/her facts straight. Big surprise.

By the way, I certainly do not believe that Hillary Clinton is qualfied to accuse Obama of distorting facts regarding his credentials in any way, because many billions in the world now know, that is exactly what she does best herself. She should really look at her own self before finger-pointing at a speck of dust on Obama's collar.

Abby, just wanted to point out that your husband's situation is not the same. In disciplines other than law, professors usually tend to have PhDs. That's not true of the law. The only degree you need to be a tenure-track professor at a law school is a JD. In your husband's field, he is not academically-credentialed to be a professor. Obama is credentialed to be a tenure-track professor.

Also, just to be clear, Obama was not an adjunct. As a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, I am very familiar with what the titles mean. An adjunct or a lecturer is not the same thing as a senior lecturer or tenure-track professor. Adjuncts and lecturers do not teach the same types of courses or have the same responsibilities to the law school that senior lecturers and tenure-track professors do/have. The only distinction between senior lecturer and tenure-track professor is that, in order to be the latter, you have to dedicate a significant portion of your career to researching and writing academic articles. Senior lecturers teach the same courses as tenure-track professors and have the same responsibilities to the school and the student body but do not have the research and writing requirements.

Senator Obama taught courses at the law school that a tenure-track professor would teach (when I was there, it was one of the constitutional law courses and a course on voting rights). Other similarly titled (senior lecturer) professors were Judges Posner, Wood, and Easterbrook. Like Senator Obama, those three had activities outside the law school that at least nominally prevented them from engaging in the kind of research and writing required to be a tenure-track professor (I say "nominally" because, in practice, Posner is quite prolific). And, like with Senator Obama, it would be perfectly legitimate for them to refer to themselves as professors.

For those who have decided to dislike Obama no matter what, I doubt that this will change your opinion. I just hate it when people keep throwing around so much misinformation.

So, if I can find even ONE instance of Obama saying / writing "as a Professor of Constitutional Law ..." then you will finally agree with me? What's more interesting is that if I claim to be a (lowercase) "professor" that's fine with you, even though I've never taught anything at college, simply because I profess, in general? I mean, just above, I professed my willingness to discuss McCain. Very interesting. I thought the Clinton supporters were twisting themselves re: "under sniper fire" -- they've got nothing on you -- either candidate is back to what the meaning of "is" is.

First off, there is more than one way to skin a cat, urrrm, professor. Many universities have research faculty. In some places, that's called a research professor and the title is used appropriately. Furthermore, faculty members at colleges without graduate programs are still called professors, even though they're often not engaged in research and have nearly the same duties lecturers have at universities.

Please note. It's not being TENURED that's important. It's TENURE TRACK. An assistant professor is still called professor, but isn't tenured.

Teaching at a university does not make you a professor. Talk to any random grad students teaching discussion sections. I lectured my own courses as a post-doc, but did not consider or call myself a professor.

Where it gets really interesting is when you start going transnational. In the U.K., lecturers are the equivalent of assistant professors here. The path there is lecturer, senior lecturer, reader, professor. A department will typically only have a few professors and it's a mark of distinction. They also don't have tenure. Thus, an English lecturer can be the equivalent of a tenured U.S. professor even though he or she is neither a professor nor tenured.

This is actually a murky area and making definite claims about character is foolish. Singer deserves his pinnochio. He's stretching a short-hand description into telling tall tales.

BB

Hey, Jake, I've just noticed you started referring to Hillary as H DIANE Clinton. Ah, a silly consistency is the hobgoblin of a small mind.

BB

BB:

I "started" when I started referring to ALL the candidates by their full, given names.

The last thing I want to be accused of is playing favorites (see SNL skits, above ; )

OMG - One for this one - yes it is not that important but most of your crap is not - see Bosnia.

I am a random grad student - Calling yourself Prof if you are not one is just not done these days. We live in these days!

If you are adjunct then you say that because you are not on the 'Staff' that gets to vote on important decision (like being a Partner in the Law firm sort of). Go look at book covers and this distinction is always made. It is not the rank so much - it is if you are part of the 'Department' that makes hires ect. Research, adjunct, lecturer do not do these things - that is a distinction in the University World.

"Sen. Obama has often referred to himself as 'a constitutional law professor' out on the campaign trail. He never held any such title. And I think anyone, if you ask anyone in academia the distinction between a professor who has tenure and an instructor that does not...you'll get quite an emotional response."
--Clinton spokesman Phil Singer.

Phil Singer is a hack. His own statement shows his foolishness. Singer doesn't claim that Obama referred to himself as tenured law professor. His argument is so much hot air. Sadly this is becoming the norm for the Clinton campaign.

"Adjuncts and lecturers do not teach the same types of courses or have the same responsibilities to the law school that senior lecturers and tenure-track professors do/have. The only distinction between senior lecturer and tenure-track professor is that, in order to be the latter, you have to dedicate a significant portion of your career to researching and writing academic articles. Senior lecturers teach the same courses as tenure-track professors and have the same responsibilities to the school and the student body but do not have the research and writing requirements."

Man crush - Do not lie to protect your Man crush. I to went the the UofC (not the law school). Lecturers can not vote on important matters that is a fact - go join the GOP.

"Professor" is a commonly understood term to all lay people...those who are outside of academe. It is a fair term to use and avoids one questioning distinctions - it is a fair generic term to use to convey meaning. So, if an impeached president like Bill Clinton, took a position teaching at a law school...he would be referred to as "Professor" although certainly past the point to be interested in being tenured or acquiring some other unnecessary official title or status. Many professors are not credentialed with doctorates but with practitioner experience or other combinations of credentials that warrants at least being considered "professor" to most of the world. Singer really ought to get five pinnochio's...chances are Obama changed web site just to avoid a silly technical argument and Clinton Team of course relishes in absurd details no one else cares much about.

this article make no sense. if Obama is normal academic people, can he claim he is a professor in his cv/resume? no way. The pro-obama basis on this blog just get disgusting

Phil Singer is a hack. His own statement shows his foolishness. Singer doesn't claim that Obama referred to himself as tenured law professor. His argument is so much hot air. Sadly this is becoming the norm for the Clinton campaign.

Posted by: strawman | April 1, 2008 03:33 PM

He got Obama did to rights - and he is a hack. Just like every one on the Team Obama and yourself.

What we also know is that Obama was not what he says. The Media will not pick up on this so not to worry. FC has a Man chush on Obama too.

It is VERY unusual at our local university of 25000 to see a tenured professor without a PhD. I only know of one.

Also, instructors who are not tenured have the title adjunct or asst professor, lecturer or sr lecturer, etc. and they are VERY title conscious. Students just address everyone as 'Professor'. The culture at Univ of Chicago may be different. It's a nit to people not in academia, I'd imagine.

No lie here. The University of Chicago Law School has provided this statement:

The Law School has received many media requests about Barack Obama, especially about his status as "Senior Lecturer."

From 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Barack Obama served as a professor in the Law School. He was a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996. He was a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004, during which time he taught three courses per year. Senior Lecturers are considered to be members of the Law School faculty and are regarded as professors, although not full-time or tenure-track. The title of Senior Lecturer is distinct from the title of Lecturer, which signifies adjunct status. Like Obama, each of the Law School's Senior Lecturers has high-demand careers in politics or public service, which prevent full-time teaching. Several times during his 12 years as a professor in the Law School, Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time tenure-track position, but he declined.

That is to say, no lie by Obama.

jcmdstep:

It seems that "professors" who are Obama supporters (above) disagree. If you or I simply "profess" anything, that makes us full-fledged Professors.

FYI: back in 2007, Obama gave "60 Minutes" a tour of the old Illinois capitol building and never corrected the mis-impression:

"At age 45, he is one of only three black senators since Reconstruction, the first African-American President of the Harvard Law Review, a PROFESSOR OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW at the University of Chicago, and the author of two best selling books." (Emphasis Added)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/09/60minutes/main2456335.shtml

I don't understand the fuss. The University of Chicago said "From 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Barack Obama served as a professor in the Law School." If his employer isn't qualified to say that he was a professor, who is?

Senior Lecturers are considered to be members of the Law School faculty and are regarded as professors, although not full-time or tenure-track. The title of Senior Lecturer is distinct from the title of Lecturer, which signifies adjunct status. Like Obama, each of the Law School's Senior Lecturers has high-demand careers in politics or public service, which prevent full-time teaching. Several times during his 12 years as a professor in the Law School, Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time tenure-track position, but he declined.

Posted by: Mary | April 1, 2008 03:53 PM

Same Lie - The point is not that he was an Adjunct - The point is that he was not a Prof. Did you read the post at the top.

Say that (B not A) does not mean B = C. You dig. B does not = C. Job security and ability to make department decisions are the main differences. Stop the lies we have pols for that like Obama.

I don't know if he was offered a position - He probably was but again may or may not be true - he is smart - no one questions that.

Asked about any mistakes (either statements or votes) Obama would like to take back, during the Cleveland debate:

OBAMA: Well, you know, when I first arrived in the Senate that first year, we had a situation surrounding Terri Schiavo. And I remember how we adjourned with a unanimous agreement that eventually allowed Congress to interject itself into that decisionmaking process of the families.

It wasn't something I was comfortable with, but it was not something that I stood on the floor and stopped. And I think that was a mistake, and I think the American people understood that that was a mistake. And as a CONSTITUTIONAL LAW PROFESSOR, I knew better.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics/26text-debate.html?pagewanted=all

Obama is a fake, and a douche bag.

Well, if this is not a "lie" then neither is Hillary's "we landed under sniper fire" ...

Its a huge difference.

Tenure track vs non tenture track is like the difference between having an MD and not having one.

Your comment about "Herr Doktor Professor" is funny, because there was a recent story that in Germany, there's a lawt that only people with Ph.D's from German universities are allowed to call themselves "Doktor" over there.

I've got a Ph.D and it was a real pain to earn it.

Back at Berkeley, if a lecturer dared to call himself Professor on his resume, or to say he had been a "Professor", he'd be called a liar and would never hear the end of it.

Remember, its not just Professor, its the fact that you have to be an assistant professor, then get tenure, become an associate professor, and finally you become a full professor.

Each step requires a ton of publications.

Obama has none.

Lecturers aren't even on the tenure track at all.

Obama deserves four noses, not one.

svreader:

Look again -- Obama didn't get "one nose" -- it was CLINTON's campaign spokesperson who got the Pinnochio for daring to point out his lie. Good luck!

The Clinton supporters are missing the point here. The "little lie" earning a single Pinocchio was the lie by Clinton campaign spokesman Phil Singer who falsely accused Obama of inappropriately calling himself a "law professor." I happen to be a law professor at a major American law school. I also happen to be a Professor of Law at that same law school. There's a difference between those two statements. "Professor of Law" is my job title; it means I hold a tenured, full-time position on the law faculty, at the most senior level. (Some Associate Professors are also tenured at this school). But the generic term "law professor," as it is used in my law school and every other law school with which I am familiar, refers not only to tenured Professors of Law and tenured Associate Professors of Law but also to a variety of other job categories, including untenured Associate and Assistant Professors, Visiting Professors, Visiting Assistant Professors, Senior Lecturers, Lecturers, Clinical Professors, Adjunct Professors, and on down the line---"law professors" one and all. There is nothing the least bit dishonest or misleading in Obama, who variously held the title Lecturer and later Senior Lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School, calling himself a "law professor," using the generic term as do thousands of academic appointees of all stripes. He never once claimed that he was a "Professor of Law"---that would have been a lie. But the only lie here is the lie being told repeatedly by the Clinton campaign and its supporters, who falsely accuse Obama of misrepresenting himself.

JakeD --

From this point on, why don't we just call him "felon Obama", since he admits to commiting mutiple felonies, by buying and using cocaine multiple times.

While its true he was never caught, the world would be a far better place if he had been.

He's a jerk.

Jaked is an silly provocateur who just likes to stir the pot. He probably was a passenger on the Swift boats last election.

JakeD would find fault with Moses if he were running against his horse McCain. Please crawl back under your rock JakeD unless you have something to say about your candidate.

Your lies and distortions will only harm your credibility when you advocate for your candidate. Negatives tend to cave in on their spreaders. You simply sound like a very cranky, grouchy, stubborn, crotchety, ill willed old man. Give it up. It's not going to work this time.

Brad K --

Nice try. No Cigar.

Word order doesn't matter.

Intention does.

His intention is clear, and would be to any reasonable man.

Or does he get a "free pass" from that standard too?

Why did the Obama people change the description? Probably to shut up nitpicking whiners like Phil Singer.

(Was he the Klintonite who got an "aggravated" DUI, or am I thinking of someone else?)

Steve,

You must be confusing that with Obama repeated use of "hard drugs"

Sombody should interview his dealer.

That would make a great story.

"He's a jerk."
Posted by: svreader

No, I think that it is you,"svreader," who is the "jerk."
You also sound like a extremely mean spirited person who is willing to say anything to smear your political opponent. It's not going to work this time.

If you are honest, please tell us who your candidate is and why you think she/he would make a good President.

Drug and alcohol use in the distant past is probably a common activity of most young people- including George, John, Bill, Hillary, and Barack. Don't be so self righteous.

Oh, I forgot. Bill didn't inhale ( I'll bet Hillary did, though.) Still a felony in Arkansas, I believe.

A few comments:

1) Though a Clinton supporter, I agree that this was a ridiculous attack from her campaign. It's trivial -- professor is a common term for the public, so it was probably used so people knew what he meant.

At the same time:

1) The title does matter in most universities, and -- having been a "lecturer" -- lecturers are typically careful not to overstep that bound. Again, I think Obama is just using the term because it's well-known, not because he means it as a title.

2) The U of C (where I did grad school) has a vested interest in keeping Obama happy, given that he is their Senator and can get them money. Of course they aren't disagreeing with him. Don't treat all non-campaign sources as unbiased.

luke2 --

I hate Obama because he shafted the poorest of the poor who trusted him in Chicago and you guys paint him as a saint and refuse to look at the facts.

Who do I support?

Pretty much anybody but him.

Hillary Clinton would be a far better President than Barry Obama, as would John McCain.

Clinton is my first choice. McCain is my second one.

I wouldn't vote for Barry Obama for dog catcher.

Hillary never used drugs of any kind.

Obama used hard drugs repeatedly.

That's not the main reason I'm so strongly against him.

The fact the he let the people who voted him into office in Chicago FREEZE in unheated slums that his buddy Rezko got $100M to repair or replace but didn't bother to do, and that Barry Obama never checked up on, is enough to make me hate the guy for being both a jerk and a fraud.

Here's the simple question that proves his intent was to mislead ---

Why didn't he just say "when I taught law"?

Why did he throw in "law professor" if his intent wasn't to get the status of being a "professor"?

oBAMA IS A LIER. hOW DARE HE CALL HIMSELF A LAW PROF.. HE IS NOT AND DOES NOT HAVE THE CREDENTIALS TO BACK UP THESE FALSE STATEMENT.

OBAMA HAS STATED THAT MC CAIN SAID HE WILL HAVE MILITARY TROOPS IN IRAQ FOR 100YEARS. IF THIS IS NOT A TRUE STATEMENT, IT IS 'SLANDER' AND SLANDER IS UNLAWFUL.

HOW DO THE POOR AND DOWN TRODDEN LIKE HUSSEIN AND HIS DIRTY VILE MONEY PEOPLE SPENDING $1MILLION per DAY FOR HIS CAMPAIGN
AND THE POOR WHICH HE CLAIMS HE IS GOING TO MAKE A CHANGE FOR, ARE DEPRIVED OF A DECENT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO BARELY STAY ALIVE. THIS GUY IS ROTTEN TO THE CORE.

JakeD:

Well, since you seem to have made up your mind that there is no difference in calling yourself a "law professor" in an interview/debate or putting "Professor of Law" on a CV/resume, nothing I can say will add to what Lawdem and BradK (among others) have already written. Actually, I think skeptic421 pretty much nailed the explanation.

I would never disrespect our non-tenure track instructional faculty ("Senior Lecturers") by insisting that they not be addressed colloquially as "professor".

Of course, by your definition, I'm not a professor either since I don't have tenure yet.

By the way, you can go ahead and try to lump me in with the Obama supporters, but the truth is that you have no idea whom I've decided to support.

THERE IS A VERY PROMINENT BLACK AUTHOR WHO WROTE IN HER BOOK 'THEIR EYES WERE LOOKING UP TO GOD' WISELY SAID; THE HIGHER THE MONKEY CLIMBS, THE MORE OF ITS BARE BACKSIDE SHOWS' OBAMA YOU ARE IN BAD TROUBLE. bETTER GET YOUR WIFE TO COVER UP YOUR BARE A**. YOUR SHOW3ING THE WORLD JUST WHO YOU ARE! IF i WERE A BLACK PERSON, i WOULD BE ASHAMED TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH A PERSON WHO CANNOT BE HONEST WITH ALL PEOPLE AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHICH HE CLAIMS TO BE OF THE SAME RACE. thank goodness he never MENTIONS HIS VERY LONG WHITE HERITAGE, WHO WOULD WANT HIM !!!!!!!!!!!!

Another Senior Lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School is Richard Posner, formerly a full-time Professor of Law at that august institution and for many years now a distinguished federal appellate judge on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. Although no longer a full-time Professor of Law, Posner continues to teach courses at the University of Chicago and to participate in the intellectual life of the institution. Indeed, he remains one of the most influential and esteemed legal academics in the nation. There is not a single legal academic in this country who would say Judge Posner isn't entitled to call himself a "law professor," though of course it would be dishonest for him to call himself "Professor of Law" since his title at the law school is presently "Senior Lecturer."

Stop the lies, Clintonites! You're just embarrassing yourselves with your ignorance and mean-spiritedness.

OBAMA LIES AGAIN AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA LIKE CNN HIDES IT!

Sen. Obama referres to himself as 'a constitutional law professor on the campaign trail. TRUTH: He never held any such title! Obama changed website bio to reflect that he was a 'lecturer' rather than 'professor. Chicago Daily Herald

MSNBC-OBAMA: ANOTHER SUPER, EXAGGERATION
Washington Post caught Obama in a lie about the Kennedy family role.
The WashigntonPost Fact Check

Senator Obama CAUGHT LYING about Kennedy Role in Helping His Father
Contrary to Obama's claims in speeches Kennedy family did not provide the funding for a September 1959 airlift of 81 Kenyan students to the United States that included Obama's father. According to historical records and interviews with participants, the Kennedys were approached for support for the program a year later, July 1960. family responded with a $100,000 donation, which went to pay for a second airlift in September 1960.

Politico reports, "During his first run for elected office, Barack Obama played a greater role than he acknowledges in crafting liberal stands on gun control, the death penalty and abortion- positions that appear at odds with the more moderate image he's projected during his presidential campaign. The evidence comes from an amended version of an Illinois voter group's detailed questionnaire, filed under his name during his bid for a state Senate. In response to a Politico story, Obama's answers he never saw questioaire?

Obama said he goofed on votes angered fellow Democrats in the Senate when he voted to strip millions of dollars from a child welfare office on Chicago's West Side. But Obama had a ready explanation: He goofed! Also announced he had fumbled an election-reform vote the day before, on a measure that passed 51 to 6. The next day, he acknowledged voting "present" on a key telecommunications vote. He stood on March 11, 1999, to take back his vote against legislation to end good-behavior credits for certain felons in county jails. "I pressed the wrong button on that," he said. Obama was the lone dissenter on Feb. 24, 2000, against 57 yeas for a ban on human cloning. "I pressed the wrong button by accident," he said. But two of Obama's bumbles came on more-sensitive topics, he backed legislation to permit riverboat casinos to operate even when the boats were dockside. The measure, pushed by the gambling industry and fought by church groups whose support Obama was seeking, passed with two "yeas" to spare -- including Obama's. Moments after its passage he rose to say, explaining that he had mistakenly voted for it.

Obama would later develop a reputation as a critic of the gambling industry, and he voted against a similar measure two years later. But he was clearly confused about how to handle the issue at the time of his first vote, telling a church group that he was "undecided" about whether he backed an expansion of riverboat gambling. And, months earlier, he had voted in favor of a version of the bill.

NBC- Aswini Anburajan
GREENBURG, Pa
OBAMA LIES IN PENNSYLVANIA AD
It's unfortunate that Senator Obama is using false advertising to explain why he can be trusted to do something about energy prices. In his ad, Obama says, I'm Barack Obama, and I don't take money from oil companies or lobbyists, and I won't let them block change any more. Obama has been the recipient of more than $220,000 from the oil and gas industry just since as of Feb/08. Two of Obama's campaign bundlers are also CEOs for oil and gas companies, per his campaign Web site? Obama needs to answer to VOTERS about his dealings with one of his largest contributors Exelon, a big nuclear power company that he cut deals behind closed doors protecting them from full disclosure in the nuclear industry. Exxon, Shell, and others are among his biggest donors

Judicial Watch:
By Klaus Marre
Obama 'intended to leave no paper trail' OBAMA REFUSES to cooperate in releasing 8 years of his state senate records. One main reason REZKO!

"and that Barry Obama never checked up on, is enough to make me hate the guy for being both a jerk and a fraud." svreader.

Where are you getting your "facts" from svreader?
There are plenty of sleaze sites that perpetuate outright lies about every political candidate. Check out this one on the Clintons that make Barack Obama look like a choir boy.

http://prorev.com/connex.htm

and another one describing the Clinton's "summer of love" 1971 in Berkeley California

The Clinton staff member
received a rocket via telephone from Hillary herself. She wants no discussion of youthful drug experiments. And with reason. Reasons that go back to the Clintons' Berkeley Summer of Love in 1971 -- if not before.

Reasons that I know well because I was in Berkeley in that summer of 1971. I was living about four blocks away from where Bill and Hillary were, in the parlance of the time, "shacked up." These were my not-so-mean streets. I know what went down. And I am here to tell you that there was no such thing as an unstoned student activist/hippy living in that neighborhood at that time. It was non-stop sex, drugs, rock and roll, and activism. I know. I was there. And while I don't remember everything, I remember a lot. More than I should given the quantity, quality, and diversity of the drugs that were on the scene, on the street, and in the bodies of all of us at the time in that place. Read the rest here:

http://americandigest.org/mt-archives/006949.php

includes a great picture of Bill and Hillary as "Hippies."

The facts are that if Barack Obama wanted to have money and power, he could have gained them much more easily in a prestigious private law firm after being selected by his peers to be Editor of the Harvard Law Review. Instead he took a job offered by local churches at $12,000 a year.

Why don't you question where the $500,000,000 came from for the Clinton Library? It wasn't Bill's tooth fairy- that's for sure.

Barack Obama is a decent, hard working good man- and that's what scares you. He really will bring needed change to our country. My feeling is that you are either a bigot or just a very mean spirited person who will say anything to get your candidate elected. I don't believe for a minute anything that you have said. Prove me wrong with legitimate sources. Thanks in advance

luke2

From NBC News and the Chicago Sun Times.

Obama Supporters --

How you support Obama when he let the people who elected him in Chicago freeze in slums in his district his friend and campaign contributor Rezok got $100M to repair or replace?

Before you send any more of your, or your parent's, hard earned money to Barry Obama --

Please Watch this report on Obama, Obama's slums, Rezko, and $100M of wasted taxpayer money, from NBC news, Chicago's most respected TV news program.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDHsHM0laT8&feature=related

How do you explain away the fact that Barry Obama never followed up on the 11 slums that his friend Rezko was supposed to repair in Obama's district in Chicago, and continued to do nothing about the 40 slums that Rezko was supposed to repair or replace in Chicago, even after Obama joined the US Senate?

From the Chicago Sun Times:

For more than five weeks during the brutal winter of 1997, tenants shivered without heat in a government-subsidized apartment building on Chicago's South Side.

It was just four years after the landlords -- Antoin "Tony'' Rezko and his partner Daniel Mahru -- had rehabbed the 31-unit building in Englewood with a loan from Chicago taxpayers.

Rezko and Mahru couldn't find money to get the heat back on.

But their company, Rezmar Corp., did come up with $1,000 to give to the political campaign fund of Barack Obama, the newly elected state senator whose district included the unheated building....

The building in Englewood was one of 30 Rezmar rehabbed in a series of troubled deals largely financed by taxpayers. Every project ran into financial difficulty. More than half went into foreclosure, a Chicago Sun-Times investigation has found.

"Their buildings were falling apart,'' said a former city official. "They just didn't pay attention to the condition of these buildings.''

Eleven of Rezko's buildings were in Obama's state Senate district....

Rezko and Mahru had no construction experience when they created Rezmar in 1989 to rehabilitate apartments for the poor under the Daley administration. Between 1989 and 1998, Rezmar made deals to rehab 30 buildings, a total of 1,025 apartments. The last 15 buildings involved Davis Miner Barnhill & Galland during Obama's time with the firm.

Rezko and Mahru also managed the buildings, which were supposed to provide homes for poor people for 30 years. Every one of the projects ran into trouble:

* Seventeen buildings -- many beset with code violations, including a lack of heat -- ended up in foreclosure.

* Six buildings are currently boarded up.

* Hundreds of the apartments are vacant, in need of major repairs.

* Taxpayers have been stuck with millions in unpaid loans.

* At least a dozen times, the city of Chicago sued Rezmar for failure to heat buildings.

Luke2 --

Obama supporters will do anything to supress the truth about him.

Its not going to work.

Obama's guaranteed to lose the national electon.

It would be nuts for Democrats to nominate him, regardless of what the current vote totals are.

The more we find out about Obama, the more we find that his "accomplishments" aren't his at all, but that he was given credit for the work done by others to make him loo