I think the strategy of responding quickly and effectively to the rumors and lies about Sen. Obama is correct. However, I worry that relying on their response website to correct the rumors and inaccuracies may be inadequate. Those people that are more likely to believe these paranoid rumors are not the type that will proactively look up a pro-Obama website to learn how what they think is incorrect. It may be shortsighted to rely on this website to change peoples' perceptions of Sen. Obama. It would seem that a more diversified strategy would be needed.

I appreciate Ms. Walsh's straight forward assesment of her political observations of the past year, namely how she continued to dismiss Obama's strength even as he won state races, and most importantly delegates. I do think the media really did miss the Obama campaign and how different it was from the very beginning. I live in Iowa, I was precinct captains in Kerry, Bradley and Clinton campaigns. My first job out of college was on the U.S. Senate staff for Senator George McGovern, organizing 'at the ground level' was like breathing to us. I saw the difference in the ground organizing that Obama was doing, early. I saw the unbelievable turnout on Caucus night, the difference in enthusiasm and sheer numbers of people that had never been to a caucus, much less voted for a Democrat. That is the night that I knew Obama had it where it counted, at the low unseen level of door to door volunteers. Not just in number, but in their enthusiasm and constant daily grind of nitty gritty volunteer methodical organizing. I was one of two precinct captains that night in West Des Moines, a very Republican precinct. David Gregory of NBC News was camped out at our precinct site. I told him the story was that this was a huge turnout in a very Republican precinct...and that there were Obama supporters here that I have never seen before...because they either never attended a caucus, or went to Republican precinct caucuses. That was when I realized that he(Obama) probably had it....that type of enthusiasm and consistent volunteering was unlike anything I had ever experienced before.....ever. I was a loyal Hillary supporter, I worked for her until the very end, but the day after the last primary in June I happily put on the Obama button, because he had won it...by doing the hard work..he deserved to win. At the same time, she had lost it...she had terrific advantages, but rode on them without a commiserate amount of tedious ground organizing. So when she did win in New Hampshire it was because of her singular non-stop campaigning of the last week in the state. She worked her crowds diligently, and answered every question at every gathering. If she had done that from the first day she announced it might have ended differently. I have to say, Ms. Walsh, as a political staffer, volunteer and observer, Obama's campaign was unlike anything I had ever seen before....and it was genuine....and consistent...and a moment in time that filled me with gratitude to have seen it.

Yes, Joan, you are very right! The Democrats, namely Senator Max Baucus and Senator Harry Reid, seem to have forgotten who won the election. Sen. Grassley advertised that he was proud to get the Senate vote on a bill delayed until after the August recess. And Baucus and other Democrats seem to think that we have to believe that the Republicans really want to bargain in good faith, and will support a meaningful health care/insurance reform bill. All the Republicans want is to stop any reform....end of story. I think we have given them enough time to show some good faith at the table, but seeing none we need to tell Baucus and Reid to remember who won the election and get meaningful change done! And that change has to include a public option, similar to Medicare for all Americans. I am sick to death of this hand wringing and looks of terror and confusion that I see in our Democratic leadership, if they don't want to lead, let the Republicans have the majority!