Source of this Topic: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080514/ap_on_el_pr/obama_edwards;_ylt=AuNEKrgtNiSwLz.ZwO0Vc11xFb8C
Edwards gives long-awaited endorsement to Obama
By CHUCK BABINGTON, Associated Press Writer 4 minutes ago
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Democrat John Edwards is endorsing former rival Barack Obama, fresh signs of the party establishment embracing the likely nominee even as Hillary Rodham Clinton refuses to give up her long-shot candidacy.
Edwards was to appear with Obama in Grand Rapids, Mich., as Obama campaigns in a critical general election battleground state.
The endorsement comes the day after Clinton defeated Obama by more than 2-to-1 in West Virginia. The loss highlighted Obama's work to win over the "Hillary Democrats" — white, working-class voters who also supported Edwards in large numbers before he exited the race.
Edwards, a former North Carolina senator and the 2004 vice presidential nominee, dropped out of the race in late January.
Both Obama and Clinton immediately asked Edwards for his endorsement, but he stayed mum for more than four months. A person close to Edwards, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he wanted to get involved now to begin unifying the party. Obama also signed on to Edwards' poverty initiative, which was a major cause for Edwards in his campaign and since he left.
When he made his decision, Edwards didn't even tell many of his former top advisers because he wanted to make sure that he personally talked to Clinton to give her the news, said the person close to him. Edwards' wife, Elizabeth, who has spoken favorably about Clinton's health care plan, did not travel with him to Michigan and is not part of the endorsement.
Showing posts with label Hillary Clinton will lose for the Democrats if she's the nominee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hillary Clinton will lose for the Democrats if she's the nominee. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
HILLARY, LEAVE NOW!
Source of this Topic: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080514/ap_on_el_pr/obama_endorsement
NARAL Pro-Choice America backs Obama
By BETH FOUHY, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK - Democrat Barack Obama has won the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice America, a leading abortion rights advocacy organization that has supported rival Hillary Rodham Clinton throughout her political career.
The organization announced the endorsement of its political action committee on Wednesday.
"Pro-choice Americans have been fortunate to have two strong pro-choice candidates in Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, both of whom have inspired millions of new voters to participate in this historic presidential race," NARAL president Nancy Keenan said in a statement. "Today, we are proud to put our organization's grass-roots and political support behind the pro-choice candidate whom we believe will secure the Democratic nomination and advance to the general election. That candidate is Senator Obama."
Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson said he was surprised by the group's decision to back Obama.
"Senator Clinton's leadership and advocacy on choice issues is second to none," Wolfson said.
Ellen Malcolm, president of EMILY's List, which helps elect female candidates who favor abortion rights, harshly criticized the endorsement.
"I think it is tremendously disrespectful to Senator Clinton — who held up the nomination of an FDA commissioner in order to force approval of Plan B and who spoke so eloquently during the Supreme Court nomination about the importance of protecting Roe v. Wade — to not give her the courtesy to finish the final three weeks of the primary process," Malcolm said in a statement. "It certainly must be disconcerting for elected leaders who stand up for reproductive rights and expect the choice community will stand with them."
Officials said NARAL's political committee board was about evenly divided among Clinton and Obama supporters and that the decision to endorse was hard fought. Ultimately, the board voted unanimously to support the Illinois senator.
NARAL officials said the decision wasn't intended to be a snub of Clinton, who is running to be the first female president.
They said the board decided to back Obama over Clinton because he is overwhelmingly favored to win the nomination and to heal what the organization viewed as a growing rift between black voters and white female activists that the protracted Clinton-Obama contest may have caused.
The organization endorsed Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry in 2004 when he was well on the way to securing the party's presidential nomination.
NARAL Pro-Choice America backs Obama
By BETH FOUHY, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK - Democrat Barack Obama has won the endorsement of NARAL Pro-Choice America, a leading abortion rights advocacy organization that has supported rival Hillary Rodham Clinton throughout her political career.
The organization announced the endorsement of its political action committee on Wednesday.
"Pro-choice Americans have been fortunate to have two strong pro-choice candidates in Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, both of whom have inspired millions of new voters to participate in this historic presidential race," NARAL president Nancy Keenan said in a statement. "Today, we are proud to put our organization's grass-roots and political support behind the pro-choice candidate whom we believe will secure the Democratic nomination and advance to the general election. That candidate is Senator Obama."
Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson said he was surprised by the group's decision to back Obama.
"Senator Clinton's leadership and advocacy on choice issues is second to none," Wolfson said.
Ellen Malcolm, president of EMILY's List, which helps elect female candidates who favor abortion rights, harshly criticized the endorsement.
"I think it is tremendously disrespectful to Senator Clinton — who held up the nomination of an FDA commissioner in order to force approval of Plan B and who spoke so eloquently during the Supreme Court nomination about the importance of protecting Roe v. Wade — to not give her the courtesy to finish the final three weeks of the primary process," Malcolm said in a statement. "It certainly must be disconcerting for elected leaders who stand up for reproductive rights and expect the choice community will stand with them."
Officials said NARAL's political committee board was about evenly divided among Clinton and Obama supporters and that the decision to endorse was hard fought. Ultimately, the board voted unanimously to support the Illinois senator.
NARAL officials said the decision wasn't intended to be a snub of Clinton, who is running to be the first female president.
They said the board decided to back Obama over Clinton because he is overwhelmingly favored to win the nomination and to heal what the organization viewed as a growing rift between black voters and white female activists that the protracted Clinton-Obama contest may have caused.
The organization endorsed Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry in 2004 when he was well on the way to securing the party's presidential nomination.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Is it a wrap for ole Hillary?
Source of Topic: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080509/ap_on_el_pr/obama_endorsement
Obama picks up 9 superdelegates, union endorsement
By JOAN LOWY, Associated Press Writer 2 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead
among national convention superdelegates on Friday and won fresh labor backing as elements of the Democratic Party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign.
Obama picked up the backing of nine superdelegates, including Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who had been a Clinton supporter.
In addition, the American Federation of Government Employees announced its support for Obama. The union claims about 600,000 members who work in the federal and Washington, D.C., governments.
Obama, who won a convincing victory in the North Carolina primary and lost Indiana narrowly on Tuesday, has been steadily gaining strength in the days since.
Clinton also gained a superdelegate.
The developments left the former first lady with 271.5 superdelegates, to 271 for Obama. Little more than four months ago, on the eve of the primary season, she held a lead of 169-63.
Superdelegates are party leaders who attend the convention delegates by virtue of their positions, and are not selected in primaries and caucuses.
In an interview with National Public Radio, former candidate John Edwards said Clinton has made a compelling case for her candidacy, but "I think it's very hard for her now to make a compelling case for the math. I mean, I think that's the reality of what she's faced with. She knows that. ... It's just very hard to see how the math works."
In addition to Payne, Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, two members of the Democratic National Committee from California and a party official in South Carolina announced they were supporting Obama. Superdelegates from New Mexico and Virginia also joined the migration.
So, too, John Gage, president of the AFGE.
"Our people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama's campaign," he said in a statement.
"The election is over, everybody knows that. Obama has won," said Vernon Watkins, one of the two Californians.
"After careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that Barack Obama can best bring about the change that our country so desperately wants and needs," said Payne, who in a statement said that Clinton is a good friend and he still holds her in high regard.
Payne is one of at least 10 superdelegates who have switched allegiances from Clinton to Obama. None have publicly switched the other way.
In the overall race for the nomination, Obama leads with 1,859.5 delegates, to 1,697 for Clinton. Obama is just 165.5 delegates short of the 2,025 delegates needed to win it.
Clinton's new supporter was Rep. Chris Carney, D-Pa. His congressional district voted overwhelmingly for the former first lady in the Pennsylvania primary on April 22.
Both Obama and Clinton have courted superdelegates in recent days in private meetings at party headquarters not far from the Capitol.
Despite Watkins' assessment, Clinton has shown no signs she is ready to quit the race. She is heavily favored to win Tuesday's primary in West Virginia, and is in the midst of a two-day swing through several other states with upcoming elections.
___
Associated Press Writers Jesse Holland and Matthew Daly in Washington and Solvej Schou in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON - Barack Obama all but erased Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-imposing lead
among national convention superdelegates on Friday and won fresh labor backing as elements of the Democratic Party began coalescing around the Illinois senator for the fall campaign.Obama picked up the backing of nine superdelegates, including Rep. Donald Payne of New Jersey, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus who had been a Clinton supporter.
In addition, the American Federation of Government Employees announced its support for Obama. The union claims about 600,000 members who work in the federal and Washington, D.C., governments.
Obama, who won a convincing victory in the North Carolina primary and lost Indiana narrowly on Tuesday, has been steadily gaining strength in the days since.
Clinton also gained a superdelegate.
The developments left the former first lady with 271.5 superdelegates, to 271 for Obama. Little more than four months ago, on the eve of the primary season, she held a lead of 169-63.
Superdelegates are party leaders who attend the convention delegates by virtue of their positions, and are not selected in primaries and caucuses.
In an interview with National Public Radio, former candidate John Edwards said Clinton has made a compelling case for her candidacy, but "I think it's very hard for her now to make a compelling case for the math. I mean, I think that's the reality of what she's faced with. She knows that. ... It's just very hard to see how the math works."
In addition to Payne, Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, two members of the Democratic National Committee from California and a party official in South Carolina announced they were supporting Obama. Superdelegates from New Mexico and Virginia also joined the migration.
So, too, John Gage, president of the AFGE.
"Our people, I think, recognize the enthusiasm and vitality behind Senator Obama's campaign," he said in a statement.
"The election is over, everybody knows that. Obama has won," said Vernon Watkins, one of the two Californians.
"After careful consideration, I have reached the conclusion that Barack Obama can best bring about the change that our country so desperately wants and needs," said Payne, who in a statement said that Clinton is a good friend and he still holds her in high regard.
Payne is one of at least 10 superdelegates who have switched allegiances from Clinton to Obama. None have publicly switched the other way.
In the overall race for the nomination, Obama leads with 1,859.5 delegates, to 1,697 for Clinton. Obama is just 165.5 delegates short of the 2,025 delegates needed to win it.
Clinton's new supporter was Rep. Chris Carney, D-Pa. His congressional district voted overwhelmingly for the former first lady in the Pennsylvania primary on April 22.
Both Obama and Clinton have courted superdelegates in recent days in private meetings at party headquarters not far from the Capitol.
Despite Watkins' assessment, Clinton has shown no signs she is ready to quit the race. She is heavily favored to win Tuesday's primary in West Virginia, and is in the midst of a two-day swing through several other states with upcoming elections.
___
Associated Press Writers Jesse Holland and Matthew Daly in Washington and Solvej Schou in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
Source of Topic: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080509/ap_on_el_pr/obama_endorsement
Saturday, May 3, 2008
And she wants us to believe she's more qualified.... She can't even make coffee!
Source of this topic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C9bkuJliMY
Source of this topic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C9bkuJliMY
Source of this topic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-C9bkuJliMY
Thursday, April 17, 2008
They Know, they Know, they Know!... But do you know?
Source of this topic: http://blogs.bet.com/news/pamela/2008/04/17/more-supers-switching/
April 17, 2008 –While the Democratic candidates debated in Philly, there were signs in Washington that more super-delegates had ended their debate over which candidate to back. Two North Carolina lawmakers are giving Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) their key endors
ement.
Rep. David Price, (D-N.C.) and Rep. Mel Watt, (D-N.C.), both super-delegates had been supporters of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, announced Wednesday they are now throwing their support behind the Illinois senator.
ement.Rep. David Price, (D-N.C.) and Rep. Mel Watt, (D-N.C.), both super-delegates had been supporters of former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, announced Wednesday they are now throwing their support behind the Illinois senator.
Could this be a sign?
“Like a lot of former Edwards’s supporters, I’m supporting Barack Obama because he will bring this country the kind of change I want to see,” Price said in a statement.
Last night at the Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner, I noted Black lawmakers in both camps chatting about the race, but tones were hushed. Watt and California Rep. Maxine Waters (D) a Clinton supporter talked briefly, but with reporters within earshot, avoided any mention of his recent endorsement.
As more of Edwards supporters move toward the Obama camp it increases the speculation of who Edwards will likely endorse. The entire North Carolina congressional delegation had endorsed Edwards, with the recent switch of Price and Watt, only two lawmakers remain uncommitted. The states other Black lawmaker Rep. G.K. Butterfiled has already endorsed Obama.
Watt, who was skeptical of Obama entering the presidential race early on said, “I’d have to say I’m surprised — and pleasantly surprised — that Barack’s campaign has continued to build momentum.”
Obama also picked up the endorsement of the newest member of congress, Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.). Carson is the grandson of the late Rep. Julia Carson, who died from cancer earlier this year. Carson ran and won in the special election held in April, and is now campaigning for the primary election being held May 6. If he wins the primary he’ll face his Republican challenger on the ballot in November.
With these recent endorsements, Obama now has an estimated 231 super delegates to Clinton’s 260 according to Bloomberg News.
Source of this topic: http://blogs.bet.com/news/pamela/2008/04/17/more-supers-switching/
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Is Satan casting out Satan in 2008?
Source of this topic: http://www.diversityinc.com/public/478.cfm
The Rev. Jerry Falwell acknowledged saying on Sunday that if Hillary Rodham Clinton were the Democrats' presidential nominee in 2008, it would motivate conservative evangelical Christians to oppose her more than if the devil himself were running.
Clinton press secretary Philippe Reines said Sunday, "Working for someone who believes in the Golden Rule, we're not going to engage in such vitriolic discourse—but it seems that a new low has been reached in demonizing political opponents."
Falwell told the AP that he did not intend to demonize the former first lady. "That was totally tongue-in-cheek and everyone in the building knew that and everyone laughed," Falwell said.Falwell said religious conservatives do not favor Clinton for several reasons, but mostly because she is pro-choice on abortion, "the cutting-edge issue for social conservatives."
"I just think that she has enough of a record before our people now to bring most of them to the polls," Falwell said.
The Rev. Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said, "I don't know why Jerry Falwell always has to drag politics into the gutter."
Lynn, whose advocacy group scrutinizes the religious right and was monitoring last week's conference, added, "Maybe the devil made him do it."
Attendees also were assured during the prayer breakfast that God would preserve a Republican majority in Congress.
Falwell would not say what he thought would happen in 2008 if Clinton were not the nominee."In '08, I think that's too far ahead to know what's going to happen in the domestic- and foreign-policy issues," Falwell said in the interview. (AP)
Source of this topic: http://www.diversityinc.com/public/478.cfm
Falwell's Hillary/Devil Comment Was 'Tongue-in-Cheek'
The Rev. Jerry Falwell acknowledged saying on Sunday that if Hillary Rodham Clinton were the Democrats' presidential nominee in 2008, it would motivate conservative evangelical Christians to oppose her more than if the devil himself were running.
Falwell said in a telephone interview that his comments to several hundred pastors and religious activists at the "Value Voter Summit" conference were "totally tongue-in-cheek." "I certainly hope that Hillary is the candidate," Falwell said at a breakfast session Friday in Washington. "I hope she's the candidate, because nothing will energize my [constituency] like Hillary Clinton," he said. "If Lucifer ran, he wouldn't."
Clinton press secretary Philippe Reines said Sunday, "Working for someone who believes in the Golden Rule, we're not going to engage in such vitriolic discourse—but it seems that a new low has been reached in demonizing political opponents."
Falwell told the AP that he did not intend to demonize the former first lady. "That was totally tongue-in-cheek and everyone in the building knew that and everyone laughed," Falwell said.Falwell said religious conservatives do not favor Clinton for several reasons, but mostly because she is pro-choice on abortion, "the cutting-edge issue for social conservatives."
"I just think that she has enough of a record before our people now to bring most of them to the polls," Falwell said.
The Rev. Barry Lynn, director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said, "I don't know why Jerry Falwell always has to drag politics into the gutter."
Lynn, whose advocacy group scrutinizes the religious right and was monitoring last week's conference, added, "Maybe the devil made him do it."
Attendees also were assured during the prayer breakfast that God would preserve a Republican majority in Congress.
Falwell would not say what he thought would happen in 2008 if Clinton were not the nominee."In '08, I think that's too far ahead to know what's going to happen in the domestic- and foreign-policy issues," Falwell said in the interview. (AP)
Source of this topic: http://www.diversityinc.com/public/478.cfm
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