The pettiness of the Clinton supporters continues. In December the Clinton campaign attacked Obama based upon papers written in kindergarten and third grade. Some Clinton supporters responded to the endorsement of Obama by Caroline and Ted Kennedy by trashing JFK. The New York Chapter of NOW declared Senator Kennedy’s endorsement was the ultimate betrayal in an absurd statement which suggests that it is sexist to oppose a woman candidate regardless of the comparative merits of the candidates. To bring things into perspective, I would replay this video in which Lorna Brett Howard, the former President of Chicago NOW (National Organization of Women) discusses how she changed her support from Clinton to Obama after finding that Clinton was sending out mailers lying about Obama’s position on choice:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVuMYKs8iJs]
I have also posted two additional videos by Lorna Brett Howard which discuss how Obama has been a a critical advocate in the fight to preserve choice. She also states how Obama is one hundred percent pro-choice and one hundred percent honest.
Last night Clinton supporters came up with another ridiculous attack as they allege that Obama snubbed Clinton during the State of the Union when apparently there was no snub intended:
Obama chief strato-man Axelrod said The Snub wasn’t a snub, but simply a matter of Obama dealing with the “awkwardness” of the day and wanting to give Kennedy and Clinton a private moment.
Even if there was a snub, it wouldn’t be totally unexpected that Obama wouldn’t feel very comfortable around someone who has been repeatedly lying about his statements and record. This is hardly the basis for deciding upon a president. Besides, Obama has experienced being snubbed by Clinton in the past, as noted in this news report from last August:
The relationship began to change, according to several Democrats who are friendly to both senators, when Mr. Obama began musing aloud about a presidential bid. The day he opened his exploratory committee, several Senate observers said, he extended his hand and said hello on the Senate floor. She breezed by him, offering a cool stare.
It appears that it is only Hillary Clinton that Obama does not get along with well. In a discussion of whether Richardson will endorse one of the remaining candidates this story is told of how Obama saved Richardson at one of the debates:
“I had just been asked a question — I don’t remember which one — and Obama was sitting right next to me. Then the moderator went across the room, I think to Chris Dodd, so I thought I was home free for a while. I wasn’t going to listen to the next question. I was about to say something to Obama when the moderator turned to me and said, ‘So, Gov. Richardson, what do you think of that?’ But I wasn’t paying any attention! I was about to say, ‘Could you repeat the question? I wasn’t listening.’ But I wasn’t about to say I wasn’t listening. I looked at Obama. I was just horrified. And Obama whispered, ‘Katrina. Katrina.’ The question was on Katrina! So I said, ‘On Katrina, my policy . . .’ Obama could have just thrown me under the bus. So I said, ‘Obama, that was good of you to do that.'”
Richardson says that if he does endorse one of the candidates he will have his answer by the end of the week. The question is whether he will ignore his history with the Clintons in making an endorsement. He leaves his endorsement open in saying:
“If I do endorse, it’s going to be a gut feeling. It’s not going to be about statistics, about past ties,” Richardson said. “I’ve been on the campaign trail with both of them. I feel that I know them. I feel I know the issues. I feel I know what makes them both tick.”
I would love to see an Obama/Richardson or an Obama/Sebelius ticket – both Richardson and Sebelius are honorable, knowledgeable individuals!
Vote Honor & Integrity ’08!
Going through this point by point
1. Lorna Brett Howard is a remarkable person with enormous strength of character and integrity. Her honesty and her commitment to progressive politics and to getting the truth out is an inspiration. As for the NOW New York leadership, I’ll leave it with the “if you don’t have anything good to say then don’t say it” comment
2. The Clinton handshake thing is a whole load of baloney. When the Clinton supporters began to howl about this, my mind immediately flashed back to what I’d read about how Hillary had refused to shake Obama’s hand as illustrated in the NYT article.
3. I’m not sure whom Bill Richardson will endorse. I have a lot of respect and admiration for him and I would have liked to have seen him in a race where the dynamics weren’t so strongly stacked against him. My initial feeling is that he’d go with the Clintons because of his close ties to them but the last statement on the page does leave room for hope
At least I know what I am getting with Hilary. I have very grave and unanswered questions regarding Obama and his qualifications to be President.
Unfortunately, NICE gets you no where in Washington. Remember Jimmy Carter. Our country can’t overcome Bush’s leadership with another NICE president.
My ‘gut’ says ‘no’ to Obama. Whenever I have ignored by gut feelings I have paid big. Won’t do it this time.
Jdrake,
You know what you get with Clinton, but is frequently bad. You get a supporter of the Iraq war, an opponent of the ban on cluster bombs, a supporter of bans on flag burning, and a crusader for censorship of video games.
Perhaps rather than going by your gut feelings you should look at the facts. If you do you will find that Obama is far more qualified than Clinton to be president. Obama has more legislative experience, plus has been on the right side of the issues when Clinton has been wrong. Obama also has experience in teaching Constitutional law, which might account for their vastly different views on civil liberties issues and matters of restricting presidential power.