Thursday, March 20, 2008
This Can't Help...
Asked why Sen. Barack Obama was qualified for the job of the Presidency, John Kerry told a Massachusetts newspaper that Obama is "uniquely qualified" because "he's a black man". I don't want to bash Sen. Kerry, whom I have much respect for, but I do think it's outrageous to claim that race, gender, religion, etc., makes one individual "uniquely qualified" over the other to be President and deal with the many issues that face our great country. Here's the full video:
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This Can't Hurt...
NM Gov. Bill Richardson endorsing Obama
SANTA FE, N.M. - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president, calling him a "once-in-a- lifetime leader" who can unite the nation and restore America's international leadership.
Richardson, who dropped out of the Democratic race in January, is to appear with Obama on Friday at a campaign event in Portland, Ore., The Associated Press has learned.
The governor's endorsement comes as Obama leads among delegates selected at primaries and caucuses but with national public opinion polling showing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton pulling ahead of him amid controversy over statements by his former pastor.
Richardson has been relentlessly wooed by Obama and Clinton for his endorsement. As a Democratic superdelegate, the governor plays a part in the tight race for nominating votes and could bring other superdelegates to Obama's side. He also has been mentioned as a potential running mate for either candidate.
No primaries are scheduled until Pennsylvania's on April 22, a gap in time Obama hopes to use for such announcements to assert that he is the front-runner for the nomination.
"I believe he is the kind of once-in-a-lifetime leader that can bring our nation together and restore America's moral leadership in the world," Richardson said in a statement obtained by the AP. "As a presidential candidate, I know full well Sen. Obama's unique moral ability to inspire the American people to confront our urgent challenges at home and abroad in a spirit of bipartisanship and reconciliation."
Richardson's endorsement also could help Obama pick up support among Hispanics, who are the nation's largest and fastest-growing minority.
Clinton has been the favorite of Hispanics in primaries and caucuses, according to exit polls. She won the New Mexico caucus in early February with a nearly 2-to-1 advantage among Hispanics.
Richardson backed Obama despite his ties to Clinton and her husband, the former president. He served as ambassador to the U.N. and as secretary of the Energy Department during the Clinton administration. Last month, Richardson and former President Clinton watched the Super Bowl together at the governor's residence in Santa Fe.
Richardson praised Hillary Clinton as a "distinguished leader with vast experience." But the governor said Obama "will be a historic and great president, who can bring us the change we so desperately need by bringing us together as a nation here at home and with our allies abroad."
Richardson was a roving diplomatic troubleshooter when he was a congressman from New Mexico, negotiating the release of U.S. hostages in several countries and meeting with a rogue's gallery of U.S. adversaries, including Saddam Hussein and Fidel Castro.
"There is no doubt in my mind that Barack Obama has the judgment and courage we need in a commander in chief when our nation's security is on the line. He showed this judgment by opposing the Iraq war from the start, and he has show it during this campaign by standing up for a new era in American leadership internationally," Richardson said.
Obama said he was "deeply honored" to have Richardson's support.
"Whether it's fighting to end the Iraq war or stop the genocide in Darfur or prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of terrorists, Gov. Richardson has been a powerful voice on issues of global security, peace and justice, earning five Nobel Peace Prize nominations," Obama said in a statement.
Kerry's remarks show why he lost to Bush in the 2004 Presidential race. He lacks the ability to be tough in politics. The people voted for Clinton in the Mass. primary even though Kerry supported Obama. That shows what the people of Mass. thinks about endorsments. Gov Bill Richardson endorsment of Obama is a plus for him, however the tide is turning in Clinton's favor. Clinton won the hispanic vote in his state. During the debates Richardson questioned Obama's lack of experience and now he is doing the opposite. What Clinton needs to do is continue to talk to the people and explain what she will do concerning the issues if she becomes President. The people will relate to that. As of this date she is the only candidate who has talked about the issues since day one. Any experience Richardson has will not relate to Obama's lack there of.
Maybe she can explain how she claims to have had reservations about NAFTA while she was twisting arms behind the scenes to keep from watering it down with such American ideals as evironmental protection, workers rights, etc...
How was Clinton twisting arms when she was not even in congress when NAFTA was passed? The Clinton record on the enviroment and workers rights were better than any other President in the last 20 years. The First bill passed by the Clinton administration was family leave that Bush would not even consider. And Senator Clinton supported that family leave bill. It is agreed that parts of NAFTA needs to be revised by most elected officials. Obama has had a chance as a Senator to lead the way but he has yet to introduce any legislation. The bottom line is that the new administration will make the changes needed to NAFTA. When I said Senator Clinton supported the family leave bill, she was first lady at the time.
John said...
How was Clinton twisting arms when she was not even in congress when NAFTA was passed?
My response: Read the transcripts from her minutes as first lady. She was using her position as first lady to get democratic approval of a bill most demorats didn't want; a free trade pact that did nothing to protect the environment or worker's rights.
WHY RICHARDSON WILL HELP OBAMA...
I'm generally skeptical about the value of political endorsements. Al Gore didn't help Howard Dean at all in Iowa back in '04. Teddy Kennedy didn't give Barack Obama much of a boost before Super Tuesday. And on and on.
But I think New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson's endorsement of Obama this morning will help, if only symbolically. Here are a few reasons why:
1. Richardson reverses the media narrative. He changes the story from one about Jeremiah Wright back to Obama's domination theme of inclusion and breaking barriers. The top Hispanic politician in America endorsing the top African-American politician in America is a story that tells itself. Richardson cited Obama's speech on race last Tuesday as a reason he decided to come on board.
2. He's a superdelegate. And a prominent one at that. Other superdelegates who were on the fence about Obama after the events of the past week may now feel reassured to come forward as well.
3. He's a former prominent Clintonite. Richardson was UN Ambassador and Energy Secretary under Bill Clinton. He knows the inner functions of the Clinton White House. Next time Hillary makes an outlandish claim about her foreign policy experience as First Lady, Richardson will be well-placed to deliver a forceful rebuttal. Plus, the Clintons badly wanted his endorsement. Bill even flew to New Mexico to watch the Super Bowl with him.
4. At the risk of repeating myself, he's Hispanic. The only Hispanic Governor, who happens to hail from a crucial swing state. Obama may not win the Hispanic vote in the primary, but he'll need to in the general if he hopes to beat John McCain. Richardson sends an important signal to Hispanic voters that Obama can be trusted.
5. Meet Vice President Richardson. He's got foreign policy experience from the White House, negotiated with dictators and freed hostages, knows how to run things as a Governor, represents a crucial swing state, served in Congress, has been on the trail before, etc, etc. He almost made the ticket with John Kerry in '04. Obama-Richardson? There'd be nothing more historic than that.
NYT: "Mr. Richardson is the 62nd superdelegate to endorse Mr. Obama since Feb. 5, compared with fewer than five who have moved into Mrs. Clinton’s column since then. The move by Mr. Richardson could give license to other superdelegates who had been holding back, at the request of the Clintons. His endorsement could prove particularly potent with this group because of the way he chastised Mrs. Clinton for the tone of the campaign, and his call for the party to unify around one candidate."
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