Ted Kennedy endorses Obama

[Ilvane]

Sen. Edward Kennedy backed Sen. Barack Obama for president Monday, saying, "It is time again for a new generation of leadership."


Could this mean Teddy is retiring??

LOL....not likely.


Angela

[Hulkein]

Does his endorsement do anything for you, a Clinton supporter, seeing as you live in Mass.?

[crazymage]

i live in mass and i was/am on the fence so this does mean something to me.

[Ilvane]

It means absolutely nothing to me. I'm not on the fence, and haven't been.

I would think it would hurt Obama a bit to get an endorsement from Teddy.

Angela

[TheEschaton]

Angela, face it, it does not hurt Obama in any way to have both Senators, both considered elder statesmen of the Democratic party, endorse him.

Teddy helps quite a bit, actually.

[Khariz]

I wonder if Robert Byrd will endorse him too.

:rofl:

[radamanthys]

Someone gave me free money that made me poorer. I've also eaten a big meal that made me hungry. Hard alcohol makes one sober. Gemstone helps with one's social life. Someone with power, respect, and influence supporting you actually hurts you in the primary.

I can see how you may say that in the general election it's bad to have the Liberal Lion on your team. Think about it this way: who is more reviled by those with a conservative mindset... Teddy or Hillary?

The Kennedys have much more general popular appeal. People, though they may disagree with Teddy, still generally respect him. Hillary not (nearly) as much.

It's like this: Ann Coulter is running against, say, Huckabee. Ronald Reagan comes out and endorses Huckabee. Would that hurt Huckabee?

[ClydeR]

Teddy took a pounding from the New York chapter of the National Organization for Women for his endorsement. Those women went crazy in their press release (http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/?p=6285).


Women have just experienced the ultimate betrayal. Senator Kennedy’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton’s opponent in the Democratic presidential primary campaign has really hit women hard. Women have forgiven Kennedy, stuck up for him, stood by him, hushed the fact that he was late in his support of Title IX, the ERA, the Family Leave and Medical Act to name a few. Women have buried their anger that his support for the compromises in No Child Left Behind and the Medicare bogus drug benefit brought us the passage of these flawed bills. We have thanked him for his ardent support of many civil rights bills, BUT women are always waiting in the wings.

And now the greatest betrayal! We are repaid with his abandonment! He’s picked the new guy over us. He’s joined the list of progressive white men who can’t or won’t handle the prospect of a woman president who is Hillary Clinton (they will of course say they support a woman president, just not “this” one). ‘They’ are Howard Dean and Jim Dean (Yup! That’s Howard’s brother) who run DFA (that’s the group and list from the Dean campaign that we women helped start and grow). They are Alternet, Progressive Democrats of America, democrats.com, Kucinich lovers and all the other groups that take women’s money, say they’ll do feminist and women’s rights issues one of these days, and conveniently forget to mention women and children when they talk about poverty or human needs or America’s future or whatever.

This latest move by Kennedy, is so telling about the status of and respect for women’s rights, women’s voices, women’s equality, women’s authority and our ability – indeed, our obligation - to promote and earn and deserve and elect, unabashedly, a President that is the first woman after centuries of men who ‘know what’s best for us.’

Later in the day they issued a less shrill statement (http://www.now.org/press/01-08/01-28.html), but once it's on the internet, you can't take it back.

Edit - The less shrill statement issued later in the day came from NOW's national organization, not the New York chapter.

[Latrinsorm]

If a clearly bogus poster posts a quote that seems clearly bogus, does the bogousity cancel out?

[Skeeter]

why is everyone posting like Stanley today. This really isn't a road that should be traveled.

[Clove]

It means absolutely nothing to me. I'm not on the fence, and haven't been.

I would think it would hurt Obama a bit to get an endorsement from Teddy.

Angela


Angela, face it, it does not hurt Obama in any way to have both Senators, both considered elder statesmen of the Democratic party, endorse him.

Teddy helps quite a bit, actually.

Wait... Angela isn't the trend-setting Dem?

[Kembal]

Actually, Latrin, that NY state chapter of NOW actually issued the press release quoted. Go figure.

[Latrinsorm]

Wow. Are we sure they're not Obama supporters indulging in trickeration? That would be probably too subtle anyway.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

If the NOW press release is real, it makes me think they advocate voting for a woman just because she's a woman, rather than the best candidate. Sounds like sexism to me.

[Gan]

Wait... Angela isn't the trend-setting Dem?

She's still in denial that Obama will beat Hillary. ;)

That being said, I cant wait for HER public endorsement of McCain.
:lol:

[Gan]

If the NOW press release is real, it makes me think they advocate voting for a woman just because she's a woman, rather than the best candidate. Sounds like sexism to me.

Who would have thought NOW would be sexist.

[Gan]

What really makes this delicious is that the image of Bill Clinton, now faced with opposition from the very base that he lived so large upon, is being seen for some (most) [all] of his true colors - at the expense of his wife's candidacy.

Bill would have been better off playing the quiet supportive husband who works behind the scenes to garner big ticket support in Washington instead of hitting the campaign trail with his own brand of town hall meetings.

Even Ted Kennedy indicated that it was Bill's actions that convinced him that Obama would be the one getting his endorsement.

Great article covering the impact Bill has had on Hillary's campaign.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/8164.html

[Clove]

She's still in denial that Obama will beat Hillary. ;)

That being said, I cant wait for HER public endorsement of McCain.
:lol:

I'm so throwing her an edorsement party if she does. Whitman is like 2 hours from here. You can crash.

[Gan]

I want to see a McCain sign in her front yard.

LOLOLOL

[Ilvane]

I'm on a side street, it's not really much of a placement.;)

I shudder to think of a Romney presidency, so I hope Hillary beats Obama.

I am not sure McCain will win the Republican nomination.

Angela

[Xaerve]

I'm on a side street, it's not really much of a placement.;)

I shudder to think of a Romney presidency, so I hope Hillary beats Obama.

I am not sure McCain will win the Republican nomination.

Angela

Every time you post you're making less sense.

Are you trying to say that Obama cannot beat Romney?

[Ilvane]

Yes, I am saying that. Didn't think it was that difficult to understand.

Romney is slick, you know.

Angela

[Parkbandit]

Yes, I am saying that. Didn't think it was that difficult to understand.

Romney is slick, you know.

Angela


Question is.. if it were Romney (the white guy) and Obama (the black guy).. which one would YOU vote for?

[Ilvane]

In the case that Romney was the candidate for the Republicans, I'd have to vote for Obama.

Hopefully it won't turn out that way. Looks like McCain is gaining momentum for the Republicans too. We'll see.

Angela

[Xaerve]

I'd love to know where you get all of the information you have these "all-knowing" opinions from, because I really need to start reading/watching it.

[CrystalTears]

Hopefully it won't turn out that way.
Oh I know. Wouldn't want to force your hand to vote for icky Obama who holds the same important values you do, all because he's not experienced enough for you. Ew.

[Sean of the Thread]

rofl @ kennedy endorsing anyone. He's a piece of shit human being and an even worse politician.


"That fateful day down by the rivah' when I murdered Mary Joooo' was not my fauwwwwlt. I only waited 25 days to call for help because I was exhawwwsted from my efforrrrts to save her! Oh and that it took that long for me to sowburrr up... awf the recorrrd.

With that in mind I endorse Oobaaaamaa'. Praise be Allah."

[Hulkein]

Nice job typing out the accent, it was pretty good.

[BigWorm]

Question is.. if it were Romney (the white guy) and Obama (the black guy).. which one would YOU vote for?

As if your avatar isn't proof enough...

You know, some people actually make decisions based on things other than race and gender.

[Daniel]

No shit.

However, it's been established that Ilvane believes pretty much everything that Obama does..but she doesn't want to vote for him because of...experience and would rather go the exact opposite in MCcain.

[Sean of the Thread]

Well at least McCain has experience on the water board. Got that going for him.

[Latrinsorm]

If I had to pick one candidate who would tear the throat clean out of the Prime Minister of Nation X, it would definitely be McCain. If that's not electability, I don't know what is.

[BigWorm]

If I had to pick one candidate who would tear the throat clean out of the Prime Minister of Nation X, it would definitely be McCain. If that's not electability, I don't know what is.

Dude, he's 71. He's in good shape for a 71 year old, but I don't think he would be able to hold his own in a throw down with someone like Nicolas Sarkozy, who's 20 years younger and in better shape.

[Tsa`ah]

Well at least McCain has experience on the water board. Got that going for him.

In matters of national security and foriegn policy ... I give it to MCCain. Those with the experience of war are usually the last to suggest it. This isn't "Kerry" experience, nor is it a complete lack of (see ANG) experience. This is a guy who understood the nastiness of what he was doing well before he was shot down and captured.


It's a difficult thing to say. But now that I've seen what the bombs and the napalm did to the people on our ship, I'm not so sure that I want to drop any more of that stuff on North Vietnam.

That came before his five and one half years as a POW.

Domestically (economy excluded) ... I give it to Obama.

On the economy ... I don't have faith in any candidate.

[Ilvane]

No shit.

However, it's been established that Ilvane believes pretty much everything that Obama does..but she doesn't want to vote for him because of...experience and would rather go the exact opposite in MCcain.

Actually, Daniel, that's not true..and I've said that numerous times.

I've expressed over and over why, but you all neglect to read it, because you all say I'm dumb, or whatever. It has nothing to do with race, and everything to do with not believing he has the ability to be a strong president.

Obama has made some good speeches, he has written some nice policy papers, he's even given a fantastic speech at the Democratic convention. He doesn't have all the baggage of Hillary because he hasn't DONE that much. He's young, handsome, has a great speaking voice..

..and has spent 2 years as a senator..even any of the people have run in this election are more qualified--Edwards, Clinton, Biden, Richardson.. Personally, I don't believe it's his time yet. I would say it's a huge leap from state senate to the White House. See what we got with the inexperience of Bush??

I can even see why he is drawing comparisons to JFK, but yes..as most people who are compared to JFK, he is no JFK.

Kennedy was a decorated veteran of World War II which he fought in the South Pacific. He wasn't afraid, even as a young congressman to stand up for ideas that were not popular, even in his time. He was a policy maker, a hard worker, someone who made changes. Obama has a hard time standing firm on issues, he doesn't DO anything to change what he's upset about..except a few bills here and there, and as seen by his "Present" votes, in his state, doesn't really want to ruffle many feathers in order to avoid a political liability.

He has stood up and said he was against the war, but again..who knows what he would have voted had he been there at the time. And it's the standard left line to do this, really. He has to say he's against the war, or he loses a lot of the youth vote, and the anti-war liberal wing of the Democratic party.

Hillary is a doer. She may come across as hard-assed, but at least she works hard to push things that she wants done. I support what she stands for, and think she is the best person for the job. I believe when she says she'll do something, she'll work hard as she can to get it done. I think she'll have a tough, realistic approach to foreign policy. I just don't feel the same way about Obama.

Angela

[Daniel]

Please highlight where I said race.

In fact, I said "Experience" which is what your long ass post was meant to imply.


Feeling defensive much?

[Clove]

Actually, Daniel, that's not true..and I've said that numerous times.

I've expressed over and over why, but you all neglect to read it, because you all say I'm dumb, or whatever...

Hillary is a doer. She may come across as hard-assed, but at least she works hard to push things that she wants done. I support what she stands for, and think she is the best person for the job. I believe when she says she'll do something, she'll work hard as she can to get it done. I think she'll have a tough, realistic approach to foreign policy. I just don't feel the same way about Obama.

Angela

What has Hillary done?

[Gan]

Well at least McCain has experience on the water board. Got that going for him.
LOL - Quote of the Day.


What has Hillary done?
x2

:popcorn:

[Ilvane]

Here, if you really want to know what she has done..Christ..

(wall of text coming, as it is a lot of things)

Education and Political Involvement(exerpt from u-shistory.com)

Rodham entered Wellesley, a prestigious women’s college, after graduating from high school in 1965 where she began to blend academic achievement with political activism. Rodham was deeply affected by the death of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, having met him in 1962. After attending Wellesley in Washington, where her political views became more liberal, the president of the College Republicans switched to the Democratic Party at the urging of Professor Alan Schechter. Valedictorian at the 1969 graduation, Rodham was the first student to deliver the commencement address, during which she stated, “The challenge now is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible.” Graduating with a degree in political science, her speech won Rodham a standing ovation and a feature article in Life magazine.

After entering Yale Law School in 1969, Rodham served on the board of editors of the Yale Review of Law and Social Action and provided legal advice for underprivileged and abused children at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She also interned with children’s advocate Marian Wright Edelman, received a grant to work at the Children’s Defense Fund in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1970; and worked for Senator Walter Mondale’s subcommittee on migrant workers during the summer of 1971. During her second year in law school, Rodham volunteered at the Yale Child Study Center, where she studied new research on early childhood brain development. She also worked at the city legal services providing free assistance to poor residents. It was at Yale’s library that she met her future husband, Bill Clinton.

After graduating from Yale in 1973, Rodham began a year of post-graduate study on children and medicine at the Yale Child Study Center, after having written her widely acknowledged thesis on children’s rights. She also became a staff attorney for the Children’s Defense Fund and was recruited to serve on the presidential impeachment inquiry staff for the House of Representative’s Judiciary Committee, investigating the Watergate Scandal.

Rodham moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, after President Richard M. Nixon resigned in August 1974. She joined boyfriend and colleague Bill on the University of Arkansas Law School faculty. She married Clinton in 1975, retained her maiden name, and bore their only child, Chelsea Victoria Clinton, on February 27, 1980.

In Arkansas, the Clintons' careers began to ascend, and soon the couple moved to Little Rock. Two years later, Rodham Clinton was appointed to the board of the Legal Services Corporation by President Jimmy Carter, and Clinton was elected to the governor's office.

First lady of Arkansas

During Rodham Clinton’s 12 years as first lady of Arkansas, she continued to pursue children and family issues. She chaired the Arkansas Education Standards Committee to improve the testing standards of new teachers, founded the Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, and introduced Arkansas Home Instruction for Preschool Youth, a program that trained parents of preschool children in preparedness and literacy. The first lady also served on the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Legal Services board, Children’s Defense Fund board, while continuing to work for the Rose Law Firm. She was named one of the 100 most influential attorneys in America by the National Law Journal in 1988 and 1991. She was also named Arkansas Woman of the Year in 1983 and Arkansas Mother of the Year in 1984.

First lady of the White House

When the Clintons moved into the White House in 1993, the president appointed his wife to head the Task Force on National Health Care Reform that proposed a national health plan. The controversial plan failed to receive enough support to reach the floors of Congress and was abandoned in September 1994. Rodham Clinton attributed her political inexperience as a contributor to its defeat, as well as other factors.

Not since Eleanor Roosevelt had a first lady so actively participated in public policy. Unaccustomed to the first lady’s central role in the shaping of public policy, such involvement was thought inappropriate by critics. Supporters considered her role as the same as other White House advisors and contended that voters had been aware that Hillary would play an active role in the Clinton administration prior to voting him into office.

During her eight years as first lady, Rodham Clinton also initiated the Children’s Health Insurance Program in 1997, increased research funding for prostate cancer and childhood asthma to the National Institute of Health, as well as assisted in determining the cause of a mysterious illness affecting veterans of the Gulf War. She also initiated and guided the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997.

Rodham Clinton has received many prestigious awards, including the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the President’s Award of the League of United Latin American Citizens, Role Model of the Year, by the United Steel Workers of America; the Martin Luther King Jr. Award from the Progressive National Baptist Convention, and the National Association of Elementary School Principals Distinguished Service Award.

Rodham Clinton also has authored best-selling books, including her autobiography, Living History and It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us, which won her the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for the recorded version.

[Daniel]

Please highlight where I said race.

In fact, I said "Experience" which is what your long ass post was meant to imply.


Feeling defensive much?


*ahem.

[Clove]

Here, if you really want to know what she has done..Christ..


Brilliant. I can lookup her bio on Wikipedia too. She's sat on 5 committees and done jack-shit.

Edit: Nope, nope. I'm sorry. She sponsored the Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act. I sorry, I sorry.

[Parkbandit]

As if your avatar isn't proof enough...

You know, some people actually make decisions based on things other than race and gender.


Actually.. my avatar was from a post.. where someone was calling me or Gan the White Jesse Jackson... and I found this and thought it was funny (and true). I doubt it makes me a racist.

[Latrinsorm]

Dude, he's 71. He's in good shape for a 71 year old, but I don't think he would be able to hold his own in a throw down with someone like Nicolas Sarkozy, who's 20 years younger and in better shape...and FRENCH. Eisenhower's corpse could kick that guy's ass, come on.
I've expressed over and over why, but you all neglect to read itIt's been repeatedly demonstrated how your claims about Obama are not only factually incorrect but apply almost eerily well to Hilary Clinton.

[CrystalTears]

She's probably equating Hillary's time in the White House as first lady as experience over what Obama has.

Hell my doctor was saying basically the same thing to me yesterday... that Obama has less experience than Hillary, and all she had to say after that was, "Well, she's had experience in the White House, not sure if that really qualifies as 'experience' though.".

I was begging on the inside for the examination to be over because I didn't want to discuss politics during... that. Sheesh.

[Ilvane]

Hillary passed legislation to track the health status of our troops so that conditions like Gulf War Syndrome would no longer be misdiagnosed.

She is an original sponsor of legislation that expanded health benefits to members of the National Guard and Reserves and has been a strong critic of the Administration's handling of Iraq.

She has introduced legislation to tie Congressional salary increases to an increase in the minimum wage.

She has supported a variety of middle-class tax cuts, including marriage penalty relief, property tax relief, and reduction in the Alternative Minimum Tax, and supports fiscally responsible pay-as-you-go budget rules.

She helped pass legislation that encouraged investment to create jobs in struggling communities through the Renewal Communities program.

She authored legislation that has been enacted to improve quality and lower the cost of prescription drugs and to protect our food supply from bioterrorism.

She sponsored legislation to increase America's commitment to fighting the global HIV/AIDS crisis.

Clinton has successfully worked to ensure the safety of prescription drugs for children, with legislation now included in the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act.

She has also proposed expanding access to child care.

She has passed legislation that will bring more qualified teachers into classrooms and more outstanding principals to lead our schools.

Hillary is one of the original cosponsors of the Prevention First Act to increase access to family planning.

She fought with the Bush Administration and ensured that Plan B, an emergency contraceptive, will be available to millions of American women and will reduce the need for abortions.

She introduced the Count Every Vote Act of 2005 to ensure better protection of votes and to ensure that every vote is counted.

[Xaerve]

I'd give up my right to vote to stop people like you from voting.

[Ilvane]

Right..should know that none of you read what you ask to hear about. Wanted proof, gave proof..didn't want to read it.

Not my problem.

[Sean of the Thread]

Right..should know that none of you read what you ask to hear about. Wanted proof, gave proof..didn't want to read it.

Not my problem.

Google whore.

[Daniel]

Please highlight where I said race.

In fact, I said "Experience" which is what your long ass post was meant to imply.


Feeling defensive much?


*ahem.



*ahem x2.

[Xaerve]

Right..should know that none of you read what you ask to hear about. Wanted proof, gave proof..didn't want to read it.

Not my problem.

Yea, I'm going to agree with Sean2 and say that your ability to copy and paste does not mean you're capable of defending a position. I read all of the bullshit that you copy/pasted, and it's just that--bullshit. I can go run off and copy/paste hundreds of issues/things that an individual has voted on, or chaired, or attempted to lead.

Long lasting, sustainable, beneficial change management is Hillary's real weakness, in my opinion (something none of your panacea of platitudes even attempt to address).

How about we talk about her completely botched health-care reform plan, while she was the first lady, for starters.

The only thing I'm almost certain of, at this point, is your ability to make really strong, emotional decisions without a well thought out, legitimate reason(s) to back them up. Then you pull the "poor angela, everyone misunderstands me card," or the, "you just don't understand because you didn't try hard enough card."

[Clove]

Hillary has not authored any enacted legislation. Of the 352 bills that she's sponsored since 2001 only 1 has passed both Senate and House:

S.Con.Res. 27: A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of "National Purple Heart Recognition Day".

By the way, she's also a Junior Senator.

[Xaerve]

Hillary has not authored any enacted legislation. Of the 352 bills that she's sponsored since 2001 only 1 has passed both Senate and House:

S.Con.Res. 27: A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of "National Purple Heart Recognition Day".

By the way, she's also a Junior Senator.

Anglea would've known that, but it was removed from her home page:

www.google-and-wikipedia-decide-the-vote.com

:(

[Gan]

LOL


Anglea would've known that, but it was removed from her home page:

www.google-and-wikipedia-decide-the-vote.com (http://www.google-and-wikipedia-decide-the-vote.com/)

:(

WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT THE TENDANCY TO DELETE !!!

(Birds of a feather)

[crazymage]

Harvard sux.

[Xaerve]

Harvard sux.


Funny enough, Angela works there now (if my memory isn't going).

[TheEschaton]

John Kerry is a Junior Senator too, so what?

[Clove]

John Kerry is a Junior Senator too, so what?

I don't have a problem with Junior Senators running for President. But someone around here keeps bitching about Obama's lack of experience.

[Ilvane]

Pfft, I go off to a meeting and you are still going..LOL.

Anyway, I'm strongly behind Hillary because I believe she is the best person for the job.

I don't have to explain it, really..however..

I think the health care plan was a good try to do something long before someone was even trying to get things like that done. She did work hard, but so many people back then didn't even think we needed it, and called it "Socialized health care". In reality, it's very similar to the plan we have in MA right now. Working on it is one thing, but she was progressively working on something that people didn't think needed to be done long before it was a problem.

As far as listing what she has done, you asked for proof of what she had done, and I gave you background and listings. I'm not sure what else you want.

Angela

P.S. Harvard does not suck.

[TheEschaton]

Those Harvard law kids are a pretty big fucking pain in the ass.

[BigWorm]

So this is a Harvard bar, huh? I thought there'd be equations and shit on the wall.

[Xaerve]

I think the health care plan was a good try to do something long before someone was even trying to get things like that done. She did work hard, but so many people back then didn't even think we needed it, and called it "Socialized health care". In reality, it's very similar to the plan we have in MA right now.


Wrong. Really wrong, actually. The current plan in MA is entirely different.

MA had the common sense to lead the program from the state level to demonstrate to insurance companies that there was 1) an appetite, 2) a profit-making market in the lower-income individuals. Its been a huge success.

That is nothing like what Hillary tried to pull back when she was the unelected First Lady.



As far as listing what she has done, you asked for proof of what she had done, and I gave you background and listings. I'm not sure what else you want.


Again, you're not providing reasons. You're not defending her shortcomings, and claiming, often, that she has no shortcomings.

I'm not going to write you a wall of text explaining something you need to go figure out for yourself.

[Parkbandit]

I'm not going to write you a wall of text explaining something you need to go figure out for yourself.


LOL, good luck with that.

[Ilvane]

Those Harvard law kids are a pretty big fucking pain in the ass.

I'm so glad I'm a psych student...LOL

Angela

[Clove]

So this is a Harvard bar, huh? I thought there'd be equations and shit on the wall.

How do you like dem apples?