Martin O'Malley is the only "Democrat from birth"

[question everything]

Well, not exactly these words but someone observed this morning. Don't remember who.

O'Malley has always run as a Democrat.

Hillary was a "Goldwater Girl." Kinda unfair I think, to hold her for opinions as a teen after 50 years...

Bernie is an Independent. And don't give me the mantra that this is how it is done in Vermont. Patrick Leahy is from Vermont and always had a D after his name.

Lincoln Chafee has been a Republican Senator and governor.

Jim Webb was Secretary of the Navy under Reagan.

Oh well

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. It is their record on legislation that matters, and their stand

curret issues, not how long they have been Democrats.

[question everything]

2. Agree. Just interesting that a "pundit" observed this (nt)

[askew]

53. And O'Malley has the most progressive record of accomplishments.

Bernie is more progressive on most issues but has fewer accomplishments to show for it. And at the end of the day, that is what matters. Not ideology, party affiliation or abstract policy positions, but what the candidate has done to improve the lives of people. And O'Malley has delivered time after time for the people. He isn't all talk. He walks the walk and gets things done.

[Agnosticsherbet]

54. O'Malley ' record on gun control wins that very critical issue

[askew]

56. He's better on immigration issues as well.

And he's the only one who actually successfully repealed the death penalty. That's a huge issue for me and one of the main reasons I support O'Malley.

[elleng]

3. Quite true

and his accomplishments confirm this, but MANY do NOT want to be confused with mere FACTS. BRIEFLY,

Martin O'Malley:

1. Ended death penalty in Maryland
2. Prevented fracking in Maryland and put regulations in the way to prevent next GOP Gov Hogan fom easily allowing fracking.
3. Provided health insurance for 380,000
4. Reduced infant mortality to an all time low.
5. Provided meals to thousands of hungry children and moved toward a goal for eradicating childhood hunger.
6. Enacted a $10.10 living wage and a $11. minimum wage for State workers.
7. Supporter the Dream Act
8. Cut income taxes for 86% of Marylanders (raised taxes on the rich).
9. Reformed Maryland’s tax code to make it more progressive.
10. Enacted some of the nation’s most comprehensive reforms to protect homeowners from foreclosure.

Mother Jones magazine called him the best candidate on environmental issues.
Article here:
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/martin-omalley-longshot-presidential-candidate-and-real-climate-hawk

[donco]

4. Hhmmm....now

what so-called snews service uses a version of "someone observed"?

[libdem4life]

5. One might say we have the best and brightest of the Republicans. I was a Nixon Girl until I went

to, ironically, his college alma mater. My Dad was a John Bircher...you tend to believe what your parents teach you. When I learned to think for myself, I became a bleeding-heart Liberal and have always been proud of it.

Kind of like ex-smokers...maybe it makes them just a tad hardier? But it is an interesting fact.

[question everything]

10. Was thinking the same thing. Shows how empty the Republican party is

when the more - call them reasonable - people switch sides.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

6. True.

Of course Bernie has always been an independent to the LEFT of the Democratic party, not the right.

That's actually very appealing for many of us who think the party has drifted ever rightward over our lifetimes.

[marble falls]

7. Jim Webb has always been a Democrat and darn good choice for Secty of the Navy....

https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog_post/president_obama_nominates_third_republican_to_his_cabinet/


President Obama nominates third Republican to his cabinet
Macon Phillips

February 03, 2009
01:53 PM EDT

President Obama called Republican Senator Judd Gregg a "master of reaching across the aisle" in announcing him as his choice to lead the Commerce Department today.
"Clearly, Judd and I don't agree on every issue -- most notably who should have won the election," President Obama said. "But we agree on the urgent need to get American businesses and families back on their feet. We see eye to eye on conducting the nation's business in a responsible, transparent, and accountable manner. And we know the only way to solve the great challenges of our time is to put aside stale ideology and petty partisanship, and embrace what works."
"The Commerce Department has a broad and interesting portfolio," Senator Gregg (R-NH) said, "but its primary goal must be to create jobs by promoting industry, promoting economic activity, and promoting excellence in science. And I intend to pursue those avenues aggressively."



Jim Webb is no more a Republican than Judd Gregg, Secretary Ray LaHood (Transportation) and Secretary Robert Gates are Democrats.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

16. No the hell he hasn't. He was a Republican when he served under Reagan.

He's another white candidate who made racist statements about how black voters don't matter; Democrats need to capture the WHITE MALE VOTER!

Miss me with that bullshit!

Listen Democrats:

YOU HAVE LOST THE MAJORITY OF WHITE MALE VOTERS!! THEY ARE GONE AND ARE NEVER COMING BACK TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY!!!!

[Raine1967]

29. there is also this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=427863 In that post (and this one really irritates me about Webb:

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/11/jim-webb-hillary-clinton-exploratory-committee

Webb has at least a few bumps to smooth over, though. He defended the Confederate flag and "the venerable Robert E. Lee" in his book Born Fighting, about the Scots-Irish, and in 1979, he wrote an essay for Washingtonian titled "Why Women Can't Fight"—a spirited case against admitting women into service academies. As a senator from a major coal-producing state, he opposed proposals to combat climate change. And only last month expressed his support for same-sex marriage. Beating an entrenched Republican in Virginia as a centrist in 2006 is one thing—but winning a Democratic presidential nomination requires winning Democratic primary voters.

[Raine1967]

28. No he really hasn't.

At one point he endorsed George Allen for Virginia senator.

He changed parties, I will say that, so instead of being a moderate republican he is now a very conservative Democrat.
Jim Webb was a republican, a serious republican for most of his life. HE served under the Reagan Administration as Secretary of the Navy and Assistant secretary of Defense. He has a fine military record, I won't detract from that, but makes no question, he was a staunch republican.

Now he is what I would call a Reagan Democrat.

He will not go far in the primary process running alongside O'malley, Clinton and Sanders. Also, there is this:

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2014/11/jim-webb-hillary-clinton-exploratory-committee

Webb has at least a few bumps to smooth over, though. He defended the Confederate flag and "the venerable Robert E. Lee" in his book Born Fighting, about the Scots-Irish, and in 1979, he wrote an essay for Washingtonian titled "Why Women Can't Fight"—a spirited case against admitting women into service academies. As a senator from a major coal-producing state, he opposed proposals to combat climate change. And only last month expressed his support for same-sex marriage. Beating an entrenched Republican in Virginia as a centrist in 2006 is one thing—but winning a Democratic presidential nomination requires winning Democratic primary voters.

And while I can only rely on the footnotes from books referenced in this wiki page, there is this:https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Jim_Webb

In 1994 he endorsed incumbent Democrat Charles Robb for reelection to his Senate seat, over Webb's former Naval Academy classmate Oliver North; like Webb, both Robb and North were decorated Marine veterans of the Vietnam war. Webb subsequently endorsed Republican George Allen over Robb in 2000, and then ran against Allen himself in 2006.

He's a very, very conservative Dem. I live in Virginia so generally that is more a rule than the exception. He simply has not always been a Dem.

[tech3149]

36. Notice the order of priority

"But we agree on the urgent need to get American businesses and families back on their feet."
As I've said too many times before, Obama's primary interest is supporting business, everything else is secondary. From an economic perspective everything he has done has been for the benefit of business interests. If it happened to benefit the people, well that's just gravy.
The only way I'd vote for Webb or Gregg or any other corporatist is if the alternative was even more horrible.

[marble falls]

37. I back Bernie myself but if the choice were Webb vs car clown of your choice....

I'm voting Jim Webb and encouraging everybody else to vote the same.

[tech3149]

38. I've been following Sanders for quite some time and there are issues on which I disagree

The thing is that he didn't take on the candidacy just to win. It was more about starting the revolution. We all know that the media will ignore and denigrate him. The party will play nice but subvert his candidacy in every way possible that doesn't reflect badly on their chosen candidate.
I'm sure he knew this coming into the fight. It's all about us. Are we ready to stand up and fight for our own interests?
That is what Bernie stands for. He might be the focus of our attention but he's just trying to get us to do the job we as citizens should have been doing all along.

[marble falls]

41. I think thats valid. I worry about his age. If he pulls Hillary Clinton into evolving....

leftward, that would be a very good thing. I'd like to see her change her views on the Afghan war, Keystone, TPP and fracking.

Have you seen this?

http://www.isidewith.com/elections/2016-presidential/1082926290

I rate 98% Bernie Sanders and 94% with Hillary Clinton.

Even at this point in campaign we still have more in common than not. We have a simple task: keep a car clown out of the White House.

Between Bernie and Hillary we have we what need to keep from becoming corporate citizens.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. He's also a D. C. Outsider

Add that to not flipping back and forth to win elections - makes for an interesting contrast with the rest of the field.

[99Forever]

9. By not condemning the attack ad on Sanders run by his pac...

... he lost any chance of even being taken seriously by progressives. Petty crap like this OP mean squat.

[NCTraveler]

11. "he lost any chance of even being taken seriously by progressives."

You are clearly speaking for those you do not know. I am a progressive, as are many on this board, and we are taking him seriously. That is such a weak comment that could never be true in the manner in which it was typed. Truly false on face value. Dripping with anger.

[99Forever]

12. You're right about one thing.

I am angry. Dirty campaigners piss me off. And I am not alone. As such, that one is toast.

[NCTraveler]

21. You need to learn more about campaigning if this is the case.

Your anger is misplaced and not based in reality. What dirty campaign? Are you saying that Sanders is going to go on an apology tour when his PACS ramp up and do the negative work for him? That would be beyond stupid. As it would be for O'Malley to do here. Your anger at O'Malley here makes no sense at all. Then again, anger rarely produces productive or positive thoughts.

[libdem4life]

13. Geez...dripping with anger...overeact much?

[NCTraveler]

15. "Petty crap like this OP mean squat."

That level of aggression doesn't come about without a certain level of anger. Maybe not dripping, but no doubt the anger is there. Read the op and then look at the reply that cannot be factual in any way. The disconnect is real as is the anger.

Even the poster who typed it agrees with the anger part. Strange that you comment to me about that, when my comment is clearly based in reality, and even the person themselves agree. When obvious is obvious, maybe you should just state it. Fact is, yours is based in anger as well. It is the whole point of you not being able to recognize the obvious.

[libdem4life]

18. OK...I'll split the differece with you. Peace.

[NCTraveler]

19. I like how you jumped in, were completely wrong, and want to split the difference.

It is clear you need a win, judging from your initial reply to me, so I won't split the difference. It's all yours. I'm nailing it today and can take a loss. lol.

[libdem4life]

20. Huh? You took it wrong, I believe. The term "dripping" was a bit overkill as you noted,

but I was agreeing that he was angry...as noted by his next post. I don't need to win...this is just my opinion any way...and yours...and they are both valid. K?

[FSogol]

17. Where have you been? He did condem that attack ad. As you may be aware, candidates have no

control over what their unaffiliated Super Pacs are doing. Sanders has 3 Super Pacs while disavowing them. Yet, as Democrats, we aren't blasting Sanders and crying hypocrisy. Why is that?

[99Forever]

22. Link?

[FSogol]

23. Here you go:

“We live in a perverse system where there are no limits on super PACs,” he said. “Citizens United should be called ‘Citizens Don’t Matter.'” This O’Malley answer was in response to a negative ad under his name published by a super PAC. He told them of his “extreme displeasure” in their publishing anything negative against anyone, including Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (‘Bernie Sanders is no progressive when it comes to guns’) or, if it came up, to Hillary Clinton, the top runner in the Democratic field.

From here:

http://greenecountynewsonline.com/2015/07/01/will-omalley-be-an-extension-of-obama/

[99Forever]

24. Where do I find the...

... The condemnation of the ad's message?

[FSogol]

25. I'll edit the post and make it bold for the reading impaired

And if you are going to claim it isn't enough or too late, then don't bother. Extreme predictability makes further conversation unnecessary.

[99Forever]

40. I read the weasel words.

O'Malley shows himself to be just another ordinary pol. Not worthy of further attention.

[elleng]

44. You really MUST be joking, 99.

Martin O'Malley did THESE things, NOTHING 'ordinary' about him:

1. Ended death penalty in Maryland
2. Prevented fracking in Maryland and put regulations in the way to prevent next GOP Gov Hogan fom easily allowing fracking.
3. Provided health insurance for 380,000
4. Reduced infant mortality to an all time low.
5. Provided meals to thousands of hungry children and moved toward a goal for eradicating childhood hunger.
6. Enacted a $10.10 living wage and a $11. minimum wage for State workers.
7. Supporter the Dream Act
8. Cut income taxes for 86% of Marylanders (raised taxes on the rich).
9. Reformed Maryland’s tax code to make it more progressive.
10. Enacted some of the nation’s most comprehensive reforms to protect homeowners from foreclosure.

Mother Jones magazine called him the best candidate on environmental issues.
Article here:
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/martin-omalley-longshot-presidential-candidate-and-real-climate-hawk

[Raine1967]

30. and yet he did speak on this. You are being disingenuous.

It is NOT any candidates job to condemn what a PAC does.

and I seriously hope you hold Sanders to the same standards when it happens, because it will. I guarantee it will.

[99Forever]

33. I read the..

....non-apology apology.

[Raine1967]

34. Bernie is tough, he can handle it.

[99Forever]

39. Not the point.

It's about ethics or the lack of them.

[Raine1967]

42. No it actually is the point.

I get that you don't like the PAC system, I just don't believe you quite understand how it works.

It seems that all you want is for Martin O'MAlley to grovel for forgiveness for something he has no responsibility for. That is unrealistic and really rather naive, IMO.

HE mad the most legal statement he could and that clearly is not good enough for you.

Please remember in the future, there WILL be Bernie PACs that will say things other supporters do not like, and please remember you outrage over this, because it may very well come back to you.

[99Forever]

43. I've heard tons of predictions of what Senator Sanders was and wasn't going to do.

Most of them have already been proved wrong.

[Raine1967]

45. You are aware that PAC's are independent of candidates, right?

and if you are aware of that, then you will know that legally he has no control over them the same as any other candidate.

Perhaps you are missing my point. Sanders has little to nothing to do with what I am trying to talk to you about.

[99Forever]

46. You are talking legalities, I'm talking ethics.

The Koch brothers can dump a billion $s into the Teapublican campaign, all perfectly "legally," and Clinton can suck up 2 billion $s from her corporate cohorts perfectly "legally.

I guess you are okay with that, because it's "legal."

Is it ethical? Not in my fucking book, not by a long shot.

Bernie doesn't just talk talk that it's wrong, then take the cash, he LIVES it. Nor does he just talk talk that negative campaigning is wrong, he LIVES it. And not with weasel words.

[Raine1967]

49. You can assume anything you want about me. I never said I was fine with it.

What I am saying is this is the way it is right now. Take a good damn look at both O'MAlley and Sanders when it comes to wanting to change election financing. You might be surprised that they are both right on the same page on this issue. As thus, O'Malley's strong condemnation should be something that people would actually welcome.

You are still naive to think that Martin O'MAlley should apologize for something that is not within his control.

This is from this past march:

and then there is this:

“We’ve turned them into a bunch of telemarketers. They’re no — how can you tell me that you’re actually representing the interests of your district when you’re spending 20 hours a week on a telephone like an idiot in some little room calling people again and again and again asking for PAC checks. I mean, this is bull----.”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/05/13/martin-omalley-criticizes-super-pacs-new-hampshire-visit/eXZMrF84CvcIOi4dPiRD6L/story.html

Now if you want, we can discuss PAC money, Bernie Sanders has actually received money from them: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/pacs.php?cid=n00000528&cycle=2014

So please, spare me your ethical outrage — O'MAlley did nothing wrong and nothing to apologize for.

[99Forever]

55. Next time you are trying to convince someone of something...

... might I suggest you avoid calling them naïve. Or perhaps in the O'M camp, condescending is considered a good thing. I stopped reading there. Have a nice life.

Just a thought.

[Raine1967]

57. I will call out naïve when I see it.

and I am glade that you and I agree that O'malley has nothing to apologize for.

… and in case we don't, thank you for moving the goalposts.

I wasn't trying to convince you of anything. I was solidly making a point and not backing down from my point.

have a nice evening.

[99Forever]

62. ...

[elleng]

58. NO condescension at the MO'M group,

just facts, from which you might learn.

'Naive' = condescension??? Touchy, eh?

[99Forever]

63. Touchy?

Last edited Tue Jul 7, 2015, 07:36 AM - Edit history (1)

Fuck that.

Have a nice campaign.

[Andy823]

47. I remember

There was this group here on DU, still here by the way, that used to predict all kinds of things that president Obama was and wasn't going to do, they too proved to be mostly wrong, yet they kept on predicting, post after post. You wouldn't know anyone in that group would you?

[Raine1967]

50. I thought I was alone in recalling that. n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

64. I recall that group!

[Raine1967]

67. Psss… you might want to take a look here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141147400

There it is my friend. A Berne Sanders Super PAC.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. Given her and her husband's racist campaign back in 2008 it's never too late to hold her accountable

Dog whistle politics referring to "hard working white people"?

Evidence: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/08/clinton-obama-not-winning_n_100763.html

and here: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0508/Garin_Clinton_won_the_white_vote.html

Bill Clinton's racist statements about Jesse Jackson?

Evidence: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0108/7845.html

and here the audio/video:

Geraldine Ferarro claim that Obama's race was the reason why people supported him, even though Hillary enjoyed overwhelming support from black voters initially?

Evidence: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/13/us/politics/13ferraro.html?_r=0

and here on Faux News, nevertheless: Geraldine Ferarro's comments:

Hillary alludes to the assassination of Bobby Kennedy during a time when Obama was receiving an unprecedented number of death threats?

Evidence: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/24/us/politics/24clinton.html

And this statement is precisely what turned the Kennedy family against Hillary Clinton for the nomination. Despicable!!!

They all went on Faux News to ridicule and play racial dog whistle politics, knowing that working class white Democrats weren't supporting Obama. For example, Ed Rendell praising Faux News for it's unbiased coverage: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/31/clinton-surrogate-ed-rend_n_94280.html

I have no reason to lie!

The Clintons were disgusting, as were their surrogates and many of their fans.

I WILL NEVER SHUT MY MOUTH ON THIS ISSUE! I will never keep quiet until people wake up and own it!

[HFRN]

26. no 3rd way for me nt

[FSogol]

27. Does the H stand for Ham?

[HFRN]

31. ?

[Raine1967]

32. And his Mom still works for Senator Mikulski!

O'malley is a Dem thru and thru, and his record backs it up!

[CharlotteVale]

35. I'm a Democrat from birth too and I'm voting for Bernie Sanders.

So far he's the one closest to my views.

But I'd never vote for Chafee or Webb regardless as to whether they were "Democrats from birth."

[deutsey]

52. +1

[bigwillq]

48. That's nice.

But I am really not concerned too much with what most of these candidates were back then. I am more concerned with what they can do for me now and in the future.

[deutsey]

51. Well, good for him

I voted for him as governor. I liked him, by and large. But being a "Democrat from birth" doesn't guarantee anything. Who is he really and what will he actually do. Those are the questions that matter for him and all candidates, imo.

[Raine1967]

59. Glad you voted for him. I wish I could have.

WE have a pretty good group that shows why we want to see him as the nominee.

[ibegurpard]

60. Not a good enough reason.

You'd best leave this stuff to the other O'malley boosters

[JI7]

61. Sanders aligns with Democrats in Congress

he votes for Democrats for leadership positions. there is no question to me about which side he would support .

[warmfuzzy]

65. redemption

I believe in redemption - a lot of people who are Democrats now didn't start out that way.

But it's good they figured it out. Welcome them.

[Andy823]

66. K&R nt