Kerry endorses Obama

[H2O Man]

per MSNBC.

[H2O Man]

1. It was just

reported .... I assume more will follow.

[Nimrod2005]

104. K

[YvonneCa]

115. Great endorsement...

...for Obama. I'm with Kerry on this. :)

[MaineDem]

2. Whoa...that's very interesting

I'll be very interested in the reasoning behind this.

[China_cat]

71. One thought could be

that this is a very shrewd move FOR Edwards. It lessens the connection between the 2 in 2004 and forestalls the talking point that would be sure to be brought up that, even though Edwards would be president it would be Kerry pulling the strings.

A Kerry endorsement of Edwards right now could be a very bad thing.

[MNDemNY]

3. That will help.

:sarcasm:

[H2O Man]

I don't think

it will hurt. But no matter what you or I think, it is interesting news. Kerry was the 2004 candidate, and that means it is an important endorsement. I'm not sure why you would respond in a hostile manner to my posting it.

[girl gone mad]

32. I think it might hurt..

in my honest opinion.

[Meshuga]

16. It helps a little

I am an undecided voter and Kerry is my man. If I had my way he would be in this election. I'm not saying I would support Obama just because of Kerry, but I can say that Obama is gaining some points in my eyes and this might be a factor in my decision.

I like all the candidates (Hillary, Obama, Edwards, etc.), I would be happy with whoever wins the nomination. So my decision might be based on the more frivolous reasons. I don't think I am alone. It does help a little.

[ginnyinWI]

50. there are a lot of Kerry supporters out in America, and at DU

Maybe not the majority at DU but across the country. That's who count. This is a major endorsement for Obama and a blow to the other candidates.

[H2O Man]

Valid point.

John Kerry has an organization that can influence sections of the country.

[Dems Will Win]

91. Kerry has the famed 3 million name email list, evolved originally from Dean

That is another big help to Obama.

I believe the race is still Obama's to lose. Indies in NH thought he would win big, so they might have gone over to the Dark Side and voted for McCain to stop Romney and Huck.

That could have been another factor there.

Obama was just too popular to win in NH if that was the case!

[H2O Man]

93. Kerry has structure ....

No matter what one thinks of him, or of his 2004 campaign- and post-elections tactics, he got a lot of people to vote for him. Structure is very important, on the local, county, state and federal level.

[Meshuga]

76. I also think it is huge for Obama

and blow to other candidates but even more so to the Edwards campaign.

[RummyTheDummy]

129. I suppose it would have been WONDERFUL had he picked Hillary

Double standard much?

[itsrobert]

4. KICKING BECAUSE MY THREAD WAS A DUPE

THIS IS THE ONE TO REPLY TO.

[H2O Man]

5. The moderators

should combine the three on GD-P. I am fine with mine being added to others.

[MaineDem]

8. Three?

I think there are more than that. I hope the mods combine them.

[ccpup]

6. not sure how this will affect anything

as there are still many Democrats who are angry at the campaign Kerry ran and the way he quickly conceded defeat. And, as he's not running and has no delegates or Union Endorsements, I'm not sure what he brings to the mix. Perhaps someone can clue me in? :-)

[goldcanyonaz]

12. A big fuck you to Edwards is how this reads for me.

[Meshuga]

18. I remember Lieberman taking Gore endorsement of Dean as a big FU as well

Lieberman was upset. I wonder how Edwards is going to take this.

[Justyce]

20. Which is not necessarily a bad thing for Edwards... nt

[H2O Man]

24. Right.

It may help John Edwards, in a way, because it separates him from the 2004 election. I think that John Edwards will be gaining strength in the next four weeks.

[Meshuga]

30. It might hurt Edwards as well

Since people expect Kerry to back his VP but he didn't.

[Justyce]

59. That's true, but on the other hand, many also remember that Edwards wasn't

happy when Kerry wanted to concede so early with all the voting irregularities, so I personally am not all that surprised. Guess only time will tell what effect, if any, it has on things.

[krabigirl]

100. It sucks

[RichGirl]

52. That was exactly my impression!!

Where's the loyalty???

It's funny...everyone seems to need to know every little aspect of every candidate. Not me. The less I know about them, the more I like them. All I want to know is their resume. Not their opinions, not their every emotion, not how many bowel movements they have per week.

When a person is interviewed for a job, there is a whole list of questions that are illegal to ask. It should be the same with public offices. I bet we would get much better people. Definitely more honest people, if they had a right to some privacy.

Hillary is tormented by a need to know every detail about every mood she has ever had since birth. Who the hell cares!! I only need to know the potential president Hillary. Her private self, as well as the others, should be kept private.

[krabigirl]

97. That's what it said in this yahoo article ro

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080110/ap_po/obama_kerry

"Besides any potential help for Obama, Thursday's endorsement was a slap at Edwards, who was Kerry's running mate in the last election. The two had their differences during the campaign over strategy and spending. In post-mortem interviews, Edwards said he would have been more aggressive in challenging the unsubstantiated allegations of the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, the Vietnam War veterans who questioned Kerry's military record"

[babylonsister]

13. He didn't endorse Clinton. That's big. nt

[JVS]

19. Maybe he was unimpressed by her "Substance"

[alcibiades_mystery]

23. He's an Obamaniac that makes everybody want to Obamit

Crowd psychology! All talk! Mob mentality! Hula hoop fad! Irrationality! Flash! Flash! Flash!

[ShortnFiery]

27. Now that was classy and highly original. Do you do attack limericks too?

:eyes:

[alcibiades_mystery]

36. I guess I have to add the sarcasm smiley

:shrug:

[ShortnFiery]

45. sorry. my bad. (poor attention to detail.)

:blush: :hi:

[krabigirl]

102. I see it as someone kinda boring endorsing someone kinda bland. not to flame, but...

I think Kerry droned on, and on, and on again in his speeches, and Obama isn't as bad, but similar. So I guess it makes sense.

But really, he doesn't want to endorse Edwards because the media has decided that Edwards is not their candidate. They want him to shut up.

[H2O Man]

107. Then don't.

[alcibiades_mystery]

114. Yeah, Obama is famous for his tedious oratory

:rofl:

What planet are you living on?

[H2O Man]

116. The "not to flame..."

makes it seem real, doesn't it?

[cali]

7. I'm happy to hear it.

I've long respected JK, even though he wasn't my primary pick last go round.

[H2O Man]

15. I've said before

that I think he makes a great US Senator. I think a politician can make a great contribution to the country in that role. I'm glad he didn't run again.

[babylonsister]

9. ALLRIGHT!

:bounce: :toast: :applause: :woohoo:

[Inuca]

17. You used all the smilies I wanted to use :-) n/t

[Adelante]

10. I am so very happy

[russian33]

11. just don't let him campaign for Obama

next to Obama, Kerry's speech will put people into a coma

[H2O Man]

21. A lot of people

from my generation think very highly of Kerry. We remember him speaking to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 22, 1971. We remember him trying to uncover the Iran-Contra crimes. Senator Kerry is one of the more honorable statesmen of our time.

[russian33]

40. and i didn't say that he wasn't

but remembering him from the last presidential election, he didn't exactly energize me, and was able to light a fire...and especially, comparing his speaking style to Obama's, he loses, by a lot...

[H2O Man]

43. And I didn't say you did.

[progressoid]

14. That's kind of a double edged sword.

[NOVA_Dem]

25. Drives a stake in Edwards and reminds Dems how HRC stabbed him in the back

They will replay the botched joke and HRC using that to get Kerry out of the '08 race.

[H2O Man]

29. I do not think

it hurts John Edwards or Hillary Clinton. I do think it helps Barack Obama. It can help him connect with the Baby Boomers. It also helps everyone by moving the discussion away from sexism and racism. As a democrat, I like that.

[Adelante]

51. It also defuses one of the recent distortions of his words

That Obama disrespected Gore and Kerry when he said the country was divided in 2002 and 2004.

[H2O Man]

56. Exactly.

Some people purposefully distorted what he said. Others fell for the distortion.

[ginnyinWI]

79. no I don't think he meant that

The country was divided by the likes of Karl Rove and the Bush machine. And all the GOP sycophants in the Senate and House. That's who divided the country. Gore and Kerry tried to appeal to people's love of country and patriotism in their speeches, not their hatred of the other party. It was the RNC convention which had its people wearing purple heart band-aids, not the DNC's.

[ShortnFiery]

37. Now those points make perfect sense. eom

[progressoid]

48. OR...drives a stake in Obama considering Kerry's performance in '04

There are a lot of people still pissed at him for his milquetoast performance.

[ShortnFiery]

58. Yeah we all now recall via the DLC playbook that "Kerry lost by a landslide"

:crazy:

There's one particular contention which I hold no doubts:

"There's ZERO love lost between HRC and Edwards."

[BeyondGeography]

22. Wow!

[Azathoth]

26. Yeah!

:bounce:

[corkhead]

28. So.

Zero or maybe even slightly negative influence on my opinion of Obama.

I hope Kerry doesn't offer campaigning advice.

[H2O Man]

33. It's possible --

though admittedly unlikely -- that Senator Kerry was thinking of people other than you. Hard to believe, I know.

[corkhead]

41. no, I harbor no illusions. I KNOW he doesn't give a shit what I think.

edit for spellign

[H2O Man]

46. It's making an

interesting match-up of people endorsing Senators Obama and Clinton. I think it can only help to elevate the discussions above the divisive sexism vs racism that has been taking place, both in the media and on DU.

[corkhead]

57. Sorry to dump on you H2O man, I greatly respect your writings

I am just feeling a bit disillusioned having to adjust my naive hope that America was actually ready for real change. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will probably get my vote in November, like they did 4 years ago, but it isn't looking like we are going to have a true agent of change that I believe we need, and once again the progressive agenda is once again in the dustbin.

[H2O Man]

63. And likewise

I am sorry that I was rude.

America is neither ready nor capble of significant change right now. Our country is not even close to that point. The very best we can do is to make some small steps in the correct direction, and struggle to stop further damage to the Constitutional foundation of our theory of government .... and patch some of the damage that has been done.

The only times that the nation shows the maturity needed to work together as a people is in times of tragedy .... and that is a shame.

[TacticalPeek]

31. So he thinks he picked the wrong guy in 2004?

Typical.

[Mass]

34. Great news!

[robcon]

35. I'm surprised.

Active politicians don't often endorse any candidate in the primaries - preferring not to make an enemy if that candidate doesn't win. I think Kerry just made an enemy of Clinton (and Edwards.)

[Mass]

38. Because it was not already done?

[robcon]

65. Most of the endorsements are not by active, major politicians.

Endorsements tend to be made by inactive politicians and office-seekers (e.g., McGovern, Mondale and Clark for Clinton, Jimmy Carter for Gore) Active pols tend not to make endorsements before the candidate is certain in order to avoid making enemies - unless, of course, the endorsements are for favorite sons/daughters (e.g., NY/IL pols endorsing Clinton/Obama.)

An active politician should be wary of making an enemy of the potential president who is in the same party. The Democratic Party will control the House, Senate and presidency starting in 2009, and if Clinton is the president, I think she will have a long-enough memory to recall Kerry's endorsement.

edit:grammar

[ShortnFiery]

42. I think if Edwards can down-size his ambitions, an Obama/Edwards ticket would be A

UNSTOPPABLE. :shrug:

I think Kerry is covertly attempting to encourage this matching of "power players."

[GalleryGod]

39. Also Candy Crowley on CNN..Good News!

[Bread and Circus]

44. Right On!!! That's really awesome.

[graywarrior]

47. You know, this makes me wonder about the Clinton machine and the 2004 election

I have been suspicious that the Clinton's never got behind Kerry knowing that in 2008 Hillary would want to run. Go ahead, flame me.

[babylonsister]

49. That's exactly what happened. No flames here. nt

[SharonRB]

62. Except for the one in your avatar!

:rofl:

Sorry, I couldn't help it.

:hi:

[ShortnFiery]

53. IMNSHO, spot on! eom.

[Mass]

55. No flame from me! Spot on.

[graywarrior]

60. And so, if you really loved your country, why would you do this?

Makes me question their motives.

[ShortnFiery]

66. Because Wall Street rules politics: Greed and Political Ambition Trump Patriotism.

What's mine is mine and it's ALL ABOUT ME AND MINE, i.e., our beloved cronies and D.C. insiders ... The Clintonian DLC and the mighty aspirations for a third Executive Branch reign). :thumbsdown:

Did I mention Wall Street RULES government?!?

[graywarrior]

68. And how many deaths over the past 4 years INCLUDING those without health insurance?

I can't vote for ambition anymore. Amazing how one announcement can clear things up so quickly.

[corkhead]

61. I believed that then and saw it as a clear example of putting personal ambition ahead of our country

I have not forgotten that.

[graywarrior]

67. I'm suddenly very clear on whom I will support

and it has nothing to do with Kerry's endorcement, but everything to do with it.

[H2O Man]

69. One thing I remember

is found on page 376 of Corn & Isikoff's "Hubris": Kerry began to see that the war in Iraq posed a near-impossible problem for him if he won. One of his top aides told a reporter later that they used to look at each other late at night, as the election approached, and ask, "What the fuck are we going to do?" I think it is fair to question if the Clinton machine fully supported Kerry, and to question if Kerry & Co had mixed feelings. Many democrats in Washington may have viewed Bush's re-election as being a blessing in disguise.

[graywarrior]

73. You know, you're right.

There are so many complications and human reactions involved in the 2004 outcome. Trying to filter it all down into making a decision on who to support this time around is excruciating.

[H2O Man]

86. I'm happy that

our party has three solid candidates, while the republicans have the weakest collection that I can remember. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards each attract impressive supporters. And it is indeed a complicated primary, because of the three really good candidates.

[graywarrior]

88. Absolutely. We are in a good position for getting one of them elected.

This is the most "up" I have been for 8 years.

[girl gone mad]

83. Many people saw it that way.

I know of at least a couple of hardcore Dems who voted for Bush because they knew what was coming down and wanted him and the Republicans to be left holding the bag, so to speak.

[girl gone mad]

74. It was pretty obvious at the time..

just as the Clinton's then denials were laughable, at best. She didn't want to wait 8 years. Political ambition ahead of country and party.

[graywarrior]

80. Yeah, it was obvious.

So obvious a lot of people ignored it. Funny how an endorsement affects your decision making process. I never realized how powerful an endorsement could be in such a subtle way.

[SharonRB]

54. Wow...I sure didn't see that one coming.

Should help him.

[BootinUp]

64. I don't expect much of an impact. nt

[H2O Man]

72. No single endorsement

will have a huge impact. Perhaps Al Gore's would be the most important. But there are some that make a small difference, and in a close contest, each of the top three will welcome those small additions of support.

Kerry still has some structured organization across parts of the country. He is one of the respected Elder statesmen of the party.

[antigop]

70. OK, wishful thinking here....

Given Kerry's knowledge and work on BCCI, could this mean that perhaps Obama *might* go after Bush &Co. and hold them accountable for their crimes?

OK, OK, I can dream, can't I?

[Bluerthanblue]

77. hey- I like that dream-

:hi:

[Bullet1987]

81. GOOOOBAMA!!!

[Egnever]

84. Or maybe he thinks Clinton is part of BCCI

[BootinUp]

89. nasty. eom

[AntiFascist]

118. My thought as well...

:hide:

[snappyturtle]

75. I think Kerry's endorsement could go either way for Obama....

depending on how the media spins it. Personally, I am very happy he has done so. K&R

[stillrockin]

78. What it says to me is

that Obama is part of the corporate machine Edwards is fighting. What a disappointing thing for Kerry to do. No class whatsoever.

:dunce:

[HughBeaumont]

82. Being ABC, I'm fine with that.

Time to get behind someone who'll unite, not divide.

Obama-Edwards/Edwards-Obama. Please make it happen.

[earth mom]

85. Wow first Kerry kicks Edwards in the gut by not fighting the results of the '04 election

and now he tries to annihilate Edwards by endorsing Obama.

Guess Kerry can't stand the thought of Edwards being president instead of himself. Jealousy is an UGLY thing.

Just when I thought I could not be more disgusted with Kerry.... :puke:

[H2O Man]

87. Those who either

dislike Kerry, or already favor Clinton or Edwards, are unlikely to change their opinions because of his endorsement. However, he does have influence, both in the people who respect him as a good US Senator, and in the structure that he still has in areas across the country.

[krabigirl]

103. I agree. blech.

[ElizabethDC]

90. That makes me sad. Because I like Kerry and I don't care for Obama.

but it doesn't surprise me at all. Even though I would personally consider a Kerry endorsement a good thing, I'm not sure how that will balance out with the general public. I like it when Kerry gets good press, but since I'm not rooting for Obama, I don't know what I want . . .

[H2O Man]

95. Each of our

top three candidates has some very impressive endorsements. I think that it is a good thing, because it allows us an opportunity to reconsider our thoughts about each of the three. At this point, even if people are very set on one candidate (or against one), it is important to keep an open mind.

[Colobo]

112. Listen to Kerry.

[workinclasszero]

92. Sweet!

Mr Kerry has seen the future...and his name is...OBAMA!!! :toast:

[0007]

94. How does Obama feel about Kerry's endorsement?

The drawl brawl
http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/?ml_video=83443
Jon Stewart video

[H2O Man]

96. Watch them today!

I believe we will see the two together this afternoon.

[0007]

108. Ck. this out........

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4021516

[H2O Man]

110. I expect nonsense

out of some people. I'm surprised that you would think that feeble attempt at humor has anything meaningful to add to the discussion.

[vanbean]

98. No surprise here, it was done in spite..

In her book Elizabeth Edwards basically calls out the Kerry about conceding when she and John wanted to stay in fight for the election. They, like most of us, were bewildered by he quick concession. Also if I remember correctly Elizabeth also posted some on DU and said the same thing. She has been truthful in her assessment of the Kerry's and their elitist attitude. Therefore how can anyone be surprised that Kerry chose not to support Edwards.

[krabigirl]

105. Thanks for posting that. I didn't know that. It makes total sense.

[H2O Man]

106. I do not think

his hurts John Edwards at all. I think that Kerry and Edwards were not a good match in '04. I like them both, but I felt that Kerry handcuffed Edwards. I think that John Edwards could have helped the ticket a lot more if he had been allowed to follow his instincts, rather than be restrained by the campaign advisors. It is good for him to be viewed as separating from that campaign.

I do think it helps Barack Obama, though.

[Eurobabe]

99. Ouch, that's gonna leave a mark...

[jlake]

101. Congratulations to Obama and his supporters! I do not care what others say,

I think that this is a Great endorsement.....not much of a surprise due to his past with Edwards and the Clintons.
But an excellent endorsement for sure.

[bluedog]

109. but .didn't......Kerry vote for the Iraq war?

who is this going to go over with anti-war voters?

[H2O Man]

111. I'm assuming

that you aren't trying to add anything meaningful here.

[debatepro]

113. I campaigned for Kerry/Edwards

I still agree with many of the proposals they put out during the campaign. I was already an Obama supporter so this doesn't change my mind at all. HRC did better with democrats in NH... this might help sway a few of the rank and file Obama's way.

[Kolesar]

117. All this discussion but no one posted the text until now

Martin Luther King said, “The time is always right to do what is right.” So I'm choosing this time to share an important decision I've made, one I believe is right for this country.

The JohnKerry.com community has been very important to me and very important to the Democratic resurgence over the last couple of years, so I wanted to let all of you know my decision before I confirm it with anyone else. I want to share with you my conviction that in a field of fine Democratic candidates, the next President of the United States can be, should be, and will be Barack Obama. Each of our candidates would make a fine President, and we are blessed with a strong field. But for this moment, at this time in our nation's history, Barack Obama is the right choice.

http://cl.exct.net/?ju=fe5516717c61037a761c&ls=fdf215747c6700757314727d&m=fefd1273716607&l=fecd177070660c7d&s=fe3716717664017c701172&jb=ffcf14&t=">Please join me in supporting Barack Obama’s candidacy.

I’m proud to have helped introduce Barack to our nation when I asked him to speak to our national convention, and there Barack's words and vision burst out. On that day he reminded Americans that our “true genius is faith in simple dreams, an insistence on small miracles.” And with his leadership we can build simple dreams, and we can turn millions of small miracles into real change for our country.

At this particular moment, with our country faced with great challenges in our economy, in our environment, and in our foreign policy, and with our politics torn by division, Barack Obama can bring transformation to our country. With Barack, we can build a new majority of Americans from all regions who can turn the page on the politics of Karl Rove and begin a new politics, one worthy of our nation's history and promise. We can bring millions of disaffected people – young and old – to the great task of governing and making a difference, child to child, community to community.

http://cl.exct.net/?ju=fe5516717c61037a761c&ls=fdf215747c6700757314727d&m=fefd1273716607&l=fecd177070660c7d&s=fe3716717664017c701172&jb=ffcf14&t=">Please click here to give what you can to Barack Obama’s campaign for President and help build this future for our country.

The moment is now, and the candidate for this moment is Barack Obama. Like him, I also lived abroad as a young man, and I share with him a healthy respect for the advantage of knowing other cultures and countries, not from a book or a briefing, but by personal experience, by gut, by instinct. He knows the issues from the deep study of a legislator, and he knows them from a life lived outside of Washington. His is the wisdom of real-world experience combined with the intellect of a man who has thought deeply about the challenges we face.

History has given us this moment. But we need to decide what to do with it. I believe, with this moment, we should make Barack Obama President of the United States.

http://cl.exct.net/?ju=fe5516717c61037a761c&ls=fdf215747c6700757314727d&m=fefd1273716607&l=fecd177070660c7d&s=fe3716717664017c701172&jb=ffcf14&t=">Please join me in supporting his campaign.

Thank you,
John Kerry

[Name removed]

119. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[H2O Man]

121. Your post and a

used diaper have a lot in common.

[Laurab]

120. So much speculation - isn't it at all possible that Kerry

thinks Obama IS the right person at the right time? He has worked with Clinton, and with Edwards, and while he may not like either of them much, he doesn't strike me as the kind of man who would endorse someone to be vindictive.

I have always thought of him as someone who cares deeply about his country, and that might be the simple reason he endorsed Obama. Sometimes things can be just what they seem.

[H2O Man]

122. I am confident

that you are exactly right.

Thank you.

[Laurab]

123. Thank you!

For keeping up with the responses on this thread - some of yours have been quite funny!

I am confident too, and actually wasn't very surprised by the endorsement.

[H2O Man]

124. I think that

it is an error to turn on good people who endorse someone that we might not support. I've seen people post ugly things about Robert Kennedy Jr for endorsing Senator Clinton. That's just wrong. People like Kerry and Kennedy are good men. They endorse the candidate they believe is the best choice. We are lucky that we have both of them in our party .... just as we are lucky to have Obama, Clinton, Edwards, and Kucinich.

[kurth]

125. GE winner endorses another GE winner

[dailykoff]

127. That's how I see it.

Dunno if you're jokin' but it looks to me like BHO has won every race he's been in.

[usregimechange]

126. Kick!

[dailykoff]

128. Very generous, especially right now.

But I think Kerry's been behind Obama from the start.

[Major Hogwash]

130. Well, this is certainly good news for Obama.

Maybe it can build the mo that Obama had on Monday back to where it was before the NH debacle.