Is Ted Kennedy endosring Obama because of what he sees

[question everything]

or because of Bill Clinton's "behavior?"

If he liked Obama, then why bother to admonish Bill? What if Bill would have agreed to move back to the background in the hope of pleasing Ted only to be slapped in the face?

If Kennedy decided to endorse Obama because of Bill's behavior then this is is really shallow and vindictive.

[NYCGirl]

1. Well, he's going to make a big speech and campaign with Obama, so I'd

guess he likes the guy.

[gateley]

Yeah - and he wasn't the only one advising Bill to chill, so that was probably

a "party" thing.

[neutron]

22. Too bad Kennedy didn't see the Blog goings on

Obama operatives have been spewing evil crap about Hillary since
summer. they've been getting HRC supporters tossed out of blogs,
to give the appearance of a "Unified Block" against her.
I could not believe that Kennedy would approve this stuff.
Then again, maybe he would.

[ursi]

27. or maybe he saw the Clinton operatives spewing crap since last summer on blogs about O.

[neutron]

44. There has been NOTHING from the Clintons.

So let's cut out the Obama style slime.

[gateley]

28. Blogs aren't the real world - and the "operatives" are most likely just people

with strong opinions, like you and me.

[neutron]

46. They are too slick and professionally written

And they are always instantly followed by a mass of posts in full agreement that Obama
is wonderful. It's suspect because many sound like the same person. My assumption
is that 100 posts are probably from one or two hired hands using different ids.

The worst is, they kick out dems who do not endorse their candidate.
This fools people from the media who go through the blogs to see
what "bloggers are thinking."
If the Hillary bloggers are all kicked out, the media thinks that all bloggers are
for Obama.
Very sneaky!

[Kittycat]

2. I'm quite sure it's what he sees.

Just as Caroline's reasons as well.

Plus, he knows the clintons. It says quite a bit, IMO, if he doesn't support HRC.

[JI7]

3. he already supported Obama

it was more about whether he should make an endorsement.

[book_worm]

4. I think he's endorsing Obama because he believes in him

and because of what he has seen--somebody who motivates people and brings new people into the party--especially young people. It's been Obama who has primarily done that. I think it reminds him of his brother in 1960.

[JohnnyLib2]

13. This Clinton supporter thinks so, too.

I feel fortunate to have lived through the Kennedy excitement and hopefulness; Obama clearly taps some of the same spirit. If he takes the nomination, on we go.

Meanwhile, I'll stick with Hillary, who would bring her work ethic and persistence to the post-Bush reformation years.

:kick:

[neutron]

47. it's hard to forget how good we had it when Clinton was Pres

My salary skyrocketed during that period, and plummeted
after Bush took office.

I like the idea of correcting social ills, but we are going to need a strong
capable president to clean up after Bush.
Clinton is a workaholic. And so is her closest adviser.

We gotta get those 2 back!

[bellasgrams]

17. Oh brother, you must not have been around in the 60's if you

think BO could remind anyone of JFK. Absolutely no comparison. Maybe in BO's dreams.

[Tarheel_Dem]

18. Well I was around in the 60's, and I disagree with your assessment

as well. See how that works, we all have opinions, and yours matters as much, or as LITTLE, as anyone else's.

[JohnnyLib2]

21. Similarity to JFK's eloquence and to RFK's passionate speeches.

And similarity in the excited crowd responses.

(Hillary, forgive me, I still support you).

[papau]

34. I agree on the eloquence(sans specifics)- but not on the passion - it comes across to me as not real

[neutron]

48. Obama is uneven

He can energize on occasion, but falls flat quite a bit.
He's not a good debater, and he exercised terrible judgement
opening a debate by tearing into Hillary - on Dr. King's birthday.
And he whines like this is his first political campaign.

So yeah, he's likeable and smooth. But his inexperience is
highly evident.

[papau]

32. I agree - BO is no JFK - JFK's Post Office Sq speech in Boston was specifics combined with hope and

vision - BO so far is hope and vision and trust me - read my web site - and when you do you do get some specifics - but not a great deal

and what you do get is watered down Edwards/Hillary.

Very different from JFK

But then BO and JFK may be alike in that JFK tried to get along - and thereby got little through the Congress - which is what I expect of BO

It took LBJ's arm twisting and threats to get the JFK program through Congress.

[question everything]

42. The "where is the beef?" syndrom

Many are so enchanted by his charisma, his eloquence his - yes - freshness, that they are going to vote for him without much knowledge of what he stands for.

Interesting, though, that in his "Reagan" speech, he decried the "excess of the 60s and 70s." The ones that he disdain are the ones who voted for JFK and RFK.

[papau]

50. yes - I fear "small step" caution means nada for 4 or 8 years

[neutron]

49. Obama is not a Unifier

Just because he says it is, does not make it so.
He made SC blacks think that bill Clinton was racist.
Bill Clinton has devoted the past 8 years to helping
poor blacks and Africans.
To mislead people is not being a unifier.

[Tarheel_Dem]

52. I think black folks' were able to come to their own conclusion

about Bill's intent. Do we think Bill is a racist? No. Do we think he is above using race to win an election? Hell No.

Win at any cost, seems to be the order of the day.

[papau]

53. He appears to be a politician that will"win at any cost"as in his using legal means to win 1st race

[cali]

56. Oh, you must know so much more than Ted Sorenson

and Teddy Kennedy and Caroline. I bow to your superior knowledge.


:sarcasm:

[peoli]

5. yeah hes just USING Obama to get back at BILL...... DUH?

[Barack_America]

6. Both. He likes Obama. He's also trying to squash the Clintons' power grab...

in the Dem party. He, and other Dem leaders, asked Bill to back off on Obama. He didn't. My guess is the final straw was when the Clintons announced they were going to try to strongarm the DNC into counting the Florida/Michigan delegates.

[bellasgrams]

19. You are so far off. Where do you get this info?

[Barack_America]

26. Okay. What's the truth then?

FYI: The OP was asking about our speculation why Kennedy endorsed Obama. Considering that none of us (I think) are Ted Kennedy, no one here knows the "truth".

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. I guess we'll find out when he officially endorses....

speculation about why is up to the individual's own perception/slant. But whatever the reason, I think we can all agree, it's one hell of an endorsement.

So is this how the rest of the primary season is gonna play out? HRC supporters will parse it to death, and talk about how meaningless endorsements are? There's a thread around here just ripping John Kerry to shreds because he had the audacity to endorse Obama. I wish John Edwards had been so lucky. Can it just be that these are principled endorsements, and that people see something substantive in Obama that they don't see in HRC? Geez......

[question everything]

11. And you conclude that I am a Clinton supporter because?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4235874

Here is something for you to learn as you grow up:

Not every question and observation has an ulterior motive.

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. Well, if you're not a Clinton supporter, the gist of my post wasn't

aimed at you. Chill out.

[wisteria]

35. Your's is a very reasonable and mature post. It was refreshing to read. n/t

[Tarheel_Dem]

43. thank you wisteria...this is gonna be a tough primary season

:hi:

[kurth]

8. Who gives a fuck about the Kennedys?

Dynasties suck.

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. they sure do, especially when they don't endorse your dynasty....

:rofl: Bitter much?

[kurth]

38. Dude, I'm no Hillary fan

Hillary is not my first choice.

[Jennifer C]

54. LOL

.

[Hieronymus]

30. So, we should avoid a Clinton dynasty.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

10. He wants to be able to endorse them both and he thinks Obama will lose.

[NYCGirl]

14. Wow. You should go on the road with that act.

Except I think your powers are screwed up.

[ErnestoG]

15. Because Bill Clinton is "overstaying his welcome"

I admit Bill Clinton was a good two term president. He left popular, and remains so. He has a nice post presidency practice and speaking schedule. He should enjoy that and stop making himself look like an ass in attacking Obama. It is not helping his wife, and it is tarnishing his decreasingly nice image with the public.

There is a time to speak up, and there is a time to...well, you know. Bill, choose door number two in this election, and enjoy your retirement.

[Tarheel_Dem]

16. LOL....I loved William Jefferson Clinton the Statesman, but I detest

Bill Clinton, The Campaigner In Chief.

[bellasgrams]

24. Your loss,

[Tarheel_Dem]

41. believe me...no big loss (eom)

[ErnestoG]

39. Ditto that, partner.

[bellasgrams]

23. He is not attacking BO. He is answering BO attacks on Hillary

[Jennifer C]

55. Yes, exactly.

Very well put.

[question everything]

59. Still shallow and vindictive

Is it possible that Clinton is the better candidate but that Kennedy punishes her for her husband? How absurd. Though anything can happen in politics.

It appears that he liked Obama but that Bill Clinton's behavior gave him the push to go public.

This still raises several questions:

- If you really are enchanted by Obama, why not go out in public and say so?

- If you really are enchanted by Obama, why even bother to "admonish" Bill Clinton, creating the false impression that you would not endorse anyone?

- Why use the pretense of Bill's campaigning to go out and endorse Obama?

I have lost all respect for Kennedy. Whatever the reasons, his behavior has shown a complete lack of guts and honesty. He should have taken his cue from his "Junior" - Kerry. At least have the guts to stand up for what you believe without playing games.

[Quixote1818]

20. Probably both. He may have liked Hillary better but has clearly changed his mind

I am sure he has come to the conclusion that Obama would be better for the party and the country than Hillary at this point.

[ursi]

25. he's got the right to endorse him for what ever reason he wants

[totodeinhere]

29. It's perfectly legitimate reason.

If Kennedy decided to endorse Obama because of Bill's behavior then this is really shallow and vindictive.

I disagree. IMO Bill's behavior is a very legitimate reason to endorse Obama. Who would want the big dog hanging around the White House if he's going to act like that? He would be a big distraction and would get in the way of his wife's ability to govern effectively.

[question everything]

31. So this has nothing to do with the excitement that Obama is

generating? His charisma? An ABC (Anyone But Clinton)?

If Kennedy wants to unite the party, it is ironic, since his challenge to a sitting president in 1980 weakened the party and paved the road to... Reagan.

(Not that I have high opinion of Carter..)

[totodeinhere]

58. That was almost 30 years ago.

This penchant for dredging things up from the distant past in order to discredit is not productive IMO. What Teddy did almost 30 years ago is not relevant to today's campaign.

[annie1]

33. i think he did it b/c obama is a fresh start.

[Adelante]

36. Kennedy is not endorsing Obama because of Bill's behavior

The Clintons wanted Kennedy to remain neutral. So far Kennedy was doing that. Bill's behavior may have weighed in on the timing. But Kennedy had been planning to endorse Obama at some point having nothing to do with Bill Clinton. He decided to do it in time for Feb 5.

After Mr. Obama won the Iowa caucuses, associates to both men said, Mr. Kennedy concluded that Mr. Obama had transcended racial lines and the historical divisions the Kennedy family had worked to tear down. Mr. Kennedy was also impressed at how Mr. Obama was not defined as a black candidate, but seen as a transformational figure.

It was then, associates said, that Mr. Kennedy began talking with family members, including Caroline Kennedy, who had reached her own judgment some time ago independently of her uncle. They then agreed last week to move ahead with their endorsement, coordinating their decision before the Feb. 5 contests.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/us/28kennedy.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[question everything]

45. Thank you. From the same article

The endorsement appears to support assertions that Mr. Clinton’s campaigning on behalf of his wife in South Carolina has in some ways hurt her candidacy.

(And I got page not found from you link, so perhaps this will work)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/28/us/politics/28kennedy.html?scp=2&sq=Kennedy&st=nyt

[frogmarch]

37. I think Kennedy's endorsement may have had

more to do with JFK and RFK's involvement in the civil rights movement than anything else. If so, I can certainly understand why Ted would endorse Obama.

Interesting article on JFK and his "quandary" pertaining to civil rights for Black Americans:

http://www.historynet.com/magazines/american_history/3031991.html

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

40. Why is it "either/or"? I think it's likely both.

[Melinda]

51. Gather the circular firing squad, lmao....Umm, how bout neither; Kennedy is a true "Liberal"

and maybe, much like the rest of us "liberals", sick and tired of the DLC's corporate croynism.

and exit, stage left..... :hi:

[Garbo 2004]

57. What Kennedy previously said when asked about endorsement, according to 2007 AP article:

Above all else, Kennedy said, he is looking for a candidate who can light a spark with voters. The policy differences between the candidates are relatively small, he said.

"Inspiration," Kennedy said. "I'm looking for a candidate able to galvanize the country to get things done. I want to find the candidate who can inspire people. That's what we need. That's what our party needs." http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-10-01-kennedy_N.htm