Wexler Exhibits Real Leadership: Answers Clinton Supporters In Home District Townhall Meeting...

[BlooInBloo]

Having leadership at the top tends to lead to leadership throughout.


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/2/22182/55786/19/527798

There were other policy-related questions, until nearly the last questioner revisited Obama. "Could you please tell us more specifically why you chose Obama over Hillary?" Lots of "Yeahs!"

Congressman Wexler hit this one out of the park: "I support Barack Obama because he showed better judgment on the Iraq War, because he has remained more forcefully against it. I support him because of his stand on ethics reform, and commitment to engaging our enemies. I support him because he speaks truth to power. He spoke in front of a largely Cuban-American organization in Miami. Everyone has told this organization the same thing for 40 years. 'We're going to continue the embargo against Cuba, no monetary remittances there, no anything.' Whether or not it works, that's all any politician dares to say. Obama suggested to them we engage with Raul Castro, and take steps towards ending the embargo. Obama told a crowd in Detroit that we should increase fuel efficiency standards, and he told members of Martin Luther King's church in Atlanta that we all share some of the blame for some of the race problems in America today."

And it occurred to me, this is exactly what Congressman Wexler was doing, and did on Saturday. He was speaking forcefully and with conviction in the face of hostility. He took a courageous stand, speaking truth to power. He spoke passionately for his candidate, and for what was fair, despite the fact that it was not what his constituents necessarily wanted to hear. Congressman Wexler's support for Senator Obama has probably come at a political cost, at least in the short run. It makes me appreciate that much more his leadership in Congress and in helping to resolve the Florida primary.

Congressman Wexler has a role to play in helping to unite the Democratic Party behind Obama, and perhaps even win Florida. He certainly seems to have the character and courage to pull it off. What do you think? Obama/Wexler?

EDIT: Please keep in mind that the diarist makes very clear that all apparent-quotations are in fact paraphrases.

[dkf]

1. He is on a roll.

:)

[papau]

12. A roll over - nothing in his reason beyond 1982 speech differs from Hillary

[SoFlaJet]

23. Enjoy your last day here papau

you haven't said one positive thing about a democrat since January 3rd-be it noted that I will alert every post of yours criticizing the dem nominee-I suggest that ALL: democrats do the same to these disruptors here at DU-they never were democrats

[cliffordu]

26. Yep, exactly right. I will SOOO not miss them when they finally

get the concrete chicklet....

[SoFlaJet]

27. thaere's going to be a lot of

"I KNEW they were a republican all along" threads tonight and tomorrow

[Forkboy]

29. Papau is a true coward, hence he'll shut up instead of getting banned.

He doesn't have the guts to speak his mind when it could hurt him.

[cliffordu]

31. That's right.

[glowing]

2. I'd prefer him as my Senator, but if the rest of the country MUST have him,

I suppose I could concede.

[hisownpetard]

3. Wexler is definitely a rising star.

[BlooInBloo]

6. 2nd term VP maybe, I'm thinking.

[hisownpetard]

10. People to watch: Wexler, Sibelius, Feingold and (my personal favorite) Sheldon Whitehouse.

All are rising stars in the Democratic party who are going to accomplish great things!

Who are your picks, Bloooo?

[BlooInBloo]

11. Schweitzer #1, Richardson #2. I prefer Feingold in the Senate, to eventually take over....

Teddy's mantle of Democratic elder statesman.

[hisownpetard]

14. I was just listing people who I think are outstanding, not related to the VP position.

[BlooInBloo]

15. Oh - gotcha. There's lots of outstanding people - currently our greatest strength...

is the depth of our bench.

We've finished a primary in which we had *three* credible Presidential candidates. Lots of new young talent in the senate and house. We're looking pretty good on the personnel front.

[hisownpetard]

16. And all this talent will be emboldened by our Democratic victory in November

and by the inspired leadership of our next President.

May it be the dawn of a new age of transparency and accomplishment for this country.
God knows how sorely needed both are.

[BlooInBloo]

19. Word.

[KittyWampus]

4. Wexler would be muted as VP. I prefer him to be able to speak out fully in Congress

[caledesi]

5. I like Wexler! nt

[BlooInBloo]

7. :) That would be a shorter way of saying it.

[pnorman]

8. Thnks for posting that. I'd probably have missed it otherwise.

"I support Barack Obama because he showed better judgment on the Iraq War, because he has remained more forcefully against it. I support him because of his stand on ethics reform, and commitment to engaging our enemies. I support him because he speaks truth to power. He spoke in front of a largely Cuban-American organization in Miami. Everyone has told this organization the same thing for 40 years. 'We're going to continue the embargo against Cuba, no monetary remittances there, no anything.' Whether or not it works, that's all any politician dares to say. Obama suggested to them we engage with Raul Castro, and take steps towards ending the embargo. Obama told a crowd in Detroit that we should increase fuel efficiency standards, and he told members of Martin Luther King's church in Atlanta that we all share some of the blame for some of the race problems in America today."

I rally liked that!

pnorman

[BlooInBloo]

9. Being responsive to one's consituents is a really, really good thing....

Even - or especially - when you disagree with them.

[pnorman]

17. ANY "politician" can do that, and most frequently do.

That's the almost guaranteed way to get elected (or reelected). But a REAL leader sometimes risks "popularity", by speaking Truth To Power (also saying "Uncomfortable Truths").

OTOH: A politician may "buck" his constituency because he or she had been bought out by Corporate America or a similar group, So it's necessary to look at each case very closely. In my opinion, both Obama and Wexler pass that test, and with flying colors!

pnorman

[uponit7771]

13. WORD!!

[chill_wind]

18. He had me on my feet, stomping and cheering out loud Saturday.

Sure glad he is on our side-- a Dem. GOP will learn to fear him more and more. A rising star, for sure.

[JPZenger]

20. k and r. nt

[WA98296]

21. Wow, I wish my congressman was THAT good! And, YES!

[LeFleur1]

22. I Don't Get This

""I support Barack Obama because he showed better judgment on the Iraq War, because he has remained more forcefully against it. "

How did he do that? By voting for funding every single time until he thought it might affect his campaign?

Barak Obama, for all of his talk, has voted for funding for the war instead of stopping it by voting against the funding of the occupation.
Actions speak louder than words.

And where has Wexler been that he didn't know about the funding votes?

[MagickMuffin]

30. Where have you been?.?.? Did you NOT hear "You're Against the TROOPS, if you don't fund it?.?.?"

Every time there has been a vote for more funding they are told it is for the Troops. However, it is NEVER about the Troops.

How can anyone vote against the Iraq War funding, when you constantly hear the drumbeat that YOU don't support the Troops?.?.?


Do I wish they would speak out against this blatant lie?.?.?

YES, but I can certainly understand the situation, of being told you do not support the Troops if you fail to pass the funds. The Bush Regime/Cabal/Cartel use the Troops for their political gain. They have been since before 2000 (S)election.

[SoFlaJet]

24. we need Wexler as our senator

relacing either Martinez OR Nelson-who sucks

[MagickMuffin]

25. I think he should they asked them WHERE was Hillary in 2000,

when a lot more people were disenfranchised?.?.?

Where was she when the Democratic Party needed her leadership to COUNT ALL THE VOTES?.?.?



Funny I don't recall seeing or hearing from ANYONE in the White House. They were AWOL when it mattered the most.

[grantcart]

28. works for me

[FlaGranny]

32. Congressman Wexler

is the real deal, but I doubt he will be hurt much in his district. His is a very democratic district, which gives him a little more room to speak out than Democratic congressmen from more conservative districts. We love him here. He'd have to do something really, really bad to lose an election. When HE endorsed Obama, I knew that I had made the right choice with Obama. I trust Wexler's judgment that much.

[dsc]

33. I don't have time to do this now

but I will have to book mark this and compare it to the threads about Sheila Jackson Lee. Incidently, I admire both of these politicians for sticking to their guns. But I will be quite curious to see how many who are praising Mr. Wexler for this criticised Ms. Lee for doing what she did.