Breaking: Key Clinton backer -- attacks NARAL for endorsing Obama

[powergirl]

Again, this demonstrates that the Clinton campaign cares more about Clinton than the welfare of our nation and the ability of women to make their own reproductive choices. I wonder if this really was a shock to the Clinton campaign?

Malcolm blasts NARAL


A rift in the women's movement, as the head of Emily's List -- a key Clinton backer -- attacks Naral for endorsing Obama:

I think it is tremendously disrespectful to Sen. Clinton - who held up the nomination of a FDA commissioner in order to force approval of Plan B and who spoke so eloquently during the Supreme Court nomination about the importance of protecting Roe vs. Wade - to not give her the courtesy to finish the final three weeks of the primary process. It certainly must be disconcerting for elected leaders who stand up for reproductive rights and expect the choice community will stand with them.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/

[book_worm]

1. traitors or judus

How dare anybody not support the Queen.

[IntravenousDemilo]

53. What's a judu?

I mean, besides go to temple on the sabbath...

[roguevalley]

74. Emily's list is overrated. their candidates invariably lose. losers.

I am sick of women moaning about losing when they lose fair and square. they make us all look bad. asses.

[janx]

2. There was bound to be some kind of reaction.

The NARAL endorsement all but put a lid on this primary campaign.

[MadBadger]

3. Still Waiting for the attack from NY NOW

[NYCGirl]

4. NARAL IS DEAD TO THEM!

:evilgrin:

[Occam Bandage]

5. Screw NARAL for going with issues over gender. Bunch of sexists.

[DearAbby]

8. It's getting awfully crowded under this bus........n/t

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. DISRESPECTFUL TO CLINTON?

She took one step in the senate, and every woman must kowtow, bow, and get on their knees to Hillary?

EXCUSE ME, but that is the most sexist, elitist, ridiculous argument I have seen in a while. It even beats other crap from the Hillary camp.

Shame on you for even thinking that women and women's organizations cannot support their favored candidate, the most electable candidate, and the candidate of unity and honesty, integrity and the future, and demand that they play servant to your queen.

[SeattleGirl]

7. I see Emily's List is still at it.

:eyes:

[LisaM]

18. What do you have against EMILY's list?

I've met Ellen Malcolm and she's quite nice.

[SeattleGirl]

27. I don't like how they attack anyone who doesn't support Hilary. n/t

[LisaM]

31. But they are a very narrow advocacy group - they're up front

they just want more women candidates and more women elected officials.

In fact, after this primary season is over, I plan to donate my political money to them specifically to GET more women candidates into the mix - so that I never have to hear, again, "I'll vote for a woman, just not THIS woman".

[greguganus]

36. Yeah the hell with how they will govern, just as long as they have a vagina. n/t

[LisaM]

40. EMILY's list doesn't endorse women who aren't pro-choice

That is their focus.

But your dismissiveness is noted.

I do think if there had been 43 women presidents in a row, a few people might ask, "isn't it time there was a man?"

[Justitia]

65. No, they support women who won't make a DIRECT vote against choice, big difference.

They will support women who make votes all around that caveat, which is why many of us have dropped our support of them.

They also support women who make direct votes against equality issues in regards to GLBT issues, making them supporters of non-progressives.

Emily's List was simply Pro-Clinton, from the get-go.

[SeattleGirl]

37. I have no problem with that. As a woman, I also want more female

candidates and elected officials.

But the problem I DO have is the way Emily's List personally attacks people who don't support Hilary.

Just as every man who runs for office is not the best choice, neither is every woman. And I think it's self-defeating to blindly support a candidate because she's a woman.

[LisaM]

64. Hillary wasn't my first choice

But I do think she would make the best President of the three we have left.

[roguevalley]

75. what's wrong with "I'll vote for a woman, just not THIS woman."

I remember that jackel Phyllis Schlafly running once. Fuck the idea that you have to vote for a dame just because you are a dame. That is bullshit. I hear Condaleeza Rice wants to be VP with McCain. How about that dipshit. She's a woman. Or so I've heard.

[LisaM]

9. You know, Ellen Malcolm makes a reasoned statement

and you have to throw in references to Judas and "the Queen".

Imagine if the NAACP had endorsed Clinton. I don't think it would go over very well.

I don't understand why NARAL couldn't have waited. As Ellen Malcolm said, what's three more weeks? It's not as if McCain is expecting the endorsement.

The feminist movement (if it can even be said to exist anymore) is in the midst of a deep divide right now.

[powergirl]

13. NARAL has to do what is best for the Pro Choice movement

not what is best for Sen. Clinton. Malcolm's plea to NARAL has nothing to do with protecting reproductive rights of women. It's all about Sen. Clinton.

[LisaM]

17. So I still don't see why they couldn't have waited

If it was all about issues, well, the issues haven't changed. So why not make their endorsement months ago?

It's useless posturing and I don't understand it.

[Occam Bandage]

22. NARAL likely believes

that Hillary Clinton's continued presence in this race is damaging the Democratic party, and thus harming the likelihood a pro-choice President gets to pick the next several Supreme Court nominees.

[janx]

26. NARAL is not stupid.

The organization was aware that its endorsement of Obama would be like putting a lid on this primary once and for all. I admire them for doing so.

[flpoljunkie]

41. NARAL, like other organizations, has limited funds to participate in campaigns. Other organizations

who have supported Hillary Clinton may well be making this same calculation--that is, saving their money for the general election.

[powergirl]

59. I think it is so NARAL can let the nation know that McCain will overturn Roe v. Wade

McCain doesn't talk too much about that and he wants to slide that one under the rug. And it is too important an issue to wait for a candidate to "wind up" her campaign. Also, we don't know when Clinton will be done. Also, why didn't NOW wait? Why does NARAL need to wait? Again, I think she is doing what is best for NARAL - which may not be what is best for Sen. Clinton.

[Megahurtz]

70. McCain is definitely trying to

sneak that one by the unsuspecting Public. It's so obvious.

[ima_sinnic]

85. why should they "wait"? hillary 's poor widdle feelings might be hurt?

shhh, let's all tiptoe around and not endorse anybody until hillary finally finds out that she isn't going to get the nomination. let her go on thinking that as long as possible, because that's the "polite" thing to do. We mustn't be rude and pour cold water on her daydream, even if she is killing the democratic party. I mean, it's all about Hillary, not about the country she's pretending she cares about.

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

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

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

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

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. Why would the NAACP endorse a race-baiting candidate?

I'm sorry, I don't understand your argument.

[Occam Bandage]

20. The NAACP usually doesn't endorse race-baiters. NARAL always endorses pro-choicers.

Your analogy therefore fails.

[rodeodance]

43. Of course, they also endorsed Joe Lieberman and had a hand in giving us Justice Sam Alito."

Jeralyn at TalkLeft weighs in:

"The pro-choice organization NARAL has endorsed Barack Obama.

Of course, they also endorsed Joe Lieberman and had a hand in giving us Justice Sam Alito."
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/5/14/142718/882

[Occam Bandage]

49. Joe Lieberman has a 100% pro-choice record. They endorse on abortion, not foreign policy.

And the Alito claim is ridiculous. They blame NARAL because Chafee later voted against filibustering a judicial nominee as part of the nuclear-option compromise--despite voting against him on the floor? Ridiculous.

[rodeodance]

61. Lieberman didn’t think it was necessary for all hospitals in CT to carry

Joe Lieberman didn’t think it was necessary for all hospitals in CT to carry

emergency contraception for rape victims if they objected to it because it was only a short ride to another hospital.

[ampad]

56. Seems to me that would be the way it would work

I don't understand why the NAACP would want to endorse Clinton after her blatant race baiting. The NAACP organization isn't stupid; their donations would dry up overnight if they were to "openly" support a race baiting candidate. Also what the hell is up with the Republican bully tactics by Hillary supporters? They seem to be full of threats and such. If their candidate was so great they wouldn't need to resort to such tactics.

[Renew Deal]

23. You're missing the point.

It's not the endorsement. It's the huffy reaction.

[Kittycat]

32. Then why didn't Emily's list wait to endorse?

I'm so sick of this I can endorse, but if you disagree with my candidate - you have to wait, Evan Bayh/Clinton Camp kind of politics. How idiotic.

[democrattotheend]

48. They only endorse women candidates

So it made sense for them to endorse Hillary at the beginning. NARAL's mission is different from EMILY's List. EMILY's List only does campaigns, and does not do electoral advocacy. Their mission is to get more pro-choice Democratic women elected. NARAL's mission is to protect abortion rights through elections and legislative advocacy. They are essentially endorsing Obama now as the presumptive nominee, saying they are ready to get started with their general election campaign. It will be interesting to see if other big interest groups follow suit now or wait 3 weeks. I think Clinton's unions will stick with her through June 3rd, as will other groups that have already endorsed her. The question is the groups that have not yet endorsed a candidate.

[Youphemism]

34. On the other hand...

...What if the NAACP had a policy of only endorsing black candidates?

It seems to me -- right on the surface -- that an organization that claims only women can properly promote womens' causes is foundationally flawed.

The first thing you see on the Emily's List page is Hillary Clinton's mug with a Donate link. That's an endorsement, no matter what its official position is.

Whether they're for Clinton, Obama, Gravel, or Marvin the Martian, I have more respect for people who endorse when it matters and when they have something to lose, rather than jumping on the bandwagon after the parade has already gone by.

[NorthernSpy]

39. "Imagine if the NAACP had endorsed Clinton"? The NAACP can't endorse candidates!

Imagine if the NAACP had endorsed Clinton. I don't think it would go over very well.

Especially not with the IRS. Since the NAACP is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization, it cannot endorse candidates for public office.

[roguevalley]

76. Naral doesn't have to wait anymore than the unions and other

organizations had to wait. they chose and this is America. Live with it.

[Cha]

10. Too bad, Emily's List...Naral is the smart one and

you guys condone lying, pandering, and smearing. Shame on you, emily's list.

[roguevalley]

77. emily's list has a lousy record for supporting candidates that lose.

[ShortnFiery]

11. Yes, don't you peons at NARAL know that "Hillary Clinton" is political royalty?

:eyes:

[Barack_America]

12. How is it disrespectful to acknowledge reality?

Reality isn't mean or nice, it just is.

Hillary is not going to be the nominee.

NARAL needs to start working for the nominee now.

There you have it.

[TwilightGardener]

14. "Disrespectful"? Oh, for fuck's sake.

[LeftyMom]

15. Raise your hand if you saw that one coming

:raises hand:

[Mass]

19. More interestingly, they are conceding Clinton's defeat. Their point is not

that this endorsement is hurting her. They are not saying that Naral endorsement changes anything, simply that they should have let her finish the race before endorsing Obama.

Emily's list is in a difficult situation. By statute, they can only endorse a woman. For the general election, they will not endorse anybody officially, not because they do not like Obama, but because their statute does not allow them to do so.

[Yukari Yakumo]

45. "they can only endorse a woman"?!?

What kind of stupid bullshit is that? What kind of fool would limit themselves in such a way?
Ladies, it's 2008, not 1984. Times have changed.

Malcolm needs to go. Playing this game at such a late stage only hurts their goal, and it shows how out of touch that group could very well be. (Also it makes one wonder what their real goals are.) I think they have two options: 1) Retract what she said or 2) Her immediate subordinates forces her out.

[AllentownJake]

21. Your either with us

or your against us NARAL..:rofl:

[ej510]

25. Who the fuck is Hillary? WTF has she done? These people act like she

is god! Lol!

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

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

[LSK]

55. What has she done??? She voted for WAR!!!

Then voted for more war with Kyl/Lieberman!

[mmonk]

24. Let it go.

There's nothing we can do about it. If some want to be militant it's their choice. We just need to be patient, rational, and nice if we can.

[Hawkeye-X]

28. NARAL has the right to choose whoever they want to endorse.

Emily's list is going to have to quietly endorse Obama when the time is right. They know it - and they're attacking them right now like the Clintonites are attacking us Obama supporters - and later embarrass themselves and realize that Obama is actually the right choice, not Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton.

Hawkeye-X

[Kittycat]

29. Did Emily's List wait to endorse? no. Then why should NARAL?

Just because Emily's list is on the losing end, is no reason to cry foul because another organization choses to support the candidate that is not only winning, but also represents their best interests.

[Yukari Yakumo]

54. Hardly

EL endorsed HRH HRC almost immediately after she formed her exploratory committee.

I'm beginning to think EL is out of touch and behind the times.

[Thrill]

30. They attack when they don't get their way. This is why a lot of Super Delegates haven't come out

They fear The Clintons

[DU GrovelBot]

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[Occam Bandage]

35. Oh no! Adbot has a cousin!

[greguganus]

38. It's his evil twin!! n/t

[Renew Deal]

42. Alerted

Anyone saying don't donate should be banned.

[eleny]

47. Too Late!!!

...... Neener neener! ........

........... ...............

[Swamp Rat]

57. Oh no you don't!

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

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

[Occam Bandage]

52. And Lieberman has a 100% pro-choice record. They endorse on abortion rights only, not Iraq.

The Alito business is overblown nonsense. That claim rests solely on NARAL-endorsee Lieberman/Chafee's votes for cloture; both voted that way as part of the nuclear-option compromise, and both spoke out (and, more importantly, voted) against Alito on the floor.

[rodeodance]

62. see my comments above

[JTFrog]

58. WE NEED A BIGGER BUS!!!

[knixphan]

60. LOL!

[Warren DeMontague]

63. Maybe NARAL didn't like how Hillary was attacking Obama for being "too pro-choice".

Remember when her people cranked up the phony outrage machine over his "pregnancy as punishment" comments?

Maybe, like the rest of us, they know pandering, principle-less bullshit when they smell it.

[Megahurtz]

71. Ha ha ha!

Got her on that one!

All this shit's coming back to bite her in the ass.
Her Camp should not have tried to pander to the RW with that one. Touche'!

[Zhade]

81. SHE ACTUALLY SAID THAT?

I learn of a new low from her every day, it seems.

[Duke Newcombe]

66. "NARAL is dead to us." n/t

Duke

[Kber]

67. Honestly, as an Obama supporter, I was a bit suprised.

I think either candidate is going to appoint the right judges and sign the right laws, but I believe Hillary feels the issue more deeply. Maybe it's my gender bias showing, though.

[powergirl]

72. I just think that NARAL and many other groups were told by the HRC Campaign

to keep waiting. First it was Feb5, then it was after Ohio, then it was after Pennsylvania. And NARAL's objective is support the pro choice presidential candidate. McCain wants Dem voters to believe he is moderate on this issue when he has already promised to stack the SC with more judges like Scalia. They couldn't afford to wait anymore. Also, I don't think Clinton will quit "at the end of the primaries." She was mentioning the convention today on Wolf Blitzer.

[Kber]

73. Makes sense.

As a pro-choice voter, their opinion means something to me and I assume they've vetted Obama on this subject and it makes me more comfortable supporting Barack Obama.

Like I said in 2000 when McCain was attracting a certain amount of attention from independent voters, including friends of mine, I vote pro-choice and McCain doesn't. Nuff said.

[tamzins]

68. NARL IS SENDING HILL A MESSAGE - TIME TO DROP OUT OF THE RACE

NARL simply wanted to send Hillary a message - that it is time she dropped out of the race. They are hoping she will take the hint.

[ecstatic]

69. If Clinton truly supported reproductive rights, wouldn't she stop attacking

our nominee and empowering McCain?

[Beacool]

78. Thank you Emily's List!!!!!!

NARAL deserves the scorn, and judging by all the messages from angry women, the endorsement didn't go too well.

:eyes:

[powergirl]

79. NARAL supports the Pro Choice movement

They don't need to wait for Sen. Clinton to tell us when she wants to stop her campaign. This was supposed to be over on Feb 5 and she's been begging for time ever since. Again, a pro choice president and pro choice SC justices mean more to me than letting Sen. Clinton have more time. Why didn't NOW have to wait for their endorsement? I didn't have a problem with that and I'm a female Obama supporter.

[Zhade]

80. NARAL saw the writing on the wall. She's just pissed it says "OBAMA WINS".

NT!

[JBoy]

82. NARAL decided it's time to get on board the Obama train.

Trains leave on time, and this one's pulling out. Hillary wants to keep driving circles in the parking lot.

[IronLionZion]

83. EMILY's list only supports women candidates

it's in their organization's charter. It's their very reason for being. They have to support Hillary as long as she's in the race and they will NOT support Obama or any man candidate.

[eridani]

84. I think NARAL is being very respectful of math n/t

[susankh4]

86. No. I means that some of us do not appreciate the "present" votes

on this very important issue.

"Present" can be read many ways. And, there are RTL advocates that seem to like Mr. Obama as well. So... we have reason to distrust NARAL's judgement on this one.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

87. For fuck's sake, Hillary has lost the nomination.

Any group like this that wanted to endorse for the primary would have done it months ago. This is about the general. The primaries are effectively over. This is accepted by everybody except her hardcore backers and the media who have a vested interest in keeping this thing going.