Senator Clinton is an outstanding public servant

[bigtree]

. . . Obama said.





“She has worked tirelessly in this campaign. She has been a great senator for the state of New York, and she is going to be a great asset when we go into November to make sure that we defeat the Republicans. That I can promise you.”

[slinkerwink]

1. thank you for a great post!

[pocoloco]

2. I hope that is a threat!!

I don't see any other way she would help!!

[kid a]

3. Positive message! Thanks Obama / Bigtree

[LiberalAndProud]

4. Yes she is.

Thank you, Senator Obama. It's obvious to me that she is an incredible politician and a formidable adversary. I will be so glad when they're both battling it out with McCain, whatever form that takes.

[frickaline]

5. K&R

[WeDidIt]

6. Kicked and REcommended

The two candidates are going to stay above the shit flinging by the likes of some supporters on both sides.

Also noted that I gave it the fifth rec!

[Captain Hilts]

7. Yes, she is and I like both candidates. nt

[Doityourself]

8. Obama has class...good for him. Good for the party.

[Occam Bandage]

9. She is. She votes with-party 97% of the time. She's a very good Senator,

with fewer blemishes on her record than most.

[karynnj]

10. I agree that HRC has a decent voting record, but I think you may need a different metric

Do you know the Senator who deviated the most - it was Ted Kennedy. Why? On some of the more progressive measures - on many subjects, the majority of Democrats vote against it and stay with the Republicans. Some votes that EMK was penalized for include Kerry/Feingold, which won just 13 votes and the cluster bomb bill where the majority of Democrats against both. I would call neither "blemishes". (In fact, I would prefer a "What did Ted Kennedy do?" measure - I suspect I would agree with that ranking more.

[Occam Bandage]

14. "Do you know the Senator who deviated the most?"

Er, it wasn't TK. TK voted with party 93% of time. The three Senators who deviated the most are Snowe, Collins, and Specter, each in the 60s. Nelson is the Dem who deviates the most, at 79.9% in party. As for Dems, well, Landrieu, Bayh, McCaskill, Pryor, Lieberman (if you count him as a Dem), Lincoln, Tester, Baucus, Carper, Byrd, Feingold, T. Johnson, Webb, Conrad, Salazar, Nelson, Rockefeller, and Inouye have deviated more than Kennedy.

But I agree with your general point, in that with-party votes don't tell the whole story. They do, however, make it very clear that certain stories are false. One, for instance, is that Sen. Clinton is a Republican (or even a particularly bad Democrat). On 97% of votes, she votes along with the majority of Democrats. That can lead to some bad things, but it's good far, far more often than it's bad.

(All figures for 110th congress only, http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/party-voters/)

[karynnj]

34. I think the link I had seen months ago was for a different time

I know the 109th Congress was included because Kerry/Feingold was the one.

I think the interesting thing is that there really are 2 clusters - that represent the 2 parties and that even the best Republicans are more likely to vote with their party than the worst Democrats - and HRC is nowhere near the worst Democrat. I suspect the reason for the different order was that the 109th was Republican controlled and 110th was Democratically control.

[Seabiscuit]

11. This is a good example of the back-handed arrogance that has so "fired up" the Obamanoids

on this board.

The man's a shill.

[bigtree]

12. I've never heard anything from the man which resembles the vitriol on this board sometimes

In this speech, the senator spoke to his own negativity and defensiveness at times and was simply being magnanimous toward his opponent. I saw Sen. Clinton attempt to do the same in her address but her enthusiastic crowd in P.R. just wouldn't let her get out what I could see was intended to be as expressive a remark of praise as Sen. Obama managed.

These are dedicated Democrats who will work together in the future, no matter the result of this primary contest.

[grantcart]

16. I didn't see the PR speech so I am glad that is what you saw

And if you said it I believe it.

[bigtree]

21. she tried two remarks, louder the second time, gently admonishing the crowd

. . . and she was shouted down both times, so she moved on with her address.


here's what she managed . . .


"I also want to recognize Senator Obama and his supporters. (crowd noise) Our two campaigns have turned out record numbers of new voters, determined to chart a new course for America. Now, this primary election has been hard fought because there is so much at stake and we must elect a Democratic president."

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/speech/view/?id=7880

[Seabiscuit]

19. I agree with your first sentence.

The wording of the following phrase is what I find arrogant - he's basically coronating himself at her expense: "she is going to be a great **asset** when **we** go into November...." The "we" obviously refers to himself and his campaign supporters.

[bigtree]

23. I've seen his opponent do the same

politics.

[Occam Bandage]

26. Why do you assume the word "we" does not include Clinton and her supporters?

[stray cat]

13. damned either way by some like yourself; would Hillary sucks make you happier?

[Occam Bandage]

15. ...arrogance? He's praising her, and rightfully so.

[NatBurner]

25. eakyfray

eekyday

[SeaLyons]

17. She is Outstanding....

So proud to be a Hillary supporter.

[emilyg]

35. So am I.

[PBS Poll-435]

38. LOL -

If you just read the subject lines and not the next of the message, it is kinda funny.

And BTW...I am also very proud of our candidate.

[SeaLyons]

40. LOL...

I was almost ready to see a snark... LOL

[grantcart]

18. Very clever post Bigtree - way to lift both candidates with a single phrase.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

20. Senator Obama is a good man. He has always been a good man.

I just wish some of his supporters would take more of his words and actions to heart.

[QueenOfCalifornia]

22. He is correct

nice post

[greguganus]

24. Are you sure he said ASSet? n/t

[rodeodance]

28. you just couldn't help your self could you!! You had to be childish and make a good post vile!!

[bigtree]

30. hey

:hi:

[emilyg]

36. Your childishness continues.

[Tatiana]

27. Hillary had it right the first time. At the end of the day, both Clinton and Obama will be "fine."

They had a very good relationship in the Senate and I think they will have a good relationship in the future.

If you look at video of them campaigning for other Dems, you will see that they were once very at ease with one another and clearly had a mutual admiration for each other.

This has been a contentious primary, but when we take back the WH and the increase our majorities in the House and Senate, all will be forgotten. We can then take to fighting over who belongs in the Democratic cabinet and which Iraq withdrawal plan is best.

[rodeodance]

29. REC

[berni_mccoy]

31. Wow. you've found something I disagree with Obama on.

Good for you. Now Dance.

[cbayer]

32. Nice one, bigtree.

I could not agree more.

[Hope And Change]

33. K & R!

[hokies4ever]

37. This almost feels like a unity thread :-)

:hug:

[Vattel]

39. Obama and Clinton both rock!

Clinton was a victim of relentless smears, mostly because many of Obama's supporters are loony, but that does not negate Obama's positives.

[DevonRex]

41. Kick for the positive message. She will be an asset to the

democratic party for years to come.

[bigtree]

42. I think the two will work very well together

Whatever their role, they both are committed to a lifetime of public service and that's really beautiful.

[DevonRex]

43. As do I. And it is. :) nt