First thoughts: Ted Kennedy is all in

Posted: Monday, January 28, 2008 9:23 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Ted Kennedy Is All In: The New York Times front-pages the news of Ted Kennedy endorsing Obama, which occurs today at 12:15 pm ET at American University in DC. "Both the Clintons and their allies had pressed Mr. Kennedy for weeks to remain neutral in the Democratic race, but Mr. Kennedy had become increasingly disenchanted with the tone of the Clinton campaign… He and former President Bill Clinton had a heated telephone exchange earlier this month over what Mr. Kennedy considered misleading statements by Mr. Clinton about Mr. Obama, as well as his injection of race into the campaign. Mr. Kennedy called Mr. Clinton Sunday to tell him of his decision.” Did we read that correctly? Ted Kennedy called Bill Clinton -- and not Hillary -- to tell him of the decision? Anyway, the Clinton camp trotted out a statement from Kathleen Kennedy Townsend as a counterpunch to the endorsements from Teddy and Caroline Kennedy (and, per NBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Patrick Kennedy will also be endorsing Obama). Umm, not quite the same impact...

*** Where Kennedy Helps Obama: The thing about a Kennedy endorsement is that once he's in, HE'S ALL IN. Ask Al Gore or John Kerry. Kennedy loves campaigning and when he hits the stump, he gets fired up. And as the Times reports, Kennedy is going to head West and then back to the Northeast to campaign for Obama. He could be particularly helpful for Obama in wooing rank-and-file, blue-collar Democrats as well as Latinos, two parts of the Democratic coalition Obama's under-performed with. Of course, Obama -- as this YouTube clip shows -- hasn’t always had kind words for Kennedy…

*** Bush’s swan song: President Bush steals the spotlight from the most competitive and fascinating presidential nominating contests in years when he delivers his final State of the Union address tonight. And when he gives that speech, he will do so as his ratings remain near -- or at -- all-time lows, according to the latest NBC/WSJ poll. Just 31% approve of his job as president, 29% approve of his handling of the economy, 28% approve of his handling of Iraq, and 32% view him positively versus 57% who see him in a negative light. What’s more, 62% prefer Congress (whose approval rating stands at 18%) taking the lead role in setting policy for the country, compared with 21% who want Bush to do so. Finally, a whopping 70% of respondents believe that Bush’s presidency will turn out either worse than most or not as good as most as the past several presidencies. By comparison, 45% said this of Bill Clinton (who has, of course, been in the news lately) in January of 1999.

*** Behind that FL turnout: A lot has been made of the higher-than-expected turnout among Florida Democrats. Let's not forget that one of the reasons turnout is a bit higher in the Florida primary could have as much to do with the contentious property tax ballot init that's on the state ballot tomorrow as it is with the presidential race. Millions of dollars has been spent on this fight over property taxes in the state. According to the Miami Herald, there's been an "avalanche of mailers and television ads from opponents and supporters of the property tax amendment." When you have millions being spent on something like this, you have lots of money being spent on absentee and early voting. So when watching the Florida returns, particularly on the Democratic side, realize there actually is a local pocketbook issue (property taxes) and a multi-million dollar campaign driving turnout. It wouldn't be surprising, in fact, to find out later that the ad campaigns for this property tax fight actually was more expensive than the presidential race.

*** The Lieberman effect: One of the odder endorsers of this cycle has been Joe Lieberman's support of John McCain. What's been odder is that Lieberman has been such a high-profile surrogate. He was in Florida again for McCain, trying to deliver state to the potential GOP frontrunner, something he couldn't do for Al Gore. Romney is trying to use Lieberman's support to highlight some of McCain's less than conservative domestic positions. And Lieberman, while a national security hawk (or conservative, depending on your point of view), has a fairly left-of-center-to-liberal voting record on a number of domestic issues. Questions we're surprised haven't been asked of McCain regarding Lieberman. Why can't you get him to switch parties and switch control of the Senate to the GOP? Of course, the Democrats have treated Lieberman with kid gloves on this issue. But for one press release from DLC's Al From, criticizing Lieberman for endorsing a Republican for president, we've heard nary a peep from Democrats about Lieberman. Why? For that question we posed regarding Senate control. Democrats don't want to chase Lieberman out of the party and therefore cost them control of the Senate.

*** On the trail: On the Democratic side, Clinton stumps in Connecticut and Massachusetts before returning to DC for tonight’s State of the Union; Edwards is in Tennessee and Missouri; and Obama picks up Ted Kennedy’s endorsement at American University in DC. On the GOP side, Giuliani, Huckabee, McCain, and Romney all campaign in Florida on the eve of that state’s Republican primary.

Countdown to Florida: 1 day
Countdown to Tsunami Tuesday: 8 days
Countdown to Chesapeake Tuesday: 15 days
Countdown to Ohio and Texas: 36 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 281 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 358 days

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Comments

What issues do you supporters of Hillary think she can win on in November? The economy and budget deficits? The Repubs will just trot out a string of experts who will explain how the 90's boom was really just part of the bubble and burst cycle of recent decades and the 2000-01 downturn was actually part of the Clinton legacy. Budget deficits are really a healthy thing for the economy, or else they don't matter much. blah, blah, tax cuts, guns and butter, tax cuts. There's a fair amount of truth mixed in there with the BS, which will make it all the more marketable. Issue neutralized and it's right back to talking about Bimbogate, Whitewater, Travelgate, Vince Foster, etc. etc. etc

How about the fiasco in Iraq? The Repubs can simply point out that Hillary was for it before she was against it and it's just a fairy tale to think that there is any significant difference between Hillary and their candidate, except that she wants to cut and run now that the polling has turned negative. In stark contrast to the ridiculous charges leveled against Barack by Hatchet Bill, in this case it will actually be true! Issue neutralized and it's back to talking about the stained dress, Pardongate, the secret library archives and all the wonderful gossipy stories they may or may not contain, etc. etc. etc.

All her experience with the failed health care effort will be used against her and ridiculed as HillaryCare. Do you get an idea of how this campaign plays out? We lose again, that's how it plays out. Look, I won't give a candidate my support in a primary without carefully considering qualifications and electability. I have taken a hard, critical look at Barack Obama and my conclusion is that he would make an outstanding president. The guy is just consistently ahead of the curve and his judgment and instincts are head and shoulders above anyone in the race on either side. If we’re smart enough to avoid the race/gender/generational trap that the Clintons are leading us into and get behind him, he will give the die-hard Repubs fits trying to run against him in the fall. I sympathize with all my sisters who so badly want to cast a vote for a woman for the highest office in the country. I would welcome the chance to vote for a woman, but not this one. For once, let's try not to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Think before you vote!

jaycee, Ventura, California (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 9:31 AM)

He and former President Bill Clinton had a heated telephone exchange earlier this month over what Mr. Kennedy considered misleading statements by Mr. Clinton about Mr. Obama,

Oh I can imagine so.....
When you put a hot tempered irish boozehound like Ted and a hot blooded sex addict like Bill Clinton, the sparks are going to fly....

Bill just better realize he has to stay out of his wife's campaign now and forever. Headlines like in the Boston Globe about Bill being a hatchet man can do no good for the Clinton's.

After the butt kicking they took at the hands of Obama, it's time for a new slogan from Hillary....

"It's the issues, not the tissues"

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 9:42 AM)

Rumors......Al Gore to support Obama!!!! Will the Clinton Thug Machine say Al was the worst Vice President we have had in History

Frank Furter (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 9:45 AM)

If Obama gets the nod to be the democratic candidate for president, then expect John McCain to be voted the next president of the United States. I must be missing something because I do not understand what the appeal is with Obama. I also dont base my vote on who has the "best" endorsements.Who cares about Ted kennedy. He has too many skeletons in his closet (literally) or he would be running against Obama.

Lynette, NYC (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 9:46 AM)

Joe Scarborough and MSNBC are trying to deminish the Rezko arrest and his relationship with Obama trying to connect rezko with the Clinton's in a photo op..The facts are The Clinton's had a PHOTO OP with Rezko. Obama has had a 17 year friendship with Rezko that includes a questionable land deal, donations, and Obama being identified as the "unidentified political candidate" in Rezkos indictment. This is BIG NEWS and MSNBC IS TRYING TO DOWNPLAY THE SIGNIFICANCE in its continued focus of pumping up Obama as with them pumping up the Kennedy endorsement. Did they pump up Robert Kennedy Jr. endorsement of Hillary?
1/27/2008
Statement from Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
"I respect Caroline and Teddy's decision but I have made a different choice. While I admire Senator Obama greatly, I have known Hillary Clinton for over 25 years and have seen first hand how she gets results. As a woman, leader, and person of deep convictions, I believe Hillary Clinton would make the best possible choice for president. She shares so many of the concerns of my father. Hillary has spent a lifetime speaking out on behalf of the powerless and working to alleviate poverty, in our country and around the world. I have seen her work up close and know she will be a great President. At this moment when so much is at stake at home and overseas, I urge our fellow Americans to support Hillary Clinton. That is why my brother Bobby, my sister Kerry, and I are supporting Hillary Clinton."

Sarah Fountain (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 9:52 AM)

I can't believe the Clinton campaign is getting away with making Florida into a big deal. When is someone in the media going to toughen up and say outright that it's unfair, that if someone without large name recognition (Obama versus CLINTON) doesn't campaign in a state, then of course the majority of votes will go to the person with the best name recognition?

The fact of the matter is, that the Clintons are trying to cheat the process, that they AGREED not to campaign in Florida, and now, only after they realize they were going to lose SC by a huge margin, are they acting like they care one ounce about Florida. Hillary has been holding "fundraisers" in the state several times a month ever since she "agreed" that Florida shouldn't count for anything.

If Clinton wants to be such a vocal support of Florida's rights, why didn't she come out in support of Florida back when it MATTERED? Sounds eerily familar to a certain war vote she's now against, and a bankruptcy bill she voted for, but didn't want to pass. Politics of the moment has GOT to stop.

Ron, TX (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 9:53 AM)

It seems that Ted Kennedy and others on the extreme left of the Party are backing Obama which makes me wonder just what does backing Obama mean. I just don't see how someone saying they are going to bring everyone together can actually do that if he has the Move.on wing of the Party as his base. I think everyone is getting caught up in carefully crafted speeches and don't actually see what's going to be hitting them on the back of the head from those hiding behind the mask of Obama's smile and oratory skills. I want to hear more specifics and fewer slogans.

Melvin Hemming, Mobile, AL (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 9:55 AM)

I hope Ted Kennedy’s support spurns on more endorsements for Senator Obama. I am inspired by him his speeches, they have brought me to tears. I have objectively looked at his record he is not perfect but in more cases than not he has supported the items I think are important to America. I truly believe Republicans will work with him in a New York Second with Hillary it would be a return to the old battles if they do not manage to take her out in the general election. She has lost my vote once and for all no matter what I will either abstain from voting or vote for the republican and I am a life long proud Democrat. She gives us a bad name and plays a brand of politics that leaves you feeling dirty and angry rather than hopeful. Way to go Ted and keep them coming. And for the record not that it should matter but I am an educated, white female over the age of 35 so the Clinton camp should not for a moment think they have my demographic sown up.

Dianna, Owasso, OK (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 9:56 AM)

http://knowbeforeyouvote.com/

Charles, Silver Spring, MD (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 9:56 AM)

So, Hillary and Obama, both Democratic Senators, have chosen to actually do their job tonight and be present for the State Of The Union Adress. Imagine that! They are actually where they are supposed to be for a change!!

But, where oh where is SENATOR John McCain? Oh, yeah--putting his own self interests first--remaining in FLORIDA to campaign INSTEAD of doing the job he is being paid for at the moment!! I guess we can all see where his priorities are...

Lynn,SC (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 9:56 AM)

I wish MSBC were more objective particularly Joe Scarborough. He critizes Hillary and Bill too much questioning every move they make. But more than that the Kennedy's are split with their support. Some are not going with Teddy and Caroline. Talk about Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Robert Kennedy Jr. and Kerry have gone to the Clinton's side. Also there are many more Kennedy's who have not said who they are with. The Clintons did what they had to do in South Carolina its nothing personal against Obama but they are in this to win.

Thanks
Rodney

Rodney, Lakeland Florida (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 9:58 AM)

Lynette,
You are missing something. And missing something huge. Obama is the best chance the Dems have to take back the White House. He can bring Independents across who would NEVER vote for Hillary and Bill. Why? Has nothing to do with her being a woman. Many Independents think it's time we had a woman President. Here's what it has to do with. You may not like it but people who aren't die-hard Clinton supporters don't like to be lied to and see through their spin.

Maria, Miami (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:00 AM)

Call me crazy, but when Hillary gets the former DNC chairman and current Gov. of PA endorsment and the California Farm workers Union enedorsment(Huge Hispanic endorsment in a huge Super Tuesday state), she got one line, but everytime Obama gets an endorsment, it's front page headlines. The bias of MSNBC never ends. Congrats to Obama for a great win in SC. I also congratulate MSNBC and the other media outlets for for framing the Clintons as Racist and turning the country against them using race rhetoric. It was shameless. It's too bad because I think Obama could have and would have one without the media bringing race into the discussion on every TV/Radio show over the past week. At one point MSNBC was trying to say Hillary was getting the white vote and Obama was geting the black vote because of race issues, when in fact, Edwards got the majority of the white vote and I think his strong debate performance took votes away from Hillary and race had nothing to do with it. I also think Bill Clinton needs to stay out of this race until a nominee is chosen. The media hangs on every word he says and no matter what he says, they will spin it negative. Again, congratulations Obama and lets move on to Super Tuesday.

StopwatchingMSNBC, Rochester, NY (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:00 AM)

Lynette--something tells me you would be singing an entirely different tune if Ted Kennedy had endorsed Senator Clinton. Also, I think you mean if Hillary Clinton gets the democratic nomination--John McCain will be the next POTUS. I think you got your candidates mixed up!

Lewis, Cincinnati, Ohio (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:03 AM)

I hope Al Gore supports Obama let them come out in droves. We are after all America, a democracy can we end the dynasties already. Bush Clinton Bush and now another Clinton? Isn't 20 years enough without a fresh perspective?

Dianna, Owasso, Ok (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:03 AM)

Shall we say Hillary Clinton is toast? How can someone choose past over future, despair over hope? The whole thing is crystal clear and was well laid out by Caroline Kennedy in her Op-Ed piece.

Obama is the bridge to the future while Clinton is the bridge to the ‘90s.

Bee, NH (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:03 AM)

Lynette, NYC (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 9:46 AM)

Yes, Lynette, I agree with you, you must be missing something. Obama understands people, that is what suits him to be the best president. He understands issues because he actually understands how they AFFECT people. You may not agree with everything that he says, that is expected but you have to agree that he says it with passion and clarity and earnestly. I appreciate that and look forward to him winning the nomination.

Dante (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:03 AM)

Could Ted Kennedy have other motives for endorsing Obama? If Hillary wins the primary and the general, the Kennedy political dynasty and Camelot plays second to the Clinton Dynasty.

Paul (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:04 AM)

When reading the posts of my fellow Americans, I vacillate between laughing and being very concerned…
Yesterday, “KG” wrote: “Does it suprise anyone the results in SC. SC ranks 51st in the quaility of education. what would expect.

KG, first, I think you meant to include the word “you” in your last sentence. That aside (won't hold that against you--we all make typos), you must fall into the same bucket you’re trying to throw the entire state of SC into. Just for your edification, if what you say is true, Senator Clinton should have won by the same landslide by which she lost. Other than white women over the age of 50, the only demographic she had won UNTIL last night was non-college educated voters. Again, for your benefit, the demographic breakdown for South Carolina is included below. In Greenville County, SC, which has higher average income and a more educated populace than the statewide average and which is 78 percent white, Obama won by a resounding 22 percentage points.As in New Hampshire and Iowa, exit polls indicated that Obama performed very well among those with post-graduate education and those with incomes over $200,000. But unlike New Hampshire, Obama also outperformed Clinton among those earning less than $50,000 a year. According to exit poll interviews Clinton’s only strong demographic groups were white women, among whom she won 44 percent to Obama’s 22 percent, and voters aged 65 and older, among whom she got 40 percent to his 32 percent.

Steve (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:04 AM)

'...Clinton campaign orchestrates intense campaign to
derail Kennedy's stunning endorsement, planned for
tomorrow...'

NEENER, NEENER, NEENER...

SUCK ON THAT, BILLARY !

'...The announcement stunned Senate colleagues, who
had expected Kennedy to remain neutral until the
increasingly vitriolic nominating contest with Sen.
Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) settled out....'

THANK YOU, Teddy
Most endorsements don't mean much...
But, this one does...
espeically after tge despicable 'race baiting'
Our 'Liberal LION' !
The Liberal who Opppsed the Bush/Clinton Iraq War

From the Politico:

'....Ted Kennedy embraces Obama

By: Mike Allen and Carrie Budoff Brown
Jan 27, 2008 03:06 PM EST

Rejecting a personal entreaty from President Bill
Clinton, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) plans to
endorse Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president in a
joint appearance on Monday, Democratic sources said.

The embrace provides a dramatic rocket for Obama to
ride into the frantic, nationwide campaigning ahead of
the spate of Super Tuesday primaries on Feb. 5, the
biggest day for nominating contests in U.S. history.
Caroline Kennedy, the senator's niece and the daughter
of President John F. Kennedy, will also appear at the
rally, the sources said.

Democrats said the endorsement will help Obama with
traditional Democratic groups where Clinton has been
strong — union households, Hispanics and downscale
workers.

Also, the nod by the most experienced member of the
Senate adds significant standing to Obama, who is
working to prove he has the experience necessary to be
president.

The announcement stunned Senate colleagues, who had
expected Kennedy to remain neutral until the
increasingly vitriolic nominating contest with Sen.
Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) settled out.

“This is the biggest Democratic endorsement Obama
could possibly get short of Bill Clinton,” said a
high-level Democrat.

The Clinton campaign launched a last-ditch effort over
the last few days to stop Kennedy's move,
orchestrating a flood of phone calls to Kennedy from
sources ranging from union chiefs to his Massachusetts
constituents.

During his two terms in the White House, President
Clinton made repeated overtures to the Kennedy family.
So the senator’s rejection of his wife is at least as
embarrassing as her 28-point loss in the South
Carolina primary on Saturday.

Kennedy is set to appear with Obama at the “Stand for
Change” rally the campaign is holding at American
University in Washington, D.C., at lunchtime on
Monday, the sources said.

For months, former aides to President John F. Kennedy
and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy showered praise on Obama,
describing him as the heir to the Kennedy mantle.

But when Politico reviewed the Kennedy family’s
endorsements and campaign contributions in December,
reporters found a house divided.

A tangle of longstanding political ties, friendships
and gut feelings caused the Kennedys and those closely
identified with them to scatter across the primary
field.

Old hands to President Kennedy and Sen. Robert F.
Kennedy came out for Obama, in part because he
reminded them of the charismatic brothers. One of the
former advisers, Harris Wofford, said Obama “touches
my soul.”

“For me, no one has done that since John, Robert
Kennedy and Martin Luther King,” Wofford said in
December. “I waited a long time to have that feeling.”

Maybe Billary think 'race baiting' will be overlooked
by the Democratic party

Maybe Hillary will start talking like 'Aunt Jemima'..
That'll make things OK, won't it ?
Race Bait A go go ?
Then, have Bill 'feel your pain' ?

DO ANYTHING TO GET ELECTED ?
SAY ANYTHING TO GET ELECTED ?
'RACE BAIT' TO GET ELECTED ?

Maybe Billary can get David Duke's endorsement...

Sierra, SF (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:05 AM)

Are women voting for HRC just because she is a woman? If so, then don't get angry when the Repukes beat her in the general election. I believe it is true that many DEM candiates throughout the country do not want her to be the nominee becuase it will hurt their chances in November. I believe many are jumping on the Obama bandwagon because it will ensure their success in Novemeber too.

Wake up DEMs, we have a winner in Senator Obama. And not only that, he may actually become a great President.

Steve, San Diego (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:06 AM)

Democrats that say they're the "true" Democrats because they support the Clintons...

Start throwing Republican attack lines at Ted Kennedy in 3...2...1...

Page 1 of the Rove Playbook (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:06 AM)

If Obama gets the democratic nomination, then the Republicans will take the White House again. I'm not a racist, just speaking the plain old truth. If the democrats want to sit back and let this happen, then so be it. Hillary is the one that can go to work and get our country back on even keel, but if that is not what you want, then don't cry when the election comes about in November and the Republicans are giving the victory cry.

Ann, Hohenwald, TN (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:06 AM)

Doesn't the endorsement of Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Ted Daschle, Patrick Leahy and the like undermine the contention of Obama that he is the outsider who can change Washington? Doesn't it kinda make you wonder why these men would endorse him if they really thought he was going to make any change to business as usual?

Obama is not the black candidate, he is after all part white, and as such would be just another man taking the reins in Washington. If you want real change, let's see how a woman would handle governing this nation. We have had 50 years of men guiding the nation, wouldn't real change be giving a woman a shot at it?

As for Obama being the next JFK, he is not. And lest we forget, JFK's personal activities while in the white house were not a lot different than those of one Bill Clinton, it's just that in those days we didn't air our presidents dirty laundry for the whole world to see. Anyone remember Marilyn Monroe and the Rat Pack?

JT, Texas (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:07 AM)

I never thought today would ever come. George Bush's last state of the union address ... A time for celebration.... Saturday's primary was historic when you consider that South Carolina has always been a republican stronghold which was not the case in the primary since more Democrats voted than Republicans. Even FOX news has thrown in the towel and admitted that a democrat will occupy the White House in Jan '09. Thanks to GWB, the GOP died a slow death and have now been put to rest by there very own. How sweet is that :). Have a great day right wing losers.

RGO, California (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:08 AM)

Ann, Hohenwald, TN (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:09 AM)

I refuse to accept the dribble saying Bill talked race during s.c. primary. I also don"t see anthing Obama has to contribute to a presidency. I think Kennedy's endorsement will be a plus for Hillary.

agnes russell (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:11 AM)

Lynette, NYC,

Although, I hope we are wrong, I also believe John McCain will be the next Presisdent if Obama wins. They will hammer him on experience. The media loves McCain, so they won't shamelessly support Obama in the General Election and therefore will bring out all the skeletons in Obama's closet when they currently refuse to do it while he is running against Hillary. I still think Hillary will win the nomination, but you never know how hard the media is working against Hillary, so if they have their way, she may not win the nomination. The media has always taken the position against the Democrats strongest candidate and makes the Democrats vote for the guy who can't win. They actually tried to do the same against Bill in 92 and 96 but he still won, but I still say if we had Howard Dean winning the nomination in 2004, he would be President today.

StopwatchingMSNBC, Rochester, NY (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:11 AM)

You got to love it! Obama utilizes the race card, throws the ageism card at Teddy and gains his endorsement. I will just sit back on watch on Super Tuesday as his campaign comes a tumbling down and the gang at MSNBC minus Crawford and Buchanan have their meltdown in a humiliating fashion once again.

DJ, Philadelphia (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:12 AM)

Please, McCain has nothing going for him other than his support for an unpopular war. The only candidate he can beat is Clinton because too many Democrats, myself included, will not turn out to support her and her husband after their race which is clearly about what's best for the Clintons, not the Democratic Party or the Nation as a whole.

Michael (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:12 AM)

Obama's endorsements are nice, but what is more important is the hundreds of thousands of voters that finally care about a presidential candidate. No more of the Clinton/Romney old style garbage; now we have a candidate who actually cares about the issues and bringing people together to come up with the best possible solution, not the most partisan solution.

Obama '08!!!

Brian, Las Vegas (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:12 AM)

OMG!!

Obama, msnbc, Obama, msnbc, Obama, msnbc, Obama, msnbc,Obama, msnbc, Obama, msnbc, Obama, msnbc, Obama, msnbc....

DID WE "READ THAT RIGHT" YEP, SUCH AND EASY READ, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT ONE...

Fox News is Far more objective than MSNBC... in fact distortion and partisanship is the "Hall Mark" of MSNBC, you simply can't get an honest answer out of them...

Lets see how they try to spin Super Tuesday? How much disingenuous, triangulating, not being truthful, miss-quotes, lies, comes out of the MSNBC Obama mouth piece.... On that one...

MSNBC NEWS, "give me a break, that's the biggest fairy tale I've ever heard."

lets see on Super Tuesday, how you are going to "lie" your way out of that one....

By the way Obama started running his campaign adds in Florida, first... I just thought I would tell MSNBC that, because they lie about everything.... Professional paid liars!!

Frankie Crosby, Columbus Georgia. (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:13 AM)

'...The thing about a Kennedy endorsement is that once he's in, HE'S ALL IN. Ask Al Gore or John Kerry. Kennedy loves campaigning and when he hits the stump, he gets fired up. And as the Times reports, Kennedy is going to head West and then back to the Northeast to campaign for Obama...'

Maybe the Clintons 'race baiting' wasn't THAT GREAT an idea....
Actions have reactions

If 'race' in on the table this cycle, what about RAPE?
Bill Clinton raped Kathleen Willey
Bill Clinton raped Jaunita Broddrick
(anybody notice a pattern, here ?)
Hillary INTIMIDATED Juanita Brodrrick into NOT REPORTING HER RAPE !!

Some feminist, that Hillary.....
Bill Clinton, serial adulterer, serial rapist
... and Hillary, Bill's enabler and accomplist

Have nice election

Sierra, SF (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:13 AM)

Lynette,NYC,

Let's discuss skeletons, I think the Clinton's have stacked up a bedroom full, not counting the oval office and white water and on and on !!
That is why I respect Sen Obama he could blast the Clinton past , he chooses to discuss issues !!!!

Ken Collins/Wagoner,Oklahoma (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:15 AM)

From the LA Times Opinion section:

Is the right right on the Clintons?

Hillary's campaign tactics are causing some liberals
to turn against the couple.
January 26, 2008

Something strange happened the other day. All these
different people -- friends, co-workers, relatives,
people on a liberal e-mail list I read -- kept saying
the same thing: They've suddenly developed a disdain
for Bill and Hillary Clinton. Maybe this is just a
coincidence, but I think we've reached an irrevocable
turning point in liberal opinion of the Clintons.

The sentiment seems to be concentrated among Barack
Obama supporters. Going into the campaign, most of us
liked Hillary Clinton just fine, but the fact that
tens of millions of Americans are seized with
irrational loathing for her suggested that she might
not be a good Democratic nominee. But now that
loathing seems a lot less irrational. We're not
frothing Clinton haters like ... well, name pretty
much any conservative. We just really wish they'd go
away.

The big turning point seems to be this week, when the
Clintons slammed Obama for acknowledging that Ronald
Reagan changed the country. Everyone knows Reagan
changed the country. Bill and Hillary have said he
changed the country. But they falsely claimed that
Obama praised Reagan's ideas, saying he was a better
president than Clinton -- something he didn't say and
surely does not believe.

This might have been the most egregious case, but it
wasn't the first. Before the New Hampshire primaries,
Clinton supporters e-mailed pro-choice voters claiming
that Obama was suspect on abortion rights because he
had voted "present" instead of "no" on some votes. (In
fact, the president of the Illinois chapter of Planned
Parenthood said she had coordinated strategy with
Obama and wanted him to vote "present.") Recently,
there have been waves of robocalls in South Carolina
repeatedly attacking "Barack Hussein Obama."

I crossed the Clinton Rubicon a couple of weeks ago
when, in the course of introducing Hillary, Clinton
supporter and Black Entertainment Television founder
Robert L. Johnson invoked Obama's youthful drug use.
This was disgusting on its own terms, but worse still
if you know anything about Johnson. I do -- I once
wrote a long profile of him. He has a sleazy habit of
appropriating the logic of civil rights for his own
financial gain. He also has a habit of aiding
conservative crusades to eliminate the estate tax and
privatize Social Security by falsely claiming they
redistribute wealth from African Americans to whites.
The episode reminded me of the Clintons' habit of
surrounding themselves with the most egregious
characters: Dick Morris, Marc Rich and so on.

The Clinton campaign is trying to make it seem as if
the complaint is about negativity, and it is pointing
out that Obama has criticized Hillary as well. That's
what politicians are supposed to do when they compete
for votes. But criticism isn't the same thing as lying
and sleaze-mongering.

Am I starting to sound like a Clinton hater? It's a
scary thought. Of course, to conservatives, it's a
delicious thought. The Wall Street Journal published a
gloating editorial noting that liberals had suddenly
learned "what everyone else already knows about the
Clintons." (By "everyone," it means Republicans.)

It made me wonder: Were the conservatives right about
Bill Clinton all along? Maybe not right to set up a
perjury trap so they could impeach him, but right
about the Clintons' essential nature? Fortunately, the
Journal's attempt to convince us that the Clintons
have always been unscrupulous liars seemed to prove
the opposite. Its examples of Clintonian lies were
their claims that Bob Dole wanted to cut Medicare,
that there was a vast right-wing conspiracy, that
Paula Jones was "trailer trash" and that Kenneth Starr
was a partisan.

Except Dole did vote to cut Medicare, there was a vast
right-wing conspiracy and Starr was and is a rabid
partisan. ("Trailer trash" is, of course, a matter of
opinion, and it's a cruel thing to say, but as far as
whether it's a lie -- well, it's not like they called
William F. Buckley "trailer trash.")

So maybe the answer is that the Clintons would have
smeared their opponents in the 1990s, but lying is
unnecessary when the other party is doing things such
as voting to slash Medicare to pay for a big tax cut
for the rich.

But the conservatives might have had a point about the
Clintons' character. Bill's affair with Monica
Lewinsky jeopardized the whole progressive project for
momentary pleasure. The Clintons gleefully
triangulated the Democrats in Congress to boost his
approval rating. They do seem to have a feeling of
entitlement to power.

If Hillary wins the nomination, most of us will
probably vote for her because the alternative is
likely to be worse. But what happens if she's
embroiled in another scandal? Will liberals rally
behind her, or will they remember the Democratic
primary?

Jonathan Chait, a contributing editor to Opinion and a
senior editor at the New Republic, is the author of
"The Big Con: The True Story of How Washington Got
Hoodwinked and Hijacked by Crackpot Economics."...'

Welll...... DUH !
The Clintons are sleaze bags
It was easy to give the the benefit of the doubt
(when they opposed Newt Gingrich and Tom DeLay)

But, they really are LOW LIFES
Did Bill Rape Juanita Broaddrick ?
Did Bill Clinton rape Kathleen Willey ?

YES !
Bill Clinton DID RAPE THOSE WOMEN !!
What does that make Hillary Clinton ?
Bill's enabler ?

It's almost like an episode of CSI or Law and Order
You go, girl

Sierra, SF (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:16 AM)

You certainly are missing something and showing a lack of understanding. Go to Senator Obama's website and do some homework. Have a read under "Issues". :-)

http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

Spring Woods, Amsterdam, Holland (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:17 AM)

Hey Chuck , if I am not mistaken you are trying to be cute with the word thing about Sen Kennenedy is "all in "talking about weight !! hey Chuckie LOOK IN THE MIRROR !!!!!

Ken Collins/Wagoner, Oklahoma (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:19 AM)

Does anyone realize how much hate Ted Kennedy must have for the Clintons? Here he's turning his back on the last Democratic President in almost a generation for someone that can best be termed a rookie. Kennedy was probably on the fence with the situation until how he saw the Clintons behave in South Carolina. Anyone, and I mean anyone, that race-baited like the Clintons did last week would have been run out of their party on rails. Until last week, the Clintons were likely to win the Democratic nomination. Now it appears that they're on borrowed time.

Cliff Trent, Spokane WA (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:20 AM)

You go Lynette. What is the big deal with the Kennedy "endorsement" talk about a ball and chain around someones ankle. I am so glad he didn't support Hillary. here is what I can tell, Obama has said (on his plane) that he has spoke to Kennedy several times over the last year. I though he was against the Old Washington machine...LMAO..Who best to represent the OLD Washington machine then Kennedy. It appears that Washington has a motive on endorsements and they don't matter to most Americans. Let's face it, now Obama will really have a big problem with answering the Kennedy, Rezco (spelled wrong I know) problems. It's okay America, we shall all over come the Obama bull, were much smater then that. How many of you would like to have the house he bought for $300K. Oh wait, we can't. We just don't have his connections do we. While he is buying his house at half price we are robbing Peter and paying Paul to keep ours. Deals with the devil all come out in the wash.

Rox, somewhere,ne (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:20 AM)

YOU KNOW WHEN I HEARD KENNEDY ENDORSED OBAMA I SAID BIG DEAL STILL SHOWS N THE SEANATE THEY DO NOT WANT WOMAN AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST POSTIONS N THE US AND THAT IS NOTHING NEW THE WOMAN WHO HAS THE ABILITY TO BE ONE OF THE GREASTEST PRESIDENTS IS RUNNING AND MEN ARE REALLY OUT THERE TO STOP IT THEY ARE NOT READY FOR A WOMAN PRESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES AND THAT IS REALLY SAD .OBAMA IS TO KNEW I DO NOT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT HIM AND THING COMING OUT IN THE NEWS ABOUT THE SLUMLORD HE WAS AFFILATED WITH WAS ARRESTED BY THE FEDS GO FIGURE HE TOO KNEW I DONT WANT THE MAN LEADING MY COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LINDA SOTO WEST LAFAYETTE IN (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:23 AM)

Lynette NYC

Ted kennedy. He has too many skeletons in his closet (literally) or he would be running against Obama.

Clearly you are a Hillary supporter so you know what they say about skeletons, "people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones".

CommonSenseinNC,Charlotte,NC (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:24 AM)

Lynette, NYC

If you don't see what the appeal with Obama is then you must never pay attention to politics.

I don't think anyone would admit that they base their vote on who has the besst endorsements but it does make a candidate more appealing. I don't think a president has ever won without winning endorsements. That's how it works.

Yes Kennedy has lots of skeletons in his closet but he is still a respected senator and a good endorsment. And he has no more skeletons in his closet than the Clintons do who are actually running for joint presidency!

By the way Romney will win the RNC nomination. The very rich and conservative would never let McCain become their nominee. They need another puppet like Bush to do their bidding. Who better than Romney Robot.

Jeff, Portland, OR (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:24 AM)

Then: Clinton's say the won't campaign in Florida.

Now: Clinton's are campaigning in Flordia.

But Hillary is there becasue "She cares!", right?

Clinton's lying = Their lips moving

Dora Explorer (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:25 AM)

How's this for a reality check: No one is buying the co-president act. If Senator Clinton wants to be President, she is going to have to run her own campaign and run on her own record.

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:26 AM)

Paul reminds me of James Carville on ABC news; the Clinton machine has lost their mojo and is becoming irrelevant in the Democratic Party.

Shall we say Hillary Clinton is a bridge to the '90s? She doesn't mean what she say neither does she say what she mean. Her stance regarding Florida reminds me of how dishonest she is. She is unethical, dishonest and can't be trusted.

Like the famous author said, i want a President that say what she means and mean what she say.

Bee, NH (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:26 AM)

So Teddy Kennedy is endorsing Obama. That's about right. Ted Kennedy is a slime ball who got away with vehicular homicide because his last name was Kennedy, a person who left the scene of accident and let another person drown. Ask the Koepeckne family how they about Teddy. Obama campaigns against Washington and for CHANGE, yet he gleefully accepts the support of two of the of the greatest Washington insiders that there ever were in the history of this country in Kerry and Kennedy, who between them have spent 70 years in Washington. Obama campaigns against the politics of the past yet gleefully accepts the support of Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President who term in the White House was in the early '60's. He is a president whose myth has been kept alive by the Kennedy family, who try to depict him as so kind of diety, whose morals make Bill Clinton look like a Boy Scout, and was a President who was much more beloved in death than he ever was in life. I am 61 years old, and I think it is about time we put Camelot to bed where it belongs. I have been a lifelong Democrat, but if they nominate Barack Obama, I will have no choice but to vote Republican, for either McCain or Romney. Obama would be the least experienced person ever to occupy the Oval Office since Jimmy Carter, and we all know how well his Presidency turned out. So people ou there, think before you vote and realize how important your vote really is.

Dominic Iacopino, Brick, NJ (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:26 AM)

Sierra get real....If we are to believe that then lets talk Kennedy. Something about a river, limo and dead girl. Something about divorce and married sec. Something about drinking like a fish. Something about the last two president hopefuls not winning? Yea keep backing Obama. Really, did you see the Chicago headlines. How is Obama differnt the any of them. Get real.

Rox, somewhere,ne (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:27 AM)

THREE OTHER KENNEDY'S HAVE ENDORSED HILLARY!!!
RFK'S CHILDREN.. BOBBY JR., KATHLEEN KENNEDY, AND KERRY KENNDEY. WHY HAS MSNBC FAILED TO REPORT THIS!!!!! VERY POOR REPORTING AND VERY PRO-OBAMA.

RACHEL, MIAMI (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:28 AM)

Ann in TN,
Please see all the responses to Lynette from NYC. Everyone on this board (ok, maybe 95% of people on this board) would love to see a woman in the White House. But not this woman. She would set the woman agenda back at least a decade for 2 reasons: 1) everyone would just say "yeah, this is really a 3rd Bill term" and 2) another Clinton term would be SO polarizing that people would, if it were subconsciously, associate all the hate and division with the "first woman President."

Let's get some of the terrific women governors who are so well respected in the cue for the next election. Here's one name for starters: Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. She's considered the next rock star in the Dem party and is beloved in her state.

Maria, Miami (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:29 AM)

JT, Texas wrote:
"Doesn't the endorsement of Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Ted Daschle, Patrick Leahy and the like undermine the contention of Obama that he is the outsider who can change Washington? "

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
No, it means that the people who have known Hillary Clinton the longest don't want her (and Bill) to be President of the United States (again). Nice spin though.

Nashville_fan (Sent Monday, January 28, 2008 10:29 AM)

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