Casey says Dems will come together

Posted: Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:42 AM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Matthew E. Berger
PHILADELPHIA -- Sen. Bob Casey just finished speaking at the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO conference, and appeared well aware that he was speaking just an hour before Clinton.

Casey, who endorsed Obama with much fanfare last week, struck a conciliatory tone, saying that while he had made a choice, he believed both Democratic candidates would enjoy strong union support.

"We have to be honest with each other about differences, even difference that may melt away in the months ahead," he said. "We're gonna have a debate, we're gonna have a discussion, we might even have a few arguments, but in the end of this process, Democrats will come together."

Obama will address the AFL convention tomorrow.

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Comments

One can only hope Senator Casey, one can only hope.

Woman for Obama 08

Lisa, New Britain, CT CT for Obama (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:44 AM)

As per Rasmussen, new numbers from Pennsylvania. Clinton 47%-Obama 42%. Hmmmmm.

Kristian O (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:48 AM)

Good to see Obama closing the gap in Pennsylvania. Hope the Casey endoresement helped. Wouldn't it be a "hoot" (a.k.a Bill Clinton) if Obama pulled off an upset in PA???

Diane from Illinois (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:54 AM)

"Casey, who endorsed Obama with much fanfare last week, struck a conciliatory tone, saying that while he had made a choice, he believed both Democratic candidates would enjoy strong union support." Ok help me out here folks. I can understand union support for Senator Obama with his record, but please tell me what part of her history has shown that Senator Clinton has any loyalty towards the unions? Sure I know she has a "D" infront of her name so naturally she must be for unions.

However wasn't it during her husband's term of office that NAFTA shipped good paying union jobs overseas? If she was so against NAFTA why did she (according to her own records) speak out FOR it? I still remember during the Clinton years when my father (a coal miner) was in the middle of a long strike, what did the Clinton WH do in support of the union? NOTHING! They did threaten to force arbitration to end the baseball strike though. So I guess they only care about union people if they make millions of dollars. Sorry if that offends anyone but once again actions speak louder than words. Where are any real ACTIONS from Senator Clinton to help union members? After all she said it herself that a speech just isn't enough.

Confused (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:55 AM)

Democrats really do need to come together. People of both candidates have been claiming that they will vote for McCain if the other wins the nomination. I don't think those people want another 4 yrs of Bush/Chenny policies. They do not want this war to continue for so long, and they do not want someone who doesn't even care for them. Someone who will only focus on foreign policy and not care whats going on within the US. At least both of the democratic candidates know something about the economy and can do something to help the common public. I don't see how any TRUE democrat can go and vote for McCain in the republican nomination. Do not vote because you don't like a specific candidate. That is what caused us to be in this mess in the 1st place. Don't make the same mistake twice.

Johnson, New Orleans, LA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:56 AM)

Casey and the talking heads think that the polls showing 28% of Clintons supporters won't vote for Obama are not true, that those people will "come around" when the nomination is settled. WRONG. I will not vote for him...period. The man has tried to manipulate information to explain away his POOR JUDGEMENT. We all know how he hid Wright, didn't hear Wright, did hear Wright but now defends the man. Apparently, he has poor eyesight since he didn't "see" the 1996 questionnaire. Oh, but a staffer filled it out. But, he signed it. If he'll sign anything without reading it, what will he does as President? He's also apparently "mentally challenged" with his statement from Sat. He said if his daughters made a "mistake", he'd opt for abortion for them so they wouldn't be "punished with a baby." What kind of message is that to send to young people? Of course, if somebody is over 12 or 13, his record shows that he believes there should be no parental notification before abortion.

NObama (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:58 AM)

Why is the Texas news not on MSNBC's front page? Hillary's "victory" was sure plastered everywhere. Let's correct the record.

Get it right (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:58 AM)

Kristian,
Interesting numbers. If those are indeed indicative of where the race is heading, get ready for the Wolfson spin machine. Will the mainstream media think for themselves this time or just commend him on his "great stage setting"?

Just Wondering (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 10:59 AM)

Obama can't win Pennsylvania or any of the big Democratic states needed in November. The polls may go up and down, but Obama won't win Penn.

Obama should drop out of the race.

As a lunch-bucket lifelong Dem. with six children, I'll vote for McCain before Obama.

Who would I "rather drink a beer with?", Obama or McCain? Answer: McCain

Who would I "rather see on TV in my living room over the next four years?", Obama or McCain? Answer: McCain

Dirk, Brunswick, Georgia (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:00 AM)

I'm just praying that somewhere, down deep, buried by all the political ambition & dreams, Hillary Clinton does have a soul and does care more about America than about her own ego trip. Then maybe she'll do the right thing, BOW OUT and Dems can unite.
(We've had enough of a deceitful lying President)
Time for change
Obama '08 Yes WE Can!!!

JohnnyU, WA State (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:00 AM)

I wonder what great things Unions are thankful for The Clinton's for?

NAFTA?

I have gone back and researched and I can not find one thing that The Clinton's have done for union folks.

I guess I'll just wait for Hillary to make something up and decide whether it is believeable or not LOL.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:00 AM)

The new, conciliatory tone of the Obama camp (and party leaders) shows just how confident they are he is going to win...indeed, that the battle is already won.

Hopefully, more and more Clinton supporters are going to start questioning whether its time for them to get behind our young, bold and brilliant champion! McCain is already his General Election campaign. Let's free Obama to turn his attention and resources on McWarMonger.

balthus, Raleigh, NC (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:02 AM)

Obama will have a tough sell. Unions affected by NAFTA both in the US and Canada toe the same line: they want it back the way it was.

That's not going to happen. The best possible outcome is renegotiating labor and environmental standards in NAFTA as well as providing new economic alternatives for displaced workers.

Obama is on the mark about this plus he says he'll penalize companies for the practice of "offshoring".

NAFTA's not going away no matter how loud the unions call for the "old days". We're all going to have to learn to work with it, unions included.

bc Indiana (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:04 AM)

Obama will have a hard time winning the general election because I've heard that many still believe he's muslim, and he's part of a sleeper cell for Al Qada and when in office will destroy us. I am not kidding. I hear this from people I otherwise thought were smart and intelligent...but then I learn they are republican...

Pat Huntington NY (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:09 AM)

Obama the copycat the your plan is my plan guy, everywhere he goes he goes disguised as a big eared guy with all of Hillary's ideas! He is her big mini me! Hear the ECHO
ECHO
ECHO ECHO
echoing Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s focus on bread-and-butter concerns, Mr. Obama went on to talk about the price of gas and to offer the precise amount of his health care premium and to explain exactly what he would do about the foreclosure rate and Big Oil and Big Energy and how he would stop companies from moving to China.

HP Boston (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:10 AM)

Jerry - What do unions have to thank Clinton for? Hillary was daydreaming about sniper fire over there so she wouldn't have to daydream about sniper fire over here. That's something, isn't it?

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:10 AM)

As per Rasmussen, new numbers from Country. Clinton 45%-Obama 46%. She has the momentum!

Gee...you can spin anything on a one day basis.

Alan, NJ (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:11 AM)

OMG, McCain is now speaking on CNN on No Child Left Behind. The guy knows nothing about what that law is actually doing to children and schools...holy cow!

Now that's a discussion we need to have! If I win the dinner with Obama (yeah right LOL) that's what I'm going to press him on.

sorry, I have CNN on in the background and I was shocked listening to McCain rhetoric on the law...

Lisa, New Britain, CT CT for Obama (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:14 AM)

Jerry you are right, I cannot find a single thing that the Clintons have done for union people either. Sure they talk a good game but when it comes to actions aside from shipping jobs oversease I can't see what they have done for union people. Maybe Senator Clinton will help pay for job "retraining" after she sells out your job to Mexico or something. Personally i would rather just keep my job and not watch it being shipped away, but what do I know.

Confused (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:16 AM)

Is it not wonderful, Hillary is with child. Clinton camp is confused and want a DNA of the DNC to insure this was not a GOP slip up. Hillary say's it is not from setting on GOP toilet seats.

1, April (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:16 AM)

"Yes we can!"

I love that phrase. It so perfectly captures how most Obama supporters don't mind not having substance to back up words, as long as they feel like they're part of something special. The phrase as a whole is one big response to "No you can't," --- interesting to have a campaign slogan born from trying to convince people you're not a joke.

What CAN you change? How CAN you change it? Or, like all of Obama's messages, do you say it just because it sounds cool, even though there's actually no way to expound it? It's a propoganda slogan tossed out there for the out-of-hope to grab on to so that Obama can focus his campaign dollars on a more specific demographic (since your demographic is already in the bag at the sound of three words).

Excellent campaign strategy. And that's about where it ends, because that's all Obama wants. His own chapter in your kids' history books.

Jaded Voter (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:16 AM)

Pat Huntington NY - Nice dig on the Republicans but lets not forget that it was Senator Clinton that started the whole "Obama is a Muslim" stuff. Of course Senator Clinton has been gracious enough to come out and say that Senator Obama is not a Muslim as far as she knows (wink wink).

Confused (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:18 AM)

We will. We are. May the best candidate win.

Let the Healing Begin.

We've got bigger fish to fry, in the GE. 'Four more years of Bush', can not be our battle cry in November, if we are true democrats.

Pulling for Obama '08

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:30 AM)

Sure hope the AFL-CIO remembers Hillary's schedule showing she was the primary speaker at a pro-NAFTA meeting in 1993. Many in attendance said she was the most active person pushing for NAFTA.

Also, remember Hillary is 6 months behind on paying her bills. She still owes companies with union workers. Approximately $8 million behind on payments at the end of February.

Juanita (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:31 AM)

I'm one of the 30% probably more that would never vote for Obama. If no Hillary I will vote for McCain. I don't trust Obama his judgement or his wife. The fact is that the MSNBC network has been shoving Obama down your throat. I can't wait to see all these liberal loonies lose their mind in november when he loses by a landslide. Don't worry they will figure a way to blame Hillary

kevin,fl (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:36 AM)

As a Hillary supporter, I will not vote for Obama if he is the nominee. Anyone who thinks that all of the Hillary supporters will back Obama in general election are high on something .

John

NJ (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:40 AM)

Well Confused, so much for the undertone of my statement which was yes, we can all unite as democrats because the bigger evil is the republicans. You had to put in the pro-obama anti-hillary spin.

Pat huntington NY (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:40 AM)

FIRST READ: I'm still waiting for the headline on Obama's position on abortion, especially on partial birth.And, how about a headline that he'd opt that for his own daughters so they wouldn't be "punished with a baby".

Where's the headline on his position questionnaire? Where's the copy of that questionnaire so people can see how much Barry really does talk out of both sides of mouth. Well, at least he can talk, he was deaf for so many years sitting in the church. And, apparently, he was blind when he signed that questionnaire and even wrote on it but then said he had never seen it.

NObama (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:46 AM)

HILLARY WON THE POPULAR VOTE IN TEXAS.
OBAMA IS UN-ELECTABLE IN NOVEMBER.
JOHN KERRY BECAME THE NOMINEE OF THE PARTY BUT BUSH WON IN NOVEMBER IN '2004.
SAME STORY OVER AND OVER AGAIN.....
THE VOTERS WILL DECIDE IN NOVEMBER.
LIBERALS TO THE LEFT LIKE OBAMA CANNOT WIN IN NOVEMBER.
REMEMBER DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE REALITY.

TEXAN (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:51 AM)

I am a NYorker---and an Obama supporter--Seeing that NY borders Penn, I wish that they would re-visit Hillary's "job creation" record as senator of NY---
is that what you call---"fighting for the people?--
I would say that fight was lost!!

Dan, Syracuse NY (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:51 AM)

We need a Democrat in the WH. But Hillary, full lof new lies each week, does not have the leadership or integrity for such a job. I despise many of the Republican leaders....but would vote for Karl Rove before I voted for "her". She is awful, and not close to being worthy of the DNC nomination. FGor hope of Unity....Obama.

C.Myles; Atlantic, VA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 11:55 AM)

Likened to ROCKY?? A lawyer, A Washington self serving paper hanger, liar, voting conjecture, And now a Punch drunk! Well, what is next? Is she going to pilot the next rocket to the Moon setting on a Bed Pan! Is all this just self serving? She has tapped into every thing, but being hollow one must!!!!

Shame, just hollow! (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:05 PM)

All thinking Democrats should read Amy Sullivan's new book, "The Party Faithful" which lays out a blueprint that will allow the Democratic party to engage in common cause with evangelicals."Values Voters" comprise some 25 million people.In order to win elections and govern effectively, we need to meet this bloc at a moral center.If we do not, there will be little consensus for President Obama to stand upon and very little progress to show for his efforts.We need-Democrats and the Religious Right-to talk with one another, to engage with one another, and,ultimately, to legislate with each other. And I hope Barack Obama will begin,even now, to reach out to "values voters" and publicly invite them to join the Democratic party,and welcome the evangelical commitment to a better society.

ariel,Jupiter Florida (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:06 PM)

sen casey is an honorable man that i believe keystoners trust. then there's fast eddie rendell, he looks and talks like an old school wheeling and dealing backroom political hack-perfect for the hillary campaign.

vern ruhle, macomb, il (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:08 PM)

Jeez,

The Hillary Rodham-Clinton supporters are so Republican! Look, I don't like Hillary, I don't trust Hillary and I don't think that Hillary would beat McSame, but I would still vote for her. She is a much better choice than McBush. On the same token, Obama is a much better choice than both in my book.

It's time to stop the bickering and get with the program. We have a choice: four more years of Hell-on-Earth or Barack or Hillary. It is something that Hillary supporters should seriously consider should Obama get the nomination. Voting for McBush is simply insane regardless of your loyalties!

Democrat (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:09 PM)

Dems will come together or allow the neocons to pack the supreme court (good-bye roe v. wade), ship more jobs overseas (good-bye pension), shutdown stem-cell research (good-bye cure for disease), continue the terrorism scare (good-bye Bill of Rights). If that's what the Democrats want, I'm sure McSame will go along with it. Any democrat, and I do mean ANY democrat is better than saying all those Good-Byes.

Tommy, Detroit, Mi (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:09 PM)

It is amazing how badly some people listen. Senator Obama said he wanted children to get sex education because he had two little girls and though he and his wife would teach them morality and tell them to wait, when they were 16 or so he wanted them to have all of the information rather than being punished for making a mistake with a baby or a std. Now, you cannot "abort" an std-- but you can prevent one with a condom. You can also prevent a baby with a condom--please listen folks. Senator Obama was clearly discussing the need to educate children about birth control which both prevents teenage pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

You might have a legitimate problem with birth control (what Senator Obama was talking about) and if you do, this is what you should be arguing against -- rather than creating false arguments based on what Senator Obama did NOT say.

Kim, Pasadena, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:10 PM)

Pat Huntington NY - I wasn't giving a pro-Obama or anti-Clinton spin as you said, rather I was just stating a truth. We must acknowledge what is real versus what is false. Just as the first President Bush was credited with the Willie Horton ads the truth was that the Willie Horton issue was raised by none other than the then Senator Al Gore first in the primary fight. We can't re-write history and then claim to be better than the people we want to blame for our own short falls. I am sorry if this bothered you, but I cannot blindly change what has been said with a wave of my hand. Can Democrats get beyond the statements made during the primary when it is time for the general election? Possibly, but we first have to be honest with ourselves before we deman honesty from others.

Confused (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:12 PM)

obama's position on abortion has been in the headlines and although abortion rights are an important issue in america today i would think that it is not the most important issue in the race for the WH. There are issues such as the economy, job security for americans as well as the war in Iraq which demand more attention at this time, so until we can get at least some of those issue's solved like it or not abortion will never be brought to the forefront. So for all of the people who say if HRC wins they will vote for maccain, and all the people who say if BO wins they will vote for maccain, will mccain help solve any of the upfront problems so that we can get back to abortion and affimative rights issues that also need to be solved? I think not!

No matter please vote for the person who has the best interest of america in mind ($5000 a minute is not in our best interset)

James Hanna Lawton, OK (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:20 PM)

I for one, will not vote for McCain if he gets the nomination, or if he is still standing in November. I, and 5 million of my friends, will vote for Democrat. I am taking my ball and going home.

I love the fact that people say they will vote Republican instead of Democrat if Obama/Clinton get the nomination. Everyone on here who says that is all talk. You would never bite your nose off to spite your face. When push comes to shove, NO TRUE Democrat would vote Republican in the GE. That 28% in the polls you hear is sour grapes at the moment b/c they are both still in it. That number will be 0% among TRUE DEMOCRATS come November.

Instead of scaring people with war, we are now scaring them with polls. Sheesh.

Do not try and outsmart yourself... (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:20 PM)

leave obama alone and just go ahead and for vote for whoever you love maccain or hrc ! obama ready told you the true so please you r to vote for maccain or clinton none care whatever you said about this guy hes muslim hes terrorist all that bulleshit white dudes for obama 08

dan (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:27 PM)

I invite any Clinton supporters on this blog to submit a response to one question without all of the other rhetoric....the question is.....How should your candidate address the fact that her campaign funds are in the negative and bills are outstanding? Again, please just answer the question. No need to import other issues. Just address this one question. Can anyone do it?

Chris, Quincy IL (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:28 PM)

Juanata..... According to a Clinton spokesperson appearing on Larry King Live last night, the "rumors" going around about Clinton not paying vendors, or being behind in her bills, is just RUMORS. Even though vendors are complaining about not getting paid..... it's just RUMORS. So don't pay any attention to the man behind the curtain.

JP, SD (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:31 PM)

Love how it seems that everyone thinks that HRC is the only one here with an ego. You need only look as far as the story in New York magazine regarding BO's meeting with Edwards a few weeks back to see that he has some delusions of grandeur of his own. I think it also points to BO's lack of ability to close the deal. This is not necessarily a negative given his fairly recent foray into national politics, but it marks a level of political immaturity and a lack of wisdom (which will correct itself in time) on his part that does not bode well for the General. We've had a political and diplomatic neophyte for almost 8 years now with disastrous results. I'd rather have someone less "likable" and more capable. For me, that's HRC - although I really like her a lot and always have. She's an unapologetically strong woman, with a deep reservoir of intelligence. This still seems to threaten some people. Thus far, I've seen nothing "deep" in Obama. We still have no specifics about how his "change" is going to be implemented. His few policy speeches have proven to be very broad and general with no sign of any deep understanding of the issues. Why this doesn't seem to be important to some is puzzling. I mean, come on, people, he's a nice enough guy, but Jesus he ain't.

JT, Nashville, TN (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:32 PM)

The huge problem that the dems have, now that we chose the wrong candidate, is that over 30% of Hillary supporters will now back McCain due to being so pissed off because Hillary should have been our candidate and not liking Obama because he doesn't like us(Jews, white and Italians). Dems are in lala land yet again. John Kerry here we come.

j fl (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:32 PM)

how could any union member back hillary? she has been pro-business, anti worker all her life, the corporations bank rolling her campaign are the same ones sending jobs overseas and importing cheap labor to drive down wages of the remaining jobs, she was one of the most outspoken supporters of nafta, big business loves hillary more than they do mccain, the unions backing hillary is just ridiculous

MK,MO (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:36 PM)

Yes, I am an Obama supporter and reasonably well-educated (Master's degree), but I am also a low paid civil servant in the state of Lousisiana! Like most Americans, I have struggled with the ever increasing cost of gas and groceries. No more trips to the mall for this girl! That being said,I frankly do not understand the mainstream blue collar support for Hillary Clinton as opposed to Barack Obama. Barack served as a community organizer in Southside Chicago and has made efforts to help people who are down on their luck. On the other hand,I predict that if and when the Clintons release their tax returs, we will see that Bill and Hill are probably in the same league financially as LaDonald and Paris! So, someone, please tell me why her message resonates with so many hard working Americans like myself? No disrespect toward Clinton supporters intended; I am just wanting to know. As we say down here in Louisiana, Geaux (cajun for "go"), Obama!!

Cindi in Louisiana (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:36 PM)

Dan in Syracuse AMEN and RIGHT ON.
Let us never forget that as an Attorney on The Board of WAL-MART Hillary Clinton acquiesced in union busting and wage depression.
Question for you Dan. Have Hillary and Bill been back to Skaneateles Lake for another photo-op vacation
since 2000? I will bet not.

Bill,Rochester NY (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:38 PM)

Like hell democrats will come together if obama wins. I'm voting for JM if you don't count my vote in Florida. Its that simple. Nobama 08.

Florida Girl (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:40 PM)

Are you Hillary people that will not vote for Obama if he get the nomination Republicans? Do you really want another 4 or more years of Republicans? Think hard "my friends." You could be the cause of another war in Iran and much worse. You don't want another Republican in office.

Sharon, Dallas, Texas (Sent Tuesday, April 01, 2008 12:40 PM)

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