Obama: Party like a…
Posted: Friday, May 09, 2008 9:22 AM by Domenico Montanaro
“Obama made a surprise visit yesterday to the floor of the House of Representatives, where he was welcomed like a rock star and greeted with calls of ‘Mr. President,’” The New York Post writes. “Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), who has also pledged his loyalty to Clinton, gave Obama a bear hug. Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.), a Clintonite who was in the mob of lawmakers who gathered around Obama, said most of the chatter was in the form of jokes - sort of. ‘It's all done in jest, but it's serious as cancer,’ Hastings said, quoting Obama as saying, ‘Now you can vote for me’ to a Clinton backer.
And, “Obama was asked whether it was appropriate for him to campaign there, and he responded, ‘I wasn't campaigning. I was saying hello.’”
Obama attended the DC celebration for Israel's 60th anniversary last night. "Obama said he would do everything in his power to ensure Israel's security and protect the relationship that exists between Israel and the U.S. ‘I pledge to you that I will do whatever I can in whatever capacity to not only ensure Israel's security but also to ensure that the people of Israel may thrive and prosper and build on the enormous promise that was made 60 years ago,' Obama … said at an event sponsored by the Israeli Embassy in Washington honoring the 60th anniversary of Israel's statehood. He was introduced by Sallai Meridor, Israel's ambassador to the U.S."
"Governor Deval Patrick, a big cheerleader for Barack Obama, is taking on another significant role as Obama pivots to general election mode. The Obama campaign announced yesterday that Patrick will be one of 14 national co-chairpersons of Vote for Change, a 50-state voter registration effort designed to build on Obama's success during the primaries in attracting new voters. The effort kicks off tomorrow with events across the country."
Paul Krugman is gearing himself up for an Obama nomination. "The point is that Mr. Obama has an extraordinary opportunity in this year’s election. He should do everything possible to avoid squandering it."
Mocking Obama’s “Yes We Can” refrain, the RNC has unveiled a Web site entitled “Can We Ask?” Some of the questions, per a release:
-- Why, as an Illinois state Senator, did he vote “present” over 130 times instead of “yes” or “no” on difficult issues like abortion, crime, and guns?
-- On fiscal responsibility, how he intends to pay for over $660 billion in his new spending proposals and whether he can do it without raising taxes on families and small businesses?
-- Why he voted against funding for our troops after promising not to use them as pawns in a war funding debate?
-- Why did he tell donors in San Francisco that the economy has driven small town voters to “cling” to guns and religion?
