Obama Claims Paul Wellstone's Legacy

[propol]

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- It was a line that could capture almost any Democratic heart.

"When I first got to the US Senate, I opened up the drawer of the desk where I was assigned. And it has the names of some of the great senators who have served. They carve their names in their own hand into the desk drawer, and one of those names was somebody who shared with me this belief that change doesn't happen from the top down. A guy named Paul Wellstone..." Barack Obama told the crowd at the Target Center in Minneapolis yesterday.

Wellstone is a beloved figure of the Democratic party, but in Minnesota the late senator's home state, the line resonated among the crowd, who cheered heartily at the mention.

Speaking to a crowd of 18,000 plus at the Target Center here, where Wellstone's memorial service was held, Obama cast his own movement for change as part of the what Wellstone did to energize a liberal electorate across the country.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/03/634250.aspx

[liberalnurse]

1. Not even in the same life path!

Obama is believing his own auditory hallucinations now!

[propol]

3. why not?

he does have the guy's desk.... :)

[liberalnurse]

7. What desk?

All the desks at the Senate Well are permanent.

[propol]

8. oh ok

so he was randomly assigned his dask?

[liberalnurse]

10. I looked it up... He does have Wellstones seat.

Have you ever been to the Senate? Each Senator carves their name into the desk.....they are permanent historical desks. Carving the name is tradition.

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/special/Desks/deskDetails.cfm?id=24

[VolcanoJen]

2. Gadfly Link Warning in 5... 4.... 3.... 2....

Incoming! :-)

[ElsewheresDaughter]

4. not!

[Armstead]

5. I really wish he would claim Wellstone's legacy -- and actually mean it

The difference is that Wellstone had a consistent liberal/progressive vision -- and he fought for it unrelentingly.

He managed to be a fighter who told the real truth -- but also did it in a way that never got personal.

Obama comes up short in the consistent conviction department.

[cd3dem]

6. I knew Paul Wellstone and Barack... you're no Paul Wellstone

first... Wellstone's memorial was not at the Target Center... it was at the University of Minnesota campus...

that said... I met Paul Wellstone and campaigned for him... he was a man of honor and he stood alone... he would not vote "present"... he would vote according to his conscience...

he would not have voted for funding the war! unlike Obama...

and he paid the ultimate price for his vote against the IWR in his being killed for standing up for what is right! No man or woman should ever use Paul Wellstone's name in vain!

[pampango]

12. He would not have voted for war funding and did vote against the IWR

unlike some of our Democratic senators.

Of course, as you say "he would vote according to his conscience...", not his political amibition, hence his "No" on the IWR. He was not fooled by bush nor did he believe the lies. Something that could not be said of our future presidential candidates during the IWR vote.

[cd3dem]

13. people said it was political suicide when Wellstone voted against IWR

but it was not political suicide .... it was death by republican haters....

people who vote against IWR should not go on small planes!

[jackson_dem]

9. "He was true to the Paul Wellstone tradition."

Too bad many of his supporters can't see that.

[cd3dem]

14. Obama voted for funding the war... Wellstone would not had he lived!

[jackson_dem]

18. I was alluding to the Obamite swiftboating of Edwards who Obama thinks is a true progressive

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

11. Hi propel.

Welcome to DU.

Please be aware the DU copyright rules limit excerpts to four paragraphs.

best,
wakemeupwhenitsover
DU Mod

[leftynyc]

15. That's such bullshit

Wellstone would never vote "present" and would never have voted to fund this war. I'm sure if I gave this 10 seconds more thought, I could come up with many more differences between the two.

[in_cog_ni_to]

16. PUHLEEEEZE! Is this the same Paul Wellstone Obama called a "GADFLY?"

Sorry, Paul Wellstone was a TRUE Progressive! Obama...not-even-close.


"Gadfly" is a term for people who upset the status quo by posing upsetting or novel questions, or attempt to stimulate innovation by proving an irritant.

[Critters2]

17. Wellstone was a true progressive. Obama isn't even close.

Does the man have no shame?

[andyrowe]

19. The chorus of optimists grows louder and more harmonious!!

All hail The Chorus of Optimists!

Gobama!

[Seabiscuit]

20. So... now he's MLK, JFK, RFK, FDR, Cesar Chavez AND Paul Wellstone?

Who's next? Saint Francis of Assisi? Ghandi? Jesus H. Christ?

Will Obama walk on water for us for his next circus act?

[Bluebear]

21. So he's a "gadfly" now?

:eyes:

[bpeale]

22. what bullshit and what pandering! he should STFU