AP Exclusive: Black Lawmakers Rethink Their Support for Clinton in Her Race Against Obama

[babylonsister]

Black lawmakers rethink Clinton support

AP Exclusive: Black Lawmakers Rethink Their Support for Clinton in Her Race Against Obama

DAVID ESPO
AP News

Feb 14, 2008 17:29 EST


In a fresh sign of trouble for Hillary Rodham Clinton, one of the former first lady's congressional black supporters intends to vote for Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, and a second, more prominent lawmaker is openly discussing a possible switch.

Rep. David Scott's defection and Rep. John Lewis' remarks highlight one of the challenges confronting Clinton in a campaign that pits a black man against a woman for a nomination that historically has been the exclusive property of white men.

"You've got to represent the wishes of your constituency," Scott said in an interview Wednesday in the Capitol. "My proper position would be to vote the wishes of my constituents." The third-term lawmaker represents a district that gave more than 80 percent of its vote to Obama in the Feb. 5 Georgia primary.

Lewis, whose Atlanta-area district voted 3-to-1 for Obama, said he is not ready to abandon his backing for the former first lady. But several associates said the nationally known civil rights figure has become increasingly torn about his early endorsement of Clinton. They spoke on condition of anonymity, citing private conversations.

more...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2008/02/black_lawmakers_rethink_clinto.php

[jasmine621]

1. Well the Clinton delgates in FL swiitched to Obama and FL went heavily for Clinton> nt

[Vinca]

20. How many voters stayed home because they thought their votes

wouldn't count? Who has a "brand" name? Clinton. If Obama is going to get votes in a state he has to campaign. Clinton, as she reminds us constantly, has been in the public eye for decades. People know her. Obama needs to introduce himself. He followed the rules, didn't campaign or do anything to garner votes in Florida, and now Clinton and her minions want to punish him by giving her the votes anyway. I'd love to hear you all if the tables were reversed.

[EffieBlack]

31. This is the reason that I oppose the delegates being seated

It is grossly unfair to tell the candidates that the primaries won't count, allowing them to rely upon that representation and then later changing the rules on them. There's no telling how those races would have turned out if the candidates had actually campaigned in those states.

[AtomicKitten]

2. Raw politics bumps heads with reality.

K&R

[John Q. Citizen]

3. Drip, drip..

[sniffa]

4. K&R

for the inevitable responses of racism.

[aquarius dawning]

5. shocking.

:eyes:

[islandmkl]

7. yeah..."you know, they all like to hang out with their own kind"..

is that your message?

had to spell their correctly so as to avoid the knuckle rap

[blm]

6. I figured Lewis was torn months ago.

Especially after Kerry and Kennedy endorsed Obama, as he has been very close with both of them for decades.

[grantcart]

23. Actually he didn't look like a happy camper when he made the endorsement

[Cha]

27. Oh dear! How ironic that he

didn't see the potential of Obama and Kerry & Kennedy did!

[psychopomp]

41. Love that photo

1000 words...

[butterfly77]

8. Same wimpy shit we see...

when they are suppose to be fighting the republicons. They are only worried about their seats or what jobs they can get in an Obama administration that goes for the elected and staff...

[Barack_America]

9. There's nothing wimpy about representing your constituents. n/t

[Cha]

28. Yeah, wondering how Magic Johnson

feels right about now?

[easy_b94]

10. NOOO stay on the sinking ship

The big O will do just fine without you

[wndycty]

11. This is a big deal and a major problem for the Clinton camp

:kick:

[TexasObserver]

12. They will all switch before it is over, except maybe Sheila Jackson Lee.

Who is right on many issues, but absolutely as crazy as a loon and brings not one voter with her.

[anamandujano]

16. If Sheila does go for Obama, I'm sure your praise for her will ring out sweetly.

[Cha]

29. What's up with her?

I thought she was totally against the War ON Iraq?

[mysteryman2]

13. Rascist Thing

I feel this is kinda rascists. I am Mexican. I knew this would turn into a race thing. I didn't want it to. When races stick together it makes you think they are going to decide on race not issues.

Is this the kinda news the democratic party wants out there. Do you think this will cause Mexican voters to go with McCain or white voters? The census says there are more Latin votes than ever. And the Latin vote is going for Clinton. This has to be considered.

[anamandujano]

15. Agree, it doesn't look good or set any kind of decent example,

but I guess that's what Obama wants, and what he wants, he gets.

[babylonsister]

18. Why is this racist? Couldn't you give these people credit for

recognizing a superior candidate when they see one? Their votes as super delegates aren't locked in and they have the option of changing their minds any time they want to. You are so mischaracterizing this and that doesn't say much about you.

[mysteryman2]

22. Your Opinion

It's just your opinion he is superior. I havent made up my mind. It looks wishy washy. What if it divides the party and all the white people go for Hillary. Or all the Latins.

Did you watch CNN tonight the Latin vote may decide to go for McCain. Remember last election any Democrat can beat Bush. Think again because its not true.

The most heavily populated states went for Clinton and Especially big cities LA, NYC. The latin vote heavily factored. If Clinton gets bumped like Dean did you may have lost your chance. History will tell. Everyone remembers last election with Sharpton he got a whole bunch of stuff started. He contributed to the democratic loss. I can't predict the futcher but lets wait and see. If you want to roll the dice go ahead. The democratic party may loose its turn.

I don't care about race I am not trying to make it a issue.

[jackson_dem]

33. It's racist for Obama's national co-chair to say black sd's should support the black candidate

Yes, Obama is now officially the "black candidate" when it is convenient to him when his cronies are using it to pressure black Clinton supporters, along with threatening primary challenges/

[anamandujano]

38. Jesse Jackson is pressuring, targeting black supers to vote for

the black candidate.

It has zip to do with superiority. Jesse is in for a rude wake up call if Obama ascends to the office. He will see that all his dreams will not be put on the fast track to come true.

This may even have the nightmarish effect of riling all the white people to cry foul and go to the polls in droves to vote for the white guy in the GE.

[JTFrog]

21. I know! All those blacks sticking together in Maine. Something has to be done about this.

:sarcasm:

[grantcart]

24. welcome to DU

They didn't go to Obama in the begining, maybe they were hoping for jobs with Hillary, maybe they just felt obligated to her and liked her. But now in many of their districts they are facing their constituents who are for Obama 9-1 and they feel betrayed. It is particularly galling for many African Americans that so many whites and white politicians have risked a lot for Obama and their own congressman seem to undercut him.

[Cha]

32. Very well stated..

The money quote.. "It is particularly galling for many African Americans that so many whites and white politicians have risked a lot for Obama and their own congressman seem to undercut him."

It's not that they should have gone to Obama because he's Black but because he's the best in my view who can give us all a new challenge besides the dirty business as usual clintons.

And, if we didn't know that from the way hilary acted as senator then you could certainly figure it out from the way they've run their campaign into the ground.

[anamandujano]

37. Many whites and white politicians have risked a lot for blacks, two of those

being Bill and Hillary Clinton. All of a sudden if you don't have the right skin color, you can't get the black vote.

I doubt Obama has done or considers doing anything near the quality or quantity of work for his people as the Clintons have done and will continue to do.

It's also a sad state of affairs that Obama, Jesse and other black leaders have turned the Clinton name to mud in the black community, all for a selfish and undeserving half-black candidate.

This is going to have the same unifying effect on the country that the O.J. Simpson trial had.

[grantcart]

40. Bill Clinton never risked anything for anyone. Just ask Ricky Ray Rector

"selfish and undeserving half black candidate" reveals your racist mentality. The African American community does not owe the Clintons's anything and it is the Clinton's craven opportunism that has distroyed his legacy.

[tishaLA]

14. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[LadyVT]

17. excuse me, but Lewis' "remarks" in this article were misconstrued

There's an article about it just out. They are a bit perplexed at how the author came up with his conclusions. Lewis has not changed his support to Obama at all.

[grantcart]

25. NYT confirms that he will be voting Obama at the convention

Representative John Lewis, an elder statesman from the civil rights era and one of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s most prominent black supporters, said Thursday night that he planned to cast his vote as a superdelegate for Senator Barack Obama in hopes of preventing a fight at the Democratic convention

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/us/politics/15clinton.html?ei=5124&en=73188ceb984cb38e&ex=1360818000&adxnnl=1&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink&adxnnlx=1203123863-pSFlIVQJMQMomAFGkIJ1+g

[indimuse]

19. imagine that.

...

[Cha]

26. YEah, Jesse~!

"Jackson, an Obama supporter, confirmed the conversation, and said the dilemma may pose a career risk for some black politicians. "Many of these guys have offered their support to Mrs. Clinton, but Obama has won their districts. So you wake up without the carpet under your feet. You might find some young primary challenger placing you in a difficult position" in the future, he added."

Jesse had the faith, baby~

[jackson_dem]

34. Yeah, using the race card to win! YES WE CAN (use race!)

Pathetic. What if Hillary sent her national co-chair to say "Hillary is white. Most of your district (or state) is white. She won your constituents. You want to get in the away of a white president? If you support the one of another color you 'might' face a primary challenger placing you in a difficult position..."

[EffieBlack]

30. There go the media playing the race card again

Is it ONLY black politicians who are considering switching their vote? If not, why is the story only about black politicians?

Just wondering.

[jackson_dem]

35. Because Obama's cronies aren't threatening white superdelegates with the race card

Obama is only the "black candidate" when it suits him.

[anamandujano]

39. Jesse and his friends are playing a very dangerous game. The Repukes

are putting the champagne on ice as we speak, while trying desperately not to laugh out loud.

[musiclawyer]

36. Any politician who hitched their horse to Clinton was judgment impaired

even when she was "inevitable" Same thing as people who voted for Iraq war resolution. Some things are just phoney

[KittyWampus]

42. kick