Alabama Representative Bud Cramer (D) may not endorse Kerry

[Stuckinthebush]

From The Birmingham News...

http://www.al.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/1080901076281250.xml?birminghamnews?npol_elec


Cramer undecided on Kerry endorsement
MARY ORNDORFF
News Washington correspondent


WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer said Tuesday he has not decided whether he'll endorse fellow Democrat John Kerry for president.

"I think sometimes it's better to just not get out there," said Cramer, one of the more conservative House Democrats. Cramer said he is assessing Kerry's record on key issues and that he has concerns about how the Massachusetts senator would treat defense budgets if he were elected.

"I'm concerned that a lot of his positions would not be helpful to north Alabama," Cramer said. His Huntsville-based 5th Congressional District relies heavily on Pentagon funding for defense contractors, scientific research and activities at Redstone Arsenal, including national missile defense.

{snip}

Cramer, the dean of Alabama's congressional delegation, is a founding member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative Democrats in the U.S. House. He's been both in the majority and the minority in Congress and has worked under presidents of both parties.

{end snip}


Ahhh...another Zell Miller type? Lovely.

[Fenris]

1. This soft on defense meme is annoying

People accept the bullshit that is shoveled to them.

[Stuckinthebush]

3. Bud's problem is that he knows Bush's wars

will make his district rich from pork and the need for more weapons. He also knows that Kerry will do his best to curtail the indiscriminate use of military and weapons which will not help his district economically. Sounds like Bud is leaning toward the wrong side of this moral argument.

[WI_DEM]

2. I think these guys should just leave the party

good riddence.

[htuttle]

4. I think we're going to have to clean house in the South soon

This is crap. Time to flush the remaining 'Dixiecrats' out of the damned party. Zell, this guy, etc...

If the party leadership can use their influence to get rid of Cynthia McKinney in the primaries, they should be able to get rid of boneheads like Miller and this guy, Cramer.

[Stuckinthebush]

5. Hey, Will Pitt...

Does your father have any insight to Bud's leanings? Is he more of a Zell type or is he just being an opportunist here during an election year for himself?

[mobuto]

9. By Democratic Party standards, he's pretty conservative

but he's a hell of a lot more liberal than any Alabama Republican, and he's actually the second-most liberal Congressman in the state. Earl Hilliard is, of course, no. 1.

[Stuckinthebush]

10. Artur Davis is very liberal (nt)

[liberal72]

6. Damn it,

I hate it when these soft southern Dems do this.

[David__77]

7. Unsurprising.

There is an upside to the decimation of this faction that formerly provided our majority. Cramer is a Vichy Democrat. He was considered for Bush's agriculture secretary and called for Gore to concede quite early last time.

[mobuto]

8. Not necessarily wrong

It may not be politically possible for him to endorse Kerry. If he endorses Bush, throw him out of the party. But there's no problem with him not-endorsing Kerry. Elected officials are accountable to their consitutents. Kerry doesn't need his endorsement, for sure.

[rock]

11. Well, that's good enough for me!

I'm voting for Kerry.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

12. I am SICK of the SOUTH!!!!!!!!!!

I do not give a DAMN about what some "mint-julip lover"(Bud KKKramer) thinks of us. He's another Zell Miller!!!:puke:

What has * done to make us safer???

:puke:

If the South wants to vote to hurt is self, let it do so. NOT MY PROBLEM!!!!!

:argh:

Why is Kerry "weak" on defense????

BULL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dolstein]

13. Since Kerry isn't even going to contest Alabama this fall . . .

I really don't see the point of demanding that Cramer endorse him. Obviously, he shouldn't be invited to any unity dinners, but as long as he doesn't endorse Bush, and as long as he's committed to support Pelosi for speaker, I'd let this one slide.

[mobuto]

14. If we give Kerry enough money

He'll contest every state, up to and including Alabama.

http://contribute.johnkerry.com

[Stuckinthebush]

15. As long as he doesn't endorse Bush...

That would be the kicker.