Lee Hamilton to endorse Obama

[H2O Man]

AP writer Thomas Davies is reporting that former Congressman Lee H. Hamilton will endorse Senator Barack Obama today. Hamilton was elected to Congress in the 1964 democratic landslide, and served until 2000. He was at that time one of two congressmen from the '64 election still serving, along with John Conyers. He had extensive experience serving in the Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Committies.

Hamilton was on the short list for VP in both 1988 and 1992. Governor Dukakis reportedly was concerned by the opposition of the National Organization of Women (NOW), and Bill Clinton decided (correctly) that Al Gore added more to the '92 ticket.

Hamilton provides more appeal to moderate and conservative democrats, than to Obama's liberal and progressive base. I remember that he was one of the people who advocated not fully investigating President Reagan and VP George Bush when he served on the Select Committee that investigated the illegal sale of arms to Iran. Hamilton said it would hurt the country to have another possible impeachment.

Since retiring from Congress, he has been involved in several high-profile positions. These include serving as vice chairman of the 9/11 Commission, and co-chair with James Baker III of the Iraq Study Group.

[H2O Man]

1. More:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/04/barack-obama-ge.html

In what could prove both a significant addition to his foreign policy credentials and a boost for the close Indiana primary, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinos this afternoon scored the endorsement of former Rep. Lee Hamilton, one of the Democratic Party's leading foreign affairs experts.

Hamilton, a 35-year House member from Indiana, which holds its presidential primary May 6, chaired the Committee on Foreign Affairs and co-chaired both the 9/11 commission and the Iraq Study Group.

“I read his national security and foreign policy speeches," Hamilton told Bloomberg News today, "and he comes across to me as pragmatic, visionary and tough. He impresses me as a person who wants to use all the tools of presidential power.” ....

[Coexist]

19. thank you!

[SunsetDreams]

2. Very nice endorsement :)

Thank you for posting this H2O

[KoKo]

22. A person who wants to use all the tools of presidential power.” who will act "Unilateraly"

"Hamilton said he particularly agreed with Obama's stand on meeting with adversarial foreign leaders without preconditions and on Obama favoring possible unilateral military action against terrorist hideouts, although in the case of Pakistan that would be attacking a staunch ally."

This is the Lee Hamilton who always works with James Baker. The one who co-chaired the "9/11 Commission." The Dem Party fixer....like Baker is the Repug Party fixer.

Well...I imagine Hillary supporters are very glad Hamilton didn't endorse HER! That's about the best I can say about this endorsement. At least Hamilton is upfront about what he believes Obama's direction will be in foreign policy. He's not mincing words in this report. :eyes:

[shadowknows69]

3. Good pick up for the O man.

[H2O Man]

24. It may help

him with the conservative voters in rural PA, as well as in Indiana on May 6.

[DerekJ]

4. H2OMAN... You da Man :)

[H2O Man]

30. Senator Obama

is "da Man"!

[ellisonz]

5. woot

[H2O Man]

6. AP article:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvwR7cquEVb92CvjE0bKkio5biGQD8VPGD5O0

Former Rep. Hamilton to Endorse Obama
By TOM DAVIES

Although Hamilton is not a Democratic superdelegate, his backing comes on the heels of several high-profile endorsements for Obama, who leads Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in delegates for the party's nomination. Sens. Bob Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota endorsed Obama in recent days.

Hamilton is the highest-profile Indiana Democrat to back Obama before the state's May 6 primary. Sen. Evan Bayh and the bulk of Indiana's Democratic Party leadership have campaigned actively for Clinton in a state where neither candidate is regarded as a natural front-runner. ....

Although Hamilton is not a Democratic superdelegate, his backing comes on the heels of several high-profile endorsements for Obama, who leads Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in delegates for the party's nomination. Sens. Bob Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota endorsed Obama in recent days.

Hamilton is the highest-profile Indiana Democrat to back Obama before the state's May 6 primary. Sen. Evan Bayh and the bulk of Indiana's Democratic Party leadership have campaigned actively for Clinton in a state where neither candidate is regarded as a natural front-runner. ...

"I begin by asking myself what kind of leadership the country needs at this juncture and I think, for me at least, the answer is that you want a candidate that will try to bring together a country that is very evenly divided, a country in which partisanship has been very sharp and to try to get a candidate who will create a new sense of national unity and will try to transcend the divisions within the country," he said. ....

[DerekJ]

7. kick

[chimpymustgo]

8. Jesus Christ. Hide the children. He is the ultimate cover-up, inside man. Mr. 9/11 LIAR.

He makes me SICK.

[Blondbostonian]

14. Take it the September 11th board

There's nothing I hate more than conspiracy theory idiots. Unless it's sarcasm ....then carry on :)

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[KoKo]

23. Remember....."War is Over....War is Over" ....the Pollsters say War is not an issue and

we know how most folks feel about "9/11." Saddam bombed us, with Iran's help....end of story. When our own Dems start to "re-write history"....then we know we have big problems.

[Vinca]

9. Great! Is he a superdelegate? nt

[shadowknows69]

10. No, but an important foreign experience expert

respected by both parties.

[H2O Man]

11. No, but he

is may influence some of the moderate and conservative democratic Super Delegates' decisions.

[chimpymustgo]

12. H2O Man - I know you know better. You cannot be thrilled by this.

Please.

[DerekJ]

16. What do you want him to do, reject and denounce a super delegate.

WTF?!!!

[scheming daemons]

39. Again..... Hamilton endorsing Obama IS NOT THE SAME as Obama endorsing Hamilton......

Like Obama said about Farrakhan and others.... "I can't tell someone not to like me."

[1776Forever]

13. Very impressive! Makes me think there is more coming soon!

:toast:

[H2O Man]

17. There is reason

to be confident that a series of high profile democrats will be endorsing Senator Obama in the next three weeks.

[chimpymustgo]

20. H2O - please answer my question. I know you know more of the truth. How can you be happy about Lee

"ultimate cover-up" Hamilton endorsing BHO?

[Blondbostonian]

28. Inside job people have zero critical thinking skills

I see a "911 Inside Job" sign and I automatically want to punch that person in the face.

Great endorsement for Obama in Indiana

[Virginia Dare]

34. Anybody who believes the 9/11 Commission Report..

in it's entirety seriously lacks critical thinking skills, so you are guilty of pot calling the kettle black.

[BeyondGeography]

21. Helps with the Hoosier state to top it off

:thumbsup:

[H2O Man]

29. Yep.

It may help Obama with moderate and conservative democrats.

[Tatiana]

25. He's from Indiana!

Nice pick-up. And WOW. Totally unexpected!

Many of these endorsements by senior statesmen really illustrate that Obama's message along with the inspiration he carries appeals is powerful.

[H2O Man]

26. It will help on May 6,

certainly in Indiana, and perhaps in North Carolina.

[moondust]

27. So is Tim Roemer.

Another 9/11 Commission member for Obama.

[Zorra]

31. Bu*h appointed Hamilton to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.

Anyone that Bu*h appoints to anything is suspect in my estimation. After his role in the 9/11 Commission investigation, his honesty is highly questionable.

Not so sure that Hamilton's endorsement is a positive thing for Obama from the viewpoint of many progressives.

It may increase his electability by scoring points with the "center-right" though.

[KoKo]

32. And, I wonder what Hamilton will get out of that endorsement. Wasit really necessary?

Most Voters wouldn't have an opinion of him ...not knowing how he figures into the "Powers that Be." But, all Progressives would know the various commissions he's been involved with and who he "hangs out with." So his endorsement wasn't to sway voters, but to send a signal that he's the "choice" of the "chosen ones."

[H2O Man]

33. Right.

As I stated in the OP, he appeals to moderate to conservative democrats, rather than liberal and progressive democrats. States such as Pennsylvania and Indiana have significant numbers of moderate to conservative democrats.

[Virginia Dare]

35. Anybody in cahoots with James Baker III..

and the Bush Admin is not to be trusted. Sorry, I don't trust the man.

DISCLAIMER:

Not a knock on Obama.

[H2O Man]

36. Of course.

I would hope that no one on DU thinks that Lee Hamilton is someone that progressive and liberal democrats should trust on anything -- unless Hamilton has some independent proof of any claim he makes, which can be verified elsewhere. But that isn't what is important in considering that he has endorsed Barack Obama.

In order to communicate with anyone, you have to speak the language that they speak and understand. If you speak French and I try to speak Chinese to you, we aren't going to have meaningful communication. You would look at me and think, "I don't understand a word you are saying." Or worse, you would think I was nuts. I would need to speak to you in French in order to have any meaningful discussion.

When we consider the moderate to conservative democrats in states like Pennsylvania and Indiana, it is important to consider the language they speak. For the Obama campaign to communicate with them, they have to speak the language they understand.

Both of Obama's opponents are saying the the same thing: that Obama doesn't have the experience or the ability to deal with national security. Lee Hamilton has far more experience in this area than McCain and Clinton combined. While you and I do not trust Hamilton, the moderate to conservative people in PA and Indiana probably do. And Hamilton's endorsement is clear: he believes that Obama has a greater ability to deal with tough issues and to keep the USA safe, than either McCain or Obama.

[H2O Man]

37. PA democrats ....

Lots of conservative democrats in PA are likely to have read about Senator Casey and now Lee Hamilton endorsing Barack Obama. They will be watching the democratic candidate on Hardball in a couple minutes. I think that they are going to find out that Obama isn't the person his opponent's campaign is trying to make him out to be.

[Blue-Jay]

38. He's dead to me.

(at this rate, I'm going to be Omega Man in a few more months)

[H2O Man]

40. The text of Hamilton's endorsement::

“Barack Obama has the best opportunity to create a new sense of national unity and to transcend divisions within this country, not by ignoring them or smoothing them over, but by working together with candor and civility to meet our challenges. He champions the politics of consensus, not of partisan division. He is driven by the search for the common good. Obama strongly appeals to the restless, practical, non-ideological, results-oriented Americans who will ultimately be decisive in choosing the next president.

“Obama has brought hundreds of thousands of new voters into the political process, making the Democratic Party more representative of the people of this nation and giving it new energy. I am impressed by his wide reach and appeal across the electorate. He is redesigning the contours of American politics, expanding Democrats’ electoral reach, and inspiring a whole new generation of voters. If elected, he will lead the country in a manner consistent with the values, hopes, and dreams of the American people, bridging many of the gaps that separate us.

“His foreign policy is pragmatic, visionary, and tough. Barack Obama understands the urgent need for American leadership in confronting many of the challenges ahead, first and foremost defending the safety and security of the American people. He will work with our friends and allies. Obama will strengthen our ability to use all the tools of American power, and relentlessly promote the American values of freedom and justice for all people.

“Obama has the best chance to start fresh, to change, and to inspire the country in its march toward a stronger and more perfect union.”