Ed Koch endorses Obama ...

[understandinglife]

Former New York Mayor Ed Koch, who endorsed and worked for George W. Bush in 2004, is endorsing Obama today, NY1 first reported.

I asked Koch just now what prompted the move.

"The designation of Palin to be vice president," he said.

HT to

Now from the AP:

Former NY mayor: Palin 'scares the hell out of me'

By – 12 minutes ago -

NEW YORK (AP) — Saying that Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin "scares the hell out of me," former New York Mayor Ed Koch endorsed fellow Democrat Barack Obama on Tuesday.

In 2004, Koch backed President Bush for re-election saying the Republican incumbent was better equipped to combat international Islamic terrorism than Democratic candidate John Kerry.

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"Protecting and defending the U.S. means more than defending us from foreign attacks," Koch said, citing such concerns as civil liberties, abortion rights, gay rights and access to health insurance.

Koch said he is particularly troubled by Palin's record in those areas. "It's Palin primarily," he said. "She scares the hell out of me."

Needless to say, this will play well in Florida ... among other places ....

[scheming daemons]

1. That's big... because he was VERY anti-Obama 3 or 4 months ago...

[understandinglife]

2. Major news for folk in Florida, for sure ....

[Libby2]

3. I hate to say it,

but fuck him.....he endorsed bush in 2004 after 4 years of him??
That tells me his judgement sucks.

[understandinglife]

6. Well ... that makes his endorsement of Obama mean that much more ...

... would be the way I'd assess it.

And, what matters, as Obama is so frequently reminding us, is what we do now and in the future and Koch did something of value, today, by endorsing Obama.

Share your frustration, but Florida just bent a bit more in the direction of Obama-Biden '08.

Thank you.

[secondwind]

8. let's be tolerant..........he is a Republican after all, and as a former resident of NYC, he made a

damn good mayor, didn't matter what party he was from.

Just think, this will help us in Florida, big time!!

yay

[BumRushDaShow]

17. He was actually a Democrat, although he courted those yukky repukes! n/t

[leftynyc]

18. Unless he changed parties

he's not a republican. Lost the Democratic primary to David Dinkins.

[democracy1st]

4. i can't believe it

[DJ13]

5. This is why the stories about her church are so important

[understandinglife]

7. And her fondness for Pat Buchanan!

[Divine Discontent]

9. take this to the greatest page - off with thee! let's put this on the homepage!

KOCH turns from his GOP backing of 2004 to endorse Barack Obama because the pick of dangerous Palin, "scares the hell out of me".

[understandinglife]

10. Thank you!

[invictus]

11. Fuck Koch. Who cares who Koch endorses? He has stabbed the Democrats in the back many times before.

The only reason Koch "endorsed" Obama is because he stuck his finger in the air and predicted Obama is going to win.

[Sugarcoated]

12. The Jewish voters?

Does he have any cred with them?

[catgirl]

14. WE care who he endorses

Florida is tied now. He can be very influential there. If McCain loses Florida, he's done.

[understandinglife]

20. I care that he did. I do not admire him, but many FL voters do. That's a big deal for Obama.

And, cool it with the profanity, ok.

Thank you,
Bob

[stevietheman]

13. His words may work as a good clarion call to Jewish voters nationwide. Cool. n/t

n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

15. Wow. That is a surprise.

Wonder of newly "independent" Bloomberg will consider doing the same?

[Phoonzang]

16. Use him and use him now!

Send him to Florida, Virginia, wherever else that there's a high concentration of older Jewish voters.

[understandinglife]

21. Roger that.

[Sensitivity]

19. EXACTLY the kind of thing we need. "SCARY" should be word of the month

[Onlooker]

22. I think this is a big deal

Koch has credibility with independent and independent-minded Democrats because he supported Bush in 2004. Koch can connect with older Jews, many of whom of some reservations about Obama in keeping with Jewish-black disputes from years past. I think Koch can be quite influential in swing states like Michigan and Florida.

[BlooInBloo]

23. It took the piece of shit THAT long? Fuck him.