Obama looks forward to working with "global warming is a lot of crap" Sen. Coburn

[Bluebear]

"There are some very capable Republicans who I have a great deal of respect for," Obama said in an interview with The Associated Press. "The opportunities are there to create a more effective relationship between parties."

Among the Republicans he would seek help from are Sens. Richard Lugar of Indiana, John Warner of Virginia and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Obama said...

"I would also seek out people like Tom Coburn, who is probably the most conservative member of the U.S. Senate. He has become a friend of mine."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070825/ap_on_el_pr/obama_ap_interview

=========
Get new friends, Barack....

Senator Coburn, who said that lesbianism is "so rampant in some of the schools...that they'll let only one girl go to the bathroom."

Senator Coburn, who claims he can tell if someone is telling the truth because of his medical training.

Dr. Coburn, who said: "You know, I immediately thought about silicone breast implants and the legal wrangling and the class-action suits off that. And I thought I would just share with you what science says today about silicone breast implants. If you have them, you're healthier than if you don't. That is what the ultimate science shows...In fact, there's no science that shows that silicone breast implants are detrimental and, in fact, they make you healthier."

Senator Coburn, who thought Schindler's List was smut, an "all-time low, with full-frontal nudity, violence and profanity.

On gay rights, Senator Coburn said: "The gay community has infiltrated the very centers of power in every area across this country, and they wield extreme power... That agenda is the greatest threat to our freedom that we face today. Why do you think we see the rationalization for abortion and multiple sexual partners? That's a gay agenda."

Senator Coburn, who objects to legal abortion in cases of rape, and justifies his position by noting that his great-grandmother was raped by a sheriff.

Senator Coburn, who placed a hold on H.R. 923, the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007, a bill that would have reopened hate crimes cases from before 1970. This bill passed the House by a vote of 422-2.

[terrya]

1. Talk about your strange political bedfellows.

If I was in the United States Senate, I wouldn't get within 100 feet of that insane right winger.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Yes, I thought that was a bit of an odd choice, even as an Obama fan--

why is he a friend of Coburn's? I can understand Lugar and Warner--those guys are moderate and make sense sometimes, but COBURN??? If he wanted to use an ultra-conservative as an example, why not Grassley or Hagel, at least?

[BlooInBloo]

3. (shrug) That's the nature of representative government. Gotta work with antagonists.

[Bluebear]

4. Which liberal Democrat did Bush 'seek out' in '00-'06 and don't say Lieberman!

[BlooInBloo]

5. None, of course. That's partly why they suck. Whatever vengeful feelings we might have...

... doesn't change the fact that a President SHOULD be President of the ENTIRE country.

[Bluebear]

7. He can be. Doesn't mean he has to "seek out" the most conservative Senator

who has batshit crazy ideas.

[BlooInBloo]

14. Yah, I think it does, actually...

EDIT: It should require saying, but I of course *don't* advocate capitulating to pieces of shit like Coburn on much of anything.

[earthlover]

58. Yes, Pres of entire country. Also, more effective if can work with others.

Seems to me part of what is WRONG WITH BUSH is that he did not reach out to those who disagreed with him, he demonized them in many ways.

I see a similar demonization and failure to reach out here.

Sorta hypocritical for some of use to demonize Bush for not reaching out, when we would do the same thing in power to those who disagree.

Obama showed true leadership. That is so much better than partisan sniping.

So Coburn is on the other side on many issues. Is the way to encourage him to vote our way on other issues to demonize him and call him crazy? I don't think so.

I would rather see our government get things done, especially in progressive ways, than to continue a pattern of making ourselves "feel good" by demonizing opponents and polarizing the entire mess in the process.

[Bluebear]

63. Demonize him?? Coburn says the #1 problem in America is the "gay agenda"

I am expected to hope our Democratic leaders "reach out" to him? You think WE are polarizing things? Did you read any of Coburn's quotes in the original post?

[terisan]

6. Coburn-about as anti-woman as you can get. Interesting and possibly revealing.

[Mr. Blonde]

8. They have worked together in the past on

legislation. It isn't odd that he would list him as someone he could work with. For all of Coburn's faults at the very least you know where he stands.

[Bluebear]

9. 'at the very least you know where he stands'...Well, that's comforting.

At least I know he is anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-environment.

Now tell me again why a Democratic President should be consulting with him?

[terisan]

10. I know where he stands-on the neck of every woman in US. Let them work together in private sector.

[avrdream]

42. He didn't just say he could work with him - he called him a friend.

That part bothers me the most.

[hedgehog]

11. Treating members of the other party as the spawn of Satan has

worked out so well for us the last 20 years.


Seems to me President Johnson had to get some die hard segregationist Senators on his side to pass the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

[Bluebear]

12. Sorry, this is not "members of the other party".

This is the rightest of the right, anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-environment POS out there.

You don't have to treat him as the "Spawn of Satan", but tell me again why we have to seek out his counsel?

[Cha]

60. Oh dear...I didn't want

click on that thread about "Obama and the repukes he would work with"..didn't interest me.

This is not good. Like somebody said.."GET NEW FRIENDS, OBAMA"

[TwilightGardener]

13. I don't have a problem with his being friends with conservatives--

after all, I have some conservative friends/family too. But THAT conservative? Coburn's an asshole. Ick. Why, my sweet Obama, why???

[Robbien]

52. GOPers don't want to work with Democrats; They've proved they

believe Democrats are their enemy. They state it flat out.

They've said it many times, bipartisanship is date rape. When a GOPer is working with a Democrat they are working with that Democrat in order to screw all the other Democrats and the common good.

GOPers are the spawn of Satan, if one believes the spawn of Satan's name is Greed.

And Dems working with GOPers for the last 20 years have brought us exactly where we are today with the entire treasury of the US sitting in the pockets of the greedy elite.

[HughMoran]

15. Another attack post?

What is going on around here?

[Bluebear]

16. Begging your pardon, but it is not an "attack" to comment on the man's own words.

Obama has been on my short list to support. You want I should shut up about something that he says that concerns me?

[HughMoran]

17. Ahhh, it's something to be "concerned" about

:D

I won't play the "concern troll" card - just ribbing you.

There have been a number of posts attacking Obama/Hillary today - I am wondering what is going on with all the infighting.

Can we not promote our candidate without making negative implications or worse about the other candidates?

[Bluebear]

18. I don't have a candidate to promote.

If this is a negative implication, so be it. I don't need Coburn to have a hotline into the White House, the man is vile.

[HughMoran]

19. True, but you don't seriously think he is doing anything more than trying to look

like a team player do you?

I can't imagine he would actually take the advice of that jackass for real - do you?

You see what I am saying?

[Bluebear]

21. He could gladly have stopped with Lugar & Warner.

All I can do is take the man at his word.

[HughMoran]

26. I can't imagine him giving much more than lip service to Coburn WRT environment

JMHO.

Do you seriously think Obama is an idiot?

[Bluebear]

29. 'Do you seriously think Obama is an idiot?' - Kindly stop baiting me.

I said I had been considering supporting him. Idiot no, but I believe Obama may well be less progressive than I would have hoped.

[HughMoran]

31. Perhaps

I just don't see linking Coburns idiotic stance on the environment to Obama's statement that he could work with him.

So you are creating an indirect link that implies that Obama doesn't support the environment.

Kind of a stretch in my opinion...

[Bluebear]

33. I think your whole premise that I am implying Obama is anti-environment is a stretch

And frankly I don't need you casting asparagus at me here. Ciao.

[tkmorris]

23. I don't agree

This is not attack, it's criticism. It's a fine line admittedly, but I see nothing her except facts.

[HughMoran]

28. In today's environment of back and forth volleys

I may be a bit biased...

[jpgray]

20. A vote is a vote. If you can get it from Satan himself to pass good legislation, go for it

Isn't that just a legislative reality? We all hate Lieberman here, but I'd certainly want Democrats to work with him in passing environmental protection legislation, for example.

[Bluebear]

22. Yes, I can just imagine Coburn will be a reliable vote for progressive issues.

I look forward to him caucusing with us.


...

[jpgray]

24. Every vote counts (in Congress, anyway). "Working with" doesn't imply BFFdom

The basic thrust of the comment is obviously PR anyway--"I can work with both sides of the aisle, etc., bullshit, etc." Almost every mainstream politician says it, has said it, and will say it. Whether it bears any relation to reality is another matter.

[Bluebear]

25. Could you imagine a Republican saying "I look forward to working with Edward Kennedy!"

"He has become a good friend of mine and I look forward to seeking his advice!"

[jpgray]

27. They've said exactly that. Even Bush has, for example on the NCLB bill, etc.

NLCB's utter crappiness aside, this sort of "I am a uniter" bullshit is slung liberally from both sides all the time. Part of it is true (take any vote you can get for good or better legislation--Biden/Lugar's counter to the IWR is a good example) and part of it is PR (look at me! I am nonpartisan!).

[Bluebear]

30. OK then, "a vote is a vote". Coburn will magically change for us & vote for good legislation.

I look forward to seeing it happen.

[jpgray]

32. You'll note I said that exactly nowhere. But if he does vote with us even once, great!

Doesn't make him any less of a bigoted asshole, and it doesn't somehow taint the passing of good legislation. Nor does it taint the people who convinced him to make a rare progressive vote. Really--what is the problem with this?

[Bluebear]

34. Sorry, I am clearly an Obama-basher and have an agenda.

(Read upthread) I have now been officially caught up in the Great DU Primary Wars. :hi:

Cheers jp, working with the opposition is fine, but Coburn is beyong the pale to me, that's all I was saying.

[jpgray]

35. I don't think you're a "basher," I'm just saying the statement may not mean what you think

It -may- mean he's secretly in league with Coburn and agrees with him on a lot of policy, but I hardly think that's the only explanation, and I don't think it's the most likely one.

[ulysses]

37. the problem is the quid pro quo.

For what good legislation is Tom Coburn - surely one of the greatest nutcakes to ever grace the Senate - going to vote? And even if he did say "aye" for something halfway decent, what would be the cost?

No. You make deals with the devil when you can get the better of him. Given our recent track record on that score, I don't trust our own to win a compromise as far as I can throw the lot of them.

[Telly Savalas]

40. See post 38 below. It doesn't look like anything was given up for that bill.

[ulysses]

41. ok - I could probably agree with Coburn and other rw nutcakes on a number of things

without anyone giving up anything. An internet database of federal spending is a good idea, good fences make good neighbors, the sky is blue.

The idea of trying to fix what's wrong with the country by collaborating with the same people who fucked it up in the first place is still an astoundingly stupid idea.

[Crunchy Frog]

36. Hope he's keeping an eye on his daughters.

Make sure that Dr Coburn doesn't sterilize them when he's not looking.

[rhombus]

38. Obama worked with Coburn to create an Internet Database of Federal Spending

There's nothing wrong with citing a colleague in the senate who you agree with on some issues. Coburn is really good on ethics and fiscal responsibility issues.

http://obama.senate.gov/press/060908-senate_passes_c/

[Bluebear]

44. 'Coburn is really good on ethics'

Depends what you mean by ethics.

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

39. Uhhh, I think this is his very point.

He chose the most bat-shit crazy (with apologies to bat shit everywhere) to say that he'll reach out to the other side. He's trying to appear to be a uniter not a . . . yeah.

I wouldn't take this too seriously. He's thinking of the bat-shit crazy vote in this country (about 27%). Look at all the Dems. in the 80s who bought the koolaid Ronnie was sellin'. Yeah, so I see what he's doing rhetorically/strategically. Get the bat-shit crazy vote and then ignore any of their desires.

Ease up, people. This is politics after all.

This post is approved by Kucinich 2008. DENNIS the Menace.

[Bluebear]

43. It's more than reaching. "He has become a friend of mine."

I think that is the phrase that bothered me the most. I certainly couldn't be 'friends' with anybody so vile.

[Mind_your_head]

45. Agreed. n/t

[madeline_con]

46. "... lesbianism is "so rampant in some of the schools..."

This is where he got his info...


http://www.americansfortruth.com/news/must-viewing-lesbian-gangs-raping-girls-glaad-tries-to-block-airing-of-news-segment.html

[Bluebear]

49. Unfortunately, Coburn's anti-gay statement on the matter dates to 2004

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2004/10/12/election2004/20_10_1710_11_04.txt

Maybe O'Reilly was informed by Coburn?

[madeline_con]

50. Possible. Paranoid homophobes united.

:eyes:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

47. He's doing what good Senators do

Paul Wellstone succeeded in forging a number of friendships across the political divide and worked with a number of right wing Senators whom he couldn't have disagreed more with in philosophy to implement legislation that would benefit the American people. In fact he worked with conservative Senators to achieve positive outcomes for veterans, for people with illnesses and so on.

Ted Kennedy also has done this on a number of occasions. In fact his friendship with right wing conservative Senator Orrin Hatch played a key role in helping him overcome his problems with alcoholism.

Senator John Kerry and Nevada Senator Chic Hecht formed a friendship despite being poles apart in ideology after Kerry saved Hecht from choking. Kerry also seems to have been on friendly terms with John McCain and the two worked constructively together on Vietnam-related issues

Just because friendships and alliances are forged across the political divide in the Senate doesn't mean that a particular Senator is selling out his principles or ideology to do so or that they are any less progressive or liberal for doing so. In fact it means that they are big enough to put aside their partisan differences and constructively work on issues for the good of the nation while recognizing their differences on other issues

[Bluebear]

48. Singling out an anti-gay, anti-woman, anti-environment as a friend is not "good"

How do I know what he will and won't sell out if this is type of person he counts as friends? He singled out this man as his friend in his statement today. As the type of Republican he looks forward to working with.

[skyblue]

55. Agreed. Obama is my 4th choice.

After Biden, and tie for 2nd Clinton and Richardson. Wish we were cleaning house with every Dem candidate in a landslide defeat of every Republican candidate. Ya got your failures in the M-E, loss of ability to join Unions and get overtime pay, poison food and water, plain psycho (apparently daddy screwed with my head) just totally psycho republicans are involved in all sorts of corruption because i guess their salary isn't enough. Why is it so hard for Americans to get a grip on reality?

[sandnsea]

51. Two thoughts

One, somebody posted earlier that this wasn't even true. I've got no clue because I understand it to be an AP interview.

Saying it is true, I kind of notice something about Obama. He butters people up, reels them in - and then smacks them down hard. If you need to get into someone's house, you can take a bat or a pie. He leads with a pie, but has a bat for backup. He's got something to say to the nutball right. I don't know what it is, but it's going to come out some time in the next two weeks. This is just Obama getting the attention of the right with a pie. I think.

[autorank]

53. Great Conference Facilities in DC

From, "The Hill" April 19, 2007

All this may surprise Obama’s supporters.

In a fundraising e-mail sent to supporters at the beginning of March, the candidate wrote that Washington’s special-interest industry is trying “to own our political process and dictate our policies in Washington.

“We’re not going to play that game. We’re not taking any contributions from Washington lobbyists or political action committees. We’re going to transform the political process by bringing together hundreds of thousands of ordinary Americans to build a campaign.”

Critics of lobbyist influence in politics say Obama cannot make a serious bid for the Oval Office and escape the influence of special interests.

(Shocked, I'm just shocked at this and a little sad too :cry:)

Other Obama fund raisers work for companies that have hired lobbyists to work on issues of the jurisdiction of Senate committees on which Obama sits.

Bill Kennard, for example, is managing director at The Carlyle Group, based in Washington. The Carlyle Group paid a lobbying firm, Ogilvy Government Relations, $460,000 last year to lobby on pension legislation and trade relations with China and Korea, issues that fall within Obama’s committee responsibilities. He sits on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the Foreign Relations panel.

-----------------

Same old, same old...SELLOUT bullshit. Oh, no lobbyist money, except indirectly through the executives of the firms who hire the lobbyists.

NO HEROES, NO LEADERS...RUN YOUR OWN LIFE AND WORK WITH OTHERS WHO RUN THEIRS.

NO HEROES...not this time.

[Mythsaje]

54. Working with people who've done their best to destroy

everything you allegedly stand for is SO not a good idea.

It may work if you're a Senator, but believe me, if he thinks that goodwill will last if he makes it to the White House, he's deluding himself.

These are NOT nice people.

[madokie]

56. tom coburn is an idiot eom

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

57. This is just another reason for me not to support Obama. eom

[toughboy]

59. Have to agree with this post!

[Scriptor Ignotus]

61. yea I don't like where this is headed

it almost sounds like Obama is working to create an atmosphere in Congress where he could get his preferred legislation passed. What a rookie.

[KoKo]

62. He is looking for Sainthood when he wants to work with those folks!

:eyes:

[Terri S]

64. Relax, Obama co-sponsored a government transparency bill with Coburn last year.

That was a win/win. http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001485.php">link Obama stated himself that Coburn is one of the most conservative Republicans. Apparently now and then on some issue they can work together. Of course, not getting anything done because you absolutely refuse to talk to people who think very differently than you do is a great way to get government to work, I guess.

[Bluebear]

65. I will not relax, this is not about a bill, it was him lauding him as a good friend.

Coburn is an anti-woman anti-gay psychopath as you can read by some of his quotes. I don't need the next president to "look forward to working with Republicans like him."

[eridani]

66. If he wants to work with Republicans who are bigoted culture warrors--

--why not Bob Barr and Dick Armey? They are every bit as nasty as Coburn, but they respect the constitution enough to be working against the PATRIOT Act and other constitutional abuses.

Or how about Ron Paul, who has the added bonus of not being an anti-science whackjob?