2 Key Black Politicians Endorse Clinton

Support By S.C. State Senators Could Damage Sen. Obama In Early 2008 Democratic Primary

(AP)  Two key black political leaders in South Carolina who backed John Edwards in 2004 said Tuesday they are supporting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

State Sens. Robert Ford and Darrell Jackson told The Associated Press they believe Clinton is the only Democrat who can win the presidency. Both said they had been courted by Illinois Sen. Barack Obama; Ford said Obama winning the primary would drag down the rest of the party.

"It's a slim possibility for him to get the nomination, but then everybody else is doomed," Ford said. "Every Democrat running on that ticket next year would lose — because he's black and he's top of the ticket. We'd lose the House and the Senate and the governors and everything."

"I'm a gambling man. I love Obama," Ford said. "But I'm not going to kill myself."

Ford said he was swayed by calls from former President Clinton and Hillary Clinton. The Charleston lawmaker said she has solid support in his district, one of the key regions in the state with a major black Democratic voting population.

Clinton's campaign said it welcomed the lawmakers' support, but disagreed with Ford's contention that Obama could harm a Democratic ticket. "I think it's just flat-out wrong," said spokesman Mo Elleithee.

One Obama ally rejected Ford's assessment.

"I think that Senator Ford's comments were reprehensible," said Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. "I believe Democratic prospects would soar, not slump."

Later in the day, Ford said he had been besieged by criticism and apologized for his characterization of Obama's chances. If Clinton doesn't win the nomination, any of the other candidates are well suited to take the White House, Ford said.

"If I caused anybody — including myself — any pain about the comments I made earlier, then I want to apologize to myself and to Senator Obama and any of his supporters," Ford said.

Darrell Jackson, who also is the minister of a large church in the state's capital city, said Edwards — a South Carolina native who won the state's Democratic primary three years ago — had his chance.

"I feel as if he's had his opportunity," he said.

Darrell Jackson said Edwards was a wonderful individual and he considers Obama a friend, but Clinton "is our best shot."

John Moylan, campaign director for Edwards in South Carolina, shrugged off the defections and predicted Edwards would win the state.

The endorsements come just days before Obama and Clinton campaign in the state for the first time in the 2008 race.

Jackson and Ford took credit for turning out black voters for Edwards in 2004 in a state where half the primary voters are black. In his only primary victory, Edwards won 37 percent of the vote, slightly better than Sen. John Kerry.

Support from black voters is key in South Carolina, where 49 percent of the Democratic presidential primary vote came from blacks in 2004. The state will host the first Southern primaries for both the GOP and Democrats in 2008.

[scott4261]

Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee was right in saying that Ford's contention that Obama would harm the ticket is "just flat-out wrong."

I will gladly vote for the Democratic nominee in 2008.

Personally, though, I'm not fond of Hillary Clinton because, as Bill Moyers put it, she "doesn't seem to know the difference between a compass and a weather vane." Having said that, she would definitely still be an improvement over the current occupant of the White House.

I like everything I've read from and about Barack Obama, but I'm still unsure about his experience (He's my age, and I'm not so sure I would know enough to be the leader of the free world!).

Many are looking to Hillary or Obama to be the Democratic nominee. We'll see how all that plays out, but many were saying the same things about Howard Dean in 2003 and Paul Tsongas in 1991. Neither became the Democratic nominee or the president.

In my opinion, John Edwards is the one to watch. And if he is the nominee, he WILL be our next president.

[blrichard]

Black aren't going to vote for Obama just because he is black and can give a good speech. It's about substance people. So far, I haven't seen any from him.

[hawksprings]

blrichard is right.
Obama is just another liberal Democrat.
At some point the Media's obamagasm should subside.

[adian1-2009]

If it is true that Bill Moyers affirmed that Ms. H. Clinton seems not to know the difference between a compass and a weather vane, as one of the commentators says, I would like to suggest that Mr. Moyers faces Ms. Clinton in a debate over any theme Mr. Moyers chooses. I bet that Ms. Clinton will beat the ... out of Mr. Moyers. In any theme, journalism included!

[antoniof123]

Hillary will win if she brings Bill with her. That is what America wants despite what the religious right is saying. For eight years we did not have a war that was a money pit we had an economy that was humming and we had some good entertainment. Now we have death all around, poverty growing, lack of medical care, and the list goes on and on. The Republicans gave us a contract and broke everything they promised to do. We are dying in America and they do not care why? Is it because the only thing they can think about is how much tax relief to give the rich or how about how much of their one sided religious views to shove down our throats.

[lanaedawn]

Blacks shouldn't vote for Senator Obama because he's black and women shouldn't vote for Senator Clinton because she's a woman.

[agnim]

""It's a slim possibility for him (Obama) to get the nomination, but then everybody else is doomed," Ford said. "Every Democrat running on that ticket next year would lose %u2014 because he's black and he's top of the ticket."

Ha ha!
What an asinine statement.

If anything, instead of blaming the white supremacist and bigots for opposition to a potential 'black nominee', this misguided soul would seek to cast the blame on Obama, who incidentally FELL FROM THE LOINS OF A WHITE WOMAN. LOL

We are sure of Obama's mom -- A WHITE WOMAN; but who really knows for sure who Obama's dad is? LOL

[scott4261]

If it is true that Bill Moyers affirmed that Ms. H. Clinton seems not to know the difference between a compass and a weather vane, as one of the commentators says, I would like to suggest that Mr. Moyers faces Ms. Clinton in a debate over any theme Mr. Moyers chooses. I bet that Ms. Clinton will beat the ... out of Mr. Moyers. In any theme, journalism included!
Posted by adian1 at 02:54 AM

adian1,

Bill Moyers is a liberal who was LBJ's press secretary and, until recently (when a Bush crony tried to purge all liberal thought from public broadcasting), hosted NOW on PBS. And I think what the meant was that Hillary has co-opted GOP positions when it is politically expedient to do so -- much like her husband's triangulation. This has been a constant source of frustration for me and - evidently - Mr. Moyers.

[agnim]

"Hillary has co-opted GOP positions .....

Posted by scott4261 at 01:16 PM : Feb 14, 2007"

Yes, she has.

Hilary Clinton has surrendered her dignity and is now cowardly prostituting herself to the lowest common denominator.

That is the big problem with foolish females trying to sneaking into a man's world of societal leadership; as soon as the rabid republicans holler at Hilary, she surrenders under them as Monica surrendered under Bill.

And there is nothing more revolting and yucky than an old ho who has long past her prime. LOL

[dumbwoman]

Why does the US need to have the same two *** families running the country for nigh on a quarter century? Try something new, you got nothing to lose. You cant do worse than what you have now, it can only be better! Please dont throw away the best candidate you have because he's black. Cant believe a black man used that as a reason. Obama is easily the most intelligent, honest and pragmatic option. Dont throw him away in favour of another bloody dynasty. Seems like Howard Dean all over again. He would have beaten Bush hands down... And the country would be about a trillion dollars better off now.. And with more friends.

[bhalman]

http://www.scstatehouse.net/members/bios/0606818109.html Sen. Ford's E-mail. The days of the "Victimized" charletan preacher so-called black leader is over....the kind that the "white media" love to show as representative of an entire race..guys like Jackson and Shapton...buffones and hypocrites that people (not so)secretly laugh at and shake their heads at...guys that, if the race were more collectively intelligent, would be an embarrasment..are over. Time for an intellegent, self-made, non-victimized leader who happens to be Black..to step up.

[frankbowers]

I hate to admit,as a white man of the south,the head of the ticket will make or break the democrat party in '08.A Black at the top will probably doom the democrats and that is a fact. They,the white,will not except nor vote and that will doom the remaining democrats in TX we can not afford that.He,Obama is ahead of his time, his time will come and that is not too far in the future I hope. I think Mrs. C will run a good clean race something that remains to be seen of the republicans which for the last two have use disgraceful tactics to win and then had to use two different states illegal then.(Ohio and Florida, Florida with Baker and the lady do not recall her name look at what the rep did to her the next election. The best of good byes, Frank Bowers in Austin, TX

[frankbowers]

I can say only one thing 'O HOW THE REPUBLICANS HATE THE CLINTO'S" for the christian remember in the Bible it teaches not to hate. GOD is the only one who can judge but HE all others will be punished. I hope you republicans remember this the rest of their lives. I do not hate gw bush, I know him, and know what he does and that is what I hate. The best of good byes from a republican in TX Frank Bowers

[bhalman]

Well Frank,..at least you're honest about how inherently hateful and rasist the "Majority" are.
There are studies that say there'll be a different "Majority" in not too many years from now. Good.