An Endorsement That Gives A Real Edge

The New Republic: Ted Kennedy's Support For Barack Obama Should Make A Difference

(The New Republic)  This column was written by Jonathan Cohn

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How will Ted Kennedy's endorsement affect the presidential race? The debate is already well underway. Skeptics note that endorsements don't have the same weight they did a few decades ago, when more voters took their cues from party leaders. Al Gore's endorsement of Howard Dean four years ago certainly didn't deliver the nomination.

But Kennedy's progressive record on economic issues, not to mention his family name, might give him unusual clout with older, working-class white voters - ones who, until now, have strongly preferred Hillary Clinton. Kennedy is also said to be popular with Latinos, thanks in part to his history of championing liberal immigration reforms and to Robert Kennedy's early support of Cesar Chavez.

This is where the timing of Kennedy's announcement - and peculiar dynamics of this race - could prove critical. Latinos, who have strongly favored Clinton so far, are well-represented in the big states voting on February 5. And while Kennedy's endorsement alone surely isn't enough to swing a whole state like New Jersey or California, it might be enough to shift enough votes to change delegate counts - which is what really matters at this point.

Remember, Democratic primaries aren't winner-take-all. Even if Clinton wins more votes in the biggest coastal states, a strong second-place showing by Barack Obama in those places - combined with winnings in Illinois and other interior states - could give him the majority of the day's delegates. (Or at least keep the count pretty close.)

Of course, all of that is just guesswork, based on polling numbers that may not be accurate and assumptions about voter attitudes that may not be correct.

But while I can't say with confidence whether people will pay attention to Kennedy's endorsement, I feel certain that they should pay attention - because Kennedy's embrace speaks directly to the misgivings (expressed, on more than one occasion, by me) that Obama was insufficiently committed to a progressive policy agenda and that he lacked the savvy to enact an ambitious, necessarily controversial agenda.

Consider: No member of Congress has a longer, truer record of championing liberal causes than Kennedy. He was fighting for universal coverage back when Hillary Clinton was still in law school. And when the times have called for confrontation, Kennedy has not flinched. Look back at 1995 and 1996, when programs like Medicare were under seige from a new and aggressive Republican majority, and you'll find Kennedy leading the counter-attack. In August 1996, after the Democrats had finally beaten back the Gingrich revolutionaries, then-Minority Leader Tom Daschle (now an Obama booster, by the way) said of Kennedy "I don't know anybody who contributed more."

Still, Kennedy also has a strong pragmatic streak. It's hard to think of anybody in Congress who has produced as much important legislation, even in times when Democrats were out of power. (Henry Waxman is the only name that comes quickly to mind.) To accomplish this, Kennedy has sometimes embraced such unlikely allies as George W. Bush and Mitt Romney in order to push for such imperfect laws as No Child Left Behind and the recent Massachusetts health care reforms. But if those efforts have annoyed liberal allies now and then, they have generally served the liberal cause well. Just ask anybody covered under the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), a bipartisan program from the late 1990s for which Kennedy was heavily responsible. (In fairness, both Clintons had a little something to do with that, too.)

To be sure, it's reasonable and necessary to ask whether Obama can strike such a similarly deft balance between confrontation and compromise - a question Paul Krugman poses in an important column today. It's also fair to treat skeptically the true meaning of any endorsement, given how frequently they reflect petty politics or personal strategic considerations rather than considered judgments about qualifications for office.

But it's not clear how Kennedy stands to gain politically by antagonizing Clinton, who remains the presumptive front-runner. Nor is there evidence of personal animus between the two. On the contrary, every account I've ever heard suggests Kennedy has a high regard for Clinton, going back to her days as First Lady.

So my hunch - and, to be clear, it's just a hunch - is that this is mostly the real thing. It may reflect Kennedy's anger over the recent capmaign tactics, about which Kennedy apparently complained directly to the Clintons. It may reflect Kennedy's sense that Obama has tapped into the same idealism that JFK once did - a feeling the former president's daughter, Caroline Kennedy, wrote about in her own Obama endorsement on the Times op-ed page yesterday. But I also think it reflects Kennedy's belief that Obama will ultimately serve the liberal cause better than Clinton could. And given that Kennedy has seen both presidential contenders up close, as Brian Beutler notes, that judgment has meaning.

Naturally, Kennedy's endorsement carries some risk, too. What will all those Republicans think about supporting Obama - the Obamicans, as he has started calling them - say when they see Kennedy embracing him?

Then again, I bet that's a problem Clinton wishes she had today.

I like Ted Kennedy but his endorsement does not sway me in the least!

[mbcsmith]

Oh good, now Obamalamdingdong has a murderer for support. Remember Chappaquiddick!

[mbcsmith]

The bond for accused fraud perpetrator and Obama supporter Tony Rezko was revoked today by the judge in the case. Obama is starting to smell a little ripe.

[taddles-2009]

Wow, looks like another one fell off the little bus.

I guess stupid $hit is all we can expect when you have nothing worthwhile to say right mbcsmith?

[texastch25]

What exactly has Obama done for the nation? He ca give a great speech...but he has that on the telaprompter. He could never, ever fill the shoes of John Kennedy! Ted is still drink a lot I sumise.

[old300d]

I want to like Obama but his Church that gave L.F. that award freaks me out.

His church is pro Africa though and I like that.

Africa is in bad shape and to much attention is given to the middle east and not Africa.

So I looked on Mr. Obama''''s website to see where he stands on the problems in Africa.

Nothing ! I can''''t find anything on his website about Africa.

Plenty about the middle east. He didn''''t forget the Palestinians.

I was hoping if he were to become president that he might help out Africa instead of worrying so much about the Palestinians.

Mr. Obama, What is your stand on the bad problems in Africa. Post them on your website !

I hope our next president cares about the people on this planet that need our help the most !

[mbcsmith]

I guess stupid $hit is all we can expect when you have nothing worthwhile to say right mbcsmith?


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Posted by taddles at 03:46 PM : Jan 28, 2008

Are you referring to my post about the drunken murderer supporting Obama or the post about the indicted fraudster supporting Obama?

[quatrops]

Let''s hope mbcdmith''s ego is sated for the day. Why one needs multiple short posts to not say anything of substance is beyond me.

Kennedy''s responsibility for the tragic death in Chappaquidick, deplorable as it was, does not constitute "murder". If it did, we could easily charge Bush for his part in the almost-4000 US deaths in Iraq as a result of his incompetence and bungled "policies". And although many others shared the blame for Katrina deaths, Bush''s appointment of a fellow-incompetent political hack exacerbated the tragedy. Murder?

Someone (it might well have been mbcsmith) said earlier that 9/11 was the most deadly act of aggression ever perpetrated on United States soil. Not so, in my opinion. The prize there goes to the CSA and their articles of succession 140+ years ago . . . proving, once again, the pen IS mightier than the sword. Sadly, descendents of the CSA traitors STILL want to fly their flag ! !

[mbcsmith]

Posted by Quatrops at 04:51 PM : Jan 28, 2008

Another graduate of moron.org Go ahead LIB, call our ranking general in Iraq a traitor again. It shows America what useless pieces of shiite LIBS really are.

[taddles-2009]

"
Are you referring to my post about the drunken murderer supporting Obama or the post about the indicted fraudster supporting Obama?

Posted by mbcsmith at 04:23 PM : Jan 28, 2008"

Both and you''re still a stupid POS

[p-syrus]

Ted never was the bright bulb in the pack.

[lfitts1]

The problem is the electorate is so stupid they can''t make judgements for themselves and the media treats it luck a running race not a contest of ideas--listen to what they say and make up your own mind. In addition JFK was a crapy president--everything he is given credit for LBJ did---he had the right words but did little

[ken1dall]

What next, an endorsement from Fidel Castro or maybe Hugo Chavez? Either one would seal the presidency for the democrats.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by mbcsmith at 05:04 PM : Jan 28, 2008

Hey, mbcsmith, the surge is working...tell your buddies to fire all the security contractors. We don''t need ''em any more!!!

You''re a conservative, right? We could save a few bucks there, couldn''t we??? Several BILLION dollars worth of security contractors get to come home!!! Wouldn''t that be nice for them?

The surge is working, the surge is working!!!! Yayyy!

[jesuit2000]

Our fellow Americans from the U.S. Territory in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas still are not allowed to vote for president, do not have representation in the Senate and have only one non-voting delegate in the House of Representatives. These Americans are Chamorros and have the highest per capita death rates of any jurisdiction for not only the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also for the Vietnam war and World War II. Your assistance is appreciated. You can also go to Guam Pacific Daily News at www.guampdn.com

Guam is also going to experience a rapid military transformation that will convert to possible damage and / or destruction to the island''s infrastructure if the Government of Guam does not receive funding from the Congress. Your replies to this are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[libsluvsuvs]

the liberal media keeps on "spraying cologne at that sh*t on the floor hoping that the public would not notice the shi*t on the floor"


what is next? nancy pelosi''s endorsement..PROMISING that when the DNC takes over they would make sure they would change things??????????? humm i heard that before

[ramos937]

Sorry but I try to think for myself. Ted Kennedy''s endorsement means nothing to me or my friends. No way will we vote for someone we personally know so very little about - Obama. To us, his personal life is pretty well known but his professional and life in public service is pretty much a blank.

[tbweb]

Many including Clinton supporters are trying to make light of the Kennedy''s support for Sen. Obama, but the Clinton''s tried to stop it and sought it themselves so it must mean something, it must matter, and it does, it threatens Clinton''s Hispanic support!

[quatrops]

I''ve never questioned the patriotism of ANY of our generals in Iraq as mbcsmith suggests in his 5:04, so I could have hardly called one a traitor "again". As the responses to his other posts would indicate, coherence is not an item found in mbcsmith''s shopping cart. I''m not even sure he even knows he''s in the store! Let''s hope the nurses get him back to his ward soon!

[paris1969]

just because Ted Kennedy may call an apple and orange, it is still an apple.

[vermonter52]

The Kennedy endorsement and the Ophra endorsement of Obama not have any affect on how I will vote. I use my own mind to cast my vote not some celebrities choice! The media is completely idiotic about this and it is all a ploy to make you change your mind. Stay strong and vote for who you think will make the best president!

Read about your candidate on their web pages if you want to know who and what your are voting for. Don''t listen to the hype of the celebrities and media. This vote is your choice.....not theirs!

[quatrops]

Like a "good little" neocon, frankly6 appears to label anyone to the left of Cheney a "communist". And, of course, anyone who wears red clothing must be a communist too!!

The use of hyperbole to make one''s point CAN be an effective communications tool but, as frankly6 demonstrates, one runs the risk of appearing discourse-challanged when using it simply to appear "clever"

[mbcsmith]

Posted by Quatrops at 08:38 AM : Jan 29, 2008

Another LIB graduate of the moron.org community. Still can''t figure out why most Americans think calling the ranking general in Iraq a traitor is a bad thing. Typical LIB.

[vastr-wcon]

.
I certainly wasn''t prepared to cast a vote until I learned who Mary Jo Kopechne''s killer, Ted Kennedy, supported. But that still isn''t enough to help me make up my mind. I desperately need to know which candidate all known killers support for president. In particular, could the MSM let us know for whom OJ Simpson, Robert Blake and all killers on death row -i.e., those who were actually convicted of their crime - will vote?

Thank you.

[paris1969]

Rep. Maxine Waters endorsed Hillary Clinton today ... why isn''t this on CBS.com?

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by vermonter52 at 11:01 AM : Jan 29, 2008

Well said!

[mbcsmith]

Rep. Maxine Waters endorsed Hillary Clinton today ... why isn''''t this on CBS.com?


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Posted by paris1969 at 01:28 PM : Jan 29, 2008

Maxine who?

[crusherking]

Why vote for either? Obama has done nothing for the country just as Clinton has done nothing. Hillary continues to say she has all this experience but being first lady is not experience. Seems like she needs Bill to carry her over the finish line. I certainly wouldn''t vote for anyone who can''t win the race on their own merits.

[huanaco]

GENTLEMEN ALL : WHO CARES ABOUT TEDDY,S OPINION ? ONLY THE MEDIA AND THIS IS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE OBAMA A CREDIBLE WINNER. OBAMA IS A REPUBLICAN TROYAN HORSE.

[hillaryin08]

I guess your too stupid to realize that your party is handing the GOP the Presidency as we speek. Thanks in part to the Clintons. America will vote against Socialism as they always have this November. Dont worry, I heard Al-quida is looking for a few good men. May I suggest suicide bomber?

[paris1969]

Looks like my favorite Kennedys are endorsing Hillary Clinton ... check out the LA Times article:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-oe-kennedy29jan29,0,624676.story

[allfluff]

Kennedy''s do not represent the average democrats. It''s the elitist in Media who are making a big deal out of this endorsement.

[crusherking]

Taddles wrote"Since your obviously a cool-aid drinking Republiscum moron, who the f**k really gives 2 $hits who you vote for. Your vote is going to be irrelevant in November anyway and Dem will be starting 8 years of cleaning up the stinking mess you pi$$ drinking Repub losers have left us.."

Seems like this is America still Taddles. In case you have forgotten that. My opinion counts just as much as yours does and I am apparently much more civil and mature than you are. You espouse nothing but hate and vulgarity. It is small minded people such as yourself that bring down anything American and laud anything Socialist. Russia is taking applicants as is France. Go apply and get out of this country since you obviously hate it so much. To state that my vote won''t count for.. well you know what you said.. Is also saying that your vote has not counted... Well, since Billdo Clinton the liar was in office. How does that make you feel?? A good take away from this response, simpleton, is that if you wish to have your opinion and voice heard, respected and discussed, you should approach all participants fairly and with candor, not venomous, pointless hate spewing. When you grow up you can join the rest of the civilized world in proper debate. I doubt that will happen in the near future judging by your level of intellect in its current state.

[quatrops]

You''re in luck, VastR-WCon! I have for you the voting preferences of convicted and certain un-convicted murderers!

OJ still has an interest in white girls, but only ones who will sit around watching vintage Bills and USC games with him. He''s going for whichever GOP candidate the NRA endorses. Blake is a Romney guy. Actors who have no talent have to stick together, after all.

Those on death row (the ones actually guilty) are all going to cast write-in votes for Cheney, not because he looks like they will post-injection, but because he, like they, has a fascination with the violent deaths of innocents (civilians, soldiers, etc.).

I hope this helps!

[squidly8]

I would have thought Teddy the sot would have endorsed Jack Daniels or Jim Beam.

[quatrops]

Critics of Ted Kennedy seem to get some joy in in calling the event at Chappaquidick "murder" despite the evidence it was the tragic act of an alchoholic that is repeated all too frequently in our country. He is clearly and admittedly responsible for Mary Jane''s death, but it is a political cheap shot and morally irresponsible to call the event murder. Shame on you, using the death of that young woman as a springboard for your political views. You know better.

Alcoholism is a tragic disease from which all too many suffer. Constant referrals to Kennedy''s alcoholism in order to attack his politics is, again, a "cheap shot" by those who lack the ability to use logic and reason in their political discourse.

[tbweb]

Posted by frankIy6 at 09:58 PM : Jan 29, 2008,,,

When personal computers first became available to the general public the government didn''t want everyone to have one, I didn''t understand why, but after reading your Post I would say I have to agree with them.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by frankIy6 at 09:58 PM : Jan 29, 2008

I don''t think Hillary needs to be protected from anybody, lol

Mr. Obama is a classless street punk...and now that he''s getting some dirty politics thrown at him after all these months of smart/a, condescending remarks, he''s crying foul! foul!

This man is going to be our president??? NOT!!!!

[quatrops]

It''s going to take a long time for Texas to live down giving us such an incompetent as George Bush. It will take even longer if RowdyTexan2 is exemplary of what the state''s educational system is producing. Since "Rowdy" (is he proud if being so?) offers no rationale for calling Obama a "classless street punk", he leaves us to assume it''s because he''s from a northern city and he''s black. Real nice there, Texas. No wonder the state had to engineer phony results when testing the adequacy of their educational system.

[sophielhu]

When personal computers first became available to the general public the government didn''''t want everyone to have one, I didn''''t understand why, but after reading your Post I would say I have to agree with them.
-----------------------------------------------
Internet is a good place to share information and meet friends. I recently found
a nice web site called pubspa.com where you can meet friends who have same interest in beauty care, massage, wellness and spa treatment. You can also share blog, video, game, photos, etc with people from all over the world. Unlike other online dating sites where you have to pay membership fee, this site is totally free. I already made several interesting friends there.

[vet_sk]

RowdyTexan2: "Rowdy street junk"?
Can I ask where you came up with that?

[irliberal]

Go Hillary! Woo woo!!!

[kimpham49]

Nothing to loose, why not ??

2008 is the year of election, presidential candidates become famous as the hot topic in every conversation. Thus there is a good chance for those who need to polish the political image since they have been forgotten for long time (though they were notorious as playboys when they were young !). In addition, they envy with the Clintons, who may come back to the White House while they never have a chance even 1. Besides, it appears "the so-called young political advisors" inheritated the fame from the family (but infamous by themselves), who try to give endorsement so as to make credit for their political future (for this technique, they cannot compete with Britney Spears!). In fact, " 2 in 1 " is the win-win technique as in case later the presidential candidate whom they endorse could win the race, they surely would get some good jobs by return from the new Government.

[kimpham49]

Nothing to loose, why not ??

2008 is the year of election, presidential candidates become famous as the hot topic in every conversation. Thus there is a good chance for those who need to polish the political image since they have been forgotten for long time (though they were notorious as playboys when they were young !). In addition, they envy with the Clintons, who may come back to the White House while they never have a chance even 1. Besides, it appears "the so-called young political advisors" inheritated the fame from the family (but infamous by themselves), who try to give endorsement so as to make credit for their political future (for this technique, they cannot compete with Britney Spears!). In fact, " 2 in 1 " is the win-win technique as in case later the presidential candidate whom they endorse could win the race, they surely would get some good jobs by return from the new Government.

[kimpham49]

Nothing to loose, why not ??

2008 is the year of election, presidential candidates become famous as the hot topic in every conversation. Thus there is a good chance for those who need to polish the political image since they have been forgotten for long time (though they were notorious as playboys when they were young !). In addition, they envy with the Clintons, who may come back to the White House while they never have a chance even 1. Besides, it appears "the so-called young political advisors" inheritated the fame from the family (but infamous by themselves), who try to give endorsement so as to make credit for their political future (for this technique, they cannot compete with Britney Spears!). In fact, " 2 in 1 " is the win-win technique as in case later the presidential candidate whom they endorse could win the race, they surely would get some good jobs by return from the new Government.

[quatrops]

WOW! What a profound piece of political insight from frankly6 @9:36! Clinton was wearing red at the State of the Union, she therefore equates with Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro!

Don''t let his inadequacies in grammer fool you (his post reads as though Chavez and Castro were in attendance), this poster KNOWS how to spot a commie when he sees one!

There''s a rumor afloat that the neocons put frankly6 on the payroll to advise them what to wear so that their political inclinations are clear to us.

Considering how Cheney/Wolfowitz/Perle/Bush and their neocon cabal dummied-up war excuses for us so they could package FEAR to sell to the eletorate, it seems YELLOW might be their appropriate color in the frankly6 system.

[mbcsmith]

Critics of Ted Kennedy seem to get some joy in in calling the event at Chappaquidick "murder" despite the evidence it was the tragic act of an alchoholic that is repeated all too frequently in our country. He is clearly and admittedly responsible for Mary Jane''''s death, but it is a political cheap shot and morally irresponsible to call the event murder. Shame on you, using the death of that young woman as a springboard for your political views. You know better.Posted by Quatrops at 04:55 PM : Jan 29, 2008


It''s Mary Jo you insensitive P.O.S. Kennedy? He ran away to leave that poor girl to die. Didn''t even try to save her. Swam a 1/4 mile back to safety and home to concoct a fanciful tale, to protect himself, all the while that girl is dead in his car.
MURDER? YOU BET! This bum should be lynched.

[tomanyt]

Are the Kennedy''s even relevant any more?

[kimpham49]

For them, there is a slogan as follows : there is a chicken in every pot and a blond in every pond.

[quatrops]

You sound a lot like George Bush, mbcsmith. "It''s murder because I say it''s murder". Despite the fact that Kennedy''s behavior meets neither the dictionary or legal definition. Lynching him, which you propose, WOULD be murder.

If you want some insight into what drunk alcohilics are capable of in the way of bizarre and irresponsible behavior, listen in at an AA meeting sometime.