Clinton's Exit: When Push Came To Shove

Politico: Charles B. Rangel Was Behind Clinton's Exit From The Presidential Stage

(The Politico)  This story was written by Amie Parnes, Avi Zenilman and Ben Smith.

---

In the end, the same man who ushered Hillary Rodham Clinton into electoral politics nine years ago pushed her out.

On Wednesday, Clinton was asking supporters to wait - it was unclear for what - and to give her time to gather her thoughts. Many seemed willing to accede to the request, but Rep. Charles B. Rangel, the blunt, 77-year-old dean of New York’s congressional delegation, had had enough.

In public statements and on a crucial afternoon conference call, he told Clinton it was time to go. And Rangel, for reasons of state politics, personal history and race, is not a man Clinton could afford to ignore.

“Unless she has some good reasons - which I can’t think of - I really think we ought to get on with” endorsing Obama, he told ABC News yesterday afternoon.

Rangel figures large in the Clinton legend: According to the official story, he first suggested to Clinton that she run for Senate in New York. This year, he held Clinton’s African-American supporters in line for her, despite the temptation many felt to back her surging rival. And he’s a powerful figure in the state to which she now must return.

A staffer close to the Clinton campaign said the candidate took Rangel's response to heart. "She strongly values his opinions, and they definitely made her think about what was going on."

Rangel’s move came after what had become, for some of the House members who had endorsed Clinton, an unbearable day of uncertainty.

By the time the polls closed on Tuesday night and Barack Obama became the presumptive Democratic nominee, it was clear to many of them that Clinton had to drop out.

After months of campaigning with her head down, the shift in pace and direction was going to be abrupt, no matter how long she took to gather her bearings.

"She wanted a day or two to talk to her supporters," said a source close to the Clinton campaign. "That was very important to her, especially because she's been in a bubble."

Yet she didn’t have that luxury, not after Tuesday’s speech, not after failing to even acknowledge that Obama had reached the delegate threshold necessary to claim the Democratic nomination. While her Senate colleagues were willing to wait a few more days until her formal exit, members of the House were intent on accelerating the end of her campaign.

She huddled at her Arlington, Va., headquarters Wednesday with top advisers, discussing her diminished options and leaving supporters free to mount a campaign on her behalf for the vice presidential nod. Even close supporters were unsure what she was waiting for, beyond a chance to clear her head, and all assumed she would be leaving the race within days.

But Clinton seemed to think she could postpone the inevitable and had her aides convene a pair of conference calls with Senate and House supporters. Her message, a prominent supporter said, was to be: “Please wait.”

The first call, around 4 p.m., went as planned. At least seven of Clinton's Senate supporters participated, and the tone was tame, even congratulatory.

Washington Sen. Patty Murray, who was on the call, described the exchange as cordial and respectful, with no demands that Clinton drop out and back Obama.

"There was tremendous pride in Sen. Clinton, and much of the conversation was focused on thanking her for her campaign,” she said.

Then, at 5 p.m., she spoke with House backers - including Rangel - for about 20 minutes.

"The tone of the call was 'What do you guys think?'" a source close to the campaign said.

Democratic House members who participated on the call said the first comments were supportive, expressing a willingness to wait.

Then Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank - whose sister, Ann Lewis, is a top Clinton adviser - chimed in with a dose of reality.

"It just seemed to me, once it was over, it was over," he said in an interview Thursday. "I said she should go out with dignity and not look like she was being pushed."

"Someone said what about waiting a week, and I said this isn't going to hold," he explained. "You know you're not talking about the 10 best secret keepers in America."

Rangel then stepped in. Repeating his public comments from earlier in the afternoon, he stressed the need for party unity and expressed concern that New York Reps. Yvette D. Clarke, Gregory W. Meeks and Edolphus Towns - whose heavily black districts had voted for Obama - could face viable primary challenges from pro-Obama candidates if they didn't move quickly to get behind the presumptive nominee.

"She wanted to talk to supporters and get advice, so she got advice," Rangel told reporters Thursday. "Love and affection doesn't have a damn thing to do with counting votes."

Clinton understood the problem.

"Hillary would never want to do something that would impact another person's chances and jeopardize their seats," said someone familiar with the call.

On the call, Rangel was firm.

He suggested holding an event where Clinton could endorse Obama. "That way we're endorsing Barack through you," he told her.

"What I was worried about was, I couldn't explain it," Rangel said the next day. "'You want unity, you want someone to win, but you don't endorse? It doesn't work out."

Clinton ended the call on a note of gratitude. "Thank you all so much. You mean so much to me. We'll get moving with Charlie's idea," she said, according to a source.

But to her staffers, Rangel’s words added new urgency to their deliberations.

“Charlie’s comment certainly stood out,” said an aide.

Clinton hung up, advisers say, still without having made a final decision about the timing of her departure, but with a clear understanding that her window was closing. Her advisers began discussing the timing of her exit, and when word of preliminary plans for a Friday announcement leaked to ABC News, they knew they wouldn’t be able to beat back this final media wave.

Later that night, the Clinton campaign announced she would be holding a Friday rally "to thank her supporters and express her support for Sen. Obama and party unity."

In a mark of the haste with which the decision had been made, it was quickly changed: The event, a later press release said, would be on Saturday, not on Friday.

The three African-American members from New York whom Rangel had mentioned instantly announced they would endorse Obama.

Then, on Thursday, the entire New York congressional delegation stood in front of the Democratic National Committee building to announce, as a press release put it, "their unanimous approval of the decision by Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign to support the Democratic nomination of Sen. Barack Obama."

Rangel spoke on their behalf.

[hinnis]

Obama supporters, please by all means keep up your vicious attacks, insults and race cards against us Hillary Clinton voters and all others who oppose Obama. It only strengthens our resolve to pull the lever for John McCain come November.

[rufisgufis]

%u201CIran, Cuba, Venezuela, these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, h, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Furthermore, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

In conclusion, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Posted by hiney at 09:44 AM : Jun 09, 2008

[rufisgufis]

%u201CIran, Cuba, Venezuela, these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, h, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Furthermore, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

In conclusion, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Posted by hinnis at 09:44 AM : Jun 09, 2008

[rufisgufis]

%u201CIran, Cuba, Venezuela, these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, h, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Furthermore, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

In conclusion, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Posted by hinnis at 09:44 AM : Jun 09, 2008

[rufisgufis]

Obama, his supporters, the DNC, the party elite and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Furthermore, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

In conclusion, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Posted by hinnis at 02:33 AM : Jun 09, 2008

[rufisgufis]

Obama, his supporters, the DNC, the party elite and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Furthermore, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

In conclusion, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Posted by hinnis at 02:33 AM : Jun 09, 2008

[rufisgufis]

%u201CIran, Cuba, Venezuela, these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, h, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Furthermore, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

In conclusion, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

[rufisgufis]

IF YOU LIKE THIS ECONOMY, LIKE THIS NEVER-ENDING WAR, LIKE PAYING HIGH GAS PRICES, LIKE THE TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH, IF YOU CAN''T WAIT TO INVADE IRAN, IF YOU LIKE THE UNFAIR TRADE POLICIES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING OUR JOBS OVERSEAS, IF YOU LIKE THE LOSS OF THE WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS, IF YOU LIKE ILLEGAL WIRETAPS, IF YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE. IF YOU LIKE THE FACT THAT THE US IS ONE OF THE MOST REVILED NATIONS ON THE PLANET, THEN YOU''LL JUST LOVE McCAIN.

[hinnis]

Obama, his supporters, the DNC, the party elite, and the mainstream media have conspired to marginalize the millions of Democrats who have voted for Hillary, and they will now be using every trick in the book to "bring the party together" to further their ruthless ambitions. They will want you to forget all about the months of biased press, the biased party elite, the insults, the sexist remarks, and the race-cards. They will want you to forget that the Democratic Party now is the party that stands for disenfranchisement of the voters and the rationalization of racism. They will use any method to persuade you to vote for the man who they have preordained as the Democratic nominee. DON''T FALL FOR IT!

Whether you write-in Hillary, if possible, vote for John McCain, or sit out the election, right now, for the sake of our families and our country, WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER to assist in the defeat of the inexperienced, ruthless, deceptive, divisive, racist black liberation theology believing, race card throwing Obama. We can always come back to the Democratic Party if and when they show a desire to respect our participation, and field an acceptable candidate.

[hinnis]

Obama, his supporters, the DNC, the party elite, and the mainstream media have conspired to marginalize the millions of Democrats who have voted for Hillary, and they will now be using every trick in the book to "bring the party together" to further their ruthless ambitions. They will want you to forget all about the months of biased press, the biased party elite, the insults, the sexist remarks, and the race-cards. They will want you to forget that the Democratic Party now is the party that stands for disenfranchisement of the voters and the rationalization of racism. They will use any method to persuade you to vote for the man who they have preordained as the Democratic nominee. DON''T FALL FOR IT!

Whether you write-in Hillary, if possible, vote for John McCain, or sit out the election, right now, for the sake of our families and our country, WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER to assist in the defeat of the inexperienced, ruthless, deceptive, divisive, racist black liberation theology believing, race card throwing Obama. We can always come back to the Democratic Party if and when they show a desire to respect our participation, and field an acceptable candidate.

[hinnis]

OBAMA%u2019S FLIP-FLOP ON IRAN%u2019S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD LEGISLATION:

Obama Has Pivoted In His Opposition To Legislation Labeling Iran''s Revolutionary Guard A Terrorist Organization:
Obama Has Been Inconsistent In His Views On Labeling Iran''s Revolutionary Guard A Terrorist Organization. "Obama''s campaign suddenly discovered that their man -despite having spent the last nine months campaigning on his opposition to Kyl-Lieberman - ''has consistently urged that Iran''s Revolutionary Guard be labeled what it is: a terrorist organization.'' Well, not that consistently. Senator Obama has been scrupulously careful not to call explicitly for designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Now, however, with the Democratic nomination almost in hand, Obama feels comfortable telling a pro-Israel audience what it wants to hear."(Danielle Pletka, "Obama''s Pander Pivot," Weekly Standard, 6/4/08)
"[T]he Audience At AIPAC Might Ask Why Senator Obama Has Pivoted From Opposition To ''Lieberman-Kyl'' To Support For The IRGC Designation His Audience Demands. Is This Really Change They Can Believe In?" (Danielle Pletka, "Obama''s Pander Pivot," Weekly Standard, 6/4/08)
"Which Barack Obama Will Be The Democratic Standard-Bearer: The One Who Vowed To ''Eliminate'' The Iranian Nuclear Threat Two Days Ago, Or The One Who Opposed Designating The Revolutionary Guards A Terrorist Organization?" (Editorial, "Obama And Iran," The Washington Times, 6/6/08)

[hinnis]

OBAMA FLIP-FLOP ON MEETING WITH FOREIGN LEADERS:

Obama Now Claims That He Will Only Meet With Foreign Leaders At A Time Of His Choosing If It Will Advance U.S. Interests, But Previously Said He Would Meet With Rogue Leaders His First Year In Office Without Preconditions:

In His Remarks To The AIPAC Conference, Obama Claimed That He Would Only Meet With The "Appropriate Iranian Leaders At A Time And Place" Of His Choosing. Obama: "Contrary to the claims of some, I have no interest in sitting down with our adversaries just for the sake of talking. But as President of the United States, I would be willing to lead tough and principled diplomacy with the appropriate Iranian leaders at a time and place of my choosing - if, and only if - it can advance the interests of the United States."

But At A July 2007 Debate, Obama Said He Would Meet With Hostile Leaders During His First Year In Office. Question: "[W]ould you be willing to meet separately, without precondition, during the first year of your administration, in Washington or anywhere else, with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea, in order to bridge the gap that divides our countries?"...Obama: "I would. And the reason is this, that the notion that somehow not talking to countries is punishment to them - which has been the guiding diplomatic principle of this administration - is ridiculous." (CNN/YouTube Democrat Presidential Candidate Debate, Charleston, SC, 7/23/07)

[hinnis]

OBAMA FLIP-FLOP ON JERUSALEM:

In His Remarks To The Annual AIPAC Policy Conference, Obama Said That Jerusalem Should Be The Undivided Capital Of Israel, But Later Said The City''s Future Should Be Negotiated By Israel And The Palestinians:

On Wednesday, Obama Said Jerusalem Would Be The Undivided Capital Of Israel. Obama: "Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided." (Sen. Barack Obama, Remarks At The Annual AIPAC Policy Conference, Arlington, VA, 6/4/08)

One Day Later, Obama Said The Future Of Jerusalem Would Have To Be Negotiated By Israel And The Palestinians. CNN''s Candy Crowley: "I want to ask you about something you said in AIPAC yesterday. You said that Jerusalem must remain undivided. Do Palestinians have no claim to Jerusalem in the future?" Obama: "Well, obviously, it''s going to be up to the parties to negotiate a range of these issues." (CNN''s "The Situation Room," 6/5/08)

"Facing Criticism From Palestinians, Sen. Barack Obama Acknowledged Today That The Status Of Jerusalem Will Need To Be Negotiated In Future Peace Talks, Amending A Statement Earlier In The Week That Jerusalem ''Must Remain Undivided.''" (Glenn Kessler, "Obama Clarifies Remarks On Jerusalem," The Washington Post''s "The Trail," Blog, www.washingtonpost.com, 6/5/08)

[tiredofobama]

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

Posted by craigh9 at 08:06 AM : Jun 09, 2008

I''ve been looking at the issues for seven months! That''s why I will never post a vote for Barak Obama.

We''ve had Bush for 7 years, why have another one just like him on the other end of the spectrum.

Any numb nuts knows that going from a right wing numb nut to a left wing numb nut is failed strategy. Last time that happened farmers had to drive their tractors up on White House lawn, they were so mired in taxes and interest payments. We already have an oil crisis beyond measure, and a failed economy. And if you think electing this far left wing nut is going to fix that you are totally naive.

We need a more centrist, balanced government that can keep the economy stimulated yet make sure corporations can''t price gouge.

Obama will give this country away when we clearly don''t have it...and then he''ll raise your taxes out the wazoo to do it, instead of building this country up first. He''s already said he''ll do it. And you people are so naive you''ll just let him do it.

Do your own self a favor. Open your eyes and check out reality, instead of some pipe dream Marxist disgruntled BS that still thinks theres going to be this big revolution where they become the upper class!

NO OBAMA ''08

[craigh9]

I see that we have now swiftly moved from Hillary was wronged directly to outright bigotry and hatred of Obama. I always knew the majority of Hillary Huggers on here were just anti Obama and never really supported Hillary - in fact I''m quite certain that had a white man been running againt Hillary the tone of this blog would have been very negative against Hillary.
Do everybody a favor and close your eyes and actually look at the issues and the candidate plans and make your choice from there. If you do that it doesn''t matter what color the skin is of the person you feel has the best ideas for improving our country.

[hinnis]

OBAMA%u2019S FLIP-FLOP ON CUBA: Obama advocated lifting sanctions on Cuba when he ran for the U.S. Senate in 2004, but now when speaking to Cuban groups in Florida, says the embargo should stay in place. Ninoska Pirez-Castellsn, a director and spokeswoman for the Cuban Liberty Council, said that Obama''s positions show his ``ignorance on the Cuban issue.'''' ''''I think that Sen. Obama has shown that he can adapt to any audience, because before today he advocated for the lifting of the embargo,'''' she said. Cuban-American U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Miami assailed Obama in a prearranged phone call with reporters. ''''Mr. Obama has a lot of explaining to do over the next few months in Florida,'''' Diaz-Balart said, ``to try to assure people that his inexperience and naivete are not as worrisome as they seem.''''

[hinnis]

OBAMA%u2019S FLIP-FLOP ON IRAN: MAY 18: %u201CIran, Cuba, Venezuela, these countries are tiny compared to the Soviet Union. They don''t pose a serious threat to us.%u201D OBAMA MAY 18: %u201CIran, they spend 1/100th of what we spend on the military. I mean, if Iran ever tried to pose a serious threat to us, they wouldn''t stand a chance.%u201D OBAMA MAY 20 AFTER RECEIVING MUCH CRITICISM FOR HIS EARLIER REMARKS: %u201CIran is a grave threat. It has an illicit nuclear program. It supports terrorism across the regions and militias in Iraq. It threatens Israel''s existence. It denies the Holocaust.%u201D

[rufisgufis]

hinnis:

I''ve read your entire rant and it comes down to one thing: guilt by association, not one act that Obama himself committed. so all I can say to you is: Get a life. The bottom line is that Hillary is a loser and will be a loser from here on out. And, sorry to say, you are associated with a loser.

[hinnis]

I am amused by Obama apologists who suggest we should not consider his associations as relevant to his character and judgment. They say that we should ignore all racist and anti-American statements made by his close advisers and associates when deciding whether he is a suitable President, and only consider statements made by Obama himself; a man who is trying to convince us to vote for him come November.

We''re supposed to ignore the racist and anti-American rants of Rev. Wright, his 20-year "mentor and spiritual adviser." We''re supposed to ignore his new pastor, Otis Moss who has claimed that Wright was "lynched" by the media and compared the him to Jesus; and who refused to deny claims by Wright that the U.S. was involved in distributing illegal drugs to minorities or spreading AIDS to blacks. We are supposed to ignore another Obama adviser, Rev. Meeks, and his racist and anti-gay sermons. We are supposed to ignore Obama''s friend and patron of 17 years, the convicted Tony Rezko and all of Obama''s equivocations about their relationship. We are supposed to ignore his friendship with William Ayres, the unrepentant terrorist who bombed the Pentagon and a police station. And now, we are supposed to ignore the racist and despicable rants of another of Obama''s long-time friends and advisers, Father Pfleger.

How many racists and terrorists does this man have to associate with before the public finally realizes that he is the company he keeps?

[rufisgufis]

IF YOU LIKE THIS ECONOMY, LIKE THIS NEVER-ENDING WAR, LIKE PAYING HIGH GAS PRICES, LIKE THE TAX BREAKS FOR THE RICH, IF YOU CAN''T WAIT TO INVADE IRAN, IF YOU LIKE THE UNFAIR TRADE POLICIES THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING OUR JOBS OVERSEAS, IF YOU LIKE THE LOSS OF THE WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS, IF YOU LIKE ILLEGAL WIRETAPS, IF YOU LOOK FORWARD TO THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE. IF YOU LIKE THE FACT THAT THE US IS ONE OF THE MOST REVILED NATIONS ON THE PLANET, THEN YOU''LL JUST LOVE McCAIN.