Some House Dems Decline To Endorse Obama

Local Political Concerns Take Precedence For At Least 14 Lawmakers

(AP)  Nothing personal, Sen. Obama, but our re-election comes first.

Barack Obama, for all his attention and primary successes, does not go over so well in a fair number of Democratic lawmakers' home districts. So it seems there is little chance that some will endorse him for president.

Some are counting on Republican votes in their re-election bids. Some are newly minted and in rematches with 2006 opponents. Some may be wary of how their constituents will react to a black presidential candidate. Some, too, have made it a practice of distancing themselves from the national party, fearing the inevitable campaign ad that has their face morphing into Howard Dean, the party chairman, and Obama.

Rep. Dan Boren, the only congressional Democrat in Oklahoma, calls Obama "the most liberal senator" in Congress and says he has no plans to make a public endorsement.

"We're much more conservative" in eastern Oklahoma, Boren said. "I've got to reflect my district."

Georgia Rep. Jim Marshall, a Democrat and Vietnam veteran who won his last election by about 1,800 votes, said he admires both Obama and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., but feels no obligation to state a preference.

"If it turns out one of them is an ax murderer or something like that I'll make a choice," he joked. Otherwise, "I don't think I need to get involved."

For most of these fence-sitters - at least 14 as of Wednesday - it boils down to political necessity: They are vulnerable Democrats in conservative-leaning districts who take pains to avoid aligning closely with the national party.

McCain has his own issues in his party. Many conservatives opposed the four-term senator, who has worked with Democrats and strayed from GOP orthodoxy on some issues, before he sealed the GOP nomination in February. Many still express reservations about him as the party leader.

Because McCain secured the party nomination much earlier in the campaign season, Republicans have not been pressed about their endorsements like Democrats have. But only a handful have publicly withheld their support for him. That includes Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, who long has bucked the party hierarchy, and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who is running his own presidential campaign.

On the Democratic side, Boren said he, like most of the undecideds, will go along with nominating Obama at the Democratic convention in Denver in August.

Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki challenged Boren over his assessment of Obama and said the candidate had worked with Republicans in the Illinois Legislature and in Senate.

Obama, seeking to become the first black president, is hardly the first Democratic candidate to face such resistance. Over the years, moderates and conservatives have avoided associating with nominees going back to George McGovern in 1972 and including John Kerry in 2004. Public endorsements were not an issue in 2004 since Kerry had wrapped up the nomination early.

"They are all scared to death about getting beat by a Republican," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., one of Obama's most prominent supporters. "I don't think that if the good Lord himself had been nominated as a Democrat that some of those folks would have endorsed him. They are afraid of looking too much like a Democrat because of the kind of districts they're from."

As in the past, many uncommitted Democrats are from the South, which has favored Republicans in recent elections.

Although Obama swept the region in the Democratic primaries with near-universal support from black voters, he often fared poorly among working-class whites. As a result, he is seen as an asset in some districts but a question mark at best in others.

Rep. John Barrow, for example, represents a coastal Georgia district where blacks make up more than 40 percent of registered voters, mainly in urban areas around Savannah and Augusta. Not surprisingly, Barrow - who won his last election by fewer than 900 votes - endorsed Obama in February.

But Marshall, the Democratic incumbent in a neighboring district in rural central Georgia, has stayed quiet.

Marshall's district is less than one-third black, and he needs the support of white Republicans to win, including votes from the military community around Robins Air Force Base. He faces a fresh challenge this year from a retired Air Force general.

Republican campaign strategists already have shown they want to link Democratic candidates with Obama and other national figures, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's former pastor.

In special elections last month in Mississippi and Louisiana, Democratic candidates Travis Childers and Don Cazayoux faced television ads attempting to make those connections.

But Childers and Cazayoux won surprise victories, raising questions about the strategy's effectiveness.

Still, Childers is staying out of the presidential race, as is his fellow Mississippi Democrat Gene Taylor. Cazayoux recently announced he is backing Obama.

Obama's campaign has made some progress in converting the holdouts. Freshman Rep. Nancy Boyda of Kansas, who had insisted she would not budge from the undecided column, budged on Wednesday and endorsed Obama.

Boyda "has been impressed with Senator Obama's campaign because they're willing to take their discussion to all 50 states, rather than just the swing states," spokeswoman Liz Montano said.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, a Democratic House leader who helped orchestrate the party's strategy for winning control of Congress in 2006, argues against reading too much into the holdouts. He said most of them always stay out of national politics and that the party is generally unified around Obama.

"They're just going to stick to their knitting," he said. "It's not that they're anti-Obama."

[ramos937]

When the new Democratic Congress reconvenes in 1/2009, those Democratic congressmen/congress women that did not endorse and/or support Obama will find themselves on the very short end of the stick when it comes to committee assignments, office resources, vote support, and all of the other things that go with being a congressman/congress woman. Forget earmarks too for their Districts.

[greatdrivew]

Posted by ramos937 at 10:31 AM : Jun 12, 2008

When the new Democratic Congress reconvenes in 1/2009, those Democratic congressmen/congress women that did not endorse and/or support Obama will find themselves on the very short end of the stick when it comes to committee assignments, office resources, vote support, and all of the other things that go with being a congressman/congress woman. Forget earmarks too for their Districts.

*****

I think I understand your desire to protect all that''s at stake, however, I don''t think Barack will do as you say.

Instead of engaging in the politics of yesterday, Obama is more likely to place a higher value reforming Iraq, health care, the economy, education, energy, etc.

Thus, I think it''s more likely that Obama will hold no grudges, and then will seek unity, coalition and numbers.

It''s just a guess, by probably a good one.

[horse3farm]

I live in KC area. McCaskill and Boyda? Both women are not very popular.

[Razzl]

""We''re much more conservative" in eastern Oklahoma, Boren said. "I''ve got to reflect my district."

No, you have no business being a Democrat and running under the label unless you believe in the values of the party. Your duty is to speak openly about what you believe and educate your constituents about why that''s good. Let''s have no more of this Clintonite "triangulation" nonsense, which is just a license to lie. We all have a right to expect politicians to have opinions about the major issues of the day and to share them with us. Politicians have an obligation to try to explain what they believe and a right to advocate for it, which is what politics is.

So find your courage and your voice, Boren, or else stop using the resources of the Democratic party if you don''t really accept its values...

[crat3]

Obama is slick, sly, devious and ruthless. He''ll certainly get his "pound of flesh" in some fashion from Dems who didn''t endorse him. But no chance of this, though. He will crash and burn in November. Sen. Clinton supporters will campaign and vote for John McCain in swing states Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Florida. Losing any two of these swing states means his defeat, and this will happen from his stolen and rigged nomination.

[undermyboot]

Boren represents the district my family is from. I can tell you that OK people don''t like politicians that talk out of both sides of their mouth. Better he man-up and take a side. Otherwise, people in eastern OK will tell him to take a long walk off a short pier.

[broadwayphi]

Gutless

[mudrose-2009]

PEOPLE ARE WISER THAN THE DIMNOWITS THINK. APPARENTLY THAT INDOCTRINATION THAT CALL PUBLIC EDUCATION WASN''T TOTALLY EFFECTIVE. PEOPLE AREN''T GOING TO VOTE FOR AN EMPTY SUIT THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE WITH A MESSAGE OF CHANGE THAT IS ULTIMATELY TURNING OUT TO BE SO FAR LEFT LEANING THAT WE ALL KNOW HE''S A GEORGE SOROS PLANT WITH A MARXIST AGENDA. Hil Girl was right. RamaLamaObama is bad medicine.

[obamaslady]

If you are a Dem and "don''t support" your party''s nominee and policies, then you "should not be supported" by your party when you are campaigning for re-election. S*it or get off the pot!

BTW, great post razzl.

[twb0392]

More House Republicans aren''t supporting McCain, why the one sided reporting?

[twb0392]

Do you notice that this site is presented by Exon Mobile. Nice.


McCain Victory = War in Iran.

War in Iran = Economy Way worse. No Money to Help America.

Bush promised Iraq war would LOWER gas prices.

McCain Victory = Overturn Roe Vs. Wade with New Supreme Court.

[jjorcutt]

Why is the title of this story only that Obama has members of his party that won''t endorse when later on in the article it clearly states that McCain also has these issues.

[jack3213]

More than that,all those that have half a brain won''t vote for Obama either.

[mudrose-2009]

More than that,all those that have half a brain won''''t vote for Obama either.

Posted by jack32

I think we''d have to ask his mentor, his pastor, his Rev. Wright which half side of the brain won''t vote for the RamaLamaObama. After all Europeans use the left side of their brains, while Africans use the right side. It''s all too complicated. What happens if Europeans use their right side and Africans use their left. Can they? Is it possible? Will they use both sides? How oh how will they vote?

[mudrose-2009]

Why is the title of this story only that Obama has members of his party that won''''t endorse when later on in the article it clearly states that McCain also has these issues.
Posted by jjorcutt

Because the majority of Americans know McCain has a problem with his base because of his bi-partianship. The Blue Dogs are beginning to see the writing on the wall. This guy is too far left and will cost the election.

[jjorcutt]

Mudrose, That may be true but as a former McCain supporter from the state of Arizona He has changed. He now will say anything to get elected.

[rowdywicca]

Mudrose, That may be true but as a former McCain supporter from the state of Arizona He has changed. He now will say anything to get elected.


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Posted by jjorcutt at 12:29 PM : Jun 12, 2008

And you think Obama hasn''t been lying his arse off to get elected and making stupid promises he can never keep??? Hilarious!

[jjorcutt]

RowdyWicca,
Did I say anything about Obama? You radical right wing nutcases will jump to any conclusion that makes you feel better won''t you. The fact is John McCain has Flip-Flopped on more things than I can count and the press just gives him a free pass. My initial comment was about how the media is failing us, I don''t know how you turned that into an endorsement of Obama!

[beastof70]

Any of you notice John Kerry yesterday whining about how he was "swiftboated" and bashing John McCain over his age??

As I watched this guy, wearing so much pancake make-up he looked like Lerch on the Adam''s Family, I thought....If someone were to pull Ted Kennedy''s finger, no doubt John Kerry would break wind.

[beastof70]

I can understand Congressmen doing something like this. After all, they represent such a broad constituency. But, you gotta admit the harshness used by the Ohio Gov. to declare his lack of interest in being OsamaObama''s VP was interesting.

It reminded me of exactly how bent out of shape that whole room full of "Yellow Dog"-Americans I met with this last weekend.

Clearly there is something bubbling just under the surface of the Democrat Party that will likely make the ''72 defeat of McGovern look mild.

[msay3]

Any of you notice John Kerry yesterday whining about how he was "swiftboated" and bashing John McCain over his age??

As I watched this guy, wearing so much pancake make-up he looked like Lerch on the Adam''''s Family, I thought....If someone were to pull Ted Kennedy''''s finger, no doubt John Kerry would break wind.

Posted by Beastof70 at 01:27 PM : Jun 12, 2008

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

I always thought he looked like Herman Munster...LOL

[msay3]

Obama vs. McCain....McCain vs. Obama...What a lousy choice any way you look at it...I might just stay home in nov.

[nanc12]

More than that,all those that have half a brain won''''t vote for Obama either.
Posted by jack3213

True, true. The half-brained constituency belongs to McCain. Those of us with whole brains are voting Obama.

[jesterbelle]

More than that,all those that have half a brain won''''''''t vote for Obama either.
Posted by jack3213

True, true. The half-brained constituency belongs to McCain. Those of us with whole brains are voting Obama.


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

Posted by nanc12 at 01:58 PM : Jun 12, 2008

Doh!

[jesterbelle]

And you think Obama hasn''''t been lying his arse off to get elected and making stupid promises he can never keep??? Hilarious!


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

Posted by RowdyWicca at 12:59 PM : Jun 12, 2008

According to you,the promises he''s making were "stolen" from Hillary.Was she lying too,or were you lying about them being stolen?

[rowdywicca]

And you think Obama hasn''''''''t been lying his arse off to get elected and making stupid promises he can never keep??? Hilarious!


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

Posted by RowdyWicca at 12:59 PM : Jun 12, 2008

According to you,the promises he''''s making were "stolen" from Hillary.Was she lying too,or were you lying about them being stolen?



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

Posted by jesterbelle at 02:25 PM : Jun 12, 2008

Trouble is, he took Hillary''s plans and then trashed them with his own stupid ideas! Which further proves he doesn''t have a damned clue what he''s doing!

[rowdywicca]

More than that,all those that have half a brain won''''''''t vote for Obama either.
Posted by jack3213

True, true. The half-brained constituency belongs to McCain. Those of us with whole brains are voting Obama.


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

Posted by nanc12 at 01:58 PM : Jun 12, 2008

Oh yeah, the HALF BRAIN that trashed HIllary Clinton for MONTHS! Then comes out after the DNC has forced her to back Obama....and SAYS!!!!

OBAMA SHOULD GIVE HILLARY CLINTON A SEAT ON THE US SUPREME COURT!!!!

Now that took brains!!!!

Somebody who came out and hee hawwwwwed over every piece of Clinton trash she could find...wants to put Hillary Clinton in the highest judicial spot in the land!

LMAOOOOOOO! Where is your half brain???? Still snickering over SNL skits???

[sean5002]

################################

Dan Boren is truly one of the biggest idiot out there, way to get into the good books with the leader of the party and future president.

Dan Boren show his true colors; and should be FLUSH out like a good piece of *** from this party.. and head to where he belongs to the Republicans.

He and his REDNECK constituents have no place in this PARTY.

When Barack gets elected , This clown Boren better get use to the word ''IGNORE '',he will be getting alot of it from Barack and Co.




.

[jesterbelle]

Trouble is, he took Hillary''''s plans and then trashed them with his own stupid ideas! Which further proves he doesn''''t have a damned clue what he''''s doing!


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

Posted by RowdyWicca at 02:35 PM : Jun 12, 2008


LOL!You''re nuts.

[rowdywicca]

################################

Dan Boren is truly one of the biggest idiot out there, way to get into the good books with the leader of the party and future president.

Dan Boren show his true colors; and should be FLUSH out like a good piece of *** from this party.. and head to where he belongs to the Republicans.

He and his REDNECK constituents have no place in this PARTY.

When Barack gets elected , This clown Boren better get use to the word ''''IGNORE '''',he will be getting alot of it from Barack and Co.




.


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

Posted by sean5002 at 02:53 PM : Jun 12, 2008

Awwwwww, isn''t it just speeeeeeciallllll how the new DNC mafia uses threats!!!!

YOU WILL BACK OBAMA OR I WILL RUIN YOUUUUUUUUUU! RUIIIIIIIIINNNNNNN YOU! YOU GOT THAT! WE''LL RUINNNNNNN YOU!

HILLARY CLINTON YOU WILL DO WHAT WE TELL YOU, OR WE''LL RUIIIIIIIIN YOUUUUUUUU! YOU GOT THAT! WE''LL RUINNNNNNN YOUUUUUUUUU!

Don''t cha just love democracy and a person''s freedom to back the candidate of their choice?

[taddles3]

"Trouble is, he took Hillary''''s plans and then trashed them with his own stupid ideas! Which further proves he doesn''''t have a damned clue what he''''s doing!

Posted by RowdyWicca at 02:35 PM : Jun 12, 2008"


According to Hillary their plans are very similar...you saying Hillary is a liar?

[taddles3]

"I might just stay home in nov.

Posted by msay3 at 01:51 PM : Jun 12, 2008"


I''m sure the loss of your very important vote will be felt nationwide...

[jesterbelle]

Posted by sean5002 at 02:53 PM : Jun 12, 2008

Awwwwww, isn''''t it just speeeeeeciallllll how the new DNC mafia uses threats!!!!

YOU WILL BACK OBAMA OR I WILL RUIN YOUUUUUUUUUU! RUIIIIIIIIINNNNNNN YOU! YOU GOT THAT! WE''''LL RUINNNNNNN YOU!

HILLARY CLINTON YOU WILL DO WHAT WE TELL YOU, OR WE''''LL RUIIIIIIIIN YOUUUUUUUU! YOU GOT THAT! WE''''LL RUINNNNNNN YOUUUUUUUUU!

Don''''t cha just love democracy and a person''''s freedom to back the candidate of their choice?


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

Posted by RowdyWicca at 03:03 PM : Jun 12, 2008

He''s got a point.Hard to get anything done as a representative if nobody will work with you.Same goes for senators.Some of us aren''t threatening Hillary.Some of us are merely making an observation when we say that Hillary may as well go sell hotdogs at Yankee stadium if Obama loses.AN OBSERVATION,KNOTHEAD!

[mcvet]

Anyone who knows anything about history knows what this is about. It''s nothing new but it is something the REPUBLICAN Party is going to have to address sooner or later. The Klan, Christian Identity and American Nazi''s are what drives the people in the sections of the Country these Reps are from. That''s going to become MORE clear to the entire nation as this goes on. If history is any indication it will most certainly cost the Party in the rest of the nation even more than it already has. Sieg Heil Y''all.

[beastof70]

Dan Boren is truly one of the biggest idiot out there, way to get into the good books with the leader of the party and future president.

Dan Boren show his true colors; and should be FLUSH out like a good piece of *** from this party.. and head to where he belongs to the Republicans.

He and his REDNECK constituents have no place in this PARTY.

When Barack gets elected , This clown Boren better get use to the word ''''IGNORE '''',he will be getting alot of it from Barack and Co.
Posted by sean5002
====================================

When I read this kind of ka,ka and think about what this bunch of left wing pinkos did to Lieberman I gotta say it gives me a warm feeling for all real Americans.

These hyphenated-Americans who believe like Sean here are just so proud of getting a chance to wear their "Un-" hyphens in public.

[beastof70]

Anyone who knows anything about history knows what this is about. ... the REPUBLICAN Party is going to have to address.... The Klan, ... and American Nazi''s are what drives the people in the sections of the Country these Reps are from. ...
Posted by MCVet at 03:49 PM : Jun 12, 2008
===================================
McVey, you might want to do a little study of this nations history. Especially since it''s so obviously not your native country.

The Democrat Party is the home of both the Klan, and the American Socialist Party (Nazi Party). And, since 1968, the Communist wing of the party has ruled all of you with an iron fist.

I know, I live in the "sections of the country" of which you speak. I was completely surrounded this very weekend by the same types of "Yellow Dogs" who created the KKK. They were all whining about how their party has finally forced them to vote Republican for the first time in their lives. LOL!!!

[beastof70]

I''ve long studied what is required for any person to vote for any Democrat ever since 1968 when the Communist Wing of the party took complete and total control.

I''ve been granted some very unique insight into the thought processing required to do so.

Truth born out following this lengthy research being....Only hyphenated-American vote Democrat. IOW: A real American will never vote Democrat, regardless of their skin pigmentation.

[element51]

I tend to agree with the poster who said that it is likely that Obama will not hold grudges and will do his best to work with all members of the House and Senate. I believe that he is a cool headed intelligent man who has the best interest of the country at heart. Oh, I know when Rowdy and you other Obama haters read this you will be on me like ugly on an ape but I have my feelings and you have yours. You choose to support McCain and I don''t. So what? I don''t see any reason to go all ballistic about it. Calling me names and insulting me won''t change my mind and I am not even trying to change yours. This is politics and there will be a winner and a loser. If we lose, I will accept it gracefully and hope that Senator McCain can lead the nation successfully. If we win I will hope the same about Senator Obama. Can''t you all get it through your heads that we are in this TOGETHER. No matter what happens we will still have to live together. I''d rather get along with everyone than to hate and argue and fuss and fight. It occours to me that we are all just faceless screen names on here. In real life, if one of us saw another in trouble or hurt we wouldn''t hesitate one second to go try to help. That is what Americans are all about. We may strongly disagree on some things but we all care for each other. So, let the games begin. I care about all of you.

[beastof70]

What has happened to America when even "Partial Birth Abortion" isn''t slaughter enough to satisfy us?

Why do I say this you ask? Because your boy OsamaObama has actually supported legislation designed to protect "Post Birth Abortions."

Now think about this for a while.

[cmp271]

Just wait, he will call these people racist for not supporting him.. Well the whole country can''t be racist as an excuse.

Obama is a Muslim and was predicted in the Bible, we are a nation under a Christian God! Obama is also a racist, he does not like white people. He also is not pro America. His wife isn''t even proud to be American, and hasn''t been her entire life, why would she change now. We do not need these people in control of our country.

Vote for McCain-a true American!!!

[element51]

dmw1167....If what you say is true I would much rather know about it now than later. If there is some kind of devastating story about Obama we need to know so we can select another candidate. This has been hinted at numerous times and for the good of the country it needs to be addressed if true.

And to Beastof70....I can assure you sir that I am a true American through and through. No one does my thinking for me or makes decisions for me. I served my country with pride in the military and dedicated my life to teaching children what a great country we are. I am truly sorry that you feel the way you do but as an American you have the right to hate whoever you choose to hate. I have always made my vote based on the candidate, not the party. I have dear friends who are both republican and democrat. Yes, I can assure you I am a REAL American.

[popstom1]

F-K obama and the DNC

[j-whitman]

cmp271,,,,, In the 1st place, who told you God was a Christian ?????

Secondly, McCain is just another Bush who has no ieda who we are fighting nor how to defeat them.... His foreign policies ignore the War on Terror in support of zionism ------- You wan more selling out of America, More War Profiteering, More puting foreign business intrests before America''s, an exploded deficit in an already weakened economy & a major setback to our government & women''s issues ??? Then vote for McCain

Myself I''ll never support anyone like him who''s turned this nation into what we fought & died to prevent in all other wars.

[beastof70]

And to Beastof70....I can assure you sir that I am a true American through and through. No one does my thinking for me or makes decisions for me. I served my country with pride in the military and dedicated my life to teaching children what a great country we are. I am truly sorry that you feel the way you do but as an American you have the right to hate whoever you choose to hate. I have always made my vote based on the candidate, not the party. I have dear friends who are both republican and democrat. Yes, I can assure you I am a REAL American.
Posted by Element51 at 04:42 PM : Jun 12, 2008
=============================
Please discontinue using the "H" word...I was raised to believe use of it in the manner you offer it, would get your mouth washed out with bar soap.

And, I can assure you sir...You are a hyphenated-American, regardless of what you believe. The very fact you felt a need to capitalize the word REAL proves this.

[denn034]

Bring on Nader.

[taddles3]

"And, I can assure you sir...You are a hyphenated-American, regardless of what you believe.

Posted by Beastof70 at 05:15 PM : Jun 12, 2008"


Unless you are a Native American you are a hyphenated American since your ancestors emigrated here from somewhere.

[trishab4]

-Distancing one''s candidacy from th eparty line is a current practice in most countries all over the world. When it comes down to the individual competency is important, so be it. But over all, the country is set for a deep change, a badly needed one.

-GOPs skkrewed all what could be skkrewable and more, for the last 7,5 years, that the Nation needs a deep change and a rest for healing to take place.

-All in all this isn''t a great story. Next please!

[taddles3]

"Now think about this for a while.

Posted by Beastof70 at 04:34 PM : Jun 12, 2008"


I am and it''s not correct.

[aj4321-2009]

***? Why isn''t there a mention that 14 Republican senators are not supporting McCain??

[taddles3]

"Just wait, he will call these people racist for not supporting him.. Well the whole country can''''t be racist as an excuse.

Posted by cmp271 at 04:39 PM : Jun 12, 2008"


Why would he do that, he''s never made a racist comment before, why would he start now?

Not sure about your implication but Obama''s support came from %80 white voters...that''s about 14.5 million of his 18 million supporters.