McClellan Endorses Obama

NEW YORK — Scott McClellan, President Bush's former press secretary, says he is backing Barack Obama for president.

McClellan made the endorsement during a taping of Comedian D.L. Hughley's new show that is premiering on CNN this weekend. The former Bush administration official said he wanted to support the candidate that has the best chance for changing the way Washington works and getting things done.

He's the second former Bush administration figure this week to publicly back Obama, following former Secretary of State Colin Powell. McClellan caused bitterness among his former co-workers with a tell-all book that criticized Bush.

Comments

[Pacojam]

Bush, being a parnoid personality, only really cared about loyalty. It didn't matter if you were qualified, only loyal.

Well to some people, substance matters! Like to Powell and McClelland and the rest of us.

[sammy50]

Scott always came across as a weasel.

[NoWMDs]

Just in....Jesus endorses Obama....M­cCain/Pali­n campaign claim Jesus is a Middle Eastern man who pals around with a dozen shady characters who want to start organizing their community against the establishment by using religion as their weapon.

[boymom]

Change Our World.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7R1N3Yr9-M

pass it on

[scmucas2001]

This endorsement has solely to do with race.

[gnoice]

Uh, yeah, right.

[CeciliaBertrand]

The race to the White House - oh YES!

[AnotherMike]

Gee... thanks, Scott.

An enorsement from someone nobody on either side likes, in the wake of Gen. Colin Powell's publicly announced support; arguably the most impactful endorsement yet.

Wahoo.

[jpreston]

Now that Scott McClellan has joined the ranks of other staunch Republican figures and institutions who are stating support for Senator Obama, such as Chris Buckley, Christopher Hitchens, Gen. Powell and the Chicago Tribune, I want to coin the term, the "Obama Republicans". Also, the "Reagan Democrats" are coming home. President Bush and the far right Republicans have helped them see the light.

Jpreston

[lattedrinker]

As Rush would scream...


"THIS WAS ALL ABOUT RACE... LET ME REPEAT MYSELF, THIS WAS ALL ABOUT RACE!"

[SOLERSO68]

yes because as we all know, scott mcllelan grew up on a plantation in missispi.

[CeciliaBertrand]

"Racing to the moon" Rush? I wonder who hurt Rush when he was little - a hateful and bitterly misguided leader in KKK who perhaps tortured him as a child so he would understand 'real life'?

This is a abused child - denied reality; truth and love in his life -- and I weep for such as he.

[clemenj98]

Who would have thought that 4 years ago when he was dodging questions for W that he'd be in this position! It's pretty funny to see all the rats jumping the sinking ship.

Please everybody VOTE OBAMA/BIDEN on Nov. 4!
Especially all you college students, i know you're busy but you've got to make the time to VOTE!!!

[Reau482]

OUCH!!!

[Rog49Thomas]

Well, I'm just dying to know who David Duke is endorsing.

Do we really want these people on our ship?

[roch20]

Well, every vote count, and every man deserve the chance to redeem itself from it's past mistakes, and this shouldn't be the exeption!!! We welcome every single one from the republicans into our party, we are democrats, we know better, and although this is not as big of an endorsement as the one of Gen. Colin Powell, i'm actually happy to know how many republicans are getting in line with our candidates, so, kudos to McLellan, and remember; it's not too late, for those still haven't made up their minds; come be part of a historic moment!!! (Forgive the mispelling, english is my second language) and i'm very passionate about Brack Obama, he has earned my respect, i see Barack Obama as a role model in my life and i'm thrill and very proud of been a democrat!!!

[Rog49Thomas]

Indeed every man deserves a chance to redeem himself.

The key thing with repentance and redemption is to make sure it's sincere and not pure expediency.

Do you recall Brother Scott's performance in his previous position? Did you think he was an admirable, honest person?

Now because he makes an 11th hour statement you've forgotten his entire past history.

Are you ready to absolve Secretary Rumsfeld if only he endorses the Democratic ticket?
Will you lobby for the release of the perpetrators of Abu Ghraib if they endorse the national Democratic ticket? Or might they have to endorse a few local Democrats too?

[mom2sons]

We want to flip them to "dem" forever! LOL VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN 08! Bet the Goldwater endorsement really hurt though! Good for them. Thanks Goldwater Family!

[Rog49Thomas]

Perhaps, but do we want a particular viewpoint in the party?

More Liebermans?

[LaLaverne]

except that Barry Goldwater Jr, is voting for McCain. but that, that my friend is solely on race.

scott mcclellan, I feel, is kind of genuine.
but i give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

[SOLERSO68]

i am the enemy of right wing politics and ideology. but i couldnt disagree with you more. scott mcllelan is exactly the kind of person who belongs in the democratic party. david duke is another matter altogether. to some extent, and unexpectedly barrak obama is DIVIDING them. Barrak is NOT the "Black Kennedy". We already had a kennedy. Barrak is something MUCH better than that...he is our RONALD REAGAN! viva the revolution!

[Rog49Thomas]

Well I disagree that Brother Neo is dividing the RP.

It's the impending defeat that is the cause. And because it looks to be a crushing one, there will be a battle royal for the soul (I use that term loosely in this context) of the RP.

Finally, hopefully, Brother Neo will have more substance than St. Ronnie. And his legacy will not be destruction of our national security as St. Ronnie's is.

[rankola]

It is not about "do we really want THESE people on our ship?" as your divisive question asks. It's about what people value in the candidate(s) they are going to endorse/vote for. Reading CC Goldwater's post on another section here on HP does shed light as to why some GOP's are endorsing/voting for the Obama/Biden ticket. Everyone has their free will to vote for whoever they want to.

Your divisive question serves no benefit to your candidate of choice and denies inclusion. Just because they don't want to vote for McCain does not mean they are going to switch parites (Lincoln Chafee??). So in your opinion, you don't want McClellan and Powell endorsing and voting for the Obama/Biden ticket? I guess, in your opinion, that they're damned if they do and damned if they don't.

I have voted for Republican governors in my state because I felt their qualities better reflected the needs of our state (IL). Granted, Ryan (a centrist) was involved in a scandal, yet he put a moratorium on the death penalty and had a far better position on GLBT issues than Poshard did, and Topinka (another centrist) had fairly moderate (liberal according to the GOP) social policy views yet was a fiscal conservative.

[Rog49Thomas]

When I was younger, my mother told me a very important lesson "You're known by the company you keep".

I for one find all these "death bed" conversions quite surprising.

Did Brother Neo just become The One last week?

Or this great awakening have less to do with morals than with the clear prospect of crushing defeat?

[Social Construct]

Not knowing Mr. McClellan personally, I cannot objectively verify his motives. However, given the history of American political discourse during an election cycle, I can only say that the endorsement of a former press secretary of Mr. McClellan's status, in truth, would be of small notice. How many votes will this person pull to the Obama camp? C'mon, HP, does this merit server space?

[alenaspoppa]

"How many votes will this person pull to the Obama camp? C'mon, HP, does this merit server space?"

Of course it does. If it gives even one person pause to reconsider a vote for McCain, it's worth it. This is lazy thinking, along the lines of "I live in a Red state, so my vote won't count. Why bother?" Of course, this type of "Why bother?" or "How many votes will it really bring in?" is exactly why Red states stay Red. If enough "blue voters" get out and vote in Red states, maybe we can shift the paradigm and explode the Blue State/Red State dynamic forever. I think it would greatly benefit the country if politicians couldn't count on certain states being in their camp election after election after election.

[Social Construct]

Your point is well made and if I were to cast my vote to the democrats I would find myself reprimanded and be of good, albeit humbled, cheer. However, being a voter who's vote is almost always interpreted as "doesn't count" or is labled as that of a spoiler, I take a third party amount of umbrage. That being said, I do wish the democrats well and harbor no small amount of wishful thinking that, this time, the ever-increasing population of the working poor will be well represented by a "blue stater" victory. In all sincerity, good luck.

[SEQUOIABISON]

WOW, what an indictment of the Bush years from an insider.

Obama/Biden

[Polyh3dron]

So when does John McCain endorse Obama again?

[rankola]

Well didn't he almost endorse Obama when he tried to dispell the fear? Didn't he say something to the effect that we shouldn't be afraid of an Obama presidency?

[SOLERSO68]

after the election, back in the senate, when he realizes he'd better start making up with those folks, or resign.

[sarale23]

Another great news: Joseph Simon has endoesed Obama!!!!