Richardson's Endorsement Recognizes that Obama Is Bringing Back the Democratic Party
Governor Bill Richardson's endorsement of Barack Obama today is a big boost for the grassroots wing of the Democratic Party. I thought all along that Richardson was just running to be Hillary Clinton's vice presidential candidate, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that Richardson recognizes the historic direction Obama is trying to take the party. (Where is John Edwards?)
If Barack Obama can wrench the Democratic nomination from the cold, dead hand of Hillary Clinton, the score of the game goes back to 0 to 0 and overtime begins. He will have a clean slate against John McCain. The Democratic primary campaign has been a ridiculously lengthy and bruising affair but the minute it is over, the political earth will shift. The nation will be confronted with a choice of voting for another failed, cynical, myopic third term for George W. Bush embodied by John McCain, or something almost entirely new in recent political history: A Democratic candidate who knows how to fight unapologetically for his core beliefs.
In recent presidential elections the Democratic Party has nominated bloviators, hypocrites, weaklings and wimps, uncharismatic sorts who are overly verbose and pretentious sounding to most working-class Americans. They have shown neither guts nor courage, neither spunk nor vigor, and they got their butts handed to them.
The Republicans (with the help of their corporate media and talk radio allies) have successfully defined the last few Democratic presidential candidates in the most unflattering terms. They said Al Gore was "haughty" and a "know-it-all," and he sighed too much during his debates with Bush. They said John Kerry overused his stentorian tone in his speeches and that he "flip-flopped" and that he looked "French."
In 1992, the only reason why Bill Clinton squeaked in with a plurality of 43 percent was because Ross Perot stole votes away from Herbert Walker Bush and Clinton aped the Republicans whenever he could on free trade, deregulation, and welfare reform. And he was from the South. In 1996, Clinton won reelection because the Republicans nominated a very weak vanity candidate and that for four years he did more to further the Republican agenda than any president since Ronald Reagan.
Before that we had the spectacle of Michael Dukakis riding in a tank (an image I wish I could rip away from my optic nerves). Dukakis, the object of the infamous Willie Horton attack ad, was one of the most pathetic candidates the Democrats have chosen in the post-World War Two era. What were they thinking?
And of course who could forget the Walter Mondale-Geraldine Ferraro ticket that handed 49 states to Reagan in a miserable rout of the party that worsened its identity crisis. And before that there was the failed one-term presidency of Jimmy Carter, also a son of the South, who showed little interest in strengthening the Democratic Party when he shifted the party so far to the Right that he provoked Edward Kennedy to challenge him in the 1980 primaries. Carter has been a much better former president than he was a president.
In other words, what is worrying the corporate media and the Bush and Hillary-loving Establishment plutocrats and old-guard elites who have had their way with our country for the past 30 years is that Barack Obama just might succeed in remaking the Democratic Party into a viable institution again; a party that knows how to fight back for the interests of working people; a party that manages the federal machinery competently and governs successfully. That prospect scares the hell out of them.
The Establishment elites love the status quo of a one-and-a-half party system: A strong and vicious Republican Party beating up a timid and pusillanimous Democratic Party in perpetuity; picture in your mind a Republican boot smashing a Democratic face forever. That is Karl Rove's "vision" for America, a right-wing juggernaut puréeing its liberal opponents. Obama offers a glimmer of hope that we will have a two-party system again where Democrats quit serving the same corporate interests as the Republicans and actually do something for the majority of people in this country who earn $60,000 a year or less. Call it the "forgotten America" or the "silent majority."
When Dick Cheney tells ABC News that the fact that two thirds of the American people do not believe the Iraq war is worth fighting doesn't matter to him at all we no longer live in a democracy where our leaders respect the sentiments of the electorate even in matters of war and peace.
If Obama can turn the Democratic Party back to its roots as the party of FDR then we might have a democracy again.
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Ideally, this is what will happen:
Obama will take 1/2 of the Democratic Party and 1/3 of the Republican party and form a "Progressive and Ethical Governance Party". Hillary will take the remaining 1/2 of the Democratic Party with 1/8 of the Republican Party and form the "Cmpassionate Republican Party". The remnants of the Republican Party will remain the "Republican Party", or as they are better known, the "Gross Old Perverts".
The Progressive and Ethical Governance Party will then proceed to restore America to its original ideals and observation of its founding principles, and earn new respect on the international stage as a responsible and ethical partner in the comity of nations.
You have offered up the notion that even Obama will loose, because he is still wimp and wet behind the ears. He has stood for nothing in two years as a senator (no brave anti-war votes when they counted). By your mention of each Democratic nominee of the past I really do not see a difference in the Obama approach. He won't get half the public to go along with anything progressive and will have a failed Carteresque presidency if he even gets elected.
I love the argument against a Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton catastrophe the Obamaddicts perfume the air with. When it's Ted Kennedy's support Obama coveted most - who in 1980 was accused of using the Kennedy Dynastic Family to get him to the top - but he was defeated and the divisions he caused had much to do with Carter's loss in 1980.
So display for me a factual item in Obama's history where he has taken the American People's voice and served their needs and delivered legislation. Ethics in the Senate?(BFD) Loose Nukes?(that's been Lugar's project since 1991). You will end up like the Texas State Senator on Hardball with a lot of dead air.
The Dempcratic Party is in shreds...not because of Obama or Clinton...because that idiot Howard Dean couldn't see past the end of his own nose...what a loser! And, speaking of noses...Richardson's nose is so brown he needs toilet paper. If Barak isn't careful about how he (and his supporters) choose to 'remake' the Dem Party, he might very well be making those chnages without me and lot of other stalwart Dems...it's about time for a 3rd Party in this country with some solid supporters anyway...maybe we'll just take the really experienced, organized half of the party and go elsewhere...? McAuliff, Carville...Bloomberg?...let's just go after it!
I'm with you on this. Its time to give them what they want, but we are not going to stay!!! And just so people know that even if/when Hillary loses the nom and ask us like the lady she is to support Obama, WE WONT.
Kerry? Stentorian??? That's a laugh.
Your blog has not only made my day but it's pure brilliance! Your articulation of the facts is exquisite and really reflect not only the Democratic party but what potentially Senator Obama can and will do for our country. Unite Americans and finally bring us back to a respectable democracy! Obama is truly indeed a once in a lifetime historical candidate! Well done!
Obama is no more a "liberal" or a Democrat than George Bush is a "conservative" who believes in a Republic. We are voting for a new breed of politicians, those who believe that corporate-sponsored warfare and government-sponsored corporate welfare are necessary and just and those who do not.
Senator Obama is a militarist who will continue the corporate-sponsored wars against national self-determination that have been raging for 50 years.
Senator Obama, allegedly a Constitution scholar, will continue the usurpations of power which "executive privilege" has consolidated to the detriment of the American people and the very survival of the Republic.
Senator Obama will pander to corporate interests and no doubt hand us something akin to NAFTA, only in regards to our healthcare. A short-term deal with corporations to reorganize and pander to the populace for political reasons with the promise of future power and profit.
No matter who wins, I guess I'd better watch my weight so I'll be ready for the selective service in a few years.
Go back to sleep America.
Forget John Edwards, where is Joe Biden? He should be next up and campaign for Barack in Pennsylvania!
"In recent presidential elections the Democratic Party has nominated bloviators, hypocrites, weaklings and wimps, uncharismatic sorts who are overly verbose and pretentious sounding to most working-class Americans." And, we can't forget the freaks and sex addicts.
Americas wants a change we can believe in.................... Thanks Gov. Richardson for standing up and speaking out for change. And for being man enough to call on the other elder democrats to end this madness and pull this party back together. Other should join the great governor from New Mexico and insist that the Clintons reel it in..
"In 1992, the only reason why Bill Clinton squeaked in with a plurality of 43 percent was because Ross Perot stole votes away from Herbert Walker Bush."
Nonsense! Perot took as many votes from Clinton as he did from Bush Sr.
"If Barack Obama can wrench the Democratic nomination from the cold, dead hand of Hillary Clinton, the score of the game goes back to 0 to 0 and overtime begins. "
That is a most callous statement. That actually hurts my feelings. But then I have to remind myself that you are part of the coalition for whom words mean nothing.
You, just like the other Obama supporters, need to remind yourselves that Hillary is in this race because of millions of people who want her to be the next President. The number to be exact is 12,577,409. Compared to Obama's 13,281,132. That's 46.9% to his 49.5%. That's a close race, not a landslide for your guy.
This is a delegate election. Why is this so difficult for people to grasp? The popular vote is not counted in caucuses. So, it would be inaccurate to say the person with popular vote actually had more people vote for him or her--or has more support.
If you only look at the popular vote, then your are excluding from the process Iowa, Nevada, Alaska, American Samoa, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Washington, Maine, Hawaii, Texas (1/3), Wyoming, and Guam. These are all caucuses.
Essentially all these voters from these states would be disenfranchised.
The person with the most delegates is the nominee. I mean, seriously, Iowa doesn't count???? Come on.
Considering all this talk about not disenfranchising Michigan and Florida this position seems odd.
And it seems also that all these "ideas" center around the effort to make HRC the nominee even if more people voted for Obama.
You forgot Colorado's caucus. Obama 67% to Clinton 32%. But we're one of the insignificant states. Not a player like Ohio.
Also--in pledged delegates Obama is leading HRC by about 10% to 12%, which is a very significant lead at this point in the race.
Yes, the rhetoric of Hillary-Haters amazes me as much for its complete lack of good judgment as anything. Do these people honestly believe that they will heal the rift after bashing constantly?
They will be trying to win against McCain with that percentage they now have and that alone.
Good luck to them. Wait until people truly figure out that Obama blocked MI AND FL.
That will be the final straw.
C'mon AnninCA it's time to let it go........
What I do not understand is how Obama can be touted as a "uniter," when he blames the worst foreign policy decision of the 20th and twenty first centuries on a fellow democrat. He conveniently takes full advantage of the fact that he never had to go on record concerning Iraq, in 02. He's such a rookie, he wasn't even in the senate in 02. He condemns a fellow dem for casting a vote he was not required to cast. To me, that is sleazey. Then there is his 20 years relationship with a so-called man of God, who willingly takes the lord's name in vain, to condemn his own country. How is any of this to be seen as being good for America, or the democratic party??
I think Obama has a huge chip on his shoulder, concerning race in America. He enjoys the finest fruits of the land, yet whines about how white America has kept the black man down. He has a degree from one of the finest schools in the world. He has a law degree, he's been elected to the US Senate, by many whites, as well as blacks. He is now running for president, using millions of dollars donated to his campagin, by white Americans. I just can't get past this.
Your popular vote totals are off, as they do not include IA. WA, ME, and NV. Here's the updated totals (with estimates for those 4 states):
Obama 13,615,216
Clinton 12,801,271
That's Obama 49.6%, with Clinton 46.6%. He's 3% ahead. I know it seems small to you, but recent general elections have been decided by less.
Hillary's only hope to win this race is by ignoring the pledged delegate count, and having the superdelegates overturn the will of the voters. That's why people like me are upset with her. It hurts MY feelings that she is willing to backstab the Democratic party.
HuffPost's Pick
Mr Palermo
Great blog
I agree with you completely.
Than you,
This is my hope for Senator Obama. I must say, I've been impressed with him as my Senator, the first one I got to vote for in my (then) new state of IL, after my hitch in the Navy. However, even then I didn't dare hope for him to get anywhere near this far. I wanted to, but I just couldn't bring myself to go for him. Finally, after he won Iowa, and Edwards (who was my first choice since I thought he had a better chance!) dropped out, I gave in to it. I now shout it loudly and proudly: I AM AN OBAMA SUPPORTER!!
I'm not saying that I think that Hillary is a bad person, but I am VERY tired of the way that she learned the wrong response from the attacks leveled at her and her husband during the nineties. It's almost like an abusive situation, the abused usually becomes either a new abuser, or shifts COMPLETELY away and breaks the cycle. Unfortunately, Hillary has become a new abuser this election cycle. I hope that she fixes that and can become our first female president in 2016!
Nicely done. Good, insightful post.
Actually, the only thing that this endorsement recognizes is that Richardson is now hoping to be Obama's running mate.
And, I have to say, it would work out very well for them. If Obama does get the nomination, he will need the support of Latino voters (who have been Hillary supporters all along). The fact is that many Latinos would sooner vote for McCain (who they admire because of all his talk on amnesty) than Obama. And Richardson on the ticket would bring them back to the Dems.
Watched with tears in my eyes.Richardson really swung for the fences! darn i liked it. Ready to get this place called America working again. Nobody at Bear Stearns was wearing a hardhat.
HuffPost's Pick
I agree. No more Clinton's. And the only chance to beat McCain. Good reading.
You are correct, but this is a critical election. The conservative takeover of American broadcasting -- especially radio -- in the 1990s gave Republicans an almost unbeatable edge. The Democratic congressional victories of 2006 might well have been a fluke due to public revulsion over the violence going on in Iraq at the time. We'll know for sure come November. I hope Obama wins the nomination and can turn us around, but I'm wary. There's many a knuckle-dragging good ol' boy out there who's just itching to vote for McCain or someone even further to the right. If Democrats lose by a significant margin in November, the game is pretty much over. Republicans will own America from now on -- and I, for one, will be shopping for foreign real estate.
I for two.......will join you my fellow American.
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Posted March 21, 2008 | 01:26 PM (EST)