Publication: Progressive Review
A Clinton Ally Tilts to Obama | |
Subscribe FREE to Progressive Review by clicking here.
THE PROGRESSIVE REVIEW - February 18, 2008
------------------------------------------------------------
Black Leader, a Clinton Ally, Tilts to Obama
By Jeff Zeleny and Patrick Healy
The New York Times
Milwaukee - Representative John Lewis, an elder statesman
from the civil rights era and one of Senator Hillary Rodham
Clinton's most prominent black supporters, said Thursday
night that he planned to cast his vote as a superdelegate
for Senator Barack Obama in hopes of preventing a fight
at the Democratic convention.
"In recent days, there is a sense of movement and a sense
of spirit," said Mr. Lewis, a Georgia Democrat who endorsed
Mrs. Clinton last fall. "Something is happening in America,
and people are prepared and ready to make that great leap."
Mr. Lewis, who carries great influence among other members
of Congress, disclosed his decision in an interview in
which he said that as a superdelegate he could "never,
ever do anything to reverse the action" of the voters of
his district, who overwhelmingly supported Mr. Obama.
"I've been very impressed with the campaign of Senator
Obama," Mr. Lewis said. "He's getting better and better
every single day."
His comments came as fresh signs emerged that Mrs.
Clinton's support was beginning to erode from some other
African-American lawmakers who also serve as super-
delegates. Representative David Scott of Georgia, who
was among the first to defect, said he, too, would not
go against the will of voters in his district.
The developments came on a day in which Mrs. Clinton set
out anew to prove that the fight for the Democratic
nomination was far from over. Campaigning in Ohio, she
pursued a new strategy of biting attack lines against
Mr. Obama, while adopting a newly populist tone as she
courted blue-collar voters.
Mrs. Clinton also intensified her efforts in Wisconsin,
which holds its primary on Tuesday and where she and Mr.
Obama now have the first dueling negative television
advertisements of the campaign.
------------------------------------------------------------
BATTERY OPERATED REMOTE CONTROL LIGHT
Reduce Energy Costs... LED Bulbs Last Over 100,000 Hours
Now you can have a bright remote controlled wireless light
fixture any place you need without calling an electrician!
This sleek Utility Light features 5 bright LED's that light
up any dark closet, hall or utility room. The low profile
design looks great in any room and installs easily and
quickly. The remote control function allows you to turn on
and off the light in hard to reach locations, and the
magnetic mounting feature allows for quick removal for
battery replacement or portability.
Key chain remote control unit and hanging bracket included.
*** PLUS, it's Energy Efficent... the LED Bulbs ***
last up to 100,000 Hours.
For more info, to see a picture or order it, visit:
BATTERY OPERATED REMOTE CONTROL LIGHT
------------------------------------------------------------
In the ads, Mrs. Clinton taunted Mr. Obama for refusing to
debate her in Wisconsin. And she and former President Bill
Clinton prepared for a new fund-raising blitz to try to
counter Mr. Obama's edge of several million dollars in
campaign cash.
Yet even as the Democratic rivals looked ahead to the
primaries in Wisconsin, Ohio and Texas, Mr. Lewis said he
and other prominent African-American party leaders had
been moved by Mr. Obama's recent victories and his ability
to transcend racial and geographic lines.
Though Mr. Lewis had praise for Mrs. Clinton and for her
historic candidacy, he said he could decide within days
whether to formally endorse Mr. Obama.
He also said he and other lawmakers would meet in the
coming days to decide how they intended to weigh in on
the nominating fight. If neither Mrs. Clinton nor Mr.
Obama receive enough pledged delegates to win the
nomination, superdelegates like Mr. Lewis may play the
deciding role in who wins.
"If I can be used as a mediator, a negotiator or a peace-
maker, I'd be happy to step in," Mr. Lewis said, adding
that he intends to speak to both candidates in hopes of
ending the race amicably in the next month. "I don't want
to see Mrs. Clinton damaged or Mr. Obama damaged."
Jay Carson, a spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, said Thursday:
"Congressman Lewis is a true American hero, and we have
the utmost respect for him and understand the great
pressure he faced. And Senator Clinton enjoys incredibly
strong support from superdelegates around the country
from all regions and races."
The comments by Mr. Lewis underscored a growing sentiment
among some of the party's black leaders that they should
not stand in the way of Mr. Obama's historic quest for
the nomination and should not go against the will of their
constituents. As superdelegates, they may have the final
say, which is something Mr. Lewis said he feared would
weaken Democrats and raise Republicans' chances of winning
the White House.
Still, the Democratic nominating fight clearly has many
turns ahead. On Thursday, Mrs. Clinton unleashed the most
ambitious mobilization of her forces in weeks, reflecting
the intense pressure she is under from Mr. Obama, the
political necessity for her of towering performances in
the delegate-rich primaries in Ohio and Texas on March 4,
and her fresh hope of an upset victory in Wisconsin.
------------------------------------------------------------
Prepare to be AMAZED...
Store Price: $12.99
DEAL PRICE: $7.99 or less...
Colorfusion Candles are the most significant enhancement
to happen to the candle in many years. Enjoy both the
traditional flame and the special Colorfusion light show.
With Colorfusion Technology, the effect will soothe,
mesmerize, relax, comfort and enhance your mood.
Colorfusion Candles are great for:
* Relaxation * Celebrations * Meditation
* Romance * Special Occasions * Simple Enjoyment
You simply must check this out. We have both an animated
picture on our site and a video you can watch. I love this
deal! ColorFUSION Candle
------------------------------------------------------------
Specifically, Mrs. Clinton is hoping to gain political
mileage by turning one of Mr. Obama's attributes, his
oratory, against him. She is warning voters about
politicians who give great speeches and make big promises
but ultimately do not deliver on them.
"Speeches don't put food on the table," Mrs. Clinton said
at a General Motors plant in Warren, Ohio, on Thursday
morning. "Speeches don't fill up your tank, or fill your
prescription, or do anything about that stack of bills
that keeps you up at night."
"My opponent gives speeches," she added. "I offer
solutions."
Mrs. Clinton has been also criticizing Mr. Obama with
populist language, saying she would "take on" insurers
and credit card companies and "go after" drug companies.
She portrayed Mr. Obama as untested on the battlefield
against special interests.
If there was a sign of the imbalance in momentum between
Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama on Thursday, it could be gleaned
from Mr. Obama's travel itinerary. He took a respite from
the campaign trail, aides said, so he could spend
Valentine's Day with his family in Chicago before return-
ing to Wisconsin on Friday.
Clinton advisers said Thursday that it was unlikely they
would broadcast "horrible nasty negative ads," in the
words of one adviser, and that they were wary of going
too negative against Mr. Obama, given what the Clintons
say is the news media's tendency to coddle and protect
Mr. Obama and portray the Clintons as an attack machine.
At the same time, Clinton advisers say that the stakes
are so high - in Ohio and Texas in particular - that
Mrs. Clinton cannot afford to let Mr. Obama gain momentum.
In Wisconsin, for instance, Mrs. Clinton is hoping to
stave off a blowout - and perhaps even pull off a surprise
- by blasting Mr. Obama for refusing to debate her there.
"The last time we debated was in California, and I
convincingly won California, which may be why Senator
Obama doesn't want to have a debate in Wisconsin," Mrs.
Clinton said in a telephone conference call with reporters.
------------------------------------------------------------
MICRO-FIBER CLEANING CLOTH/MITT
Retail Price: $9.99
Deal Price: $2.99 or $3.98 for two
Don't pay those high TV or Store prices, get the All
Purpose Micro-Fiber Cleaning Cloth for less than cost!
Perfect for mobile devices, eyeglasses, cameras, computer
screens and delicate surfaces, the All Purpose Micro-Fiber
Cleaning Cloth/Mitt removes smudges and fingerprints with-
out scratching.
It's safe on all surfaces and super durable! Grab one for
just $2.99 or save more and get two (2) for just $3.98.
Micro-Fiber Cleaning Cloth
------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Carson, her spokesman, said she would keep the debate
issue alive until Tuesday.
"A refusal to debate one's primary opponent is always seen
by regular voters as being chicken," he said. "And voters,
especially Democratic voters hungry for a general election
win, want a candidate who is tough and ready."
Mr. Obama responded to the attacks with a television spot
of his own in Wisconsin.
"After 18 debates, with two more coming, Hillary says
Barack Obama is ducking debates?" the advertisement says,
showing images from their debates over the last year.
"It's the same old politics, of phony charges and false
attacks."
As Mrs. Clinton was delivering her criticism of Mr. Obama
in Ohio, a similar argument was presented to Wisconsin
voters by Mr. Clinton, who referred to Mr. Obama as "the
excitement of the now."
"It's about whether you choose the power of solutions over
the power of speeches," Mr. Clinton told a small gathering
of voters in Milwaukee, ticking through a list of his
wife's platforms and accomplishments.
In New Mexico, one of the more than 20 states to hold
contests on Feb. 5, the votes were finally counted
Thursday, giving Mrs. Clinton a victory and providing more
evidence that the contest was far from concluded. She
continued to hold a lead among superdelegates, even as a
New Jersey official, Christine Samuels, changed her support
to Mr. Obama and at least two others went back to being
uncommitted.
---------
Jeff Zeleny reported from Milwaukee, and Patrick Healy
from Ohio.
------------------------------------------------------------
Questions? Comments? email: Email your comments
-----------------------------------------------------------
Check out Political Videos on the Net at evtv1.com
Political Videos
ARCHIVES: PROGRESSIVE REVIEW Archives
Here's the link to the Home page of the PROGRESSIVE REVIEW
Forum: THE PROGRESSIVE REVIEW Forum
------------------------------------------------------------
End of PROGRESSIVE REVIEW
Copyright 2008 by NextEra Media. All rights reserved.
 E-Mail this issue
Subscribe FREE to Progressive Review by clicking here.
|