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9/11 Commission Co-Chair, Rep. Lee Hamilton, Endorses Obama!
From the LA Times:
<blockquote>In what could prove both a significant addition to his foreign policy credentials and a boost for the close Indiana primary, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois this afternoon scored the endorsement of former Rep. Lee Hamilton, one of the Democratic Party's leading foreign affairs experts.
[snip]
The backing of Hamilton, who was said to be on the list of possible vice presidential partners for Bill Clinton in 1992, could help Obama, who's been criticized for his foreign policy inexperience.</blockquote>
I would have definitively thought he was a Clinton fan. Evidentally, he is of Obama:
<blockquote>“I read his national security and foreign policy speeches," Hamilton
told Bloomberg News today, "and he comes across to me as pragmatic,
visionary and tough. He impresses me as a person who wants to use all
the tools of presidential power.”</blockquote>
He also likes how Obama willing to meet "with adversarial foreign leaders without preconditions."
This is pretty big news. Great news for Obama.
Does anyone know if he's a Super Delegate?
Comments (12)
Oops, I the formatting didn't work the way I had hoped.
April 1, 2008 10:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to AP, he is not a superdelegate. Still a big plus for Obama.
April 2, 2008 12:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Let me know if James Baker endorses a Democrat, now that would be news.
April 2, 2008 1:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
James Baker is Loathesome, Unethical, Right-Wing Tool of the 1st order,so let's not wish that on any Democrat.
April 2, 2008 1:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's not an important endorsement because he's never dodged sniper fire in Bosnia. It's also not important because it's not for Hillary and only that which is for Hillary is important.
April 2, 2008 2:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
No. I assume from the poster's tone that he supports Obama and because most Obama supporters and several uninterested observers believe that Obama is the most likely nominee, you'd expect the Rep. Hamilton to endorse the Democrat.
April 2, 2008 6:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
There is a lot to be said about this endorsement for Obama. On the 9/11 commission..these guys knew much more about the Clinton foreign policy ineffectiveness (regarding him/hillary and staff), than has been printed. They were very cautious speaking of the 'information gathered and not acted on' with Clinton's role. If you remember...scandals dogged his presidency, secrecy inhibited officials to voice concern and Berger was caught and fined for 'theft of Archive documents, during the inquiry. Of course, he brought with him Arkansas. Their dealings in Arkansas....they still continue to hold their friend's and surrogate's hostage to damaging information. It's also reciprocal. That is the dynamic at work in the Clinton machine.
April 2, 2008 9:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here is what Lee Hamilton knows: (1) Bill Clinton's second term was a disaster because of the Monica Lewinski scandal; and, (2) there is no assurance that a similar bimbo scandal, real or imagined, pushed by the right wing echo chamber (Drudge, Limbaugh, NY Post, Washington Times, Fox News, and the Wall Street Journal's editorial board), won't paralyze years of Hillary's first term. The accusations will fly, the Clinton's will retreat to their bunker, executive decisions will be questioned ("wag the dog"), and none of her agenda will get out of Congress. With troops staying in Iraq and the economy mired in a recession, the Republicans retake the Senate and House with a new Contract for America.
Hamilton knows it all too well.
April 2, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
All endorsements count. The trend to Obama will help undermine the Clinton last ditch efforts with super delegates.
April 2, 2008 1:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
The 911 Commission? Yes, Hamilton's got that ass-covering spectacular and the Iran-Contra hearings debacle on his resume. Just keep him away from the controls.
April 2, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
And, not to mention, he (Lee H.) has more "senior moments" than McBush.
He has a couple of x-footballers as well, and is now working on bowlers, and pub darters.
If he can keep the Rev Jer and M. Obama muzzeled, he just might muddle thru.
God save the Queen!!
April 2, 2008 7:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
yes Cadmus, but for all the millions of people who can't remember what they ate last week, let alone what a Clinton day looks like, this will have a more serious result. The folks who think that the goverment was wrong in Iraq, but don't know how to go about changing things, will take notice. It will have a greater effect on borderline McCain people. Most people find the 9/11 commission easy to defer to for facts, or lack thereof. It is the credibility of the Big Title.
April 2, 2008 8:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
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