Senate's only African American Democratic member endorses Hillary

[DonViejo]

New Jersey Democrat Sen. Cory Booker has formally endorsed Hillary Clinton's presidential run, praising her actions on joblessness and criminal justice reform.

Booker, who endorsed then-Clinton rival Barack Obama in 2008, told supporters that he's backing Clinton just one day before his home state governor, New Jersey's Chris Christie, is expected to join the race for the GOP nomination.

"Hillary has fought for her entire career to expand opportunities for all Americans, and these last few months have been amazing to behold," Booker said in an email to supporters. "We've seen Hillary exhibit outstanding leadership not only on apprenticeships and youth unemployment, but also criminal justice reform — all issues you and I care deeply about."

The move also came before a key fundraising deadline for presidential candidates.

Booker's backing is not a surprise; he told NBC News in April that "there are few candidates in history who are as qualified or ready for the job of president as Hillary Clinton."

But it does add yet more firepower to Clinton's arsenal of endorsements. According to an NBC News tally, more than 30 Democratic senators out of 44 have already said they're backing the former Secretary of State.


http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/cory-booker-formally-backs-hillary-clinton-n384406

[NCTraveler]

1. 3rd way.

Just want to take care of 50% of the replies right off the bat.

[upaloopa]

2. Sour grapes just wanted to describe your post

right off the bat.

[NCTraveler]

3. Sweet. nt.

[George II]

13. My feelings these days about Sanders......NO way.

[PowerToThePeople]

49. Truth

True statement. 3rd way.

[still_one]

59. curious, are you saying anyone who supports Clinton is a third way Democrat?

[PowerToThePeople]

61. curious that you ask such a question.

This discussion is on Cory Booker.

[Sheepshank]

95. yup it's about Booker...the poster several posts above is claiming Booker is 3rd way

since he endorsed Clinton.

[TM99]

100. He was Third Way prior to endorsing Clinton

that it is why this is really not all that surprising.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=418838

[NCTraveler]

106. Here is the headline.

I have seen where people incorrectly comment after only reading the headline. This is the first time I have seen an incorrect comment with respect to the headline and article.

"Senate's only African American Democratic member endorses Hillary"

Nope, don't see anything about Hillary there. Article is completely disconnected from her.

[bigdarryl]

50. Booker isn't 3rd way what a idioitic statement

[TM99]

71. Indeed Mr. Booker is a Third Way,

neo-liberal, New Dem, whatever term you wish to use as they are interchangeable.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/christie_chronicles/Norcross-backs-Booker-.html

“I believe he’s a winner,” Norcross said of Booker. “And he’s representative of a new Democrat — a Democrat that’s fiscally conservative yet socially progressive. He’s a fighter and not afraid of taking on a tough battle.”

[Cha]

66. LOL!

[fredamae]

105. Yes. n/t

[Sheepshank]

4. A powerful spokesperson any candidate would love to have in their camp.

I think this is one well respected politician who's opinion counts. There will of course be the inevitable crowd to swarm this thread to trash him, but in all honesty, it's just impotent rage.

Maybe those Hillary detractors will finally figure out that their energy is best served when directed at Republicans.

[George II]

15. "There will of course be the inevitable crowd to swarm this thread to trash him"

Good guess, but it has already happened here.

It's unbelievable the venom that has surfaced on this thread alone, much less most threads about Clinton or their supporters.

Its almost like they're trying to shout down Hillary Clinton's candidacy, but it simply isn't going to happen. The more they shout, the stronger Clinton supporters get.

[Robbins]

18. wrong

keep telling yourself that.If bernie was so ilrelvent why send figures to trash him.

[George II]

28. Read all the posts in this thread, how many are Clinton or Booker trashers?

[BrotherIvan]

5. Perfect!!

[sheshe2]

6. K&R

[stillwaiting]

7. Cory Booker loves him some Wall Street, and they love him right back.

He's a New Democrat through and through.

[ReallyIAmAnOptimist]

8. Cory just dropped a few notches in my eyes.

[Sheepshank]

19. and yet he went up in my eyes...so there you have it

a difference of opinion that doesn't make one lick of difference in the big scheme of Hillary winning the nomination.

[Robbins]

21. she won't win nomination

with her high negatives.

[George II]

30. Unless he's obstinate, Sanders won't make it past the first few primaries.

[Sheepshank]

31. I guess we'll revisit this after the Primaries

see you on the other side :wave:

[bvar22]

9. WOW. The things I don't know about!

From the excerpt:

"Hillary has fought for her entire career to expand opportunities for all Americans, and these last few months have been amazing to behold," Booker said in an email to supporters. "We've seen Hillary exhibit outstanding leadership not only on apprenticeships and youth unemployment, but also criminal justice reform — all issues you and I care deeply about."

I was aware that Hillary was having invitation only House Parties and picking up big checks.
When does she find time to "exhibit outstanding leadership not only on apprenticeships and youth unemployment, but also criminal justice reform."

[Doctor_J]

12. also Sen Booker conflates campaign rhetoric with leadership

I love campaign season, when war is peace and the TPP is good for working Americans. Orwell was an optimist.

[bvar22]

17. campaign rhetoric vs Leadership...

I wish we had more of the latter and less of the former.
They get a little worse every 4 years.

If all it took was to make Campaign Promises,
the Obama Administration would have been one of America's best,
but he sold it all out when he turned his back on the people who elected him.

[JaneyVee]

93. Leadership from Bernie??

He has never even had a bill passed in the senate.

[TM99]

94. You obviously don't know what you are talking about.

Here is but one example --

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senate-passes-veterans-health-care-bill

Thursday, July 31, 2014
WASHINGTON, July 31 – The Senate tonight approved and sent to President Barack Obama a bill to improve access to health care for veterans and reform the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Crafted by the Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairmen – Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Jeff Miller (R-Fla.) – the $16.3 billion bill passed the Senate by a vote of 91-3. The House of Representatives voted 420-5 on Wednesday to approve the same measure.

“This bill keeps our commitment to the men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our country. It makes certain that we address the immediate crisis of veterans being forced onto long waiting lists for health care. It strengthens the VA so that it will be able to hire the doctors, nurses and medical personnel it needs so we can permanently put an end to the long waiting lists. It addresses the very serious problem of accountability and makes certain that dishonest and incompetent senior officials do not remain employed at the VA,” Sanders said.

Yeah, zero leadership there.

I bet if you did a little research you might find more.

[JaneyVee]

96. Can you do the research, I'm at work.

[TM99]

99. I am off to bed.

You will have to research yourself.

His founding of the Progressive Caucus is another excellent example of his leadership in progressive politics.

[Doctor_J]

97. he's taken definitive positions on almost every major issue of the campaign

What's more, his positions are the same ones he's had for fifty years. Meanwhile, Mrs Clinton has ducked every controversial issue. Explain to me, on the issues on which the candidates differ, why you support Clinton.

[CharlotteVale]

10. Senator Bain Capital Defender.

[Robbins]

11. sorry

but i could care less about booker who defended bain capital In 2012.just another corporate dem backing corporate dem hillary

[fbc]

14. I'm sure she'll get Harold Ford, Jr. too... who cares?

The worst elected democrats, black and white, will line up for Hillary.

It will be a DINOfest.

[BainsBane]

22. DINO

You call a Democrat, the only African American Senator, a DINO because he endorsed a Democrat as opposed to an independent running for the Democratic nomination. The absurdity of such a comment should be obvious, except for the fact you clearly can understand no definition of true Democrat that is not inexorably bound to your own views.

You will have to keep busy denouncing all kinds of DINOs, both elected representatives and the public at large because the endorsements will keep coming for Clinton. You can insult every last American as inferior to yourself for daring to favor a different candidate, and it won't change a single thing.

[zappaman]

55. Welcome to DU

Again.

[hrmjustin]

58. The people of NJ like him.

[still_one]

60. Are you saying anyone who supports Clinton is a 3rd way Democrat and a DINO?

[Cha]

68. Gov Mark Dayton of Minnesota supports Hillary, too. What little pronoucement do you have to say

about him?

[fbc]

26. It's a pretty easy test...

If you work for billionaires, corporations and Wall Street, then I do not consider you to be a true Democrat.

I believe Democrats should work for the people they represent, don't you?

I've now laid out my reasoning. Where exactly are you coming from?

[BainsBane]

36. Booker works for the American people

the same people Sanders does. The difference between you and me on this issue is I don't pretend the influence of big money in government is about certain individuals. I know it is a systemic problem, far more pervasive and serious than any presidential election can address. The solution is not to wage war on all Democrats--because it is all of them--but to change the system, either through constitutional amendment or getting SCOTUS judges who will overturn the decisions that opened the floodgates to big money. Pretending it is all about some individuals, which is factually false, only perpetuates the problem.

And let's be honest. Your entire conception of corporate Dem is reversed engineered back to support for a single politician. If he had come out for Sanders, you would be full of praise.

Your original post, however, was about DINOS, not corporate. Your point is entirely non-responsive to that. There is nothing about the Democratic party that is at odds with capital, and there never has been.

[fbc]

88. I disagree

If we could count on our elected democrats to always vote as a block, like republicans do for the most part, when they have power, then I'd probably agree with you.

Perhaps this is just one more comment on a perpetual DU divide: "elect democrats at all costs vs. elect good, reliable democrats".

I feel that campaign finance reform should be a main issue for the democratic party. I don't think that electing democrats who are rely on billionaires for their political existence works towards the goal of campaign finance reform.

[Sheepshank]

98. wow...you really hit the nail on the head. It's NOT a slam against the individual, it's systemic.

and I think all of those running on the DEm ticket despise Citizens United el at, that makes their run for office more about raising funds (than it needs to be) in order to get out their message.

[BainsBane]

16. The only African American senator

is denounced here as in the pocket of corporate America. I predict a continual string of similar excuses from now until the election as more endorsements come for Clinton.

[Robbins]

20. bash away at us

she will need it since corporate dems won't have those who support bernie to come out and vote.

They will need help from republican friends who they went with on tpp.

[BainsBane]

24. Actually I was pointing out your bashing

of Booker. If it doesn't matter, there is no reason you should be so upset over it.

Clinton will get the votes of the same demographic who always votes Democrat: people of color and single women. That is the base of the Democratic party. Republicans will continue to attract the white male vote that resents the majority. Nothing is different from any other election in recent years. I think the frustration may come from the fact that you aren't nearly as influential as you believe you deserve to be.

[Comrade Grumpy]

40. You really have a thing about white guys, don't you?

Tens of millions of us voted for Obama.

If I thought you actually represented the Democratic Party, I'd walk.

[BainsBane]

47. It is a simple observation about voting demographics

In response to the argument that the Democrats cannot win without that poster and those like him or her. It has nothing to do with not liking white men. For the record, I don't know the race or gender of the poster I responded to. The point was a general one about how Democrats win elections. That, BTW, is why explicitly and directly speaking to the concerns of women and people of color is crucial for Democratic politicians.

[randys1]

52. Not a fan of Booker...but also not a fan of all the white, middle class libertarians who are for

Bernie solely for pocketbook reasons.

Bernie wouldnt want that, he would want people to understand all the problems we have not just the one.

You are correct about how Dems win elections...

[m-lekktor]

57. that's a new one. I don't know many libertarians who would support a socialist

like Bernie for "pocketbook reasons". libertarians HATE socialists, they like "free market" trickledown types which is the complete opposite of Bernie Sanders.

[boston bean]

91. I think you are right.

It is more indicative of larouche types, no?

[azmom]

53. It's all a sick game. While real people with

Real problems get hurt. Specially, our minority communities.

[fbc]

27. What exactly do you disagree with? help us clear things up.

Do you disagree that Cory Booker is in the pocket of Wall Street?

Or do you disagree that it's unacceptable for a democratic politician to be in the pocket of Wall Street?

[BainsBane]

46. I've already addressed the issue of money in politics

to you in another post. I disagree with the idea that one's intrinsic worth as a human being is tied to whom they support for president, particularly when we are talking about different candidates for the Democratic nomination.

[fbc]

87. Please pardon any misunderstanding

Perhaps my phrasing could have been better. I did not mean to imply that voters who support Hillary Clinton are DINOs. I was talking about elected officials.

[sulphurdunn]

33. Are you suggesting

that being an African American senator somehow guarantees he isn't in the pocket of Wall Street?

[Ed Suspicious]

35. You seem very hung up on his ethnicity. Why bring it up?

[BainsBane]

38. Why do you want to pretend it doesn't matter?

He spoke specifically about Clinton's work for African Americans. His ethnicity matters because it is part of who he is, because African Americans matter, particularly since they are the single most reliable Democratic voting demographic. Pretending race doesn't matter is a luxury of privilege, a luxury people who live in this country with black and brown skin do not have.

[Doctor_J]

41. I didn't realize one's race precludes him from being a corporatist.

Or does it just preclude him from criticism? Guess what. Some of us don't like corporate democrats of any race, creed, color, gender, or sexual orientation.

[BainsBane]

45. Have you ever worked for a corporation?

a private company? Have you ever taken any money from a corporation? At what income does someone become a corporatist? Is a millionaire who supports Sanders not a corporatist, while a house cleaner who supports Clinton is a corporatist? What exactly makes someone a "corporatist"? Do tribal peoples who hold corporate land rights count as "corporatists"? Are churches and non-profits "corporatist"? They file takes under the corporate tax code. Whereas a multi-millionaire whose wealth is privately held does not enjoy corporate tax status, despite their incredible wealth. This term corporatist, as far as I can tell, has no meaning, other than you don't like someone.

We live in a capitalist society. Booker serves as an elected official in a capitalist state. We are all subjects of capitalist social relations. The virtue of using language like "capital," and "means of production," is that there is a clear basis for its definition, as opposed to this recent trend of using "corporatist" to dismiss anyone who happens to disagree with you on any subject. The notion that some participants in that state are "coporatist" some aren't is absurd, particularly since it's clear the only criteria is whether one supports a particular politician, which is to say absolutely nothing. So you tell me the political theory that establishes this definition of corporatist. I'm not familiar with it. I know what bourgeoisie means. I know what proletariat means. I know what capital is, and means of production. Corporatist appears to be entirely flexible in meaning, and I have observed it is regularly used by some with a great deal of financial privilege toward those who are far less fortunate. So I'm having trouble figuring out what exactly it means, other than a term of insult.

[Thinkingabout]

56. Apparently since corporations does not share their profits with everyone then they are bad.

I worked for a corporation, made a good salary, had benefits so I can not and will not show hate towards a corporation. Even if you work for fast food places you are working for a corporation. If you purchase food from a fast food place you are supporting a corporation.

Congressional members attends meetings with lobbyists, would they be called corporatists also?

[azmom]

62. Congressional members take bribes from

Corporations. You can call them whatever you want. I know what I call them

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/08/more-money-more-problems-for-cory-booker/


Follow the money trail.

[Thinkingabout]

63. Cory isn't the only one, what about the ones who have meetings with energy, oil and tobacco

lobbyists?

[azmom]

64. Yep. Them too.

http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2014/01/millionaires-club-for-first-time-most-lawmakers-are-worth-1-million-plus/

[Thinkingabout]

67. Actually I was referring to this article.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0210/Dem_senators_spent_weekend_with_bank_energy_tobacco_lobbyists.html

[azmom]

69. They are all dirty.

“In the upcoming elections, voters will face a choice between Republicans who are standing with Wall Street fat cats, bankers and insurance companies -- or Democrats who are working hard to clean up the mess we inherited by putting the people’s interests ahead of the special interests," Menendez said in a press release last Wednesday.

[Thinkingabout]

72. Even the ones on this guest list.

The guest list for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's "winter retreat" at the Ritz Carlton South Beach Resort doesn't include the price tag for attendance, but the maximum contribution to the committee, typical for such events, is $30,000. There, to participate in "informal conversations" and other meetings Saturday, were senators including DSCC Chairman Robert Menendez; Michigan's Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow; Bob Casey of Pennsylvania; Claire McCaskill of Missouri; freshmen Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mark Begich of Alaska; and even left-leaning Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

[azmom]

74. That is why Bernie is a millionaire. NOT

[Thinkingabout]

75. He attended this meeting. I don't know why he isn't a milliomaire. Not being a millionaire is

not proof of congressional members not meeting with and listening to lobbyists.

[azmom]

76. The question is why are most of our

Lawmakers millionaires?

[Thinkingabout]

81. Many was rich before arriving in Congress. A millionaire is not unusual in the USA today.

In fact the US has 13.2 million millionaires. Think about our sports teams, many are millionaires just from salary alone.

[azmom]

82. I see. They are millionaires that don't really

Need to work, so they serve us in government because they are kind and generous individuals.

How much do they pay them? Anyway

[kjones]

83. Don't they say something about "Correlation and causation?"

[Thinkingabout]

85. Now seriously, we do not have 13.2 members of congress. Why do you indicate millionaires only

serve in government? If you are saying this then Bernie is in the group also. That is not true. Also, I did not do a search on the number of billionaires. A million dollars sounds like a lot to many people but by the time you enter the worth of a home it doesn't take a lot more for some to be millionaires. I don't even see the need to fluff the millionaire standing, it is about the hard working people, millionaires can make a few months without working, hard working people can not. Don't be jealous of those who has more money and understand it is not going to happen to lots of us.

[azmom]

86. Thank you for explaining that.

[Sheepshank]

101. and there are several persons running for POTUS on the Right that are under indictment

for (amongst other things), bad campaign money mangement, illegal use and yes probaby bribery. Recently the spectacular and well publicized fall of Blago was out there for all to see.

To the extent that politicians have bee ntried and jailed in the past and continue to do so, I think that particular problem is being addressed. Innocent until proven guilty should be the addage.

[Doctor_J]

79. So now I have to like politicians who believe corporations should run the country?

It's getting nearly impossible to reason with you cultists. You honestly can't be distinguished from republicans except on abortion rights.

[TheKentuckian]

42. Being black means you can't be too close to banks and corporations? How so? Is it genetic?

Does this apply to Clarence Thomas too, he is our only black Supreme Court Justice after all.

What happened when our only black Senator went on national TV to call out our only black President for using too tough rhetoric on Wall Street?

This is a silly argument with no coherent logic. What does "only black" have to do with being too corporate or not?

[Reter]

48. He's not the only AA Senator

Hate him all you want, but Sen. Tim Scott is black.

[JaneyVee]

92. The headline clearly states Democratic senator.

[SoapBox]

25. A Bankster for another Bankster.

We've had enough of that kind of crap.

[orpupilofnature57]

29. Does he have a choice ? The DNC is a business .

Last edited Tue Jun 30, 2015, 08:40 PM - Edit history (1)

[colsohlibgal]

32. Peas In A Pod

She's Third Way, he's Third Way, no big surprise here. Wall Street is enamored of both, the feeling is mutual.

America needs some Bernie.

[Ed Suspicious]

37. Add them both together you get sixth way. They really are "new" Democrats.

[orpupilofnature57]

43. + 1000 Well Put !!!!!!

[azmom]

65. LOL

[stonecutter357]

34. K&R!

[MannyGoldstein]

39. Booker got more Wall Street cash than any other candidate in 2014

These senators get the most Wall St. campaign cash

Financial firms are shelling out big cash for the mid-term Senate elections, but their favorite candidate is an unlikely one: left-leaning New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker.

An industry that has historically favored Republicans is spreading out campaign contributions this fall in an attempt to influence Washington lawmakers on the plethora of banking reforms already enacted or in the pipeline.

Probably has nothing to do with this endorsement.

[orpupilofnature57]

44. +1000 !!!! That's being part of the process !!!

[frylock]

54. Why can't you just listen to the pretty speeches and be happy with that?

[azmom]

51. Cory Booker has integrity issues

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/08/more-money-more-problems-for-cory-booker/

Essentially, they've turned him into a millionaire," said Craig Holman, government affairs lobbyist at Public Citizen, a government ethics watchdog group. "What kind of influence is that going to have over Cory Booker's decisions when it affects those particular clients?"

[TM99]

70. Senater Booker is a neo-liberal so

I am not in the least bit surprised.

In 2013, he avoided using the term progressive in an interview. Norcross describes him as a New Democrat - fiscally conservative and socially 'liberal'. In 2012, he defended Bain Capital and was critical of Obama's perceived attack on private equity.

On social issues, he is a typical Third Way - pro choice, pro affirmative actions, and unlike Clinton always pro LGBT marriage rights. On economic issues, he is typical moderate Republican with an emphasis on deficit reduction, Wall Street banking & investments, and trickle down....I mean boats floating upwards together approaches. On foreign policy issues, he is right in line with Clinton by supporting the Patriot Act and is aggressive towards the 'threat' posed by Iran.

Of course, he endorses Hillary Clinton.

[Cha]

73. "According to an NBC News tally, more than 30 Democratic senators out of 44 have already said

they're backing the former Secretary of State"

Welcome Senator Cory Booker

"Hillary has fought for her entire career to expand opportunities for all Americans, and these last few months have been amazing to behold," Booker said in an email to supporters. "We've seen Hillary exhibit outstanding leadership not only on apprenticeships and youth unemployment, but also criminal justice reform — all issues you and I care deeply about."

Mahalo Don!

[Ed Suspicious]

77. We get what she's done. Fine. The bottom line

Is that we prefer our candidate on all financial / economy issues. The bottom line is we prefer our candidate on all foriegn policy issues. The bottom line is that we like some of Clinton's positions on social justice, but again prefer our candidate's position and track record. This is not a smear Hillary thing, this is simply a we don't like her much when compared with Sanders. Try not to take offense. If she was where we wanted her on all those issues that Bernie is where we want him, we would likecher a whole lot. . . but she isn't.

[Cha]

78. I get that you don't like it. not interested.

[Ed Suspicious]

80. Fine. I'm equally uninterested in third-way Democrats

and their acolytes.

[Cha]

84. KICK!

[eridani]

89. You mean she is no longer the candidate of "hardworking people, white people" like in 2008?

Not surprising coming from a supporter of Bain Capital.

[Sancho]

90. If you are a Democratic Senator, it makes sense to endorse a Democrat!!!

For a party to win, they have to find enough common ground to support each other when it counts!

From getting elected to getting legislation passed takes a village. Check out countries with governments that have multiple parties that come and go. Look at what happens when some third party siphons off a few votes, saps up some energy, and kills the election for everyone. Democrats may differ, but they unite as Democrats.

The two-party system has issues, but going it alone shows bad judgment, no matter how good some of you ideas may be.

Cory Booker will continue to be a positive for his state and country as an AA Democrat!

[onecaliberal]

102. Corporate owned, supports corporate owned.

What a monumental disappointment he's been.

[kenfrequed]

103. This post isn't all that impressive

Finding a black congressman to endorse Hillary is nice. Terrific.

But I think I would like a substantive comparison about what both candidates seek to accomplish in terms of policy on matters of race. I think we can have an adult conversation about that without infinite digressions into optics and symbolic gestures and talking points in speeches.

I want to know what the candidates are proposing and how they would help change things.

Anything else is just sunday morning bullshit.

[Sheepshank]

104. Serious sour grapes going on

I'm 100% sure that there would be wild cheering and flag waiving if Booker had endorsed Bernie. Looking forward to reading about all the glorious moments of other high profile Dem Senators who may endorse Bernie before the Primaries.