Pres. Obama Won't Make Dem Primary Endorsement: WH

[LiberalElite]

Source: NBC News

President Barack Obama's chief of staff said the White House will not endorse a Democratic primary candidate in the 2016 contest — contrary to reports over the summer suggesting the president might have been interested in weighing in.

"We'll do exactly what has been done in the past, which is when the nominee will be set, then the president will be out there," White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said in a 'Meet the Press' interview with Chuck Todd Sunday.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/pres-obama-won-t-make-dem-primary-endorsement-wh-n493606

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It says Sanders has "waffled" on gun control over the course of his career - He still rates -D from the NRA.

[zentrum]

1. PP should have

…done the same thing, i.e., waited until we have a Democratic Primary winner and only then, endorse.

[Plucketeer]

2. We can figure PP

and a lot of the other endorsements are all part of the coronation strategy..... UNLESS - they ask their membership.

[LiberalElite]

3. It's funny how AFAIK

memberships all over the country are not being asked.

[Plucketeer]

7. I don't know about "funny"

but it certainly matches the kind of "representation" we have from our legislators.

[LiberalElite]

9. Not humorous funny but odd funny -

really meant as sarcasm.

[Plucketeer]

14. Gotsha!

Funny - I was gonna respond with those words.

[LiberalElite]

16. Great minds.... nt

[ram2008]

4. No endorsements matter this time

Record low congressional approval, very high anti establishment feelings within the electorate, and the feeling that there is a coronation going on give endorsements very little weight. The expectation is Hillary gets all of them.

The only endorsement I can see mattering is Elizabeth Warren if she decides to endorse Bernie over Hillary before Iowa.

[enid602]

11. Warren

You might want to keep the bus in neutral while you wait.

[Hortensis]

22. Presidents don't endorse pre-primary. Silly topic.

Ram2008, Obama's endorsement would be extremely influential because many, many people respect him and want to continue what he has started.

I believe your assumptions are flawed. Many millions of voters are unhappy with the "establishment" because they feel it hasn't done enough, not because they're allied with right-wingers in trying to tear down the establishment.

[vi5]

5. Good.

He should stay out of the primary discussion and wait for there to be nominee before he campaigns or weighs in. Many other groups and folks should do or have done the same but they are clearly looking for a leg up and a head start once favors start to be returned, so.....can't say I blame them.

[Bleacher Creature]

6. Not at all surprising.

Sitting Presidents don't usually wade into primary contests. That said, the fact that a bunch of his cabinet members have endorsed HRC is very telling.

And in all seriousness, does anyone really expect the President to endorse the guy who wanted him primaried in 2012?

[LiberalElite]

10. I don't expect

that he would campaign for Bernie either.

[karynnj]

17. I take the President at his word As to the Cabinet members, some may be betting on Clinton to win,

others started in the Clinton administration. Anthony Foxx and Julian Castro did not - both were really too young. Castro has been the pretty obvious VP candidate proposed if Clinton wins.

A quick look at wikipedia:
Thomas Perez was a deputy assistant AG under Janet Reno.
Vilsak was a top DLC person, who initially ran himself in 2008, then dropped out and endorsed Clinton - long before the Iowa caucus.

[SunSeeker]

24. Great points. nt

[Android3.14]

8. Whoops. There is definitely something going on in the election universe

Looks like Obama knows the populists are about to overrun Camp Weathervane.

To put it in Willy Wonka terms, we all see who the Bad Egg is, and Veruca Salt is about to drop through the chute.

[sufrommich]

12. Can you name the last democratic president who

endorsed someone in the primary.

[Android3.14]

15. Yup.

Bill Clinton endorsed Al Gore in December 1999.

[Ken Burch]

35. And the last Democratic president who was still in office when his successor was being chosen

Lyndon Johnson, not only endorsed but essentially IMPOSED Hubert Humphrey, his vice president, as the Democratic nominee in 1968, thus creating the only possible situation in which Richard Nixon could ever make a comeback from political oblivion.

[Agnosticsherbet]

13. Voting agianst the Brady Bill and to immunize gun manufacturers from law suits

rates an F on what American's needed.

Who gives a shit what rating the NRA gives. People can justify anything for those they support. On the big issues, Sander's voted with the NRA and against the interest of Americans.

[Dawson Leery]

19. Certainly. It was a shameful vote.

[INdemo]

21. You need to do the research on that legilation BUT

if that's all you have on Bernie Sanders is a vote NO on a gun bill 10 years ago, then I would say we are in excellent shape.

Now..Would you like for me to go back 10 years ad dig up issues from Hillary's past (and i will give you references) I will if you'd like?

I will find explanations how the Clinton's left the White House Broke and ended up multimillionaires..I could do that too

If Bernie Sanders has ever given any $200,000 speeches I haven't found any reference to that but I will double check.

Note: this post will go unanswered because when one challenges a Hillary fan they never respond.

[Agnosticsherbet]

25. His votes were utterly wrong. People go back all the time and dig up Clinton's past.

Go for it. This isn't about Clinton.

His vote was wrong for what America needs today. They are wrong for what I expect in a person who wants my vote for President.

I don't give a flying dingleberry if Sander's or Clinton were paid a nickel for a speech or a million dollars. I am not offended by the money they make.
Those two votes show Sanders' attitudes towards guns and gun control. They are wrong for what we need in America today.

[hopemountain]

28. if you knew anything about bernie sanders

or understood his motivations for social justice - you would have the common sense to recognize that bernie does see that 10 years ago is not the same america of today and that he favor more reasonable legislation to protect the public - such as endorsing the president's recent executive actions. i you want to understand the differentiation of america 10 yrs ago with today's america, you may begin with who benefited from the depression of '08 - and follow the money.

[Agnosticsherbet]

29. I know his voting record on important gun issues.

He voted wrong when he voted against the Brady Bill and voted to immunize Gun Manufacturing Corporations.

I've been told often by his supporters that it is the consistency of his economic justice message that matters, unchanged since the 70's. Should I laud him for consistency on guns or has he evolved?

Those votes mattered. Both O'Malley and Clinton have better records on a critical issue that grows more important with each mass shooting.

Interestingly, he did not think that other industries should be given immunity, only Gun corporations. I must assume he simply like gun corporations.

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-01-10/bernie-sanders-supported-gun-company-immunity-but-opposed-it-for-other-industries

His stand on gun regulation is absolutely wrong. You can like him for other issues, but on this issues he fails.

[INdemo]

31. What else do you have?

That's all you got right?

[Agnosticsherbet]

33. That is an important issue, and people should be able to admit that he is deeply flawed

in that area.

[LiberalElite]

23. He still gets a -D but that won't matter to y ou eom

[Agnosticsherbet]

26. The NRA and rating system are shit. Sanders Votes are what matter in this issue.

I don't see how anyone on the left would care about a rating system by a group that places the guns over the right of six years olds to live.

I do see that using Sanders rating by the NRA to justify his shitty position on those votes releases supports from asking real questions about what he stands for on gun control.

[Mike__M]

27. Surely the headline should be

either
"President Obama turns back on Clinton"
or
"President refuses to endorse Clinton rivals"

[MBS]

30. very wise. n/t

[tabasco]

32. I agree with this as a matter of policy

I don't think the President should endorse within the party.

[Ken Burch]

34. For a long time, we were all led to believe

that it was inevitable that the president would endorse HRC. So much for, er, inevitability.