Rep Fletcher Smith discusses why he changed his endorsement from Richardson to Biden

[jillan]

http://www.essentialestrogen.com/2007/10/fletcher_smith_a_human_face_be.html

Rep. Fletcher Smith Jr. represents Greenville County in the South Carolina Legislature. He has served in the state legislature since 1997 and is an attorney, husband and father to two children. He is also a former co-chair of the Bill Richardson for President campaign in South Carolina and now one of seven Democratic legislators in the state who have pledged to support Biden for president.

"I was supporting Gov. Bill Richardson and it became clear to me as the campaign started to progress that his policy on Iraq -- or lack of policy -- was not the policy I could support," Smith said Friday night after the Black Hawk County Presidential Forum in Waterloo. "I thought troops couldn't be brought out of Iraq in a six-month period of time and I don't think it is appropriate to leave our equipment there. I don't think it is appropriate to leave those people unprotected in the Green Zone. We are also placing our military in harm's way when we evacuate in a Vietnam-style way."

As his discontent grew, Smith began researching other candidates' plans for Iraq.

"Sen. Biden just gratuitously had a plan that was supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the United States Senate that federalized Iraq and separated the parties," he said. "The plan has a weak central government that can dampen down the civil war, protect our vital interests in the area and keep our commitment to the Iraqis. So, I changed."


*****I love this part*****
Smith, an African-American, said he had no qualms supporting Biden despite the media hype the candidate created the day he announced his White House run.

"I hope I'm articulate and clean," said Smith before letting go an easy laugh. "And, I think Sen. Biden is articulate and clean. That was not a slur on the basis of race at all. As a matter of fact, the NAACP president has said the same thing about black candidates. I think we want candidates who are articulate, clean and moral. We could use a new president of the United States who's articulate and clean."

While Smith switched candidates based on his primary issue of the Iraq war, he says that he believes Biden is the best person to lead the nation on domestic issues.

"Joe Biden was for civil rights when being for civil rights wasn't cool in this country," he said. "I wouldn't be a black state representative if he hadn't voted for the extension of the Voting Rights Act to make sure that we had diversity in our society. Also, I like his policy in regard to health care because he's going to bring universal health care to our nation's citizens -- especially those who are most vulnerable like our young people and our senior citizens. This is a man who understands, who grew up humbly. He understands what it means to be humble in society and that you must lift people up and not tear people down. That's why he ought to be president of the United States."

[PatSeg]

1. Great endorsement

I love the last paragraph. His admiration sounds very sincere.

In the article, he also mentions trying to get a hold of Richardson for weeks to let him know he was reconsidering backing Richardson, but he wasn't able to talk to the Governor until he said he was switching candidates. That was kind of tacky.

[jillan]

3. I was being nice

I left that out of there :P

The clean and articulate part was pretty funny.

[PatSeg]

5. Yes it was funny

And you're always NICE!

The Richardson thing still was tacky though.

[CornField]

2. Thank you

Mostly for reading, but also for linking to my blog. :hi:

Fletcher Smith is most definitely "clean and articulate" -- one of the nicest gentlemen I've ever met. Biden should be very pleased with the endorsement because Smith will make an excellent surrogate for the campaign.

[jillan]

4. Cool - I didn't know we have a celebrity here :-)

I read that blog frequently.

[CornField]

6. Definitely not a celebrity

Although I'm very happy to hear that you're a reader!

Here are some photos of Joe I took Friday in Waterloo:

[PatSeg]

7. Thank you for sharing!

Great pictures. Wish I was there.

[jillan]

8. Thanks for posting! Great pics :)

[murbley40]

9. Kick