Watt sticking with Edwards this time...Charlotte Observer

[surfermaw]

Decision 2008


Tuesday Charlotte Observer

Jim Morrill


Watt sticking with Edwards this time

U.S. Rep.Mel Watt, a Charlotte Democrat, is sticking with presidential candidate John Edwards--in part because h's not sure America is reaty to vote for and African American or a woman.

"There aer a number of r easons I've been suupporting John," he told the Observer on Monday,"and one of those is a concern whether the electorate would support and African American candidate or a female candidate for president."

Watt a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, has suupported Edwards since the former N.C.senators first ran in 2004.

But fellow congressman G.K. Butterfiels of Wilson also backed Edwards until switching last week to Barack Obama of Illinoise. Watt said Edwards reflects his own view more than Obama or Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York.

"This is not about being on the side of the winning candidate," Watt said . "Actually, I think John has been the more progressive candidate in the race. And his position have more closely reflected mine than the other candidates."

Pluss Watt said, Edwards has told him if that if he is nominated, he would consider making Obama his running mate.

(I typed this in my computer is messing up) for a link go to wwwcharlotte.com and to Decision 2008 page 4A

[smokey nj]

1. K&R!!

[Cha]

2. Good, I'm glad Mel Watt is

sticking with John Edwards..We need Edwards' voice in this race.

[FrenchieCat]

3. He is sticking with Edwards because......

is sticking with presidential candidate John Edwards--in part because he's not sure America is ready to vote for and African American or a woman?

Well, how quaint! :sarcasm:

[cali]

5. yeah, that gets an ugh from me.

thanks for that, Mel.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. Even If You Thought That You Should Be Smart Enough Not To Say It

~

[redqueen]

15. Why?

If we just stick our heads in the sand, all the bad people disappear?

Is that how the logic works?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

18. Huh

If we just stick our heads in the sand,will all the prejudice will disappear?


It reminds me of the argument against gays in the military... The argument goes the reason gays can't serve in the military is because the homophobes who are serving won't allow it...

You don't end prejudice by refusing to confront it...

What if Truman didn't desegregate the armed forces beause he felt the racists wouldn't allow it?

[redqueen]

20. So nominating a candidate you think can't win due to racism

is confronting racism?

Have I got that right?


As for gays in the military... we don't depend on a woefully underinformed electorate to vote for soldiers, do we? The reason we won't allow them in the military is because the same type of prejudice that might very well affect a Clinton or Obama presidential run is even more active against GLBT's.



And as for Truman and the armed forces... again... we weren't depending on the electorate to back his decision up. If we had been dependent on the electorate... well... it would have taken A LOT longer.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

22. I Don't Agree With His Supposition And The Man Needs To Learn The Meaning Of Self Respect

~

[redqueen]

23. I expanded on my thoughts there...

just FYI.


And FWIW, I don't agree that he doesn't have self-respect.

[redqueen]

7. What's wrong with that?

LOTS of people agree, and not just people in this country.

[FrenchieCat]

9. That 's a laudable reason to support a candidate?

I find that this reason sucks....a lot.

[redqueen]

11. It does. Racism sucks. Sexism sucks.

But they exist. They are still around, nobody would deny that.

So does chiding anyone who takes it into consideration make sense?

Some people support Hillary because she'd piss off repukes. Is that a great reason? No. Does it make me want to chide them? No. Because she's a dem.

Unity, remember?

[FrenchieCat]

16. So since they exist, it should be reinforced?

I'm out of here.

I always understood that Edwards "I'm electable" mantra was based on who he was much more that what he stood for.

Thanks for that Rep. for illuminating this further! :puke:

[redqueen]

19. Did I say that?

Is that what you're acussing Watt of doing?

Unbelievable, the theatrics.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. Yeah

I didn't know you needed a penis (and) white skin to be president....

[ShadesOfGrey]

24. He said he supports John for MANY reasons...

He thinks he's more electable, more progressive, and more in tune with his own views. Why does that suck?

[cali]

10. Support him because you agree with him. Don't endorse

tired old prejudices.

If not now, when?

[redqueen]

12. I do... I didn't say that was MY reason for supporting him.

I won't take it upon myself to tell other Dems who they should support and why.

At least not as long as they're already supporting Dems. Otherwise...

[southern_belle]

4. k & r

[surfermaw]

6. K&R

[surfermaw]

8. Mell Watt, is a very well respected man in his d.

A very good natured man with a fine education, and well liked by everyone that knows him.

[Jane Austin]

17. Don't these two statements from the OP contradict each other?

"There aer a number of reasons I've been suupporting John," he told the Observer on Monday,"and one of those is a concern whether the electorate would support an African American candidate or a female candidate for president."

and

"This is not about being on the side of the winning candidate," Watt said .

Just asking . . . .

[redqueen]

21. I think the second statement is about reacting to early polls...

and jumping on a bandwagon.