Gay Superdelegate schmoozed by Chelsea backs Obama

[davidinalameda]

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/21/superdelegate-schmoozed-by-chelsea-backs-obama/

A few weeks ago, 21-year-old Wisconsin superdelegate Jason Rae was taken out to breakfast by Chelsea Clinton in the runup to that state’s Democratic primary.

Two days after the vote, the college junior – who will be the youngest superdelegate at this year’s Democratic National Convention — is undecided no longer: he’s backing Barack Obama.

“The Democratic Party is fortunate to have two very talented individuals running for President this election,” said Rae in a statement released by the Obama campaign Thursday. “It is a difficult choice for anyone, but in the end, the choice for me has become clear. I am proudly supporting Senator Barack Obama.”

He cited Obama’s support from an overwhelming majority of young voters as the major reason for his decision.

[JI7]

1. he was "schmoozed" by people on both sides

[davidinalameda]

2. did the Obama family take him to breakfast

no

[LiberalFighter]

3. Excuse but why did you refer to him as gay?

There is nothing in the article that indicates he is gay.

[TexasObserver]

6. Maybe because Dwickham is gay (I think) and is proud of this young man.

But that's my supposition.

[davidinalameda]

19. don't tell people I'm gay

Shhhhh!

:bounce:

he is the youngest super-delegate this year

I have no idea how I would react at my age being invited to eat with Chelsea Clinton; having Bill Clinton and Madeline Albright call me let alone the Obama supporters

he recognizes that young people see Obama as someone who can lead this country out of the past eight years and into the future

he is someone that the GLBT community, no matter who they support, can take pride in

who knows-we may be seeing the first openly gay president in him

[kdpeters]

12. He was profiled in "The Advocate" last week

Gay Superdelegate Breaks the Mold

But the surprises don't stop there. Rae is also openly gay -- well, mostly. He interned at the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund in the summer of 2006 and came out to members of the DNC in February of 2007. But the trajectory of his fame seems to have gotten a little ahead of his process.

“I have not yet come out to my parents,” Rae said in a telephone interview Thursday afternoon. Though the subject hadn't surfaced in previous interviews, “I’m realizing that tonight I may just want to call them and talk to them. I’ve been waiting for the right moment, and now just might happen to be that right moment,” he said rather matter-of-factly, exhibiting a certain self-possession about the discussion that only a true generation “millennial” could. (Rae assured The Advocate that posting this story was “a-OK” and that the information was already available online.)

I'm assuming his parents know by now! LOL! :o

[ErnestoG]

15. Excuse me but why do you refer to him as him?

You genderist.

[TexasObserver]

4. He's a bright young man, he has political ambitions, and he saw the Wisconsin results.

I'm sure his reasons are valid, but like most superdelegates, he has to live with his constituents, and that means smart voting in all things.

We'll see him again. He could be ready for a congressional House run in 4-8 years.

[HughMoran]

5. He did a good job with the media though

I felt he was leaning toward Obama while watching him, but he was great at not taking any of the obvious bait that Abrams threw at him.

[Barack_America]

7. Gay? Where the hell did you get that?

:shrug:

[scheming daemons]

8. Only a gay man can resist Chelsea's schmoozing??

:shrug:

[TexasObserver]

9. I never heard or read it, but assumed the thread starter had and it was public knowledge. If that is

If that is incorrect, then that makes this thread something entirely different.

I thought I had seen dwickham's comments before indicating that dwickham is gay. Maybe that's incorrect and I'm thinking of someone else's posts.

Anyway, now I am wondering, too, if this was some kind of personal shot at the young man that is mean spirited. I hope not. I thought it was about gay pride. If it's about gay bashing, I don't go for that at all.

[Barack_America]

10. It looks like there's some confirmation of this after all.

He has a wiki page at the age of 21, for god's sake. Jesus, I suck.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Rae

[TexasObserver]

14. Great, then we're all cool and my supposition was correct.

[dragonlady]

11. It has been included in some articles in the media

Jason is a friendly, hard-working, politically astute young man who happens to be gay. I've heard him speak numerous times at party meetings and just recently learned this factoid about him from the press.

[Barack_America]

13. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't an assumption that somebody had made.

He has a wikipedia page (!) and it is actually included in there as well.

[Johnny__Motown]

16. First, his preference is irrelevant, Second he went the way his state did, good for him

[LeftCoast]

17. We're proud of our out young gay superdelegate

Even if he did choose the wrong candidate. :D

[Johnny__Motown]

18. Still irrelevant to his decision, unless you want to discuss the problems Barack has had ....

Then it may be relevant.


He did the smart thing, going with the candidate his state choose will be considered the "high road". If he is planning on a career in politics this was the way to go. (besides betting on a winner)

[davidinalameda]

20. what problems?