“OBAMA SUPPORTERS” DAILY NEWS Thursday May 15 2008

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

WELCOME TO “OBAMA SUPPORTERS” DAILY NEWS

Thursday May 15 2008


US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) stands with
former Democratic challenger John Edwards (L) at a rally with supporters in
the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan May 14, 2008.
Edwards endorsed Obama for the Democratic nomination. REUTERS/Jeff Haynes

Esteemed DUer's, please consider taking a moment (or more) to graciously participate
by posting news and announcements about the Obama campaign on this thread. You can:

1. Post stories and announcements you find on the web. :think:

2. Re-post stories and announcements you find on DU,
providing a link to the original thread :applause:

3. Please "Recommend" for the Greatest Page :thumbsup:

4. Clinton supporters or “anti Obama posters please start your own “Clinton Daily News Thread”.

Get your DU-o-matic codificator (to format your posts) here
Read the Daily News Archives here

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

1. NY Times: Edwards Endorses Obama

Edwards Endorses Obama

By Jim Rutenberg and Julie Bosman May 14, 2008

Update | 6:37 p.m. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — John Edwards, the former senator from North Carolina who bowed out of the presidential race in January, endorsed Senator Barack Obama at a rally here tonight.

“The reason I am here tonight is because the Democratic voters of America have made their choice and so have I,” Mr Edwards said.

Mr. Edwards then went on to say, “There is one man who knows in his heart that it is time to tear down that wall and make one America, Barack Obama.”

Officials announced the news of Mr. Edwards’s endorsement shortly after Mr. Obama landed here late this afternoon.
The campaign timed it to coincide with the start of the major evening newscasts, which would have otherwise focused on Senator Hillary Clinton’s landslide victory in West Virginia, which raised new questions about Mr. Obama’s strength with white working class voters.

…more at the link

[grantcart]

2. NYT Edwards is open to VP prefers to be Attorney General if asked

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5978363

[grantcart]

3. *****Super Delegate Update MiniThread****

[grantcart]

19. The post Edwards Numbers

1) Pledged delegates

Edwards has 19 Delegates in Iowa/NH/SC let's assume Obama gets 15 of those (all of Iowa and SC but not NH)

Obama's pledged majority magic number 25


Delegates at stake in Kentucky 60 and Oregon 65.

Let's assume that the pledged numbers announce before 5/20

Obama would get the pledged majority in Kentucky - not Oregon

Let's assume that he gets 60 of the 125 delegates up that night



Obama's magic number for majority of the delegates is 133.5



Edwards 15
KY/OR 60

Total 75

He only needs 58 Super Delegates to get the nomination

There are probably 30 delegates that will go immediately for the pledged majority winner

So Obama needs about 30 Super Delegates to clinch the nomination

There are 8 add on Super Delegates to be added this weekend

Colorado 1 5/17/2008 Selected during the State Convention
Kansas 1 5/17/2008 Selected during the State Convention
Nevada 1 5/17/2008 Selected by the state convention as a whole
California 5 5/18/2008 Selected during the Delegation Meeting

Obama needs about 6 Super Delegates a day and all of the other listed above to seal it on Tuesday.

[grantcart]

21. First Edwards Delegate Switches to Obama - Portsmouth

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5978948

[Aloha Spirit]

28. I understand not counting it, but there *was* that pledged delegate switch from Maryland.

[grantcart]

34. Rep. Jim McDermott (WA) endorses Obama

Rep. Jim McDermott on Thursday became the fourth U.S. House member from Washington to endorse Barack Obama for president.

The Seattle Congressman told the P-I's Joel Connelly that Obama is his pick because "I am confident as president he will end the war in Iraq and bring our sons and daughters home."

McDermott has represented Seattle for 19 years and is one of the more liberal voices in the Democrats' 235-member House caucus. He is the last House member from this state to declare his support for a presidential candidate.

[grantcart]

38. California Representative Henry Waxman has endorsed Obama

[grantcart]

39. California Representative Howard Berman has endorsed Obama

[grantcart]

40. DNC member Larry Cohen a DC superdelegate has endorsed Obama.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

4. Is the damage done or does this statement help: "It'd be a 'terrible mistake' to pick McCain.."

Clinton: It'd be 'terrible mistake' to pick McCain over Obama

CNN Wed May 14, 2008

(CNN) -- Hillary Clinton on Wednesday reiterated her vow to stay in the Democratic presidential race, but she said it would be a "terrible mistake" for her supporters to vote for John McCain over Barack Obama.

"Anybody who has ever voted for me or voted for Barack has much more in common in terms of what we want to see happen in our country and in the world with the other than they do with John McCain," Clinton said on CNN's "The Situation Room."

"I'm going to work my heart out for whoever our nominee is. Obviously, I'm still hoping to be that nominee, but I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that anyone who supported me ... understands what a grave error it would be not to vote for Sen. Obama."

In response to Clinton's comments, Republican National Committee Spokesman Alex Conant issued a statement:

"Just as Sen. Clinton herself has questioned Obama's qualifications to be president and enact change, so do many of her supporters. The biggest mistake would be to raise taxes and prematurely withdraw from Iraq like Clinton and Obama have proposed," he said.

... more at the link

[TragedyandHope]

5. John Edwards: YES WE CAN!

Click to Donate Now!

Friend --

I have some very exciting news.

My good friend John Edwards is endorsing our campaign and joining our movement for change.

We're here in Grand Rapids, Michigan -- and if you receive this message in time, you can probably turn on your TV and be part of the moment.

I'm deeply honored by John's support. He is a true leader who dedicated his career to improving the lives of ordinary Americans.

John ran a strong, principled campaign for president, focusing on a number of important issues where we share common ground -- universal health care, bringing our troops home from Iraq, and eliminating poverty in America.

The way he ran his campaign was also important. He ran in a way that reflected our shared conviction that we need to fundamentally change politics.

Like our campaign, John's campaign never accepted donations from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs.

Let's welcome John Edwards to the campaign with an outpouring of the kind of grassroots support that is bringing our political process back to the people.

Make a donation of whatever you can afford now, and if you choose, include your own note to Senator Edwards. I'll make sure he gets them:

https://donate.barackobama.com/johnedwards

Thank you for all that you're doing,

Barack

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

23. great photos! glad I clicked on your link

thank you so much! what a treat.

A moment in history.

[quantass]

27. Great Day and GREAT PHOTOS!!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

6. JOHN EDWARDS ENDORSES OBAMA ...BREAKING

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3309658&mesg_id=3309658

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

7. WV Woman Gets "Poor" Call From Hillary Campaign

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5970498

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. Ugh...I'm digusted by the booing of Clinton at the Obama rally...

As a southerner, I wouldn't have booed at this event.
Edwards was clearly there to unite the party.
He was extending an olive branch.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5972111&mesg_id=5972111

[MadBadger]

10. I wouldnt have booed, but I wouldnt have cheered. Im not surprised or disgusted by it.

They booed when he first mentioned her, then warmed up to her as he spoke.

[Aloha Spirit]

35. Me neither, and the OhBahMah chanting creeps me out. A tad embarrassing. But I like seeing the

older people get into it!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

9. Bill Clinton calls for revote, says FL would not be treated this way if vote went "the other way."

MadFloridian keeping em honest. Share this with others, because
many believe the lies until you give them some truth:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5977041

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

11. Pat Buchanan's Racial Paranoia Meltdown

Pat "Racist" Buchanon at it again. Where's Joe "Dead Intern" Scarboro lately?

Pat Buchanan's Racial Paranoia Meltdown

Wed May 14, 5:17 Jed Report

It's just incredible that MSNBC still puts Pat Buchanan on the air. About an hour ago on Hardball he said:

What were the African-American community in Philadelphia that gave him 90% voting on if not the fact that Barack Obama was one of them. West Virginia, Hillary, was one of us. That's the same thing. But West Virginia gets trashed, and Philadelphia is wonderful.

And:

If Barack Obama were not an African American he would have been beaten by John Edwards. He would not be the nominee. It is far more of a positive for him, not only in the African-American community, but with the Chris Matthews' of the world and in the liberal suburbs far more than it is a negative.

As a reminder, about two months ago, Buchanan wrote this on his blog:

America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.

When is MSNBC going to fire this guy? It's long overdue.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

12. Nope, race had nothing to do with it

Nope, race had nothing to do with it…

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Kevin K. on 05/14/08

Remember, you arugula-huffing, latte-sipping pro-Obama elitists, these West Virginians are the true American patriots and the real Democrats…

Watch the video

“too many rednecks here in W.Va….”

One lady on the video above says

” Hillary can probably sing “The Star Spangled Banner” better than anybody.

Cue the inevitable:

Watch this video

...more at the link

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

13. Howard Dean is on the Jay Leno show right now

I didn't know about this ahead of time, sorry.

Maybe it will be on You Tube.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

14. C'mere Sugar and let mama kiss your boo-boo!

C'mere Sugar and let mama kiss your boo-boo!

Posted by Betty Cracker at 5/14/2008 12:47:00 PM

Gee, I thought the more rabid anti-Obama blogs would be in full Clinton triumphalism mode today, what with their favorite being crowned Queen of Appalachia and all. And there's plenty of that. But one of the most hacktacular HillShills, Taylor Marsh, reveals something very interesting amid the crowing and auto-pimpitude: She thinks the pro-Hillary forces in West Virginia and elsewhere are a bunch of whiny cry-babies who need a symbolic mommy to make them feel better -- and Hillary is that mommy!

… So, in defending Appalachians against charges of racism, Marsh offers instead the view that they're a bunch of snivelling, bed-wetting weenies who need hand-holding and "psychological" bromides that fly in the face of pointy-headed economics-based facts? Jesus H. Christ playing dueling air banjos, that's condescending.

I'd rather be called a grown-up racist than a nancy-pants toddler fixated on a multi-millionnaire Mommy figure who developed endless empathy for my plight while toiling away in the coal mines of Wellesley, the White House and Chappaqua.

My fearless prediction: Obama will win the nomination (duh) and the White House because he does precisely the opposite of what Marsh and her ilk do: He assumes we're grown-ups who don't need a surrogate parent.

…more at the link

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

15. Corrente: I predict that Hillary will get 40% of the Skinhead vote in Oregon on May, 20

I predict that Hillary will get 40% of the Skinhead vote in Oregon on May, 20.

Open Speculation Thread Corrente May 14 08

What kind of persona will Hillary adopt for her campaign visit to Oregon?

Will she become:

<1> - A wiley beaver trapper.

<2> - A Tigercat feller buncher operator.

<3> - A psilocybin rancher.

<4> - The Portland Rose Festival Queen.

<5> - The crazy lady in the Nike sneakers and the canary yellow pantsuit that stole the lunch money from the kid in Klamath Falls.

<6> - A plucky saloon drunk, tossing back Full Sail Amber Ale, and telling salty girlhood tales of fightin' - and shootin' - and wrasslin' Spring chinook from the Rogue River with her bare hands - with Ken Kesey - while naked - and other stuff.

- Some other plausible options... (contribute your own in comments below)

*

link to this post - by the farmer

I still wouldn't have booed at the Michigan rally tonight. But you see that I do understand. :}

[cliffordu]

25. Why, she'll be a high lead choker setter....Or a hoe-mom.....

Ya might want to research the Willamette valley a little before hollering about the hoe-moms -

Ask and I'll enlighten you.....

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

16. Cindy McCain sells $2m in Sudan-related investments

Cindy McCain sells $2m in Sudan-related investments

by John Aravosis (DC) • 5/14/2008

Wish I had $2m invested in anything. Now who's the elitist? More from AP:

Cindy McCain, whose husband has been a critic of the violence in Sudan, sold off more than $2 million in mutual funds whose holdings include companies that do business in the African nation.

The sale on Wednesday came after The Associated Press questioned the investments in light of calls by John McCain, the likely Republican presidential nominee, for international financial sanctions against the Sudanese leadership....

Last year, in a speech on energy policy to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, McCain cited China's investments in Sudan as an example of regimes that survive off free-flowing petro dollars.

Oops. The incredibly rich Mrs. McCain says she will never ever release her tax returns, even if her husband becomes president.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

17. This One Really Won't Go Away

This One Really Won't Go Away

Andrew Sullivan Wednesday, May 14, 2008

A Clinton tattoo:

Luis Salgado, 28, owner of the Ill Skillz (4948 N. 5th) tattoo parlor just
got a portrait of Clinton inked on his leg at a tattoo convention in Baltimore.
Artist Buffalo Bill, of Sunbury, offered a free Hillary tattoo to any takers
because his daughter Sarah Taby is a big Clinton supporter and
thought the tattoo would give Clinton good exposure.

I will have nightmares tonight.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

18. When the Washington Times criticizes the Republican Pres nominee...

((( The RBC Update: Cindy McCain's tax returns: an issue after all? )))

2008.05.14 19:41:02


------------------------------------------------------------------------

When the Washington Times criticizes the Republican
Presidential nominee, he has a problem.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://WWW.samefacts.com/archives/campaign_2008_/2008/05/cindy_mccains_tax_returns_an_issue_after_all.php

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

20. Why NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorsed Barack Obama

Why NARAL Pro-Choice America Endorsed Barack Obama

Posted at Huff Po May 14, 2008

I am pleased to announce that today, NARAL Pro-Choice America's political action committee endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president.
I know that most of you are probably thinking, "Why did you decide to endorse Obama, and why are you doing it now?"

Sen. Obama has been a strong advocate for a woman's right to choose throughout his career in public service. Since joining the Senate in 2005, he has worked to unite Americans on both sides of this debate behind commonsense, common-ground ways to prevent unintended pregnancy. He supports legislation to provide our teens with comprehensive sex education, prevent pharmacies from denying women access to their legal birth-control prescriptions, and increase access for family-planning services.

...Now, let's take a look at the opposition. Sen. McCain has been getting a free ride for far too long. As even Dan Balz says, until there is a head-to-head, McCain will continue on as the media-maverick darling. We must show voters how extreme McCain really is and contrast his record with that of Sen. Obama, the candidate for the pro-choice majority. NARAL Pro-Choice America is unique in our ability to reach the crucial voting bloc of Republican and independent pro-choice women. These voters are essential to win the White House and we've seen that Obama can inspire them to vote for him in November.

Finally, NARAL Pro-Choice America, as the political leader of the pro-choice movement, felt it was time to take a leadership role. We have been so fortunate to have two fully pro-choice candidates running for the Democratic nomination and to that end, we've consistently praised both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama for their leadership in standing up for women's reproductive rights. We continue to look forward to working with them in the future. But, for the sake of the reproductive-rights movement, we need to put any perceived differences behind us, and get to work putting Sen. Obama in the White House. We want to let women know that, no doubt about it, we have trust and confidence in Obama's ability and willingness to fight for a woman's right to choose. He's already proven himself in that regard.

...more at the link

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

22. Ushering Clinton offstage

Maybe this will explain things.

Ushering Clinton offstage
May 14, 2008 Ben Smith at Politico


Edwards offered a ringing endorsement of Barack Obama, but he opened his speech by graciously ushering Hillary Clinton off the stage.

Clinton was booed the first time Edwards mentioned her, but the crowd in Grand Rapids soon got the idea.

"I’ve gotten to know her very well," he said. "She believes with every fiber of her being that America can be a beter place and that we need change to make America what it’s capable of being."

"It is very very hard to get up every day and do what she’s done. It is hard to go out there and fight and speak up when the odds turn against you. And what she has shown is strength and character," he said. "And what drives her is something that every single one of us can and should appreicate. She cares deeply about the working people of this country."

...more at the link

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0508/Ushering_Clinton_offstage.html

[grantcart]

24. Clinton staffers found going here in large numbers

http://career-advice.monster.com/resume-tips/home.aspx

[Zachstar]

26. Ha!

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

29. Must read "Field" article on how Edwards endorsement changes everything

Al explains the domino like effect caused by the Edwards endorsement. Lots of delegates free'ed up, this even impacts against the Clintonian argument on Florida and Michigan! Its not possible for me to provide the meat of the subject to you with the allowed 4 paragraphs (DU copyright rules), so please read the full article if you want to see how tremendous this endorsement is.

The Grand Slam: Obama-Edwards
By Al Giordano

A grand slam (I’m pretty sure) is when someone hits a home run with three players on base. There’s no doubt that the Edwards endorsement of Obama - and how masterfully it was hit - was a home run.

Now, here are the three runs that were on base, brought home by it.

1. The first run brought in was that it made everybody forget about that primary in whatever state it happened last night: it simply shut down the noise machine, cold.

2. The second run is now rounding third base and coming home: From now to the convention every time some Clinton surrogate tries to insist on an Obama-Clinton ticket, an equal and opposite Edwards enthusiast will credibly counter that an Obama-Edwards ticket would accomplish everything the first group claims and more. The two camps will battle that argument passionately in the coming months, leaving enough elbow room for Obama to choose his own nominee according to his standards from the larger list of potential running mates. (The Field will host a preliminary round on the Clinton v. Edwards as VP debate soon.)

3. On a long slide into home comes the third run, and nobody is happier about it - not even in Camp Obama - than the 30 members of the DNC Rules Committee.

.... please visit the link for the rest
http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1205

[catgirl]

30. K & R!!!!!

What a great week!!

[NightWatcher]

31. Can we start a "magic number countdown" of how many delegates Obama needs to clinch

I believe that we are in "magic number" territory. My count is 113.5 after this morning's super endorsement

please forgive me if my math skills are in error

http://www.barackobama.com/resultscenter/index.php

per his site, he has 1891.5. He will most likely pick up 19 from Edwards (leaving 114.5)

and now this Super makes 113.5 needed. He can get 96 if he splits the remaining primaries 50/50, which would leave 17.5 more supers....


His Magic Number is Shrinking

113.5

[Aloha Spirit]

32. I think we shouldn't include the 19 until they announce. One already did, from NH, and is included

in the BO.com number.
Also, 19 is not definitive. Three of those are projected delegates for June 14th Iowa convention.

Plus, the BO number hasn't been updated since a few new SD's came in.
Plus the BO number doesn't include the switched pledged delegate from Maryland.
My point is... I HAVE NO IDEA what the number is! :silly:

[DU GrovelBot]

33. ## DON'T DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

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This week is our second quarter 2008 fund drive. Democratic Underground is
a completely independent website. We depend on donations from our members
to cover our costs. Whatever you do, do not click the link below!

[WA98296]

36. United Steel Workers endorse Obama. (Thank you John Edwards)

"When the presidential primary contests began last year, our Union felt strongly that because of Senator John Edwards’s deep commitment to working people and because of our shared beliefs, he deserved our strong endorsement. His belief that unfair trade policies must be changed, his commitment to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) to restore workers’ rights to freely choose workplace representation, and his proposal for universal health care were widely shared by our members.

Today, by virtue of a unanimous vote of our International Executive Board, we find ourselves once again in agreement with Senator Edwards, this time with his decision last evening to endorse Senator Barack Obama. And thus today, the United Steelworkers enthusiastically endorses Senator Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States. "

Read more at barackobama.com

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

37. Jon Stewart hillarious take on WVA/McAuliff/Tweety, WVA Douch Off

Stewart is at top of his game, super visual comedy, word play, some real
funny truths, this is TOO good.

He hits the nail on real reason why Hillary won in WVA. I'm from WVA and realize that
not everyone there is ignorante. But there are alot of people who are.

The video clips speak for themselves.

Indecision 2008 - West Virginia
Hillary Clinton crushes Barack Obama in West Virginia, while Chris Matthews and Terry McAuliffe have a good old-fashioned douche-off

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=168561&title=indecision-2008-west-virginia

If you want a great laugh, want to laugh out loud, or just to better understand what
happened in WVa, then watch the clip.

It also makes you wonder how strong an advocate Hillary would be for education, considering the
source of her votes in WVa.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

41. Operation Chaos hits Oregon, please visit the link and kick

so we can warn folks in Oregon and other primary states as well.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5984851&mesg_id=5984851

[Aloha Spirit]

42. BO on the Farm Bill (veto proof as of today): "we cannot make the perfect the enemy of the good.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGBlzy

I applaud the Senate’s passage today of the Farm Bill, which will provide America’s hard-working farmers and ranchers with more support and more predictability.

The bill places greater resources into renewable energy and conservation. And, during this time of rising food prices, the Farm Bill provides an additional $10 billion for critical nutrition programs. I am also pleased that the bill includes my proposal to help thousands of African-American farmers get their discrimination claims reviewed under the Pigford settlement.

This bill is far from perfect. I believe in tighter payment limits and a ban on packer ownership of livestock. As president, I will continue to fight for the interests of America’s family farmers and ranchers and ensure that assistance is geared towards those producers who truly need them, instead of large agribusinesses. But with so much at stake, we cannot make the perfect the enemy of the good.”

By opposing the bill, President Bush and John McCain are saying no to America’s farmers and ranchers, no to energy independence, no to the environment, and no to millions of hungry people.