Sen. Moynihan's Widow Endorses Obama

The Associated Press ^ | February 1, 2008 | Associated Press

[red flanker]

NEW YORK (AP) — The widow of Daniel Patrick Moynihan, the Democratic senator who helped Hillary Clinton in her first bid for the Senate, endorsed Barack Obama for president on Thursday.

Elizabeth B. Moynihan, said she believes her late husband, who represented New York in the Senate for 24 years, would applaud her choice.

She added that her husband, who died in 2003, would have been surprised that "so many close Senate friends he respected were competing for the nomination" and she called Clinton "a very good senator."

But she said he would have become excited, as she has, "to see Barack Obama rekindle hope in our young as he encourages them to participate in the political process."

"I know Pat would approve, applaud and encourage me to join Caroline Kennedy in supporting Barack Obama's candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States," she wrote in an e-mail. She was referring to Caroline Kennedy's opinion piece endorsing Obama in last Sunday's New York Times.

In 1999, Clinton — an Illinois native who spent most of her life in Arkansas and Washington — announced her candidacy for Moynihan's Senate seat at his farmhouse in upstate New York, with him and his wife standing next to her.

At the time, Moynihan, who was retiring in 2001, told reporters: "I'm here to say that I hope she will go all the way. I mean to go all the way with her. I think she's going to win."

[red flanker]

This may seem like another endorsement, but it is another direct and very personal hit to the Clintanic. Pat Moynihan's applause at his wife's endorsement would be joined by a lot of others who have passed on (such as John F. Kennedy Jr.)

[iowamark]

This article is on of many which follow the Clinton line that Moynihan retired voluntarily in 2000. He did not. He was ordered to retire to make way for Hillary. He was told that, if he refused, he would receive no funding from the DNC. He had no personal wealth and thus no choice.

[HAL9000]

Ho ho. That’s gonna leave a mark.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Are you sure about that? He did not last long after he retired; looked pretty sick that last year in office.

[iowamark]

I read or saw the story of the “force out” back in 2000. It was obvious that Moynihan was very reluctant to back Hillary. Much has been written of their bad personal relationship despite their shared politics:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1432684/posts

[Ron in Acreage]

I thought the Moynahan/Clinton splint also had something to do with Clenis hitting on their daughter? Any memory of this? Someone else daughter?

[Revenge of Sith]

I remember hearing a rumor in late 1997 before Hillary even considered running for the Senate that Moynihan was planning to retire in 2000 because he was afraid that Giuliani might beat him. He formally announced his retirement after Schumer beat D’Amato in November 1998 and the Hillary rumors didn’t even start until a few months later.

[Just mythoughts]

Wasn’t that Mondull???

[Ron in Acreage]

That’s it. Thanks.
But then again, Clinton probably hits on lots of peoples daughters!

[Ron in Acreage]

Mondales daughter is smokin’ hot.

http://www.comedyontap.com/presgirls/mondale.html

[Just mythoughts]

Yes that is the one!!!!