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On My Switch From Clinton to Obama
Real Clear Politics ^ | May 1st, 2008 | Joe Andrew

Posted on 05/01/2008 1:25:15 PM PDT by The_Republican

I have been inspired.

Today I am announcing my support for Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States of America. I am changing my support from Senator Clinton to Senator Obama, and calling for my fellow Democrats across my home State of Indiana, and my fellow super delegates across the nation, to heal the rift in our Party and unite behind Barack Obama.

The hardest decisions in life are not between good and bad or right and wrong, but between two goods or two rights. That is the decision Democrats face today. We have an embarrassment of riches, but as much as we may love our candidates and revel in the political process that has brought Presidential politics to places that have not seen it in a generation, we cannot let our family affair hurt America by helping John McCain.

Here is my message, explained in this lengthy letter that I hope is perceived as a thoughtful analysis of how to save America from four more years of the misguided polices of the past: you can be for someone without being against someone else. You can unite behind a candidate and a vision for America without rejecting another candidate and their vision, because in real life, opposed to party politics, we Democrats are on the same side. The battle should not be amongst ourselves. Rather, we should focus our efforts on those who are truly on the opposite side: those who want to continue the failed policies of the last eight years, rather than bring real change to Washington. Let us come together right now behind an inspiring leader who not only has the audacity to challenge the old divisive politics, but the audacity to make us all hope for a better America.

Unite the Party Now.

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: change; flipflop; joeandrew; switch
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To: Prokopton

RATLAND


21 posted on 05/01/2008 1:55:32 PM PDT by rod1 (uestion)
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To: MrB

Of course not, why would they when they can give your money and my money away. Thus saving os from the embarrashment of wealth no doubt.


22 posted on 05/01/2008 1:57:38 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: Califreak
Sorry, nothing you said offended me. My bs reference was directed towards the superdelegate's obvious Bravo Sierra. I liked your remarks!
23 posted on 05/01/2008 1:58:32 PM PDT by don'tbedenied
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To: Puppage
For the first time, I have actually met some actual Obama supporters--had dinner with them last night, right here in Texas.

They are voting for him because they like his message of "change". They were unable to tell me what changes he is talking about--they just like the fact that he is for "change".

Unbelievable!

24 posted on 05/01/2008 2:00:00 PM PDT by basil (Support the Second Amendment--buy another gun today!)
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To: mtbopfuyn

These super delegates that are coming out for Obama at this time are either very brave people, or they know something. Just think of the repercussions (to put it mildly) that Obama super delegate supporters are going to face if the Hildebeast ends up with the nomination, and ultimately the presidency. They better get new identities and a remote car starter.

I can’t believe that they are that brave. They must know that the fix is in for Obama is my guess.


25 posted on 05/01/2008 2:01:25 PM PDT by murron (Proud Marine Mom)
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To: basil

You should have asked them to pay for dinner so they could see first hand what kind of change Obama is talking about.


26 posted on 05/01/2008 2:01:30 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: don'tbedenied

>Sorry, nothing you said offended me.<

I get it now.

I’m so used to being attacked for supporting Hunter that I jumped to the wrong conclusion!


27 posted on 05/01/2008 2:02:53 PM PDT by Califreak (Hangin' with Hunter-under the bus "Dread and Circuses")
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To: murron
These super delegates that are coming out for Obama at this time are either very brave people, or they know something. Just think of the repercussions (to put it mildly) that Obama super delegate supporters are going to face if the Hildebeast ends up with the nomination, and ultimately the presidency. They better get new identities and a remote car starter.

Exactly what I've been saying from the beginning. There's definitely something afoot.

28 posted on 05/01/2008 2:04:15 PM PDT by mtbopfuyn
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To: murron

You mistake stupidity for bravery. Besides that they do not want to be labeled as racists


29 posted on 05/01/2008 2:04:50 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: The_Republican
I am not in favor of Elitist Super Delegates. However, proportional allocations seems enticing.

What is needed is a NATIONAL primary with a run off between the top 2
30 posted on 05/01/2008 2:06:20 PM PDT by uncbob
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To: mtbopfuyn
I find it difficult to see why all these delegates are fawning over a junior congressman who has a boatload of baggage. There's much, much more to all this than meets the eye.

They would rather lose with Obama than alienate their black base as long as the senators and house keep their seats
31 posted on 05/01/2008 2:08:41 PM PDT by uncbob
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To: don'tbedenied

All these teary eyed emotional pleas “for the good of the party” from both sides are getting old, aren’t they?

One by one our guys dropped out and most of them endorsed McCain “for the good of the party” or some such nonsense.

I haven’t heard anyone discuss doing anything for “the good” of America lately, have you?


32 posted on 05/01/2008 2:09:28 PM PDT by Califreak (Hangin' with Hunter-under the bus "Dread and Circuses")
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To: murron
They must know that the fix is in for Obama is my guess.

More likely, they've made a calculated judgment.

Almost all the superdelegates are elected officials. They're weighing their own chance of re-election.

It's not about whether Obama or Hillary can win. It's about whether superdelegates can keep their place at the public trough.

This Andrew guy obviously has surveyed the electoral landscape and decided that he'll be better off without some Clinton voters than without the black vote.

33 posted on 05/01/2008 2:12:10 PM PDT by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: basil
They are voting for him because they like his message of "change". They were unable to tell me what changes he is talking about--they just like the fact that he is for "change".

Were they adults? Or juveniles?

34 posted on 05/01/2008 2:13:23 PM PDT by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
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To: Carling
The truth is that the voters have no real say in the process...

1) The super delegates themselves are elected officials, elected by those very same voters you say have no say in the process.

2) There are 3253 pledged delegates awarded through the primaries, and 794 super delegates. 80% of the delegates are awarded through the primaries, and only 20% are super delegates.

Rather than the voters not having any say, most of the time a candidate wins enough of the pledged delegates to become the nominee. The super delegates only really come into play in a really close race.

Michigan and Florida are cut out of the nominating process, but they did it to themselves, or more specifically their elected officials did it.

Why did they do it? Because primaries aren't normally anywhere near this close, so they felt it was more important to get the attention that their early primary would generate than to have the votes actually count. They thought it was more important to have the candidates fawn all over them to get the boost that a win in those states might give even if the vote doesn't count.

The DNC tried to further dissuade such actions by asking the candidates not to campaign in those states. Both pledged not to. Clinton pretty much made a mockery of that pledge, and Obama kind of followed suit to keep Hillary from dominating more than she did.

It's quite a spectacle, but it's not remotely true to say that the voters don't have a say in the process. They have the overwhelming majority of the say in the process, they just didn't reach a clear enough consensus that the relatively small say the officials that they elected have can't push it one way or the other.

35 posted on 05/01/2008 2:19:19 PM PDT by untrained skeptic
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To: The_Republican

What a wuss this guy is.

This letter reads like a break-up letter to his best gal. It’s just dripping with sorrow like some guy that just figured out he wants to be gay now.

Oh wait. It is a letter to his best gal!!


36 posted on 05/01/2008 2:29:53 PM PDT by subterfuge (Homophobic and proud of it!)
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To: Califreak

You all know how hard I worked for Duncan Hunter. January 19 is a day that knocked the wind out of me.

But reality is that John McCain is now the Republican candidate, and once again we conservatives are forced to vote for someone we have grave reservations about.

Here is what was written on another forum recently, which may bear repeating here:

“Conservatives Coming Together For McCain: Why?

Recent polling indicates that the GOP is uniting behind our nominee, John McCain, that’s the good news.

Why are conservatives coming home? First and foremost are the key issues. McCain can be trusted on national security given his background, experience and judgment, especially compared to the Democratic options.

Second, McCain has been reliable in judicial appointments and has made clear he will appoint “judges who ... faithfully apply the law as written...”

Third, McCain has a good pro-life record, except for stem cell funding.

Fourth, McCain is tough on earmarks and runaway federal spending.

Fifth, McCain will appoint more competent cabinet members to set policy than the Democrats.

Sixth, McCain understands the power of tax cuts and pro-business tax reform.

Seventh, McCain has good ideas on energy relief and policy. He believes we should stop filling the U.S. petroleum reserve, which leading oil economists blame for much of the recent price run-up by aiding speculation. He has more good ideas in this area, but this is a good start.
Contrast these ideas with what Hillary and Obama have in mind for us.”

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be saying a good word for John McCain. But there you are.


37 posted on 05/01/2008 2:54:03 PM PDT by Paperdoll ( on the cutting edge.)
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To: basil
They were unable to tell me what changes he is talking about--they just like the fact that he is for "change".

And, they were happy not being able to put their finger on a single change ?

38 posted on 05/01/2008 3:07:43 PM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: The_Republican

Joe my man, yesterday you were just another bottom feeding rat scumbag. But today you are my HERO! Thanks Joe and I hope you get more people to which. America needs barack mcgovern as the rat candidate!


39 posted on 05/01/2008 4:16:01 PM PDT by jmaroneps37 (Conservatives live in the truth. Liberals live in lies.)
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To: untrained skeptic
1) The super delegates themselves are elected officials, elected by those very same voters you say have no say in the process.

False. Not all superdelegates are elected officials, and even some of those that were elected have since been voted out of office or retired. I suggest you get your facts straight prior to lecturing me again.

40 posted on 05/01/2008 4:18:08 PM PDT by Carling (It's Danny, Sir)
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