Prominent republicans cross the aisle to endorse Obama
source: http://www.truthout.org/102508Z
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- wlwatkins
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Friday 24 October 2008
by: Ewen MacAskill, The Guardian UK
Scott McClellan, former White House Press Secretary for George W. Bush, has endorsed Barack Obama for president. (Photo: Reuters)
Washington - Joel Haugen, a Republican fighting a tough congressional race against the Democrats in Oregon, has fallen out with his party. The reason: his surprise endorsement of Barack Obama for the presidency.
"I believe in putting nation before party and my first priority is following my conscience with regard to what is best for America," Haugen said in a statement issued by his office today. "I have a huge amount of respect for John McCain, but I believe that he has more of a cold war mentality."
Haugen is just one of many Republican politicians, dubbed "Obamicans", who have defected to Obama. The latest high-profile desertions include Scott McClellan, George Bush's former press secretary, who endorses Obama in a taped CNN programme to be broadcast this weekend, and William Weld, the Republican governor of Massachusetts from 1991 to 1997.
Weld, in a statement released today ahead of a press conference in New Hampshire, described Obama as "a once-in-a-lifetime candidate."
Last weekend, Bush's former secretary of state, Colin Powell, Obama's biggest Republican catch so far, publicly backed the Democratic candidate.
Other defectors include Arne Carlson, the Republican governor of Minnesota from 1991 to 1999, who wrote in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune yesterday: "The choice of governor Sarah Palin as a running mate, and the resultant shallow campaign based on fear and suspicion, looks frighteningly similar to the politics of Karl Rove [Bush's campaign strategist]."
He described Obama as having "the potential to become a truly great president".
McClellan, who published a book earlier this year critical of the Bush administration, accusing it of lying, told CNN he would vote for Obama because he offered the best chance of changing the way Washington works.
The founders of Republicans for Obama include a former Iowa congressman, Jim Leach; a former Rhode Island senator, Lincoln Chafee, and a former Bush fund-raiser, Rita Hauser.
Another defector this week is Ken Adelman, a foreign policy adviser to Ronald Reagan, who told the New Yorker he would endorse Obama because of McCain's temperament, describing as weird his behaviour in response when the economic meltdown began.
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- Politics, World News
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- Politics, Barack Obama, Media, World News, 9 more
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metalcookiesxy70
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Then there would be no purpose for the Republicans. They are destroying themselves in the process to progress with the opposing team..how sad.
- 4 years ago
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metalcookiesxy70
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jhydo
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Yeah yeah yeah the end is nigh for the Republicans. They have more than squandered their chances of any meaningful attainment to office by a long yarn. This election mis-shot of theirs should be written into a book titled "Don't s On Campaigns". From the monumental lapse in judgment of McCain in choosing Palin as ruling mate to the lack of direction they portrayed on a daily basis during primaries. America has lost it's way and it lies on the shoulders well-meaning enlightened citizens that will avail themselves that chance to delve into the Abyss and stare at the beasts of chronism, Nepotism and out right Greed and send them packing.
But there also exists that small voice that realizes Democracy in it's best form only thrives when there exist at least a formidable opposition which the Republicans could be if they look inwards and regroup in order offer the American something other than the Bush administration then they just might stand a chance in say another 12 years time. This I say because it'll take America a while to forgive 'n' forget.
- 4 years ago
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jhydo
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deldigno
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well this speaks volumes! Yup, Repbulican ship is sinking...glub...glub....glub
- 4 years ago
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deldigno
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telekinesis
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They know Obama is gonna win, so now they want jobs
- 4 years ago
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telekinesis
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lulu81
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telekinesis:
lol nice!
- 4 years ago
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lulu81
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maof4brats [removed]
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What the hell Scott is one of my moms (the republican)favorites,
she is probably freakin right now, but see we don't talk about politics because she gets to mad and I don't want to hurt her she is almost 90 so I just leave her alone. but I know this is going to hurt her .Plus all the others that are jumping off the Mc Cain boat.and jumping on the Obama train. CHOO CHOO - 4 years ago
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maof4brats [removed]
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intelligenceisacurse
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maof4brats:
please, please tell her to read his new book.
as soon as possible.
if she is his fan, she deserves the truth.
- 4 years ago
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intelligenceisacurse
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wlwatkins
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Ya, now after months of hard ass work by the supporters for Obama, they jump ship in the sinking days of McCain.
Is that really so great? I mean where were they when he needed their support?.....they should be made to change parties for it!...most are just covering their asses, when Obama socks it to the Bush administration,,,,,they don't want to go down.
- 4 years ago
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wlwatkins
