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Another Red State Dem Refuses To Endorse Obama

We now have a second red-state Dem who is refusing to endorse Barack Obama.

Rep. Dan Boren, the sole Democrat in Oklahoma's Congressional delegation, says that he won't be publicly endorsing Obama -- though for what it's worth, he says he'll still vote Democratic this Fall.

Boren's stated reasons for not helping Obama include: Obama is "the most liberal Senator," and that "his record does not reflect working in a bipartisan fashion." And to just to top it off, "Our nominee is not my first choice."

Boren joins Florida Rep. Tim Mahoney in not endorsing Obama -- which the NRCC has answered by calling Mahoney a political coward. There's no reason to think that Boren would be spared similar treatment.


Comments (178)

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So does Boren explain how any Democratic senator could have "work[ed] in a bipartisan fashion" between 2003 - 2007?

Whatta boob...

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Boren's stated reasons for not helping Obama include: Obama is "the most liberal Senator," and that "his record does not reflect working in a bipartisan fashion."

Wrong, and wrong. One would think a U.S. Representative would be better informed (or at least less gullible).

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Way to suck up the right-wing talking points, what an idiot. That's Oklahoma for you..

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Oklahoma: Land of Inhofe.
That's all that needs to be said.

You can say wrong all you want...name a more liberal one and show some evidence of bipartisanship (hint: neither one exists).

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Ted Kennedy, Bernie Sanders, John Kerry and Chris Dodd are all more Liberal than Obama.

Obama worked with Republican Tom coburn on the Open Government legislation. You can now go to a website and see where your tax dollars are going.

He also worked with Richard Lugar on getting control of loose nukes in Russia and around the world.

Ted Kennedy-28
Bernie Sanders-4
John Kerry-20
Chris Dodd-23

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More liberal Senators than Barack Obama (according to VoteView):

Russ Feingold
Chris Dodd
Bernie Sanders
Sheldon Whitehouse
Ted Kennedy
Barbara Boxer
Tom Harkin
Sherrod Brown
Jack Reed

Evidence of bipartisanship:

The Obama-Lugar Nonproliferation Act
The Obama-Coburn Spending Database

I accept your apology.

I didn't make the rankings, the National Journal did...Obama's number one.

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A review of the liberal/conservative rankings by the National Journal - "National Journal defends its liberal-conservative rankings (badly)" at
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/14472.html

- points out some of the problems with their methodology.

A quote from the article "Any rankings system that insists, right off the bat, that Joe Biden is more liberal than Russ Feingold and Bernie Sanders is automatically suspect, but the closer one looks at the process, the more flawed it appears. The fact that National Journal is now willing to acknowledge that its John Kerry ranking in 2004 was bogus is hardly reassuring — if the magazine was wrong then, perhaps it’s not quite reliable now?"


Russ Feingold-10
Chris Dodd-23
Bernie Sanders-4
Sheldon Whitehouse-2
Ted Kennedy-28
Barbara Boxer-8
Tom Harkin-11
Sherrod Brown-27
Jack Reed-14
You were way off on some of them.

What's wrong with "liberal?"

Or are you just dropping by for your paid dump-off.

Damn right!!! What's wrong with being liber?!?!? I'm proud to call myself a LIBERAL. After years of WRONG wingers using liberal in a negative tone, apparently it stuck.

Evainne, I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but SFCWallace has been trolling around TPM for years now. It hasn't done him any good.

I wouldn't say trolling around...It's just discussing the political issues of the day.

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A Canadian I met once told me, "I always thought liberal was conservative light." I tend to agree, but here liberal is almost a communist. Shows you the width of American political spectrum.

That's a good point...the leftwing of your party is at it's strongest in years. Be liberal and be proud, don't be liberal and try to mask it.

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You know you idiots on the right might actually gain some credibility if you actually used your brain and think before you post an obviously sheeplike response. I guess the responses to your post just prove why you are called ditto heads, because you obviously don't recognize cheap, infantile, simple minded talking points. But then again, if you could, we wouldn't have winded up with the 'WORST PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY" the past 7 1/2 years.

Question...I obviously disagree with you, but I don't call you and idiot. You post the same stuff a 90% of the Obama lovers here but I don't refer to your post as "sheepish," why can't 85% of you respond in an adult rational manner to opposing views? Why all the hate? Your guy is the messiah...he's up by 10 points and gonna crush McSame or McNasty or McWhateveryouwanttocallhimthisweek... Right?

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Are you not even going to address the comments that say you are wrong on both counts? Don't care that you are wrong or what?

I am...I just don't stay up all night on this site. I hop on during breaks at work (more evidence that I'm not the paid GOP Troll that I'm so often accused of being).

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What a complete idiot...

maybe you should get C-SPAN. or read a paper.

Read this.

I find this equally as flawed as y'all find my site for rankins. This one says John McCain is the 2nd most Conservative Senator. Don't get me wrong, I wish he were. We don't fear our lable like y'all do. It's just, call McCain what you will "The 2nd Most Conservative Senator" just isn't plausable.

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A review of the rankings by the National Journal - "National Journal defends its liberal-conservative rankings (badly)" at http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/14472.html - points out some of the problems with their methodology.

A quote from the article "Any rankings system that insists, right off the bat, that Joe Biden is more liberal than Russ Feingold and Bernie Sanders is automatically suspect, but the closer one looks at the process, the more flawed it appears. The fact that National Journal is now willing to acknowledge that its John Kerry ranking in 2004 was bogus is hardly reassuring — if the magazine was wrong then, perhaps it’s not quite reliable now?"

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Gutless. Scared. Wimpy.

Rep Boren is a cspan favorite of mine...LOL...helleva righty...and these people who won't endorse the nominee will be remembered...Their logic is based in fear and close mindedness and we want progressive strong dems in congress..basically screw him...

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Yay, another gutless weasel who needs to be traded up.

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What is really strange about this is the fact that his father, former Senator David Boren has endorsed Senator Obam, and did so long before he sewed up the nomination.

Not so strange. Consider Pappa and Baby Bush. I rest my case.

Cut him off

Connecticut for Lieberman needs a House presence

Calm down folks. Dan Boren is barely a Democrat.

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

Read his wiki. This guy still supports the Bush's Iraq adventure. Hell, be glad he isn't supporting Obama.

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I'm starting to think that the biggest headache for the Obama administration is going to be all of these blue dogs who are apparently a fifth column of Tom Delay Republicans with a (D) after their names.

This is why party labels are useless. What is the breakdown in terms of pro-healthcare positions. Or pro-environment positions?

Clinton takes a lot of heat for the '94 mid term losses. But few people bother to note that the kinds of Democrats we lost were Dan Boren clones. It blows my mind that Clinton gets blamed for the Democrats losing those seats. We've re-fashioned our caucus in a more progressive mold and are finally in a position to achieve real progress.

Rep Murphy (PA-8) is a bluedog and an early endorser of Obama. Nothing wrong with bluedogs; just Boren.

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edit: Senator Obama

eric ...any word on Schuler from NC?...I'm concerened he won't be endorsing either...his GOP opponent for the election has come out that he is in favor of impeachment...figure that out...

Mumpower is in favor of impeachment? It will be a little late by then, won't it? Or does he mean he wants to start impeaching Obama from Day One?

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Mumpower supports impeachment of Bush because he won't send massive numbers of National Guard to the border to keep the furriners out. So basically, Bush isn't quite radical (insane) enough for Mumpower, so he should be impeached. Mumpower may turn out to be the best candidate Shuler could have hoped for.

he is probably pursuing purity of the republican party. Chris Mathews said on Morning Joe this morning that polling data that just came out show that in once solid republican districts george bush is MORE unpopular than support for gay marriage.

bush is an albatross, so they're all throwing him overboard.

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The mass exodus of the GOP base will make the defection of these yellow dog types appear insignificant by comparison

But when BO is elected, he'll treat Boren, et al with class as has been his MO throughout this campaign


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He's not a yellowdog, he's a Bluedog, meaning conservative.
A yellowdog Democrat is a person who would vote for a yellow dog as long as he had a D next to his name on the ballot.

These idiots can deliver nothing and only make bad news.

Liebermans, jackasses. Sorry for saying the same word twice.

I thought I was seeing things!

I would understand if dems in red districts just kept their mouths closed on what their intentions are rather than sending out press releases on the matter.

what complete weanies!

they're too scared to be members of a political party, then they are probably too scared to do anything of substance. the goper's or any primary challenger will eat them for lunch.

his loss...will be funny to see how hes treated when he needs something from president obama over the next 8 yrs.

its also funny how the democratic party has about 5 (so far) of the MOST liberal senators. amazing that kerry, kennedy, clinton, obama, boxer all hold that supreme designation.

"the most liberal Senator"

haha.

As a liberal and progressive, I assure you he's not "the most liberal Senator".

I think Clinton even ranks left of Obama. He's a centrist.

But repeat something often enough...

I wish he was more liberal or progressive.

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Clinton definitely does not rank to the left of Obama, and he isn't exactly centrists, but he definitely isn't the most liberal. Feingold is an easy example of someone more progressive in the Senate.

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Ah, and there it is..

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Crap, I lost my original post. Anyway, Obama is definitely to the left of Hillary, and I wouldn't call him a centrist, although he definitely isn't the most liberal either, but he is fairly progressive.

The ratings are obviously a sham, since Kerry was supposedly the most liberal in 2004, imagine that. Feingold is obviously more progressive than either of them, so any ranking that puts Obama or Kerry ahead of Feingold is suspect to say the least.

He won't support the nominee of his party because Obama is not his first choice.

If Obama becomes the President, will this turd-on-a-stick come crawling back and make nice?

I bet.

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Someone (channeling Machiavelli, I suppose) said of Reagan once that he was both loved and feared in Washington, and that it was this emotional duality that underlay his power.

It appears that it is Senator Obama's wont (at least publically) to "rise above it all." It may, however, be time for him to deliver a smackdown. He is, after all, now the leader of the Democratic Party. Enforcing some party discipline, I think, would do him well.

I'm wondering how long it will be before Speaker Pelosi and Reps. Emmanuel and Van Holen have a little "come to Jesus" moment with these congressmen re: their especial chattiness with the press regarding these non-endorsements?

I'm wondering how long it will be before Speaker Pelosi and Reps. Emmanuel and Van Holen have a little "come to Jesus" moment with these congressmen re: their especial chattiness with the press regarding these non-endorsements?

Not very long.

There you go, maybe Obama should jump him in the hallway and show him who runs this place now...that'll get some votes.

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funny how you completely ignored the responses that smacked down your earlier silly statement(s) - only to come back and toss off this equally childish one.

way to go.

That is his habit.

Check the time of the posts...all the smacking took place after I left work...I have other interests after 4:45 pm. I do return in the morning to address the ones I can...I mean there's no response to "You're a complete idiot."

Sarge STFU...GYHOYA..i DON'T CARE IF IT IS LIBERAL OR RIGHT WING ALL i WANT IS SANE.
Mccaine ain't.

ewwww, Boren is a cosponsor of H.R. 25, the FairTax Act

which replaces the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and all federal income taxes (including corporate taxes and capital gains taxes), as well as payroll taxes (including Social Security and Medicare taxes), gift taxes, and estate taxes with a national retail sales tax.

Now that's a Democrat I can get behind. Have you even looked into the Fair Tax?

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It's a sham. Another way to transfer wealth from the middle class to the very wealthy.

That's what he wants. He thinks he can kick down, climb up and get away from us unwashed masses. That's why he's here. To tell us so.

Yep, I've looked into it, or else I wouldn't be offering the opinion: ewwwwwww.

Another thing I dislike about it, the name, Fair Tax. Anytime something bares a name like that, be skeptical. Example, people did not like "New World Order." Globalization didn't go over too well, but is making a comeback. Free Trade - now that is something we can all get behind. I hate the way the confuse people with the naming of things.

Since you're into it, I'm sure you know my arguments against it. But here's what I like about it as it stands, the rebate to low income citizens, I think that goes a long ways into finding equity into the system. Now, add something to the other end of the spectrum (for corporations and the super rich), and you might be working with something I could get behind.

I'm also not so sanguine to believe that no policing (IRS like division) agency will be needed, nor that Congress would amend it to favor or disfavor one way or another.

I ain't deaf to a consumption tax.

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The "Clear Skies Initiative" undermined decades of work to clean up our air.

You gotta get off of "Tax the Corporations" kick. Corporations pay ZERO tax! Any increase in their cost is passed directly to the consumer or they go out of business. If I'm selling pencils, and you put a windfall pencil tax on me guess what? The price of pencils is going up. As for the super rich, the fix is built in...what's the point of being rich if you don't buy stuff with the money. Taxing the consumtion of goods and services by the super rich will do the trick. It's fair...
Spend 20,000 a year pay 4,000
200,000 pay 40,000
2,000,000 pay 400,000
What's not fair about that?

ewwww, Boren is a cosponsor of H.R. 25, the FairTax Act

which replaces the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and all federal income taxes (including corporate taxes and capital gains taxes), as well as payroll taxes (including Social Security and Medicare taxes), gift taxes, and estate taxes with a national retail sales tax.

What a Wuss!

He oughta listen to his old man, former Oklahoma Senator David Boren, who endorsed Obama in April, along with Sam Nunn:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/18/sam-nunn-david-boren-endo_n_97435.html

Former Senator David L. Boren said, "I am joining Senator Barack Obama's advisory team on foreign policy and national security because I believe it is my duty as a citizen to do all I can to help our country at this critical moment. Our strength is declining. Eighty-one percent of Americans believe we are headed in the wrong direction. We must act quickly to meet and overcome the challenges we face.

"Our most urgent task is to end the divisions in our country, to stop the political bickering, and to unite our talents and efforts. Americans of all persuasions are pleading with our political leaders to bring us together. I believe Senator Obama is sincerely committed to that effort. He has made a non-partisan approach to all issues a top priority.

"Senator Obama is also a person of sound and good judgment. He had the good judgment more than five years ago to warn against our involvement in this tragic and costly war. He also understands the need to repair our partnerships with other nations and to more effectively use diplomacy to serve our national interests.

"It is my hope that in sharing what I have learned during my time in public service, I will be helping my country."

What a piece of crap.

I know Obama's not a vindictive guy, but having a full array of negative and positives incentives in your quiver is part of being an effective politician.

I have no doubt that names are being taken down, as they should be.

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Real men don't endorse Nobama. Only wusses and queers do!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^MORON ALERT^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

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Sorry to burst your bubble, Aimey May, but Hillary was easily the favorite in the GLBT community. You may want to edit that to just wusses...

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Congratulations!

Your post has rung up another $10 for the Troll Fund for Obama!!

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/06/troll-fund-for-obama.php

TROLL FUND FOR OBAMA - $40 (and counting)

I already spent my alottment for the week.

Not vindictive? He already accosted an old man on the Senate floor.

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We need some kind of rating system so we can hide posts from idiot trolls like this guy.

...and yours was so inciteful?

Oh, geez. You're on the wrong site, "soldier" boy.

He's one of the Froll Footies of McCain's intertube missionary programs.

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Thank God someone finally took Lieberman to task for being a Republican't in Democratic clothes. Why the HELL did Gore put this guy on this ticket and give him a national stage for his smarmy crud.

Hit 'em again, hit 'em again, harder, harder.

Sarge too bad it wasnt you.

don't worry about it wallace is a leg and a REMF.

Leg yes...REMF Never! 19D for 24 years.

Y'all were worried about getting the support of Hillary voters....try to get the support of the elected members of your party first...lol

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...good luck bringing your base together, buddy

Meanwhile, Obama confers in Chicago with prominent evangelical leaders, further eroding the dottering hypocrite's support

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This asshole isn't a Democrat, he is a scum sucking Republican, and I'm not worried at all about Hillary's supporters not voting for Obama, but thanks for your concern.

If I were MCcaine I would be worried about the enlisted and thier families vote. you cav puke.

Ha ha...Cav Puke! Been awile since I was called that...Thanks.

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These fake ass conservative Dems piss me off. I'd much rather kick their asses to the curb and have a Republican in their spots than have those pieces of shit smelling up the Democratic Party. The only good they do us is in determining who has the majority (we can't count on them for votes), and our majority is more than secure, so screw them, cut their asses off from DCCC funding if they won't support the presidential nominee and let them fight for their own survival if they want to see what every man for himself really looks like.

Weasels like these are why we need to keep upgrading our members of Congress in primaries, so we can weed out these jackass fake Democrats.

There you go...charge to the left as fast as you can...Mondale may end up with a larger % of the vote.

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I wouldn't call replacing a guy who is hard right "charging to the left", I didn't say the guy had to be the most liberal member of Congress, I just said he should at least act like an actual Democrat.

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And I do love that you are talking shit about Mondale and our electoral chances when you idiots keep losing your asses, even in deep red districts.

What an idiot..

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All those who can say that they are better off than they were eight years ago, should vote for McCain. All the rest should vote for Senator Obama.

Quick Quiz for SFC Wallass: Which George is a greater war hero? George W Bush or George McGovern?

One was Chicken Hawk cokehead with, for all intents and purposes an Air National Guard deferral.

The other is a true hero who killed more Nazi bastards than you can count and one of the greatest liberals of his Generation.

U go now..U been here too long.

You are correct, George McGovern was. I don't, however, agree with your classification of Guard members as civillian chickenhawks, but since you obviously haven't served in any capacity yourself I understand your confusion. Now same quiz to you. Who was the bigger war hero? John McCain or Barak Obama? (The question obviously has some relavence since you initially posed it).

No wonder you cav puke

good idea...cut off the DNC funds for their re-election. I like that idea and let's send that message to Howard! I'm going to do that!

He's not even for mandates on health care. How is he the most liberal senator?

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Mandates don't make it any more progressive, they just make it a political liability. Mandates don't work, especially unenforced mandates like Hillary's health care plan had.

Having said that, neither of them pursued truly universal health care, instead they had bandaid solutions which, while better than the status quo and McCain's plans, are still far from what we need.

If you are going to hold up something as an example of progressive health care, don't hold up worthless mandates, hold up Kucinich's health care plan.

We need every Democrat we can get. If someone in a conservative district needs a little cover, give them slack. Obama has in the past. That is why he voted Present.

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A lot of people showed quite some class here! With crazy people like you supporting Nobama, I'm getting more and more confident he will lose bigger and bigger in November. Ohio governor just said Obama has about even chance to win Ohio, which is an overestimation, in my view. This man will lose MI for sure with all the problem surrounding the black mayor of Detriot and McCain won Michigan big against Bush in 2000. Nobama may actually have the best to chance to win PA among the big 3 or PA, MI, and OH. I am highly confident that Nobama will lose at least two out of these three states. With FL totally gone with no poll showing Nobama within any distance of McCain, tell me how Nobama can re-shape the map and win.

LOL!!!