Election Central Morning Roundup
Bobby Rush: We Have Three Hispanic Senators, Two Asians, 11 Women, But No African-Americans
In an appearance last night on Larry King Live, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) kept up his racial rhetoric in backing the Senate appointment of Roland Burris, declaring there is a "higher principle" at work:
"We've got three Hispanics. We've got two Asians. And we have 11 women. And we have just untold number of others," Rush said. "But I'm telling you, the fact that we have no African-Americans should be -- should make most fair-minded Americans very, very angry."
Rep. Davis (D-IL): I Was Offered The Appointment To Obama's Senate Seat
Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) told the Chicago Sun-Times that an attorney for Gov. Rod Blagojevich told him last week that he was being offered the appointment to Barack Obama's Senate seat. Davis is an African-American, like Roland Burris -- but unlike Burris, Davis turned it down.
Report: Obama Family Moving To D.C. This Weekend
Barack Obama and his family will reportedly move to Washington this weekend, in order for the children to start school on time after the holiday season. The family will live in a Washington hotel until Jan. 15, when they'll move to the Blair House.
Obama Visits Old High School, Also Gets Picketed At Vacation Compound
Barack Obama's attempted vacation in Hawaii brought him to his old high school in Hawaii, along with visits to the zoo with his daughters and a stop by his late grandmother's apartment. In addition, pro-Palestinian activists have been picketing his vacation house, calling for a change to America's pro-Israel policies.
Obama Dismisses 90 Bush Pentagon Appointees
The Obama transition team has told roughly 90 Bush political appointees in the Pentagon that they will not be staying on after Obama is sworn in, a demonstration of how Obama will be changing the lineup at Defense even while simultaneously keeping Robert Gates. However, only about 90 political appointees were sacked out of roughly 250 total, after Gates sought to keep his team in place.
DeGette Takes Herself Out Of Running For Colorado Senate Seat
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) has withdrawn her name from consideration for appointment to Ken Salazar's seat in the Senate. Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter has a lot of other choices to pick from, and polling data thus far has suggested that any of the notable Democrats would start out as the frontrunner to hold the seat in 2010.
Clinton Team Refutes Report About Return Of Caroline Kennedy Check
The Clinton team has shot down a report from the New York Post that implied there was some ill will in the return of a 2007 donation from Caroline Kennedy. The returns were done this past August, and were refunded to everyone who had donated any money earmarked for a hypothetical Hillary Clinton general election campaign.
I'm glad these Palestinians are actually doing something - even if it is disrupting his vacation a little. I'm not taking sides, but this has to stop - a lot of innocent people on both sides are dying - I guess I'm on the sides of the victims. I'm glad they are reminding Obama to do the right thing. They are also keeping him out of that bubble he wanted to avoid.
December 31, 2008 9:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
The problem is ... when P.E. Obama is able to do something, they may all be dead. They should be picketing Bu$h ... he's the one that is able to something about what's going on.
December 31, 2008 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know, but it seems as though Obama became President on Nov. 4th - everyone and their mama has been demanding that he steps in on every crisis.
December 31, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
What? Obama dismisses 90 political appointees for political reasons!!! Here comes the hue and cry demanding an investigation...
December 31, 2008 9:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
...starting with you?
December 31, 2008 9:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess limp, flaccid attempts to equate a typical change in administrations with Bush's corrupt DOJ is all you losers have at this point.
Enjoy your permanent minority status!
December 31, 2008 9:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
The point is ALL political appointees are appointed and removed for political reasons, that's why they called "political appointees"...y'all tear you clothes and wail in defience when a Republican does it and it's just business as usual when it's your guy.
December 31, 2008 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, in the past, whether it was Clinton taking over from Bush the First or Bush the Second taking over from Clinton, appointees like these 250 in the Pentagon are all replaced with the incoming President's appointee. What is unprecdented is that Obama is keeping 160 of Bush's appointees. This was announced earlier this month, and I got into with it another poster here at TPM because I defended the decision, the debate being continuity during the transition versus keeping people from Bush's "war machine."
December 31, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Have you ever heard of "appointments in good faith" ? There is an ocean of difference between what the shrub and the neo-cons did to what Obama is doing. But then, being a typical repub, you wouldn't get it.
December 31, 2008 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm...I always considered myself more of an atypical repub...
December 31, 2008 11:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
Cut the Sarge some slack. He's heavily sedated - easier to accept the GOP doctrine without questioning.
December 31, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Are you trying to compare this to the DoJ firings? Because that turkey won't fly.
December 31, 2008 9:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
If/when Obama starts dismissing large numbers of his own political appointees, then you can hue and cry.
December 31, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
7 out of 93 = "large numbers"...?
December 31, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Family members in Chicago told me that Blago also offered the Senate seat to State senator Emil Jones, who is African American. Jones turned him down, too.
How pathetic is Burris? Not only does he take a tainted appointment from a corrupt governor; he does so after every other black pol in Illinois has said "no thanks."
Burris has wanted to be in the Senate in the worst way. If he gets there, he will have done so in the worst way.
December 31, 2008 9:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
...not "every" one, Rush would've taken it just to spite Obama.
December 31, 2008 9:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
I said "every" other one who got the offer said no. Rush was not offered the seat so your comment about what he would have done is off track and goofy. What else is new?
December 31, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually you said "...every other black pol in Illinois..." but I was just making conversation...don't worry, it won't happen again.
December 31, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Promise?
December 31, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who is this "other black pol in Illinois" named Rush of whom you speak?
December 31, 2008 1:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
His bio:
http://www.supposedlyreformedsixtiesradicals.org/panthers/Rush.asp
December 31, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks. I haven't been keeping up on the local/regional tempest-in-a-teapot IL politics. It does have its amusing farcical aspects, though.
December 31, 2008 1:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
FYI, IL politics = amusing farcical aspect (and I only lived there 5 years).
December 31, 2008 1:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
The only thing I'm angry about is Rush's obnoxious use of identity politics.
December 31, 2008 9:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with Rich in NJ. The only thing I am upset with is the using of the race card.
Other than that I think Burris should be seated. Blago has the right to appoint and he used it. He appointed a very well qualified and well respected candidate without any scandal. The Senate has no reason to reject him other than Blago appointed him and that is not enough.
As far as Emil Jones and Danny Davis not taking the appointment...they are current political figures. They have reason to preserve their political viability. Burris is basically retired and he saw this as a chance to get back into government. What is wrong with that? Do we really think that ambition has no role to platy in politics....as if Obama ran for President for only selfless reasons?
December 31, 2008 9:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
If that was the case (Obama doing it for selfless reasons) that would actually disturb me. I want an ambitious President because to be great, you must affect people's lives.
Alot of people ask, "why would anyone want to be President during a time like this?" Of course the answer is, they all want to be the next FDR, remembered in history forever for the changes they made in American lives.
December 31, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
If the Senate backs down and seats Burris, it will ONLY be because Burris is black. Talk about racism. They stated weeks ago that they would not accept an appointment from Blago. If they give in because Blago appointed a black person, they will be just like all of the Senate Democrats who were afraid to vote against Clarence Thomas simply because he was black.
We just elected the first black president; there's no need to prove anything by taking this wimpy, unimpressive, desperate clown into the Senate.
December 31, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Burris is totally qualified to fill in for Obama having been comptroller of the state of Illinois for years as well as attorney general. Get off the race thing.
The fact is they can't refuse to seat Burris. And there is no reason Burris shouldn't have accepted the appointment since Blagojevich hasn't been convicted of anything. Blagojevich is doing what he's supposed to do as governor of Illinois.
Hate Blago all you want but the Burris pick was good given how qualified he is...not to mention having stayed squeaky clean while an Illinois pol. There is nothing wimpy nor unimpressive about him. Not sure how hes desperate either given that hes 71 and has been out of service now for quite awhile.
December 31, 2008 4:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am african american and Rush is totally pissing me off. To basically say that if you try to stop Burris from being a Senator you are a racist is beyond appauling. Don't "hang and lynch" Burris is all that you need to remember to realize that is EXACTLY what he means.
December 31, 2008 10:04 AM | Reply | Permalink
Now you know how it feels to be on our side...
December 31, 2008 10:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
"Now you know what it feels like to be on our side"
Ummm - Yeah, we all know that feeling. I'm labeled a traitor
->because of my political affiliation.
->because I believe that accused "terrorists" ought to have the right to counsel and access to the courts.
->because I oppose allowing the executive (of either party) to spy on citizens without a warrant.
December 31, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
The difference is reasonable people like me don't call you a traitor for holding those views whereas I'm called a racist here at least once a week...
December 31, 2008 11:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
Freepers accused of being racists are like the Palestinian civilians getting blown up because they let terrorists launch rockets from their houses.
Collateral damage.
December 31, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
...but I'm not a "Freeper," since this is the only site I comment on (political site anyway, I hit AGS occasionally).
December 31, 2008 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmm...I just looked "freeper" up at UrbanDictionary...#14 One who analyzes and recommends action with regards to political matters from the perspective of logic and rationality, rather than rabid emotion. Maybe you're on to something...
December 31, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why is Bobby Rush playing racial politics, but Jesse Jackson Jr. wasn't when he threatened African American superdelegates supporting Hillary with getting primaried or "Do you really want to be the one voting no to a black president?"
Some consistency please. If's A-ok for racial politics to be used for Obama, why not for Burris?
December 31, 2008 10:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Find someone who said it was OK for Obama to use "racial politics" who now says it's not OK for Bobby Rush to do so. Maybe I missed it. Did Jesse Jackson, Jr. lambast Bobby Rush?
December 31, 2008 12:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmm you weren't here at the time. That said, there were plenty of people here defending JJJ statement. I refuse to call people out personally. But for the ones that did or who honestly agreed with JJJ's remarks at the time, how can you argue that Rush is wrong
December 31, 2008 1:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why not call people out personally? If someone here is knocking Rush who defended JJ Jr., please call them out. If there's not, keep the primary war garbage where it belongs: in the past.
December 31, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
i'm not sure about the exact details of what JJ Jr. supposedly said to black super delegates; but it seems like a pretty obvious statement of fact to say that black politicians from districts that heavily supported obama, who chose to ignore that and support clinton might experience a backlash from those same voters when it came time for re-election. they were still entitled to do what they wanted with their super delegate vote, but i find it hard to imagine that they weren't aware of the very real potential of their constituents reacting badly to it, just like they might react badly to any number of decisions their representatives make. you don't have to be a genius to recognize that this would be a possibility, voters do indeed respond to the actions of their elected officials; i'd hope they know that without anyone pointing it out to them.
bobby rush on the other hand is an idiot that is trying guilt democratic senators into seating burris; it has absolutely nothing to do with the wishes/opinions of their constituents.
December 31, 2008 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Great reasoning - which is why Tedy Kennedy and John Kerry switched their support to Hillary when she won Massachusetts overwhelmingly? It was baldfaced racial politicking, not about voting with your constituents. And there were plenty of good democrats, African American pols like Stephanie Tubbs Jones or Mayor Nutter in Philly who were tarnished as Aunt Jemimas or sell outs because they chose Hillary instead of Obama.
Now you folks want to criticize Bobby Rush for arguing that the Senate should have a single black Senator? As an African American Hillary supporter who tired of the racial politicking played during the primary, I call bullshit. If you lived by racial politics in the primary (successfully), how can you criticize others doing the same?
December 31, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Actually, that's not what moja31 said at all. I disagree with his interpretation of JJ's comments, but what you claim to be his 'reasoning' does not reflect anything he actually wrote. Perhaps you should drop the bitterness and actually read people's comments. Better yet, perhaps you should drop the bitterness and not make dishonest arguments about some mythical group of "you folks."
December 31, 2008 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I read the post, but it doesn't make sense to me. If someone argues that people should be wary of getting "primaried" if they vote against the wishes of their consituents, why was that argument only being made to black politicians who supported Hillary? It was racial politicking. And it was overt where someone came out and made that argument EXPLICITLY.
Contemporaneous account of the "you folks" to which I've referred: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8762.html
JJJ's argument was will you be the one to stand in the way of the first Black president. Rush's argument is will you be the one to stand in the way of the only Black senator. The arguments are comparable.
December 31, 2008 1:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry here is the link to the article:
http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1713596,00.html
December 31, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Huh? We're really going to play the "you're responsible for everything another Obama supporter said during the primary" game? The primaries are over, and a good number of us Obama supporters were and are of the opinion that JJ Jr. is a counterproductive blowhard... so take your bitter and contorted reasoning back to March when someone might have given a damn.
December 31, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, the primaries are over. Doesn't mean folks don't get called out for intellectual dishonesty and shifting principles. So if you had no criticism for Jesse Jackson Jr. AT THE TIME, kind how can you criticize Bobby Rush now? Either racial politicking is wrong or it isn't - and if it's wrong, then why were people defending it in Obama's favor? I know it's easier to pretend the primaries never happened, but I just can't help calling out hypocrisy when I see it especially when it is so glaring. :)
December 31, 2008 1:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
So, by your logic, since you're a Clinton supporter, that means you implicitly endorse Geraldine Ferraro's racial politicking, so that makes you a hypocrite too!
How about we set aside the generalizations? If you have a problem with someone, raise it with them, don't go yammering about hypocrisy unless you can make a specific claim towards someone.
December 31, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why am I a hypocrite? I never thought Geraldine Ferraro made racist statements or engaged in racial politicking. I would defend her statements now as I did then. She didn't wonder aloud if Obama cried for Katrina. She certainly did not pressure white super delegates to vote for Hillary because she's white - or a woman for that matter. She certainly did not threaten female politicians that if they didn't back Hillary they would be primaried!
BTW Geraldine Ferraro stepped down from the campaign because of the accusations while JJJ remained Obama's national campaign co-chair even with his asstastic race baiting throughout the campaign. So please, Obama benefited from racial politicking. For his supporters to now bemoan someone doing it on behalf of Burris is total and complete BS.
December 31, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jebezus. This is getting tedious. When's the next election?
December 31, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink