Andy Martin says Barack Obama blundered in accepting Dennis Kucinich's support
ANDY MARTIN
Executive Editor
ContrarianCommentary.com
“Factually Correct, Not
Politically Correct”
For Immediate Release:
ANDY MARTIN HANDICAPS THE DEMOCRATS IN IOWA: PART TWO
THE KISS OF KUCINICH: OBAMA MAKES A SMALL SLIP WITH BIG CONSEQUENCES, BAD ONES
WILL KUCINICH'S FLYING SAUCERS BE LANDING TO CAUCUS FOR OBAMA?
(CHICAGO)(January 3, 2008) When the media would challenge President Reagan after his endorsement by controversial groups, he had a stock answer: "They endorsed me; I didn't endorse them." Barack Obama should pay more attention to the Gipper.
A few weeks ago, Obama was encouraging college students to come back to college (in Iowa) early from the Christmas break, to caucus for him on January 3rd. The Chicago newspapers got wind of Obama's entreaties, and called him on seeming to encourage possible double voting. In Chicago, of course, we have a long tradition of "voting early and often." Had Obama learned from Chicago Mayor Ritchie Daley, or his campaign maven Tony Rezko? The senator denied encouraging illegal student voting. The matter dissolved.
Obama is not likely to escape as easily from his stumble on January 1st, when Congressman Dennis Kucinich, running for president to put forward an extreme agenda, "endorsed" Obama as a "second choice." Only for the Iowa caucuses. Instead of ignoring Kucinich, Obama made a classic error that will return to haunt him. Obama's mistake was in accepting Kucinich's "endorsement" and "honoring" DK for making the announcement of support.
The Chicago Tribune's "Swamp" reported that Obama responded to Kucinich's Iowa-only support in a statement saying:
“I have a lot of respect for Congressman Kucinich, and I’m honored that he has done this because we both believe deeply in the need for fundamental change,” he said. “He and I have been fighting for a number of the same priorities -- including an end to the war in Iraq that we both opposed from the start."
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/kucinich_obama_is_my_second_ch.html
Iowa's crackpot caucuses encourage candidates to praise each other, because the Democratic caucuses (unlike the Republican caucuses which engage in "one candidate-one vote" process) are based on the European socialist system of voting with "second choice" balloting for candidates.
Under second choice voting, used by almost all social democracies in Europe, second place votes can be added to a first or second place candidate to determine the winner. In Iowa, supporters of candidates without enough representatives to reach 15% at any caucus can revote for candidates who will then meet the 15% threshold. So Clinton, Edwards, Obama & Co. praise each other, knowing a few second round, second choice, votes could mean the difference between winning and losing.
In 2004, Kucinich made John Edwards his "second choice" and may have propelled Edwards into a second place caucus finish. This time Kucinich's "kiss" of support may prove to be the kiss of death for Mr. Obama.
With Clintonian dexterity, Obama has carefully tried to triangulate away from the extreme left of the Democratic Party that adores him. Indeed, the Democratic blogosphere has begun to criticize Obama for being "too Republican."
Well, Obama has just jetted from being "too Republican" to landing on the lunatic fringe of the Democratic Party in one movement. Will Obama and Kucinich be encouraging flying saucers to land and disgorge potential caucus attendees? (Kucinich has stated he has seen flying saucers.) By being "honored" by Kucinich's support, Obama has aligned himself with the extreme left, in the party where he is striving to appear to be middle-of-the road. Like Dr. Strangelove's uncontrollable arm, Obama's congenital left-wing orientation has popped up when he least needs it.
Now Obama's opponents will be able to tar and feather him for making common cause with Kucinich and his band of loonies. Are Kucinich and Obama kissing cousins on the need for reform? That what they say. That kind of association is precisely what Obama does not need going into Iowa today, and New Hampshire next week.
Kucinich's "kiss" of common cause with Obama may prove to be a very costly the kiss of death in the long run. Obama has received the "endorsement" from hell. In return for meaningless support in one state, Obama has opened the door to allowing himself to be branded as an extremist by his more moderate front-runners.
There will be hell to pay as Democrats realize that Dennis and Barack are perfect together. "Mama, gas up the flying saucer. We're heading for Iowa to caucus for Obama. Kucinich told us to."
What a team.
--------------------------Chicago-based Internet journalist, broadcaster and media critic Andy Martin is the Executive Editor and publisher of ContrarianCommentary.com. He is a chronicler of all things Midwestern and the authentic Voice of Middle America. Copyright Andy Martin 2008. Martin covers national and international politics with more than forty years of experience. Columns also posted at ContrarianCommentary.blogspot.com; contrariancommentary.wordpress.com. Comments? E-mail: AndyMart20@aol.com. Media contact: (866) 706-2639. Andy is currently a candidate for U. S. Senator from Illinois.AndyforUSSenator.com; AndyforUSSenator.blogspot.com, AndyforUSSenator.wordpress.com.
ANDY MARTIN
Executive Editor
ContrarianCommentary.com
“Factually Correct, Not
Politically Correct”
For Immediate Release:
ANDY MARTIN HANDICAPS THE DEMOCRATS IN IOWA: PART TWO
THE KISS OF KUCINICH: OBAMA MAKES A SMALL SLIP WITH BIG CONSEQUENCES, BAD ONES
WILL KUCINICH'S FLYING SAUCERS BE LANDING TO CAUCUS FOR OBAMA?
(CHICAGO)(January 3, 2008) When the media would challenge President Reagan after his endorsement by controversial groups, he had a stock answer: "They endorsed me; I didn't endorse them." Barack Obama should pay more attention to the Gipper.
A few weeks ago, Obama was encouraging college students to come back to college (in Iowa) early from the Christmas break, to caucus for him on January 3rd. The Chicago newspapers got wind of Obama's entreaties, and called him on seeming to encourage possible double voting. In Chicago, of course, we have a long tradition of "voting early and often." Had Obama learned from Chicago Mayor Ritchie Daley, or his campaign maven Tony Rezko? The senator denied encouraging illegal student voting. The matter dissolved.
Obama is not likely to escape as easily from his stumble on January 1st, when Congressman Dennis Kucinich, running for president to put forward an extreme agenda, "endorsed" Obama as a "second choice." Only for the Iowa caucuses. Instead of ignoring Kucinich, Obama made a classic error that will return to haunt him. Obama's mistake was in accepting Kucinich's "endorsement" and "honoring" DK for making the announcement of support.
The Chicago Tribune's "Swamp" reported that Obama responded to Kucinich's Iowa-only support in a statement saying:
“I have a lot of respect for Congressman Kucinich, and I’m honored that he has done this because we both believe deeply in the need for fundamental change,” he said. “He and I have been fighting for a number of the same priorities -- including an end to the war in Iraq that we both opposed from the start."
http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/kucinich_obama_is_my_second_ch.html
Iowa's crackpot caucuses encourage candidates to praise each other, because the Democratic caucuses (unlike the Republican caucuses which engage in "one candidate-one vote" process) are based on the European socialist system of voting with "second choice" balloting for candidates.
Under second choice voting, used by almost all social democracies in Europe, second place votes can be added to a first or second place candidate to determine the winner. In Iowa, supporters of candidates without enough representatives to reach 15% at any caucus can revote for candidates who will then meet the 15% threshold. So Clinton, Edwards, Obama & Co. praise each other, knowing a few second round, second choice, votes could mean the difference between winning and losing.
In 2004, Kucinich made John Edwards his "second choice" and may have propelled Edwards into a second place caucus finish. This time Kucinich's "kiss" of support may prove to be the kiss of death for Mr. Obama.
With Clintonian dexterity, Obama has carefully tried to triangulate away from the extreme left of the Democratic Party that adores him. Indeed, the Democratic blogosphere has begun to criticize Obama for being "too Republican."
Well, Obama has just jetted from being "too Republican" to landing on the lunatic fringe of the Democratic Party in one movement. Will Obama and Kucinich be encouraging flying saucers to land and disgorge potential caucus attendees? (Kucinich has stated he has seen flying saucers.) By being "honored" by Kucinich's support, Obama has aligned himself with the extreme left, in the party where he is striving to appear to be middle-of-the road. Like Dr. Strangelove's uncontrollable arm, Obama's congenital left-wing orientation has popped up when he least needs it.
Now Obama's opponents will be able to tar and feather him for making common cause with Kucinich and his band of loonies. Are Kucinich and Obama kissing cousins on the need for reform? That what they say. That kind of association is precisely what Obama does not need going into Iowa today, and New Hampshire next week.
Kucinich's "kiss" of common cause with Obama may prove to be a very costly the kiss of death in the long run. Obama has received the "endorsement" from hell. In return for meaningless support in one state, Obama has opened the door to allowing himself to be branded as an extremist by his more moderate front-runners.
There will be hell to pay as Democrats realize that Dennis and Barack are perfect together. "Mama, gas up the flying saucer. We're heading for Iowa to caucus for Obama. Kucinich told us to."
What a team.
--------------------------Chicago-based Internet journalist, broadcaster and media critic Andy Martin is the Executive Editor and publisher of ContrarianCommentary.com. He is a chronicler of all things Midwestern and the authentic Voice of Middle America. Copyright Andy Martin 2008. Martin covers national and international politics with more than forty years of experience. Columns also posted at ContrarianCommentary.blogspot.com; contrariancommentary.wordpress.com. Comments? E-mail: AndyMart20@aol.com. Media contact: (866) 706-2639. Andy is currently a candidate for U. S. Senator from Illinois.AndyforUSSenator.com; AndyforUSSenator.blogspot.com, AndyforUSSenator.wordpress.com.
posted by Andy Martin | 11:25 PM
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