Redstate

Posted at 9:42am on Jun. 11, 2008 Sister Souljah For President!

How Many Democrats Will Have A Barack Obama Moment?

By Dan McLaughlin

Oklahoma Democratic Congressman Dan Boren's announcement that he won't be endorsing Barack Obama (covered by Erick yesterday) is a moment of clarity. For much of the campaign, people have been waiting to see how Barack Obama would pivot away from pandering to the Democratic primary electorate to a general election stance. Waiting for him to "triangulate" some distance from his base, waiting for a "Sister Souljah moment," like in 1992 when Bill Clinton denounced that otherwise undistinguished rapper for her comment that black people should take a week off from killing each other and kill white people instead. Obama has had to flee under pressure from his own chuch, he's had to disown or distance himself from a variety of his associates, but those were forced, grudging acts; in no case has he gone out of his way to demonstrate his independence from left-wing dogma, and on some issues (like school choice) he has instead come crawling back timidly after seeming to question the Left's orthodoxy.

By now, it is clear: unlike Clinton or John McCain, when Obama is involved in triangulation, it will be his own party comrades triangulating away from him. Remember, Clinton made such a splash in 1992 precisely because these things had not been done in the past - Dukakis, Mondale and McGovern never did anything to divorce themselves from the Hard Left of the party. By now, it is clear: there will be no Sister Souljah moment by Obama because he is Sister Souljah, the very sort of peace-at-any-price, you-can-never-have-enough-tax-hikes, abortion-in-and-out-of-the-womb zealot that other Democrats need to run away from. Boren's not the first, and he won't be the last one.

Posted in 2008 | Barack Obama | Dan Boren | Sister Souljah — Comments (1)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 8:29pm on Jun. 10, 2008 Compare and Contrast

By Erick

Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK) will not endorse Barack obama. Why? He says Obama is too liberal. In fact, he told the Associated Press that Obama was "the most liberal senator" and he wanted to respect the wishes of his constituents.

Of course he'll vote for Obama, but at least he respects his conservative constituents.

Contrast that behavior with Nick Lampson (TX-22), the most endangered Democrat in Congress. He's all aboard the Obama train. He does not really care about his constituents. Lampson just wants to stay in Washington.

[UPDATE by Moe Lane]: I would also like to note this post - specifically, the update - by Jake Tapper. While I understand the need to push back on potentially embarrassing statements made by others, it's just a little odd that the Obama campaign feels the need to do it to those on Obama's own side. Particularly now that he's been declared the nominee, and everything.

Posted in 2008 | Dan Boren | Nick Lampson | Oklahoma | Texas | TX-22 — Comments (7)/ Email this page » / Read More »