Cory Booker is a first rate asshole

[malaise]

That YouTube crap was pathetic.
There goes his political career.

[sadbear]

1. It is amazing how fast his star has fallen here.

[DrDan]

3. it'll swing back in no time

it was the same for DWS back a few years

[sadbear]

7. Wouldn't you know?

Booker will be chair of the DNC one day, won't he?

[progressivebydesign]

30. Ummm no. n/t

[UnrepentantLiberal]

25. DWS?

[RZM]

32. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz n/t

[UnrepentantLiberal]

38. Ah. What did she do that pissed people off?

I forget.

[RZM]

39. I have no idea

Though it's not hard to criticize a politician, especially if you are an anti-establishment type. So it could have been just about anything.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

44. I think that was it.

Too establishment. Too DNC.

[Fuddnik]

42. For starters she endorsed a Repuke over a progressive Dem for Congress in 2006.

Because Ginny Brown-Waite was her friend.

And that's just for starters.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

47. I didn't hear about that. It must have happened

during my GD hiatus. That must have caused a firestorm.

[DrDan]

43. she did not support some fellow-dems because their

opponents were friends of hers - took a lot of heat here

[UnrepentantLiberal]

48. That's just wrong.

Now she's head of the DNC?

[hfojvt]

58. as I recall

she was on TV all the time, supporting Hillary, and slinging excrement at candidate Obama, sort of from a DLC position.

I guess she is back in good graces now that the DLC has been merged with the DNC in a leveraged buy-out.

[TheWraith]

62. Not to mention how fast Krugman went under the bus when he agreed with Obama.

Or the mood swing around here for Andrew Cuomo, between helping pass gay marriage one week and advocating for fracking the next. It's silly to claim that some YouTube video has "destroyed" Booker unless it were a video of him snorting coke off the chest of an underage hooker.

[RZM]

6. What a difference a month makes

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=607908

232 recs is a lot. Though to be fair, not everybody on the thread was singing his praises.

[sadbear]

9. HiPointDem seems to have had him figured out a long time ago.

[RZM]

17. There was a thread on his yesterday

Where Skinner posited that this was perhaps motivated by Booker's desire to run for governor and make some friends among potential donors who work in finance in NY.

New Jersey's a pretty expensive state to run in, since you have to advertise in both the Philadelphia and NYC media markets. Booker is definitely one of a handful of rising stars in the party and this incident might show that he wants to keep rising.

Unfortunately for him, he didn't handle it very well.

[Ned_Devine]

14. Love the Catherine Wheel Chrome avatar!

nt

[RZM]

19. Thanks. You're the first to comment on it

[one_voice]

31. I was one of the ones...

that rec'd that thread.

Today I'm calling him an asshole. He and Harold Ford Jr. With friends like these....

[JNelson6563]

34. And a lot of us didn't want to him run for Prez over it

With a portion of DU the slightest thing can make the mob love or hate someone with the passion of 1000 white hot burning suns.

Julie

[Drunken Irishman]

67. Happens all the time. Especially to unknown people like Booker...

Most people hear one or two good things and instantly want him to run for president. They don't necessarily get the other stuff, the stuff HiPoint pointed out because they don't really know Cory Booker - since they're not in NJ or Newark.

Remember, it wasn't that long ago everyone fell in love with John Edwards.

First impressions can be damaged quite quickly. They say first impressions are everything and in some instances, they are (just ask Obama), but you also have to work to keep that first impression. Booker showed his true self Sunday and I think we're starting to see who he truly is - an economic conservative who might happen to be socially liberal. That last part is good, which was quoted in the OP of that thread. The first, though? No way.

[spanone]

2. tweety is showing a romney ad with cory booker in it already....

oh, they have harold ford jr. too

fuck these fucking fucks

his youtube bullshit has had 11,000 hits compared to almost 3 million watching MTP

[DJ13]

4. At least he revealed his true self before he became a national politician

Too often they keep the mask on long enough to become entrenched in DC before the truth comes out.

[GusFring]

5. Cory Lieberman. I dont even recognize the democratic party.

[madinmaryland]

35. Or Zell Booker!!

[RZM]

8. It would take a whole lot more than this to ruin his career

This is really pretty minor, as far scandals go. It was a political misstep and he will pay a price for it, but not a particularly large one. He broke no laws, violated no serious social taboos, and is not currently in the middle of a high-profile campaign. He'll be fine.

[Fuddnik]

45. Just blame it on smoke inhalation.

[hfojvt]

63. I don't think he will pay any price at all

but then again, predicting is not an exact science.

But he just sent a big, clear message to the 1%, to the corporate donor types. "I am on your side. I am safe. You can donate to my campaign".

The only price he is gonna pay is the cha-ching of corporate dollars falling into his campaign coffers, and he can also paint himself as a "man of integrity, who will tell you what he thinks, even if party leaders don't like it."

Not much of a price, really.

[spanone]

10. is any media outlet playing cory booker's 'walk back' of his Obama criticism???

of course not.

[whathehell]

15. Actually, yes. MSNBC is playing it.

and I still think it's lame.

[malaise]

20. Tweety played it

He will deliver a Booker rant in a few minutes

[spanone]

22. thanks...had to leave for a bit.

[Pirate Smile]

21. It was weak.

[marlakay]

27. The walk back looks like he is forced

Meet the press looked like what he really felt. That is what everyone will see.

And his walk back was not said with power behind it like what he said Sunday. Reminds me of a child being told to say sorry so they turn around and say "sorry" but in a tone of voice you can tell they are not sorry at all....

[progressivebydesign]

33. then Obama's campaign needs to create an ad, now.

it would show what opportunistic lechers the GOP are.

[Pryderi]

11. Why is he doing videos with Chris Christie, and bashing the president? Is he switching parties? n/t

[hrmjustin]

12. Corey has to shut up the rest of this campain.

He has a nice smile so just smile and shut up.

[Demoiselle]

13. I'm sad to say, I have to agree.

All I can figure is that he wants to be the Governor of New Jersey and decided to take a little shortcut of the ass-kissing variety to please all those "private equity" types in the state who might finance his campaign.
I have to admit I enjoyed watching him walk it back today.
What a waste!

[whathehell]

16. Sounds right...What an assinine thing to do.

[malaise]

57. +1,000

One more Harold Ford.

[Starry Messenger]

18. I've been saying this for about two years.

Ed reform shill.

[malaise]

23. Yes you were

He had ReTHUGs popping champagne.
They should expel his ass from the party.
How the hell is he an Obama surrogate?

[Starry Messenger]

37. I don't know either.

As critical as I've been of Obama's education policies, Booker's are def. more to the right. The good thing about guys like this staying in the Dem party is that they are more susceptible to public pressure from the grassroots. If they go to the Republicans, then they will do whatever they want without shame. Such is life in our system, alas.

[Horse with no Name]

60. They are more susceptible to the money on the Koch-right

than they are to the Grassroots.

[CreekDog]

61. psst

Bain and Financial Industry Gave Over $565,000 To Newark Mayor Cory Booker For 2002 Campaign

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101629001

I also think his running for NJ Gov is in part based on not alienating Wall St. folks that live in NJ and commute to Manhattan.

I do think Booker has a lot of admirable qualities though I hate the centrist messaging.

That said, I think the pivot against Obama and to side with financiers is exactly what is destructive not just to Obama, but to Dems including Booker who will rise and fall with his political compatriots. I think even Joe Manchin realized that the days of being seen as independent doesn't buy him anymore votes, and in the long run, probably hurts him. The Sam Nunn strategy is a loser now.

[Starry Messenger]

65. Ouchies.

That's a lot of clams. Looks kind of awkward 10 years later. Well, he'd be a tad better than Christie.

I have strong feelings about the Dems who got their hands into the cookie jar of education reform. I acknowledge the fact that these guys need a lot of money to campaign successfully, but handing education over to Wall Street is a level of suckitude that is hard to come back from. That's not centrist, it's either totally cynical or not really insightful, both of which are not admirable qualities. I'm glad he saved those people from the fire though. And he's not Christie.

[Gin]

24. He had his surrogate talking points in front of him

Thing is......he's a rethug surrogate.......don't fret Corey.......all your big donors still love ya......dumb ass!

[marlakay]

26. Tweety is really talking about it

But this could screw up our campaign all for Cory's personal gain.

He already showed an ad republicans are using showing Cory saying what he did.

I hope Obama uses Bain even more not less. It's almost like Cory wants Romney to win.

[kentuck]

28. He's the future Republican candidate for President...

Don't you think he may be ready to switch Parties? The Repubs would love him!

[rhett o rick]

29. He is a Conserva-Dem. I notice none of DU's conserva-Dems are commenting

on this post.

[bluestate10]

40. Booker is a dumbass. Someone need to put a shoe into his ass.

Romney has gone around making claims about his Bain experience and claiming to create many jobs. The Obama campaign has a moral responsibility to correct the record. Booker is damned blind. This poster has no idea what the fuck Booker is up to. I know that he won't get a dime from me to run for any higher office.

[rhett o rick]

46. But more importantly, he aligns with a significant wing of the Democratic Party.

He is a Conserva-Dem, a DLC'er, a Blue Dog. It isnt just him.

[bluestate10]

53. I am a moderate. Some on DU don't care much for me because of that.

I don't come from the blue dog group, I lean more toward progressives, even when I am pissed with some things progressives stand for. But having stated where I am politically, I can't understand what the fuck Booker and Ford were thinking. Let those two and others like them leave the democratic party, we are fucking better off without them.

[progressivebydesign]

36. He needs the $$ from the Bain execs with estates in New Jersey.

Clearly, he is more about campaign donations and political aspirations, than he is about the Democratic Party, and helping average workers.

I think the sickest thing is that the asshole played right into the hands of the GOP by being an AA who criticized the President, you know their "articulate AA speaking against Obama" strategy that they wet themselves over?? COngrats Booker.. you've handed them their wet dream. How does it feel to be a Democrat featured in an ad for Romney? And how much Wall Street cash do you get in donations???

American workers KNOW that Private Equity firms are the "bane" of the middle class' existence. It's all slash and burn for the American companies they buy and dismantle, and the jobs they send to India to improve their bottom line. Screw Booker... Another Lieberman, it'd be one thing if the guy actually defended something PRINCIPLED, not the sleazebags on Wall Street.

[flamingdem]

41. Howard Feinman tearing into Booker on Tweety

Called Obama "business as usual".

"worried more about his own stance than the presidents" to put it mildly

[rufus dog]

49. Fuck Booker and Ford

Look you dumb ass Mother Fuckers! The Pukes will NEVER back you up, they will throw you under the bus at the first chance. Conversely, you sold out your base. Ford got his when he tried to run for Senator, Booker, FUCK YOU!, you will get yours when you try to take the next step. You are one dumb ass stupid politician.

[flamingdem]

50. They smell desperate

and resentful of Obama, that has something to do with it, must have

[rufus dog]

52. I think they are paid off assholes

STUPID ASS MOTHER FUCKERS, and I put Kucinich in the same group. They take a bit of cash and are used to stop a current movement. Thing is they always get dropped and run over, so they get a short term bump for a long term burial. THEY ARE STUPID ASSED MOTHER FUCKERS!

[bluestate10]

54. I won't contribute a dime to any campaign that Booker or Ford run.

They are dead to me.

[rufus dog]

68. And they don't get that

Because they have the Repuke mindset that we will forget or fall in line. Both of these assholes are done with their political careers, their only hope is a job as a political talking head. Harold Ford probably makes less than 100k being a left wing stooge.

[Horse with no Name]

51. And Harold Ford siding with Booker

Something about friends like this and such.

That being said...hope the DNC pulls any and all funding to these two idiots.

[spanone]

55. harold is a welcome guest on morning joe. that's because he's a rethug who pretends he's a dem

[malaise]

59. +1,000

[Alcibiades]

66. He is and always was

Ford is what happens when Democrats elect someone who is a politician's son or daughter: born into alife of privilege, they are DINOs who have no idea of who their constituents really are: they swoop in during campaign season and head back to Washington, and retire to places like DC, MD, VA and NYC when their careers in politics are done.

I still don't think Booker is as bad as a Ford, though, but that's just because Ford is the worst.

[liberalmuse]

56. I really like him, but...

was disappointed with his Obama/Bain comments. I don't always agree with what he says, but he's a great guy to have on our side.

[Skittles]

64. who?