Congresswoman Kilpatrick withdraws Dean Endorsement

[Nicholas_J]

Posted on Sun, Feb. 08, 2004

Congresswoman Kilpatrick withdraws Dean endorsement
Associated Press

DETROIT - U.S. Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick on Sunday withdrew her endorsement of presidential candidate Howard Dean, who came in second in Michigan's Democratic caucuses behind John Kerry.

"I believe that Gov. Howard Dean, Dr. Dean, is an experienced leader and has a plan to bring health care to our nation's families and quality jobs back to America," Kilpatrick said in a statement. But, she noted, "the people of Michigan and my constituents in the 13th Congressional District have spoken."

Kilpatrick had campaigned for Dean in Michigan and was the only member of state's Congressional delegation to have endorsed Dean, who received 17 percent of the votes in Michigan's caucuses. Kerry, a U.S. senator from Massachusetts, finished with 52 percent.

"I congratulate Sen. Kerry on his victory," said Kilpatrick, who added that she "will strongly work for and support the Democratic nominee" in November's general election.


http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/7907833.htm

[arewethereyet]

1. I've been telling you guys to not count superdelegate votes

they're meaningless till June.

[Hoppin_Mad]

2. The real news is that she chose NOT to endorse the winner Kerry -nt-

[Nicholas_J]

5. She said she will support the party nominee

Which means whoever has the most delegates gained from elections' she will support come the convention. Do not be surprised if you see superdelgates supporting Dean withdrawing their support to recognize the will of their constituency. Which means Dean will begin losing delegates, and fall further behind. Superdelegates have never really gone against the will of their constituencies in any great numbers.

[blm]

6. THAT'S the real news to you?

I think it would have been in poor taste for her to turn around and support someone else by name.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. Ouch! You're right.

Ask Howard Dean if he feels the same way.

[quinnox]

3. Here it goes

First Afscme, now congressional endorsements are going to start to be withdrawn. Lordy, the rate of the Dean collapse has been stunning.
I think his other major union, SEIU, might go after Wisconsin.

I'm starting to wonder if Dean will stay in regardless till super tuesday - he seems a stubborn type - and then possibly suffer an embarrassing defeat in his home state of Vermont. I hope Dean has enough class not to let this happen.

[ShaneGR]

4. She fought really hard for Dean on Crossfire a week ago

Kind of depressing how quickly that campaign melted down.

[Toucano]

8. No big deal.

It is natural for her to support the candidate her constituents supported, now that they've had a say.

Had she withdrawn her support prior to the MI primary, that would have been news.

[Mass_Liberal]

9. that sucks

is it just me, or is an indorsement a show of faith in the person, not just on whether they win initial primaries? It seems to me Dean got a lot of endorsements from fair-weather friends.

[Mairead]

12. "is an indorsement a show of faith in the person"

Not by most politicians it's not. Most political endorsements are quid-pro-quo, nothing more.

It's the endorsements by people who've nothing to gain or lose that are the real ones. I'm sure Dean has received many endorsements from people who feel great pain at how things seem to be turning out, but who will not bail out on him.

[Desertrose]

13. seems to say more about the *endorser* than the *endorsee*....

I've never been a Dean supporter but I do feel for him these days...just a little anyhow. Good lesson for everyone not to get too cocky hwhen your guy is ahead....sooner or later things equal out....called *instant karma* I believe.

Still, bummer how everyone can change their mind when you'd think it would sure be swell if they didn't.

Peace
DR

[Mairead]

15. I feel for him too, DR, and Goddess knows I don't support him

but these days have to be miserable for him as a human being.

[Desertrose]

16. yeah, I never thought I'd utter those words either.....

but, I guess we all get our lessons in whatever form we need them...doing it in the public eye always sucks though.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

10. Maybe I'm naive, but this kind of thing really bothers me

Is it normal for someone to withdraw an endorsement? Before this election I had never heard of it happening, but maybe I just don't know my history. In any case, I think it sucks, and not just because it's happening to my candidate. It leaves me with a couple of questions:

1. What was the point of these endorsements originally, if they can be withdrawn as soon as the campaign doesn't meet expectations? Are they probationary or something?

2. Where were these people when Kerry's campaign was in trouble a few months ago, when he could really have used their help?

Obviously, this is a free country and people can endorse or not endorse whoever they want, but I think there's something to be said for standing by your decision and taking responsibility for it.

[NNN0LHI]

11. This was an endorsement, not a suicide pact

This Congresswoman has constituents that she has sworn to represent. A majority of her constituents have spoken and she was listening. She is only abiding by their wishes. What else would you expect her to do?

Don

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

14. Well, like I said

this particular situation is a new one to me. I wasn't aware that people could withdraw endorsements --- I just sort of assumed there were no "do-overs".

Just for me, personally, I wouldn't withdraw an endorsement on the basis of my candidate's poor performance. If he was spotted at a Klan rally or had criminal charges against him that would be one thing, but this seems unnecessarily harsh to me.

[ScreamingMeemie]

17. Unfortunately, this time around, a majority of her constituents didn't

get to speak as witnessed by the threatened lawsuit coming out of Detroit. Wrong caucus sites...closed caucus sites. She represents Detroit, and right now they are angry with the outcome. :hi:

[Debi]

18. And to think

Michigan wanted to hold the 'First in the Nation' caucuses.

When asked about the mix-up on Hardball - all the Michigan Governor could do is talk about how great the Kerry win was...didn't she care that some people weren't allowed a voice?

[NNN0LHI]

19. You say a "majority" didn't. I have seen no evidence of that

If you have seen some evidence of that I would like to see it. Thanks in advance.

Don

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. You'll see it. It's the only news in Detroit this afternoon. Believe me,

you'll see it. :hi:

[NNN0LHI]

21. I found 1 article in 2 Detroit papers and no "majority" of voters...

...mentioned as you suggested in your post. May want to take a peek for yourself? If you find something different let me know as this issue does concern me. Thanks and take care.

Don

http://www.detnews.com

http://www.detnews.com/2004/politics/0402/09/a01-58978.htm

http://www.freep.com/

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. I worked on phone banking for the Michigan vote. It was not 6 caucuses

that were messed up and they knew about this problem a month ago. We found out when we were calling people. Democratic Party told us they fixed it. The caucuses were not all allowed to stay open 2 hours later. Many people reported that their caucuses were closed. You might want to see if you can catch WJR AM 950. This isn't going away. I won't let it. It has nothing to do with who wins, but everything to do with fairness to the voters. This is an utter mess.

[nancyharris]

23. Wait until

VP Gore withdrawals his Dean endorsement. There will come a time, perhaps at the convention, that VP Gore will endorse Senator Kerry.