Obama is first candidate in 20 years Sen. Conrad has endorsed

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obama-battles-back-on-experience-question-while-wooing-undecideds-2007-12-30.html

Obama battles back on experience question while wooing undecideds
By Aaron Blaker: 12/30/07 5:02 PM
December 30, 2007

snip//

Obama also brought up charges that he is too nice and lacks the ability to effectively use anger. Edwards has campaigned extensively on a passionate anti-corporate message and has talked about the need to get tough on health insurance and drug companies and not negotiate with them.

Obama, who previously has said he would sit down with antagonistic foreign leaders without preconditions, said Sunday that everyone would have a seat at the table when formulating health care policy. He pledged to broadcast health care negotiations with insurance and drug companies, which Obama insisted wouldn’t have undue influence.

"This notion of anger, that somehow change is going to come because we’re hollering at folks, that we’re going to turn up the heat on Republicans – there’s no shortage of anger in Washington," Obama said. "We don’t need more heat; we need more light."

The event also drove home the fact that Obama opposed the war in Iraq from the start. Edwards and Clinton both voted to authorize the use of force in that country.

Sen. Kent Conrad, a red state Democrat from North Dakota, said at the rally that Obama’s opposition to the war was the first thing that drew him to the Illinois senator’s candidacy.

Obama is the first presidential primary candidate Conrad has endorsed during his two decades in the Senate.

"I believe that Barack’s candidacy is so compelling that it requires the rest of us to stand up and be counted," said Conrad, who was one of 23 senators to vote against the war. He added: "Some will say he doesn’t have enough experience; but he had enough experience to get that decision right."

[msongs]

1. Conrad... Conrad... Conrad Burns, is that you? nt

[NYCGirl]

2. The article says "Kent Conrad." Reading comprehension problems? NT

[Jane Austin]

3. Kent Conrad is THE budget expert on Capitol Hill.

He's the one who explains it to everyone else. :)

He is one smart Congressman.

[NYCGirl]

5. Thank you, jane!

:thumbsup:

Edited to add: I know little about him.

[NI4NI]

6. Conrad is brilliant on budget issues n/t

[Cha]

14. What is it with you hit and run

hillary surrogates? Post something stupid and then head for the hill.

[sandnsea]

4. Very impressive

I hope it turns some votes in Iowa.

[AtomicKitten]

7. "We don’t need more heat; we need more light."

"The real gamble in this election is playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expecting a different result." * Barack Obama

K&R

[Nutmegger]

8. Congratulations Obamaites.

Great Endorsement.

R&K

[DemKR]

9. Your hero Kent Conrad voted for Alito, Roberts...DINO n/t

[ellacott]

11. Chris Dodd, Russ Feingold, Patrick Leahy and Carl Levin also voted for Roberts

I doubt many would consider them DINOs.

[Jane Austin]

12. Did DINOs vote against the war?

In 2002?

[Colobo]

13. You and your hatred...

[UrbScotty]

15. Clinton voted for the IWR - and Edwards co-sponsored it

People in glass houses...

[Renew Deal]

16. You've got a Hillary avatar and you're calling other people DINO's?

:rofl:

[BeyondGeography]

10. Great endorsement...says a lot that Conrad would stick his neck out

for a first-termer like Barack. Tells me there's a whole new no-bullshit, good government culture waiting to bubble up in this party once we work the Clintons out of our system.

[Cha]

17. That would be

grand! I like the way you put that.

[College Liberal]

18. This is Big

I am sooooo happy....


Go Obama....