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February 26, 2008

Merkley endorses Obama, Novick endorses ???

Jeff Merkley issued a brief but heartfelt endorsement of Barak Obama yesterday.

"Barack Obama and I share something more in common than simply our determination to change America for the better,” said Speaker Jeff Merkley, “Both of us come from the grassroots, where real change is sewn: Senator Obama was an organizer, committed to public housing in the neighborhoods of Chicago. And I worked with low-income families in need of housing through Habitat for Humanity and Human Solutions here in Portland.

“Both Senator Obama and I understand what it means to empower Americans house-by-house, community-by-community. That's the reason I'm running for U.S. Senate – to put that kind of power back into the hands of everyday Oregonians again. And that's the same reason I'm endorsing Barack Obama for President today."

I honestly have never read as tepid, back-handed an endorsement as the one that Steve Novick issued today, allegedly for Obama. First he starts out repeating all of the major anti-Obama attacks that Hillary has made. To what end? I haven't the foggiest idea! Then he proceeds to reproduce the bulk of a New York Times piece that portrays Hillary Clinton absolutely glowingly. Steve then sums up the NYT piece,

Rarely have I read anything so impressive about an American politician. I felt completely at home with that Hillary Clinton. She’s read the same history I have. (Since she’s a bit older than I am, and she has directly experienced more of it too.) She’s come to the same conclusions. She knows this stuff. She could be a great President.

Novick then turns to criticizing Hillary on a number of subjects before finally devoting a tiny little paragraph to why he's supposedly endorsing Obama,

I am voting for Barack Obama because I believe that he has the self-confidence to base his Presidency on hope, rather than fear. And because, even if I might ultimately be disappointed, I’d rather be disappointed in new ways, rather than the same old ways.

Notice how he talks about the guy he's endorsing strictly in terms of being "disappointed." But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Steve's not done kissing up to Hillary so he devotes the final paragraph to that task,

But if Hillary Clinton becomes our party’s nominee, I’ll support her. And if she becomes President, I will do whatever I can to help her become a great President. I’ll just take that New York Times article along whenever I get a chance to see her. I’ll wave it at her and say, “Madame President, I know that you know what to do. So, as a little Oregon shoe company likes to say – ‘Just Do It!’”

Wow! Not once but twice Steve Novick refers to Hillary in terms of becoming "a great President." And in an "endorsement" of Obama in which he anticipates being "disappointed" in Obma. No "Obama could be a great President." Oh no. That was reserved for Hillary alone.

Is it just me or does the tone of Novick's entire "endorsement" sound like a politician trying to hedge his bets? Or is he leaving the door open to supporting Nader if he loses this primary to Merkley?

Posted by Kevin at February 26, 2008 07:57 AM