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by Mark Silva and updated with reaction
MoveOn.org is weighing in on the presidential campaign:
Barack Obama, the Democratic senator from Illinois.
He’s their choice for president.
The organization’s vote: Obama 70.4 percent. Hillary Clinton 29.6.
The organization, which has attracted huge controversy for its tactics in protest of the war in Iraq, has decided to back the Democrat who stood against the war from the start – though Obama was not a U.S. senator at the time.
With 3.2 million members nationwide, the organization claims more than 1.7 million in the 22 states holding primaries on Super Tuesday.
The organization’s public image still is recovering from the full-page newspaper ad it ran calling Gen. David Petraeus, commander of multinational forces in Iraq, Gen Betrayus. The “success’’ of his “surge’’ hasn’t helped them.
A Republican Party spokesman said: "It’s no surprise MoveOn.org would endorse the newly crowned ‘most liberal’ member of the Senate.'' (See more reaction below).
Yet this is a solid anti-war endorsement today, and in the Democratic primary, that means something.
“In a resounding vote today, MoveOn.org Political Action’s members nationwide voted to endorse Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for President,’’ the committee announced today. “The group… will immediately begin to mobilize on behalf of Senator Obama.’’
"Obama may claim to unite the country, but he’s only uniting the extreme-left wing of the Democratic Party,'' said Alex Conant, spokesman for the Republican National Committee.
"In an attempt to woo MoveOn.org, both Obama and Clinton voted against troop funding,'' Conant said today. "Considering how MoveOn.org was originally founded to defend the Clintons, this must be a blow to Senator Clinton. Coming after the Kennedy and Kerry endorsements, today’s news begs the question: Why are those most familiar with Clinton’s record rejecting her?”
Obama, of course, is happy for the help: “In just a few years, the members of MoveOn have once again demonstrated that real change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up,’’ Obama said in a statement released by the group.
“ From their principled opposition to the Iraq war – a war I also opposed from the start – to their strong support for a number of progressive causes, MoveOn shows what Americans can achieve when we come together in a grassroots movement for change,’’ the senator said. “I thank them for their support and look forward to working with their members in the weeks and months ahead.”
Eli Pariser, MoveOn.org’s executive director, said: “Our members’ endorsement of Senator Obama is a clear call for a new America at this critical moment in history.
“Seven years of the disastrous policies of the Bush Administration have left the country desperate for change. We need a president who will bring to bear the strong leadership and vision required to end the war in Iraq, provide health care to every American, deal with our climate crisis, and restore America’s standing in the world.’’
Comments
I call upon Sen. Obama to disavow the endorsement of this George Soros-funded hate group.
Posted by: Grabowski | February 1, 2008 1:02 PM
testing
Posted by: jhastings-kiessling | February 1, 2008 1:53 PM
I endorse this action. I am a 47 year old WF Obama supporter (part of the Hillary demographic but NOT) who marched in DC in the day for the ERA -to those of you young things - Equal Right Amendment. My 16 year old daughter doesn't want another Googled world leader who has that 'wife of previous leader' bio notation. Obama + Sebelius or Naploitano will achieve goals of legitimate leadership without the First Lady path that is so 'Eva Peron, last millenium!!!
Posted by: jhastings-kiessling | February 1, 2008 2:01 PM
Obama is just another liberal hate monger. THis is just anohter reason not to vote for this guy. At least HIllary is somewhat moderate along with McCain. Do we really want another Jimmy Carter? Imagine if Companies hired their CEO's on their ability to make a speach. If this guy becomes president it really will just prove to the rest of the world that we are a joke as a people.
Posted by: Vinny | February 1, 2008 2:20 PM
Look, we "elected" Bush twice, and if that did not prove to the world what a joke we are as a people, absolutely nothing will.
Posted by: Jeneiene | February 1, 2008 3:09 PM
"Imagine if Companies hired their CEO's on their ability to make a speach."
Or even their ability to spell.
Posted by: Thomas | February 1, 2008 3:13 PM
MoveOn is a non-issue. Your integrity is in question now! God Bless America! Down with Liberals, especially those associated with MoveOn persons!
Posted by: Donald | February 1, 2008 3:18 PM
what happen to obamas idea of uniting the country.With accepting the endorsement of this organization will only bring divisivness to the democratic party.My vote has alreay moved to Hillary.Hope more people will do the same thing.
Posted by: Rudy Castaneda | February 1, 2008 3:42 PM
The Clintonistas, once again are on the warpath and degrading another endorsment for Mr. Obama!! What's the matter, Clintonistas, things getting a bit too hot for you? People see what the Clintons are all about and, simply put, we DO NOT want that corrupt two-headed monster in our White House again!!!
Posted by: NinaK | February 1, 2008 3:58 PM
I am a 63 y/0 WF Obama supporter. That Hilary can still not admit she made a mistake regading the Iraq vote like Edwards is very telling. Right now we have a president who can not admit his mistakes and see where we are. And, something many seem to have forgotten is that one of the reasons we have a Bush is that the antics of Bill Clinton in regards to Monica brought out the right in full force to vote. This is not Hilarys fault but since they are joined at the hip it goes to electibility. And, why doesn'the media have more to say about all the Clinton/Wal-Mart anti-labor issues.
Posted by: Niki Bowden | February 1, 2008 4:58 PM
MOVE ON .ORG ENDORSES OBAMA...SURPRISE,SURPRISE.
Posted by: Paul Jaeger | February 2, 2008 1:17 PM
This is not true reporting but a regurgitation of MoveOn's lies. You repeat MoveOn's claim that the Obama endorsement was approved by 70% of MoveOn's membership. Do the numbers. MoveOn claims 3.2 million members, and 197,444 votes to endorse Obama. That's 6.2%, not 70%.
As they have done in the past, they came up with a way to try to rig a poll for a preordained result. They claim they require a 2/3 vote to give an endorsement. But they knew there was no way they could get that.
So how did they do that? They provided only one alternative to their decision - Hillary Clinton, whom they know is not that popular among their members. What about MoveOn members who favor Ron Paul? Not allowed to vote. Favor Cynthia McKinney? Not allowed to vote? Favor Mike Gravel? Not allowed to vote? Favor Ralph Nader? Not allowed to vote. Favor someone else? Not allowed to vote. Favor no endorsement? Not allowed to vote.
Many MoveOn members were effectively not allowed to vote. In fact, 91% of MoveOn members did not vote. Because MoveOn didn't count, we don't know how many of those didn't vote because they favored another option, how many didn't get to their email before the very short time frame to vote, or something else.
See MoveOn's 6.2% Landslide at http://tinyurl.com/ys3g6l for more analysis.
Posted by: Bill Samuel | February 2, 2008 3:23 PM
MoveOn's allowing members less than 24 hours to respond to an important endorsement poll is downright undemocratic! Sen. Clinton voted against the Cornyn amendment condemning MoveOn while Sen. Obama ducked the vote. As they say, "No good deed goes unpunished."
Posted by: Rae Lynn Jukkola | February 7, 2008 3:55 AM