Rep. Rangel: Obama Not Ready
01 April 2007 1:30 pm by Taylor Marsh
 |
|
Clinton gives Rangel a hug. |
Republicans are in a tailspin over Bush’s war, content to wait out escalation
until the “fall” or late August while we watch our troops and the
Iraqis die by the dozen. Andrew Sullivan says the only thing that can change
that fact is a woman and her name is Hillary Clinton. Talking on Chris Mathews’ half-hour NBC show, Sullivan said that if Democrats decide Hillary is the nominee
the heavens will open and their hatred for Hillary will be the wind beneath
their wings. Her negatives are high, helped out by the oppo research being unfurled and the general attack
dog mentality of the media that is out there in force. So maybe Sullivan is right, but I believe
he’s reading the wrong signals. I think there is great acceptance in many
Republican circles that Hillary not only will be the nominee, but will win in
‘08, which will then bring the Republicans back with a vengeance. But that hardly
matters right now, because first she’s got to get the nomination. Obama is breathing
down her neck, and the steady progress of John Edwards should not be discounted,
especially since Obama tripped over his own inexperience today, while also getting stiff armed by Charlie Rangel. These are not
minor events.
MR. RUSSERT: Let me turn to presidential politics. You encouraged Barack
Obama, the senator from Illinois, to run from president. Why?REP. RANGEL: Because he was a young, attractive minority candidate
that had so much wind under his wings that I told him if he didn’t run,
he’d spend the rest of his life regretting it. I don’t think that
he will be there for the final rounds, but he’s a young candidate, and
he’s got a bright future in the Senate, and he gets another chance at
it in eight years.MR. RUSSERT: You’re supporting Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama. Why?
REP. RANGEL: Well, first of all, she’s an exciting, qualified candidate
with eight years experience in the White House, she’s my junior senator
from New York, and she’s our favorite daughter. And, and quite frankly,
I don’t think anyone comes near to her qualifications to be a great
president.MR. RUSSERT: You don’t think Senator Obama is as qualified as Hillary
Clinton?REP. RANGEL: You don’t mean qualified, of course not. But he’s
exciting, and he’s catching on in terms of popularity. But in terms
of qualification and background, I don’t think anyone says that he has
it now. But it doesn’t mean that bright people can’t acquire the
talents that’re necessary. But at this point in time, I think
it’s fair to say he’s eloquent, he’s bright, and not as
qualified as Hillary Clinton. … ..
Senator Clinton is getting creamed in the press, but women are used to bad press when we step out of our homemaker box, especially when it’s to take on national security issues. But one thing no one can say with any legitimacy is that Hillary is unprepared. She also wouldn’t get caught handing the White House more wiggle room on Iraq, which is exactly what Obama did today.
John Edwards has been strong on Iraq since he moved away from his Iraq vote in the Senate, so you can bet he wouldn’t get tripped
up in the press on this one either.
Mr. Obama illustrated today what Rangel was talking about on “Meet the Press.” It’s great to have
instincts and to have been against the war back in 2002 when you didn’t have to cast a
vote on it, but you can’t live on history forever. I also wonder exactly what Mr. Obama would have done if he’d been a United States senator in ‘02, especially when he tees up beauties like this one.
“I think that nobody wants to play chicken with our troops on the ground,”
said Obama. “I do think a majority of the Senate has now expressed the
belief that we need to change course in Iraq.“Obviously we’re constrained by the fact that a commander in chief who
also has veto power has the option of ignoring that position,” Obama
said.(snip)
The senator said it is up to war opponents to be vocal about their position.
“If the president vetoes this, the American people have to continue
to put pressure on their representatives so that at some point we may be able
to get a veto-proof majority for moving this war in a different direction,”
the senator said. … ..
“I think that nobody wants to play chicken with our troops on the
ground.”?
That is a stupid thing to say. Nobody, especially the Democrats, intend to “play
chicken with our troops on the ground.” I’d like for him to say that to Senator James Webb or the other veteran Democrats in the House. This is an amateur error of the
first order. I only wish it was the only one he made today. However, Mr. Obama goes on to
say that, hey, it’s not my job to push the president and use my senatorial power
to stop a war 60% of the American people want stopped. YOU do it. That’s right, America, it’s your job to provide cover for the senator so he can then get up the spine to do his job. Because
he simply can’t stand up and lead on something like this when Mr. Bush will veto
it anyway. So get busy, will ya?
Just exactly who is playing chicken, Mr. Obama? I’m beginning to think Rangel is right.
