Chandler endorsing Obama

U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler, D-Lexington, has scheduled an 11 a.m. news conference Tuesday in Louisville to support U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois for president.

Chandler is a superdelegate who can cast his vote at the August Democratic National Convention for the presidential candidate of his choice regardless of whom Kentuckians choose at the polls in the state’s May 20 primary election.

Obama is facing U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York to be the Democratic presidential nominee to run in the November general election against the presumptive Republican nominee, U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Chandler’s  news conference will be at Jefferson Park at 6th and Liberty streets in downtown Louisville near the PNC Building.

Another Kentucky superdelegate, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, already has voiced support for Obama.

Three of the other eight known Kentucky superdelegates -- Lexington attorney Terry McBrayer, Owensboro businesswoman Moretta Bosley and Harrodsburg banker JoEtta Wickliffe -- have publicly pledged support to Clinton.

Three other prominent Kentucky superdelegates -- Gov. Steve Beshear, Party Chairman Jennifer Moore and Vice Chairman Nathan Smith -- have remained neutral, and are expected to do so until after the May 20 primary.

A ninth superdelegate will be chosen at the state party’s June 7 convention.

--Jack Brammer

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Comments

[KYJurisDoctor]

GREAT endorsement for Barack Obama. Hopefully, the endorsement helps him beat BILLARY Clinton in Kentucky. And, Ben Chandler's endorsement shows why African Americans LOVE him, and also shows that he has the kind of political CHUTZPAH that is SORELY missing in many other politicians.

[Jacob]

Is there some reason that he couldn't make this unfortunate endorsement somewhere in his own district?

[Sean]

Yeah, Chandler!

I think the reason he is endorsing in Louisville is due to the Obama state HQ being located there. Just a guess.

[????]

CHUTZPAH? Sounds more like he is out of touch with the people of his district, or else doesn't care. McCain will slaughter Obama in Kentucky. Hillary would do better.

[Joe]

There goes my support for Chandler. I worked in his campaign before, but never again. How any thinking individual could support either candidate on the Democratic side is beyond my ability to understand. These are not KY values and I think Chandler will be embarrassed by the outcome in November.

[Frank]

Chandler made his endorsement in Louisville, because Chandler knows that his district will support Clinton
Clinton will overwhelmely win Chandlers district and he knows it. Clinton will defeat in Kentucky no doubt.
Chandler has been a disappointment for several years.

[Paul]

Chandler and Yarmouth endorsing Obama makes me ashamed to be a Democrat. Yet another reason to switch parties. Unless Hillary is the Democratic nominee you can count on it being MCCAIN in '08!!!!!!!!!!!! More and more of the REAL Obama comes out every day. Obama is at best a man of poor judgement of character due to his questionable associations.

[McLieberCain/ Killary 08]

CHUTZPAH?
Sounds like something from the McLieberCain or Killary in NY, not KY.

Chandler doesn't represent his district by any means. Never has.

[Taxpayer]

What a bad mistake this is for Ben. This endorsement does not represent the constituency in which he serves and they will make him pay for it in the next election. That's why he isn't holding the press conference in his own district. Any hope he had for being Governor just went right out the window. O'bama, even more than Clinton, does not represent the way Kentuckians think and believe. It's McCain in 08!

[Jim Anderson Stivers]

I don't think there is much chance of Obama carrying Kentucky. We have far too many prejudice citizens for a man of color to be voted for . . . in our low educated state.

The same people that are anchored heavy in the Kentucky GOOD OLD BOY AND GOOD OLD GIRL GROUP are pushing for Hilary Clinton. Old bill didn't come to Kentucky to raise money for the KDP, he came to take some money home to his candidate . . . Mr. Hilary Clinton.

Someone find me a sound bite that has more serious than the one below.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?pid=311245

[Kyle]

I don't understand why anyone is afraid of change. Is the status quo somehow better? Hillary Clinton is one of the most manipulative devisive people I have ever seen and she will say and do anything to get people to vote for her. She won't be any kind of change at all and she won't beat John McCain in Kentucky or overall in November. If Obama goes so goes the black vote and the democrats need the black to win the White House.

[KY values]

Jim Stivers, I generally respect your point of view, but I am very disappointed in your above comments. To imply that citizens of Kentucky would not vote for Obama because of race or lack of education is offensive. It is because of VALUES and his POSITIONS on issues and his LACK OF EXPERIENCE. Obama is a liberal elitist who associates with peole like Jeremiah Wright. That is why he will lose in Kentucky, not because we are a bunch of racist illiterates! If anything his race is a plus, not a minus. He is just not the best candidate.

[Jim Anderson Stivers]

Values,

Apparently you and I come from different socio\ eco backgrounds. I do not feel my comments racy nor insulting. There does exist-in our state-a great divide among the minorities and the "equal rights" for all.
Our level of ignorance is directly attributed to our Education Department and the General Assembly who have failed the people of Kentucky for many, many years.
=======
As to people like Jeremiah Wright. I believe the last great American, I heard speak with that kind of fire and substance, was Martin Luther King.

Certainly Wright is no MLK but, he does understand the plight of his race and speaks with great shock and candor to get his message across. Wright is not an un-educated man. Did you see his appearance at the National Press Club in Washington?

And, clearly, you know Senator Obama has denounced these statements by this revered.
He has not denounced his faith . . .

[Jim Anderson Stivers]

What does Senator Obama stand for.

If you care to know, watch any of these videios.

Standing before a row of eight American flags near the building where the Declaration of Independence was adopted, Obama urged the nation to break "a racial stalemate we've been stuck in for years.'"
"The anger is real," he said. "It is powerful, and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23687688/

[Jimbo]

Good for Ben Chandler!!

Looks like some Kentuckians like Kyle above are out of touch with most Kentuckians.

The issues are the War and do we continue to finance it with money from China like the Bush Administration; Health Care is another issue. Both Democrats want to make sure all Americans have Healthcare coverage. McCain wants more of the same failed healthcare policies.

Republicans and the far Right want to cover up the failings of the GW Bush Administration by keeping the focus on Jerimiah Wright and folks like Sean, Frank, ???, and Taxpayer above are falling for it.

The Civil War is over.

Things have to change. The majority of Kentuckians are not getting the Health Care they deserve.

The infant mortality (babies that die at birth) rate in Kentucky is higher than Cuba and some people would rather talk about a candidate's crazy preacher rather than the candidate's position on Healthcare, NAFTA and the War in Iraq.

[Drew]

The endorsement was made in Louisville, because of the upcoming primary in Indiana. They wanted to maximize media coverage in the Southern Indiana area.

[Janice]

I agree with Kyle. This is very disappointing to me.I will not be voting for Mr. Chandler again! His judgement is weak,IMO,and this has NOTHING to do with race or education,but rather,a strong gut feeling that Obama is a serious mistake for the nation! I keep seeing his wife at State Dinners expressing her disgust with America! I cannot ever vote for McCain,so...if Obama is the choice,I suppose I will have to sit this one out!

[Janice]

Sorry,Ky Values! I meant that I agreed with YOU....not Kyle...my mistake....

[CRB]

Just because Hillary said that Obama is elitest, doesn't mean that he is elitest. That is all political gooblyga. If Hillary is the nominee, a lot of people will stay home. Frankly, I could not give my support to someone who would lied about such a small thing as the Bosnia sniper fire. Can you imagine, when she got up to give the state of the union address, you would not be able to believe what she says. People should be more informed in their decisions and not use snipets of what other politicians say to note vote for someone. You have to be an open minded person to not hold a persons association with someone against them. I think that Chandler did the right thing and if people were more informed, they would probably agree with him. One thing that bothers me about what the pundits say about Kentucky voters is that they will go for Hillary because Hillary's voters are ususally uneducated.

That is an insult. To me that says that her supporters are not informed. We need to be sure that we are all informed when we cast a vote and not just vote for a person just because someone tells us that is what we should do.

We should not let the media make us decide who our vote should be for based on whether or not someone wears a lapel pin. That is so shallow and is as insulting as it is shallow. I cheer Ben Chandler for having the guts to break the status quo. Come on guys, don't cast a shallow vote, cast an informed vote.

Obama 08

[Jim Anderson Stivers]

CRB,

I will grant you Kentucky voters are not informed as to the political career and money grabbing of the Clinton clan.

If people are not informed and there is a greater opportunity to be informed and that information is reputed as not important than to this blog poster, that is ignorance.

[clay]

It is in the genes so you can't expect Ben to do better. Bring back Ernie

[Elizabeth]

I'm sure he endorsed Sen. Obama because he believes he will be best for the nation.

I disagree. "Change", at this point in our national economic suffering, is a word that makes me wonder "Change to what?" I remember the 8 years of peace and prosperity we had under Bill Clinton. That's the change I want. Bring it Back. Bring it Back.

[????]

Even growing up as a white boy in eastern Kentucky in the 1960's, Martin Luther King was a man I was taught to admire. He followed in the mold of Ghandi. I grew up around few blacks, but I did not personally know many racists. Now I have black family members.

For Mr. Stivers to compare Rev. Wright to MLK is a total travesty and insult. If you go by eloquence, then Wright is eloquently Wrong! He preaches a divisive Black Liberation Theology, which is racist, victim-based, and anti-Christian. He embraces radical, racist, anti-Americans like Louis Farrakhan.

CRB said: "You have to be an open minded person to not hold a persons association with someone against them." Hmmm. A casual acquaintance or passing encounter, perhaps. But a pastor under whom Obama worshipped for 20 years?! I don't think so! I think you have to be very closed-minded not to consider such significant relationships. It tells a LOT about the man.

Finally, Kentuckians may appear uneducated to some, but I believe the world is fool of educated fools! Citizens of this state have more common sense than most places I have been, and they know what is really important. One of those things is love of country. Anyone who closely associates with a man who can publicly say, "G-D America" or who can disingenuously compare our legitimate right to defend ourselves to "terrorism" is not a legitimate candidate for president of these United States.

[Bill Adkins]

In the '60s, ???, our cross dressing FBI director and many others called MLK a communist. MLK not only upset the old order but he was against the Vietnam War, therefore he was a traitor and hated America. In the 2000 election, there were those who called John McCain the Manchurian Candidate and traitor and accused him of collaborating with his captors. And today, or just a few days ago, I heard a Lexington right wing talk show host (is there another category?) ask 'who is Obama's leader?' All of these, including the most recent, are attempts to smear. No more, no less.

Last, what's your take on John Hagee and McCain? How long must one associate with that 'undesireable' for it to be too long? Obama's 20 years? McCain's at least two years? The Wright flame is burning itself out now. Hagee's going to burn brighter and longer. BTW, bet I'm from deeper in SE KY than you are.

[Judge/Executive Darrell Link]

Congressman Chandler is providing leadership and obviously has meaningful insight on the differences between the candidates. Ben's observation about the young people being engaged in this race because of the hope that Senator Obama speaks about for a stronger America in the future is right on, and we should help them realize their dream. We would be wise to follow Congressman Chandler's lead.

[Getitright]

You democrats are FUNNY. To claim that anything Ben Chandler has done is "important" is enough to make me break down.

Clinton will sweep Kentucky, and Chandler will once again prove he is a non-factor.

[Taxpayer]

Change. Isn't this what O'Bama is all about, Change? The only thing I see him "changing" is his mind about where he stands with Rev. Wright. First he denounces him then he "changes" his mind and he takes it back. How can a man who was associated with a Reverend so full of hatred for the white people and America (USofKKKA) become President? O'Bama was associated with this man for 20 years and couldn't "change" his way of thinking, unless O'Bama is just saying all this for political reasons. If O'Bama couldn't "change" one man's way of thinking in 20 years, how is he going to "change" America? Simply, he can't.

[Jim Anderson Stivers]

Lift from a previous post.

"Certainly Wright is no MLK but, he does understand the plight of his race and speaks with great shock and candor to get his message across."

Apparently, I was unable to clearly state that which I was thinking. I agree that the Rev Wright is half a bubble off of plum. My reference to him was he was a great orator, similar to the fire that came from the belly of a great American Martin Luther King.

Wright is able to hold his audience spellbound. The church, which he fathers on the South Side of Chicago, is one of the most popular churches in South Chicago. I don't know how much you know about South Chicago but . . . it is the geography of the lowest economic scale in Chicago for black worshipers.
----
For Mr. Stivers to compare Rev. Wright to MLK is a total travesty and insult. If you go by eloquence, then Wright is eloquently Wrong!

If you go back and read my comment I mentioned his appearance at the National Press Club in Washington. Since you did not take time to go the url I will make my point
have more clarity.

When Wright appeared before the Washington Press Club, he wiped away an credibility he might have. His plight became that of taking front and center in the spotlight, using his association with Obama as a base for being able to get an audience.

And his inflammatory comments.

I watched that Press Conference in Washington. The point I alluded, was the preacher, on that day, seemed to be more in the entertainment business and did not attempt to us his oratory ability to express his thoughts. Rather, all his comments were smirk.

No . . . Certainly the Revered Wright is no Martin Luther King. At that time, in our racial history, Martin Luther King was the only man of this kind of conviction and he did not give up, until the tragedy that took his life. A sad day in American history and a cut short the fire that must come when citizens seek ' CHANGE'.

Later in the day Senator Obama cut all ties with Revered Wright at his press conference in North Carolina where he was campaigning. He clearly cut the the chord.

The only problem I see . . . is OBAMA gave his minister the benefit of the doubt when Wright made his first statement about God Damn America.

If he had cut the chord then, this latest barrage would not have occurred and the Reverend Wright would not have had the wide audience the media developed for him.

This is what my post was intended to say,
but after reading, again, I can see, with the limited amount of "other wording" it could have been considered another way.

The key to understanding it better was the url from the National Press Club.

Gob Bless America.

"I JUST WANT TO SAY!"

Jim Anderson Stivers

[????]

Don't think you are better informed than someone else, Stivers. I watched the National Press Club Wright spectacle/fiasco....LIVE! Next time compare his oratical skills to someone more appropriate...like Hitler...or David Duke!

Blacks, and all people, would do well to choose their leaders by "the content of their character" rather than their "gift of gab". We should also all be leary of pastors-turned-politicians who build monuments to themselves, rather than point people toward God, whether in south Chicago or Virginia Beach.

[Jim Anderson Stivers]

Dear ?????

Is your attempt to discredit that which I have written?

I do think I explained the matter in the post previous to this last post. If you can not accept my attempt to bring clarity to the discussion, then our replies are "futile."

[honestabe]

I cant wait to see the annoucement replayed over and over again on a Republican commercial when it is re-election time for ole Ben....and i cant wait to see he Herald Liberal endorse ole Ben over the Republican no matter who that person may be...and i cant wait to see ole Ben and the Herald Liberal whine when its all over.....ohhh what a day it will be...

[Hillary Lies]

Hillary supports NAFTA.

Bill Clinton was paid $800,000.00 from the Columbian government to LOBBY U.S. Senators, like his wife Sen. Hillary, to SUPPORT free trade with Columbia.

Hillary lies.

[Kentucky_Tomahawk]

So Ben can count, huh? Obviously he realizes, like the majority of Democratic Party folks, that it’s all but impossible for Hillary to win the nomination based on the remaining primary contests.

And as far as this nonsense about ‘McCain 08’, I’m not going to bash the guy for giving information to the Vietnamese under torture and denouncing the US, that’s the effect of Torture. And I’m not going to bash him for breaking the laws he helped pass on campaign finance reform, or that he’s basically promising his presidency would be the same as George Bush’s. I’m just going to say that if you really love America you’ll vote to fix the last 8 years of republican disaster.

No more wars by people who refused to fight themselves; no more robbing the American public with sweet government contracts for your buddies; and no more abandoning children, old folks (and entire American cities) to neglect and destruction.

We tried it the republican way for 8 years- and they robbed us of our dignity, our wealth, our American dream and the lives of our soldiers- Enough is enough.

[clay]

Good post by Kentucky Tomahawk, but you left out the disgrace of Veterans care by Georgie and Mitch, the disgraceful state of military facilities, and hospital, the record profits of the Oil trash, and the missing billions of funnelled to the Cheney Corporate Masters.

Put the responsibility clearly where it belongs. They are not cutting us any slack and are enemies of the people

[KY values]

The previous two posts are drivel.

McCain is a man who did suffer mightily for his country. He also has by far the most experience to do the job. He also more closely reflects the values of Kentuckians.

[Kelsey]

Good move Ben.
Go Obama.
Kelsey