Obama Tells Paterson To Drop Out
I believe it is not the role of political party leaders to make endorsements of candidates before a primary.
When President Bush endorsed Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey in 2004, I thought it was a bad idea.
When local Democrats endorsed Jon Powers before the primary that was also a bad idea — especially since Powers lost the primary.
So, when Barack Obama asks Governor Paterson not to run for re-election, that too, is a bad move.
National Democratic Party leaders have asked Gov. David Paterson to consider withdrawing from the 2010 governor’s race, according to two senior New York Democratic advisers.
Both advisers, who are close to the governor, spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak for Paterson. The sources said it was unclear what Paterson would do in response.
The New York Times, which originally reported the request on its Web site, said that it was President Barack Obama who asked Paterson to withdraw.
The New York Times quoted a senior Obama administration official as saying that the proposal that Paterson be asked to step aside came from a White House political adviser but was approved by the president.
Seriously, what is Obama smoking by allowing this to be go public? Putting Paterson’s inevitable political demise aside, it is hardly good for New York for the sitting governor to get such a vote of no confidence. There is still over a year to go before the election, and this undermines Paterson’s ability to govern effectively. And governing should come before politics — which I thought Obama said he would end.
Now, I want Paterson to stay in… but of course, that’s because it helps Rick Lazio (or Rudy Giuliani) but that doesn’t change the fact that Obama would be better off not throwing an incumbent under the bus.
Of course. you never know, there are other troubled Democrats out there, like New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, but you don’t see Obama telling him to drop out, perhaps the “intensely demonstrated animosity toward Governor David Paterson is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he’s African American.”
UPDATE: Paterson defies Obama…
Tags: Barack Obama, David Paterson, endorsements, Rick Lazio, Rudy Giuliani
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[...] Anyone Better than Paterson Out There? Posted by Anthony Bialy in Campaign 2010, Commentary, NY State Government, State Assembly, State Legislature, State Senate on September 21st, 2009 | no responses It’s an ominous moment for one’s career when the President of the United States tells you to quit your job. Granted, it’s the same president who spends his free time micromanaging banks and car companies, but David Paterson can’t feel comfortable about an anti-endorsement that submarines his chances of staying governor. [...]
I’m drowning! Throw me an anvil!
President Obama’s recent foray into New York State politics regarding Governor Paterson’s political future leaves one incredulous by its hubris, naivete and disloyalty.
Forgetting for the moment Amendment 10 of the US Constitution and the support given by the presumed party leader to its governors of that party, I find myself both amazed and disappointed by this announcement. As the President faces strong opposition to his health bill, he has chosen to set up a “Death Panel” in deciding which governors no longer have political viability - particularly if they are African-American and visually impaired.
An imperious, ill-conceived and publicly announced offer of “here’s your hat,” has all the earmarks of Ramn Emanuel. If this is advice to be given and accepted with two wars, a still plummeting economy and cries of “Liar” still echoing in the Halls of Congress, than Obama’s hope for a second term will become a permanent return to Second City.
Mr. President, remember that the next time Emanuel asks to be appointed as your lifeguard. In the meantime, stay out of state politics.
Bradford J. Novak