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Why Obama Can't Stop Meddling
AP Photo; Reuters
The White House wasn’t commenting on the budding New York Senate primary until, suddenly, it was. Richard Wolffe on the debate within Team Obama over how much to delve into 2010 state races.
As the drama grows over the race for the New York Senate seat once held by Robert Kennedy and Hillary Clinton, it’s useful to remember that Kirsten Gillibrand was not, in fact, the Obama administration’s first choice for the job. That distinction belonged to Kennedy’s niece, Caroline Kennedy—who was the prohibitive favorite for the seat left vacant in January 2009, until she wasn’t.
After Kennedy’s candidacy imploded, New York Gov. David Paterson tapped Gillibrand, a comparatively obscure upstate House member to fill out the unexpired term of Clinton, who left to become Obama’s secretary of State. The White House subsequently sought to persuade her patron, Gov. Paterson, not to run for reelection to the post he’d inherited (when his predecessor was forced to resign). Team Obama certainly didn’t seem inclined to go out of its way to show enthusiastic support for newly minted Sen. Gillibrand—until early this week, that is, when the White House surprised everybody by endorsing her reelection in hopes of driving a charismatic potential primary challenger, former Tennessee Rep. Harold Ford, from the race.
“She’s an incumbent U.S. senator and I don’t think the president believes that expensive primaries in states that ought to be good for us are a good use of our time, money, or energy,” says one senior Obama aide.
Confused? We can’t blame you. New York politics are byzantine. So, too, are the White House motives for when and where to place the weight of the presidency behind candidates for state office in 2010.
• Benjamin Sarlin: Harold Ford’s Money Challenge The president and his political operatives know that their most important job is to stay focused on passing health-care reform and spurring job creation in the new year. And they’re once bitten, twice shy: The administration drew fire for its attempt to persuade Gov. Paterson not to run for reelection—a move that backfired badly, making Obama’s crew seem obsessed with petty politics at a time of grave national crisis, and making the foundering Paterson seem almost heroically independent for standing up to the Washington bosses.
Still, these guys are from Chicago, and they can’t quite help themselves. So, despite several White House officials’ instinct to steer clear of any public comment this week, as the drumbeat about Ford’s possible to challenge to Gillibrand intensified, they chucked reticence out the window—and committed the power of the presidency to blocking Ford’s path. “She’s an incumbent U.S. senator and I don’t think the president believes that expensive primaries in states that ought to be good for us are a good use of our time, money, or energy,” says one senior Obama aide.
The Gillibrand episode reflects a growing debate within White House walls about how aggressively to engage the 2010 electoral map. Some Obama officials say it is far too early for the president to get active in this fall’s campaign. But other senior advisers have been busy trying to weed out the Democratic field in key races—while learning the lessons of the Paterson fiasco.
Another state where their influence may soon be felt: Illinois, where Democrats are fighting over the seat once held by… Barack Obama. After his election as president, then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed Roland Burris to serve out the unexpired term. But both men were engulfed by ethics investigations, and Burris decided not to seek election to a full term. Alexi Giannoulias, Illinois’ state treasurer and a basketball buddy of Obama’s, is the front-runner. But the activities of his family’s bank have come under fire, and the White House has thus far laid low—perhaps waiting to judge how much the complaints about Giannoulias will benefit his Democratic primary rivals.
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Nicole LaPorte is a West Coast reporter for The Daily Beast. A former film reporter for Variety, she has also written for The New Yorker, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, The New York Times, The New York Observer, and W.
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Michael Moore is an Academy Award-winning filmmaker and author. He directed and produced Roger & Me, Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11, and Sicko. He has also written seven books, most recently, Mike’s Election Guide 2008.
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Richard Wolffe is Daily Beast columnist and an award-winning journalist. He covered the entire length of Barack Obama's presidential campaign for Newsweek magazine. His book, Renegade: The Making of a President, was published by Crown in June.
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Richard Wolffe is Daily Beast columnist and an award-winning journalist. He covered the entire length of Barack Obama's presidential campaign for Newsweek magazine. His book, Renegade: The Making of a President, was published by Crown in June.
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OldCrow
Obama needs to shut his yap and let New York decide who they want for a Senator. Jelly Belly is a Schumer puppet and wasn't elected to office. Both our Senators are letting this health care legislation disaster move forward - a 'deal' that will cost New Yorker 55 Million in additional taxes, close dozens of hospitals, and result in tens of thousands of job losses. Schumer just wants to be Senate majority leader, and is selling NY just like Reid sold NV for his own ego.
case1234
Why with Obama is it call "meddeling" and with Bush it was called being the head of his party?
I am really not seeing how Ford will escape being called a narcissist determined to get to Washington by whatever means. His change on Abortion rights is jarringly deliberate. He would have been a far better choice for TN rather than Corker, but NY? really.
FarLeftFist
Derek Jeter is running for senate?
xlntcat
Obama is the head of the party and as such has more than a vested interest in retaining Democratic seats. I like Ford, but he sounds like a good way to loose a senate seat.
johnwr3
Richard Woffle has zero credibility. He's a BAGMAN for the White House. I saw him this morning on MSNBC. He's just trying to sell books. Let's face it he is just another British cynic who secretly hates all Americans.
Hey Dickhead...GO HOME...nobody I know thinks your "insightful" commentary is worth anything.
zizanie
JOHNWR3, "Dickhead" - really? As much pleasure as you get typing those words, you might try offering meaningful criticism rather than engaging in schoolyard name calling of a journalist (or perhaps former journalist, in this case). I tend to hope that JOHNWR1 & 2 might offer more mature criticism.
And if you argue that "Woffle" hates America, it would good to read whether that is actually based on something.
robjh1
Is he meddling or being politically smart?
Monk66
are you republican or democrat?
Ozone69
If he were smart, he wouldn't meddle. Ford is a light skinned Negro without a Negro dialect and therefore the Democrats will elect him.
crypto
I don't think it matters. Any democrat running for congress or senate should distance himself as far as possible from Obama. No one should want him patting them on the shoulder. The guy has become a plague.
jbrendan
This is turning out to be Obama vs. Bloomberg. I'm salivating. By the way Wolffe, Obama pushed Maloney away from a primary challenge earlier, so this is not their first example of controlling NY's Senate seat. Wonder how he would respond if it were a Kennedy consider a challenge?
MrMommy
Did i not say yesterday that this Boy need to STFU and do his job that he is failing miserably at?
amanda07070
You are a racist.
AlanD2
He's sexist too, Amanda. Combined with his questionable intelligence, we have a perfect conservative trifecta.
Grimmace
Come on Democrats. Ford's a light-skinned Black with no Negro dialect. That formula worked for the entire country, surely it would work for a liberal bastion like New York.
Locks99
Does Mr. Ford live in New York State or doesn't that matter anymore?
OldCrow
He's lived in NY for 3 years, twice as long as Hillary did before she ran for Senate.
zizanie
And in New York, when has that really mattered. The pedicures, however, may do him in electorally.
JOEBET741
Mr. Ford is from Tennessee and his whole family is a disgrace to our state.
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Monk66
I remember when I thought the president was a part of Congress..
Bettie
Wimpy demeanor indeed. Those rumors of him being henpecked are true. He lets everybody from generals to the leader of congress walk all over him.
crypto
square, where do we send the money???
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AnnieG
Ford might "champion the common folk", but those "common folk" aren't in New York, where social issues are far left-leaning. I, as a New York resident, cannot stomach the idea of a pro-choice, anti-gay non-resident becoming our next representative in the Senate. Keep Gillibrand where she is and send Ford back to Tennessee.
JOEBET741
He only champions his own pockets and his families. We in Tennessee are tired of the Ford family and their corruption!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
reardongalt
Harold Ford Jr is an honest man.
rapierwits
?
crypto
OK OK!!! Where do we send the "donation"???
oliverckerr
The American people thought they were electing a president and what they got was a mix of me me me technocratic "leadership" and political operative, on a presidential scale.
We saw a chance to turn the page on the pigment impediment, and we did; but the candidate of change, it turns out, was the candidate of changing the guard, which is expected with any new administration. That was all. Nothing new at 1600 Pennsylvania.
During the campaign Barky Obama said he was going to personally go over every government program with an eye to eliminating fraud, waste and abuse.
Barky Obama lied, though some would say that is merely a promise unkept. For Obama to be eliminating waste fraud and abuse is like asking Hal the computer to unplug himself.
Of course his people are meddling in races for the Senate, to manipulate the results - steer the voters. Obama is likeable but he is not the brilliant problem solver he was made out to be. All hat no cattle.
michaelslevinson.com
matkins4268
QUESTION: is obama the president of the democartic party or
of the UNITED STATES
AlanD2
Both.
mbgillil
He's the President of the United States and the leader of the Democratic Party.
crypto
demoncratic party first!!!
AlanD2
Sorry, crypto, but it's conservatives like you who are destined for hell.
crypto
AlanD2 Could be Alan. But maybe, just maybe, if I go you won't.. I've put up with sonsabitches like you here long enought to deserve that break at least.
verycold
Judging from the way NJ responded to the WH orchestrating a campaign, I would suggest the president stay in Washington and start listening to voters. I realize that now democrats are blaming poor polling for Obama's declining support, but if the numbers were good they would be hailing those numbers. Hypocrites and frankly not very smart. I also realize that the WH believes that once health care is passed all will be well with voters. However when the senate bill was passed, Obama should have seen a significant jump in the polls and he did not. So the WH reached what they consider a milestone and there was no rejoicing. I think the poll numbers are right. The two health care bills are very unpopular based on what everybody knows about them. Analyst for Medicare reported yesterday that this senate bill will bend the curve up. Of course the WH is totally ignoring those warnings.
AlanD2
verycold: The problem with the health care reform bill is that it has been watered down so much - in order to get it passed in the Senate - that liberals are unhappy with it and with Obama, whom they think could have made it a better bill if he had given it more political support.
And the House bill is rather popular with Americans, as it contains a public option. This option will not survive, of course, in the final bill.
As for costs, all of the cost-saving parts have been stripped out of the bill to get conservative Democratic Senate votes (or even a possible moderate Republican vote). If you really wanted to save money, you need a public option - or better yet, a single-payer system.
ronald64
The health bill appears to be more muddied up than watered down. Over 2000 pages of legal mumbo jumbo- shades of the tax code and full employment for lawyers and accountants. Bureaucrats are incapable of reforming anything other than repackaging waste as supper.
crypto
verycold, you seem to see things somewhat more clearly than some on here. The whitehouse does ignore anything that does not go his way. Somehow he believes if he flashes those 48 pearly whites and points the finger at somebody else, he can push it through, what ever IT is. But so far it seems to have worked on some. Yet there are many catching on as the numbers continue to fall,
Ozone69
This kind of meddling shows how desperate the Administration and the Democrats are in holding onto power. Gilibrand is a cipher and puppet for the Democrats and the administration. her backing of ACORN funding speaks volumes as to her integrity. That Harold Ford is thinking about running ans has them their panties all twisted indicates how badly they need each and every vote for the Health Care debacle. I hope he runs and cleans Gillibrand's clock.
crypto
Well that's two hopes. Maybe they'll turn to votes.
reardongalt
PSALM 2010
Obama is the shepherd I did not want.
He leadeth me beside the still factories.
He restoreth my faith in the Republican party.
He guideth me in the path of unemployment for his party's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the bread line,
I shall fear no hunger, for his bailouts are with me.
He has anointed my income with taxes,
My expenses runneth over.
Surely, poverty and hard living will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will live in a mortgaged home forever.
I am glad I am American,
I am glad that I am free.
But I wish I was a dog ......
And Obama was a tree.
AlanD2
I wish you were a dog too, reardongalt.
It would be a step up from what you are now.
reardongalt
Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof Woof.
ronald64
Is Psalm 2010 in the Old Testament or the New? Which translation is it? I may need a new Bible...
AlanD2
Are my prayers answered?
crypto
Nooow that's funny I don't care who you are.
Carole65
Kudos, reardongalt. Quite clever and funny.
Maezeppa
I'm GLAD the White House has jumped on this. The odious and unelectable Harold Ford needs to be stopped cold. Gillebrand isn't my favorite rep but she's the better of the two.
opedanderson
Oh yeah.
He is also light skinned and doesnt speak with a Negro dialect!......:)
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