Will Other Dems Follow Suit?
Rep. Boren (D) Refuses to Endorse ObamaJust yesterday we heard that a Democratic governor (Strickland from Ohio) is not willing to become Obama’s running mate. Today, another Democrat, this time a congressman, shows that he’s not too fond of his party’s presidential nominee. Rep. Boren (Oklahoma) called Obama “the most liberal senator in the Senate” in an interview with the AP and he said that, despite Obama’s talk, he does not have a bipartisan record. He will vote for Obama, but he is not willing to endorse him.
One gets the impression that it’s the revolt of the conservative and centrist Democrats right now. First Strickland makes perfectly clear that he does not want to run a national campaign together with Barack Obama, then Boren makes clear that he does not even want to endorse his party’s nominee, because Obama is too liberal for his taste.
“I think this is an important time for our country,” Boren said in a telephone interview. “We’re facing a terrible economic downturn. We have high gasoline prices. We have problems in our foreign policy. That’s why I think it’s important.”
He went on to say that although Obama talks frequently about working with Republicans, “unfortunately, his record does not reflect working in a bipartisan fashion.”
He also said that he has to reflect the wishes of his district. And his district is “much more conservative. I have to listen them.” Obviously, endorsing “the most liberal senator in the U.S. Senate” is not exactly in line with the preferences of Boren’s district.
Representative Boren did also have some kind things to say about Obama. He said that “it’s a testament to the Democratic Party,” that they have finally nominated a black man for the presidency. “I celebrate it,” the self-described centrist Democrat added.
In case people wonder whether Boren is a lone case:
Democratic officials do not expect Boren to be the last to refrain from making a show of not backing his party’s presumptive presidential nominee — though Boren says he will vote for Obama for president in November.
Other House Democrats from swing districts — Democrats who eked out victories in traditionally GOP districts, whom House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., calls her “majority makers” — may refrain from even attending their party’s convention in Denver in August.
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