Okla. Dem calls Obama liberal, declines to endorse

Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:56 PM EDT
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OKLAHOMA CITY — Democratic Rep. Dan Boren of Oklahoma said Tuesday Barack Obama is "the most liberal senator" in Congress and he has no intention of endorsing him for the White House.

However, Boren will vote for Obama at the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August and will vote Democratic on Nov. 4.

"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."

Boren, the lone Democrat in Oklahoma's congressional delegation, said that while Obama has talked about working with Republicans, "unfortunately, his record does not reflect working in a bipartisan fashion."

Boren, a self-described centrist, is seeking a third term this year in a mostly rural district that stretches across eastern Oklahoma.

"We're much more conservative," Boren said of district. "I've got to reflect my district. No one means more to me than the people who elected me. I have to listen them." He called Obama "the most liberal senator in the U.S. Senate."

Hillary Rodham Clinton carried Boren's district with 66 percent of the vote in the state's presidential primary in February.

Boren said his endorsement became a moot point when Clinton suspended her campaign, making Obama the presumed nominee. But he said it will be a historic moment for the nation when the party nominates Obama, who would be the first black president if elected.

"I celebrate it," Boren said. "It's a testament to the Democratic Party."

In April, Boren's father, former governor, one-time senator and current University of Oklahoma President David Boren, announced his support for Obama.

Jen Psaki, a spokeswoman for Obama, said the congressman had "his facts wrong." She said Obama, as a member of the Illinois Senate, worked with Republicans to provide health care for people who didn't have it and, in Washington, has worked with Boren's Republican colleague, Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, to make government more accountable and open.

"Senator Obama appreciates the support of Dan Boren's father," Psaki said.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{"commentId":1934108,"authorDomain":"roger3000"}
roger3000

awesome and about time........ may many more join him in this common sense move.

{"commentId":1934108,"threadId":"285104","contentId":"1560303","authorDomain":"roger3000"}
  • 3 votes
Reply#1 - Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:12 PM EDT
{"commentId":1934777,"authorDomain":"wharrison55"}
Bill Harrison

What commonsense move? Hell, he's going to vote for him in November. What a tool this guy is. If he thinks he's so bad then he shouldn't vote him.

{"commentId":1934777,"threadId":"285104","contentId":"1560303","authorDomain":"wharrison55"}
  • 1 vote
#1.1 - Tue Jun 10, 2008 5:53 PM EDT
{"commentId":1934944,"authorDomain":"biggerthebetter"}
biggerthebetter

He might think he's bad, but he obviously feels McCain is worse.

That's the way the vote goes.

{"commentId":1934944,"threadId":"285104","contentId":"1560303","authorDomain":"biggerthebetter"}
    #1.2 - Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:22 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1935923,"authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
    backroads

    The guy is just covering himself for his own campaign, as noted below. I'd think his constituents will see right through his protestation.

    {"commentId":1935923,"threadId":"285104","contentId":"1560303","authorDomain":"backroadsbubba"}
    • 1 vote
    #1.3 - Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:26 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":1934973,"authorDomain":"chrisgeo37"}
    chrisgeo

    oh look at me i'm such a rebel, the headline should read unknown guy from Oklahoma gets on tv for saying something that means nothing. that is to say he will vote for obama but is trying to have a plan b if obama should some how manage to lose and lets face it democrats have found amazing ways to lose. for the good of the country i pray this time they don't

    {"commentId":1934973,"threadId":"285104","contentId":"1560303","authorDomain":"chrisgeo37"}
    • 1 vote
    Reply#2 - Tue Jun 10, 2008 6:28 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1935186,"authorDomain":"jade-log"}
    jade-log

    He is not unknown nor is he the first of several politicians to not endorse Barack.

    {"commentId":1935186,"threadId":"285104","contentId":"1560303","authorDomain":"jade-log"}
    • 2 votes
    Reply#3 - Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:06 PM EDT
    {"commentId":1935281,"authorDomain":"chrisgeo37"}
    chrisgeo

    it is true he is not a complete unknown and certainly others have not endorsed obama but with the 24 hour news channels scrambling to have something to talk about he went for his fifteen minutes. boren himself stated that he represented a conservative district, his view point is strictly political pandering to get himself re-elected. i don't think he represents any sort of conservative movement in the democratic party in the grand scheme of things it means absolutely nothing.

    {"commentId":1935281,"threadId":"285104","contentId":"1560303","authorDomain":"chrisgeo37"}
    • 1 vote
    #3.1 - Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:23 PM EDT
    Reply
    {"commentId":1936026,"authorDomain":"garjen1"}
    gar-284741Deleted
    {"commentId":1936306,"authorDomain":"cpaul44"}
    cecil paul

    Labels, Labels. Rep. Boren should state the real reason for his labelling of Obama. It has nothing to do with Obama being Liberal. He should know that being a leader of the Democratic Party, he will also be labelled Liberal. Liberal is the second name for the Democratic Party. Why did he join and become a member and then a Representative. I think the goodly Representative in a sea of Rightists wants to survive. However he should not use Obama as his scapegoat. It is a red herring.

    {"commentId":1936306,"threadId":"285104","contentId":"1560303","authorDomain":"cpaul44"}
      Reply#5 - Tue Jun 10, 2008 10:45 PM EDT
      {"commentId":1937170,"authorDomain":"McKenica"}
      McKenica

      I love it. Even among people in the democrat party there is a realization "this guy is too liberal". Now if he would just realize that everyone running is too liberal, I'd be a lot happier. It's just refreshing to see a democrat party member that isn't a total socialist.

      {"commentId":1937170,"threadId":"285104","contentId":"1560303","authorDomain":"McKenica"}
      • 3 votes
      Reply#6 - Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:11 AM EDT
      {"commentId":1937175,"authorDomain":"SepticSkeptic"}
      SepticSkeptic

      Well, this is meaningless. We already knew that a large minority of the Democratic Party is seething at Obama's victory. All politics being local, Boren's decision not to endorse Obama will only really have an impact in his own state...which is firmly red to begin with. A democrat in California or Ohio pulling the same stunt would be disastrous for the democrats...but Oklahoma? Meaningless.

      {"commentId":1937175,"threadId":"285104","contentId":"1560303","authorDomain":"SepticSkeptic"}
      • 1 vote
      Reply#7 - Wed Jun 11, 2008 3:14 AM EDT
      {"commentId":1939247,"authorDomain":"garjen1"}
      gar-284741Deleted
      {"commentId":2000120,"authorDomain":"McKenica"}
      McKenica

      Polarized? Well perhaps it was with Obama vs. Clinton. Now it's more a case of voting for the young liberal or the old liberal. The hardest thing for me will be to vote at all, given there is no real choice.

      {"commentId":2000120,"threadId":"285104","contentId":"1560303","authorDomain":"McKenica"}
        #7.2 - Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:09 AM EDT
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