www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/10/weld_backs_obam.html
Comments (57) Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 24, 2008 01:51 PM Former Governor William Weld of Massachusetts is the latest Republican to cross over and support Democrat Barack Obama for president. Weld held a press conference in Salem, NH to announce his endorsement. While Massachusetts is a slam dunk for Obama, neighboring New Hampshire is a competitive state. Weld told the Associated Press that while he has never endorsed a Democrat for president before, his choice in recent weeks became "close to a no-brainer." "It's not often you get a guy with his combination of qualities, chief among which I would say is the deep sense of calm he displays, and I think that's a product of his equally deep intelligence," he said. Weld said his decision was not based on McCain's weaknesses. "I do think the Republican Party has been playing on an increasingly small field in the last couple of elections." In an earlier statement, Weld said, "Senator Obama is a once-in-a-lifetime candidate who will transform our politics and restore America's standing in the world. We need a president who will lead based on our common values and Senator Obama demonstrates an ability to unite and inspire. Throughout this campaign I've watched his steady leadership through trying times and I'm confident he is the best candidate to move our country forward."
supported former Bay State Governor Mitt Romney during the Republican primaries. He joins former Governor Arne Carlson of Minnesota, who announced his backing for Obama on Thursday. In the Rasmussen Reports national tracking poll, which combines three days of surveying, Obama's support among Republicans is now higher than John McCain's among Democrats. Obama is backed by 12 percent of Republicans while McCain, whose political persona is all about being the maverick with bipartisan appeal, is backed by 10 percent of Democrats.
"Contrarian that I am, I'm voting for John McCain," he wrote. "I'm not talking about bucking the polls or the media consensus that it's over before it's over. I'm talking about bucking the rush of wet-fingered conservatives leaping to Barack Obama before they're left out in the cold without a single state dinner for the next four years. "I stand athwart the rush of conservative ship-jumpers of every stripe -- neo (Ken Adelman), moderate (Colin Powell), genetic/ironic (Christopher Buckley) and socialist/atheist (Christopher Hitchens) -- yelling "Stop!"
He isn't a true Republican and he did a terrible job as Governor of Mass. Bill Weld is the textbook definition of a R I N O (Republican in Name Only) so this is no big deal if you ask me..... Posted by BobtheMusicMan October 24, 08 09:47 AM Weld was my favorite MA Governor until today. Posted by Bay Stater October 24, 08 10:02 AM This is great! Posted by Ush October 24, 08 10:09 AM Where were these ambitious moderate Republicans when it counted! Did they fight to control the neo-con part of their party? Did they step up during the Republican convention and speak out against the division rhetoric streaming from the stage? It's telling that Republicans always talk about bi-partisan government - but only when they don't have the power to force through their views. I think Weld must be hoping for some federal position now ... Posted by JM October 24, 08 10:20 AM Nothing shocking here, Weld is a liberal Republican and he's as far to the left on social issues as Obama. Interesting enough, while Krauthammer is generally considered conservative (though he supports legalized abortion and is against the death penalty in most cases), he served in the Carter Administration and served as a speech writer for Walter Mondale in his bid to become President. Posted by James October 24, 08 10:52 AM Funny this column is called "Political Intelligence". Posted by Charzy October 24, 08 10:58 AM I disagree EWT. Please tell me how he was a terrible governor of this state. If government had more independent thinkers, things would get done a lot faster, compromises would happen quicker, and our country would be better off for it. Posted by fishman1234 October 24, 08 10:59 AM He was always was right on the BIG issues and he's showing why he's been successful. He has common sense and knows that McCain is not a leader who can move us forward. Posted by jack October 24, 08 10:59 AM If a former Hillary supporter switches to McCain he's an idiot and obviously a racist. But if a Romney supporter switches to Obama he's an independent thinker. Posted by Dantheman October 24, 08 11:06 AM Weld is all about the good times, living, loving, laughing (he is the anti-Kerry). While he's up in Salem, he should get loaded, and go over to Canobie and maybe have some sex with a babe as he rides her and the Yankee Cannonball simultaneously. Weld is one of the best Governors we ever had, they don't make 'em like that anymore. Posted by Free Willy October 24, 08 11:10 AM Republicans who are horrified at what the Bush crew has done to the party are coming around to realize McCain will not rescue the GOP, in fact he and Palin will make things worse. It may take two or three elections for the GOP to recover from the Bush fiasco. Weld, Colin Powell, Scott McClellan and others are trying to get out in front to show the GOP it has to move away from the Bush/Cheney agenda of catering to the rich and preemptive invasions. The only republican running in the primaries that could have competed with Obama was Ron Paul and we saw how well he did. Posted by Lefty October 24, 08 11:10 AM As a centrist democrat, one thing I used to admire about the Republican party was that they seemed to take accountability seriously. After 8 years of the most atrocious failure imaginable, how could anyone remotely consider putting this group back in power? If the world were a perfect place, the Bush voters (as opposed to those who rightfully supported McCain 8 years ago) would be required to apologize to America, in writing, before they were allowed to vote again. It's time for the Republicans to regroup and come up with something better. I thought Mr Weld was better than this, but sometimes he's such a disappointment. Posted by Fusilli October 24, 08 11:31 AM Funny how when a republican jumps ship he is not a real republican. You so full of your selves and elities, you can not even see the forest for the trees. Posted by James E Stevenson October 24, 08 11:35 AM Weld is backing the least fiscally conservative and most socially liberal of the candidates. Has he forgotten what sort of mess he inherited when he was governor? What is it about Obama's tax and spending plans does he not understand? Posted by Rob October 24, 08 11:38 AM Weld is bucking for a job in DC, that's all. He's lining up just like Powell and Lugar for the lucrative government job payback. He has voted straight party line (or voted "present") on every single piece of legislation in either Illinois or in DC. Posted by dbnuts October 24, 08 11:43 AM This is utterly ridiculous. Weld was not a true Republican and now he proves it by endorsing the Democratic Terrorist lover for President. Posted by pine8ball October 24, 08 11:43 AM One more Republican that is making his decision based on logic and reason instead of blind loyalty to Republican ideology! One more Republican that is making his decision with the best interest of the country in mind instead of blind loyalty to Republican ideology! The only ones that will remain in the McCain/Palin camp are the racists, the ignorant, those voting with their sex organ instead of their brain, and the hard-core loyalists to party, rather than country... Weld led the turnaround of Mass from the Dukakis fiasco. He did such a good job that crazy Mass voters continued to elect Republican governors four consecutive elections. I agree with Weld that Obama has a chance to be a transformative figure. However, I cannot find anything in his background to match the eloquence with deeds. He is a very liberal senator with minimal leadership history and no history of bringing diverse political parties together on important issues. I hope for the sake of the country that he succeeds as another Jimmy Carter ...
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