Sen. Barack Obama shakes hands with Sen. John Kerry at the College of Charleston in South Carolina January 2008. Click the play button to see what Jack and our viewers had to say. (PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
Senator Edward Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama yesterday got a lot of people talking about what effect the backing of one of the Senate's most senior Democrats would have on Obama's campaign. Will the young senator from Illinois inherit the Kennedy mystique that was the late president's?
It's also worth noting that Kennedy is far from the only member of the Democratic establishment who has decided to support Obama over Hillary Clinton.
The list is pretty impressive, powerful names like Senators John Kerry, Patrick Leahy and Kent Conrad, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, and California Congressman George Miller.
It's interesting that they would turn their backs on Hillary, the wife of one of the party's most popular figures, and a key player in the party herself. But, a piece in "The Politico" today describes how Washington's liberal establishment has joined together around the view that Former President Bill Clinton is tarnishing his legacy and hurting his wife's presidential prospects in the process.
They point out how Clinton spent so much time as the dominant personality in the Democratic Party that it makes it easy to forget that lots of Democrats never liked him all that much. And, it seems like a lot of this anti-Clinton sentiment has resurfaced in Washington, where some see Clinton's campaigning to be inappropriate and even offensive.
Here’s my question to you: Why are so many powerful Democratic leaders turning their backs on Hillary Clinton and endorsing Barack Obama?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Kim writes:
I hope they're supporting him because they are finally beginning to act like leaders and do what's right for the people of this country. Senator Obama is our best chance to make real changes in the way Washington operates.
Barbara writes:
It's obvious to most of us that Bill is "back-dooring" his way into terms 3 and 4. There is no way he can ever step aside in the West Wing and allow his wife to lead. His ego is too big, and women are a toy for him, even his wife. He is, after all, Slick Willy.
Mary writes:
Gee Jack. You fail to mention all the senators who have endorsed Hillary, but that's par for the course. Perhaps that's why Obama is getting endorsements from big Democrats. Media bias. Dems see that Obama is the media darling and want to join in the love fest. AND I think resentment toward Bill has had an impact. After all he led us for eight years to prosperity and relative peace. Go figure.
Candy writes:
It's not necessarily "turning their backs" on Hillary. We have two very interesting choices, one who has been entrenched in the national political scene for a long time and the other a newbie. One's a policy-wonk, the other a visionary. It's amazing that we actually have a real choice. That's far different than turning their backs on one or the other, it's exercising that choice.
Fred writes:
Jack, The best thing that could happen in this campaign would be for you to just shut up. When you learn to report the facts instead of nit-picking to arouse people, we will all be better off.
Adam from Newfoundland writes:
Because they actually know what the meaning of the word "is" is!
Ron writes:
I asked my wife your question. She said it is because Hillary is a ninny. Trust me, my wife is always right.