Sen. Obama Steps Up for Gov. Richardson

This is interesting.  

During a Democratic debate, Senator Obama helped out his fellow Democrat at a tough moment.

"I had just been asked a question -- I don't remember which one -- and Obama was sitting right next to me. Then the moderator went across the room, I think to Chris Dodd, so I thought I was home free for a while. I wasn't going to listen to the next question. I was about to say something to Obama when the moderator turned to me and said, 'So, Gov. Richardson, what do you think of that?' But I wasn't paying any attention! I was about to say, 'Could you repeat the question? I wasn't listening.' But I wasn't about to say I wasn't listening. I looked at Obama. I was just horrified. And Obama whispered, 'Katrina. Katrina.' The question was on Katrina! So I said, 'On Katrina, my policy . . .' Obama could have just thrown me under the bus. So I said, 'Obama, that was good of you to do that.'"

This is an example of the Senator Obama's character.

-Update-

This diary might be short on details on my part, but I wanted to counter the hit diaries about Senator Obama supposedly snubbing Senator Clinton.  If Obama is willing to help out a competitor during a debate, then he won’t turn around and snub Clinton during the SOTU.

Plus, with all the stuff flying around here this diary does not trash any candidates or their supporters.  

•  Eloy

  Please feel free to leave comments, tips and criticism.

  by Eloy on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:09:25 AM PDT

  •  That

    and he had Joe Biden's back during a debate, in referne to JB's gaffes regarding Indians, and Obama "being articulate".

    by sd4david on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:14:34 AM PDT

    •  OH GAWD, I'M GOING INTO...

      ...A SUGAR INDUCED DIABETIC SHOCK!!!

      Did he promise little Billy he'd hit 3 home runs in the Congressional softball game!

      The man-love for BO is getting laughable...seriously, look at this diary!

      Lets show some dignity people...

      by neoeconomist on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:19:34 AM PDT

      •  Feel free to post heart-warming

        stories about HRC's generosity and helpfulness.

        by chicago minx on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:22:51 AM PDT

        •  We need to see more of this in general!

          About Clinton or anyone else.

          Just please no tears..

          by Dan Hogan on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:24:49 AM PDT

      •  you're right, we need more heartlessness and ....

        unkindness in our party. Sorry, if the "man-love" makes you puke.

        by floridadave on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:31:51 AM PDT

  •  Thanks for posting. I would not have seen it.

    As others have said, its nice to see Obama helping him out and him being open enough to talk about it.  Turns out these people actually are human beings under the surface.

    by Dan Hogan on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:19:51 AM PDT

    •  Some of them, anyway. nt /snark

      by polecat on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 08:14:12 AM PDT

  •  GREAT DIARY

    You would relate Hillary with snub, not Obama. Not if you know the kind of man he is.
    Not everyone campaigning against the dirtiest politican in America can resist the tempattion of calling her on her baggage that's ready to be released once she's the nominee.

    by Zrarieh on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 06:08:57 AM PDT

  •  Just so you know, you're HIGHLY RANKED on Digg.

    2325 Diggs.  Not sure it is worth much mojo, but have a little from me.

    by polecat on Wed Jan 30, 2008 at 08:13:15 AM PDT

•  If Not Obama/Edwards....

  ....then Obama/Richardson, and to be quite frank, it's a toss up for me.

  by tkmattson on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:11:16 AM PDT

•  Obama/Webb = huge share of voters nt

  by jkennerl on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:12:56 AM PDT

  •  That DOES sound good ...

    Demographically it makes a lot of sense.  Covers the bets on ethnicity AND geography.  Western/rural issues have got to be Democratic issues.

    by lgmcp on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:15:10 AM PDT

  •  Reagan Democrats! Reagan Democrats!

    by Lady Bird Johnson on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 12:10:57 PM PDT

  •  Obama/Richardson

    Or Obama/Clark
    Or Obama/Murtha
    or the best one if you are an Obama supporter-
    Obama/Richardson

    so that the VP covers Barack's lack of foreign policy experience.

    If its Hillary, she would be best served by finding a Progressive or Lefty to balance out the ticket.

    Let's see what happens.

    by masonicword on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 12:21:25 PM PDT

•  This is not a diary.

  Thanks.  

  by Rasputin on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:12:56 AM PDT

  •  Who are you to say what is or isn't?

    Just because it's short doesn't mean it isn't worth sharing.  Please be a little more respectful of other people.

    by Sean Robertson on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:15:02 AM PDT

    •  Three substantive paragraphs...

      by cjallen on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:25:50 AM PDT

    •  Me? Take it up with Kos

      "Substantive diaries only. If you don't have at least three solid, original paragraphs, you should probably post a comment in an Open Thread. "

      Even with his "update", it still doesn't meet the minimum criteria for a diary.

      by Rasputin on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:44:31 AM PDT

      •  If it was an open thread comment,

        then I wouldn't have found it on Reddit. Thanks Reddit and Eloy! :-D

        by cakestick on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 01:11:31 PM PDT

  •  Ok.

    Maybe it is short on details on my part, but wanted to counter the hit diaries about Senator Obama supposedly snubbing Senator Clinton.  If Obama is willing to help out a competitor during a debate, then he won’t turn around and snub Clinton during the SOTU.

    Plus, with all the stuff flying around here this diary does not trash any candidates or their supporters.  

    by Eloy on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:25:38 AM PDT

•  so it was Obama whispering to Romney! n/t

  by 2501 on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:13:04 AM PDT

  •  Hahahah, That's good....

    You need some definite props for that one.

    by turnnoblindeye on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:19:14 AM PDT

  •  "Raise taxes"

    LOL

    by Lady Bird Johnson on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 12:09:49 PM PDT

•  Obama

  seems like a very nice guy.

  This doesn't surprise me.

  by nisleib on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:13:08 AM PDT

•  On second thought, this about the canonization of

  Obama?

  Nevermind.

  by Rasputin on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:13:35 AM PDT

  •  Gimme a break

    Sheesh

    by Sean Robertson on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:19:34 AM PDT

•  And perhaps of Richardson's character as well

  to chat freely about (another) slip-up and publicly thank the person who was friendly enough to help him out with it.

  by lgmcp on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:13:36 AM PDT

  •  Bill Richardson

    He may have fizzled on the trail, but I had a chance to hear him in a small venue in NH and his character and humanity were what shone through the stump speech

    by Herron Maine on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:25:35 AM PDT

•  Gasp!

  He was the one whispering, "he raised taxes" to Romney!!!

  by Addison on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:13:55 AM PDT

•  i Love this Story

  i just read it in another diary posted as a comment

  and for me, it utterly destroys the "The Snub" type of narrative that HRC supporters have been pushing ...

  by josephk on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:14:22 AM PDT

  •  "The snub" lie apparently.

    Claire said she asked O a question and thus he turned away. To tell you the truth, I would have turned away in any case just because it would have been rude to lurk over Kennedy or try to listen in on any words the two might want/need to exchange.

    by speck tater on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:29:38 AM PDT

    •  But CNN's Jessica Yellin

      disputes the Obama campaign's two opposite excuses for "The Snub".

      CNN's Jessica Yellin reports that Kennedy, seated directly next to Obama, then moved to shake Clinton's hand. As the two senators spoke, Obama turned to look at the back of the room. It was only after Obama turned away, Yellin reports, that McCaskill struck up a conversation with Obama.

      by wandering i on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:38:59 AM PDT

•  Don't know who Bill will endorse

  but I know his voters (at least 1 in my family) lean Clinton.  I think Bill does value experience and will either support Hillary or stay neutral.

  by khyber900 on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:15:13 AM PDT

  •  Bill has strong ties to Kennedy

    He may go the way of The Teddy.

    Welcome on-board Bill-O!  We'll save a seat on the bandwagon for ya!

    by Wisper on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:58:50 AM PDT

•  Hillary would have whispered

  "Social Security!" and cackled at her clever ruse.

  by reef the dog on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:15:14 AM PDT

•  I guess Hillary was feeding Richardson

  the answers the rest of the time.  :)

  by johnny rotten on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:18:10 AM PDT

•  coolness.

  by darthstar on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:19:45 AM PDT

•  Fun story

  I hope Richardson endorses Obama this week.

  by turneresq on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:20:00 AM PDT

•  Eloy, thanks for this. I'm already an Obama

  supporter, but this little incident speaks volumes about Obama's character.  Helping an opponent in a debate -- this is the essence of selflessness.      This incident shows Obama as a man who -- clearly wanting to win -- wants to win the right way.  I wonder how many other candidates would have done the same thing?

  It also speaks well of Richardson that he would admit to his attention wandering.  We've all had the problem from time to time -- but in a presidential debate?!  Richardson's self-deprecation and wry sense of humor serve him well.  With his breadth and depth of experience, and demonstrated competence, I hope he serves in some high capacity in an upcoming Democratic administration, assuming he'd want it.

  My only regret is that by reporting this, you've exposed Richardson to being maligned in the comments to follow.

  by trivium on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:22:18 AM PDT

•  Is there video of this?

  That'd be kinda cool..

  by Dan Hogan on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:23:35 AM PDT

•  Oh get off it

  After all Obama was clearly letting richardson crib off his test and feeding him the answers.

  [ /clintonian spin ]

  by Dreggas on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:31:08 AM PDT

•  Good to know the presidential debates

  are not unlike 8th grade.  I was whispering to Barack and then the teacher called on me!

  by renaissance grrrl on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:34:17 AM PDT

•  Further evidence of his sainthood!

  This diary will someday (magnetic storage devices willing) be a footnote in someone's dissertation about how the intensity of Obamismo caused otherwise sensible people to elevate tiny little anecdotes into a political narrative.

  by Rich in PA on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:37:43 AM PDT

  •  Obamismo...LMAO!!!!

    Mad funny! I love it!!!

    by brooklynbadboy on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:46:10 AM PDT

  •  Well, excuse us...

    for enjoying one little anecdote of friendliness floating in a sea of hostility. does everything have to have heavy political connotations?

    by kuulray on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 12:26:33 PM PDT

    •  Everything is a double game....

      ...in Obamaland.  This was diaried in order to further boost Obama's standing, and if someone points out how trivial it is, they're accused of not appreciating an apolitical story of human kindness.

      by Rich in PA on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 12:49:57 PM PDT

•  I haven't been terribly enamored of Obama

  I won't list my reasons, because they're not germane here. Suffice it to say that I don't love him any more than I love Clinton. But this anecdote did warm my heart a leetle bit, and, should Obama get the nod down the road, this will be something I think about when I cast my vote for him in the general, which I think'll make it a happier voting experience than holding my nose and pushing the button. Thank you for sharing this! It's a welcome diary (especially) among some of the others.

  by poppyseed on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 11:45:15 AM PDT

•  But you won't hear the MSM talk about this

  because it's about old style politics.  Just another reason to elect this man.  

  by Lady Bird Johnson on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 12:08:48 PM PDT

•  I don't think this applies to the Clinton snub

  which is bullshit anyway. I mean, being nice to a guy who has no chance of winning is different from what you might do to your leading competitor.

  That said, we all know the supposed "snub" is bullshit. We don't need evidence. We just need to remember that this is pure bullshit.

  by danthrax on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 12:16:04 PM PDT

•  Great story!

  With all the bickering going on, it's good to hear one like this with candidates being courteous to one another. I like both Obama and Richardson. I think they'd make a good team, even though it's not likely.

  by kuulray on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 12:17:18 PM PDT

•  That is a cute story

  Although should I be slightly disturbed that the candidates' minds wander during debates the way mine does in class? :)

  by lirtydies on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 01:44:08 PM PDT

•  Foxnews Headline:

  Obama Whispers Answer to Neighbor During Test

  by Harksaw on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 02:10:54 PM PDT

•  Last name, thank you

  I find the last quote very odd.  Why would he thank Sen. Obama by his last name?  When someone does me a favor at work, I don't say "Smith, thanks for doing that."  I say "Thanks, John."

  At the very least it seems like he could have said "Senator, that was very good of you" if he had wanted to be semi-formal about it.

  by vees on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 04:26:56 PM PDT

•  thanks for this

  it's nice, for a change, to see someone in the political arena with a little class.

  by lapolitichick on Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 09:18:59 PM PDT