History Doesn’t Pay the Bills
By Fleaflicker on March 29, 2008 at 8:43 PM in Barack Obama, Florida, Hillary Clinton, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.
| Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is someone you should get to know. He believes that we should judge people based upon the content of their character. He believes in the the importance of every voter in our democracy. He believes in taking stands that are right even when they aren’t terribly popular or may be potentially damaging to one’s political future. |
Mayor Nutter believes that Barack Obama has made a huge mistake in not completely disassociating himself from his friend and spiritual mentor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright.
“Philly Mayor Would Quit Obama Church,” ABC News:
“I think there’s no room for hate, and I could not sit and tolerate that kind of language, and especially over a very long period of time,” said Philadelphia’s newly elected mayor, Michael Nutter, in an interview with ABC News’ David Muir.
“Philly Mayor Would Quit Obama Church” continued:
“If I were in my own church and heard my pastor saying some of those kinds of things,” he added, “we’d have a conversation about what’s going on here, what is this all about, and then I would have to make my own personal decision about whether or not to be associated or affiliated.”
Asked by Muir if he would he have quit Obama’s church, Nutter said, “Absolutely.”
The mayor of Philadelphia, the city in which the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were signed, the mayor of the heart of our nation completely agrees with Hillary: “You don’t choose your family, but you choose what church you want to attend.” To Nutter, Obama offered an inadequate defense for his reason not to disown Wright. The “angry black” defense might play well in Peoria but it isn’t playing very well in Philadelphia.
“I think there is a big difference between expressing the pain and anger that many African Americans and other people of color may feel versus language that I think now crosses the line and goes into hate.”
In supporting Hillary, Nutter has imperiled his political future. He is hearing from a lot of Obama supporters that thought he would endorse Obama because they have so much in common. Some people even refer to him as Philadelphia’s Barack Obama. But taking stands for things he believes in requires the courage of a real leader and that is exactly who Michael Nutter is.
The mayor acknowledges that some voters have approached him and asked, in his words, “Why not support a brother?”
“Somehow, someway, for some people there’s an automatic assumption that a mayor who is African-American or some other elected official has to support another African-American,” Nutter said.
“I thought that when Dr. King said that he wanted people to be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character, I thought that’s what he was talking about,” Nutter added.
To Nutter the “making history” argument falls on deaf ears to. Because this election, while historic, is a lot more important for a number of reasons. And competency to lead our country out of its morass is a much higher priority.
“Certainly the opportunity to demonstrate to my 13-year-old daughter that there is a bright future for her, that a woman could get elected president of the United States, is equally compelling,” he said.
“I think that we are at this historical moment,” Nutter said. “Either candidate will clearly make history. But you only get to vote for one. The most important thing is winning in November, putting a Democrat in the White House.”
He added, “I’m a great fan of history. I don’t know that when people are struggling to pay the bills, that they ultimately conclude that, ‘Well, if we can just make history with this vote, then all of my problems will be solved.’ It still, for me, always comes back to performance [and] track record.”
Exactly. That is why Hillary is the clear choice above all others. Competency. Vision and a long record of Achievement.
And as to Hillary’s decision to press on with the campaign and to speak up for the disenfranchised voters of Michigan and Florida, Nutter grasps it’s full significance.
“Think about who we are in the Democratic Party and the country we are in,” Nutter said. “That we would somehow leave out any of our citizens in this process, I think, would be an absolute disgrace. We need to be a bit smarter about it.”
And even though he knows that his decision to back Hillary isn’t the most popular thing he could do, he believes strongly that giving and keeping one’s word is important, whether someone is up or down.
Nutter endorsed Clinton back in December, when she was the clear front-runner. Now she is struggling. But Nutter is having no second thoughts.
When asked if he would endorse Clinton again, Nutter said, “Absolutely. Same endorsement. Never a hesitation.”
I am going to go out on a limb and predict that this man has a bright political future ahead of him. We need more leaders that understand what is really important and know how to make the right choices in difficult times. Michael Nutter, you are a fine American. Philadelphia is fortunate to have you. And so is Hillary.
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By Sarah Palin (Release date: November 17. 2009)
Bravo Mayor Nutter! I have family in Philly and know that Mayor Nutter when he was in city council, looked out for the people in his district and all of Philly. I am not surprised that he is being rake over the coals by some of the very people he helped. This is a sad day in America when a candidate like Obama is really the racist. Philly AA community need to wake up and smell the coffee, less than will lose a good mayor and get an Obama.Checkout the lastest artilce at black agenda report Obama Plays a Crooked Game by BAR executive editor Glen Ford
“Obama ascribes all racial offenses to the past, where the only guilty white people are dead.”
http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=565&Itemid=1
This is an election for President of the USA this is not an election for a high school President!
Excellent analogy, time to wake up for many and realize this!
“Think about who we are in the Democratic Party and the country we are in,” Nutter said. “That we would somehow leave out any of our citizens in this process, I think, would be an absolute disgrace. We need to be a bit smarter about it.”
Ask Obama to withdraw, Obama is proving everything that is wrong with America, he lies, he manipulates and he places blame for actions on others and he uses the line of Racial divide for his own actions!
Obama is the worst of what America has to offer!
I just watched this interview, then clicked over here and *bing,* you were two steps ahead of me! What a great interview and what a wonderful man. It’s a terrific take on the whole election from the perspective of a calm, smart Hillary supporter. Like we here all are…
P.S. I thought the same thing you did, Fleaflicker, I think he’d make a great President. Oops, did I say that out loud? Yes, he has a bright political future ahead of him (but he has to wait until Hillary has served her two terms as President).
Geez! This post made me emotional. I love this guy. Wow Courage and Loyalty = One great person. His future is definitely bright.
When I watched this at ABC I was so impressed with him. I said “Now that is a man I could get behind and vote for.” I agree with you, he will go far. I am glad he is supporting Hillary. He just seems like such an honorable man. I can’t say I see that in Barack Obama. Sorry I just can’t.
I heart Mayor Nutter! What a wonderful man.
I hope Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton don’t destroy his career for him. I have read that they have sent out their thugs to threaten AA elected officials if they don’t support Mr. Hope. I wonder if John Lewis watched this interview?
Mayor Nutter seems like the real deal. I can see why people lined up so long and far to shake his hand at his inauguration. I’m so glad he is supporting Hillary.
I agree with the comments above; Mayor Nutter is showing real leadership.
We should all make a commitment that when it comes time for Mayor Nutter to take the next step in his political career, we should be there with the campaign contribution to help him take that next step.
Mayor Nutter,
You are so brilliant and articulate what we all feel so easily put. Now that is a smart inspirational man! THANK YOU MAYOR NUTTER. THANK YOU!
Hats off to Mayor Nutter.. He knows who the right one for the job is.
David Muir used to a local reporter from Syracuse NY..
This is what integrity and leadership looks like. It isn’t about “rock stars” and “charisma” and all that other b.s. that’s part of the Obama “brand”. This is about a man that gave his word, stuck by his word, and is doing what he thinks is right. Nice to see for a change. (Hey Bill Richardson, if you wanna take loyalty and integrity lessons, Mayor Nutter could teach you a lot.)
I’m not sure he does have a brilliant future. I’m not sure enough people still care about those virtues any more.
Everything has to come with pizazz! Only thing is, what the hell has pizazz ever done for this country?
Wow, what a wonderful diary. Without knowing anything about him, I think that he seems like he would be a more appropriate Vice Presdient for Hillary than Obama would. Lovely, thoughtful human being. Thank you for writing about him.
I had the words Vice President in mind when I first learned about him.
Linda:I agree with you.
Hillary, if be the nominee, needs an AA as vice president and we all know Obama is not the right person as he is a racist, phony without any principles. Mayor Nuter will be a great choice. I am hearing rumors that McCain may pickup Condolezza Rice as VP
There are some great AAs out there. Two come to mind quickly: Mayor Nutter and Cory Booker from Newark. This is what I imagined when I thought of an AA president. Not a bit of arrogance in either man. Just “get er done” guys, hard working and loyal to the core.
I know many black male friends who are voting for Hillary, their views are very similar to this gentleman’s, one of my friends said “It’s President of the United States, not college football”. I find it frustrating that to openly endorse Hillary is considered racist. It is annoying and polarizing. I am really tired of black women who minimize the female experience, that is infuriating. This congresswoman had the strength to stand up for Hillary and was booed by Obama supporters http://www.khou.com/video/news-index.html?nvid=231349
Women are tired of being dissed, this new dissing is just too much.
In the regendered words of Malcolm X
I believe in the sisterhood of woman, all women, but I don’t believe in sisterhood with anybody
who doesn’t want sisterhood with me. I believe in treating people right, but I’m not going to
waste my time trying to treat somebody right who doesn’t know how to return the treatment.
Malcolm X
The deal is this, people have different political views regardless of gender or race. I would prefer to flock with those who believe in me NOT those who look like me. Hillary by her actions is that choice for me.
It is no secret Obama supported Nutter’s opponent in the 2007 mayoral primary, so his comments should be taken with a grain of salt. It is a shame he is not a strong enough person in his own right to look above the petty politics of the moment and embrace the initiative on Race Obama began with his historic speech instead of repeating one of Hillary’s “I must get elected at all costs” scripts.
I agree though, the color of ones skin, a person’s religion, or just being different, are not reasons to hate. Our country was built upon diversity, 60 years ago in New York it was a big deal for my Italian father to marry my Irish mother, there was a lot of negativity and prejudice at that time, thank god my children will never know of such foolishness.
Reverend Wright is as much a generational issue as he is a racial one. His generation did see blatant racism and oppression, the exposure to which I am sure helped form his own racist opinions. I do not know first hand what he dealt with, but I know this, if someone made my mother sit in the back of the bus for the color of her skin, I would probably be in jail right now.
Obama, gave a great speech on Race, one that I think will be a key message for our country going forward, and to me that is the key…. Going forward. We have moved past the policies of segregation, worked through forced desegregation and affirmative action, and now it is time for Americans to get past all that and come together, so that hopefully are children’s children will only learn about racial issues from history books. The time has come to deal with racial issues honestly and openly, and to work through the ones that remain so that we can become unified and deal with the real threats to our country and our society. Barack Obama is a racially diverse person as well as a well-educated and intelligent man. He has been exposed personally to both perspectives on this issue and with his obvious commitment to public service is uniquely well suited for this task.
[...] For more information about Mayor Michael Nutter see: History Doesn’t Pay the Bills [...]
[...] http://noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/03/29/history-doesnt-pay-the-bills/ (with the story of his endorsement and a video of Mayor Nutter) [...]