Smerconish Endorses Obama
This is turning out to be endorsement weekend. First, the conservative Chicago Tribune. Now, local Philadelphia conservative talk show host Michael Smerconish, who has the morning drive show on the Big Talker 1210, WPHT. And rumor has it that this Sunday, Colin Powell will be endorsing as well.
Endorsing who? The Democratic nominee, Barack Obama.
“I’ve decided. My conclusion comes after reading the candidates’ memoirs and campaign platforms, attending both party conventions, interviewing both men multiple times, and watching all primary and general election debates.
“John McCain is an honorable man who has served his country well. But he will not get my vote. For the first time since registering as a Republican 28 years ago, I’m voting for a Democrat for president.
….
“The candidates disagree as to where to prosecute the war against Islamic fundamentalists. Barack Obama is correct in saying the front line in that battle is not Iraq, it’s the Afghan-Pakistan border. Osama bin Laden crossed that border from Tora Bora in December 2001, and we stopped pursuit. The Bush administration outsourced the hunt for bin Laden and, instead, invaded Iraq.
…
“No one in Iraq caused the death of 3,000 Americans on 9/11. Our invasion was based on a false predicate, so we have no business being there, regardless of whether the surge is working. Our focus must be the tribal-ruled FATA region in Pakistan. Only recently has our military engaged al-Qaeda there in operations that mirror those Obama was ridiculed for recommending in August 2007.
I listen to him a little every morning, mostly in between commerical breaks on Angelo’s show on WIP. I listen to him mostly because he is less evil than Hannity or Limbaugh and their ilk, and mostly because he is a thinking conservative rather than an automaton. He is also local, and has been on the right side of some local issues.
Further, you could see this coming since the primary. He has always been effusive with praise about Obama, especially on the Pakistan and Bin Laden issue.
screw him, but I’m sure his listeners are going batshit
Smecornish — isn’t that some sort of bowel condition?
Never heard of him and I believe I’m better off for it.
Election Inspections thinks we maybe being set up RE: Powell.
This is a pretty big endorsement. Smerconish is known to be active in Penna Republican & conservative politics , so for him to endorse Obama shows dissension in the ranks.
He was openly & vocally backing Sam Katz, the Republican candidate for mayor of Philadelphia ,both times Katz ran against John Street and is well enough connected that he was regional HUD director under George Bush’s father. He is close enough to Arlen Spector that he went with Spector for his visit to Cuba where he interviewed Castro.
In addition to his radio show, he had a newspaper column in Philadelphia as well (used to be in the Daily News, I think he is now in the Sunday Inquirer).
He is sometimes on MSNBC as the conservative voice and pushes his books on Fox News whenever he has one. I wonder how this endorsement affects his TV airtime.
It would not surprise me in the least if Powell either doesn’t endorse (my prediction) or endorses McCain.
Smerconish is also a Friend of Matthews and it was thought sometime back that Matthews and Smerconish were in cahoots for Matthews to run for Senate from PA.
A year before being selected as his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden said Sen. Barack Obama was “not ready to be president right now.”
And? How is that comment in any way relevant to the subject of Smerconish? Biden changed his mind. You change your mind all the time. First you are running as a Republican. Then you are running on the IPOD ballot. Then you are not.
What are you, Mike? Spam?
Mike P, do you have any other tracks on your CD?
I too occassionally listen to him in the morning. I always liked the fact that he actually studied an issue and examined all sides before stating his views. He was very vocally on the right side of the Terry Shiavo issue and I admired the fact he went against the Conservative base on this issue. I am sure he is getting alot of shit for this decision but again, he is on the right side.
I think of the experiance issue like needing an EMT. You can have someone who has been on a couple of ride alongs but knows nothing of medicine or the human body or a guy who has been in school for years learning about what to do on an ambulance. He has studied all possible situations, knows the body inside and out and has been virtually prepared for every situation. Which EMT would you prefer? Sarah Palin is on a ride along, I’ll take Barack Obama’s preparation anyday.