DeGette says it's time to focus on November
By M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published June 5, 2008 at 10:17 p.m.
Diana DeGette wants Obama to note differences with McCain.
Rep. Diana DeGette has continued the parade of Colorado Democrats getting in line behind Sen. Barack Obama in the race for the White House.
The Denver congresswoman, who was one of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's superdelegate supporters, said it's time to get past news reports about delegate counts and people switching sides.
"I think those headlines are passe now, because we have a nominee. That nominee is Barack Obama," DeGette said Thursday. "Our job as a party is to coalesce behind him."
DeGette and Obama had a private meeting last week, when Obama visited a school in Colorado. She said Obama was "extremely gracious" and pledged to treat Clinton's supporters as "full partners" in the fall campaign.
"The positions of Sen. Clinton and Obama are so close to each other, so he really doesn't need to take any new positions," DeGette said.
To prevent Clinton supporters from defecting to the Republican camp, DeGette said Obama needs to emphasize his position favoring abortion rights and other areas where he and Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, have clear disagreements.
"Some of the disappointed Clinton supporters are making the mistake thinking John McCain is a moderate. He's actually quite conservative," DeGette said.
This week, four previously undecided Colorado superdelegates threw their support to Obama: Gov. Bill Ritter, Sen. Ken Salazar, Rep. Mark Udall and Rep. John Salazar.
Colorado is critical to Obama's hopes of winning the White House.
Not only is this summer's Democratic National Convention in Denver, but Obama's campaign has said the state is a prime target - one that gave its electoral votes to President Bush in 2000 and 2004.
Clinton did not concede the contest to Obama immediately after Tuesday night's final primaries, but she is expected to express support for Obama at an event on Saturday.
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3:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
JohnHKennedy writes:
I think Rep. DeGette should focus on honoring her oath
to Our Constitution and defend it against Bush and Cheney.
Rep. Kucinich a brave American, has just introduced a 35 count Impeachment Resolution against President Bush.
I think that Rep. DeGette should immediately read Kucinich's impeachment resolutions and
report back to the voters in her District about whether or not there is even a slight chance that either Bush or Cheney have committed crimes against Our Constitution.
A simple yes or no answer is what we want.
If there is even a slight chance,
DeGette Must Immediately Call For Impeachment Hearings.
The voters know that crimes were committed in the hundreds. This too serious to ignore. A patriot would call for hearings.
I live in her District. I voted for her. She owes the Constitution.
She owes me(and You).
Ms. DeGette, let us know soon if there is even a slight chance that Bush and/Cheney committed crimes against our Constitution.
John H Kennedy, SE Denver, CO, 43 yr Democratic voter, Obama delegate
..