Robert Reich joins Bill Richardson in endorsing Barack Obama

Robert Reich, Bill Clinton's Labor secretary, did as anticipated earlier this afternoon and announced his endorsement of Barack Obama -- and notably not his friend of 40 years, Hillary Clinton. Our colleague Mark Z. Barabak just got off the phone with Reich, who, like former Energy secretary and current Obama backer Bill Richardson, reported that it was not an easy decision.

"I've been very torn, frankly," Reich said, speaking slowly, measuring his words, over the phone from his office at UC Berkeley, where he teaches. "I do feel some loyalty to the Clintons because I've known them for so long. ... I did not plan to endorse. I wanted to stay out of the whole endorsement racket. But my conscience wouldn't let me stay silent after this latest round of mudslinging."

Like Richardson, part of the decision was a reaction to the Clinton campaign itself. Barabak, whose story will be posted on the website later today, counts Reich as the fifth former Clinton Cabinet member to endorse Obama, including  Bill Daley (Commerce), Federico Pena (Energy and Transportation) and Norman Mineta (Transportation).

"I've known the Clintons for a very long time, and it seemed unnecessary and inappropriate to endorse Obama. But this past week has been a tipping point for me." Cites the negativity of Clinton campaign ads and seizing on 'bitter.' "The negative ads coming out of the Clinton camp were just appalling at a time when our nation is facing such huge challenges.

"To focus on whether Obama should have used the word 'bitter' when he talked about the plight of many in Pennsylvania and to resurrect the old Republicans themes of guns and religion and to call Obama elistist, quote-unquote, just put me over the edge. I could no longer sit back and be silent. I had to say what I believed."

Reich said he last spoke to Hillary Clinton about a year ago, and Bill Clinton longer ago than that. As a courtesy, he said he tried to call them both Thursday night but couldn't get through. "I used the numbers that I have. I'm not privy to their private cellphone. I made an effort to get through. I thought the decent thing was to leave messages."

He said he didn't notify the Obama campaign beforehand. "It's purely a matter of personal principle. I just had enough."

-- Scott Martelle

Comments

[bz]

Who cares. Reich hasn't been relevant in years.
Maybe Reich and Richardson can write a book about "how to find a job" when you are termed out andr irrelevant.

[Daniel]

This is not changing superdelegate count, but just as significant and in fact very revealing when more and more of Clinton's own ranks are coming out to support Obama.

[Judas and other suppositorys]

Obama is not only attracting the undesirables (Wright,Ayer
Farrakhan, Rezko etc but all of the third rate former Clinton
aides. I guess this is a blessing in disguise for Hillary,as
it is Obama who is now saddled with all the well known
negative baggage carried by theese most unfit and
undignified ex-lousy non-performers . Obama has become
the un-disputed leader of the ultra-left lunatic fringe.

[Bill Rush]

The Clinton supporters should spend less time talking about Rezko, Wright, etc. and tell us about the people Bill Clinton pardoned. What did Clinton get for pardoning those people?

It's the Clintons who are irrelevant. If we want presidents who give the country away to stock market and real estate speculators, we can vote Republican. We don't need two political parties catering to the wealthiest people in this country and around the goble.

[Carl Bidleman]

Could it be that to know the Clintons is to leave them?

[Jose]

I think the good guy is going to finish first this time!

Obama08

[Matt]

Are we to assume that the undecided superdelegates are just waiting for Hillary to improve her numbers? The fact that none of them (recently or significantly) have publicly come out for her is telling. Start writing your next book Hillary.

[John H]

wow, the clinton's sure command a lot of loyalty.
you know when you're primarily just worried about yourself, about your own political fortune, the team tends to go their own way. with the clinton's it is all about the clintons, and pretty soon they can just hang out with themselves.

[catterrap]

Robert Reich continues to have great credibility, particularly in economic circles. While republican surfers and die hard Clinton supporters may want to downplay his importance, the reality is that this was a bigger and more creditable endorsement the Bill Richardson to most remaining superdelegates, and will help Obamas economic creditability against McCain in the national election.

[Tyrone Brown]

My name is Tyrone Brown, 37th Legislative District State Delegate and proud Obamacrat in Seattle, Washington. This afternoon I sent an email to Reich thanking him for endorsing "hope over cynicism and fear" and to my surpise he was kind of enough to reply back. I look forward to joining Mr. Reich and millions of other Americans on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 and making Barack Obama the 44th President of the United States.

Thank you Mr. Robert Reich!

Tyrone Brown
Obamacrat
Seattle, WA

[sean o]

"Who cares, Reich hasn't been relevant in years." commented a poster above. This is precisely the problem with the Clinton campaign. Hillary's running on Bill's coattails and Bill is not merely irrelevant; he's an embarrasment. That's why they're reduced to muck-raking; its all they've got.

[Tom]

I will strongly support the Democratic nominee whether it is Senator Obama or Senator Clinton. I do wonder why Robert Reich's endorsement has been described as "key" as I can't imagine even one person in this country aligning himself/herself with a candidate based on Reich's endorsement. The most critical aspect of this election is all Democrats uniting behind the eventual nominee. Obviously, Obama is the stronger candidate at this point...but if another "Reverend Wright" were to appear, let's hope it happens prior to the Democrats selecting their nominee. It is vital that John McCain not be the next President of the United States. He is too old for the job, his foreign policy ideas are too much in tune with GW, and his knowledge of the economy is possibly even less than the current President.

[Alex]

Mr. Reich has joined the extreme left wing of the party. I suspect much of his advice of income redistribution wasn't followed during the Clinton years. He has a more sympathetic listener in Obama.

[robinia]

Wow, another one jumps ship...

Hillary, it is like a slow and painful death. Incredible. Last year at this time, she was the President-to-be. "I'm your Girl!" she shouted with pride.

It might have been better if she lost in abundance early in the campaign trail. But to fight to the bitter end, knowing you are in a lose-lose situation, must be extremely painful.

Pain finally catches up to Evil!

[Margaret Pulley]

I am grateful to both Mr. Richardson and Mr. Reich. The tipping point for me was also the debate. Before that I supported Obama and after I was furious with Hillary. How many others feel angry with Hillary for putting her personal ambition ahead of the country?

[Nul and void after Jan. 2001]

RR- richardson & reich. No relation to rolls royce excellen
ce.On the contrary, one is inclined to see theese two
slime-balls floating in a sea of puss as unmistakable proof
of the questionable quality of Obama's endorsers.Rezko,
Wright,Farrakhan,Hanoi Jane,Carter,Judas and Reich ....or
who is a collection of has-been,rancid and devalued pols

[PacificGatePost]

SUPERDELEGATES SHOULD REMAIN INDEPENDENT UNTILL THE CONVENTION.....

Superdelegates remaini ng undecided should be left alone and independent to decide which candidate to support.

They should take all the time they need ….

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/04/superdelegates- independence-of-vote.html

[Allan Jenkins]

Interesting to hear that Reich and Richardson "don't matter." Among Democratic activists, they count for a lot .. and it's activists who matter, now.

I'm pretty comfortable with the outlook now, though. I'd prefer Obama over Clinton, would prefer either over McCain.. but see McCain as an enormous improvement over Bush..

[Mary Breem]

Why is no one talking about Hillary's misleading comments at the debate where she tried to link Ayers', the former Weatherman, comment to 9/11, implying that Ayers was happy about 9/11. This is the transcript of what Clinton said at the debate:

"If I'm not mistaken, that relationship with Mr. Ayers on this [Wood Fund of Chicago] board continued after 9/11 and after his reported comments, which were deeply hurtful to people in New York, and I would hope to every American, because they were published on 9/11 and he said he was just sorry they hadn't done more. And what they did was set bombs and in some instances people died,"

The offensive comment that Clinton referred to was from an interview about a memoir that Ayers published earlier in 2001 that was in a New York Times article that appeared in the newspaper's Sept. 11, 2001, edition. The newspaper was published before 9/11 took place, had no relationship to the 9/11 attacks, and referred to the 1970's bombings, not 9/11.

This is very low. Furthermore, what does Obama have to do with Ayers? This is guilt by association.

[GHarri]

At least Reich, Richardson, Boren and Nunn didn't endorse Hillary first, and then announce that she can't win, like McGovern did:
http://digits.hrblock.com/ssDigits/digits.php?rType=1&sPath=1839&sNode=1839&uId=289