For Penn Dems, it's now all for Obama

Penn Democrats vote to endorse Barack Obama for the 2008 presidential-campaign season in a narrow 2/3 majority vote at Steinberg-Dietrich Hall last night.

Last night, the Penn Democrats endorsed Illinois Sen. Barack Obama for president, despite debate about whether to endorse a candidate at all.

The endorsement required a two-thirds majority to pass.

Following the vote, College sophomore Mukul Sharma, Penn Dems vice president, said the group will do "whatever it can" for Obama and wants to host a visit for either the senator or his surrogates before the April 22 Pennsylvania primary.

The Penn Dems will help organize events, walk door-to-door in the Philadelphia area and call registered voters on behalf of Obama's campaign.

The group endorsed in both the 2006 and 2007 elections, promoting Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) and Mayor Michael Nutter, respectively.

Since Feb. 25, when the Penn Dems decided to endorse a candidate, the organization has contacted the campaigns of Obama and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, with both expressing a desire to work with the group, regardless of which candidate the Penn Dems endorsed, Sharma said.

Despite the endorsement, the group promoted Chelsea Clinton's visit to campus yesterday and will continue to assist in visits from both campaigns.

During the meeting, statements were read from both Penn for Obama and Penn for Hillary, followed by an open debate on the candidates' positions.

However, debate at the meeting was mostly focused on whether an endorsement would deter the losing candidate from coming to campus.

Wharton junior and Clinton supporter Linda Cheung said the group "should at least try" to endorse a candidate.

But Penn for Hillary spokesman and College freshman Patrick Bauer expressed frustration at the decision, saying it was "premature for the Penn Dems to make an endorsement."

He said the group was "disappointed" that both candidates would not be allowed to "make their cases directly" before voting took place.

Cheung said many group leaders encouraged students to "put personal views aside" to reach the two-thirds majority.

Yesterday's meeting was held in the wake of critical contests Tuesday in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont. Clinton won three of the four primaries.

Sharma and Penn Dems President Lauren Burdette, a College sophomore, delayed the meeting until yesterday to allow members "to see all relevant information" before voting.

Comments (17)

Hi - and congratulations on a wise choice! Understand there aren't many visible Obama signs around campus. Or at least that was the case last week. You can visit www.obamacycle.com to request campaign signs that were used in some of the earlier states - FREE! Just a thought. Good luck in all you do.

--------------------Obama is a MUSLIM! -------------(ONCE A MUSLIM ALWAYS A MUSLIM!) ------The Islamic "Law of Apostasy": (From the Qur'an) "Every individual of the male sex born in the religion of Islam, who apostatizes, (abandons one's religion) n

----------Obama's PASSPORT WORRIES? He's a MUSLIM! COPY First sent to: John Grayson, Radio Talk Show Host 3/20/08 you discussed, and wondered, why Barack Hussein Obama was so 'deeply concerned' about what someone should learn from viewing informa

I applaud Jenny's intelligent open-mindedness. I think it's important that voters form their own well-studied independent views and opinions about our Presidential options. The problem with most American voters is that they rely mostly on the media, peers, and campaign rhetoric to form strong, passionate opinions, believing that they know all that they need to. They often already have an opinion before they start investigating, so they then selectively pay attention to what they want to, and ignore the rest. This is too important an election not to be sure that they are correct. I think voters should get to know each candidate with an open mind. Take a good look at their moral characters. Leave out all the media and campaign labels that try to manipulate your thoughts. Look at what each candidate has accomplished in their lives. What really drives them? What do they really care about? Who endorses them, and why? What do people who have had personal experiences with them, say about them. If you truly have a negative view of a candidate, you should ask yourself why. How do you justify having those feelings, and spreading them around? If it were you, wouldn't you want to be treated fairly as well? I think the vote to endorse Barrack Obama was at least premature. Since you plan to have both candidates on campus, perhaps you should take another vote after having a chance to meet them and to hear what they have to say. Penn Dems, like the DNC, should not favor one candidate over the other.

And here's some reasons to consider Hillary... http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/20/205647/071 [QUOTE id="30f7f646-223d-4fc4-b244-c5338946f3d7"]Read this if you want a real reason to vote for Obama. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633[/QUOTE]

----------Religious Fundamentalism & BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA When it comes to defending human life ALL civilized people are "FUNDAMENTALIST", be they Jews, Christians, Hindus, others, --------------------------or "Muslims"! When a "Religious" denomination,

I am a Libertarian who voted for George Bush twice. I never thought I would consider voting for a Democratic candidate for that office, but I would vote for Barack Obama if he is the nominee. 1) I strongly disagree with his policies, but I also believe that he will do a better job of uniting this country in a way that John McCain and Hillary could never do. 2) Obama will also improve the standing of the U.S. in the world better than McCain or Clinton. Our international reputation is hurting us terribly and it will take a long time to restore. I am terrified of the prospect of President Hillary Clinton. She will divide this country more than it already is and that is not the path this country needs to go down. I am begging everyone in PA to go to the polls on April 22 and vote for Barack Obama. What's more, for you Democrats out there who want nothing more than to capture the White House, you should remember that there are many more people like me- independents and moderate Republicans who would vote for Obama, but who will show up in droves to support John McCain if it's between him and Hillary Clinton. As a last point, it is pretty sad to watch the combination of the elitist system of "super delegates" and the Florida/Michigan mess beging to boil into an absolutely catastrophic situation for the Democratic party. This cannot end well. If the economy were strong and we were in a time of peace, I would be rejoicing at watching the Democratic party become exposed as the elitist group that it is, but it isn't so I'm not.

I don't think they should have endorsed anyone. It's sad that Obama has become the "cool" choice for President among college students. Politics should not be another trend in and out as quickly as Uggs. As a 23-year-old female liberal, I sometimes feel shamed by my peers for being Obama afebrile. It almost feels like I'm wearing last year's fashion. There's nothing wrong with supporting Obama. I just wish more people knew why they were.

Is it just me, or is this an attempt for the Penn Democrats to bandwagon off the recent huge successes of the UPenn for Obama group? I can understand Patrick's frustration with the decision, as there was likely no doubt as to who was going to win this endorsement, considering Obama's appeal to the college youth, and I'm sure the President and Vice President of the Penn Democrats knew exactly what was going to happen even before going into the meeting. Even as an Obama supporter, I am a little disappointed at this decision. I say that the Penn Democrats, as a political party umbrella organization, should have remained neutral throughout the process and worked closely with the Penn for Hillary and UPenn for Obama groups to unite the party, not to divide it yet again. Needless to say, I have already unsubscribed from their listserv.

OBAMA IS THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR STUDENTS IN THIS CAMP. HILLARY REPRES THE OLD HIERACHY THAT HAS NOTHING TO OFFER STUDENTS. OBAMA WILL WIN THIS NOMINATION. HIS LEAD CANNOT BE OVERTAKEN. ENOUGH WITH THE ARISTOCRACY RULING OF AMERICA. BUSH-CLINTON-BUSH...NOW WHAT! WE ARE PRACTICING DEMOCRACY NOT AUTOUCRAY.

Jenny I have followed the career of Barack Obama since 2001, I am in regular friend/contact with a journalist/author who has been by the side of Barack from the start. I know all about the policy of Barack and the way he started on the streets of Chicago working with the people, rather than taking that high flying job. It is wrong to think and suggest that supporters do not know sufficent about him. In the case of Geoffrey, I am sorry you feel the way you do, but that is your freedom, I am not sure that unsubscribing is the answer, it is always best to stand your ground and express your opinion, I walked away in a similar way once and still regret it. Best John

John McCain is the man we need!

Have you looked at John McCain recently how tired and weary he looks? his last few speeches he has had very slow delivery, life in the White House is going to be tough, people have respect for John, but sadly he is the politics of The Past, he is so 60's 70's. I just don't feel John McCain is well enough to hold such high office.

As a proud PENN Alum, I am so happy to hear that Penn Dems endorsed Barack Obama. In the name of The Red and The Blue, and in pursuit of the change we seek, please consider donating to the campaign through my fundraising page: http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/preview/main/OmForObama Yes We Can! Patty (CAS 1992)

Read this if you want a real reason to vote for Obama. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633

Wow! Barack Obama is so cool. I would totally want to have a beer with that dude! He'd totally buy a round at Smokes! What a great reason to vote for him for president! For all those upset by the Penn Dems' decision, I'd suggest working with Penn for Hillary to do "whatever it takes" for Hillary. In the mean time, you can start here! https://contribute.hillaryclinton.com/march4b.html

The Movement from Barack Obama has shown that working together it is possible we can bring about change. The use of the internet as a media campaign is the likes as never seen before in politics. Youth all over the Country are being attracted to politics, people of all ages are making donations however small, some who have never even voted before. I have followed Barack Obama for the past seven years and I can assure you information often put out by the Clinton campaign is lies, Barack is a Christian and has been for 20 years. Hilary says he has now experience, what does she really have? Barack started working on the streets of Chicago, when it would have been easy to have just got an high flying career, because he Believed! Perhaps Obama has not to get firmer with Hilary and demonstrate the clear difference in policy, but I HOPE he will not stoop as low as Hilary with lies, negative campaigning and scare mongering. Hilary has nor real interest in The Party and Country only herself, greed and self importance. This is great news for PENN DEMS we must work TOGETHER and we can bring about CHANGE. The Republicans must be laughing at the money and time being wasted with in fighting the 22nd April we need a clear mandate, even after the premature victory party even with con feet after Ohio, Hilary in the light of day is still well behind in Delegate Votes! BARACK OBAMA can deliver and bring about CHNAGE - Together YES WE CAN!

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