McGovern: Obama Is a Second ‘Lincoln’

South Dakota native George McGovern joined Barack Obama on his first day of campaigning in the state.

The former senator and 1972 Democratic presidential candidate had previously endorsed Hillary Clinton, but switched to Obama after she lost North Carolina and narrowly won Indiana last week. The flip-flop came as a particular blow to Clinton, who worked as a young political organizer in South Texas for McGovern in 1972.

“She and her remarkable husband, Bill Clinton, worked their hearts out for me way back when in that 1972 presidential campaign,” said McGovern, who lost in a blowout to incumbent Richard Nixon. “The Clintons have been my treasured friends all these years and that will continue after we’re all joined behind Barack Obama.”

McGovern told the crowd of 7,000 that he supports Obama in part because he believes he has an insurmountable delegate lead and the Democratic Party needs to come together and support him. He then confessed to another reason: All four of his children and many of his 10 grandchildren are Obama supporters. “That speaks to the measure of the influence I’ve had at all,” he joked with the crowd.

McGovern heaped praise on Obama, comparing him with Abraham Lincoln. “Illinois gave us Abraham Lincoln. That state may have now given us a second Abraham Lincoln,” he said.

Obama began his speech by thanking McGovern, saying he “exemplifies public service” and that he “is just a class act.”

But the McGovern appearance Friday struck a chord among Republicans who see Obama as the ultimate example of an antiwar liberal getting blown away in a general election by a strong national-security candidate like John McCain.

Nixon defeated McGovern 60% to 38% with electoral collage totals of 520 to 17, the second biggest landslide in U.S. history. McGovern’s two electoral vote victories came in Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. He didn’t win his home state.

link: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/05/16/mcgovern-obama-is-a-second-lincoln/?mod=WSJBlog

(Big in those days.) That's a boo-boo in this Lottery-crazy land, where everybody dreams of being a millionaire. Or did until recently.

Also, Nixon LIED that he had a "secret plan" to end the war. And he was deeply, filthily engaged in dirty tricks and spying on the Democrats. (Hm, we've got that again, don't we?)

Nobody, NOBODY has looted us as the Bush Cartel has done. Nobody, NOBODY has engaged in so many high crimes and misdemeanors. This is a different era. We were still riding the '60s prosperity when McGovern ran. These days, a cap on wealth--or at least on CEOs' obscene salaries (reward for laying off tens of thousands of workers) would probably be a hit. If anything, Obama isn't nearly radical enough. We need an FDR--a "New Deal." People would shout for joy. People ARE shouting for joy, even with Obama's vague promises.

Diebold aside, I think Obama will win in a landslide. They may shave his mandate, and try to hamper him, but if they steal it, they risk losing their "trade secret" code power over election results. People are HUNGRY FOR CHANGE, and FOR RELIEF FROM THESE BUSHITE BASTARDS. It is not 1972. Too much Reagan-Bush blood under the bridge. Besides, McGovern had the unfortunate personality of a Presbyterian minister, as it projected on TV. He wasn't really, but he just has no talent for projecting who he really was. Obama on the other hand has the voice, the projective skills, the charm, of JFK. Whole different ballgame.

We do need a New New Deal. And although Obama isn't radical enough, I think he does hold one very important quality, he listens. And, it is not about the candidate. Obama is great, but he will be pushed, and is able to be pushed by a motivated electorate and a New Majority in the House and Senate.

With gains and capitalization on the Populist Will in 2008, 2010 can bring a wave of Progressives into the Democratic Party, the House and Senate.

I agree with you that Obama listens and if he sees the opportunity he'll step up to the plate.

I have hope it we will make great strides again for the progressive movement with a President Obama. Yes we can!

Sonia

--American median income had yet to peak. The high water year in constant dollars was 1973. Also prolly would have helped if some of the Dem higher ups hadn't worked so hard for Nixon.

:-)

They say he was the last one. It might be that he was the last one to fight for the Constitution too.

Presidents have abused their power until we now have a "unity executive" who rules like a king using war and civil strife as an excuse.

"I therefore consider that in view of the Constitution and the laws, the Union is unbroken; and to the extent of my ability I shall take care, as the Constitution itself expressly enjoins upon me, that the laws of the Union be faithfully executed in all the States."
-- March 4, 1861 - Lincoln's First Inaugural Address

We would do well just to elect anybody who can put together a coherent sentence, but someone who fights for the Constitution would be an added bonus... *sigh* :-(

The American people had mandate since 2006. Let's see if he remembers it?

No, the second Coming.

No... wait... now it's Lincoln?

Bwahahaaaaa......

Whatever.

:shrug:

I suggested he might be better off with a Beemer, but he insisted on buying American cars. His third and last was a Caddy Eldorado.

Come on, you must have seen this post coming!

I like Obama, I'm supporting him and I think he'll make a good president, maybe a great one but comparisons to the best president ever (or second best, after Washington) are way too early. At this point, that kind of comparison is something Obama, in the modern age of politics, can't hope to live up to.

...began a campaign of genocide against the plains Indians

out of our government like Lincoln? Didn't think so.

Read: Lincoln by Gore Vidal.

It's a great book and is interesting to read. Guess McGovern never read about Lincoln only that he was from Illinois, a lawyer, and became President.

Agreed about the book about the Tycoon.

McGovern is actually a Lincoln buff, and very well educated about all aspects of Lincoln's life. For a boy from South Dakota of his age, he is of course a Lincoln guy.

So am I. I think the parallels are remarkable, not least of which is Obama's recognition that speeches aren't "just words." I am sure you agree with that, as Lincoln was the greatest enunciator of "just words" in American history.