Jim Hightower to campaign for Obama in Texas

[Adelante]

Before he was America's best-known populist, author and activist Jim Hightower was the elected Agriculture Commissioner for the state of Texas.

In that capacity, he rewrote the political playbook and made a relatively low-profile statewide post into a bully pulpit for taking on the corporate special interests that warped both the Democratic Party and federal, state and local policy making.

-snip

But Hightower thinks Obama can compete in Texas by building a coalition that looks a little like the "rainbow" of old -- and a lot like the coalitions that just gave the senator big wins in Maryland and Virginia. The Obama campaign is listening. Indeed, the candidate has started slipping references to the state into his campaign speeches. Obama plans to play in Texas, as he will do so with Hightower at his side.

"The Obama campaign is a phenomenon," says Hightower, who will make his formal endorsement soon but spoke this week with Laura Flanders and this writer on Radio Nation.

"Í am impressed with the tone of his campaign and, most of all, I am impressed with the people who have surged behind his campaign –- especially the young people," the Texan says of Obama.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters?bid=45&pid=285141

[David Zephyr]

1. Now that is big news! Hightower carries real weight with Texas Democrats.

This makes me very, very happy.

[FrenchieCat]

More than Excellent!

Good Got for Obama!

There goes Clinton's populism of convenience schtick!

[Adelante]

37. .

[Bucky]

2. It's about damn time Hightower started acting like a Democrat again

[IndianaGreen]

44. Hightower was always a Democrat

It was the DLC and the Vichy Democrats that betrayed Hightower and millions like him.

[Big Blue Marble]

3. This is more great news.

I love Jim Hightower. He is another great populist for Obama. It is a great sign
that he is excited about Obama.

He is one more reason why I think Obama will win in Texas.

[begin_within]

4. I'd love to see Jim Hightower become President!

[babylonsister]

5. WooT! Gobama! Good news! nt

[WolverineDG]

8. OBAMANOS!!!!

:woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo:

dg

[gmudem]

6. Sounds like a great endorsement

The Clinton supporters will be calling him a meaningless old fool who is past his prime in 3..2..

[NashVegas]

7. Project Much?

..

[gmudem]

18. Nope.

But if you can find a post where I call a Democrat a traitor to the party because he or she didn't endorse the candidate I like, well, good luck.

And the reaction of Clinton supporters to Kerry, Kennedy, and many others is pretty well documented.

[Hieronymus]

9. Wonderful news ... looks like Pelosi might endorse Obama, too.

[roguevalley]

11. she will? Pelosi?

[Drunken Irishman]

14. I hope not! lol

[Yael]

16. Groan

[Tatiana]

19. God I hope not.

Better for her to endorse Clinton. Or not endorse at all.

[IndianaGreen]

45. If Pelosi were to abandon Clinton, it would be a sign that it is all over

let's not forget what a disaster the Pelosi/Reid Congress has turned out to be.

[ellisonz]

10. Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition!

:woohoo:

[Unbowed]

12. Wow.

That's quite an endorsement.

[onehandle]

13. Maybe he should have campaigned for Gore in 2000 instead of Nader.

Maybe?

[ulysses]

23. ?

Who said anything about Nader?

[onehandle]

25. I question the common sense of anyone who supported Nader in 2000.

I'm not alone.

[ulysses]

30. so you're going to attach a caveat to the support of anyone who supported

Nader eight years ago? You be you. :shrug:

[Yael]

15. WOW! This is a huge announcement.

Thanks!!

[snappyturtle]

17. K&R

:woohoo:

[girl gone mad]

20. Awesome! n/t

[Capn Sunshine]

21. Texas' reigning populist endorses Obama!

gee, maybe there's meaning to this.

[Adelante]

38. Democracy for Texas endorsed, too

DFT Supporters Endorse Obama

We asked, you answered. Loud and clear. The winner of our presidential poll is Senator Barack Obama, with 73.2% of the 2,760 votes cast.

As much as the margin of victory, we were impressed by the passion of Obama voters and their excitement about the future. In a world where cynicism about politics has become the norm, it is refreshing to see optimism, hope, and the belief that each of us can make a difference. Or, to paraphrase Senator Obama’s comments last week: “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

It’s a particular joy to watch the young people who are engaged in this campaign, many of whom cut their political teeth in Howard Dean’s campaign. They’re not just talking, they’re assuming a leadership role. We couldn’t be prouder.

http://democracyfortexas.org/wp/?p=96

[Capn Sunshine]

42. BOOYA!

That's my guys. Love ya, DFT :hi:
from CFD

[no name no slogan]

22. Hightower? COOL!

He's one of my favorite authors! I've been a fan of his since he was Ag Commissioner, and was a surrugate for Jesse Jackson in 1988. That will certainly earn Obama some cred points among populist-progressive types.

[ulysses]

24. I haven't been among the most fervent of Obama supporters,

but this is a significant endorsement.

[Ichingcarpenter]

26. Hightower also has a lot of clout on the web and with Texas Progressives

I met him when he was agriculture commissioner for the state of Texas.

To me this is quite an endorsement, I didn't expect this one.

[BeyondGeography]

27. I love Hightower

He was one of the few Democrats worth listening to during the Reagan era.

[thevoiceofreason]

28. For folks who don't know Texas -- THIS IS AWESOME

Jim Hightower is as close to revered among Texas democrats as one can get.

[Donna Zen]

29. A Hightower fan

asked me last week, before the Maine caucus, if I read his magazine. I would have loved to pass on this information. I think this calls for an email.

Thanks for the information.

[blogslut]

31. Good for Jim

Hightower is a great fellow. This is a good endorsement.

[Lisa0825]

32. AWESOME!!!

I :loveya: Jim!

[meow mix]

33. sweet

thank goodness

[loveangelc]

34. I don't know who that is, but he's a big deal in TX? if so, thats good...

[loveangelc]

40. is he a big deal in tx?

[BootinUp]

35. Since you can't read this lol,

Congrats to Obama. ;)

lololol.

:hi:

[Raine]

36. TERRIFIC!!!

This should give Obama a good boost in Texas. :thumbsup:

[Bread and Circus]

39. That's amazing, I have one of Hightower's books.

[bvar22]

41. Not just an endorsement, but a promise to campaign !!!

There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road
but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos
(and the Clinton campaign.)

[IndianaGreen]

43. Great news! Too bad Molly Ivins left us!

Jim and Molly would have made a great team campaigning for Obama, the next President of the United States.

[Avalux]

46. Great news! I love Jim Hightower. A true Texas Democrat.

:hi: