(CNN) - On the same day Democratic leaders stressed party unity after the drawn out primary fight, one congressional Democrat said Tuesday he will not endorse Barack Obama's bid for the White House.
Rep. Dan Boren, Oklahoma's lone Democrat in Congress, told the Associated Press Obama is "the most liberal senator," and said he has to listen to the wishes of his own constituents.
"We're much more conservative," Boren said of his rural district which stretches across the eastern part of the state and borders Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas.
"I've got to reflect my district. No one means more to me than the people who elected me. I have to listen to them," Boren added. His congressional office confirmed the accuracy of the quotes to CNN.
Boren also said Obama's record "does not reflect working in a bipartisan fashion." But the Oklahoma Democrat said he would vote for Obama at the party's convention in August because of the serious issues the country faces.
"I think this is an important time for our country," he said. "We're facing a terrible economic downturn. We have high gasoline prices. We have problems in our foreign policy. That's why I think it's important."
Watch: McCain and Obama go on the attack
Boren's comments come a day after Florida Democratic Rep. Tim Mahoney also said he has no plans to make a formal endorsement. The freshman Democrat, who replaced Republican Rep. Mark Foley following House page scandal, told the Palm Beach Post he plans on remaining an uncommitted superdelegate and may not even attend the convention.
From CNN Politics
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that's a bad time to make a statement like that Mr. Boren. we're focused on the DNC right now in the Democratic party, stay in line. when you make comments like that at a time like this right now, it makes readers automatically think that you're not endorsing him at the DNC. which you're not doing. timing is everything Boren.
Doesn't represent bipartisan working? Has this guy ever paid attention to a thing Obama has said? Pander pander pander.
You all ask it a lot, so let me repeat it again:
For those who don't understand how ANY HRC supporter could vote for McCain.
Obama is a radical left wing demagogue.
Hillary Clinton is a centrist liberal with a well-known agenda and a well presented and throrough platform
That is why a vote for HRC DOES NOT MEAN a vote for Obama.
They are similar on issues BUT NOT IDENTICAL. Hillary is no panderer that changes position to please the audience. And, on EVERY issue HRC was better in every way- UNIVERSAL Health care. No meeting with enemies without preconditions. etc You once accused her of wanting to annilate Iran... remember?
SO WHY ARE YOU SO CONFUSED WHY IT IS HRC OR MCCAIN BUT NEVER OBAMA?
The two are so disimilar in character and conviction and standing Firm. Obama has already changed his positions on everything. It is about trust and extremes of ideology vs the middle ground.
And... for some it is about HOW HRC was defeated- not that she lost.
UM...I JUST READ THIS ARTICLE ON ANOTHER SITE.
HE IS VOTING FOR OBAMA IN NOVEMBER, AND WILL VOTE FOR HIM AT THE CONVENTION.
JUST NOT ENDORSING HIM.
JUST "KEEPIN' 'EM HONEST", CNN.
I will NO VOTE before I vote for Obama, and you should too!
Coward. Why doesn't his district just replace him with a Republican?
I disagree Obama in my opinion is not to liberal but at this time and period we needs some liberal to get this country out of the mess it is in. What do Boren mean he will not endorse Obama but will vote for him at the August convention. That remark from Boren at this time could only hurt the party giving the Republicans forder. The Republicans already to good at twisting Obama's intentions and words out of context giving a different meaning to his plans as President. Barack Oboma do not need the negatives from members of his own party. Make me wonder if Boren is a racist.
Dumb move...doesn't make any sense...he should just be a republican representative and quit the Democrats...he will not have any support among his own party.
Deb in AZ,
No body has experience to be president, the only ones who do is incombants. McCain I like myself but he has been making the wrong decisions for years and he only has ideas of his own on the war. He has know idea about the economy everything he says about it is wrritten by someone else. The US is in bad shape because Bush was not smart enough to make good decisions when faced with them he made decisions off of gut feeling. McCain does the same thing. Obama is a smart man and is well read on laws, issues and the world. I will take a smart person as president before someone who only knows the military side. Some of our best presidents was smart men who never served in the military they have generals for that. McCain is old and rich what matters to him is totally different than what matters to me. The reason why Obama is getting young people involved is because we are fed up with how the older people has allowed this country to sink so low, and they now are willing to do it again by electing McCain. We as youg generation do not see color we are all americans and we want the older genaration to release thier grasp of this country from their old way of thinking so we can bring it back to where the USA belongs.
Well, it's his right to do as he wishes...but I'd be done voting for him if I lived in his district. Around my area, William Lacy Clay and Russ Carnahan don't seem to have that problem, nor do any other Missouri Democrats in a generally conservative state.
By the way, I don't agree that Obama is very far to the left – he is closer to the center than Hillary, especially in terms of his positions on health care and troop withdrawals from Iraq. I also don't agree with the claim that Obama does not have a record of working in "bipartisan fashion" as he has worked with Richard Lugar and various other Republican Senators during his time in the Senate.
So why even have political parties? Seems most times elected officials are caught between their constituents needs and the party line. Should it be 'we, the people' first?
So a no vote from Dan. Yawn. Next!
who cares Mr Boren. if you don't want to endrose obama then don't vote for him. atleast respect you're vote value...
Thank you Dan Boren for doing the right thing.
Thank you Rep Boren for sticking to what you believe in. You are a true gentleman.
He's going to vote for Obama – I say that's an endorsement. What a knuklehead.
I agree Deb. Obama is a marxist dequised as a "liberal". Abortion is murder.
Bravo! He is a true champion for the people who voted for him. This is what it should be, and not like Kerry and Kennedy who go for Obama despite the state clearly supported Hillary. If only all the Democrat congress men/women could represent their constituents as democratically as Rep Boren.
SHL
Not a smart play by him. When Obama wins in November, Im pretty sure that guy wont be on his good side. Plus he's a democrat, so if he wasnt going to endorse him why not just keep his mouth shut. Why come out and publicly real off the republican talking points.
...and here we have two spineless Democrats that won't standup for the principles of the Democratic Party. It appears that Mahoney converted from a Republican to a Democrat to run against Mark Foley. He'll grovel back to the GOP shortly – sounds like Limbaugh's chaos theory....
I'm confused by his stance. His district may have voted for Hillary, but she's out. Is he saying he's going to support the Republican?
So.....you are not going to endorse him, but you WILL vote for him. LOL!!!!
Last time I checked it was the votes that mattered!!!
It's his choice I don't agree with labels. All people are both liberal and consertative if they really think about it. It goes to how we make decision in our every day life. If you're flexable with your children then guess what you're liberal, if you make concessions then guess what you are liberal, if you change your mind about a perticular decision then guess what, again you are liberal. No more than a pro choice person believe in abortions. It is respecting one's right too make a conscious decision based on what they believe. What would Jesus be neither just a person who cared about the poor, hungry and went about doing the will of the father.
Rep. Boren needs to do his homework. Obama has worked on several major bipartisan bills in the US Senate, including Lugar-Obama and Coburn-Obama. Note also that his rating of "most liberal" comes from an organization that counts ethics reform as a liberal cause. So only liberals can be against corruption? How flattering.
Not that big of a deal