(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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Wow, a 35 year old congressman that has already changed parties in his short career. It sure sounds like we should all be paying attention to this guy with his vast experience and knowledge. Go back to being a Republican, Boren. It's guys like you that give Democrats a bad name.
Go Obama!
Hannah you need to show some respect, it figures you would back
Obama, way to the left. No reason to get all weirded out Hanna.
People that vote for McCain are not idiot's any more then you would be voting for Obama.
This is True Im in california and Latino and the wave is coming !! also watch out for the PUMA's they are getting very strong from what i am seeing at the web site.
America's a free country!!
Its true there many there Just hating Obama,
Good enough, its less than 1%
Go–Go–Go–Obama!!!!!
Let that under 1% cross-over to Bush's third term or Stay home if all they want, STILL Whitehouse is for OOOOBAAAAMAAA!!!!!!
I couldn't tell if Boren believed that "most liberal senator" thing himself, or if he had just been hearing a lot of that from his constituents. Steve Benen pointed out in an article in The Washington Monthly back on January 31 that:
"National Journal's [the news magazine that started this urban legend] press release on the rankings noted the criteria was based on 99 key roll-call votes last year [2007]: "Obama voted the liberal position on 65 of the 66 votes in which he participated, while Clinton voted the liberal position on 77 of 82 votes." So, Clinton voted for the liberal position 77 times, Obama voted for it 65 times, which makes Obama the chamber's single most liberal member. Got it.
What's more, Obama was the 16th most liberal senator in 2005, and the 10th most liberal in 2006, before racing to the front of the pack in 2007. National Journal suggests this has something to do with Obama moving to the left to curry favor with Democratic primary voters.
But there's a more logical explanation: Obama missed a whole lot of votes in 2007 - he's been on the campaign trail - but was on the floor for many of the biggest, most consequential votes. In nearly every instance, he voted with the party. And with that, voila! The most liberal senator in America."
I'm a liberal myself so I'm glad Senator Obama is a liberal too, but I hate it when people try to twist the facts to try to make this center-left politician into some sort of wild-eyed fanatic.
I can't agree with you more. This most liberal presumptive democratic party nominee has to be stopped. He is unelectable and will insure
a republican winner in November. What is to be done? Does anyone see action at the Democratic Convention to be a solution? Must we follow the DNC decision like sheep?
Way to stick to your own party dummy. Might as well join the Republicans now, because your political career is over.
Ok. So the congressman won't endorse Obama publicly, but he'll vote for him at the convention. What a total contradiction! I googled Boren's district ; he represents a district with a history of racism....hmmmmm???
This is so childish. I am so sick of hearing, "I would never vote for Barack Obama because he has no experience and is too liberal."
First, Obama has more time in elected office than Hillary Clinton, so nice try. The experience thing is out.
Obama may be voted the most liberal senator because he votes with his party, but anyone with an internet connection and a brain can find examples of him reaching across the aisle. And his policy proposals are much more moderate than Clinton's. Hence why he got more moderate and independent votes.
And you always read these comments, and at the end they say, "Since you ignored Hillary, I will not vote!"
Enough already. If you are a democrat, and you are going to vote McCain in the fall because Hillary lost, I bet you can't name one good political reason that actually stands up to scrutiny to not vote for Obama. NOT A SINGLE ONE. I HAVE NEVER EVER EVER SEEN ONE PERSON WHO SAID THEY WOULD VOTE FOR MCCAIN BECAUSE OBAMA WON GIVE ONE POLITICAL REASON. So that means you have serious issues with your own ability to cope with reality, you're racist, or you are one of the countless women who think men stole a woman's chance again. Let me tell you something. I am a woman, and there are countless women across the country that are exercising their freedoms and their right to vote by voting for who they want, not who they feel obligated to vote. And that's the larger milestone for women: women who can do whatever they feel is right in their hearts and their minds with full freedom and without pressure, guilt or degradation.
Very well stated Hannah. Don't worry, I'm sure we have some OBAMA supporters in Oklahoma.
Hannah is exactly right. Anyone who supported Hillary Clinton, but will vote for McCain, is either an idiot or a racist.
Hillary Clinton and John McCain have nothing in common.
I understand that Clinton has many dedicated supporters, but these people need to consider the policies she supported, policies which John McCain opposes on every front.
John McCain has said publicly that he plans to nominate supreme court justices that will overturn Roe v. Wade. If this were the result of the 2008 election it could hardly be considered a step forward for equal gender rights.
Obama is the best and last chance for Hillary Clinton's policies and vision to be realized. We can't afford four more years of Bush.
Good for him! Thanks for not "going with the flow." This political campaign is not a rock star competition...it is choosing the candidate who will be BEST to lead America. Since Clinton is gone, that choice is obviously McCain!
Obama should be like the Washington clones over there in the Congress who think more about the lobbyist interest instead of the American people who put him in office. Oh I forgot, the politicians been doing that for years. Maybe it is time a change. I'm tired of the same old political nonsense. If being too liberal is changing the status quo, then I'm all for it
Good for him. I don't agree with him, but I applaud his integrity to stand up for his constituency.
he won't endrosew but will vote for at the convention that will make a lot of sense plus where to guy dirning t he primary he need to go to QZ
and asked the wizzard for ___________ filled in the blank
That is the beauty of democracy....
I bet there are a lot of democrats that that believe that Obama is the most liberal democrat out there, Rep's found something that sticks
November will be tough, alright! We would be better off with Hilary. Obama is too green, and it will show soon enough. Like I've been saying, when he debates McCain, he can't say he agrees with whatever McCain said first..he will have to think on his feet for himself, and he can't....not by judging how he did debating Sen. Clinton.
This guy doesn't appear to give a crap about anything but getting re-elected
It's the vote that counts!!
I will say this, I hope that none of these Hillary supporters show their faces at Peace rallies to end the war. They should dare not smile in the face of the families who lose loved ones daily over the war in Iraq, all because of your anger over your candidate losing.
Is this how you teach your kids to behave? When you lose, do EVERYTHING in your power to make the winner's life miserable?
Hillary is not a loser, but some of you who will switch to McCain because Hillary didn't get the nomination are big time LOSERS.
Some of these people are holding email campaigns asking for Bill O'reily and Sean Hannity's support. As if they ACTUALLY care about democrats. The republicans are playing the game and the STUPID will fall for the Okie Doke.
No matter how you feel about Obama, he is still on the side of Hillary Clinton, a democrat.
Grow up already. The republicans are laughing behind your backs.
DEMOCRATS ROCK!
Oklahoma is racist and moves backwards? What kind of horse crap is that? Have you ever been there? Sheesh! Obama supporters are weird and closed minded.
Every politician should listen to the voters who got them where they are. Remember Barack was really SELECTED and not elected. Thanks to those jumping supers who got where he is quickly without the convention. Democratic party screwed their best qualified and most experienced person, Hillary. I am now a Clinton for McCain- I wanted an experienced person to run this country not one that has not even spent one year in the senate.
So, if one won't vote for Obama, he's racist and backwards?
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
Can Obama win without SYMPATHY VOTES???
Obama is too radical. He doesn't have any adjenda except to raise taxes and wants more government control. I can't see him making good decisions for home land security, nor the economy. He wants to penalize the free enterpise system and does not have a clue how to run the country, except to tax and spend. We need to stop the earmark spending and stop raiding our Social Security. That should NEVER be touched by the politicians, nor should it be taxed as the money has already been taxed.