TPMDC
Despite Request From Obama, Wilder Refuses To Endorse Deeds
Rachel Slajda | September 24, 2009, 4:23PM
Former VA Gov. Douglas Wilder
Share
Send to a friend!
Former Gov. Douglas Wilder (D-VA) will not endorse Democrat Creigh Deeds in this year's gubernatorial race, despite a personal request from President Obama to do so.
In a column on the web site Virginia Tomorrow, Wilder wrote that Deeds's stance on handguns and taxes are what led him to refrain from an endorsement.
Deeds opposes a law that allows residents to purchase only one handgun a month. He has also said he would raise taxes to fix Virginia's transportation system.
Wilder said Obama asked him to endorse Deeds.
"I'm not thinking the president is going to be pleased," he told CNN. He and the President "have a very good relationship," he said.
Wilder's refusal of Obama comes after reports that the President asked New York Gov. David Paterson to step aside in next year's gubernatorial race. Paterson says he is still in the race.
Other Stories Featured at TPMDC
Join the Conversation!
Leave a comment
Follow us!
Most Popular
- Palin Advocates War With Iran After Apparently Misunderstanding Buchanan Column (VIDEO)
- Jon Stewart: Obama's Teleprompter Is No Match For Palin's 'Mavericky Notecard Hand-Scribbled Buzzwords' (VIDEO)
- Colbert: 'Sarah Palin Is A F--king Retard' (VIDEO)
- At A Whole New Level
- Cheney, Ridge Pioneered Miranda Attack On Obama
- Cheney, Ridge Pioneered Miranda Attack On Obama
- Backhanded Compliment
- What's the Deal with The Ryan Budget?
- Gibbs Mocks Palin And Writes Shopping List On Hand (VIDEO)
- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Compares Job Losses Under Presidents Obama and Bush
- Gibbs Mocks Palin And Writes Shopping List On Hand (VIDEO)
- Palin Advocates War With Iran After Apparently Misunderstanding Buchanan Column (VIDEO)
- House GOP-ers: Start Over And We'll Come To The Table. White House: No.
- Bachmann: 'Wean Everybody Off' Social Security And Medicare
- Ben Nelson Helps GOP Block Obama NLRB Nominee
- Jon Stewart: Obama's Teleprompter Is No Match For Palin's 'Mavericky Notecard Hand-Scribbled Buzzwords' (VIDEO)
- Allegations Against Leader Cause Turmoil In CA GOP
- Cheney, Ridge Pioneered Miranda Attack On Obama
- Super Bowl Commercials Throw Women to the Wolves
- Deconstructing Rush Limbaugh
TPM Stories Now Surging on Digg.com
TPM Top News
© 2009 TPM Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Schmed
September 24, 2009 4:25 PM
Looks like Wilder didn't get the lockstep memo either.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
CT Voter
September 24, 2009 4:27 PM
Do Democrats want to portray themselves as fractured and disorganized on purpose? It's beginning to look that way. Why did Wilder go on CNN to say Obama asked him personally, and he's ignoring Obama?
Cue the Republicans: Obama can't even get his own party to do what he wants. He's a lightweight. Blah, blah, blah.
Thank you, Governor Wilder. Hope you enjoyed your jaunt on CNN. I appreciate why you won't endorse Deeds. What I don't get is why you felt compelled to blab this to CNN.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Micheline
September 24, 2009 4:56 PM in reply to CT Voter
Yes.
Democrats, both liberal and Blue Dog, have this need to show how independent they are no matter how bad it makes the party and individual look.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Walter Mitty
September 24, 2009 4:57 PM in reply to CT Voter
No shit. It really makes no sense. It's fine if you deny his request, but going public is ridiculous. This is one case I hope Rahm keeps in his memory bank.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
mcc
September 24, 2009 4:28 PM
Confused. So Wilder is for gun control, and against raising taxes?
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
croghan27
September 24, 2009 5:05 PM
Is allowing the purchase of one gun a month gun control? Eh?
As for against taxes ... I guess that means he is against recommend 'fixes' of the transportation system. If it is to be done it must be paid for .... if ya don't wanna pay, ya don't get it fixed.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
Xantar
September 24, 2009 6:01 PM in reply to croghan27
I wonder whether Wilder thinks McDonnell will be any better on the issue of guns or transportation than Deeds would.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?
dswx
September 24, 2009 7:03 PM
This is all about Wilder's ego which trumps everything else. Since Deeds is against the one gun a month legislation that Wilder championed and is open to new taxes if they come with bipartisan support specific for transportation (i.e. not the General Fund), this ruffles Doug's feathers. He wants to be the king-maker. He was a terrible mayor of Richmond and turned into a demagogue.
I will never forget soon after he dropped out of the presidential race in 1992 seeing Wilder in the grocery store, all alone in the vegetable section, holding a potato in his hand, looking it over before placing it in his basket. He looked like a small, old man, lost in the grocery. Almost pathetic. Then he decided to be a king-maker and egotistical.
Again, this is all about Wilder's ego. He won't support anyone who does not or did not support him completely. It was that way when he was mayor too.
Reply | Flag Abuse
Are you sure this comment violates TPM's Terms of Service?