memeorandum: Black Lawmakers Rethink Clinton Support (David Epso/Time)

1:15 AM ET, February 15, 2008

Top Items:

Black Leader, a Clinton Ally, Tilts to Obama — MILWAUKEE — Representative John Lewis, an elder statesman from the civil rights era and one of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's most prominent black supporters, said Thursday night that he planned to cast his vote as a superdelegate …

Discussion: The Daily Dish, The Trail, The New Republic, TalkLeft, Political Punch, Blue Crab Boulevard, Hotline On Call, The Field, Booman Tribune, Connecting.the.Dots and Oliver Willis

David Epso / Time:

Black Lawmakers Rethink Clinton Support — (WASHINGTON) — In a fresh sign of trouble for Hillary Rodham Clinton, one of the former first lady's congressional black supporters intends to vote for Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, and a second, more prominent lawmaker is openly discussing a possible switch.

Discussion: The New Republic, New York Post, Oliver Willis and Hot Air

David Espo / Associated Press:
Black Lawmakers Rethink Clinton Support

Discussion: The Huffington Post and Spin Cycle

The Hill:

House finds Bolten, Miers in contempt of Congress — The House voted Thursday to hold White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers in contempt of Congress for refusing to testify before a panel investigating the firing of several United States attorneys.

Discussion: New York Times, The Swamp, Buck Naked Politics, The Gun Toting Liberal™, DCist, The Politico, The Crypt's Blogs, Macsmind, New York Times, The New Republic and Seeing the Forest

John Aravosis / AMERICAblog:

Republicans disrupt Lantos memorial service — Even the dead are political pawns to the Republicans (then again, we already knew that post-September 11). House Republicans, at the bidding of the Bush White House, are upset that House Democrats are voting on contempt citations for Harriet Miers and Josh Bolton today.

Discussion: The Crypt's Blogs, Jesus' General, Gateway Pundit, Daily Kos, Crooks and Liars, michellemalkin.com, Emptywheel, The Raw Story, Firedoglake, Sister Toldjah, Balloon Juice and Hot Air

Hindrocket / Power Line:

Not Serious — About national security, that is. Over the last 36 hours, Congressional Democrats have again demonstrated a casual, even frivolous attitude toward their Constitutional duty to assist in keeping Americans safe from attack. — First, the Senate joined the House …

Discussion: Washington Post

The New Republic:

Every Day's a Bad Day For Nancy Pelosi — Josh, you may think Pelosi and the Dems are finally growing some cojones on FISA, but their message shop apparently still hasn't figured out how to get a halfway decent spin in the papers. Here's how the Washington Post is headlining what happened today on the House floor:

Discussion: Washington Monthly

Atrios / Eschaton:
They Write Letters — Congressman Reyes writes to President Bush.

Discussion: Associated Press, Firedoglake, Once Upon a Time, RADAMISTO and Daily Kos

Kevin Drum / Washington Monthly:
FISA....Andy McCarthy, after saying it would be “unconscionable” …

Discussion: The Corner, Matthew Yglesias, National Review, The Newshoggers, The Carpetbagger Report and Wake up America

Think Progress:
House Republicans Stage Walkout, Refuse To Vote On Contempt Charges

Discussion: On Deadline, The Gavel, Salon, New York Times, Associated Press, The Politico, BuzzFlash.org, Talking Points Memo, Comments from Left Field, The Carpetbagger Report, The Impolitic, Big Brass Blog and Hold Fast

Martin Kady II / The Crypt's Blogs:
House in chaos: GOP calls vote during Lantos memorial

Discussion: The Corner, MoJoBlog, MSNBC, HorsesAss.Org, Outside The Beltway and Macsmind

Ezra Klein / American Prospect:

OUT FOR THEMSELVES. — The New York Times reports: … Put another way: If Hillary Clinton does not win delegates out of a majority of contested primaries and caucuses, her aides are willing to rip the party apart to secure the nomination, to cheat in a way that will rend the Democratic coalition …

Discussion: You Decide 08!, Tom Watson, New York Times, THE LIBERAL JOURNAL, Literary Outpost and Taegan Goddard's …

Ellen Messmer / Network World: Hillary Clinton spam sighted in the wild

KOB.com: Hillary Clinton officially wins N.M. caucus

CNN:

Reports: Several people shot at Northern Illinois University — (CNN) — A person who shot 13 people Thursday at Northern Illinois University's DeKalb campus outside Chicago has died, local reports said. — Most of the 13 wounded were shot in the head, said Theresa Comitas …

Discussion: The Gun Toting Liberal™, New York Times and Wake up America

MSNBC:
Campus gunman kills 5, himself

Discussion: The Newshoggers and Pam's House Blend

Ben Smith / The Politico:

SEIU set to endorse Obama — Two labor sources tell Politico that the giant Service Employees International Union, which has been neutral through the primary, is on the verge of throwing its support to Sen. Barack Obama. — “It's done,” said one person close to the union.

Discussion: Liberal Values, Comments from Left Field, The Swamp, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, New York Daily News Blogs and MyDD

The Fix:
SEIU to Consider Obama Endorsement

Discussion: Daily Kos, Los Angeles Times and Washington Wire

CNN:

Romney to endorse McCain — CNN's Dana Bash reports that former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will endorse senator John McCain. The endorsement is expected to happen at a Boston event at 3:30 p.m. ET today. — Two sources familiar with the decision confirmed the news …

Discussion: The Fix, Hot Air, Political Radar, The Politico, The Swamp, Comments from Left Field and The Carpetbagger Report

Domenico Montanaro / MSNBC:
CAN MCCAIN GET ROMNEY'S DELEGATES?

Discussion: CNN, Commentary and Wake up America

The Caucus:
Romney to Endorse McCain

Discussion: BloggingStocks

Logan Murphy / Crooks and Liars:

Senior McCain Adviser Refuses To Campaign Against Obama: UPDATED — Update: Tucker had the audio of McKinnon's interview on NPR. (h/t Silent Patriot) — Download | Play Download | Play — Via The Baltimore Sun: … Can you even fathom the notion that any senior adviser …

Discussion: The Fix

Jonathan Chait / The New Republic:
McCain Aiding Clinton?

Discussion: Stumper, The Carpetbagger Report, Matthew Yglesias and Ben Smith's Blogs

Foon Rhee / Boston Globe:

Superdelegates get campaign cash — Many of the superdelegates who could well decide the Democratic presidential nominee have already been plied with campaign contributions by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, a new study shows. — “While it would be unseemly for the candidates to hand …

Discussion: Truthdig, Once Upon a Time and GINA COBB

Lindsay Renick Mayer / Capital Eye:
Seeking Superdelegates — As the Democratic Party's superdelegates …

Discussion: New York Daily News Blogs, Political Radar, Sunlight Foundation blogs, QandO and Political Punch

Associated Press:

Nicaraguan leader calls Obama's campaign ‘revolutionary’ — MANAGUA, Nicaragua: President Daniel Ortega, who led the 1979 revolution in Nicaragua, says Barack Obama's presidential bid is a “revolutionary” phenomenon in the United States. — “It's not to say that there is already a revolution under way in the U.S. ...

Marc Kaufman / Washington Post:

U.S. Plans to Shoot Down Broken Spy Satellite — President Bush, acting on the advice of his national security advisers, has decided to attempt to shoot down a malfunctioning spy satellite that is expected to crash to the Earth by early next month. — National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe …

Discussion: The Corner and The Garlic

David Ausiello / Scout.com:

EXCLUSIVE: An Interview with Jack McCain — Jack McCain may be on the sidelines during most of his dad's quest for the presidency, but he is by no means sitting this race out. In an exclusive interview with GoMids.com, Midshipman McCain spoke about his relationship with his dad …

Discussion: Commentary and Neptunus Lex

Sam Stein / The Huffington Post:

Did Hillary Clinton Really Support NAFTA? Aides, Biographers Say No — As the 2008 campaign shifts to economically hard-hit states like Ohio, so too do the topics of political debate. This week, Sen. Barack Obama's campaign has attacked Sen. Hillary Clinton on trade …

Discussion: American Street and The New Republic

Logan Murphy / Crooks and Liars:

Countdown Special Comment on FISA: President Bush Is A Liar And A Fascist — Keith Olbermann's Special Comment on today's Countdown was a scathing rebuke of President Bush for continuing to play the fear card, trying to scare the hell out of the American people and vowing to veto …

Discussion: Hullabaloo