——————————————————— First Read: The day in politics by NBC News for NBC News ——————————————————— LOOKING BACK AT TODAY. Obama named three Democrats — Caroline Kennedy, Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson, and Eric Holder, who served as Bill Clinton’s deputy attorney general — to lead his vice presidential search committee. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1112464.aspx Clinton struck a conciliatory tone toward Obama, hinted at his nomination to lead the Democratic Party and bordered on an endorsement during her remarks to a pro-Israel lobby in Washington, DC. Speaking of the strong relationship between the United States and Israel, Clinton said, “It is one of our party’s most cherished values, and it will continue under the next Democratic president. I know Sen. Obama understands what is at stake here. It has been an honor to contest these primaries with him. It is an honor to call him my friend, and let me be very clear, I know that Sen. Obama will be a good friend to Israel.” http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1109569.aspx In his speech, NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reports, Obama laid out a very hard line position that was music to the ears of the pro-Israel lobby — attempting to counteract McCain’s (and Clinton’s) suggestions that he would be too willing to negotiate with Iran. He told the group that he would do “everything” — “and I mean everything” to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, a threat of military action that matches anything President George W. Bush has ever said. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1109815.aspx NBC/NJ’s Athena Jones adds, Obama spoke of his commitment to Israel and answered some of his rival John McCain’s charges on his foreign policy credentials, while repeating his argument that the presumptive Republican nominee would continue what he terms failed George Bush policies that have not made Israel or the United States safer. Obama and Clinton had a brief exchange backstage. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1111125.aspx McCain invited Obama to a series of town halls in a letter this morning, the candidate announced at a town hall in Baton Rouge. McCain proposed about 10 town halls, about one a week between now and the Democratic National Convention. The first of them would be June 12th in New York City at Federal Hall, McCain said, “where the beginnings of our government took place.” http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1110326.aspx In a statement, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said that Team Obama would be open to McCain’s idea of town halls across the country — but would prefer a format resembling “the historic debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas.” http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1111215.aspx NBC’s Chris Donovan fact checks McCain quoting Barry Goldwater as saying a similar deal on town hall meetings with Kennedy “would have done the country a lot of good.” But there was never a formal deal. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1110876.aspx Rep. Charlie Rangel told NBC’s Andrea Mitchell that he disagrees with those who are trying to force Obama to choose Clinton as his running mate. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1112691.aspx Talking to reporters before getting in his motorcade to leave Capitol Hill, Obama reflected on what it means to be the first African-American nominee of a major political party. “It’s an enormous honor… It’s very humbling.” http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1111791.aspx and http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1109221.aspx NBC’s Mike Viqueira reports, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is giving Clinton rhetorical space, telling reporters that, “This is difficult” for the senator and that “people have to move in their own time.” http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1111671.aspx With nary a mention of his wife’s fate, Bill Clinton went back to his charitable work Wednesday, challenging corporations to do more philanthropy. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1109138.aspx While in Baton Rouge, where McCain issued the challenge, potential VP and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal introduced McCain, providing for some veepstakes fodder. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1111272.aspx NBC’s Ron Allen, following Sen. Clinton, chronicles the spin-less ride home. Missing was Terry McAuliffe’s exuberant pronouncements like, “We shocked the world!!!” after Sen. Clinton won Indiana, while losing North Carolna. It had become something of a ritual on primary nights. McAuliffe or Clinton’s press team would make their way to the back of the plane, to take questions and spin elaborate answers about how the Clinton campaign was continuing the march to victory. Swing states. Key voters. More votes than anyone ever. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1109133.aspx In light of Bush’s congratulatory phone call for Obama, NBC’s Chris Donovan points out that there was a time not too long ago when President Bush didn’t know who Obama was. In fact, he was taken aback by an “Obama” pin that he may not have realized had a “b” in it. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1111026.aspx Obama address to the SEIU conference after AIPAC focused primarily on labor issues, attacking the Bush administration as “the most anti-labor administration in our memory” and painting McCain as a continuation of these policies. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1110977.aspx Superdelegates continued their march to Obama. Today, 4-0: Rep. Rahm Emanuel, Rep. Mark Udall, Sen. Ben Cardin, Sen. Tom Harkin endorsed Obama. The NBC NEWS Delegate Counts: PLEDGED: Obama 1,744 to 1,641; SUPERS: Obama 398.5 to 292; EDWARDS PL.: Obama 21 to 0; OVERALL: Obama 2,163.5 to 1,933. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1111738.aspx and http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/04/1110744.aspx For more: The latest edition of First Read is available now at http://www.FirstRead.MSNBC.com ! ========================================= This e-mail is never sent unsolicited. You have received this MSNBC First Read Newsletter newsletter because you subscribed to it or, someone forwarded it to you. To remove yourself from the list (or to add yourself to the list if this message was forwarded to you) simply go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7422971/, select unsubscribe, enter the email address receiving this message, and click the Go button. Microsoft Corporation – One Microsoft Way – Redmond, WA 98052 MSN PRIVACY STATEMENT http://privacy.msn.com
Politics Blog 