Friday's Internet Edition, May 09, 2008.
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Mabus, who served as an ambassador to Saudi Arabia under Bill Clinton from 1994-96, visited the Chair City for about an hour before speaking at the Lexington YMCA. Downpours of rain moved his Obama support speech from the bandstand in downtown to Monkeezbrew, a coffee shop on Main Street.
When asked why he isn’t supporting Sen. Hillary Clinton after being appointed to ambassador by her husband, Mabus said, “The election should be about the future and not the past. I’m supporting Obama because he would be the best candidate.”
Addressing the more than 20 citizens in attendance, Mabus laid out reasons why they should vote for Obama and encourage others to follow suit. The former governor joined Obama’s campaign a year ago, and is spending much of his time traveling to the smaller cities that the senator isn’t able to visit.
“I think the fact that the former governor of Mississippi is supporting Barack Obama shows how broad his appeal is,” said Mabus, who served as governor from 1988-92. “It shows he brings people together. It shows he is willing to reach across some of these divides we have.”
Mabus feels like Obama brings excitement much like former President Bill Clinton brought with his first campaign in 1992. That’s one reason Thomasville resident Beverly Hussein is supporting Obama.
Last week, Hussein met Bill Clinton during his Davidson County Community College rally, and she also introduced Mabus on Monday in Thomasville. Hussein said she supported Bill Clinton when he was in office, but has chosen Obama over the former first lady.
“I felt the same way about Bill Clinton because he was inspiring,” she said. “He had a great message to baby boomers. I just feel like Barack Obama has the presence, popularity and respect around the world that we need right now.”
While Obama has supporters who say his speeches are “inspirational,” there has been quite a bit of controversy around recent statements he has made, as well as his personal background. Some of the issues which have raised eyebrows are questions concerning his religious faith, his former pastor, his middle name “Hussein,” and a recent statement where he said “small town people are bitter.”
Mabus defended the senator when asked a question regarding the negative clout coming from the Republican Party and media.
“I’m not going to blame the media,” he said. “I’m going to blame the attack machine, more Republican. It’s the old politics, just take one thing out of context and make people afraid. Barack Obama is a committed Christian. You don’t choose your name, so what. You see all these Internet things about where he was a Muslim.”
“He has always been up front about his faith,” he continued. “This notion that somehow you don’t wear a flag on your coat, you’re not patriotic, and one sentence out of one speech makes you out of touch. I think that is a perfect example of the politics we have to get beyond.”
Mabus, a Mississippi super delegate, said he hopes the Democratic nomination is settled soon, so members of the party can come together as one. Obama, the winner of 30 out of 45 states, currently holds a slight lead in delegates over Clinton.
With the North Carolina May 6 primary quickly approaching, Mabus encouraged residents who support Obama to make a 100 phone calls to get people out to vote.
“North Carolina is a real important primary,” he said. “Make that vote count.”
Staff Writer Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 231, or ignasiak@tvilletimes.com.