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Prominent Clinton Supporter Coale Mines Support for McCain

September 02, 2008 10:36 AM

The legendary Tammy Haddad snags a scoop for Newsweek, sitting down with prominent Washington DC attorney John Coale -- a fundraiser for Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY -- at the Republican convention, now backing Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

"Well I'm here to go from supporting Hillary, who I campaigned with, I campaigned with her husband, her daughter, her whole family, brothers, and the mother, over a period of months, big Hillary supporter, pretty big fundraiser for her, I'm here to support John McCain for president," said Coale, husband of FOX News' Greta Van Susteren.

Coale has given thousands of dollars in donations to Democrats over the years. He was a prominent supporter of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., in 2004, raising money from lawyers who had like him worked on lawsuits against the tobacco industry. When Kerry endorsed Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, Coale subjected him to a "tongue-lashing," in the words of the New York Times.

"I think John McCain is basically what Obama says he is and what Obama is not," Coale said. "McCain brings people together, he has an incredible record of integrity."

Coale griped about sexism against Clinton, said Obama isn't experienced enough to be president, and argued that the Democratic party has "been taken over by the moveon.org types."

He indicated that Clinton's mother, with whom he was traveling, will "be fine" with his decision to back McCain. He says he's "been traveling around with Carly Fiorina recruiting Democrats for McCain," and there are some prominent Democrats who have joined him, to be named later.

Coale also says that he told Clinton's brother, Tony Rodham, to not attend the August 18th meeting with Fiorina in Scranton, Penn.

"I urged him not to go and told him it would embarrass his sister, but he has a mind of his own," Coale said, adding that Rodham asked Fiorina "about McCain's Supreme Court picks."

- jpt

September 2, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (73)

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Ramona, I am offended by both RACISM AND SEXISM. Sexism is just not as important to the Democratic party as racism though. However, some of us are offended by the horrors of sexism ONLY if those who are attacked agree with our viewpoints.
I go with you John, I am voting for candidate "Y".

PUMA

Posted by: tlintx | Sep 4, 2008 9:32:45 AM

Just image what minority women go through everyday. Obama has my support all the way. If you are going to be concerned about GENDER WHY NOT ALSO BE CONCERNED ABOUT RACE. I find it interesting that a lot of Clinton supporters only appear to be concerned about gender. I guess America has not made much progress as far as race or gender. You speak of sexism what about racism? This is why CHANGE is needed.

Posted by: Ramona osborne | Sep 3, 2008 12:21:11 PM

bhciapol: I think you may have been reading too many comic books. Obama doesn't have any senator's experience since he was absent over 130 days or more. Obama only went to Iraq because McCain told the public that Obama didn't care about the soldier's over there. Obama doesn't care about Iraq, Iran or any other country. He only cares about himself only. He is a fake, liar and underhanded wheeler dealer. He cut the throat of Hillary along with the DNC that's why he became nominee.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Sep 3, 2008 11:20:29 AM

I am certainly happy to hear that Hillary's fundraiser's are going to support McCain. Hillary tried to get them to donate to Obama and they said NO! Good for them. And he will need them. Also, I watched the republican convention and what a difference om the two conventions. I don't care if Obama rented a football field, the republican's convention has more class and the stadium no doubt was filled with this generation's of druggers and boozers and less prominent people. That's why he wanted it. He put on a good act but a speech that's filled with nothing but lies in order to get himself elected. He wants the world to think he is the "greatest". And experience? A high school graduate has more experience than he has. Yes, he is experienced but in drugs and booze and I heard that he started doing that at 17 years old. He must be a master at them. And Fred Thompson really laid it into the democrats. He was right. The democratic party is a joke with Nancy Pelosi as housespeaker. Palin is a fighter and can match Obama and Biden. Biden should be running for president not Obama. Obama should only be his VP.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Sep 3, 2008 11:08:07 AM

Am I the only republican who believes that there were.....hold on let me count.....96 prominent, qualified people of our party who could have been McCains VP pick!!!! Am I the only one Ticked off???? Why not Huckabee???? Im voting for Obama to show my disdain for McCain because she's not the best for the job.

Posted by: wasrepublican | Sep 3, 2008 2:56:32 AM

hooper dooper: I listened to Rush L. today and did he give a run down of Obama when Obama was 17 years of age. Between the excessive drug and booze habit which taking for a long time he also after graduation got himself involved with crooks. He was a racist, hated white people (including students) and hated America. His ambition was to be come president because he hated the fact our president's were white and he wanted to be the first to change that. History is the game and what he has been playing. He lacks education in politics and foreign policy and is depending on Biden to teach him. If they think Palin is inexperienced she could throw rings around him and in a debate she would win.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Sep 2, 2008 6:56:21 PM

yes hooper dooper I agree. What does Palin's daughter have to do with the election?

The MSM and Obamabots are desperately trying anything to throw the election to Obama.

Posted by: sue | Sep 2, 2008 3:22:56 PM

Another fun fact: Palin beat her opponent in the 1996 mayor’s race 616-413 ...

Posted by: Willem van Oranje | Sep 2, 2008 3:13:59 PM

why is CNN concentrating on Palins daughter all day? They should have been vetting Obama all along. Too many unanswered questions.

Posted by: hooper dooper | Sep 2, 2008 3:08:22 PM

The media has given McCain a pass from day one. They will give this "empty skirt" a pass because she is nice looking. Wow, what has the Rep party come to. All it takes is a womb and Johnny boy comes a knocking. She has more scandles than any other person he could have chosen. From trooper-gate to God wants us in wars .

Posted by: Flander Annapolis | Sep 2, 2008 3:04:41 PM

what a sad day for America that we have to listen to P. Diddy's political commentary !!

Jake, why did you have to give him the platform by posting his comments.

Sarah Palin pick has shown that Dems are not for women equality but they are for Liberal women equality!


Posted by: Frieda | Sep 2, 2008 2:55:34 PM

I'm voting Republican for the first time in my life, and so are a lot of other people I know here in Michigan.

Posted by: .. | Sep 2, 2008 2:51:03 PM

I guess he has found something to occupy his time since he has no more ambulances to chase, or maybe he believes Mccain may need one so he needs to be by his side.

Posted by: MichaelMerriman | Sep 2, 2008 2:45:20 PM

"He is a socialist/communist/Marxist to the very core."
-----
Hahaha. He'd like less-attentive "leftists" -- and the ever-bullible poor -- to believe that.

He's a figurehead for corporate saboteurs with big Republican money.

Posted by: Belle Starr | Sep 2, 2008 2:33:00 PM

Amen! I am a lifelong Democrat who supported Hillary. A woman in her 40's looking to have children and a child of a mother who had me at age 43 (after 11 children) who is NOW TODAY declaring my support for PALIN!!!

I am sickend by Obama supporters and bloggers rudely citing how Palin's' child was a mistake??? Do you believe all children who have a disability are a mistake??? WOW. This is really scary rhetoric from someone who flaunts change and who must believe killing a child due to a disability is the right thing to do?

I am also changing my affiliation today because the Dems (my soon to be old party) are stating that a 17 year old girl having a child is a mistake. Wasn't your candidate born to a teenage mother, too?

The fact that they would rather abort a child, consider themselves Pro-Choice (unless you choose to have that child, then you should abort a child and there is no choice), is disgusting.

So thank you all you Dems out there for stirring me down the path from supporting Hillary to now Palin. A mother, governor, strong outdoors woman, sportsman, maverick and by far more than any of you can say - a woman who believes in FAMILY.

Heidi

Posted by: Heidi | Sep 2, 2008 2:22:35 PM

Obama is no more Democrat than my dog. He is a socialist/communist/Marxist to the very core. The moderate Democratic Party vanished when Obama took over.
Obama stated "I am so glad my mother could collect food stamps so she could send me to a expensive private school." And the woman already had her degree but did not think she should work to support her son. Socialism to the core.

Posted by: Mary | Sep 2, 2008 1:50:43 PM

Why do Hillary have to help Obama? She and Bill did so much for him, and even did not get a few thank words from him. If she will not make her 150% effort to help him to win, she will be blamed by Obama's camp. What heck that is? Is there any fairness? Obama's camp has been behaved so bad, seem they have all the right to blame people who do not like their boss, is that because they feel they are "powered" by Obama? I don't just listen to what Obama said, I watch what he did, I don't like him, don't trust him at all. He has all those street smart, he knows how to use people, particularly those naive young people. He reminded me Mao in China, who tried to "inspire" young people against his political opponents.

Posted by: youyou again | Sep 2, 2008 1:28:10 PM

"I think John McCain is basically what Obama says he is and what Obama is not," Coale said.
-----
As disappointing as this may be, it seems to be true. "Obama" seems more and more to be an organization of soft-right hacks operating under Stalinist methods, with the support of some celebrity "leftist"s, Ayers et al., who've never done actually done anything positive for the poor, while steering the "left" in the WRONG direction.

The thought of Biden becoming president is so appalling I'm beginning to believe I could VOTE for McCain. As long as Palin was Miss Congeniality, she's fine -- by comparison to The CHANGEling, see Charles Krauthammer's column today, "Is Obama the Democrats' Perfect Stranger?"

Posted by: Belle Starr | Sep 2, 2008 1:13:28 PM

Hillary was a strong tough woman that fought for things she believed in yet everyone, even the Democrats, tried to shut her down.
........................................

This is true that Hillary was a strong woman, but people are trying to punish their own party because Hillary didn't win. Where does this leave Hillary? If PUMAS and other dems jump ship this is going to leave Hillary isolated in the democratic party. Do you think she should become an independent and just disassociate herself like Lieberman did? Then she won't fit in any where. Republicans won't accept her and she just may lose a lot of democratic support. Hillary is trying to keep the party together but all these bitter people are just destroying it and giving the very people, who's ideas don't fit with them, all the power. Hillary is right when she urges her supporters to stick together and use a level head before they jump ship. This hurts her just as much as trying to punish Obama and the dems.

Posted by: Jack | Sep 2, 2008 1:02:03 PM

"Obama's "convention bounce" is the smallest in recent history."

Obama has gotten a 5 to 6 point bounce. That is the largest bounce for a Dem since Clinton in 1996.

We'll see what McCain gets after his VP/convention freakshow is finished.

"How is this exciting?"

I just thought it was good new and felt like sharing.

Just so we are clear, Obama is now ahead of McCain outside the MOE.

I and guessing that he will add to this lead amid the fallout from Palin continues.

Posted by: Ryan C | Sep 2, 2008 12:44:13 PM

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