Obama Backer to Rebut Bush
EmailABC News’ Teddy Davis and Talal Al-Khatib Report: The Democratic Party’s televised response to Monday’s State of the Union will be delivered by a Kansas governor who is expected to endorse Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for president later this week, even though Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid were looking for a Democrat neutral in the race.
The choice of Kathleen Sebelius was announced two weeks ago before she settled on a presidential candidate but word broke over the weekend that the Kansas Democrat has decided to back Obama over Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.
Asked by ABC News on a conference call with reporters if Sebelius would have been given the State of the Union response platform had they known that she was going to endorse, Pelosi and Reid did not directly answer the question.
The Speaker and Senate Majority Leader did, however, defend her right to make an endorsement following her high-profile Monday night speech.
"What she does following this address tonight . . . is her business," said Reid. "As long as she finishes the speech tonight and doesn’t get dragged in to that race, then I’m satisfied."
Pelosi joined Reid in defending the right of Sebelius to make an endorsement once she is done speaking on behalf of the Democratic Party.
"Just because she is the spokesperson tonight doesn’t mean that her hands are tied as to what she may do after that," said Pelosi.
Jim Manley, a Reid spokesman, told ABC News that the congressional leaders were looking for someone who was neutral in the presidential race.
"Obviously, when you begin a process you are looking for someone who has not endorsed anyone," said Manley.
Asked if Sebelius would not have been chosen if her Obama preference had been known, Manley said, "I don’t do hypotheticals."
USS Gabrielle Giffords Honors Courage 
Mitt Romney's Full Speech at CPAC 2012
wow, can’t wait until we see what hope and dreams the people of Illinois can tell us all about. haven’t heard any of those testimonies. haven’t seen a bright shining city on a hill towards the northwest of me that has revolutionized itself, has anyone else? are their directions on a map to this miracle of recovery? will my gps get on track to find this mecca of change? why has this revolution of thought and results made the news? why are they keeping it a secret? if it is so certain to happen here for the nation, why not examine all the great obvious material good that has been accomplished in Illinois. that would surely convince any blind person by the cheers and the glory of the day, how their life is a polar opposite to all of ours and how it just takes hope to get there and be welcomed with open arms. I am looking for that beacon in the distance and all I see from here is landfill of bs.
Posted by: 2009 Where Are You? | January 28, 2008, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm
Seems like if the Democrats don’t want to get a responder who has endorsed a candidate, they’d have to pick an actual candidate. I say Obama should give the response.
Okay, guess that isn’t going to happen.
Posted by: Paul | January 28, 2008, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
They sure are hurting themselves.
Posted by: Brando | January 28, 2008, 5:19 pm 5:19 pm
She is already doing TV ads for him so why should she be giving the speech?
Posted by: Eric | January 28, 2008, 8:08 pm 8:08 pm
Eric – I don’t know, but I think she did a fine job with it.
Posted by: Paul | January 29, 2008, 9:24 am 9:24 am