Martin O'Malley
Related: About this forumWhy Not Martin O'MAlley?

http://harvardpolitics.com/united-states/martin-omalley/
(snip)
Perhaps it is because OMalley is not a woman. While a first female president would certainly be a symbolic victory for women, it is unclear that a Clinton presidency would produce many tangible benefits for women. In fact, in terms of policy, OMalley seems to have proposed just as many, if not more, policies to help women as Clinton has. At the Harvard Institute of Politics, OMalley declared, We must recognize that policies that are good for women and families, like paid leave and safe and affordable child care, are also good for our national economy, and for economic growth, because when women succeed, our American economy also succeeds.
OMalley also proclaimed his support for a federal $15 minimum wage, which would give a much-needed raise to the 3 million Americans who work at or below minimum wage, 62 percent of whom are women. Clinton has voiced her support for fast food workers striking for a higher wage, but she has yet to establish how much of an increase in the minimum wage she would support. Despite his gender, OMalley could be the candidate that would make the biggest difference for women.

elleng
(138,483 posts)On April 10, Elizabeth Warren joined Jon Stewart on the Daily Show and declared, Powerful corporations [and] rich people have figured out that if you can bend the government to help you just a little bit, its a tremendous payoff, and if you can bend it to help you just a little bit more and a little bit more, the playing field just gets more and more tilted, and the rich and the powerful just do better and better. A week later, Martin OMalley stood before a packed crowd at Harvards Institute of Politics and proclaimed, Concentrated wealth has accumulated concentrated political power in the halls of our Congress, and also in many, many, many of our state houses, making it harder than ever to get things done.
Both of these quotes are emblematic of a nascent populist movement in the Democratic Party. Both reflect a deep concern that all Americans dont have an equal shot at prosperity. Both demonstrate a growing opposition to the centrist Democratic policies of the Clinton erathe trade policies and the welfare reformthat seemed to mostly benefit the wealthiest Americans.
Yet it is Martin OMalley, not Elizabeth Warren, who has a proven record of accomplishing real progress on these issues on a state level. It is Martin OMalley, not Elizabeth Warren, who became the first major Democratic politician to endorse a national $15 minimum wage at the Institute of Politics on Thursday. And it is Martin OMalley, not Elizabeth Warren, who is seriously considering challenging Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for president in 2016. . .
Perhaps America is ready for a genuinely populist Martin OMalley campaign. OMalley certainly appears to be ready.
Raine1967
(11,626 posts)I am not worried about the concerns that he is waiting too long to get into the race. I understand those concerns, but I think it is fine and quite honestly, tactical.
elleng
(138,483 posts)I'm not concerned about the tactical wait, at all.
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)meaningful debates on issues that matter to the 99%ers.
Raine1967
(11,626 posts)He's a viable candidate that deserves to be paid attention to.
Take a look around the group, we have a lot of good links here for people to learn from.
msongs
(70,698 posts)elleng
(138,483 posts)Martin O'Malley does NOT do so, he is a person of substance, and will demonstrate that he is a CANDIDATE of substance shortly.
Raine1967
(11,626 posts)and for you to compare him to Bush is really kinda nasty.
Raine1967
(11,626 posts)Comparing a Democrat to any republican especially Bush is really terrible. It's also terribly dismissive.
I hate it when people say that about President Obama and I despise it when they say that about SoS/Senator Clinton.
Why do you think saying something like this is acceptable here in the O'Malley group? Would you do that in the Barack Obama Group? The Hillary Clinton Group? The Bernie Sanders GRoup?
If you did, do you think you would be a welcome member of those groups?
Please, in the future consider these thoughts and questions I asked of you.
Have a nice day.
kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)That would by my first reason. He announced and he has national recognition for his policy support and ideas.
If and when O'Malley (or Warren) announces I will consider who I support carefully. But I don't want to play the wishing game too long when Bernie is a very good candidate on 90% of the issues I care about
I notice the article mentions Warren and Clinton's numbers but not Bernie Sanders whose numbers are growing.
Raine1967
(11,626 posts)I have no control over an op ed from the Harvard Political Review.
That said, there is room for discussing another candidate. I support him. Warren will not be announcing. She has made that abundantly clear.
Read a few of the links in this group: O'Malley is announcing on May 30.
kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)There is room for a number of other candidates, but Bernie Sanders is probably my favorite so far. I will probably be sticking with him as I have been an admirer of his for a decade or so. He speaks truth to power and is willing to stand up to corporate interests.
I have heard good things about O'Malley too and like his record as governor. Either would be a better candidate than Hillary Clinton but in terms of who would challenge Clinton more, I think that Bernie has inertia and is well positioned.
Of course I should also point out that at the end of the day I, like Bernie, will support the candidate that the party endorses.
Raine1967
(11,626 posts)It's going to be a long primary season, I appreciate the respect.
kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)It is good to find people here who are reasonable and respectful. I look forward to this years Democratic debates.
Koinos
(2,798 posts)When more and more progressives find out what O'Malley stands for and what he has accomplished, they will like him. He has a history of facing challenges and not running from them. He also has good old common sense that, along with principles, guides his pragmatic approach to problem solving. He will talk about what is wrong, but he will also talk about how to fix it.
MADem
(135,425 posts)There won't be any nastiness in any potential primary debates, at any rate, I don't think. He's worked with both Clintons before.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/bill-clinton-loves-martin-omalley-even-if-omalley-runs-against-hillary-rodham-cinton/2014/05/14/8143dd4c-db73-11e3-bda1-9b46b2066796_story.html
Bill Clinton loves Martin OMalley. Even if OMalley runs against Hillary Rodham Cinton.
Any awkwardness about the situation was not apparent on stage Tuesday night. In fact, the former president went out of his way to praise OMalleys leadership during his two terms in the Annapolis statehouse. ... As mayor of Baltimore, OMalley got to know both Clintons when he was part of the delegation on a presidential trip to Ireland in 2000.
OMalley and the former president also came into contact through the Democratic Leadership Council, a centrist policy organization. And after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, OMalley worked with then-Sen. Hillary Clinton on homeland security measures.
Bill Clinton cut a television ad for OMalley during his 2006 campaign for governor. And in early 2007 just a few months after being installed in Annapolis OMalley became the second governor in the country to endorse Hillary Clintons 2008 presidential bid.
This is the kinda stuff I really like to see.