May 21, 2008, - 12:27 pm
My Teacher, the Obama Superdelegate
By Debbie Schlussel
As a student at Southfield Senior High School, just outside of Detroit, I was involved in a lot of groups, one of which was Michigan Youth in Government. Our high school chapter was advised by Eric Coleman, a successful businessman who not only spent lots of time advising us, but graciously let us use his home–right on the Detroit border–for our meetings. The group learned about how Michigan government ran and what issues were key. I later ran for Michigan Youth Governor (and lost by one vote in a Southeastern Michigan “primary,” which foreshadowed my Michigan House of Representatives race, in which I lost by one vote).
Mr. Coleman built a contract janitorial service into a successful business and, years later, ran to be my County Commissioner. A wise and classy guy, Mr. Coleman’s politics could not differ more from my own. He’s very liberal, but also the nicest, most generous guy.
And apparently, he’s also one of the much-courted Democratic Superdelegates. Yesterday, he committed to Barack Obama. Like I said, his politics could not differ more from my own, but I like Mr. Coleman and am glad to read about his political exploits. It’s also interesting to read about the over-courting of the superdelegates that he experienced:
As an uncommitted superdelegate, Eric Coleman got so many calls to his home and office he eventually stopped answering the phone.
Among the callers: Bill and Hillary Clinton and, just a couple of days ago, Vernon Jordan, a top adviser in the Clinton White House.
“It’s been unbelievable,” the Oakland County commissioner said Tuesday. “The phone has been ringing 12 to 16 hours a day, constantly. It’s been like, ‘Vote for Hillary or the world is going to end.’ Today, I had 27 e-mails from Clinton supporters asking for my endorsement.”
Coleman sat down with Barack Obama one week ago today, following an appearance in Sterling Heights. He indicated to The Detroit News that day that he would support Obama, but made a general announcement of his intentions Tuesday.
“We had a meeting of the minds,” Coleman said. . . .
After Coleman’s formal endorsement of Obama on Tuesday, Michigan has 15 still uncommitted superdelegates who get bombarded with calls, e-mails and letters from the Obama and Clinton camps, their supporters and national and local media — and sometimes even the Democratic presidential candidates themselves.
Knowing Mr. Coleman’s very liberal views, I’m not surprised he went with Obama, though he waited until almost the very end.
Still, it’s interesting to read about my former teacher.
Thank you for sharing this story. Mr. Coleman is indeed a very intelligent man.
Audacious on May 21, 2008 at 1:17 pm