RECENT POSTS
- The "Good" War
- The Presidential Planner
- Under the Stars, Obama Toasts India’s Prime Minister
- White House State Dinner – Who Made the Exclusive Guest List?
- Admiral Mike Mullen To Geneva for START Talks
- VP Biden to Indian Prime Minister: “You’re the Hottest Ticket in Town”
- FLOTUS on the State Dinner: Like a Swan, "Calm and Serene Above Water, But We're Paddling Like Mad, Going Crazy Underneath"
- White House State Dinner: The Menu, Entertainment, and Decor
- Dan Pfeiffer, White House Blogger
- Guests Begin to Arrive for White House State Dinner Festivities
MONTHLY ARCHIVES
« Previous | Main | Next »
Clinton Fat Cats Hiss at Pelosi
March 26, 2008 10:10 PM
Were a bunch of Clinton donors threatening to withhold contributions to the Democratic House campaign committee if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., doesn't change her position on superdelegates?
Not directly, no.
But a brouhaha has erupted over recent comments made by Pelosi on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos", when Pelosi, who will chair the Democratic National Convention, seemed to give a boost to the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., by saying "If the votes of the superdelegates overturn what's happened in the elections, it would be harmful to the Democratic Party."
Taking umbrage, a list of big Democratic donors who support the campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., have written a letter to Pelosi (subsequently released to the press) pointing out that "Several states and millions of Democratic voters have not yet had a chance to cast their votes" and arguing "None of us should make declarative statements that diminish the importance of their voices and their votes. We are writing to say we believe your remarks on ABC News This Week on March 16th did just that.
"During your appearance, you suggested super-delegates have an obligation to support the candidate who leads in the pledged delegate count as of June 3rd , whether that lead be by 500 delegates or 2. This is an untenable position that runs counter to the party’s intent in establishing super-delegates in 1984…"
Then the donors -- Marc Aronchick, Clarence Avant, Susie Tompkins Buell, Sim Farar, Robert L. Johnson, Chris Korge, Marc and Cathy Lasry, Hassan Nemazee, Alan and Susan Patricof, JB Pritzker, Amy Rao, Lynn de Rothschild, Haim Saban, Bernard Schwartz, Stanley S. Shuman, Jay Snyder, Maureen White and Steven Rattner -- reminded Pelosi that they have given generously to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which helps fund Democratic House races.
"We have been strong supporters of the DCCC." they wrote. "We therefore urge you to clarify your position on super-delegates and reflect in your comments a more open view to the optional independent actions of each of the delegates at the National Convention in August. We appreciate your activities in support of the Democratic Party and your leadership role in the Party and hope you will be responsive to some of your major enthusiastic supporters."
Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly in a statement said, "Speaker Pelosi is confident that superdelegates will choose between Senators Clinton or Obama -- our two strong candidates -- before the convention in August. That choice will be based on many considerations, including respecting the decisions of millions of Americans who have voted in primaries and participated in caucuses. The Speaker believes it would do great harm to the Democratic Party if superdelegates are perceived to overturn the will of the voters. This has been her position throughout this primary season, regardless of who was ahead at any particular point in delegates or votes."
Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton, noting the donors' reminder to Pelosi of their largesse, said, "This letter is inappropriate and we hope the Clinton campaign will reject the insinuation contained in it. Regardless of the outcome of the nomination fight, Senator Obama will continue to urge his supporters to assist Speaker Pelosi in her efforts to maintain and build a working majority in the House of Representatives."
-- jpt
March 26, 2008 in 2008: Democrats | Permalink | Share | User Comments (233)
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
Go Hillary!
I hope those of you that are anti Hillary lose your jobs to a less qualified smooth talking person in your lives. It seems that's the only way you will truly understand what's going on in this election.
We were all brought up to always pick the most qualified person for a job. Affirmative action should not apply for the presidency. Period.
Posted by: SO | Mar 27, 2008 10:37:33 PM
Chabuka,
Al Gore won the 2000 election.
Besides, are you saying that Hillary should not have run because Al Gore was running for presidet?
How crazy is that comment?
Posted by: Sammy | Mar 27, 2008 10:29:09 PM
The truth is;
Pelosi has not shown any leadership in this election.
1. She seems in favor of not having FL and MI have a revote
2. Her public comments have shown that she is behind Obama and not just that, but she is anti Clinton
3. Not once has she called on the candidates to cool down their rhetoric
It seems to me that Pelosi wants to remain the only powerful woman in Washington.
The true leaders are the ones that really remain neutral in the race.
Posted by: Sam | Mar 27, 2008 10:19:26 PM
At It Again! According to ABCNews, in a January 2008 speech at the University of South Carolina, Michelle Obama made more anti-American remarks which are making the rounds on the Internet today. Talking about her experience at Princeton where she hung with a largely African-American crowd, she said, "We don’t like being pushed outside of our comfort zones. You know it right here on this campus. You know people sitting at different tables - you all living in different dorms. I was there. You’re not talking to each other, taking advantage that you’re in this diverse community."
Michelle Obama went on to say "Because sometimes it’s easier to hold on to your own stereotypes and misconceptions. It makes you feel justified in your own ignorance. That’s America! So the challenge for us is are we ready for change?" I'm sure we all know what she's talking about when she reflects on the comfort many of us feel with those of our specific cultural or ethnic groups. Listen our future First Lady calling American people ignorant. Listen:
She wants to be the First Lady?
Posted by: Disenfranchised_FL_Voter | Mar 27, 2008 4:42:34 PM
At It Again! According to ABCNews, in a January 2008 speech at the University of South Carolina, Michelle Obama made more anti-American remarks which are making the rounds on the Internet today. Talking about her experience at Princeton where she hung with a largely African-American crowd, she said, "We don’t like being pushed outside of our comfort zones. You know it right here on this campus. You know people sitting at different tables - you all living in different dorms. I was there. You’re not talking to each other, taking advantage that you’re in this diverse community."
Michelle Obama went on to say "Because sometimes it’s easier to hold on to your own stereotypes and misconceptions. It makes you feel justified in your own ignorance. That’s America! So the challenge for us is are we ready for change?" I'm sure we all know what she's talking about when she reflects on the comfort many of us feel with those of our specific cultural or ethnic groups. Listen our future First Lady calling American people ignorant. Listen:
She wants to be the First Lady?
Posted by: Disenfranchised_FL_Voter | Mar 27, 2008 4:36:50 PM
If Pelosi were truly neutral as she has claimed she would have kept her mouth shut. I am glad she is being called on her blatant support of Obama. She is supposed to support the party not a particular candidate. And for all the people whining about how Hillary is attacking Obama and ruining his chances, the vast majority of the heat has been coming from the right wing and they are just getting warmed up. They are showing Obama for the weak candidate that he is. I hope the super's are paying attention.
Posted by: Firefighter | Mar 27, 2008 4:33:20 PM
Yeah, Pelosi, the useless Dem leader. Why don't you focus on your own short comings and figure out what you need to do in Congress before we vote you OUT!
Posted by: Priscilla | Mar 27, 2008 3:56:53 PM
If Obama gets nominated, I'll vote for McCain, period. I won't vote for Ralph Nader as a protesting vote. I'll vote for whoever having chance to beat this liar Obama. And the bigger margin, the better. I'd love to see these morons humiliated for giving away the easy victory by supporting this unelectable candidate.
4 or 8 years of Republicans in White House? Fine, let this country go to hell before we clean up these power hungry Democratic politicians: Pelosi, Kerry, Kennedy. Let them suffer with us. Let those no-brain Obama supporters suffer financially for years to come.
Then we can find another person to fix this country after Obama "fixes our soul" as his wife promised.
Posted by: Carl | Mar 27, 2008 3:32:57 PM
Pretty funny..considering Hillary took so much money from the DNC to "win" her seat as a New York Senator....there was hardly any thing left for Al Gore to run his Presidential campaign on...another scorched earth policy...her ambition..a stepping stone (by stepping on) to a Presidential bid...and to hell with anybody else, or the "party"..
Posted by: chabuka | Mar 27, 2008 3:11:25 PM
Six of one, half a dozen of the other. McCaine is the next prez; a pick that neither party can be happy with.
Posted by: jalapenopecker | Mar 27, 2008 2:52:08 PM
John McCain, like Hillary Clinton aught to be vetted and combed to see who they really are. This has been done to Barack Obama and there is no there there. So much so that they have used his kindergarten history to make a case against him. Since the K records exposé was seen as trite they moved on to his admitted drug use, even tried tarnishing him as a drug dealer. That didn't stick, so they had an issue with his name, Rush Limbaugh used the music to "Puff the Magic Dragon" substituting "Barack the Magic Negro". Then came the revelation that he was a Muslim, raised in Indonesia and taught radical Islam in a madrassa. Then the photo was circulated of him in local Kenyan garb, thus proving that he was a terrorist Muslim. Since the slime hunters could not dredge up anything meaningful to use against him they then turned their attention to people he had any associations with. This Jeremiah Wright issue is just the latest smear that the right have magnified in their echo chamber in their vain attempt to derail Obama. Then they moved on to hist passport record to see where in the world he could have visited that could be used against him. Seems like the only thing they can nail him on is his race and they, the right wing lunatics, will go hell for leather to associate Barack with every negative racial stereotype in order to diminish his standing with the American people, to the point where he becomes unelectable.
Posted by: Simon | Mar 27, 2008 2:11:12 PM
John McCain is a straight talking con man; just check the records of his involvement with the Keating Five. Right now he's sitting on a mountain of documents, pertaining to the Abramoff scandal, which would end the careers of a lot of powerful people. Perhaps sitting on the lid of this potential cauldron is what has enabled him to win the nomination of his party.
Posted by: William | Mar 27, 2008 1:45:06 PM
The Clinton's arrogance has crossed the proper boundary and the Democratic party should ask these two leave the party quietly.
Posted by: PleaseNo,NotHer! | Mar 27, 2008 12:57:05 PM
Haven't you seen the interview of college students where Hillary held her
initial campaign speeches and qa sessions?
Students told news reporters that Hillary's campaign staff gave
pre-printed questions to ask Hillary during the q/a session, and the
unsuspecting students fell for it. I am not making this up.
Now Hillary "sniper-fire" Clinton might be trying to change the subject
from her Bosnia lies. She is trying to get the sympathy votes.
Hillary and her camp is trying to divert attention from her sniper-fire
Bosnian trip.
She is a liar.
No liars for president.
No crooks for president.
No more pity votes.
No more sympathy votes.
Release your tax return.
Let us see your land dealings.
Let us see your sources of income.
Let us see whom you paid to murder Vince Forster.
Posted by: Dave | Mar 27, 2008 12:55:49 PM
Frank,
The contract went to airbus because they were responsive to the airforce whereas boeing expected the contract and was non-responsive to the air forces requests. Also if you read the article about it airbus has doled out the jobs to different cities in the US, so they will be creating jobs here as well, and deliver the taxpayers a better product for less or would you prefer a no bid contract given to boeing because they are an American company. As far as John McCain being an opportunistic liar and a fraud, he is a politician and they are all that especially hillary and oboma. It is what they lie about that matters and for his tenure there is a lot less dirt on him than shillary or barack in a lot less service to this country. This man does not vote the party line he votes for what he thinks is best for the country and that is what we need. The problem with this country (besides ignorance) is the far left liberals and the far right conservatives that are battling for the upperhand in government which is destroying everything in between and if you do not believe that then you are obviously in favor of one of those groups (my guess is liberal). Meaning I am just wasting my time trying to inform you because you won't believe it anyway because it does not fit in your program.
Posted by: Matt | Mar 27, 2008 12:46:45 PM
Geezz Mattohio: wake-up!! that's nothing!!
are you one of the Fat cats?
I don't think so!!
so just google "clintons" then you know realy about the clintons.
After seven years of Bush/Cheney violations of treaties and international law, of trashing the Constitution, of defying Congressional subpoenas, and of nullifying acts of Congress with signing statements, it is not likely that the American public will have much stomach for another President that regards ,Hillary, herself as unbound by rules or, by implication, by laws.
Bill Clinton lied before a grand jury.
Hlliary Clinton lied in front of hundreds of supporters and journalists on the campaign trail. She lied not once, twice….
Hillary's attitude is "it must be me, or nobody!"
Hillary and Bill Clinton are for the wholesale market of manipulation and swindling.
After "35 years of experience" Hillary has learned:
Audience manipulation, her twisting of events, the tale's swindling core.
Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton? No, NO, NO.
Bush and Clinton ear are done in 2008!!!
Go Nancy!! don't back down!!
Posted by: womenpa | Mar 27, 2008 12:33:29 PM
A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Wednesday evening strongly indicates that the 2008 Democratic presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton is losing much of whatever steam it's been managing to previously hold onto. Conversely, Sen. Barack Obama, in the wake of the Rev Jeremiah Wright and Bosnia controversies, has managed to gain appreciable momentum. HillaBamaDramaRama continues.
The poll was conducted Monday and Tuesday, and compares the results from March 12th. Below are the poll's key findings.
-Negatives: Clinton has jumped to 48% from 43%. Her negative rating is now bigger than her positive (37%). By contrast, Obama's negative rating sits at 32% against his 49% positive. He was previously at 51% positive/28% negative
-Obama vs McCain: Obama up 44%-42%, from 47%-44%.
-Clinton vs McCain: McCain has pulled ahead 46%-44%. Clinton previously had held a 47%-45% over the Arizona Senator.
-Obama vs Clinton: 45%-45%. This is significant, since Obama has come even for the first time. Clinton had held a 47%-43% lead.
Posted by: hlc | Mar 27, 2008 12:09:14 PM
If McCain is presidential material why is it that he appears to be on the wrong side of every issue. Or could it be that he's just another turtured soul in search of redemption, and being president will automatically pull everything together for him. Back in 2000, Rove cast him as a man on the edge, driven there by torture in Vietnam. The Bush team also push-polled him in the Carolinas as the father of a black child. He himself cast the religious right as "agents of intolerance" during the primaries of 2000. Yet this make believe straight shooter demeaned himself by seeking out the approval of his political enemies, this time around, on his way to the party's nomination.
This guy is an opportunistic liar and a fraud.
Remember the Keating five? He's one of the five, engaged in the swindle of the savings and loans scanddal of the 80's.
Just recently he has been praised by the French for effectively handing over a lucrative $40 Billion contract to Airbus Industries to build tanker planes for our military, rather than to keep these jobs here at home with a contract with Boeing.
Posted by: Frank | Mar 27, 2008 12:03:37 PM
I have never even heard of these people who threatened Pelosi.
Marc Aronchick, Clarence Avant, Susie Tompkins Buell, Sim Farar, Robert L. Johnson, Chris Korge, Marc and Cathy Lasry, Hassan Nemazee, Alan and Susan Patricof, JB Pritzker, Amy Rao, Lynn de Rothschild, Haim Saban, Bernard Schwartz, Stanley S. Shuman, Jay Snyder, Maureen White and Steven Rattner.
Posted by: Joey Bee | Mar 27, 2008 12:00:37 PM
What so many people ignore is that caucus voters are not equivalent to primary voters. Primary voters are not equivalent to November voters, but are much closer to them - in states that voted, rather than caucused, Hillary has won, and she has won the states that are the bellweather states for Dems to win in November.
It's suicide to deny superdelegates the right to be a rudder - that's what they were designed to do!
Posted by: Stanley | Mar 27, 2008 11:53:47 AM
Post a comment


