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Rangel: Clinton should get on with it
June 04, 2008 3:20 PM
ABC News' Kate Snow Reports: One of Hillary Clinton’s most loyal backers on Capitol Hill is voicing frustration about the position she has put her supporters in.
In an interview with ABC News, Rep. Charles Rangel said he thinks it is time for Clinton to publicly clarify what she is doing and allow her supporters to switch their allegiance to Barack Obama.
“Unless she has some good reasons-- which I can’t think of-- I really think we ought to get on with endorsements (of Obama) and dealing with what we have to deal with… so we can move forward,” Rangel said.
Rangel last spoke with Senator Clinton privately on Tuesday during the day. On Wednesday he took part in a conference call Clinton had with the NY congressional delegation.
Asked why the Senator told supporters Tuesday night that she needed more time to consider her future, Rangel said: “I have no clue.”
In fact, Rangel said he was surprised by last night’s speech.
“Basically in talking with her I had the idea that, one, she wasn't going to take the fight to the convention. Two-- that she was just calling her friends and supporters in order to share her views and to get our views on what should happen. And it was abundantly clear to me last night that she was going to do all that she could to make sure we have a victory in November. And since we have only one candidate for that victory in November, I had assumed she would be endorsing Obama.”
Since Senator Clinton did not endorse Obama and did not concede the nomination, Rangel said members of the NY delegation were feeling torn about what to do.
“The NY congressional delegation encouraged her to run for President. So we feel some obligation to stay with her as long as we can” to give Clinton some time and space he said.
“We just have to have a better answer as to why it helps her to victory… as to why we’re not endorsing Obama when the only person left to endorse is Obama.”
“It’s awkward for us for us who are known to be her strongest supporters in the NY delegation not to be able to answer the question of how long is it going to take before you can endorse?” he added later.
Rangel also told ABC News that he does not think the path to the vice presidency should involve a negotiation between Clinton supporters and the Obama campaign.
“Common sense would dictate if you want to get on the ticket you don't do it by leaning heavily on the person who makes the decision. So I don't think pressure is something that should be used,” he said.
Rangel also dismissed the idea of having the Congressional Black Caucus put pressure on Obama to include Clinton on the ticket.
“I think it's a dumb policy to do that – to be telling the person who won what he should be doing.”
Rangel also said he’s not sure the vice presidency is what Senator Clinton is after.
“The fact that she said that she would be willing to serve as vice president doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s seeking the vice president’s job.”
June 4, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (200)
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There's no way he could win the presidency without Hillary on the ticket. Hillary would never accept second place and I dont blame her.
Posted by: brigitte | Jun 4, 2008 3:54:36 PM
She should be ashamed of herself. By doing this she is making women look weak. Why should she need"time"? Come on..she is finished and after that speech last night I wouldn't be surprised of she didn't get the VP nod. If she were a man she wouldn't need "time" to concede. It would have been done last night...GET WITH THE PROGRAM HILLARY ..Be a big girl and accept it...
Posted by: grandma | Jun 4, 2008 3:57:07 PM
I actually thought the "Dream Ticket" might be a great option until the speeches last night. HRC proved to me she was just in it for herself, I couldn't believe she took it in that direction. Obama's speech was truly "Presidential"...
The speeches said it all, I now hope he selects one of the other deserving persons in the running for VP.
Posted by: TC | Jun 4, 2008 3:59:00 PM
Hillery should abandon the party that treated her like dirt and go independent. If she goes along with the so called "unifying the party", the 18 million people who voted for her will lose all their respect for her. She does not need people like Pelosi and Dean. He is a loser and her ratings are below Bush's ratings.
Posted by: Truth | Jun 4, 2008 4:00:08 PM
what makes you think the world cannot exit without Hillary? She has been a senator and basically out of the primarys race for some time, and now she is God's gift and the only way the Dems can win!!!! Get real
Posted by: truthtell | Jun 4, 2008 4:00:25 PM
Obama, you can not win the hearts of half democrats, how the hell you can win this election? Your idiot fans are still attacking Hillary so I don't think they want the votes from Hillary's supporters at all. We will be happy to stay home or go out to vote for John McCain instead!
Posted by: June | Jun 4, 2008 4:01:36 PM
Gerri
Well, you can Roe V Wade me until you are blue in the face!!
You are not for Hillary, you just claim that to come in here and plead for 'unity'. I am on to you!
John McCain is a moderate! He is a known maverick! Joe Lieberman endorses him!
So your pathetic scare tactics are just that, pathetic scare tactics. You know full and well that Obama is doomed in November. No amount of fear mongering is going to get me to vote for that 'man'.
Hillary '08 Sticking it out!
Posted by: Krissy K | Jun 4, 2008 4:01:53 PM
YEAH, YOURE RIGHT. HILLARY IS GETTING ON, YOURE NOT..
SHE IS NOT CAMPAIGNING TODAY SO YOU THE MEDIA NEED TO GET A LIFE.
THE "NOMINEE" GETS TROUNCED IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND EVERYWHERE ELSE THAT COUNTS. I'M PROUD OF HILLARY
FIRST TIME IN HISTORY NOMINEE IS GETTING TROUNCED..
OBAMA IS DOA..
DNC AND MEDIA STOLE FROM HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
I HOPE HILARY CLINTON STAYS AWAY FROM THIS GUY... LET HIM FIGHT HIS DEMONS ALONE.
I'D HATE TO HAVE TO VOTE AGAINST HILLARY BUT IF SHE GOES VP WITH THIS DEAD HORSE OBAMA , I MAY VOTE AGAINST HER.
OBAMA SHOULDNY BE HERE.
NOW, IRAN IS UNDER THE BUS!
THE DNC SHOT ITSELF IN THE FOOT IN THEIR ANTI-CLINTON AND SUDDEN LOVE FOR A BLACK MAN GUILT TRIP.
PAYBACK TIME!!!
THE WELL-TIMED ENDORSEMENTS BY RICHARDSON, EDWARDS, MCGOVERN MADE AT THE TIMES HILLARY HAD BIG VICTORIES TO TAKE HER MOMENTUM AWAY.
HOWARD MOOOOOOOO DEAN ASKING SUPERS TO ENDORSE EARLY AFTER THE MEDIA HAD DECALRED OBAMA WINNER--TO FAVOR OBAMA
NANCY BAAAAAH PELOSI LYING ABOUT PARTY RULES ... TO FAVOR OBAMA.
WE DO REMEMBER. WE ARE GOING TO HILLARY'S SITE TO TELL HER TO STAY AWAY FROM STUPID OBAMA
THE DEMO PARTY IS A PARTY OF DIRTY OLD MEN,
LOSERS.ORG BACKSTABBERS INC
PAYBACK TIME.
OBAMA IS DOA.
LEAVE HILLARY IN PEACE...
SHE JUST GOT "THEFT" HAPPEN TO HER.
TJ, THE RELENTLESS CLINTONITE,
SAYING TO HELL WITH PARTY UNITY!!
Posted by: TJ | Jun 4, 2008 4:02:25 PM
Dear Lois from California,
You mean to tell me that this pressure to concede is too overwhelming for Hillary Clinton, and yet she expected to face the pressures of the Oval Office. If she can't even handle this, what kind of President do you think she would make? We don't need a victim as Commander-In-Chief.
Posted by: Keep Pushing | Jun 4, 2008 4:02:49 PM
Doesn't anyone vote based on the issues anymore?
To decide whether or not to vote for someone based on: a rude blog comment of a candidate's supporter, what someone's spouse looks like, whether party nomination rules are fair (they aren't, so work to reform them, don't vote for the other party), race, gender, age, astrological sign, birthmarks, etc. seems to me to be a very superficial way to cast a vote.
Posted by: Matt | Jun 4, 2008 4:04:50 PM
Amazing at the vituperation and denial emanating from HRC supporters (see above posts). GET OVER IT! She lost. End of game. All she's doing now is embarrassing the Democratic Party and destroying any hope of change in D.C. in November. Thanks a lot Hillary. You're a real pip.
Posted by: lenny-t | Jun 4, 2008 4:05:49 PM
"Unify the party" or "unify the country"? Under Barack Obama, neither will happen anytime soon.
My wife and I supported Obama until around February, when he and his buddies began playing the race card almost daily.
I didn't care about his race before, but Obama and his friends have turned this into the most divisive campaign in my lifetime (69 years).
Remember when George W. Bush promised to "unify America"? Obama will have even LESS success at doing so.
Posted by: Rhys | Jun 4, 2008 4:07:29 PM
Rangel, I respect you. But her 18 million supporters don't want her concede. I am one of them. She has EARNED the right to wait for the convention to officially nominate him.
Plus, there is more dirt on Obama and he is more like McGovern for the election.
Posted by: knowledgeforreal | Jun 4, 2008 4:07:43 PM
Hillary supporters don't have to rush to support Obama - they are free to take all the time you want in deciding who to support. But as far as other Democratic politicians are concerned, they DO have to rush to support Senator Obama. It is simply a matter of perception. Not immediately supporting the nominee will rightfully be seen as trying to undercut or stick it to him. As Rangel said, there is only one person to endorse - Senator Obama - waiting to do so sends a huge message and it is not beneficial to the party, the nominee, or the political future of the elected official that is holding out. Politicians have long memories. Pretty freakin' simple.
What is unfortunate is that many of her supporters are not demanding that she be treated like any other politician; rather want her to be treated different to the detriment of the clear nominee. When it is apparant that you cannot win, you get off the stage for the good of the party. Period. Dodd did it. Biden did it. Richardson did it. Edwards did it.
Posted by: GoGreen | Jun 4, 2008 4:09:16 PM
Gerri -
You're right, kind of.... I know as much about your motivations/thinking as you do about Hillary's. So perhaps, "judge not, lest you be judged" would be a better reply.
Posted by: KLB | Jun 4, 2008 4:09:32 PM
Hillary is a champion for health care!! Oh, but she is 2nd only to Rick Santorum of PA in taking the MOST DRUG LOBBY money in the Senate! hmmmm.
She wants every vote counted!! Oh except the caucus votes...hmmmm
It's less about a black or a woman candidate - and more about picking the best person for the job to bring about change. Voting for the war, is that about change?
Posted by: Gerri | Jun 4, 2008 4:11:53 PM
Mccain must be smiling today. He now has a few million new supporters.
Posted by: andrea | Jun 4, 2008 4:15:23 PM
Hillary is in actuality just waiting for the opinion polls to come in and tell her what to do, just like when she gets hit with a surprise question and has to poll her way out of it. Arrogant witch!
Posted by: Cueball | Jun 4, 2008 4:17:10 PM
My dear Krissy:
"Fear mongering" is when the subject is EXAGGERATED - made to appear worse than it is.
John McCain HIMSELF said he would work to appoint conservatives to the bench with the end goal in mind to at least weaken if not get rid of the Roe v. Wade ruling.
Not making it up, Krissy, sorry.
Posted by: Gerri | Jun 4, 2008 4:20:32 PM
I am aghast reading these comments. Hillary lost and it was a blow to women? It was a blow to Bill because the exit polls indicate that she rode his coattails. Are you really going to lose the election out of spite? You are condemning the next generation to right wing policies and legal decisions. It is far more reaching than Roe v Wade. When you cool off I urge you to think about this. If Hillary had been gracious, conceded and called for unity would you still be so bitter and spiteful? Her behavior is what is egging you on because if you are that loyal you would be sending her money. I am not hearing of any great infusion of cash from her loyal supporters.
Posted by: NJBOOMER | Jun 4, 2008 4:24:24 PM
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