Posted on 03/16/2008 10:58:08 PM PDT by jdm
No wonder Democratic leaders are discussing ways to resolve the Obama-Clinton race. It may have something to do Hillary Clinton’s recent Q&A with Newsweek (March 17, 2008, issue):
“How can you win the nomination when the math looks so bleak for you?
It doesn’t look bleak at all. I have a very close race with Senator Obama. There are elected delegates, caucus delegates and superdelegates, all for different reasons, and they’re all equal in their ability to cast their vote for whomever they choose. Even elected and caucus delegates are not required to stay with whomever they are pledged to. This is a very carefully constructed process that goes back years, and we’re going to follow the process.”
Following up on those statements, Newsweek’s Michael Isikoff (March 24, 2008, issue) apparently has confirmation from Harold Ickes that Hillary may encourage pledged Obama delegates to switch to her:
“Although her campaign quickly denied it was waging any effort to “flip” Obama’s pledged delegates, Clinton’s remarks weren’t academic. After the 1980 battle between Jimmy Carter and Ted Kennedy, her chief strategist Harold Ickes noted, the party changed a rule that required pledged delegates to stick with their candidates no matter what. The current rule, adopted in 1982, states that pledged delegates “shall in all good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them.”
A “good conscience” reason for a delegate to switch, Ickes told NEWSWEEK, would be if one candidate—such as, say, Clinton—was deemed more “electable.” If delegates believe she has a better chance in November than Obama, Ickes said, “you bet” that would be a reason to change their vote. (He added, however, that the campaign is “focused” on winning over uncommitted superdelegates “at this point.”)”
Obama’s campaign spokesman responded that this proves Hillary would go to any length to win.
I think Presidential candidates have to sell a piece of their soul to put themselves in a position win. However, both Bill and Hillary Clinton seem inordinately willing to damage their Party if it would improve their chance to win. Urging pledged delegates to vote their consciences may be permitted by the rules, but it makes the Democratic Party seem like a political party of elitists beholden to special interests. In other words, it makes Democrats look like their characterization of the GOP.
If Hillary’s plan succeeds, the Democratic Party might as well name Bill Clinton as its permanent Super-DUPER Delegate.
In other words, destroy Obama. This sounds like a job for the Clintons -- right up their alley.
I think it was Chuck Todd of MSNBC who was asked about this and pointed out that pledged delegates who make it all the way to the national convention are usually die-hard types who have the name of their candidate shaved into their haircut or mowed into their yard. They aren’t wishy-washy about their preference. They aren’t like the gutless super delegates. They’re true believers. Considering how well Obama has done in caucus states, it’s hard to believe his pledged delegates will flip-flop. The energy and passion is with Obama, as we saw in the follow-up Iowa convention this weekend. If anything, it’s probably Hillary who needs to worry that some of HER pledged delegates will leave her because it might finally dawn on them how corrupt and trashy the Clintons are and always have been.
Her whole construction in this reply drips with arrogance and cynicism. If she keeps this up she'll head for the convention as the most hated woman in the democrat's party.
No pledge binding after the first vote.
Get the popcorn ready. Denver is going to be an interesting place to watch!
Here’s what could happen at the convention: Neither candidate yields and a vote is called (maneuvered by Obama supporters—Kennedy faction, et al). Hillary loses the vote (big-time humiliation). Second vote Obama is nominee—all cheer!
Denver will be interesting but what's more is that we don't go to Denver for another five and a half months! Hillary and Obama are going to both be completely crippled by then from all of the beatings they will have given each other in the meantime. How sweet it is!
All these Super Delegates and other DNC riff raff will vote for the candidate who is most electable
Hussein looked great for a while and Hillary like a old worn out loser. No Dem wants that at the head of the ticket
But now Hillary has broken Hussein’s momentum. Yes, she is down some in the raw delegate count. But Barrack is down with his Jeremiah Wright mess.
If the DNC convention was held today it would go for Hillary. Now that they see Jeremiah Wright they wonder what other mess might be lurking for Hussein
Hussein would be pressured to suck it up and take the VP slot
The Clintons will either get a worthless nomination by shafting Obama or they will give Obama a bloody victory that will lead to his defeat.
And of course the Clintons plan is for Obama to lose if he gets the nomination.
There are NO bound Dim delegates EVEN ON THE FIRST BALLOT. That is the whole point of the article. The Clintons are targetting ALL delegates including the elected Obama delegates, because under Dim partly rules they are not bound to vote for Obama ever.
The Clintons are now trying to scare some of the Obama delegates away from Obama by roughing him up.
This is why Rush Limbaugh is an idiot for helping to keep her alive. Just stupid stupid stupid on his part.
She was all but dead and the Republicans could have shredded Obama on their own for the empty suit that he is.
Instead, Rush and the minions that follow him kept the witch alive.
I disagree...
It’s BRILLIANT.
HE knows Repubs would unite under nearly ANYONE to drive a stake into this witch’s heart, and she could literally LOSE all 50 states for the Democrats.
Moderates won’t vote for her, and the blacks will now stay home.
McCain wins...
“Denver is going to be an interesting place to watch!”
Be sure to ask your liberal friends what thier BLUE CITY ESCAPE PLAN is, for when the angry Obama Voters riot after Hitlery steals his nomination.
The looks, from surprise to grudging agreement, are funny as hell!
-PJ
According to the Gospel of Hillary.
Obama’s campaign spokesman responded that this proves Hillary would go to any length to win.
She wants it more than he does. He is such an empty suit and I quite frankly am already sick of hearing his fakiness. McCain will be our next President of the United States.
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