Top Clinton Supporters Warn Pelosi Over Superdelegate Statements
WASHINGTON — Twenty top Democratic donors who are supporting Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a letter asking her to retract her comments on superdelegates and stay out of the Democratic fight over their role in the presidential race.
In their letter, Clinton’s supporters said superdelegates “must look to not one criterion but to the full panoply of factors that will help them assess who will be the party’s strongest nominee in the general election.”
The letter also noted the donors “have been strong supporters” of the House Democrats’ fundraising arm. “We therefore urge you to clarify your position on superdelegates 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.”
Pelosi, who has not endorsed either candidate as chair of the Democratic National Convention, said during a March 16 appearance on ABC’s “This Week” that it would be harmful to the party if superdelegates don’t support the pledged delegate winner.
“This is an untenable position that runs counter to the party’s intent in establishing superdelegates in 1984,” the letter from the wealthy Clinton backers said.
No matter what the outcome of the 10 remaining contests, it will be nearly impossible for Clinton to overcome rival Barack Obama’s lead in pledged delegates, because they are awarded proportionally based on the outcome.
So it will be up to the nearly 800 superdelegates — party activists and elected officials who aren’t bound by any vote — to put one of the two candidates over the mark of 2,024 delegates needed to win the nomination. Obama has 1,406 pledged delegates to Clinton’s 1,249, according to The Associated Press count.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton 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,” Burton said.
Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said Clinton had made the case superdelegates should exercise independent judgment about who would be the best for the party and the country.
“Few have done more to build the Democratic Party than Bill and Hillary Clinton. The last thing they need is a lecture from the Obama campaign,” he said.
The letter was first reported by the political blog Talking Points Memo.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
This letter sounds threatening to me. Speaker Pelosi has every right to express her opinion regarding this issue without pressure from one side or another.
good…. pelosi is a joke anyway. it’s about time she was told to STFU.
Nancy Pelosi should have maintained a ‘neutral’ stance in this battle for the good of the party. She is not-so-subtly endorsing Obama, and THAT is unconscionable. She will potentially have to work with whomever the candidate is, and shouldn’t be flapping her gums about it. The rules are in place the way they are for a reason, and the superdelegates should vote with the party ideals in mind - and what is best for the American people. The republicans WANT Obama to get the nomination, because they know they can beat him. Every single Hillary supporter I know - lifelong and dependable voting Democrats all - will be denouncing their Democratic Party membership and either voting write-in for Hillary or not voting for President at all if Obama is nominated. The party has strayed from moderation into full crazy left-wing nonsense if he is the candidate, and that is not what the party USED to be about. I would personally like to see a third party arise, one for moderates… because both the reps and the dems have gone full-force into dangerous extremeism.
Once again the Clinton campaign and its supporters
trying to force, manipulate and coerce the vote
in their favor. Guess what I don’t think the
Speaker of the House Of Represntatives is intimidated.
Speaker Pelosi is doing the right thing by standing
up for the democratic values of our country.
Super delegates please respond to this great offense
by the Clinton campaign by committing yourself to
the best candidate of the Democratic party and nation -
Senator Obama…
At this point the Clinton camp is grabbing at straws. Their behavior regarding this matter is appalling. That is why I would never vote for her because of her past and present actions. She will do whatever it takes to obtain power. She is FAKE!
This is exactly what the supporters should have done. It was long overdue. Nancy overstepped her bounds by using scare tactics on the superdelegates and, in the process, stirring up trouble in the electorate. This kind of talk will make them ready to fight if their candidate loses the nomination. Nancy knows better. It is clear that she supports Obama. Perhaps she likes holding the highest position in government that any woman ever has, and doesn’t want to lose that distinction to Hillary. Women are funny that way!
Pelosi is absolutely correct in her assertion that the leader in pledged delegates should not be overturned by superdelegates. Anyone who cant understand how devestating that would be to the Democratic Party is not thinking soundly. And if it wasnt justified for Al Gore to win the presidency based on a popular vote, then Hillary should not be able to either. That said, HIllary’s chances of winning the popular vote are also close to zero.
The system has flaws in it, no daubt. But you cant justify changes the rules in the middle of an election. Hillary’s iron grip on the hope that the superdelegates will overturn an Obama victory says a lot about her character. She views herself as an exception to the need for fairness and the greater good of the Democratic Party. Bottem line: she feels entitled to the presidency.
Nobody is entitled to that. It must be earned and won, on merits (not dirty campaign tactics or favors from people connections inherited from Bill Clinton’s presidency.)
Ahhh…so the “Back-Room” dealing of yesterday is still alive and well in the “Democratic” Party. The Will of the “Democratic” People means nothing to the Party Big Wigs — never has, never will.
“The donors “have been strong supporters” of the House Democrats’ fundraising arm” comment speaks for itself — Tow the line Rep. Pelosi or you will be Ms Pelosi — post-haste.
A shame really…the Party that presents itself as the “Party of the People” is instead the Party of the “Fat Cats” who sit in back rooms making deals. Hopefully the Clintons still don’t hold the so-called “Democratic” party’s reigns — if they do then it doesn’t matter where the Donkey (read the “People” - and nothing bad meant by Donkey, ok?
) wants to go, the Head will be led where the Clintons want to go — The White House.
I’ll be honest…I disagree with Senator Obama on many points, but the Clinton’s should not be allowed to steal the election. If Mr Obama (or Ms Clinton for that matter) have the most pledged delegates (ie: The Will of the “Democratic” People — more or less…I personally don’t like delegates or the Electoral College — let the Majority of the People choose, no matter where the cards fall…) then they should be the Democratic Nominee, plain and simple. Then on to the General Election (With all the mud-slinging that will come with it…)
Anyway…that’s my 2-cents worth.
Fred…
Pelosi should stay the h*ll out of it! She is going against the party doctrine on the topic of what a superdelegate was set up to do in these cases. I’ve seen the party rules on this subject and she was clearly in violation as a (supposed) lead member in party to say otherwise to the media! It clearly speaks to her judgement which I find to be very lacking since she got the job as House Speaker. God, I wished they’d have chosen Steny Hoyer!
And after, she has been through this before and got caught up in a big mess, years ago, over superdelegates having to chose a Presidential candidate! AND FOR THE RECORD, LOOK HOW THAT TURNED OUT! LOL
Pelosi and other Obama supporters have consistently tried to change the rules in the middle of the game to have superdelegates do the opposite of what they are supposed to do which is to help avoid scandals like Rev. Wright in a general election.