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.
I love it ,,,these Clinton supporters going to the big Gun to complain about the super delegate comments that she made.I don’t really care for the woman but I thin it is great that she has made her choice and made it public.
Tese people are messing with someone they had better not attack as she has the clout to put down either of the candidates she wishes.
This lady has a mind of her own and will not be controlled by the Clintons.
No two (now three with Chelsea) persons have done more to advance the the notion that politcal lies are not true lies, but just embellishments of the truth to further a politcal cause, than Clinton, Inc. Besides, “Who really cares, it is just politics.” Remember, “I did not have sexual relations with that….”
Do not fool yourself, these people will do or say ANYTHING to win any point, any argument and certainly the Presidency.
Be afraid, very afraid!!
What typical Democrat ideology. Only “those in power” KNOW what’s best for the people themselves. Democrats consistently hold that the American people are too stupid to know what they really need or want. Thus, we have an unmanageable government, including the court system, that imposes a liberal agenda and policies on the people. We do NOT need the Democrat “big brothers” in power!!!!
Implosion…..Implosion…..Implosion……
It is pretty alarming that HC’s top 20 FINANCIAL Donors are trying to dictate the outcome of the election……why hasn’t anyone reported on who these 20 donors are….it would be interesting to see what product, commodity and/or service they provide so we can all be prepared to pay more after the election if they don’t get their way….can you imagine if this came out of the Obama camp….
YES! Democrats continue to divide the party. Imagine if a Republican behaved the way they have been behaving? Imagine if there where a republican that said the only reason why Obama was doing well was because he was black? Imagine if a republican was attending a church for 20 YEARS and said he did not hear any talk of blacks giving drugs to whites? Blacks giving aids to whites? STEALING AN ELECTION? The voters don’t matter we’ll have the ELITE SUPER DELEGATES chose the president?
Nancy Pelosi has yet to convince me that, other than being a “typical” politican whose rhetoric and actions often conflict, she has a clue as to what is going on. I doubt she even understands the nomination process. Pelosi basically uses facial expressions, as clearly demonstrated during Mr. Bush’s State of the Union Address, to feign disapproval of whatever is being said, the substance of which she probably doesn’t comprehend, then proceeds to rubber stamp the Administration’s wishes while publicly denouncing them. Since becoming Speaker, contrary to all the “promises,” the Iraq War continues unabated, health care legislation non-existent, etc., etc., while Pelosi finds the time to take junkets around the world and stick her nose into matters that are none of her business.
Any “building” of the Democratic party Bill Clinton has done, (and that’s questionable) is being undone by Hillary, whose contribution to that “building” is so scant as to be laughable. She’s a mean spirited, lying, opportunistic, knife fighter whose chance to show some style and bow out gracefully has passed - now it’s all or nothing and damn the Democratic Party and damn what the people want. She and her machine are doing their utmost to derail the candidacy of the first breath of fresh air to come along, the candidate the people want. Hear that, superdelegates? Democrats will go with McCain rather than Hillary if Mr. Obama isn’t on the ticket.
Pelosi better watch her back. History proves that the Clintons find a way to make you disappear.
Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and DNC chairman Howard Dean are going to give the White House to the Republicans if they persist in Backing Obama. No Dem I have spoken to will vote for Obama in light of his 20 year relationship with his mentor and pastor, the irreverent racist, Jeremiah Wright. We will most definitely vote for McCain if Clinton is not the nominee. At least McCain loves his country and ALL the people in it!
First the Obama camp said that the super delagates should vote for the candidate that rec’d the popular vote in their state. Now that the largest states went for Clinton they now want who has the most delegates. Any way they can turn it around to their advantage.