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.
When the media finally gets done with Pastor Wright perhaps we could move on to some more news worthy truths about Hillary and Bill. Here is just a taste…I’m wondering why these haven’t come up and why we care more about this Pastor Wright nonsense. To be fair let’s count the reasons that Hillary shouldn’t be president. These are all facts that sooner or later…when everyone is done playing silly games with Pastor Wright, we will discuss and Hillary will NOT be president. Can’t wait for the media to go over these babies..President Clinton cited executive privilege for his refusal to turn over documents to Congress related to his decision to offer clemency to members of the FALN terrorist group.
In October 2006, the group Judicial Watch filed a request with the U.S. Justice Department for an investigation, alleging that Hilliary had received $107,000 from the Edgar and Vonna Jo Gregory for the pardons, in the form of loans that were never repaid, as part of a quid pro quo scheme.
Marc Rich, a fugitive, was pardoned of tax evasion. Denise Rich, his former wife, had made substantial donations to the Clinton library and to Mrs. Clinton’s senate campaign. Emails uncovered during the course of the investigation revealed that her final donation was provided a year before (guess who??) Scooter Libby requested that she approach Clinton for a pardon. According to Paul Volcker’s independent investigation of Iraqi Oil-for-Food kickback schemes, Marc Rich was a middleman for several suspect Iraqi oil deals involving over 4 million barrels of oil.[
Susan McDougal, who had already completed her sentence, was pardoned for her role in the Whitewater scandal; McDougal had served 18 months on contempt charges for refusing to testify about Clinton’s role.
Exactly reflects what Clintons actually are. Blackmail Pelosi and the Democratic Part? They must be out of their mind!!! Nancy, please don’t give in. They are not the only donors. There are many other more who don’t think the same.
The Obama camp is right. By the time the convention comes around if they split the superdelegates evenly Obama will probably pass the amount needed anyway. If they vote for Hillary they will be going against most of the country. All these new registered young voters who just now believe their voice matter in the government will have a different outlook.
It is about time pressure is put on Nancy Pelosi. The democratic party (Nancy & Dean) need to wake up. This contest is close and we totally agree that it needs to play itself out. The superdelegates were created to look at all factors to determine who is the most electable candidate not who has the delegate or popular vote or most states. Who can beat McCain in November? That’s what they need to figure out and right now both candidates are in the running and close. I especially enjoyed Phil’s response that they don’t need a lecture from the Obama campaign; Bill and Hillary have done alot of good for the Democratic party and that is fact. Like it or not. And by the way; all this coverage on the 1996 trip the First Lady made is no different than the five times that Obama “miscommented” on things just like Karl Rove said on Greta last night!
Political blackmail once more. What did these big donors receive “in kind” from the Clintons that they are so worried about losing that they resort to this type of veiled threat? Democracy doesn’t seem to be of much value to them when it might mean they lose power or influence peddling ability. Don’t listen, Nancy.
More political blackmail. The question I have is what they have received “in kind” from the Clintons in the past that they fear losing their power if Hillary loses? Democracy doesn’t seem to be quite as happy an option for those who say they endorse it when it might mean you lose.
Don’t listen, Nancy.
I think they are crazy. why don’t they just do what is good for the country and forget about their parties. I think we should be Americans not dem. or rep. once they take offices
Ah, Bill and Hilary. Instead of pursuing your scorched earth strategy to win the nomination at all costs, perhaps you should heed the advice of Maya Angelou, who said the following at Bill’s inauguration:
Do not be wedded forever
To fear, yoked eternally
To brutishness.
You could put everything that Nancy Pelosi has done for the people in america under your fingernail and it wouldn’t make it sore.That is the most usless woman that I have heard of.She probably threw her mother and grandmother under the train or what ever she could have throwed them under she has no remorse
Gee, Mr. Singer, they built the democratic party, invented the internet, all the while dodging sniper fire. I just changed my vote.