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.
there goes the Billary camp burning more bridges and making threats thinking that the Democratic National Party is more of a mafia than an actual political party……..
Even though it looks like Fox has decided to not allow messages posted here anymore I will try to add my thoughts on this anyway.
Clinton has ran her campaign partially on distancing herself from the Washington well connected. At least that is what she has said to a certain effect. She wanted to stand up for those who were not well connected right?
Well, now we see who the well connected is. It is hillary clinton!!!!! She has 20 well connected hit people going after Pelosi and threatening the Democratic party with holding back financial support if Pelosi dosent change her stand on the super delegates. Clinton is all about threatening and holding back support if you dont follow her and bills lead and do what they want. She seems to believe that she is the money machine that will get congress elected. You know, the clintons probably were all that, but she has shown the clintons true colors and agenda to all of America to see. Her campaign has been all about threats and intimidation.
I was not a Pelosi fan, but she has shown a leadership quality on this issue that has impressed me. I think pelosi knows that the 1 million contributor that Obama has brought to the table will trump her 20 well connected financiars that clinton has brought to threaten her will no hold water….
There you have the clinton machine, so powerful that they think the presidency is all but theirs. This truely speak to what Gov Bill Richardson said that people in the clintons circle think the presidency is theirs to take, nothing short of greed. Its a shame that money is so powerful that the wish of the voters is irrelevant.
Peloisi is all about control. No one should be allowed to make up their own mind. And by the way, does she count the voters in FL & MI? And do caucas states count as much as primary states? Should we weight state influence on when the primary was conducted? Should Iowa really count as much as Penn?
This is how she works…call out the fat cats…threaten…punish…bully…lie…most of all the you owe me attitude.
And some one was fired for calling her a “monster”.
This is just another ploy of the clintons to get in white house. They cant accept the fact they are losing. If all fails they will offer the supper delagtes money to vote for them. They think anything will go for them.
It would seem that the democrats have painted themselves into a corner. Allow “Superdelegates” to exercise their freedom of choice and possibly alienate the voting base or have them vote according to public popular support and defeat the intended purpose set forth in 1984–according to above statement. One advocates a democratic view (each vote counts and so too should the superdelegates) and the other a republic view (elected officials should follow the path of the majority without exercising their own choice), but neither seems to be making the choice between the two candidates any easier. As a voter, I am concerned that I will not know enough about the two potential candidates (McCain and ???) to make an informed decision come election time. If too much if focused on smearing each other and jockeying for lead over the other and not on actually presenting an argument why the democrats will serve US interests better than the republicans come Nov, what is the average voter to do? I am an independent and could care less about the parties–I only care about issues that matter to me and vote along my line. I wanted to put this out there to ensure no support or hidden agenda is seen behind my comments–I have no horse in this race yet.
Superdelegates: To paraphrase George Orwell, “All delegates are equal, but some are more equal than others”.
Pelosi: “Maybe Democrats should do things democratically.”
Wealthy Donor Response: “We’ll do whatever we want, thanks. We bought your party. Be a shame if anything were to happen to it.” Reread the statements – that’s exactly it in a nutshell.
I think the Democratic Party is sufficiently split over the candidates, then will be split again over the superdelegate politburo, that any Obama worship gains the party made in participation will be shot.
Every election and nomination Obama has been in has been accompanied by some well-timed scandal or backstabbing legal maneuver breaking on the competitor’s side (Republican or Democrat). He’s never actually won a fair, clean, untainted election - Ever. Contrast that with the Clinton camp’s own Stepford Feminists, stolen FBI files, and repeated cover-ups and you have the makings of a serious knife fight as things get closer to the deadline.
I agree Pelosi needs to back-off. I am a resident of California and I did not vote for Obama. In fact, it was Senator Clinton that won the Primary election for California, and if anything my vote should represent the person that won my State.
You do a dis-service by not outting the supporters by name. You have clearly alledged they were threatening to remove Pelosie’s funds. It would be nice to know who is trying to bribe our politicians. Would be nice to see some facts to sustantiate the story. Fair and balanced???
Playing politics…..Hum?????? You decide.