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.
It sure shows that Democrats do not care about the PEOPLE. They constantly profess that they are for the People and then disenfranchise them with the Super Delegates (Politicians.)
The hypocrisy of those running this party is truly asstounding.
Panoply - I love that game. I try to buy New York Place when possible. Those get out of Jail cards are helpful.
Jesus Christ, the dummycrats are making the elections too easy for the republicans. Not a good idead for Clinton supporters to lecture the Boss Lady Speaker about the superdelegates it can backfire by tenfold.
Mrs. Clinton is correct. Those delegate need to be counted. Sen. Obama is wrong. You don’t do a re-do in Mi. H. Dean is wrong. He should have not allowed this mess in the first place. It is fun to watch. The democratic party is not the great party it once was. It is now run by and for the far left. Look what they’ve done to it.
My my my…keep up the good work Democrats! Just keep arguing and dragging this out, and watch what happens in November. Just hand it to McCain, and then you’ll whine about how it wasn’t fair.
Idiots…and I’m loving every minute of it!
They’re both disengenuous liars anyway, so what’s the difference? I love it! Hopefully it’ll go all the way to Denver. I’m going to try to become a stealth delegate.
“Clinton Fat Cats Berate Pelosi Over Superdelegates” is the slug leading to this story. “We report, you decide”—yeah, right. Surely Fox can do a better job of pretending to be “Fair and Balanced”.
This is like a circus and all the clowns are in the center ring! Each candidate makes claims that his/her opponent is an unqualified “loser” for one reason or another and then all the other clowns run around in circles squawking and knocking each other over the head with rubber chickens. What a show they’re putting on for the world — it is laughable. Ain’t a D in the whole bunch with a lick of sense or decorum! (Where’s Robert Byrd? He’d make the perfect ringmaster for the big show.)
What is the purpose of the superdelegates if all they are suppose to do is echo the pledged delegates?
As much as I would hate to see Clinton as the presidential candidate I think she has a good point that the supers are suppose to weigh who would be best for the country & who would make the better candidate,
Senator Christopher Dodd is a genteleman because, after Obama won in Connecticut he supported Senator Obama and gave Obama his super delegate vote. Senators Kennedy and Kerry and Governor Bill Richardon are not fair and just people, Why??!! Because Senator Hillary Clinton won in Massachusetts and New Mexico, but Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Richardson gave their super delegate votes to Senator Obama. I voted for Senator Clinton here in Michigan, they are not counting my vote. I voted only once for Senator Clinton, and they are not counting my vote. Senators Kerry, Kennedy and Mr. Richardson voted twice for Mr. Obama(once as regular citizens and once as super delegate) and they are counting their two votes!!!!!!! what kind of democracy is this?
Senator Clinton won in Michigan and Florida, still she agreed to a revote. But Senator Obama disagreed to a revote in Michigan and Florida. He is not being honorable about this situation. Mr. Obama is DISENFRENCHISING MIchigan and Florida. If it was the other way around all of the press would raise hell with Senator Clinton. Thanks.