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.
so, they ARE the Democratic party? King Bill and Queen Hillary due to move back into the palace? The King and Queen of lies and therefore representing the values of the Democratic party? Definitely a reason to vote Republican if that is the only other choice we have!
Nothing like trying to strong-arm the election with blackmail. The arrogance of the Clintons is amazing. These people were probably promised big paybacks for their bucks and they are getting a little worried. I would not be surprised if the PA govenor was promised something big too. All I know is if she is the nominee I think I will vote for Nader.
I am not…believeing this.. how can you dems let your party DICTATE (a word derived from dictator or vice versa) a decision against the will of the voters??? If all of you vote for a certain candidate, you (we the people-remember) have spoken. YOu have made your voice known by majority- and now your going to let these SUPERDELEGATES make your decision for you-when you start letting the government override your constitutionally given RIGHT- you are heading down a very dangerous path. Ya’ll better speak up! Remember this, It wouln’t have taken 2,025 delegates to make your nominee before 1984 when you guys started this SUPERDELEGATE BUSINESS! YOu guys had a number and a majority to reach and it wasn’t 2,025. Why can’t you see that your party is trying to wrestle control away from the people, this is America don’t allow them to take away your right to vote-all the votes should count- even michigan and florida- even though no one thought they were important when they signed that agreement to not let them count- thats because the Dems believe they as the party leaders get to mandate what happens to your (the people’s) vote.
GLAD TO BE A REPUBLICAN IN ALABAMA
Nancy Pelosi, who is in this position because many of us flocked to the polls and believed in her CHANGE…… may as well be in a wax museum. That describes the effect she has had on the Democratic Party, the resolution process and the entire nation as a whole.
I am bored and weakened with this race.
I will vote for Mickey Mouse in November if he is on the REPUBLICAN ticket.
The Democratic Party can fade away or divide itself over and over, but I am OUTTA HERE!!!
(?)President(?) Obama???
I don’t think so.
Watching Hillary speak brought back the realization of how gifted she and the former President Clinton really are at evading the topic of the questions. Every question asked by interviewers ellicts a totally unrelated response. They must really believe we are stupid I guess. McCain is looking better and better. At least he answers the question asked.
Once again, the Clinton machine is clawing away at someone who says something that’s not to their benefit. When are they going to realize that not everyone is going to roll over and die for them?
nancy should stay out of it and her comment waas wrong.it is very clear that nancypelosi is an obama supporter.this makes it just a tad unfair.and ofcourse obama would be on her side she pelosi is on his side, obama does not care about the voters and there rights just as long as he wins, the real obama please stand up.
“Few have done more to build the Democratic Party than Bill and Hillary Clinton”……
I say no two individuals have done more to bring the Democratic Party down to it’s lowest level in ages! What have they done???? All I can think of is Whitewater, Sex-capades in the Whitehouse, lies, deceit, mudslinging….etc. I am not saying that Obama is the right choice either. His ties with the Pastor of his church have brought his popularity way down. But compare the two (Obama and Clinton). Which is the lesser of two evils. “Billary” needs to accept defeat and step aside and endorse Obama.
Threats, insinuations and self victimization–that is the Clinton style–especially through “uncontollable supporters.” Hence, the Clintons (said because they are one) have their precious reasonable deniability. If the Obama supporters pulled the same thing, Hillary would be on CNN screaming that the political speech was being silenced with a “Jeremiah Wright” style indignation.
In addition, Phil Singer needs a memory sandwich. The Clintons, in 1994, managed to do what the Republicans had been unable to do since 1946–seat a Republican majority in both houses of Congress! They (for they are one) did more to destroy the Democractic Party than anyone in half a century or more. Chris Matthews (former aid to Tip O’Neal) put it well when he stated that if you believe that the Clintons are in it for anyone but the Clintons, you are kidding yourself.
But I keep watching the Clintons for the same reason people watched the Anna Nicole Smith Show, to watch a train wreck.
Pelosi is just like Obama. She hates this country and its people. She is a fool