Report: Clinton Blames Caucus Losses on Democratic Activists, MoveOn
After Super Tuesday, Hillary Clinton blamed her losses in caucus states on Democratic activists, and particularly on MoveOn.org, according to an audio recording posted on The Huffington Post.
The Web site reported Friday that Clinton was talking to a group of donors at a small closed-door fundraiser when she made the remarks, saying the “activist base” of the party “flooded” caucus sites and intimidated her supporters.
“Moveon.org endorsed [Sen. Barack Obama] — which is like a gusher of money that never seems to slow down,” she told the group, according to The Huffington Post.
“We have been less successful in caucuses because it brings out the activist base of the Democratic Party. MoveOn didn’t even want us to go into Afghanistan. I mean, that’s what we’re dealing with. And they turn out in great numbers. And they are very driven by their view of our positions, and it’s primarily national security and foreign policy that drives them.
“I don’t agree with them. They know I don’t agree with them. So they flood into these caucuses and dominate them and really intimidate people who actually show up to support me.”
The intimidation charge is nothing new. Bill Clinton leveled similar charges during the Nevada caucuses, claiming Obama’s union supporters were bullying people into voting for him. Clinton actually won those caucuses, though Obama still received one more delegate than Clinton. Obama has won every other caucus state to date.
But the criticism of MoveOn, the liberal anti-Iraq war group that endorsed Obama, is generally a topic Clinton stays away from in public.
Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan released a statement Saturday saying, “Hillary Clinton’s decision to trash Democratic activists in a closed-door meeting with donors after publicly praising them when she needed their support is just another example of why she has such a serious credibility problem with the American people.”
MoveOn also rebuked Clinton for her reported comments. The anti-Iraq war group said in a statement to The Huffington Post that the New York senator’s claims were “divisive” and added, “MoveOn never opposed the war in Afghanistan.”
The Huffington Post caused a headache for Obama a week ago when it reported that he told a group of San Francisco donors that small-town voters “cling” to religion and guns out of bitterness over lost jobs.
Click here to read the full article and hear the recording of Clinton’s comments.
Activists have a right to Free Speech. They are not any worse than Clinton and Obama Talking trash back and forth. Larry B.
It’s probably true. The Left wing of the Democratic party has undermined the Democrat centrists and has ruined any chance of a Democrat winning the Presidency.
(Sung to Whose Sorry Now)
Whose whining now! Whose whining now!
This comment by Clinton is interesting. But in the caucus I was in (in Nebraska) it was the Clinton supporters who set up booths and passed out signs.
I had to CLING to my computer to keep from falling off my chair and avoid landing on my gun and bible, from laughing so hard. Moveon does not support Obama…they own him!
It would be better if the DNC moves the Denver Convention to a small town in PA…it might be safer to be surrounded by bitter religious zealots with guns when this convention turns into a Chicago 68 re-do.
Wow. What a shock. Let’s put a group of people in a room and decide which one to support. One group is gaga over the “new” guy, and the other group a bit more “restrained” let’s say. Did anyone ever hear of “peer pressure?”. Just because those involved are now “adults”, don’t you think some of it is still in play? “Look at Bob…he’s over with so-in-so, heheheeee…Bob’s a loser, Bobs a loser….”
Never quite understood the whole caucus deal. Just do the “secret vote thing” like the rest of us. No pressure there, pull the lever you want and nobody is the wiser.
I am not a supporter of ANY of the runners this time around, and that is not a great feeling. A life long conservative and not happy with our choices. Nov. will come and when I get in the booth I pray by then I know which lever to pull. At this point I just say “God help us all”. Of course I say that to myself as I don’t want to affend anyone. Ah, the country my GGF, GF, Father and brother fought for…..
In this case I think Mrs. Clinton is probably correct.
Hillary
Wake up. Your problem is you. You have no grip on reality. You say or do anything for what you think are political reasons. Get a grip your “Politics” stink. You and your methods are what turn people off. You are not what I want to see in a powerful office not even the senate. Get help!!!!
Clinton will not take the responsibility for any problems or failings. She will blame it on someone or something else. She believes she is to perfect for that. Plain and simple, she is a loser.
It figures, she is the CEO of “it’s not my fault”…