So it turns out Obama's campaign manager did kind of imply that Hillary cannot win.

[Apollo11]

The original subject line of this thread was:
So it turns out Obama's campaign manager did say that Hillary should quit.

Then I changed it to:
So it turns out Obama's campaign manager did suggest that Hillary should quit.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
EDIT - 10.45 AM Eastern

The Guardian's reporter (see below) implies that the Obama campaign was calling on Hillary to quit.
The quotes show that Obama's campaign manager told reporters that Barack is way out in front.
But there's a difference between saying "our guy is in the lead" and saying that Hillary should quit.
It is kind of difficult to call if we don't have a transcript of the conference call.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yesterday I used up one of my precious 3 posts making a huge deal about this statement:
"The Obama campaign is trying to shut down the Democratic race before the rest of the country votes"

I found it hard to believe that the Obama campaign would be calling on Hillary to quit the race before March 4th, and so I was shocked to read the above statement on the homepage of a website paid for by Hillary Clinton for President (www.delegatehub.com). I basically accused Hillary's campaign of spreading misinformation with the intention of making Obama look bad.

Here is a link to the thread I started yesterday:
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4682113&mesg_id=4682113

Well, today I was kind of surprised and embarrassed to learn that since yesterday (Feb 20th), Obama's Campaign Manager has in fact been spinning to reporters that Hillary should admit defeat, shut-down her campaign and concede the nomination (see article and link below).

So I would like to apologize to Hillary Clinton and her supporters for not believing this yesterday.

I would also like to ask if people think it is OK for Obama's Campaign Manager to be telling reporters that Hillary has no chance of winning the nomination and so she should quit now.

What message does it send the voters of Texas and Ohio and the other states that have yet to vote? :eyes:

The way I see it - Obama still has a long way to go before he can say that he is the nominee. If you watch his speech in Houston on February 19th - Obama himself says this very clearly:
"We do know this, Houston: The change we seek is still months and miles away, and we need the good people of Texas to help us get there. We will need you to fight for every delegate it takes to win this nomination."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/us/politics/19text-obama.html

You will notice how Obama does NOT say "It's all over folks. And guess who won?!"

So I think it is too soon for Obama's Campaign Manager to start spinning that the race is over.

PS - for the record, I have always said that I will support whoever wins the nomination.

The Guardian, London, England - Thursday, February 21, 2008

After 10 straight victories, Obama's camp claims wide lead and urges Clinton to quit

Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington

Barack Obama's campaign team, riding a wave of 10 straight victories in the contest for the Democratic nomination after wins in Wisconsin and Hawaii, yesterday urged Hillary Clinton to bow to the inevitable and accept defeat.

Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, dismissed the Clinton camp's hopes of making a comeback when the power states of Texas and Ohio hold their primaries on March 4. "This is a wide, wide lead right now," Plouffe said in a conference call with reporters. "The Clinton campaign keeps saying the race is essentially tied. That's just lunacy."

The argument from the Obama camp appears designed to paint Clinton as a nuisance candidate - much like Mike Huckabee, who has continued to fight for the Republican nomination even though it is impossible for him to claw back John McCain's lead in delegates.

(...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/21/barackobama.hillaryclinton

[Yurem2008]

1. And???

Just stating the obvious. She should indeed withdraw and unite the party. Protracted fights will do harm to Obama as the Democratic nominee. Hillary still can return in 2016 to run for President (she'd be only 68, younger than McPain).

[Marrah_G]

5. She should not withdraw. The rest of the voters have the same right to choose as you do.

[shadowknows69]

23. Don't you think that the voters in the rest of the states

would also like to be able to vote for a winning candidate in November? I assure you it's not just "the cult" that sees that a long fight to the convention is not conducive to being able to tackle, not just the rethug machine, but the corporate machine as well. How many primaries have gone all the way before being decided? It's time to start acting like a team again. It is almost impossible for Hillary to pull this off. I'm sorry but that's the hard math of it.

[Marrah_G]

30. Okay you obviously care nothing about democracy if you truly think like that.

You have decided that YOU know better then the people and that the people should have no say in who their candidate is.

I find views like this frightening.

I think if you go back and you look at what you are saying in reverse you will be appalled also.

It would be like me telling you that you should have no right to vote in the primaries because I have already chosen Hillary for you and I have decided who the best person for you to vote for will be.

Do you see what I am saying?

Posts like this are the things that will make it VERY hard to come together when the primaries are over.

[mckeown1128]

40. uhh ohh.. looks like Hillary doesn't care about Democracy either...

Hillary: "It's not a very long run. It'll be over by Feb. 5."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Hillarys_miscalculation.html#comments

[Marrah_G]

43. Again- Why are you people so threatened by everyone getting a chance to vote?

How is it that you have become THAT arrogant?

[mckeown1128]

46. She can't mathamatically catch up to him in pledged delegates

unless she landslides in EVERY remaining race.

Did you complain when Kerry, or Gore, or Clinton became the nominees long before every state voted.

[Marrah_G]

52. Again WHY do you have a rpoblem with EVRYONE getting a chance to have their say.

If she is going to lose anyway, why the hell do you care.

These are some of the most un-democratic posts I have ever seen.

:puke:

[mckeown1128]

58. Since she is going to lose anyway I have a problem because..

McCain has wrapped up his nomantion and will begin fundraising and campaigning. I feel that Obama could use that same 5 extra months as McCain. I don't think Obama should start with a 5 month campaign disadvantage because Hillary can't see the light.

[shadowknows69]

63. exactly

It taps valuable media time and money from the front runner.

[shadowknows69]

49. Why do Hillary supporters ignore the post above you that shows you to be a hypocrite?

Here, I'll post the quote in case you missed it

Hillary: "It's not a very long run. It'll be over by Feb. 5."

[Marrah_G]

51. You are not making any sense at all.

At one time she thought it would be over by 2/5. But it wasn't over, instead it is very close.

And please refrain from calling me a hypocrite, I am nothing of the kind.

The people in the remaining states have a RIGHT to have their voices heard. You do not seem to want that to happen. Why is that? Why is your opinion the only one that counts?

[mckeown1128]

55. So you are ok that Hillary "thought it would be over by 2/5"

but not that people are saying it is over now?! Call me funny but when comparing how many people still have to vote compared to how many people still had to vote after 2/5... I find(using your logic) that Hillary wanted even less people to have their voices heard.

[Marrah_G]

57. Okay you apparently live in a very different reality.

A very fucking different reality.

On the advise of a friend I am going to wipe you from my screen before I say something I may or may not regret.

[mckeown1128]

59. ignore away... Since I guess that is the only way you can

convince yourself that I am wrong.

[LanternWaste]

91. At the time she said that, was Sen. Clinton

At the time she said that, was Sen. Clinton calling for the withdrawal of other Democratic candidates to allow the party to "unify" as is being called for now?

[mckeown1128]

102. That seems to be what she was sayin.

It couldn't mean anything else. It wasn't possible for anyone to have the 2025 delegates... after 2/5. So that means that she is saying that she would have enough delegates to be able to call for the withdrawal of other Democratic candidates at that point. Which is essentially what Obama supporters are saying.

[shadowknows69]

60. Well the only way it would have been over on 2/5

is if everyone but the frontrunner dropped out. Thereby cheating the rest of the country out of their chance to vote. How are you ok with this logic? I really want to understand this.

[Marrah_G]

64. Are you really not understanding what she was saying?

She was saying she thought she would be so far ahead by 2/5 that everyone would drop out.

But that didn't happen. She was wrong. Instead it is a very close race with her actually behind a little bit.

[shadowknows69]

65. Well now many of us think she's behind enough she should drop out now.

What is the difference?

[Marrah_G]

70. Because no matter how bad you want to think otherwise, she still has a shot.

[mckeown1128]

72. yeah in the same way Huckabee has a shot. nt

[shadowknows69]

75. Ok, granted, I've said she should stay until Texas

And when she gets the 65% she absolutely needs then on to Ohio, but it's not going to happen, and when it doesn't her supporters have to encourage and help her leave graciously.

[mckeown1128]

79. If she stays in past TX an OH than it's a problem.

Unless of course she magically landslides with the stated and highly unlikely 65%.

[shadowknows69]

48. I've been participating in democracy for 21 years now thank you kindly

But this is a game, with possibly the most fucked up rules of any game I grant you, you either play to win or you lose. I'm originally a Kucinich supporter so I barely have a dog in this fight except that I want to see the Democratic Party win and the best way to do that now is marshall our strength, resources and will to take on the real opponent.

[Marrah_G]

53. Then why would you want to take the right to join in that process away from others?

If you are right and your choice will win anyway... why would you be so insistant that so many voters get their own voices taken away from them.

If you truly cared about the Democratic Process you would want every person to have the chance to speak his or her mind.

[mckeown1128]

62. Again I ask you... where you this outraged when Hillary...

said this:

Hillary: "It's not a very long run. It'll be over by Feb. 5."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Hillarys_mi...

or is it only a problem if Obama supporters talk that way.

[shadowknows69]

68. What are you not understand about the fact that we may lose the GE

if there is a long ugly fight to the convention. It has always been played this way. Candidates drop out because A) they can't affords to run anymore B)Scandal C)they know they can't win it and to remain in the race would take resources away from the ones that can there by harming our eventual goal of winning the GE.

I have news for you. If we have another lunatic republican in the White House, there isn't going to be much of a democratic process left anywhere in this country.

We agree to disagree I guess. I don't want any hate with a fellow pagan. Peace.
S

[Marrah_G]

71. I too am going to end this conversation before I say something I will regret

I like you. I think you are so wrong that is is scary on this one. But on a personal level I like you.

So I am am going to walk away also.

Blessed be!

[shadowknows69]

78. Ya scared me too a little Marrah

but I love ya.
Blessed be.
S

[Leopolds Ghost]

96. If you feel that way, you should have encouraged Edwards Kucinich and Gravel to remain in the race.

With them out, I had no one to vote for in the primaries.

Why should I vote in the primaries if neither candidate
interests me? I guess if Hillary had a chance of winning
my state I could have been scared enough of her winning
to vote for Obama despite disagreeing with his policies --
I don't want to see her OR McCain in the White House.

That being said, I am "rooting for" Obama because it
would be historic to have a black man in the office.

It is wonderful to see him inspiring "JFK-like" fervor,
even if his policies and the political environmrent are
more like the hawkish, economically centrist JFK than
the transformation of his brother RFK.

We know Obama is not in the same position as the Kennedy's
because he is not a threat to the current system.

But I have no illusions that he will necessarily do anything
to restore democracy and freedom and social justice. He will
be pressured by his think-tanks not to.

I think Kerry could have. That's why they destroyed him and
his wife, and are protecting Obama against similar gaffes.

That's why they destroyed Edwards and Gravel, with complicity
on the blogosphere. (Kucinich destroyed himself thru his
William Jennings-Bryan-like eccentricity.)

Kerry was the closest to RFK, being ON THE LEFT in the RFK era.

[Big Blue Marble]

67. What is this sudden concern for the voters?

I live in Kentucky. We vote in May every primary seasons. Our votes have never counted.
The nominee is always decided before May.

Your concern is specious. The race is over when only one candidate is viable, no matter
how many states have not voted. This year according to HIllary in December that
was to February 5th. She was not worried about the rest of us, so why should
you be?

[shadowknows69]

69. Thank you

ALthough your opinion means nothing because you're in "The Cult"
;-)

[Dogmudgeon]

20. Doubtful

There will have been 24 years of active well-poisoning against the Clintons by then, and a fair piece of that poisoning has been done by Obama supporters.

There's also the immediate problem that now Obama feels that he is entitled to a stress-free run for president. Hillary is far from being vanquished, and his lead is not so wide that he can't blow it. Team Obama is making the same mistakes it blamed on HRC just a month ago.

Harm has already been done, and Obama's followers are NOT innocent in that regard. Have you given any thought to what will be required to fix the damage caused by just your side alone? This is only the first part of the work pre-general-election work we have to do. Blaming it all on Hillary won't make it go away, though it might make a lot of Hillary's supporters go away.

We need to start the conversation about how to restore solidarity, and we need to do it TODAY. Forcing submission may be fine for warlords and thugs and corporate raiders, but it's not fine for Democrats. We need a Plan B for whoever wins -- or the Republican party wins. Again.

--p!

[shadowknows69]

24. and a fair piece of that poisoning has been done by Obama supporters.

Yeah in 24 years we're the ones who have done the most damage to the Clinton's reputation. Send me some of what you're smoking.

[Dogmudgeon]

39. Sorry, dude, your sense of perspective is way too wack.

"A fair peace" doesn't mean "everything", it means "you're not angels, either". So no more smoke until you sober up a little. We have an election to win in November.

The last word is yours. Three snaps up, PWN me, show them who's my daddy. Then back to work.

--p!

[shadowknows69]

50. A fair piece to me implied a majority

sorry if I understood. no need to have the last word. We are all on the same team here rignt?

[Dogmudgeon]

66. Yep. Same team. Solidarity!

I, too, get pretty intense, and regret if I over-reacted. I'd still rather have these in-party dust-ups than be with a bunch of people ready to give up and die.

First, a Good Fight. (In the grander sense of things.)

Then Solidarity.

Then Victory.

There is a difficult road ahead. I am in for the duration.

:pals:

--p!

[NashVegas]

25. Unite The Party? Barack Can Do That, Can't He?

After all that's what he says he does.

[LanternWaste]

90. I'd rather she didn't drop out.

I'd rather she didn't drop out. I would like to have a choice before when I vote in my state's primaries.


The same amount of unity in our party will come regardless of who wins the nomination.

[pnwmom]

94. Or . . . HE could withdraw and unite the party.

They're still neck and neck in terms of delegates. No reason he couldn't be the one to make the sacrifice.

[jgraz]

2. Jeez, at least someone is saying it

It's completely appropriate, especially given the fact that Carville, et al would be SCREAMING for Obama's head if the situation were reversed. It's time for Obama to move on and start focusing on McCain. Clinton is toast.

[stillcool]

101. where does the Obama campaign say anything..

like that? Here is the quote:

"This is a wide, wide lead right now," Plouffe said in a conference call with reporters."The Clinton campaign keeps saying the race is essentially tied. That's just lunacy."

[Obamaniac]

3. I think she should quit too...

So?

[Occam Bandage]

4. She should quit. She has no chance. The only question is whether

she bows out gracefully, or tries to take the Democratic party down with her.

[NDambi]

9. If he beats her in Texas and Ohio...I believe she should bow out..shortly thereafter

[Tarc]

13. So sorry that the king's coronation is not coming as quick as you like

The Sox were down 0-3 to the Yanks a few years back, no one gave em a chance. Where are they now?

We still have two very sizable states to go, plus dealing with MI and FL, plus the ever-ominous superdelegates. Don't start measuring the White House windows for new drapes quite yet, my boy.

[mckeown1128]

41. I can't tell you how hysterical it is listening to Clinton supporters...

complain about coronations. At least Obama supporters have waited until Obama mathematically is the likely nominee. Clinton supporters have been trying to anoint her since January of 2007.

[Tarc]

73. So if we accept your analysis there as being true, then...

tell us, how does it feel to have become what you once disliked? :)

[mckeown1128]

76. ahh... but it isn't the same situation...

Hillary was trying to be coronated (((BEFORE))) the voting took place. Obama's coronation is due to the (((VOTERS))) electing him.

[Tarc]

84. Of course it isn't, hypocrite

:rofl:

[mckeown1128]

105. Trying to have a discussion with you is like me

trying to talk a cookie out of my toddlers hands.... There is just no reasoning with you.

[rodeodance]

99. only in your pea brain. We tend not to listen to self creations put forth my the msm as

it is apparent so many obamacampers do.

Clinton supporters have been trying to anoint her since January of 2007.

[mckeown1128]

106. Childish insults aside.....

Did you just wander in to GDP after Iowa? I had to listen to a year straight of.... "don't get your hope's up" "Hillary WILL be president" "look at all the polls" "Obama doesn't stand a chance" "Hillary deserves to be president" "woman will finaly get what is theirs"

[Big Blue Marble]

74. Denial is a significant part of grieving.

Bargaining is too. Yes, there is a small chance that she could win the nomination at this point.
But if she did it would be at great cost to the party and to the country. She would be extremely
unlikely to then go on to win the presidency as the party most likely would be deeply fractured.

She is nearly out of money. She is in debt. And she is nearly out of time. I think it is
appropriate that she stays in until after Ohio and Texas. But if she does not
win both those states by at least 60%, its time to call it quits. After that
she is dragging down the party's chances in the fall. I am sure
that you will not want President McCain anymore than I do.

[Bread and Circus]

6. Just flip the tables around. At this point EVERYONE would be telling Obama to get out...

and that he would be hurting the party's chances in November.

Especially consider if he was engaged in the sort of slippery trickery that the Clinton campaign is engaged in.

Clinton is getting a huge pass by the media considering where her campaign stands now. There is no reasonable way that she will win on pledged delegates so her whole strategy revolves around winning by super delagates which would be going against the vote of the people. If it were anybody but the very powerful and well connected establishment Clinton campaign on the ticket they would be blasted for the things they are pulling right now.

Personally, I am not sure it's a good idea for the Obama campaign to make this argument though it is very fair to make.

But at any rate delegatehub.com is disgusting trash.

Ickes, Wolfson, and Penn are human garbage.

Clinton should surround herself with different people.

P.S. I will never vote for Clinton. Neither will my wife. Nor my mother in law and my MIL is Clinton's contemporary. She has more disdain for Clinton than my wife and I.

[Independent-Voter]

12. The women in your life sound like mine. They can't stand HRC. Great Post BTW

[Bread and Circus]

18. It was my wife that turned me on to Obama! I'm still mad at her, because now I care :P

I got my heart broke last time when Clark went down the tubes. When Gore said he wasn't going to run, I wanted to jump off a cliff.

[Independent-Voter]

47. I'm hoping he doesn't tear out hearts. Alot of cynics are actively pulling for him now

[Marrah_G]

54. I would never urge anyone to drop out unless they had to.

I would also never suggest that taking away the choice of hundreds of thousands of voters is somehow a good thing.

[bowens43]

7. This is a problem because????

It's standard practice for the nominee to be chosen before all states have voted.

[rodeodance]

11. So, you ok that upcoming states "don't count" ---POT MEET KETTLE.

[mckeown1128]

44. Hillary supporters are so funny.

Hillary is the only one who has been pushing the "states don't count" thing.

Let's see... according to the Hillary campaign the only states that count are:

Big, blue, closed-primary states without large African American populations, so long as they have good weather on election day(so that seniors can get out to vote)...meanwhile the other 48 states don't count...except of course if Hillary wins.

[Yurem2008]

14. What about McCain? Not all states have voted

and they are calling for Huckaboo to withdraw and Romney withdrew for the sake of the GOP.
Hillary should ext gracefully, but NOOOO, she feels she is entitled to the nomination so she will be shoved out the door after she loses TX and OH

[calico1]

28. I think we should skip the elections altogether.

McCain would lose anyway, right? Since Obama is going to win all 50 States by a HUGE landslide I say let's coronate him now and make him president for life. The people have spoken! Everybody loves Obama, and the people that say they don't just don't know yet that they do!

:silly:

[ProSense]

8. "The Clinton campaign keeps saying the race is essentially tied. That's just lunacy."

That's a fact.

"urged Hillary Clinton to bow to the inevitable and accept defeat"

That's spin!

[Apollo11]

21. I see your point

The Guardian is usually anti-Bush, but it is not immune from putting spin on political articles. In fact The Guardian & The Observer (same ownership and joint website) went along with Tony Blair in putting the case for a military attack against Iraq back in 2002 and 2003.

Reading the article again, the only quotes directly attributed to David Plouffe are:
1. "This is a wide, wide lead right now."
2. "The Clinton campaign keeps saying the race is essentially tied. That's just lunacy."

It's clear he wanted to give reporters the impression that Obama is well ahead of Hillary.

But there is no direct quote calling on Hillary to shut-down her campaign before March 4th.

So maybe for my next thread I should apologise to David Plouffe! B-)

[Straight Shooter]

83. He's also implying the Clinton campaign is filled with lunatics.

Lunacy comes from lunatics. But, hey, that's Plouffe for you. Another version of Robert Gibbs. Democratic disciples of the Church of the Power of Negative Words, founded by Newt Gingrich.

[rodeodance]

10. THERE were a lot of CRUEL comments yesterday --like she is lying --!!!!

[Lerkfish]

36. cruelty is in the eye of the beholder

[rodeodance]

89. true. I read the vile words (directed toward Hillary supporters). simple as that

[Lerkfish]

92. and that's all you see. its tunnel vision.

[rodeodance]

95. I am not living in the ObamaBubble.

[Lerkfish]

97. as I said, tunnel vision.

you view the world as you, and everyone else is in an "obamabubble"

tunnel vision. myopic, egocentric.

[GumboYaYa]

15. It is over...she has no money to compete...her base has completely eroded.

Even her campaign staff admits that her only chance is a major Obama mistake (i.e they get some mud to stick). he problem with slinging mud is that everyone ends upc covered with it. So even if Hillary is successful in destroying Obama (who is clearly a rising star in the Democratic party); she most likely destroys herself and splits the party in the process. Net result, we lose this election and a few more in the future.

I can think of no positive result that can occur from her staying in the race.

[GumboYaYa]

16. It is over...she has no money to compete...her base has completely eroded.

Even her campaign staff admits that her only chance is a major Obama mistake (i.e they get some mud to stick). the problem with slinging mud is that everyone ends up covered with it. So even if Hillary is successful in destroying Obama (who is clearly a rising star in the Democratic party); she most likely destroys herself and splits the party in the process. Net result, we lose this election and a few more in the future.

I can think of no positive result that can occur from her staying in the race.

[UALRBSofL]

17. I love watching Obama and his camp begging

It's the funniest thread I've read all day.

[stillcool]

103. The Obama campaign?

Did you read the words that I did? Do you know something other than what appears in this article?

"This is a wide, wide lead right now," Plouffe said in a conference call with reporters."The Clinton campaign keeps saying the race is essentially tied. That's just lunacy."

[melody]

19. Good, he's right

My candidate was John Edwards. I voted for him in my primary. But it's now the time for Democrats to gather
behind a single candidate. At this point, it would take a statistical miracle for Clinton to win the nomination.
It's now just a combination of pride and stubbornness that keeps the Clinton people from understanding that. The
important thing is that a Democrat win in November. Anything else is just the egocentric squabbling of children.

[Apollo11]

27. Hillary needs a strong comeback. Not necessarily a "miracle".

I will be interested to watch the debate on CNN tonight.

[melody]

34. Statistically, it's highly unlikely

Unless Obama stumbles out drunk wearing a Hail Satan t-shirt and French kisses Hillary in front
of everyone, it's not happening.

There is a greater likelihood that further fragmentation of the Democrats could assist the gop.

[displacedtexan]

22. Thanks for the apology, Apollo 11!

I really appreciate your investigation into the truth of this matter.

You rock!

Delilah

[Apollo11]

26. Thanks!

It's sometimes difficult to cut through all the spin and find the truth underneath.

In public you have Barack Obama saying that he has many miles to go before he wins the nomination.

Then behind the scenes Obama's Campaign Manager is telling journalists that Hillary cannot win.

I guess we shouldn't be surprised. But it sure is interesting to watch! B-)

[displacedtexan]

32. Absolutely true!

When I read your post, it just looked like an Obama campaign attempt
to save money to me. It's a pretty standard campaign move, but it would
be much more effective after Obama wins TX and OH... if that happens.

You and I are more interested in an issues debate, I'm sure.

[NashVegas]

29. I Don't Think It's Horrible for Them to Try It, But ..

If those attempts include *convincing the press* to do his work for him, uh ... non. Not good.

[stillcool]

104. where are you reading...

that the Obama campaign is trying anything?

"This is a wide, wide lead right now," Plouffe said in a conference call with reporters."The Clinton campaign keeps saying the race is essentially tied. That's just lunacy."

[NashVegas]

107. What Part of "IF" Do You Not Understand?

Eh?

[stillcool]

108. sorry...here's how I read it....

Don't Think It's Horrible for Them to Try It, but if those attempts include *convincing the press* to do his work for him, uh ... non. Not good.

I assumed you thought they had 'tried it' or 'attempted it'. Again...sorry.

[Tom Rinaldo]

31. Once upon a time here at DU a lot of candidate supporters were angered

by any hint of a suggestion that a certain candidates victory was "inevitable" before all the voters had their chance to weigh in.

[w13rd0]

33. Important distinction...

...we were angered that Hillary supporters were saying that her victory was "inevitable" before ANY voters had their chance to weight in. Big difference between ANY and ALL.

[Tom Rinaldo]

37. A distinction, not an important distinction

The contest is not over, it is not settled, and there is no reason for Clinton to withdraw before Texas and Ohio votes.

[Marrah_G]

56. So only a few people's voices matter? Fuck Texas and Ohio, they don't have the same rights you do?

Is that really what you are saying.

This thread and the attitudes on it are alarming.

[Lerkfish]

35. not that that is a wrong thing to suggest, but any other links besides the guardian?

Pretty much the clinton campaign has more than "suggested" others quit.

its not really an unheard of stand for your opponent

[Independent-Voter]

38. Why not? HRC's toast at this point.

She's going to have to have at least 20% swings in several states in less than 2 weeks. She's broke, and has run a piss-pour campaign overall. Them's just the facts.

You HRC supporters can put your money where your mouth is at InTrade.com. I'd be happy to take some more of your cash this season.

[jasmine621]

42. The true divisivness in the Dem primary has really come from Obama.

if only the press would report as it is. The SDs will have to look at who can deliver the big states, not the little one where the Republicans are sure to win. HC has that going for her, Obama does not.

[Independent-Voter]

45. The Big States were largely held before Obama started kicking her ass from here to Alaska

Do you honestly think that if Super Tuesday was held a week later that HRC would still eake out those wins? I don't, nor do most rational people.

Also, do you honestly think that 1) Obama is not going to win Cali, NY, etc in the GE, and 2)HRC is capable of swinging ANY red/purple states her way?

[Lerkfish]

87. what color is the sky in your world? are there flying pigs and unicorns?

enquiring minds want to know.

[faithfulcitizen]

61. ..."trying to shut down the Democratic race before the rest of the country votes" as if we ever do?

[Barack_America]

77. You need to reevaluate how you weight direct quotes vs. how reporters spin them.

You seem to be reacting towards how the reporter painted Plouffe's quote rather than the quote itself.

To say that Plouffe suggested Hillary should quit is interpreting his statement verrrrry liberally. What he said is that the race is not tied. That is absolutely true and not controversial.

[NashVegas]

81. "yesterday urged Hillary Clinton to bow to the inevitable and accept defeat. " - Not Very Ambiguous

How else should one interpret such a remark?

[Exilednight]

85. Where did you get that quote?

I read the whole story and couldn't find it.

[Barack_America]

86. Please show me where someone affiliated with the Obama campaign said those exact words...

It sounds to me like you are quoting the reporter who authored the piece.

I'm not interested in how reporters spin and overly dramatize quotes. I'm only interested in direct quotes from persons involved with the campaign.

[Lerkfish]

93. but I say even so, so what? I happen to agree with the sentiment.

Obama wasn't my candidate, but he has won 10 in a row and stands in good shape to win the rest.
I don't think she'd ever drop out, but I have no problem with the suggestion she should.

this is another tempest in a teacup.

[AtomicKitten]

80. Mark Penn has been making that prediction for months.

I don't recall your outrage then, though I might have missed it.

[Apollo11]

98. I have criticized Mark Penn repeatedly here on DU.

I am not interested in fake outrage on either side of the fence.

I am interested in being clear about who is saying what.

I think the article quoted in the OP is probably a case of a reporter going too far.

Probably the guy who wrote the headline then went one step further.

In fact, Obama's campaign manager was saying that Barack now has a clear lead.

This was then falsely reported as calling on Hillary to quit.

I will admit I was a little confused about it when I saw this story on The Guardian website, which is usually a very reliable source of information.

I even changed the subject line of the OP a couple of times before the editing period expired!

[sniffa]

82. This just in: Hillary can't win

I know, breaking news stuff.

[tammywammy]

88. LOL

:hi:

[stillcool]

100. and here is the quote...

from which this story is being spun...

"This is a wide, wide lead right now," Plouffe said in a conference call with reporters."The Clinton campaign keeps saying the race is essentially tied. That's just lunacy."

In other words..it's bullshit.