Black backers steadfast for Clinton

[ruggerson]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8762.html

African-American superdelegates said Thursday that they’ll stand up against threats, intimidation and “Uncle Tom” smears rather than switch their support from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to Sen. Barack Obama.

“African-American superdelegates are being targeted, harassed and threatened,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.), a superdelegate who has supported Clinton since August. Cleaver said black superdelegates are receiving “nasty letters, phone calls, threats they’ll get an opponent, being called an Uncle Tom.

“This is the politics of the 1950s,” he complained. “A lot of members are experiencing a lot of ugly stuff. They’re not going to talk about it, but it’s happening.”

After civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) switched his support from Clinton to Obama earlier this week, other black superdelegates have come under renewed pressure to do a similar about-face. A handful have bowed to the entreaties in recent weeks, including Georgia Rep. David Scott, but many say they are steadfast in their support for Clinton and resent strong-arm tactics to make them change.

(more)

[Political Heretic]

1. Good. I admire their courage of their convictions. No bad word from me.

[boston bean]

2. That takes some guts from Mr. Cleaver. I admire him. nt

[writes3000]

3. I'm disgusted that they're being treated this way...

But I'm glad to see that this isn't being blamed on the Obama campaign.

The black community should embrace the fact that people have the right to support whoever they believe in.

[KLee]

4. My guess is...

They are being pressured because they see the writing on the wall.....her numbers do not look good.

Has nothing to do with racial loyalty.

[Liquorice]

6. I don't know. Being called an Uncle Tom

seems very racial to me. Superdelegates are not bound to poll numbers, or even delegate numbers. And they certainly shouldn't be bound by race.

[susankh4]

9. That is beside the point.

It is their responsibility to vote according to conscience... no matter who is winning. This is not a football game. We don't always have to cheer for the winners. Do we?

[Occam Bandage]

35. And voters telling their elected officials what they should be doing is not contrary to democracy.

[susankh4]

45. Actually

Noone should be "telling" anyone what to do.

As a democratic nation, we have the right to petition our legislators. Not to command them.

[boston bean]

5. K & R

[susankh4]

7. Good for them!

For standing up to this kind of intimidation.

[judaspriestess]

8. people need to stick to their convictions

and not be swayed to pressure and become bandwagoners. No matter who they support.

[susankh4]

11. Amen!

Recommending this thread.

[RiverStone]

49. No, delegates need to reflect the will of their electorate....

Reflecting the popular vote of the area you represent is color blind - and actually very simple.

That applies to Ted Kennedy and it applies to my two senators (Murray and Cantwell) who though support Hillary, represent a state where Obama won 68% to 32%.

We The People need to decide our nominee - not the conviction of a delegate who won't honor that.

[FrenchieCat]

10. This is a disgusting attitude to have against Rep. Lewis by his

co-horts....as they are simply saying that he caved; that he is not courageous enough to have been steadfast....when he clearly changed because that is what he chose to do because he agreed with those who suggested that it might be something to think of doing.

The person who is brave, who was beaten on the streets while fighting for civil rights is Rep. Lewis; not these other folks who want to appear to be tough, when in fact, they are probably more embarassed and attempting to justify their own positions.

[ruggerson]

12. That's patently ridiculous

They're simply saying the lobbying and the pressure and the threats have become even more intense since Lewis switched. Not one of them criticized Lewis for switching. They're just saying that they have the right to stand by their principles as well.

[yardwork]

21. I suppose that none of Hillary's black supporters ever fought for civil rights. /sarcasm

"The soldiers who claim to be against the war aren't real soldiers." - Rush Limbaugh.

[Catherine Vincent]

28. He did cave to pressure.

From his district.

[FrenchieCat]

50. Right.......

Maybe he just wanted an excuse to do the right thing in his heart...which is what he stated clearly.

Why do I believe him over you?

[billyoc]

13. Sen. Clinton inspires fierce loyalty in people, one of her greatest strengths.

I admire the delegates that are standing by her.

[madrchsod]

14. "Tell CBC superdelegates to uphold the will of the voters"

"As "superdelegates" in a close race for the Democratic nomination, members of the Congressional Black Caucus have the ability to vote for whoever they like and could undermine the will of the voting public and the voters they represent.

Though voters in most CBC districts overwhelmingly supported Barack Obama, some CBC members are threatening to vote against their constituents, and perhaps against the will of the American people, by casting their superdelegate vote for Senator Clinton. We can prevent this from happening by letting Black leadership know we're watching.

It will take courage and conviction for CBC members to break with back-room politics and stand up for democracy. But we must demand it. Call on members of the Congressional Black Caucus to cast their superdelegate vote in support of the will of voters."

http://www.colorofchange.org/
ColorOfChange.org

[boston bean]

15. This is bad. We do not need this type of stuff. Obama should come out strongly against it. nt

[FrenchieCat]

17. Plueaze.........we are still waiting for Hillary Clinton to come out

against those who broke DNC rules. :eyes:

[jasmine621]

29. SD are under no obligation to support the candidate their constituents voted for.

If that were so, MA SDs would have changed to Hillary, including Ted Kennedy. It appears that Donna Brazille and others only apply "the will of the people" enforcement to black SDs.

[Occam Bandage]

39. Nope. If they want to keep their seats, though, and if their constituencies would

swap them out if they voted Clinton, then that is perfectly fair.

[NorthernSpy]

16. "threats they'll get an opponent" -- LOL! This is LONG past due...

Many of them stopped representing their constituents years ago.

[Kahuna]

52. Right. The House needs a good house-cleaning. nt

[Bucky]

18. I think Alexis de Tocqueville predicted this sort of thing 170 years ago

Shit, I'll have to look up the quote later. But there's a tyranny of the majority problem in American culture--it's always been there. The Obama movement is no different; it's part of a long line of democratic surges starting with Jefferson's "Revolution of 1800" and running thru Andy Jackson, Abolitionism, Populism, Prohibition, two Red Scares, and the anti-dissent hysteria we saw in 2003-2004.

I'm sad that some Democrats are getting caught up in the negative aspects of the bandwagon effect. A word from the leader can calm this down in a day.

[ecstatic]

19. I believe in loyalty. Whoever gave their word to Clinton should keep it nt

[emilyg]

20. k/r

[Rock_Garden]

22. Steadfast, like you and me.

[JimGinPA]

23. They're Certainly Entitled Align With The Clintons Rather Than Their Constituents

Just as their constituents are well within their rights to vote them out of office if they.

[indimuse]

24. this is disgusting and

Obama should be ashamed!! I "HOPE" this backfires!!!!

[GarbagemanLB]

25. Good for them. They can and should, however, expect a rival candidate come election time.

[Occam Bandage]

37. They are entitled to vote as they please. They are not entitled

to keep their seat regardless of whether they act in accordance with their constituency's demands.

[TeamJordan23]

26. Ask them on March 5th. nm

[Cameron27]

27. I'm glad to hear it.

K&R

[cindyw]

30. After the civil war many white voters were convinced to suppress blacks in the south

by convincing them that the black political leaders were corrupt. Just sayin. Can we keep the racist talk out of this. Why is it that if someone tries to convince someone to switch, which always happens, they are playing the race card?

[Occam Bandage]

31. ...and the Clinton campaign's victimization posturing continues apace.

[ruggerson]

33. hey, it worked for Obama

so you never know

[Occam Bandage]

34. It did indeed, but she's never before managed to

win any points by claiming that she's a victim of Obama, so I don't exactly see where this is going to help. Frankly, only the hardest of the hardest core in the Clinton camp are going to take this seriously.

[ruggerson]

40. Well evidently some of them felt motivated enough

to talk to a journalist about it. Who knows what their expectations or reasons are.

[Occam Bandage]

43. Journalists aren't therapists.

[ruggerson]

48. Something tells me they're aware of that

[desi]

32. Those who are doing the intimidating need to be exposed

for what they are doing, injecting race into the nominating process. Their names need to be made public. I wonder what they would be calling the White and Latino super delegates who would dare reject this tactic if it were applied to them. I also wonder if Jesse Jackson Jr is involved in any way in the intimidation and the smearing of fellow African Americans.

[NorthernSpy]

42. Oh, give me a break! It's just the last gasp of a good ole boy network...

For crying out loud, they're actually smearing their own constituents in the media ("they threatened to run someone against me if I don't vote the way they want! Intimidation! Intimidation!").

:eyes:


These people have been in office for so long that they've forgotten that they're not actually entitled to be there. They've become accustomed to their access to power, and of course they hate to risk their good thing.

But the people have decided that they want representation more than they want sinecures for an entitled handful, and they've decided to force the issue.


Good for them. They've certainly waited long enough.

[Tatiana]

36. I wish somebody would call Sheila Jackson-Lee an "Uncle Tom."

They might get a severe dressing down.

This behavior is unacceptable. They need to let the superdelegates make up their own minds. But I think it is fair for those elected officials who make decisions against the will of their constituents to keep in mind that there may be consequences from voters in the long-term as a result of their decision.

[Occam Bandage]

38. And I think it is fair for

constituents to inform their elected officials what they expect of them. Some will use nasty terminology, but that is hardly unheard of in Washington.

[Tatiana]

44. That's absolutely fair. They work for the people. They are not islands unto themselves. n/t

[ruggerson]

51. Or Maxine Waters

[cali]

41. that's just disgusting.

Inexcusable, and I'd like to hear Obama condemn it.

[susankh4]

47. I would appreciate that

if he would come out and say "enough."

I am trying to warm up to the idea of him as my president. And this is not helping.

[NorthernSpy]

46. If you don't demand accountability from politicians, then it's your own fault...

... if they feel free to sell you out. Simple as that.


We don't like being sold out here at DU. At least, we rage about it all the time.


Well, these people are threatening their representatives that they will replace them with new representatives if they don't vote the way their constituents want them to.


If you have a problem with that, then YOU are why our reps feel free to let us down time and time again. They know good and well that there will be no consequences.