Dear Senator Clinton and Senator Obama: [Rep. DeFazio (D-OR) letter]

[pinto]

Interesting note from Rep. DeFazio to both Democratic presidential campaigns -

"Dear Senator Clinton and Senator Obama:

I write today as a concerned member of the Democratic Party and an uncommitted super delegate. I appreciated the manner in which you both conducted your campaigns during the early primary process. It was a manner that respected the other and tried to highlight policy differences without resorting to destructive smear campaigns. In the lead up to the March 4th primaries, the tone of both campaigns shifted and the civility that I had appreciated disappeared. The long term goal of beating the Republican nominee took a back seat to the short term goal of proving one's viability by tearing down the other Democratic candidate. We lost sight of the general election, we lost sight of the true opponent and if we continue to be shortsighted, I fear we will lose in November.

The heated rhetoric between both campaigns has continued to intensify as we head into the Pennsylvania primary. While you trade barbs, McCain is uniting the Republican Party around his thinly disguised rightwing agenda. In the next six weeks, McCain can sit back, amass his war chest, concentrate his base and delight as you deconstruct each other.

I propose that you not allow him that luxury. You both claim to be better suited than the other to take on the so-called Straight-Talk Express, so prove it. Run the next six weeks of your campaign against McCain, not against the other Democrat. Go after McCain for his policy positions, not the other Democrat for theirs. Allow the Democratic voters to believe in a campaign that can provide a new direction for this country and stop McCain from continuing the failed policies of the Bush Administration. In the end, it is the candidate who can take the fight to McCain and win that deserves my support and, most importantly, the support of the Democratic Party.

Both of your campaigns have been built on the fundamental idea that if elected, you will bring about change. Let's change the way we are doing business in this primary election. In the last few months, you have been running for the Democratic nomination. In the next six weeks, I urge you start running for President.

Sincerely,

PETER A. DEFAZIO

Member of Congress "

[TwilightGardener]

1. What an ass. Obama isn't engaged in "heated rhetoric"--I'm tired of

people trying to paint both campaigns as conducting divisive, destructive RW tactics--when only one has done so. And it wasn't Obama's.

[Window]

6. I think he has to say both. To do otherwise would make Hillary cry bias again.

People, especially the Senators and Congress, know exactly what's going on with Hillary and her 'camp pain.'

[TwilightGardener]

7. If he's afraid of her, then he, and the rest of the party, need to grow a fucking NUTSACK!

[anigbrowl]

19. That might be the case in a private letter, but in an open one...

he has to appear scrupulously neutral and make the point to both at once. People who carry a lot of wter within the party and campaigns will have no difficulty in reading between the lines.

[liberaldem4ever]

2. That should help

Put things in perspective. At least he is trying to. As much as I love my candidate (and I do with a huge amount of passion), I want to save my country from another 4 years of Hell under Republican tyranny. If things get worse, my family could end up losing everything we have (which isn't much anyway). That is scary.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

3. Holy Crap What A Brilliant, Objective, Intelligent, And Straightforward Letter. He's Spot On!

And I don't believe so quickly some are already criticizing this. This letter is something EVERY SINGLE FUCKING ONE OF US should support.

[IndependentDem]

16. fuck yeah!! how can anyone be against this? n/t

[Vinca]

4. Odd that should appear just as Obama is ready to turn the heat up.

And he must have something up his sleeve because old Wolfson is already making remarks about him running a "Republican" campaign. Pot meet kettle.

[Window]

5. K/R.

:kick:

[Armstead]

8. DeFazio is a great Progressive Congressman -- Don;t dismiss him so easily

He's always been in the real populist progressive tradition of the Democratic Party. He's a fighter, a la Wellstone, for the real interests of real people.

And in this case he speaks the truth too.

[pinto]

9. Didn't mean to post and run, had a lunch date. I think he makes a good point about both going

after McCain on his "more of the same" record - while making their own cases for the Dem. primary nod.

Heard DeFazio on Rachel Maddow's AA show today and he noted that McCain would have to answer challenges from *two* campaigns, which ought to help make the Dem case before the general election run-up. And, it would help push the news cycles into a more general election mode, good for our case.

:kick:

[NastyRiffraff]

10. Brilliant! Thank you Rep. DeFazio!

And yes, both candidates need to hear this. Contrary to Obama's supporters, Obama hasn't been Mr. Clean either. Far from it.

[leftstreet]

11. But HRC said McCain was more qualified than Obama

:shrug:

[IndianaGreen]

12. Yes, she did!

I am still waiting for her tax returns to be released.

[Mme. Defarge]

13. This reminds me

of the manager who doesn't have the courage to confront a problem employee, and instead admonishes the whole group to shape up. Everyone knows who the real culprit is, but innocent get blamed along with the guilty. As a result, everyone is offended, nothing changes, and management loses credibility.

Peter Defazio is a great congressman, but he missed the mark in this case.

[pinto]

14. His comments on the Maddow show were less about laying blame,

than *taking* the Democratic challenge to McCain - who has already wrapped up his party's primary - from both camps. He feels if we wait until the convention - which may be the point when we have a nominee - to assert our case against McCain, we lose valuable time.

He's looking at the bigger picture - the general election. I think he makes sense.

The interview is on Maddow's website - I think it's http://www.rachelmaddow.com

[Mme. Defarge]

15. It would be great

if the candidates focused on McCain. But when one of them is being swiftboated at every turn, he can't just "Kerry" on, as it were. The "problem employee" just got a pass and will continue sabotaging the team.

[Cha]

17. Yeah, this was posted a few

days ago and I flew off the handle about Rep DeFazio and it was pointed out how this really is the only way he could do it..everyone knows who he's talking about except maybe hilary and her supporters and the SuperDees are certainly taking note.

[IndependentDem]

18. k&r -- this should be addressed to all of us, we all need to make this change.