Wealthy Clinton Donors Blackmailing Pelosi Over Superdelegates (WaPo)

[DrFunkenstein]

Wealthy pro-Clinton Democrats escalated their efforts to keep the nomination battle between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton open through the remainder of the primaries and to encourage uncommitted superdelegates not to be guided solely by the pledged delegate count in casting their votes at the convention.

A group of major contributors to the Democratic Party sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today calling on her to back away from previous comments and reaffirm that superdelegates should be free to back whichever candidate they believe would be the party's best nominee.

The contributors, who include some of Clinton's biggest bundlers, said that, with 10 contests remaining and millions of Democrats yet to be heard from, any effort to short-circuit the process should be curtailed, and they suggested that Pelosi's declaration that superdelegates follow the pledged delegate count fell into that category.

"We have been strong supporters of the DCCC ," the contributors wrote. "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."

The letter was signed by nearly two dozen people, including Susie Tompkins Buell, Robert L. Johnson, Bernard Schwartz, Maureen White and Steven Rattner.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/03/26/clinton_donors_warn_pelosi_on.html

Yes, that is the same Robert Johnson of "Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood; I won't say what he was doing, but he said it in his book -- when they have been involved."

Johnson later told Obama, "In my zeal to support Senator Clinton, I made some very inappropriate remarks for which I am truly sorry. I hope that you will accept this apology."

Now these wealthy donors are telling Pelosi to allow room for some backroom dealing with the superdelegates. They don't mention that Clinton has repeatedly said in recent days that pledged delegates at the convention are also free to diverge from the will of the people they represent.

This is the same person who called Obama "un-American" when she refused to hold less expensive caucuses in Michigan and Florida.

It just gets yuckier and yuckier. I hope Pelosi takes these donor thugs as the last straw before endorsing Obama with a wave of superdelegates.

[BeyondGeography]

1. FYI HillRaisers: There's this thing called the Internet

and you can raise money there. Lots of it.

That's another way of saying you don't matter so much anymore.

Which is another way of saying, go fuck yourselves.

[babylonsister]

2. TNR has the same take, and rec'd...

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/03/26/the-power-of-hillary-s-purse.aspx

[Cha]

8. Thank,s babylonsis.. Ha ha..

"Or, to put it in less stilted terms: That's a nice little campaign committee you've got there, Pelosi. It'd be a shame if something happened to it. I have a hard time imagining the little old lady who sent Obama the money order for $3.01 along with a verse of scripture making that sort of threat."

[babylonsister]

12. Unreal, eh? I'm glad folks are picking up on the underlying message. nt

[earthlover]

3. So the rich think they can buy a nomination?

Is this what has come of the Democratic Party? Back to the smoke filled rooms where big "money givers" call the shots?

[Medusa]

10. No, they think they can buy the presidency

and the sad part? They have and continue to try to do it. It's why this country is so fucked up--a gov for the rich by the rich.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

22. they are irrelvant now that Obama has raised more money than any candidate EVER

and has more individual donors than any other candidate EVER.

Its the DLC dying their last gasp.

[davidpdx]

4. Disgusting

No denials?? Why am I not surprised.

[DrFunkenstein]

5. Hillary Clinton Just Wants Everyday Voters to Have Their Say

If it takes some thuggery from some rough and tumble multi-millionaires, who are we to judge?

[Cha]

6. Do you Pelosi is

:scared:?

[meow mix]

7. The Thing i Like about this.. They have Failed to Blackmail the Party due to Obamas Fundraising.

they are pissed and lashing out.

and..
this is backfiring, pushing more SD's to Obama as it unfolds.
its a great victory for grassyroots and the common people.

[Perky]

9. This is getting out of hand: Pledged delegates do not move

[DrFunkenstein]

14. Hillary Clinton in Time Magazine Today

And all delegates have to assess who they think will be the strongest nominee against McCain and who they believe would do the best job in bringing along the down-ballot races and who they think would be the best President.

And, from my perspective, those are all very legitimate questions, and as you know so well, Mark, every delegate with very few exceptions is free to make up his or her mind however they choose.

We talk a lot about so-called pledged delegates, but every delegate is expected to exercise independent judgment.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1725514-2,00.html

[Perky]

17. It is folly... Pledged Delegates are the hardest of the hardcore supporters

They are not going to budge.

[juajen]

18. Pledged delegates can move!

Why don't you google the rules of the party.

Yesterday on CNN, Donna Brazille, who I believe is an Obama supporter, supported what Clinton said. After the initial vote at the convention, pledged delegates can go where they like on subsequent votes. It happened at the convention where LBJ was nominated, if I'm not mistaken, and memory serves.

It has happened, will happen again, and is not against the rules of the party.

Get educated people. It's been this way for years, we just haven't had this problem of two popular candidates so close in delegates that none could get nominated on the first vote.

[Perky]

21. They can but they won't. The candidater get to choose the delegates.

[AllentownJake]

23. It could happen that pledge delegates switch

and the sky could open up and the heavenly choir could sing and God himself will get off his throne to annoint Hillary as President.

Its not impossible..

[DrFunkenstein]

25. How Do You Think This Would Leave Our Candidate in November If Insiders Choose The Nominee?

The candidate would have zero credibility and the Democratic Party would implode across the nation.

[ClassWarrior]

11. Milbank said Obama's many small donors makes them slightly irrelevant, though...

...tonight on Countdown.

NGU.

[sniffa]

15. Indeed. I don't understand how Dems can not be excited about that

Oh, and the "big donors" are fucking scumbags. Fuck them. We're taking the party back.

[Perky]

20. These are party leaders noy common folks they stand to lose major perks

if they are suddenly unneeded.

[Megahurtz]

13. It's easy when ya can't get yer way with The People!

Just start bribing the Government and the Superdelegates!:sarcasm:

[knixphan]

16. we got her back

http://www.speaker.gov/contact/

[ORDem]

19. Means that every one of us should be writing to Pelosi to show our support. n/t

[AllentownJake]

24. Kind of funny

Because someone told me yesterday on here that Obama blackmailed Richardson....

[jillan]

26. Obama supporters have been pressuring SDs for months.

Nothing new here.

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/3/1/125939/7809

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/black-lawmakers-backing-obama-press-colleagues-to-heed-voters-2008-02-16.html