Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To Defect To McCain

At a North Carolina townhall today, Hillary Clinton tried to talk down her more enthusiastic supporters from defecting to McCain in November in the event that she doesn't win the nomination.

Clinton was asked by a questioner in the audience here what she would tell frustrated Democrats who might consider voting for McCain in the general election out of spite.

"Please think through this decision," Clinton said, laughing and emphasizing the word "please."

"It is not a wise decision for yourself or your country."

The crowd applauded loudly. [...]

"First of all, every time you have a vigorous contest like we are having in this primary election people get intense," she continued. "You know, Sen. Obama has intense support. I have intense support."

Clinton stressed that there are "significant" differences between her and Obama, but said "those differences pale to the differences between us and Sen. McCain."

"I intend to do everything I can to make sure we have a unified Democratic party," she said. "When this contest is over and we have a nominee, we're going to close ranks, we're going to be united."

I suspect the around 20% of both Democratic candidates' supporters who've said they'd consider voting for McCain in the fall is as high a percentage as McCain can hope to get from discouraged Democratic primary voters. As the contentiousness of the primary wears off, no doubt so will the reluctance of some of the candidates' most ardent supporters to voting for his or her primary opponent in November. But it's going to require an active role taken by both Clinton and Obama this summer and probably into the fall, to unite Democrats behind the ticket that emerges out of the convention and I think Clinton's comments today show that she gets this and would be a willing and active participant in any such effort.

Update [2008-3-27 19:4:13 by Todd Beeton]:Pew has some new numbers on McCain defections. Via TPM:

Among Clinton's backers, 32% say they would vote for McCain if Obama is the Democratic nominee, and among Obama's backers, 28% say the same if Clinton wins the primary race. [...]

Many of these "defections" come from independent voters who only lean Democratic. When the analysis is limited to those who identify themselves as Democrats, just 20% of Obama supporters say they would not vote for Clinton in the fall, and 25% of Clinton supporters would not vote for Obama.



Display:


Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 9)

As an Obama supporter, I sincerely appreciate these words. Thank you, HRC.
by Pat Flatley on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:29:32 PM EST

Clinton and Obama are (2.00 / 2)

both Democrats for a reason.

Some of their supporters need to remember that.

Good comment.

I don't like either the candidacies Obama or Clinton a lot, becuase both are too centrist for me, among other things, but either of them is much better than McCain.


by TomP on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:45:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 2)

Exactly what I came in here to say.

Very classy, Hillary.


by doschi on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:49:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 2)

Ditto.  Thank you Hillary.


by ThinkerT on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:00:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton (none / 0)

Double ditto.  I will expect Obama to say these words too.  In fact, I will ask him to and I would like to request that all Obama supporters do the same.


by haystax calhoun on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:26:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton (none / 0)

I think we all need to say it.  I'm an Obama supporter.  Am I upset at Clinton?  Yes.  Will I vote for her?  Yes.


by nrioq on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:29:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton (none / 0)

I like her a little more now.  I'm an Obama supporter and I can't even pretend like I haven't been angry at her, but the was CLASSY.


Government derives its power from those that it governs.
by lockewasright on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:40:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

Classy indeed and the right thing to do. Good job Hillary.


by AC4508 on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:09:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

Indeed.  Hillary scores some points with me!


I'm as strong as a bull moose, and you can use me to the limit. - Teddy Roosevelt
by fogiv on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:11:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

Ditto. Very classy, thanks HRC. Everyone needs to remember who the two progressives are in the race.


by grover738 on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 10:05:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Thank. God. (none / 0)

Now let's just hope she stays this way as we go to Denver.


by palamedes on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:30:02 PM EST

Re: Thank. God. (2.00 / 2)

Of course she will. Clinton is a very loyal Democrat and has never said anything to imply or indicate otherwise.


by LakersFan on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:01:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Thank. God. (none / 0)

we can only hope Obama will get there soon...


by zerosumgame on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:58:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 5)

This has been Hillary's message since long before the first vote was cast in Iowa.

"The differences among us are minor," she said. "The differences between us and the Republicans are major."

All the talk about 2012, all the tinfoil speculation about how she might run as an independent or be on a ticket with McCain in November or whatever, all it does is turn me off from working to get Obama elected if he's the nominee.  Don't call my candidate a traitor and then expect me to help out your candidate in the name of unity.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:31:24 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 1)

Be fair, this was not clear to her supporters when she claimed that she and McCain had passed the Commander in Chief test, whereas Obama had not. I know numerous HRC supporters who, as a result of this, are under the impression that her preference is: 1) HRC (obviously), 2) McCain, 3) Obama
by Pat Flatley on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:33:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 2)

Well, I have no problem with her saying it again and again, because it's a very important message.  But I don't want anyone to be under the illusion that this is some kind of new thing.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:35:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 2)

This has always been completely clear to her supporters. Her supporters actually listen to what she says, not the lies other people spread about her. It was the media and Obama supporters that chose to infer all sorts of things that she never said.


by LakersFan on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:05:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 1)

Are you her supporter? Talk about faking the knowledged to the nth degree.

Can I say it was clear to Obama supporters that he hates America like his 20 years mentor?

Hope you see the hollowness of your statement.


by Sandeep on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:20:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

Obama brings a speech he gave in 2002

This is not selling out the Democratic Party?


by LibDem on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:34:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (2.00 / 2)

No, it's an electability argument.  You might have seen a few of those deployed against Hillary from time to time.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:35:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (1.33 / 3)

Her words will haunt her to the end of her career, along with the Iraq war. We are seeing the last throes of a dying campaign. After she concedes the nomination we will talk about unity.


by LibDem on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:38:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (2.00 / 2)

That is the problem you guys have.  You want to alienate Hillary's supporters right up until the day she concedes, at which point you expect them to hop on board automatically.  It's an insulting approach and it's no wonder so many of her supporters are disgusted.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:46:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

But look at it from an Obama supporter perspective, in our viewpoint, Clinton has fired at will at Obama.  She wants to deeply wound him to get popular votes and then win with superdelegates.  This infuriates Obama supporters, but aren't we expected to suck it up and deal with it if she gets the nomination?  Yes we are.  


by nrioq on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:01:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

And we will. I mean, John McCain? Are we totally nuts?
by Pat Flatley on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:02:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

Let's hope not.


I'm as strong as a bull moose, and you can use me to the limit. - Teddy Roosevelt
by fogiv on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:14:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (1.00 / 1)

when has a BHO sucked anything up? it is a constant whine-fest of distortion and re-cycled crap from the Arkansas Project in the 90's, using the very words of Flush and Billdo.


by zerosumgame on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:12:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

From my perspective (2.00 / 1)

Your perspective is completely unrecognizable as a descriptor of reality.  And that's not just snark, it's literal truth.  I literally cannot see what you wrote as describing what has happened in this campaign.


by Trickster on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:44:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

I don't want to alienate anybody.  It's just as stinging for us Obama supporters to be attacked by Hillary supporters as it is for you to be attacked by Obama supporters.

We can sit here for hours and argue about who started what, and who's a bigger meany, but when it's all said and done, WE ALL WANT AND NEED A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT IN 2009!

I'll be the first to admit that I would sulk, bitch, and whine if Hillary ended up getting the nomination.  I'll also vote for her, and depending on how deep the wounds are, campaign for her.


by doschi on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:05:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

I agree. I will be pissed if Obama gets the nomination by cheating and depending on how arrogant he acts before and after the nomination (if he gets), I will decide whether to campaign for him. But I will vote for him even if he acts as a hypocrite.


by Sandeep on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:28:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

How in the world would he get the nomination by "cheating"?


by ChrisKaty on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:06:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

By suppressing the elected delegates in MI and FL. If they are not seated as elected or there are new elections, then Obama's candidacy will be regarded as illegitimate by many Democrats. His offer to split the delegates 50/50 is something many see as vote stealing.


by DaleA on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:35:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

Clinton only won a bare 55% in Michigan running an uncontested vote. 2 out of 5 Democrats chose to turn up only so they could vote against her.

A primary she had pledged not to participate in and had claimed would not count -- same as Bill Clinton never had an affair with Monica and Bush's America doesn't torture. Typical lies, all depending on redefining the words to mean something other than what would otherwise be their plain sense.

A bit of nerve talking about "illegitimacy" given these circumstances.


by Aris Katsaris on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:14:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

How did Obama suppress the elected delegates in MI and FL?

The MI and FL delegates will get fully seated after Obama reaches 2025 without them, so this is all a moot point anyway.

Hopefully between this election and next we'll get a more fair nomination process.


by grover738 on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 10:10:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

Those are not my words, they are Sen. Clinton's words. Words matter. She has not repudiated them yet. That would be a first step towards reconciliation.


by LibDem on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:42:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

When will Obama repudiate these words? (none / 0)

He said this on national TV, in a high-def network broadcast.  All the GOP has to do is burn a DVD to make their ad.  (And bear in mind that he was standing right next to her looking her in the eye when he said it.)

Now, this, I think, is one of the things that's happened during the course of this campaign, that there's a set of assertions made by Senator Clinton, as well as her husband, that are not factually accurate.

And I think that part of what the people are looking for right now is somebody who's going to solve problems and not resort to the same typical politics that we've seen in Washington.

Not only did he say these things, the entire theme of his campaign that week was Bill and Hillary are nasty liars who will say anything to win.  Even Kennedy and Kerry were pushing it after they came on board (which was right after this).


by Trickster on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:58:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: When will Obama repudiate these words? (none / 0)

You really think the R's would use a statement that tame? No, they'll just say "SHE'S A LIAR!!!!", as they will to BO.


by grover738 on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 10:12:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama just pointed out the obvious (none / 0)

He does not need to repudiate it. Sen. Clinton has made up outrageous falsehoods throughout this campaign. Most recently she was caught red-handed  the Bosnia sniper story.

Sen. Clinton is a Democrat, as far I know. I take her at her word. I mean I have no reason to doubt that.


by LibDem on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 08:39:48 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

"Hillary lacks character". "Hillary is not attacking me, she is attacking you"

These statements in the campaign email from Obama and Plouffe are not selling out the Democratic Party?

Or do you think the world revolves around Obama and one person makes the whole party? Do you see why people call you Messiah follower? Because everything revolves around God.


by Sandeep on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:23:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sen. McCain brings a lifetime of experience (none / 0)

No, they aren't, any more than Clinton's attacks on Obama are.  Clinton is not the Democratic Party.

They issue wasn't Clinton attacking Obama's experience (a legitimate attack), it was her grandfathering in McCain as having passed the CinC test (when the Dem Nominee is going to have to/want to go after McCain's judgement/temperment/suitability to be CinC.


by SKI on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:50:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

It may have been her message since day 1, but when she claims that she and McCain have the experience to be CIC but not Obama, I hope you can see how some might view that as being "off message."

That may not be fair to HRC and my intent is not to stir up a tired old argument here, just that the McCain kind of quotes get more play because they are more controversial.

All that said, I highly appreciate her comments today.  It elevates her.


If yer after gettin the honey, then you don't go killing all the bees.
by Fluffy Puff Marshmallow on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:37:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

And not just once but over and over.


by Glic on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:52:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

I think you hit it on the head. There's a lot of speculation and tinfoil-hat wearing at these sites.


by spirowasright on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:01:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Todd thanks for posting this (none / 0)

I don't have to try to find the info for my diary now.

(grumbles under his breath about getting a diary up earlier but not having info)


Student Guy=JoeMentum. No really Student Guy=JoeMentum, after all JoeMentum was an embarrassment so is Student Guy. This sig is FAIL!!
by Student Guy on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:31:33 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 2)

If this is the new HRC, then it makes a change.


McCain: The Past, Obama: The Future
by KathyM on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:31:49 PM EST

She is the one that McCain is qualified not Obama (none / 0)


by LibDem on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:32:11 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 1)

KUDOS to HRC!!

WE WILL KUMBAYA in JULY!!!


NO 100 year WAR, NO McConnell run Senate, & NO GOP-led Supreme Court!!!
by Veteran75 on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:32:17 PM EST

Nice (2.00 / 1)

That's very classy of her.


by DawnG on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:33:10 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters (none / 0)

Yes, the differences that divide us are nothing compared to those we have with the Republican Party and its standard bearer.


by rfahey22 on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:33:14 PM EST

Well (2.00 / 1)

done.

Good job and well said, Senator Clinton.


by zonk on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:34:19 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 2)

I take issue with your prior post .

You make an argument that she was following a kitchen sink strategy , however you provide no evidence of it.

I know the propaganda has been coming from the Obama campaign and obviously aided by the media glitterati who would run the dog out of the barn if Obama says jump.

You obviously have also fallen for the line as well.

If you are going to call out hillary Clinton for a non existent kitchen sink strategy maybe it would be great to call out Obama's camp as well whenever they start using poll tested words like " she doesn't tell the truth " , " she would do anything to win " to attack her viciously .

Only halperine seems to have some snese of reality in these situation.

http://thepage.time.com/halperins-take-i f-obama-has-the-nomination-wrapped-up-wh y-is-his-campaign-going-after-clinton-so -hard/


Educated in a small town Taught to fear Jesus in a small town Used to daydream in that small town Another born romantic that's me.
by lori on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:34:20 PM EST

if you take issue with that post... (none / 0)

why not answer it there instead of getting off topic here?


by neutron on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:35:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Because this new fact (none / 0)

applies to that post.  Clearly, if you're going to address both posts at once you either have to start your own diary or else, well, use one of the posts to mention the other.

A little generosity of assumption and a little understanding wouldn't be out of line here.


by Trickster on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:00:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

Yeah, the same Halperin who begged on his hands and knees for Hugh Hewitt's approval.  He has wonderful perspective.


Check out McCain.
by you like it on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:02:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

that's a good move. (none / 0)

It's a shame it has to be said, but better to say it then not.


by neutron on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:34:46 PM EST

Very classy. (none / 0)

Let's have more of this in this contest, please, on all sides.  At the end of the day, we're all Democrats.


by Ramo on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:36:07 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters (none / 0)

Let's hope that with the violence in Iraq spiking up, people might be reminded of why we have to put a Democrat in the White House.
People should go view the Charlie Rose interview of a Iraqi professor and an Iraqi journalist about what the Americans have done to Iraq.
As one of them puts it, "America is like a virus to Iraq, everything they do is bad for us."

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2 008/03/26/iraq_debate/index.html


"Who are you for? That is the wrong question. It should be who is for you?" HRC
by skohayes on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:36:40 PM EST

She may yet bow out with grace (2.00 / 1)

good move Senator Clinton.


by parahammer on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:36:55 PM EST

Re: She may yet bow out with grace (2.00 / 1)

I really hope so. She still has an opportunity to have a marvelous career as Senate Majority Leader.
by Pat Flatley on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:41:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 1)

now we can expect Obama to say this too right?
He said he didnt think she could get his voters and Michelle Obama said she had to think hard about whether she would vote for HRC
ginaswo
by ginaswo on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:39:41 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

Of course he's always maintained this. It would be the definition of insanity to vote for McCain over one of our two Democrats (assuming you're a Democrat, of course!).
by Pat Flatley on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:42:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Obama should wait till Clinton concedes (none / 0)

Sen. Clinton has proven that she cannot be trusted. This is not a contest of equals. Sen. Clinton lost. She has to acknowledge that


by LibDem on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:44:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama should wait till Clinton concedes (2.00 / 1)

What?

She can't be trusted when she says vote Democratic no matter who the nominee is?  I'm not following your logic.  Should we vote Republican because HRC said to vote Democratic?


If yer after gettin the honey, then you don't go killing all the bees.
by Fluffy Puff Marshmallow on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:52:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Sen. Clinton is a Democrat as far as I know (none / 0)

I mean I have no reason to thin otherwise. She may well be a Democrat. I take her for her word on that.


by LibDem on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:47:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

They've both been saying it all along.  In fact, in the debates they've both expressed admiration for each other.


That One is the Right One for 2008.
by GFORD on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:10:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

She is SOOO evil (2.00 / 2)


How dare she say such things. By pleading With her supporters not to defect to McCain, she is making allusion that they could thus indirectly making reference to the recent controversies involving obama. It's the kitchen sink again. I'm SOOOOO mad!
by TaiChiMaster on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:39:46 PM EST

Re: She is SOOO evil (none / 0)

This was not an example of the Kitchen Sink strategy, and as such she should be commended for her statement.
by Pat Flatley on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:43:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

This is like the time said Obama could be VP (1.00 / 4)

She is so devious that nothing she says can be taken at face value.
Concede first then we will listen to her.
by LibDem on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:48:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is like the time said Obama could be VP (2.00 / 2)

There is never any harm at taking the good at face value.


by mady on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:49:34 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is like the time said Obama could be VP (2.00 / 1)

Ugh. This is a good reason why if Obama is the nominee, many of us will not be voting for POTUS.  We won't vote for McCain, but between his paper thin resume (no, he's NOT ready to be CIC), and the attitudes of him, his campaign, and supporters, we are completely turned off.

He's got a lot of healing to do if he thinks he can pull this off.

Sen. Clinton has always been for the party - she thinks she is the best to lead - why is that a problem?  Obama just seems to be for Obama.


by cmugirl90 on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:05:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: This is like the time said Obama could be VP (2.00 / 1)

People are dying. It isn't about you. Yes, you've been mistreated. But it isn't about you.


by Brannon on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:18:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Remember Triangulation. (none / 0)


by LibDem on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:45:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Remember Triangulation. (none / 0)

Hum, it would seem that you all missed the sacartic tone of my original message.


by TaiChiMaster on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:55:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Remember Triangulation. (none / 0)

Sorry. Listening to too much Clintonian ambiguity.


by LibDem on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:28:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I think back to the debate (2.00 / 1)

when she said "I'm honored to be here with Barack Obama", and how highly I thought of her, and how quickly what seems like real anger can be turned around.

People won't forget the times she and Bill praised McCain at the expense of Obama, but still, what is now a negative feeling about her can become a net positive.


by Mojo Risen on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:47:09 PM EST

Re: I think back to the debate (none / 0)

True, we did get "Shame On YOU!" within 24 hours. Still, I'm holding out hope that this was a genuine admission that she's considering going out with grace and dignity and will work her butt off for the party.
by Pat Flatley on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:51:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: I think back to the debate (2.00 / 1)

Agreed, this is a great comment (as was that one during the debate), and were points when I liked her the most.  

It's a very tough position to be in, trailing but not wanting to criticize the leader too much, and while some of her comments were over the line (the CiC one most notably) I think she's taken a lot of undeserved flak from comments that just aren't that bad (her most recent Wright one seems pretty tame to me, for example).

Let's hope that she doesn't pull a "shame on you" moment like she did after that last debate, and this positive tone is here to stay.


by ChrisKaty on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:55:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well... (2.00 / 4)

This is a welcome change from her. I was beginning to doubt her loyalty to the party, after...

- she said the GOP was the "party of ideas".

  • she said that the problems with Washington are that Democrats and Republicans fight too much, not because the Republican platform is as far out as Pluto.
  • she mentioned appointing Republican senators Hagel and Lugar to the Cabinet.
  • she praised Ronald Reagan as having brought clarity, dynamism, and entrepreneurship back to our country.
  • she publicly stated that her voters might not vote for Obama in the general election.
  • she talked about how the government had grown and grown without accountability during the excesses of the 1960's and 1970's.
  • her spouse wavered on whether he would vote for Obama in the general election.

I'm glad she's backtracked and is now firmly behind the eventual Democratic nominee.


by OrangeFur on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:51:56 PM EST

Re: Well... (2.00 / 0)

<sigh>

It makes me sad to see what is a nice, positive comment from HRC turned into an attack on BO just as it makes me sad to see some BO supporters (or maybe it is just one poster OVER and OVER) saying "don't trust her, don't trust her"

Everyone, take a deep cleansing breath.  This is a positive story that should make all Democrats feel good.


If yer after gettin the honey, then you don't go killing all the bees.
by Fluffy Puff Marshmallow on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:57:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Not till she concedes (none / 0)

There is only one positive thing Sen. Clinton can do now. End her campaign.


by LibDem on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 08:53:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

So long as (2.00 / 1)

This is how the campaign goes - so long as BOTH Clinton and Obama continue to make this clear their more hyper-partisan supporters - I actually HOPE Clinton stays in the race until June.

Hell... let's let John McBush take a nap for a few months.   In the meantime, we'll let Obama and Clinton barnstorm the remaining states.

Perhaps we can snag some seats in PA.  Democratic energy is a good thing.

Perhaps we can put the terminally in danger Elizabeth Dole in REAL trouble... at least, move the seat into Leans or Likely from "Safe".

We've got a SUBSTANTIAL pickup opportunity in OR.

We've got some vulnerable freshmen in Indiana - and I STILL think Mitch Daniels is beatable.

The only thing I ask - and yeah, I'm an Obama supporter - is that BOTH candidates just always make clear, at the end of the day:

Either:

CLinton>Obama>>>>McCain
or
Obama>Clinton>>>>McCain

No matter how tough it gets - just ALWAYS make that clear...

Then, hell -- let go all the way to Puerto Rico.  Let's schedule FL and MI votes for July.

We'll campaign all summer and we'll watch our two excellent candidates lead the nightly news, while George "Can I go home yet?" Bush slides into the 20% approval depths, and we spend the summer talking about John McBush.


by zonk on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:54:29 PM EST

Re: So long as (2.00 / 1)

Seriously, aside from concern trolls there cannot be a person on this site who would vote for McBush over these two. If anyone would, they're simply not a Democrat.
by Pat Flatley on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 06:59:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Indeed. (none / 0)

nt


Check out McCain.
by you like it on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:06:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So long as (none / 0)

I think this goes even for people who love McCain.

From what I know about McCain, I like the guy. I think he's quirky and cranky, but, OK, that's fine. I can deal with that.

The huge problem with McCain is that he's mostly get away with letting Bush and the Republican party get away with murder, not to mention torture, over the past 7 years (despite the work McCain has done on torture legislation), and Bush also sounded extremely reasonable back in 2000.

One possible interpretation of the Bush presidency is that Bush himself might be reasonable, but maybe there are figures around him who make him do everything within his power to run the United States over a cliff.

If we elected McCain, we have no way of knowing whether he could avoid being controlled by the people who seem to be making or persuading Bush to do bizarre things.


by sclminc on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:07:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Damning with faint praises (none / 0)

But sure, there are plenty worse Republicans than McCain.  I mean, Limbaugh and the crazies don't like him, so he can't be all bad.

The problem is, on real policy, he's basically sane on climate change, sane on immigration -- but he's typical conservative on most everything else (economics, anti-choice, etc), and even batshit conservo-crazy on a few (Iraq).

I think he's Chuck Hagel with a better PR operation.

There are actually Republicans I respect more than McCain.  For his faults - and there are many - Dick Lugar is a responsible public servant.  In fact, I wouldn't have a big problem with Lugar making a Sec of State shortlist... he's well versed abroad, done a little of work on loose nukes, he's fairly well-known in the halls of foreign government, and he's also called for course change in Iraq.


by zonk on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:30:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Damning with faint praises (none / 0)

Lugar is very often in agreement with Biden on foreign policy - toward the conservative side, but clearly in the mainstream.


Your attempt to change the subject to "the issues" is irrelevant.
by itsthemedia on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 10:24:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Damning with faint praises (none / 0)

The impressive thing about Lugar is that, when Bill Clinton almost went to war against Iraq, in 1997 or 1998, Lugar came out and described exactly what would happen if we invaded Iraq.

Lugar's predictions were absolutely accurate. He was the Nostradamus of the Iraq war.

What I don't understand is why he wasn't more visible in efforts to stop the invasion from happening, or at least in efforts to make sure we went in with enough troops to give the invasion a chance of succeeding.


by sclminc on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 12:05:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: So long as (none / 0)

> One possible interpretation of the Bush presidency is that Bush himself might be reasonable, but maybe there are figures around him who make him do everything within his power to run the United States over a cliff.

Juan Cole says something like this. He does not posit that Bush is reasonable, just that he is such a BAD manager, his underlings all run roughshod over him and each other, trying to get their way on policy. So for example, instead of a coherent foreign policy, we get a mishmash of whatever policies ooze out through the infighting among Cheney, Rumsfeld/Gates, Powell/Rice, et al. It is ironic, since his big selling point was his management skills.


Your attempt to change the subject to "the issues" is irrelevant.
by itsthemedia on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 10:20:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You copied my sig for your post... (none / 0)

or at least the idea of it, but it's okay I wish more people would do so.


Student Guy=JoeMentum. No really Student Guy=JoeMentum, after all JoeMentum was an embarrassment so is Student Guy. This sig is FAIL!!
by Student Guy on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:33:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

   I applaud Hillary.  Good.


Jim Oberweis
by cilerder86 on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:00:57 PM EST

Re: Update on Independents (none / 0)

  Independents are so fickle that I never believe a word they say until election day.  


Jim Oberweis
by cilerder86 on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:10:02 PM EST

Obama: "I'm Not Vetting My Pastor" (1.00 / 2)

The gop will do it for you:

"It's bad enough that Barack Obama's church took sick joy in 9/11 for "racist white America" supporting "Zionists." Now we learn it also is a mouthpiece for anti-Israeli terrorists."

http://www.investors.com/editorial/edito rialcontent.asp?secid=1501&status=ar ticle&id=291335140632942


by gotalife on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:16:43 PM EST

Re: Obama: "I'm Not Vetting My Pastor" (2.00 / 1)

I like the part where you talked about Clinton's very moving statements.


by nrioq on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:24:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama: "I'm Not Vetting My Pastor" (none / 0)

Maybe gotalife wandered into the wrong thread. I hope gotalife is not spamming every thread, as that would make me less likely to credit anything s/he had to say.


Your attempt to change the subject to "the issues" is irrelevant.
by itsthemedia on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 10:27:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Obama: "I'm Not Vetting My Pastor" (none / 0)

gotalife spams the exact same comments not only on other threads, but also on other sites. Swing over to TPM Election Central if you want some more entertainment.


by Thadd Selden on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 10:00:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Well Done Hillary... (none / 0)

Now another step towards party unity would be for Mr. Obama to WORK to earn those that support Hillary, should he get the nomination.

I've taken it very personally when he stated that we Hillary supporters would naturally gravitate to him, meanwhile his supporters, not so much to Hillary if reversed.

That is a damaging statement.  Lead your followers to party unity, should you not get the nomination, sir.


by Si Ella Puede on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:19:02 PM EST

I will submit that Barack Obama (none / 0)

Has never said anything like this about the issue.

If he has I have missed it and now is the time for an Obama supporter to prove me wrong.

But we know that he is too indebted to his support from Independents, people I'm told who are ready to say they were wrong about Bush, but still aren't ready to say they were wrong about Clinton.

Is Obama going to urge them to think about that choice?

God No!

And that's why this is one of the few things that Sen. Clinton and I disagree on.

And another thing.  To anyone saying this is a new HRC.

That's BS.

She made a similiar speech after S. Carolina.

But it got lost because everyone was too busy calling the Clintons racist.


by Edgar08 on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:21:56 PM EST

Re: I will submit that Barack Obama (none / 0)

She said it in a debate before the Ohio and Texas primary too. Told everyone that no matter who gets the nomination both she and Obama would be okay and they would unite behind each other for the sake of the country. Since Obama didn't say the same or anything like it....the next day it ran through the MSM as Hillary's concillatory speech because she was dropping out of the race. No matter what she says...it's wrong somehow.


by Justwords on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:22:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Verus Repealing The 19th Amendment (none / 0)

If women as a group deserted the party, their political clout would drop to zero point zero.


by bernardpliers on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:26:40 PM EST

Re: Verus Repealing The 19th Amendment (none / 0)

We do need women voters.  The Democratic party is a coalition.  If any members of the coalition, women, blacks, latinos, working class people, intellectuals, were to withdraw, the party would be in a serious situation.  


by nrioq on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:34:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

its time Obama do the same (none / 0)

and unite the party for what should be a 60 percent landslide this november, and the front page of the NYT should say on the morning of November 5, 2008 "__ swept the country with a whopping 60 percent of the vote and at least 500 electoral votes, with __ still too close to call. John McCain called the ____ campaign to congratulate (him/her) on (his/her) landslide election."


"there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right in America"-William Jefferson Clinton, forty-second President of the United States
by DiamondJay on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:36:57 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

Good to hear.  Thanks for publicizing this Todd.


by Cloudspitter on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:42:33 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

Contrary to what many of us may like, the primary will not be over for another few months. We can spend this time tearing each other apart, or focusing on the real enemy. Clue: it isn't Obama or Clinton.  

This isn't about them. It is about the future of our country. While their respective campaigns fight, McCain is building a lead. Judging by each of their speeches today, the candidates appear to be starting to get it. Now if their surrogates would do the same, we might actually win in November.


by thinman on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:42:49 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

Everyone's on message today.

From CBS News:

Smith: Several people have written that even in the best-case scenario, Hillary Clinton's chances of getting the nomination for the Democratic Party are about 5 percent. When is it time for her to leave?

Obama: Oh, I think that is something that she's gotta make a decision about. And, you know, I have always said that I'm prepared to, you know go and and contest every single state-

Smith: If you are the presumptive candidate here, isn't it time that you say with some severity that we can't go on like this?

Obama: Well, no.

Smith: at the cost of losing the general election?

Obama: I don't think so. I think that what's gonna happen is that as soon as the nominee is determined, whether that is two weeks from now or in early June, that there'll be some bruised feelings. People are going to have to patch things together. And we Democrats have to get our act together and win this election.


by thinman on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:51:24 PM EST

Nah, he just lets his team scream and screech (none / 0)

and curse at HRC supporters.

He's a real nice guy.  Yeah, he keeps super company.


by Bill Keaton on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:56:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It isn't Hillary. It's Obama (none / 0)

He has run the most repugnant excuse of a campaign I've seen in my lifetime.  It smells to hell.

You are going to tell decent people who have been spit at for months to join forces with a pack of dirty tricks?


by Bill Keaton on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:55:07 PM EST

Re: It isn't Hillary. It's Obama (none / 0)

Are you going to allow John McCain to be elected president, continue the war in Iraq, potentially invade Iran, tilt the balance of the Supreme Court further to the right, run our economy into the ground and continue to deny workers the basic right to organize?


by thinman on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:00:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Is the DNC going to disenfranchise the majority (none / 0)

of their base, and inflict us with their choice, not ours?


by Bill Keaton on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:18:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: It isn't Hillary. It's Obama (none / 0)

I only remember one of the campaigns spitting at the majority of the decent people of America by telling them their states didn't count -- and that was Hillary's.

Dirty tricks? You mean a dirty trick like pledging not to participate in the Michigan primary and then going ahead and participating and demanding your uncontested victory to be counted as true, after saying that it wouldn't count?

Such a dirty trick you mean?


by Aris Katsaris on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:05:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

Kudos.  The right statement.  

I hope Obama gets a similar question and gives a similar answer.


by SKI on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 07:56:38 PM EST

My mom says that if Senator Clinton (none / 0)

is not on the ticket (top or bottom of the ticket, it does not matter to her) she will not vote in November.

She feels very strongly about having Senator Clinton on the ticket. She is 68 years old and worked 25 years in Department of Treasury. Although she had a Ph.D in economics (one of the first women to have a Ph.D in economics in the nation in 1966) she was always passed over for promotions and for a long time she was paid less than the guys who had only a BA or MBA and less experience then her. Thus, she kind of relates her experience to Senator Clinton's during this campaign. I tried to convince her, but she said "no, not this time. The democrats have to do without the women this time."

I feel that there are several women who have the same feelings as my mother. If the dems lose the gender gap (which kept the dems afloat all this time and allowed them to stay in office), it is going to be problematic for Senator Obama. How big of a problem? No one knows really since there hasn't been any polling done so far on this topic.


by likelihood zero on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:08:08 PM EST

Re: My mom says that if Senator Clinton (none / 0)

Which is why I think Obama is likely to select Napolitano as VP.


by SKI on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:23:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: My mom says that if Senator Clinton (none / 0)

I don't know about her. I listened and saw her a couple of times on TV and she is flat and a major charisma deficit, a bit boring to be honest with you. I feel the same about Kathleen Sebelius who won't even be able to win her state.

I think if Senator Clinton loses, the party elders need to sit down with her and convince her to take the job. She brings with her the women, elderly, rural vote and also the vote of those who make <50K/year. All these demographic groups are a major weakness of Obama.

One thing i know for sure. This election is going to going to be very tight.


by likelihood zero on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:36:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Women are not interchangible (none / 0)

you talk as if any woman chosen at random would suit the Hillary voters. Not true. The comment is offensive. Also Napolitano is plagued with rumors that the GOP will happily spread everywhere.


by DaleA on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:45:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Women are not interchangible (none / 0)

I totally agree with you and i did not mean it that way at all. It came out that way because i was trying to reason and think through my reply to the previous post.

I am totally aware that women are not interchangeable and Senator Clinton's shoes are too big to be easily filled. That is why if she does not accept the job, i think it will be very hard for Obama to excite women enough to get them to turn out in large number.


by likelihood zero on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:53:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Women are not interchangible (none / 0)

People, not just women, aren't typically interchangeable.

But there are a lot of Clinton supporters like the poster's mother referenced in the post that spurred my response, are basing their vote on identity politics.  And for such a voter, putting a woman on the ticket does address their concerns.

This is not to say that all female Clinton supporters, or even a majority, feel this way but there is definitely a significant group that does.  Putting a female on as VP gives them a reason to re-engage (to the extent they are stating they won't come out in November).


by SKI on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:16:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: My mom says that if Senator Clinton (none / 0)

I don't see it.  Hilliary completely undercuts Obama's core message (Change from Washington as it has been acting for the last 30 years).  

He is going to go outside to a Governor or former General, IMO.


by SKI on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:18:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: My mom says that if Senator Clinton (none / 0)

I agree with you too, but the change thing can be spun.

Well, in case he goes outside he needs someone who can bring serious national security/foreign policy credentials such as Senator Webb or General Zinni and so forth.


by likelihood zero on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:54:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

No need for Kudos.  Its common sense to support your party.  What so frustrating about the entire blog entry is that we've become use to the sniping by both sides so when someone says something that makes logical sense, it becomes breaking news.  I


by nzubechukwu on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:14:59 PM EST

I'm really glad she said this. (none / 0)

Her supporters are going to be heartbroken when she doesn't win just as Edwards' supporters were when he dropped out.  It helps when the candidate says it's okay to feel bad but we have to think of the country and the party first.


That One is the Right One for 2008.
by GFORD on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:16:43 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

Well not everyone's on message.

From MSNBC:
And, in a move that's becoming more and more common, [Bill Clinton] favorably aligned his wife with the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain.

"We now have a bipartisan majority in the U.S. Senate, bipartisan, to do something about global warming and do more buildings like this," Clinton said, "because she and John McCain took reluctant Republicans all over the world and showed them how the planet was changing. She will work with anybody, go anywhere, do anything to move America forward."

Can a Clinton supporter explain to me what's with the constant praising of McCain. I honestly do not get the strategy.

(Please don't reply by impugning the source unless you have good reason to believe the quote was made up).


by thinman on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:17:41 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (2.00 / 1)

I am an Obama supporter (and will gladly vote for Hillary if she is the nominee) and i am quite frankly tired of the KNEE-JERK reactions to everything Bill Clinton says and does. This is a very tight campaign, get used to people using sharp elbows and rhetoric. It is not like we are innocent either. I caught Jamel on CNN last night saying very despicable things about Hillary that if he were challenged by a smart journalist he won't be able to defend himself and/or the Obama campaign. We are not that innocent either.

If we do not have the heart for these kinds of very benign declarations, how are we going to react in the GE when the RNC and McCain with the help of some 572 groups start really attacking Obama on every thing he has said or done in his life? So, please folks, let's relax a bit.


by likelihood zero on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:47:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

GIve this guy some mojo! This is what we need to be saying.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 10:19:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Being a democrat who's terrified at the prospect (none / 0)

of McCain and other republican being president I will vote for the democratic nomineee.  But as someone who still believes Hillary is the better choice, Obama will get my vote but not my money or energy for his campaign.  That's how I feel right now, it could change but convincing is necessary.  But why should you Obama supporters care as you lots of money to donate, time to campaign and a guarantee of my vote.


by laternighter on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:22:26 PM EST

Re: Being a democrat who's terrified at the prospe (none / 0)

I applaud you for acknowledging that your view may shift and I truly hope that us Obama supporters will be able to convince you to join us in the GE when the time comes. Thanks you people like you and statements like this from HRC, we know where we need to turn to help heal the party in time for the GE fight. The olive branch is here for anyone who wants to reach for it.

There are too many people on both sides that have dug their heels in too far. This applies both the the "I won't for vote X no matter what" as well as the "screw you, we don't need you" crowds. The truth is that the dem party needs to be at full strength this cycle. There are so many downticket races that matter and we really have a chance to tun some classic red states blue, as long as we all work together towards common goals.


by Thadd Selden on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 10:14:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: THINMAN (none / 0)

Thinman the fact that McCain holds a few views that are favorable by Dems is not the end of the world.  Clinton know Hillary can beat McCain so it works to her favor to bring him up.  This doesn't mean he's SLAMMING OBAMA.


by nzubechukwu on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:26:22 PM EST

Re: THINMAN (none / 0)

I wasn't taking it as a slam on Obama. I don't think it's anything of the kind. It's just that the MSM has a constant spin on McCain that he is some kind of centrist. I don't get the logic of constantly reinforcing this message. It's an honest question.


by thinman on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:58:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: THINMAN (none / 0)

Just guessing here, but the Clintons have not had much luck bucking standard media story lines, especially this year. Nor have they been able to get much traction with her positive message, because if it not about Obama or McCain, the media does not want to hear it. Maybe this sort of thing is an attempt to say something positive about Hillary that will actually get printed/shown.

Now an honest question back, because I really don't know. Was Obama involved in this project to turn Republican Senators around on the global warming issue? It seems like the kind of reach-across-the-aisle initiative he claims would be the hallmark of his administration. If Obama was involved in any substantive way, then Bill should have mentioned him, IMHO. If he was not, then Bill was doing his best for Obama by omitting any remarks about his absence.


Your attempt to change the subject to "the issues" is irrelevant.
by itsthemedia on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 10:59:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

Too little, too late... like everything that has been associated with the Clinton campaign.


by sharris0512 on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:41:25 PM EST

"Pleads" really? (none / 0)

"Please think through this decision," Clinton said, laughing and emphasizing the word "please."

Is Clinton really begging?


by grlpatriot on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 08:41:53 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

There is nothing that she can do to make Obama supporters happy, other than a concession. Even if she conceded they would find a way to insult her and demean her.

Nothing she can say that is seen as sincere. Nothing.

You Obama people are like the right-wingers that you used to criticize. You are the new Kool-Aid drinkers. The cult of personality.

Your Hillary hatred is disgusting to me. It demeans you candidate. It is sickening.


by cc on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:00:05 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

Actually, I think almost every Obama supporter here has spoken up and said that it was a very classy thing to do. And it really was.

Obama supporters have said a lot of things about Hillary they shouldn't have, myself included. I think that's what happens when you get involved in a political campaign. It's like Yankees fans and Red Sox fans. But at the end of the day, we should realize that we are all fans of baseball, and McCain is a guy who wants to shut the big leagues down.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 10:26:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters (none / 0)

It looks like a recognition of the media narrative being formed and an attempt to head it off; Hillary knows perfectly well that a 50% + 1 margin might get her the primary, but would do the party severe enough harm to potentially lose her the general. It's a smart move and it's the thing that a lot of people needed to hear. I went into Super Tuesday undecided and finally went with Obama, but it was a narrow thing. I've been disappointed with Hillary's tactics the last few weeks, and I'm glad to see she's acknowledging the importance of party unity now. It wasn't going to keep me home, much less make me vote for McCain, but I'll be much more motivated if the eventual nominee has been actively working to advance the party rather than solely h{er|im}self.


by realnrh on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:05:31 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads (none / 0)

Classy and long overdue.


What is The October Protocol?
by Koan on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:34:38 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

This Obama supporter will join in the general encomium for Senator Clinton's words, and hopes Senator Obama will say the same.
by jere7my on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:45:11 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

...and so he has.
Obama made a similar point Thursday in an interview on ABC's "World News."

"There are going to be some bruised feelings, whoever the nominee is. We are going to have to come together and remind ourselves that there is a heck of a lot bigger difference between either Senator Clinton or myself, and John McCain," Obama said.

He said the protracted contest would not harm the party in the long run.

"I think short term, there is going to be work to do for the nominee to bring the party back together again. People feel pretty passionate about their respective candidates. I appreciate that, and I understand it," Obama said.
[link]
by jere7my on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 02:59:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

I voted for Obama out here in San Fran. Classy move by HRC. There was a point I would have voted for McCain over her (I was pissed off) but after hearing the "Maverick" pander to the wingnuts and some reflecting, HRC would make a good president. I actually like her when she is herself (which I think is smart and funny) instead of this canned, pre-polled politician speak.


by bigdaddy on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:52:52 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

I voted for Obama out here in San Fran. Classy move by HRC. There was a point I would have voted for McCain over her (I was pissed off) but after hearing the "Maverick" pander to the wingnuts and some reflecting, HRC would make a good president. I actually like her when she is herself (which I think is smart and funny) instead of the usual canned, pre-polled politician speak.


by bigdaddy on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:53:25 PM EST

Hillary is classy!! (none / 0)

I've voted straight-party Democratic ticket for 46 years May 6 will probably be my last. Trust is a issue for me Obama is not one I would want to see in the WH. I will vote for the person I can trust.I won't vote for any ticket that has Obama on it. Call me whatever at my age I've seen and heard it all.


by skeedah on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 10:21:46 PM EST

Re: Hillary is classy!! (none / 0)

We all have the right to vote for anyone, but this election is bigger than one person.

I can't allow a 4-year McCain term give us a Conservative Supreme Court that will overturn Roe v. Wade, etc..

WE WILL KUMBAYA in JULY!!


NO 100 year WAR, NO McConnell run Senate, & NO GOP-led Supreme Court!!!
by Veteran75 on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:08:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Hillary is classy!! (2.00 / 0)

Seriously. The supreme court alone ought to be reason to bring all Democrats together. John Paul Stevens is close to retirement. If he is replaced with another conservative along the lines of Alito or Roberts, all is lost. No matter who we get in Congress or the White House, conservatives will have the ultimate trump card for decades.

You'd better believe that the Republicans understand this. Why do you think folks like Bill Kristol were so quick to jump behind McCain? They know that they're just one seat away from overturning any law they wish to challenge.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:16:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Here's how I explained it (none / 0)

to my 10 year old. (Feel free to swap Clinton and Obama below if it makes you happy.)

Clinton is fresh baked bread.
Obama is stale, hard bread.
McCain is cat poop.

Now even though our dog recommends cat poop as the most palatable kind of poop amond those that eat poop, we do not recognize cat poop as food at all. While we might work harder to have fresh bread, we would never pick cat poop over stale bread, period.


Your attempt to change the subject to "the issues" is irrelevant.
by itsthemedia on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:10:03 PM EST

Re: Here's how I explained it (none / 0)

As an aside, this analogy immediately sparked a spirited family discussion as to what kind of poop Bush is. Some very noisesome type of poop, for sure.


Your attempt to change the subject to "the issues" is irrelevant.
by itsthemedia on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:12:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Here's how I explained it (none / 0)

This would explain Rove's nickname.


"Hey, check it out. You just had yourself a glue OD. So you're learning another lesson. Don't do too much glue, or your night sucks."
by vcalzone on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:18:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Grieving (none / 0)

I know, intellectually, that if Obama lost the nomination at this point I would still vote for Clinton in the fall. I would probably donate to her campaign. It is just hard to imagine that now, because I am very invested in the race and in my candidate, and I can imagine all too clearly how much it would hurt if he lost.

But people are very bad at projecting their feelings into the future. I imagine now that my pain at that loss would be just as sharp in November as it would be tomorrow, but that just isn't true. That isn't the way grieving works, and as hard as it is for me to convince myself of it now, I would come around to Clinton. Without question. Hell, I'd probably be enthusiastic. Because the alternative is too much worse.


"Mom, baseball, apple pie, and a unified Democratic juggernaut."
by Purplepeople on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:29:51 PM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters Not To (none / 0)

For once, my cynicism leads me to optimism.

People are easily distracted and have very short memories.  Sooner than we all realize it, this "devastating" primary campaign will seem like it was so long ago that it's ancient history.

"Reverend Wright?  Who's that again?  Was that the guy who got caught in the bathroom with the hooker?  No, wait, that was the Governor of Rhode Island."

We will have months of Obama fighting with McCain to look forward to, capped off by a devasting Democratic landslide in November.

This media narrative about a "crippling primary fight" will vanish in a puff of smoke amid more endless yammering about today's latest scandal.

And it was ever thus.  

And I don't buy AT ALL the empty threats of these 28% of Clinton supporters and 19% of Obama supporters who said they will vote for McCain if their preferred Democrat is not the nominee.  What a crock!  This is that same "I'm moving to Canada if Bush wins" mock-outrage mouthed by some on the Left during the last two election cycles that adds up to more hot air than any politician has EVER spewed.  How many people do you think made good on that threat?  Six?  Three?  I thought so.  By the same token, those people are not all voting for McCain.  Maybe 5, or 10 percent of them will.  That poll number is waaaaay overblown.

So, cheer up, all.  My cynical view of the human race may just save the Democratic party this election.


Peace, S.
by Reluctantpopstar on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:31:34 PM EST

Be Nice If It Was True... (none / 0)

Unfortunately, I'm afraid it's not going to be a Dem landslide, no matter which one is the nominee.  Every vote is going to count. That's why we need to cut out the mudslinging.  

After all, the candidate you insult now could be the Nom (or the Veep) you're voting for in Nov.


by Blue Jean on Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 11:57:25 PM EST

I'm Skeptical (none / 0)

Given her track record of saying exactly the opposite of what she thinks, I'm wondering whether her statement isn't actually meant to be understood as an implicit threat.


by cwilson on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 01:00:12 AM EST

Re: I'm Skeptical (none / 0)

cwilson,
you are a prophet...see my post directly below.
We don't need a thinker. We need a doer: someone who'll act without considering the consequences. (H.J. Simpson)
by Newcomer on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 01:26:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Did Bill not get the memo? (none / 0)

And meanwhile...on the other side of the US...a Clinton surrogate said this:

"We now have a bipartisan majority in the U.S. Senate, bipartisan, to do something about global warming and do more buildings like this," Clinton said, "because she and John McCain took reluctant Republicans all over the world and showed them how the planet was changing. She will work with anybody, go anywhere, do anything to move America forward."

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/

Wow...the Clinton campaign continues to baffle me. Can we just stay on message for day or two.

Looks like HRCs words...were...well...just words.


We don't need a thinker. We need a doer: someone who'll act without considering the consequences. (H.J. Simpson)
by Newcomer on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 01:26:10 AM EST

I'm Getting Sick of Both of Them (none / 0)


by cwilson on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 01:54:42 AM EST

This is the takeaway, people: (none / 0)

"I intend to do everything I can to make sure we have a unified Democratic party," she said. "When this contest is over and we have a nominee, we're going to close ranks, we're going to be united."

Don't get lost in the wilderness, your fearless leader has the right idea, at least once in a while.


by ReillyDiefenbach on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 08:31:17 AM EST

Re: Hillary Clinton Pleads With Supporters (none / 0)

Even SHE called those of us who wouldn't vote for Obama infantile.  What a gasbag.

STFU Hillary, it's not about you or your "DEMOCRATIC" party that won't let people vote if they aren't voting for Obama (MI/FL).


by Sensible on Fri Mar 28, 2008 at 09:57:14 AM EST


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