You really can't read.  There's no extortion here.  Alter's simply saying that the list is in Obama's possession, and he can do with it what he wants (just like Kerry and his fundraising database).  What a pathetic smear.

Both Obama and Clinton have played hardball.

Bill Clinton: Politics Is a 'Contact Sport':

"This is a contact sport, politics," he said. "You can't complain about being attacked. It's like Yao Ming complaining about being fouled playing basketball."

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2 006/10/18/151710.shtml

You're confused.

You listed some facts: Obama has a great fundraising list, fundraising is important, Obama controls the list.

So where's the threat?

"He is telling superdelegates, "give me the nomination or risk losing your office for lack of campaign funds."

extropolate much?

Where is there any threat of THAT in Alters's piece?

It says "as he wishes?"

Cause, like Hillary's donor list, RIGHT NOW, it's his property?

And, maybe he is giving a little carrot out to the Supers?

It's called...(wait for it)

Politics?

But, you think he is THREATENING THEM with withholding their funding?

Why?

He KNOWS he has won, he doesn't need to threaten anybody?

He is mending fences, not threatening to club anyone at this point.

How low are you people willing to go? Supers are supporting Obama because he is the best candidate, that's all.

what he has earned, which is grassroots support.

Hillary chose the DLC insiders.

Basically, the democratic party will become the obamacratic party.  Well, we always wanted a third party, and here it is.

I don't need my democratic party "transformed" - the platform is great.  Most of the people within the party are great.

you want a third party - go create one. Don't shit on the party of Jefferson and the oldest party in existence in the US.

No Comment. I'm sorry I can't do anything funny with this diary to make a comment. Normally would say Hillary can win! Yes she will, but right now I feel like a sad Panda. You see kids this type of stuff makes me real sad. Making pandas sad is wrong.

   that's ridiculous. The man is under no obligation to feed Hillary Clinton, or anyone else, his donor list. Those people gave money to him for a reason.

  Find a better reason. This is pretty weak.

You read it right. This, in effect, is threatening to cripple the fundraising ability of the Democratic party if Obama is not given the nomination. He is telling superdelegates, "give me the nomination or risk losing your office for lack of campaign funds."

The only "threat" in the article is Jonathan Alter's characterization of one. There are no quotes (even unsourced) to back it up.

Do you think Hillary will hand over her list of small donors (small as it must be)? And, if you are on that list, do you want your personal info handed out to all comers who will then bombard you with pleas for money?

This coupled with what he did to Alice Palmer, etc., and his unwillingness, from way back when, to say he'd ever consider Clinton for VP, is what gives me pause about him.  

"Do you think Hillary will hand over her list of small donors (small as it must be)? And, if you are on that list, do you want your personal info handed out to all comers who will then bombard you with pleas for money?"

You seem to be suggesting any such sharing violates some sort of privacy.

if Obama is the "best candidate", why does electoral-vote dot com have him, according to recent polls, losing to McCain 290-237 Electoral votes

While Hillary beats McCain 280-241 Electoral votes.

But, but, but Obama wins Colorado.  

It is early, but this is the bottom line, winning in November, based on the best scientific data we have, poll averages.

sorry buddy but this diary is full of

   it's not Obama's fault that Hillary chose to fund her campaign from lobbyists and her own wallet.

  Obama built a true grassroots movement and it simply paralyzed the Clinton effort. He's no under obligation to do anything for her. None!

Could you show us where Obama said this?

Oh, never mind an article points out the value of his donor list and you take that to suggest a misdeed by Sen. Obama, laughable.  

/sad

Well my name was sold to Obama by Ned Lamont trying to recoup the money he lost running against Lieberman.  To me it says that all politics is for whores.  Obama is no different.  I have taken my name off any list I have found it on.

is that this is coming from a supporter of the candidate whose fundraisers EXPLICITLY threatened the Democratic Party of withholding future funds from the party unless they conspired to give the nomination to Clinton.

Disgusting.

Aha! This explains Jesse Jackson Jr.'s comment that if you didn't support Obama, you'd face a primary threat. The threat being delivered is that the candidate must support Obama, or "the list" will be put to service for a Democratic opponent. So, I think you need to clarify your diary. The threat is not that he won't share his list (he doesn't have to), the threat is that an opponent will be provided with access to the list if they don't support Obama's nomination - something he also has the right to say, but which marks him out as a different kind of Democrat.

Let it happen, is what I have to say. I don't know to what degree presidential candidates have threatened super delegates with primary challenges in the past. Maybe it's standard rhetoric, or maybe it isn't. If that's the kind of party we are, and the majority of Dems support that kind of behavior, then let's get it on. I don't have to participate in that though and neither do you. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. Obama, his campaign and his supporters are thugs, by and large, if we're going to morph into the Republican party at his behest, let's get the show on the road.

Wouldn't it be a real hoot if all of us 1.5 million donors, each donated $100 each on May 20th when he declares himself the presumptive nom?

150 million would be a record-breaking gift for him to kickoff his nomination with!!!!!

I read the exact same article and nowhere does it say - Obama says give it to me you I take my data base and go home. Nor does it imply anywhere that this is what he is going to do

I really try and not take any of this stuff too seriously and to say everybody has a right to support who they wish and to their own opinions.

However, I take deep exception to people who take opinions and makes whole new facts out of them. But please don't let the truth get in the way of your delusions.

This diary is really dumb, even for this site.

And that is saying something.

Well we know Hillary can't help the democratic party.  She is in debt for $20 million or more as of today.  She can't even help herself.  When you have gotten millions in donations and are in debt for $20 million dollars or more, it says there is got to be something wrong with your campaign.  How can she run the country if she can't run a vibrant sustainable campaign that is not in debt?

Why be threatened? Obama has only been in the Democratic Party since... he made a speech 4 years ago??

he's unethical.

The claim you make in both the title and the body of your diary is not backed up by any evidence.

Obama did not say he would withhold his donor list, and Alter is merely speculating.

Obama's 1.5 million donors prob would not jump at the chance to donate to her in a GE if she got the nod now. But Obama has not been threatening superdelegates. There is no evidence of this.

GOSH I HATE IT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE LIKE OBAMA!!!! ALL THOSE INSPIRED FIRST TIME DONORS AREN'T REAL DEMOCRATS!!

I WANT TO WIN WITH A COALITION OF BORDERLINE CONSERVATIVES VS A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT'S TOO DISGUSTED WITH ITSELF TO VOTE. IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF WE EXPANDED THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY!!

BULLY!!! NO HILLARY, NO PEACE!!!!

you've taken opinion commentary by Jonathan Alter and pretended it amounts to a direct threat by Senator Obama.

You're just being dishonest.  Next time think twice before you post a diary, because this one isn't worth the toilet paper you wrote it on.

of his lead in pledged delegates and the popular vote.   Look, if those hold up, he should be the nominee.  If he is and he wins, he earned it.  If he runs and loses, we can look forward to Clinton in 2012!

followed by:

"I know what I was doing when I said it, and it worked."

or, IOW

<sic>"The rest of you supers stay where you are or the Clinton Machine will destroy your careers."

Whew!  Thank god Carville is not threatening Democratic politicians!

-chris

Money has nothing to do with it. Yes.We.Can Be as Corrupt as Ever.

What a set of lies!

You make the ill-advised leap from Obama's donor list to extortion.

But it just isn't there!  If SDs think 1.5 million donors is a good reason to support Obama (and from a party building perspective, it CLEARLY is) then that's their decision to make.  But to imply that Obama is holding the party fundraising hostage is 100% BULLSHIT.

None of this surprises me in the least. It is atypical behavior. Something I would expect from a prima donna.

Are candidates obligated to share their donor lists?

What have past candidates done?

Which candidates have given their lists to the party, no strings attached?

Aren't the Clintons keeping it secret who gave to the Clinton Presidential Library?

Is HRC going to give her campaign list to the DNC while Howard Dean is chair of the party?

lol  This diary is beyond spin.

As opposed to Hillary Clinton, who sold her donor list for 8,000 dollars to a man who preys on the elderly via phone scams.

opinion on this is, please place a link to the source.

Progressive Blue

Obama is all about money and power. What a corrupting joke he is! This is Chicago politics gone national.

Yup, it's been clear to me all along he's a big-time Chicago politician. The hope and change is just a political ploy. Look what he did to Alice Palmer in Illinois. So does this surprise you? Great post, Michael!

I don't understand the issue. With Hillary, you get her list and it ain't nuthin' to sneeze at. With Obama, you get tarred with all the smears the Repubs will use against him and they won't be pretty.