Black Backers For Clinton Face Threats

Politico: Superdelegates Say They Will Remain Steadfast Despite Intimidation, Smears

(The Politico)  This story was written by Josephine Hearn.

---

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.

Rep. Diane E. Watson (D-Calif.), a black lawmaker and Clinton backer, said the intense lobbying for Obama would not alter her vote.

“I’ve gotten threatening mail,” Watson said. “They say, ‘Your district went 61-29 Obama and you need to change.’ But I don’t intimidate. I can hold the ground. … I would lose my seat over my principles.”

Neither Watson nor Cleaver faces a strong reelection threat at this time. Cleaver’s Kansas City-area district narrowly supported Obama in Missouri’s Feb. 5 primary.

Black superdelegates are getting heavy pressure from such groups as ColorOfChange.org, a grass-roots organization backing Obama.

“Some [Congressional Black Caucus] members are threatening to vote against their constituents, and perhaps against the will of the American people, by casting their superdelegate vote for Sen. Clinton,” the ColorOfChange.org website reads. “We can prevent this from happen by letting black leadership know we're watching.”

But Watson said that she could not see switching her vote simply because Obama is black.

“I don’t support one type of person above all others. How would that message resonate with Koreatown?” she asked. Watson’s Central Los Angeles district is 35 percent Latino, 30 percent black and 12 percent Asian-American, including many Korean-Americans.

The Clinton campaign, for its part, has been working hard to keep its superdelegates on board. On a conference call with reporters Thursday afternoon, Clinton adviser Harold Ickes said he and campaign manager Maggie Williams had “spent a lot of time talking to our superdelegates over the past week,” and that they are “holding fast.” 

The Clinton camp released a statement Thursday touting the defection of Obama supporter Veronica Escobar after polls in Texas, Escobar’s home state, showed Clinton leading among registered Hispanic voters by 62 to 21 percent.

Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.), a Black Caucus member, said he is still “very strong” for Clinton even in the wake of Lewis’s turnaround. He was unmoved by discord in his Queens district, which backed Obama in the New York primary.

“Some people threw out flyers. That doesn’t faze me at all. If someone wants to run against me, that’s democracy,” he said. “Sen. Obama is a very inspirational person. People in the district are proud. I’m proud. You can’t not be proud being an African-American… But I have to do overall what’s in the best interests of my district.”

Cleaver questioned why white superdelegates such as Massachusetts Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry weren’t being targeted to support Clinton after she carried their state.

“If white people were being harassed and threatened because they were not supporting a white candidate, we’d see headlines,” he said.

Cleaver said he did not believe the Obama campaign was behind the disturbing e-mails and phone calls he has received.

“I refuse to believe that Sen. Obama gave orders for something like this to happen. This is a contradiction of the new politics that Sen. Obama is running on,” he said. “My fear is with all of the nastiness, we’re going to have a whole lot of kissing and making up to do as a party.”

[rfcrtl]

Now who''s team is playing the race card?

[pilgrimsway-2009]

You know what I think?
I think there is 8 or 9 different post names as the same person saying both sides.
Thats what I think!

[libra127]

"can you tell me why Clinton deserves our vote?"
Posted by Vet_SK at 06:49 AM : Mar 02, 2008

Because she is amazingly smart, hard-working, and knowledgeable about all of the issues which the President must deal with - foreign affairs, military issues, economic issues, health care, education, working with BOTH parties in Congress (she has co-sponsored legislation with Repubublicans far more than Obama has).

Because as First Lady she was President Clinton''s chief advisor and, while not always totally agreeing with him on all issues (i.e., NAFTA), she saw the Presidential decision-making process from the inside for 8 years.

Because as Senator for 7 years, she sponsored MORE LEGISLATION PER YEAR than ANY OTHER of the 546 members of Congress. (www.govtrack.us/data/us/110/repstats/enacted.xml)

[pilgrimsway-2009]

You know what I think?
I think there is 8 or 9 different post names as the same person saying both sides.
Thats what I think!

[future_watch]

Flag Officers Endorsing Hillary Clinton for President and Commander-in-Chief

1. General Wesley Clark
2. General John M. Shalikashvili
3. General Johnnie E. Wilson
4. Admiral William Owens
5. Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard
6. Lt. Gen. Robert Gard
7. Lt. Gen. Claudia J. Kennedy
8. Lt. Gen. Donald L. Kerrick
9. Lt. Gen. Frederick E. Vollrath
10. Vice Admiral Joseph A. Sestak
11. Major General Roger R. Blunt
12. Major General George A. Buskirk, Jr.
13. Major General Edward L. Correa, Jr.
14. Major General Paul D. Eaton
15. Major General Paul D. Monroe, Jr.
16. Major General Antonio M. Taguba
17. Rear Admiral Connie Mariano
18. Rear Admiral Alan M. Steinman
19. Rear Admiral David Stone
20. Brigadier General Michael Dunn
21. Brigadier General Belisario Flores
22. Brigadier General Evelyn "Pat" Foote
23. Brigadier General Keith H. Kerr
24. Brigadier General Virgil A. Richard
25. Brigadier General Preston Taylor
26. Brigadier General John M. Watkins, Jr.
27. Brigadier General Jack Yeager

[future_watch]

A must see for all Hillary supporters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLSdphpZh6Y

Hillary for President!

[vmcneal2]

These people jumped the gun with their support of Clinton. Just like Hillary they didn''t think Obama would still be in the race. They were just playing the odds. Voters who put them in office will express their disappointment during the next election.

[alicerea1]

Resko and Farrakhan supporting Obama?

Please America WAKE UP.

Please have a special on Farrakhan the radical Islamic promotingBlack Nationalism for Americans to see.

If a KKK candidate was up for office we would want that brought to American''s attention.

Let''s get Rezko and Farrakhan to the attention of the American People

All candidates should be transparent.

CNN and so many others have not been fair to the American people.

Why would Obama yes that he was involved with Rezko or Farrakhan. After Obama said that he renounced Farrakhan on the last debate, Farrakhan told his 20,000 supporters that they should continue to support him. Farrakhan is a radical and is supported by Obama''s minister Reverend Wright.

The Chicago Sun Times and Chicago Tribune has covered all of the above.

Resko is a criminal. Obama is bragging about his judgement. Is Obama kidding.

All of Americans need to be so careful of anyone with this kind of power.

Vote Hillary and be safe. 9/11 wasn''t that long ago.

We trained pilots in Florida and these radicals bombed the World Trade Center.

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!

[kstar42]

Where are her morals?????
Posted by jerryz7936 at 05:09 PM : Mar 01, 2008

DO you belileve everything you read? MSNBC, CBS, FOX have a plan......thats why you need to stop reading and watching the world news...your better off sticking to your local news.

[facts6]

The black folks supporting Sen Clinton probably read Michelle Obama''s thesis. Ouch!

[facts6]

"""Do it. kmccliment"""
Not to worry, we''re organized. Dallas

[alanrobisch]

The Neocons absolutely do not want to run against Hillary, and they will dig up even a nuance of their ***** to keep it from happening.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 07:03 PM : Mar 01, 2008
+ report abuse

You are simply wrong. Republicans wouldn''t need a get out the vote because any republican worth his or her salt would vote republican rather than allow hillary to be president. she is not the favorite of independents as McCain is and she is disliked by people on her side and if she is somehow nominated by the superdelegates rather than through the primary process I can see many democrats either voting for Nader or mccain or staying home.

Note also they have enough ammo on her to knock her to heck and back.

[kmccliment]

Barrys a Liar!
A hard and fast, arbitrary deadline for withdrawal offers our commanders in the field, and our diplomats in the region, insufficient flexibility%u201D [2006 Vote # 181, S2766, 6/22/06; Obama Remarks, Congressional Record, 06/21/06]

[rowdytexan2]

Good for these people who absolutely show they have a mind of their own and can think for themselves.

Don''t forget all the other female black legislators that are standing behing Hillary also!

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by pattyf5 at 04:15 PM : Mar 01, 2008

Again, there has been no finding of fact against this company, period! And we know where these stupid allegations come from! Straight out of Karl Rove''s Neocon playbook.

Pull the other leg, why don''t ya?

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by jerryz7936 at 05:09 PM : Mar 01, 2008

We''ve already heard this krap! And know exactly where it''s coming from! Get real!

The Neocons absolutely do not want to run against Hillary, and they will dig up even a nuance of their ***** to keep it from happening.

[kmccliment]

Attention all republicans in the Primary States soon to vote... I know it will be hard to keep the vomit down. But, vote for Hillary. This will cause the Democratic Party to continue to tear itself apart. Make a donation to McCain''''''''''''''''s campaign next week and pull the lever that says Hillary.. We''''''''''''''''ll thank you for taking one for the Team! Rush Limbaugh is even suggesting this. Do it.

[jerryz7936]

All you women who supports Hillary. Why don''t you read the report online MSMBC. See how much she cares!!!!!!!!!!

From MSMBC Online, front page:

Sen. Hillary Clinton has declined to return $170,000 in campaign contributions from individuals at a company accused of widespread sexual harassment, and whose CEO is a disbarred lawyer with a criminal record, federal campaign records show.

Where are her morals?????

[pattyf5]

Every registered voter must read this story. Don%u2019t vote until you read this story. Women you especially need to read this story before you vote. After reading this story please forward this story because EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS DISTURBING MSNBC DEEPBACKGOUND STORY.
http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/29/718285.aspx
http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/29/718285.aspx

[windblower]

Baloney - Can''t they see this could possibly be part of the kitchen sink dirty politics of Clinton''s campaign: ROUSE THEM UP NOT TO DESERT.