Ohio Superdelegates Play Hardball

Politico: Bloc Bands Together Seeking Concessions From Obama, Clinton In Return For Support

(The Politico)  This story was written by Josephine Hearn, Amie Parnes, and Josh Kraushaar.

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Flexing their new power to determine the Democratic presidential nomination, a bloc of Ohio superdelegates is withholding endorsements from Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton until one or the other offers a concrete proposal to protect American jobs, two Ohio Democrats told Politico Wednesday.

The apparent deal among Ohioans is the first evidence of superdelegates’ banding together and seeking concessions from the presidential candidates in return for votes at the convention. It’s a practice that could become more common after Clinton’s victories in Ohio and Texas on Tuesday put her back on solid footing in her race against Obama and ensured that the battle for superdelegates will continue for many weeks to come.

Ohio Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, one of the leading protectionists in Congress, said Ohioans have many suggestions on economic and trade issues they hoped the candidates would address.

“We have a laundry list of measures we think would be effective, some involving tax policy, some involving investment policy, intellectual property incentives to hold investments in this country,” Kaptur said. “I’m hoping superdelegates [who] are uncommitted that have the economy as their major concern will gravitate to our group and use that power to gain additional attention.”

Among congressional Democrats from Ohio, only Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a Clinton backer, has endorsed. The rest - Kaptur, Reps. Dennis J. Kucinich, Tim Ryan, Zack Space, Betty S. Sutton and Charlie Wilson, and Sen. Sherrod Brown - remain uncommitted even after their state’s voters handed Clinton a decisive victory in Tuesday’s Democratic primary.

“We had a general agreement,” Kucinich said of the pact. “We have economic issues that need to be addressed. Ohio has economic issues more urgent than any other state.”

A spokesman for Ryan acknowledged that the Ohioans sent a letter to both Obama and Clinton last week in which they outlined their views about the economy, but he insisted there was no agreement to withhold votes. Ryan himself told Politico: “We want the candidates to talk about the issues important to Ohio. We all have the same issues, and we’ve talked about them. But I don’t think there’s any coordinated effort to stick together. There are conversations. It gets hard to build any kind of alliance when, in a lot of our districts, certain candidates did really, really well.”

Ryan said he had been thinking of making an endorsement “up until Monday,” then added: “There’s always talk of trying to build coalitions.”

In the Feb. 25 letter, the Ohio lawmakers urged the candidates to address manufacturing job losses, “unfair” international competition and U.S. trade policy, with a particular emphasis on China. “American workers and industry can compete with any nation, provided the playing field is even,” they wrote.

The Ohio superdelegates’ decision to remain uncommitted even after their state had spoken mirrored patterns seen across the country Wednesday. Only two superdelegates - Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin and Georgia Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kidd - changed their positions after Clinton won in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island, and both of them endorsed Obama.

Harold Ickes, a senior adviser to the Clinton campaign, said on a conference call Wednesday that many superdelegates were “keeping their powder dry. They’re watching and waiting.”

Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), an Obama backer, echoed that sentiment verbatim. “I think, after this, there is a pause. Everybody waits. They keep their powder dry.”

Democratic officials said Tuesday that the Obama campaign planned to unveil the support of 50 new superdelegates Wednesday. No such announcement came Wednesday, but several Obama backers said that such a plan had, in fact, been in the works. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) said Wednesday morning that she thought the plan was “going forward” but added that she had yet to check in with the campaign.

Both campaigns had expected that Wednesday would bring a wave of new endorsements for Obama if he’d won in both Texas and Ohio.

“Many people [backing Clinton] were saying, ‘I’m going to go on and pull out after Tuesday.’ And now they’re saying, ‘Under no circumstances am I pulling out. I’ve been there all along,’” said Clinton supporter Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Mo.). “It’s amazing how three wins can turn people around.”

Clinton’s victories provided much-needed relief for her backers on Capitol Hill, especially African-Americans who had faced pressure from some black activists to back Obama.

As Clinton gave her victory speech in Ohio Tuesday night, a group of her congressional supporters gathered around a television at the home of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.). As Clinton ran through a list of those who had helped her in Ohio - the governor, the lieutenant governor, former Sen. John Glenn - they anxiously yelled at the television, “And? And?”

“And I especially want to thank Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones,” Clinton said. The room erupted into cheers.

Perhaps more than any other African-American in Congress, Tubbs Jones had gone out on a limb to support Clinton, serving as national co-chairwoman of her campaign.

“The senator is well aware of what some African-American supporters have experienced,” said Cleaver, who was pleased that Clinton had recognized Tubbs Jones. “For people like Stephanie Tubbs Jones and [Rep.] Sheila Jackson Lee [D-Texas], this has been a vindication for them, because they have really taken hits for supporting Sen. Clinton. Today, they’re looking pretty good.”

The next big contest in the presidential race is Pennsylvania, and it’s seven weeks away.

Superdelegates from the Keystone State were almost bemused Wednesday that the state was now being described as “the new Iowa” because of the time the candidates would spend campaigning there and the significance of the outcome.

“I never expected to be in a position where Pennsylvania was going to matter,” said Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.). Altmire said he feared that the campaign might get ugly in the long run-up to the Pennsylvania vote. “I just hope the two candidates don’t bash each other over the head for the next few weeks,” he said. “That’s the worst possible scenario.”

Pennsylvania Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. concurred: “Our voters will have no patience for nastiness.”

Meanwhile, Democratic leaders were mulling plans to have Michigan and Florida hold primary votes after Pennsylvania and other primaries are finished in order to give those voters a say in the tight race.

Reflecting on that possibility and the fickleness of superdelegates, Cleaver said, “If another country elected leaders the way we do, we’d ask them to bring in the U.N. monitors.”

[PulSamsara]

Let the American PEOPLE see your TAX RETURNS Clinton ! What are you afraid of ?

[samthetvcat]

Ohio''s playing hardball, Wyoming''s following suit, and so is Pennsylvania.

Also, Gov. Crist in Florida has figured out that he can probably get somebody else to pick up the tab and is refusing to pay for a redo.

Canada injected themselves into the primaries by making it sound like Barack was double-talking without leaking the fact that Hillary''s camp said the exact same thing to them.

The Iraqi militias, the Iranians, the Pakistanis, and the rest of Europe are probably going to be weighing in soon too, either directly, or indirectly.

Let''s face it - these stakes are superhigh and the entire world seems to have something riding on who wins. It''s probably for the best that all the candidates have been given the heads up not to take anyone for granted . . .

[hillaryin08]

And then the back room deals started........

[destardi]

Let the American PEOPLE see your TAX RETURNS Clinton ! What are you afraid of ?


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Posted by PulSamsara at 02:55 PM : Mar 06, 2008
+ report abuse


Hah, I think obama better settle his dealings with Rezko before they start questioning the most scrutinized Political duo in modern times.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4392835&page=1

Bad move Obama...you''re goin down.

And as for "darkening obama''s skin" *** obama supporters tried to lie about?
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/did_clinton_darken_obamas_skin.html

Yea, whatever.

Obama supporter, black New York Senator New York Bill Perkins used quite explicit racial stereotyping in a speech aimed at discouraging his constituents from voting for Clinton by saying, Harlem "is not Bill Clinton''s backyard or his plantation. Underscore, plantation."

WHO''S using race in this election? It''s not Hillary.

[hungry1968]

"Ohio Superdelegates Play Hardball
Politico: Bloc Bands Together Seeking Concessions From Obama, Clinton In Return For Support"





They should all be put in jail for extortion. If they''re going to use their positions of power and influence to change the election process, then they should all be charged.

Once they are arrested, the law should be changed to ban the whole sham super delegate system.

[bm6005]

Sorry folks I believe it''s way overdue for the grass roots to start driving the pols to answer for their actions. I agree with them, I want to see what our gov''t is going to do to stop the bleeding of the middle class!

[cbs_oliver]

...it''''s way overdue for the grass roots to start driving the pols to answer for their actions...

Posted by bm6005 at 04:08 PM : Mar 06, 2008
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But super delegates are definitely not - very much not - grass roots.

They are definitely the elite.

[cbs_oliver]

"Pennsylvania Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. concurred: %u201COur voters will have no patience for nastiness.%u201D"

He must not have been talking about Pennsylvannia - Philidelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between.

LOL

[cyberus-2009]

Superdelegates = proof that we only get to vote for who they want us to vote for.

[croft777]

This democratic party is such a mess. I think we need to vote like the republicans do. Winner takes all the delegates in the state they win. This race would be over by now and Hillary would have won.

[jesterbelle]

Let''''s face it - these stakes are superhigh and the entire world seems to have something riding on who wins. It''''s probably for the best that all the candidates have been given the heads up not to take anyone for granted . . .


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Posted by SamTheTVCat at 03:23 PM : Mar 06, 2008

I agree.I''m all for something that''ll stop politicians from making hollow promises to get elected.Way to go guys!Now,if we could just figure out a way to get rid of them when they don''t come through...

[jesterbelle]

Hillary, can you tell me in your cheap words your cheap promises that were cheap talk in the cheap speeches with cheap words and cheap promises of false hope to solution and cheap words of cheap talk from cheap promises of false hope to action regarding false hope by cheap words of cheap talk on cheap promises of false hope to reality for America regarding cheap words but not cheap change that were cheap words which you know better were not cheap change but your cheap words about false hopes?

Hillary''''s kitchen menu:

Yesterday''''s special - Cruel War and Children

Today''''s special - Hillary Cheap Words

Tomorrow''''s special - Hillary false hopes





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Posted by user168 at 05:21 PM : Mar 06, 20


Such anger!I love it!

[jesterbelle]

This democratic party is such a mess. I think we need to vote like the republicans do. Winner takes all the delegates in the state they win. This race would be over by now and Hillary would have won.


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Posted by croft777 at 05:14 PM : Mar 06, 2008

It really be that bad if the Hillary bunch weren''t such "party poopers". ;-)

[notopennshut]

The super delegates are correct in withholding their votes for a candidate. However,in the end, they should support the candidate with the most pledged delegates. They should NOT try to hold hostage by wanting a candidate to promise to bring jobs back to OH. This ain''t gonna happen, even if we get one of them as president. We are in a recession, fighting an unjust war, spending trillions on it, to boot!! We are also fighting a global economy against developing countries and are losing this too. Part of the problem is lack of foresight and planning by the US companies. We will not be able to get the same jobs back, but have to plan for a new way to start up again. NO president will be able to do that with a promise or withing a short period of time. If they promise you this, they are LYING! We need change to do this and since OH voted for Hillary, it means more of the same old stuff of losing jobs, homes and livelihood. You folks are going to get what you wished and voted for. So accept what you did and it will be nobody fault but your own when OH goes further down the drain. Remember you asked for it!

[bm6005]

But super delegates are definitely not - very much not - grass roots.
They are definitely the elite.
Posted by CBS_Oliver

You''re s hitting me right? The delegates from Ohio are not the grass roots from Ohio? What'' your definition of grass roots? The individual voters? These delegates are only a step above them. When you talk about elite you''re talking about CONgressional trash or the party bosses. Don''t tell me ALL of the super delegates are party bosses.

[bm6005]

So accept what you did and it will be nobody fault but your own when OH goes further down the drain. Remember you asked for it!
Posted by notopennshut

Hopefully we''re all around when you start crying the blues ******!! Don''t worry, it will happen to you. All Americans are in for the slide of a lifetime. Your gov''t has betrayed you, too bad you can''t see it.

[cfin5]

Well well,.....they''re holding them to their promises. Good idea since after the campaign they get terrible cases of amnesia about how they got there. Credit where credit is due!

[oldabeeagle]

Who wants more Clinton slime in the White House. Check out this story about a Rodham family vacation (Rodham brothers in scuffle)

http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/8/21/63415.shtml

These are the same brothers who made $400,000 on two of Bill''s pardons.

http://www.telemundodallas.com/news/487765/detail.html

Do we really want the Clinton slime back in the White House.

[oldabeeagle]

Clintons and MJ photo!!!
http://image.pathfinder.com/ti
me/daily/2001/0101/clinton0128.jpg

[lorinkundert]

Now the truth of it all comes out, the super delegates are simply going to hold Democratic party candidates hostage, I can see a future of Presidents being picked by how many concessions and earmarks they guarantee.

[popstom1]

Well Obama slime who needs ya

[liberty4you]

PM must fire chief of staff: Opposition

BRODIE FENLON AND CAMPBELL CLARK

Globe and Mail Update

March 6, 2008 at 4:07 PM EST

Opposition MPs called for the head of the Prime Minister''s chief of staff, Ian Brodie, Thursday after it was revealed an offhand remark he made to journalists preceded the leak of a confidential diplomatic discussion that rocked the U.S. presidential campaign.

%u201CWe know that Ian Brodie, the chief of staff for the Prime Minister was involved, and this was clear involvement in American politics,%u201D said NDP Leader Jack Layton.

[liberty4you]

Toronto Newspaper

This is the biggest scandal since watergate:

PM must fire chief of staff: Opposition

BRODIE FENLON AND CAMPBELL CLARK

Globe and Mail Update

March 6, 2008 at 4:07 PM EST

Opposition MPs called for the head of the Prime Minister''s chief of staff, Ian Brodie, Thursday after it was revealed an offhand remark he made to journalists preceded the leak of a confidential diplomatic discussion that rocked the U.S. presidential campaign.

%u201CWe know that Ian Brodie, the chief of staff for the Prime Minister was involved, and this was clear involvement in American politics,%u201D said NDP Leader Jack Layton.

[popstom1]

To the young and dumb and full of $hit history lesson
when Bill Clinton left office His Approval rating
Was 65% highest since Eisenhower who i doubt you
know U.S. debt 0 unemployment 2.3% but Jerry Farwell
Pat Robinson Wingnuts right said Bill was evil and
all bible thumpers jumped in now thanks to them were
9.211trillon in debt unempolyment is 5% and riseing
and you want me to vote for Obama because He is going wave his magic wand and it''s going be sunshine and lollipops and plenty kool-aid

[popstom1]

To the young and dumb and full of $hit history lesson
when Bill Clinton left office His Approval rating
Was 65% highest since Eisenhower who i doubt you
know U.S. debt 0 unemployment 2.3% but Jerry Farwell
Pat Robinson Wingnuts right said Bill was evil and
all bible thumpers jumped in now thanks to them were
9.211trillon in debt unempolyment is 5% and riseing
and you want me to vote for Obama because He is going wave his magic wand and it''s going be sunshine and lollipops and plenty kool-aid

[popstom1]

To the young and dumb and full of $hit history lesson
when Bill Clinton left office His Approval rating
Was 65% highest since Eisenhower who i doubt you
know U.S. debt 0 unemployment 2.3% but Jerry Farwell
Pat Robinson Wingnuts right said Bill was evil and
all bible thumpers jumped in now thanks to them were
9.211trillon in debt unempolyment is 5% and riseing
and you want me to vote for Obama because He is going wave his magic wand and it''s going be sunshine and lollipops and plenty kool-aid

[popstom1]

To the young and dumb and full of $hit history lesson
when Bill Clinton left office His Approval rating
Was 65% highest since Eisenhower who i doubt you
know U.S. debt 0 unemployment 2.3% but Jerry Farwell
Pat Robinson Wingnuts right said Bill was evil and
all bible thumpers jumped in now thanks to them were
9.211trillon in debt unempolyment is 5% and riseing
and you want me to vote for Obama because He is going wave his magic wand and it''s going be sunshine and lollipops and plenty kool-aid

[gracianp]

With her recent speeches, Hillary should be tossed out of the party. She''s pretty much endorsed McCain!
There''s nothing she won''t stoop to to win. She is harming the party and the nation.

[tibu987]

Now that we have ascertained that the Super Delegates electoral votes (Ohio), have nothing to do with the will and vote of the populace, but rather how they feel about the candidates thoughts about the issues and if it meets meet with their approval.
So, even if a candidate felt that efforts were better placed elsewhere, the Ohio delegates could vote against them because it did not agree with viewpoint.
What a sham system.
Why in the h ll do we even bother to vote if, in fact, the Super Delegates can negate our votes.
Someone explain how this makes any sense.
I believe we should do away with the Electoral votes and go strictly by the popular vote.

[korryer]

I found her on a celebrity and millionaire dating site called wealthysoulmate.com or something. I forget the screename. I will check it out for you guys and come out with the truth soon.

[korryer]

They are cute. Just saw their photos on a celebrity and millionaire dating site called wealthysoulmate.com. Don''t know if it is them.

[jesterbelle]

Here I was knocking the people of Ohio after the primary as not being that smart.Go guys!It''s time to start holding these people accountable.

[DaddysDarlin]

It is not the jobs of the super-delegates to hold backroom discussions about any policies what-so-ever. It is their job to vote the way the good people of the United States have voted in their particular state. It is not their job to withhold their endorsements, the people of their state have spoken. I don''t believe this super-delegate thing is working, It was a bad idea from the start, now its as if ''our'' vote didn''t matter at all.

[taddles-2009]

"I don''''t believe this super-delegate thing is working, It was a bad idea from the start, now its as if ''''our'''' vote didn''''t matter at all.

Posted by DaddysDarlin at 02:53 PM : Mar 07, 2008"


The reason super delegates were instituted was because the "will of the people" got us two candidates back to back who were not very successful and were nominated without the input of the party leaders. The party leadership determined that their experience and knowledge should hold some sway in choosing a nominee for the party.

[taddles-2009]

"Why in the h ll do we even bother to vote if, in fact, the Super Delegates can negate our votes.

Posted by tibu987 at 09:56 PM : Mar 06, 2008"

They don''t negate your vote any more than someone voting differently from you negates you vote. Your comments are are not supported by the facts.

[taddles-2009]

"It is their job to vote the way the good people of the United States have voted in their particular state.

Posted by DaddysDarlin at 02:53 PM : Mar 07, 2008"


Actually it isn''t. Specifically it''s their job to vote their conscience based on their best sense of what is good for the party and best for a successful election.

[orange541]

Hillary played the fear card in Ohio.

Ohio snapped it up.

Deal with it.

[lordmi]

Well, if Ohio has economic issues more urgent than any other state, than WHY don''t you, Ohio superdelegates do NOT discuss issues with candidates to make a program or list or ...whatever?
Why do you wait watching the game?
Does the ellection game matter more, than those issues?
The way You act speaking out afterwards is a proof, that you do NOT care much, just want to trade the votes for...what for???