Top Clinton Donors Lash Out At Pelosi

Send Letter To House Speaker After She Said Superdelegates Should Back Candidate With Most Pledged Delegates

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Dan Balz and Perry Bacon Jr..

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Top fundraisers for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign upbraided House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) yesterday for suggesting that Democratic superdelegates should back the candidate with the most pledged delegates and urged her to respect the right of those delegates to back whomever they choose at the end of the primary season.

The criticism represented the latest effort by Clinton's campaign and its allies to beat back talk that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has amassed enough of a lead in pledged delegates that she will not be able to overtake him, and arguments that a continuation of the conflict between the two candidates will hurt the party in November.

"You suggested [in a recent television interview] superdelegates have an obligation to support the candidate who leads in the pledged delegate count as of June 3rd, whether that lead be by 500 delegates or 2," the Clinton backers wrote. "This is an untenable position that runs counter to the party's intent in establishing super-delegates in 1984."

Arguing that neither Obama nor Clinton (D-N.Y.) will have amassed the 2,024 delegates needed to win the nomination by time the primary season ends in June, the fundraisers urged Pelosi "to clarify your position on superdelegates and reflect in your comments a more open view to the optional independent actions of each of the delegates at the national convention in August."

Clinton, in an interview with Time magazine published yesterday, accused the Obama campaign of trying "to shut this race down" and noted that even pledged delegates are not legally bound to support the candidate to whom they are pledged. "We talk a lot about so-called pledged delegates, but every delegate is expected to exercise independent judgment," she said.

Pelosi has not endorsed either candidate. Brendan Daly, her spokesman, said that the speaker recognizes that superdelegates will choose between the candidates but that she "believes it would do great harm to the Democratic Party if superdelegates are perceived to overturn the will of the voters. This has been her position throughout this primary season, regardless of who was ahead at any particular point in delegates or votes."

Obama spokesman Bill Burton in an e-mail criticized what he saw as an implied threat by the group to withhold funds from Democratic Party campaign committees.

Robert L. Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television and one of the organizers of the letter to Pelosi, said in an interview that there would be "no effect" on contributions to the party among the signers of the letter. "This is just fair play," he said.

Johnson added that he and the others want to make certain the nomination battle is not declared over prematurely. "It's not the role of the leadership to say 'Vote only the way the pledged delegates go,'" he said.

But the letter made it clear that the fundraisers believe their voice should carry real weight with the speaker. Noting their past financial support, they wrote, "We . . . hope you will be responsive to some of your major enthusiastic supporters."

Clinton, accompanied by daughter Chelsea Clinton, was in Washington yesterday for a pair of fundraising events. Obama is holding four events in New York City. The first of those, at the Madison Avenue offices of Credit Suisse, a financial services giant, will include a "campaign briefing," according to the invitation. Guests will be charged a minimum of $1,000 to attend.

Clinton raised $35 million last month, all but $5 million online, but her campaign supporters concede that she still relies on a traditional model of fundraising.

"The Obama campaign has found a model that works for them, that has enabled them to raise vast amounts of money online," said Steve Grossman, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a member of Clinton's finance team. "The Clintons, both Hillary and the president, have a virtually inexhaustible treasure trove of relationships they have developed over the years, and they reached out time and time again to those people."

Chelsea Clinton's appearance came a day after she rebuked a student at Butler University in Indianapolis on Tuesday who asked whether her mother's credibility had been hurt during the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

"Wow, you're the first person actually that's ever asked me that question in the, I don't know, maybe 70 college campuses I've now been to, and I do not think that is any of your business," Clinton said, getting loud applause from the audience, according to the Associated Press.

[mudrose-2009]

GET THEE TO A BOTOX STATION - QUICK! GOOD GRIEF!

[petesis]

Clinton is beat fair and square and she is trying to use any and all means to overturn the will of the people. I cannot believe that I am forced to agree with the likes of Rush Limbaugh. That is totally on Hilary. She and her supporters seem to think she is "entitled" to the nomination. NOT! She is rapidly becoming despicable in my eyes.

[blkpresident]

Catfight! Catfight! Catfight! Good for you, Madam Speaker, kick her lil'' *** all the way back to her kitchen stove in NY.

[infidel_us]

GET THEE TO A BOTOX STATION - QUICK! GOOD GRIEF!
Posted by mudrose at 09:07 AM : Mar 27, 2008

Hey, HEY! You typical white person......there''s a million things you can do in this world, but ''dissing'' the object of my MILF fantasy is NOT one of them! :)

[pepperwood2]

"You suggested [in a recent television interview] superdelegates have an obligation to support the candidate who leads in the pledged delegate count as of June 3rd, whether that lead be by 500 delegates or 2," the Clinton backers wrote. "This is an untenable position that runs counter to the party''s intent in establishing super-delegates in 1984."

I think Nancy has got this right, for a change, after all isn''t each delegate a superdelegate? What the Clinton campaign has been trying to do all along is to shut his race down & play the race card whenever it is convenient for Hillary - The Great White Hope Myth - that they''ve been playing all along. So sad!

[rowdytexan2]

If Pelosi intends to be the referee at the DN Convention, she needs to stay neutral, otherwise cast your superdelegate vote and stand down from entering the fracas.

It is the job of the superdelegates to exercise independent judgement and that is in the RULES! It''s their purpose.

Does she not know what the rules are???

[riskytime]

Obama''s hands are not clean either...

Obama Camp Tries to Sway Hillary%u2019s Pledged Delagates
http://bigheaddc.com/2008/03/27/obama-camp-tries-to-sway-hillarys-pledged-delagates/

[blkpresident]

RowdyTexan2,

After PA. votes next month, all this attack and counter-attack will be over. It''s still not too late jump off lil'' missy''s sinking ship and latch onto the lifeboat Obama. Otherwise, prepare to go down with your lil'' captain, whose idea of foreign policy is baking a batch of brownies for our terrorist enemies. America can do much better than that girl.

[lhdallas]

The Clintons are like the elementary school bullies that won''t go away; no one likes them and everyone is too afraid of their demonic behavior to call them on it, so they are allowed to continue their destruction.

Problem is: unless someone stops them, they will ruin the Democrat''s chances in November. Unfortunately, the Clintons don''t care.

[mjvw2]

"Hey, HEY! You typical white person......there''''s a million things you can do in this world, but ''''dissing'''' the object of my MILF fantasy is NOT one of them! :)"


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Posted by Infidel_Us

You are a sick man.

[jesterbelle]

Hey, HEY! You typical white person......there''''s a million things you can do in this world, but ''''dissing'''' the object of my MILF fantasy is NOT one of them! :)


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Posted by Infidel_Us at 09:26 AM : Mar 27, 2008

Geez dude,I like older women,but Hillary?I think I''m gonna blow chunks,LOL

[repdemapart]

I get Pelosi''s position. You see, she is the highest ranking woman in the country and she has enjoyed that ever since the DEMS recaptured the majotiry of the congress.

If I were Pelosi, I wouldn''t want another woman to be higher than me. I am QUEEN PELOSI.

Go Nancy Go !

[lorinkundert]

I guess the donors don''t like throwing away money, too bad they backed a dead horse.

[jesterbelle]

Does she not know what the rules are???



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Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 09:40 AM : Mar 27, 2008

Story says she doesn''t back either candidate.She''s just trying to stop the PU2008 PREVARICATOR from making the convention look like an Arnold Schwarzeneggar movie,LOL!

[mjvw2]

To Howard Dean and the DNC higher ups - the rules are simply points to deviate from.

[DCropp]

These must be some ignorant donors. Pelosi has stayed neutral. She will support whoever wins the pledged delegate count.

All Hillary has to do is catch up in the pledged delegates.

These are the votes cast by the people of the USA.

If these donors want to imply the citizens of the USA should not decide the candidate, then maybe they should move to Britain.

Americans already fought a Revolution against the concept of taxation without representation.

[mudrose-2009]

"Hey, HEY! You typical white person......there''''''''s a million things you can do in this world, but ''''''''dissing'''''''' the object of my MILF fantasy is NOT one of them! :)"

Posted by Infidel_Us

You''ve got to admit she''s got to get to a botox salon soon. I guess being Speaker of the House ages you. Good Grief! Nancy, this is not your best portrait. Hahahaha. :)

[greenfun]

Sit down Nancy-I have a problem with some two bit candidate who one moment says- let the American voters decide- to- forget about MI and FL. I guess your vote only counts if it is for him. Doublespeak. Wright. Rezco .Emil Jones. Canada-Nafta. Present.

[infidel_us]

Geez dude,I like older women, but Hillary?I think I''''m gonna blow chunks,LOL
Posted by jesterbelle at 09:50 AM : Mar 27, 2008

Dude, I wouldn''t touch Hillary with MCVet''s johnson. Nancy is MY girl! I''ll bet she could teach me a few moves.

I''d like to teach her the meaning of bi-partisan! :)

[hp32970c]

The majority of Obama''s donors are the ones who voted for him. Who are these Clinton donors that are harassing Nancy Pelosi and will she be beholding to them if the help her steal the nomination????? Duh.......yes!!!!! Wake up people. Hillary cares about Hillary!.

[blkpresident]

greenfun,

The color of envy is usually associated with the color green, so Lil'' Hillary must be having a lot of fun--(greenfun). Rather than be envious, lil'' missy should take one for the team and rally around Obama. Sorry ''bout her lil'' pipe dream about a woman becoming president (smirk, smirk, smirk).

[truthbug]

WRIGHT is not running for presidency.
OBAMA is running for presidency.

WRIGHT said anti-white and anti-american remarks.
WRIGHT is OBAMA''''s adviser and uncle by heart.
WRIGHT''''s ideas reflects OBAMA''''s mind and his wife have the same tone.
OBAMA can not disown WRIGHT.

This is like a white person not disowning KKK.
OBAMA is a closet WRIGHT double.
OBAMA is WRIGHT.

[jesterbelle]

Dude, I wouldn''''t touch Hillary with MCVet''''s johnson. Nancy is MY girl! I''''ll bet she could teach me a few moves.

I''''d like to teach her the meaning of bi-partisan! :)


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Posted by Infidel_Us at 10:16 AM : Mar 27, 2008

Gotcha!I''d wrestle Nancy myself.What do you think of Condi?

[rowdytexan2]

Story says she doesn''''t back either candidate.She''''s just trying to stop the PU2008 PREVARICATOR from making the convention look like an Arnold Schwarzeneggar movie,LOL!



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Posted by jesterbelle at 09:59 AM : Mar 27, 2008

Oh yeah, right, it''s just the press that''s making out like she favors one candidate.

Again, if she doesn''t know the rules, she needs to stand down.

[gemstone1955]

Kind of sad that the people have been passing around the Pastors page pamphlets from the TUCC about anti Israel and pro Hamas views for a month now. There are 116 UCC churches in Chicago and dozen with in miles from Obama''s home. Why this anti American ideals church? WOW it takes Fox, ABC and MSNBC to all air it before we get one word on CNN. Also the news finally being reported about the anti American statements that America is run by white racists. Yet still he supports the pastor and this church. A MONTH, COME ON GUYS REALLY? ARE YOU A NEWS NETWORK OR A HIDE OUR HEAD IN THE SAND IF IT BAD ABOUT OBAMA CAMPAIGN HEAD QUARTERS? NO VETTING ALLOWED! NO HARD QUESTIONS OR NEGATIVE FINDING SHARED TO BE REPORTED TO AMERICA! SHAME ON YOU CNN! VERY SAD WHEN WE THE PEOPLE HAVE TO FIND OUR OWN FACTS AND GET OUR OWN NEWS!

[hp32970c]

In my opinion Nancy Pelosi got pissed off, and rightly so, when Hillary said she has experience, McCain has experience and Obama made a speech. Hillary crossed the line there. She is promoting McCain over her fellow Democrat. That is low and desperate and Pelosi saying what she said was her way of letting Hillary know that.

[taddles-2009]

"Shame on OB for insulting his white grandmother who raised him%u2026

Posted by Hillarygrl34 at 09:58 AM : Mar 27, 2008"


Your feigned outrage is pathetic.

[jesterbelle]

Gallup News Service - PRINCETON, NJ -- A sizable proportion of Democrats would vote for John McCain next November if he is matched against the candidate they do not support for the Democratic nomination. This is particularly true for Hillary Clinton supporters, more than a quarter of whom currently say they would vote for McCain if Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee.


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Posted by trapbreak at 10:25 AM : Mar 27, 2008

NBCs''poll out yesterday has it at 20%.Any numbers on how many repulicans aren''t going to vote for Bush III?I''m sure there''s more than enough of them to make up the 20% of Hillary Krishnas,along with "Reagan democrats",who are fed up with the people you elected that wipe their ***** with the constitution.

[taddles-2009]

"This is like a white person not disowning KKK.

Posted by truthbug at 10:25 AM : Mar 27, 2008"


Well now that''s about the dumbest analogy I''ve seen posted on this forum yet and there are a lot of small minded people who congregate here.

[petesis]

I guess the Hilary supporters are out in force again. You can recognize them by their lengthy posts that put you to sleep.

[mudrose-2009]

HEY, ARE ANY OF YOU OUT THERE A "TYPICAL WHITE PERSON"? AND IF SO ARE ANY OF YOU "GARLIC NOSES"? I HEAR THE REV. WRIGHT REGARDS I-TALIANS AS "GARLIC NOSES". ANYBODY?

I''ve been searching the sites for a Garlic Nose. Good Grief? Anybody?

[realpatriot1]

More absurd and hysterical crapola from RowdyTexan.

There are no rules preventing Super Delegates from following the voters or preventing officials suggesting that they do.

Common sense and decency should impel the Super Delegates to follow their constituents, that''s how democracy should work.

Hillary and her supporters want to seize a nomination they can''t win legitimately. They don''t give a *** about rules or she wouldn''t have campaigned in Florida or Michigan. If she had kept to her agreement those 2 states would''ve dealt with this issue before Super Tuesday and their primaries could''ve proceeded on the regular schedule. Hillary bears responsibility for the disenfranchisement of Florida and Michigan.

Her donors argument seems to be that their ability to buy off Super Delegates in back room deals should prevail over the will of the public.

Can there be any clearer indication that these people represent the old politics and don''t know the meaning of the word change?

[taddles-2009]

"I''''ve been searching the sites for a Garlic Nose. Good Grief? Anybody?

Posted by mudrose at 10:36 AM : Mar 27, 2008"


Ah mudrose, posting the scum you scraped off the bottom of your shoe again I see. Nothing of substance to post? nothing of intellectual value? oh well, I guess at least you''re consistent.

[gypsy0126]

Will of the people? Obama only leads Clinton by .99% in the popular vote; and 125 delegate lead. I had more people than that at my wedding reception. These numbers do not indicate an Obama landslide nor that he is sweeping the nation. Get a grip. This one is going to the convention!!!

[sssnowman-2009]

Forget about wealthy aristocrats ruling the world. Why haven''t we thrown the Republican Party to the Dogs for surrounding themselves with people who would use the pulpit to blame America for 9/11.

"Falwell said, %u201CWhat we saw on Tuesday, as terrible as it is, could be miniscule if, in fact, God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve.%u201C

Robertson replied, %u201CWell, Jerry, that%u2019s my feeling. I think we%u2019ve just seen the antechamber to terror, we haven%u2019t begun to see what they can do to the major population.%u201D"

[stanleyrice]

Now we are getting down to the real issue. If this does not wake the Americans up, I don''t know what will. YOU DO NOT HAVE AN ELECTION IN WHICH YOU HAVE A SAY!

Remember "one man, one vote"? You have one man no vote, and super-delegate one vote. And the vote that is cast is for a preselected, pre-qualified person who represents the power elite! With this system why go to all the trouble of having national elections (other than to disguise reality), when you can just have a select few decided what is in their best political interest (super-delegates)!

As was pointed out even the non-super delegate can do what they want! Wake up America. Changing seats on the ship as she goes down won''t save anyone.

The truth will set you free.

[mudrose-2009]

"I''''''''ve been searching the sites for a Garlic Nose. Good Grief? Anybody?

Posted by mudrose at 10:36 AM : Mar 27, 2008"


Ah mudrose, posting the scum you scraped off the bottom of your shoe again I see. Nothing of substance to post? nothing of intellectual value? oh well, I guess at least you''''re consistent.
Posted by taddles

That''s because you are a flea bitten numbnut. Well, at least you are consistent.

[gunownerdan]

Do what''s best for the party, not what''s best for the country.
It''s the demopublican way!

[aldon61]

There is no question that the pledged delegate count should determine the super delegates votes. If it is the will of the people casting their votes in the primaries, they are obligated to do the same. I know their arguement, "it''s in the rules" that the super delegates don''t have to abide by the decision of the various primaries; but to not honor the will of the party members just plain stinks! Now Clinton is going after pledged delegates; that is sinking as low as a bottom dweller. Let''s see, she lies, she cheats, do you think she would steal too???????

[mudrose-2009]

HEY, ARE ANY OF YOU OUT THERE A "TYPICAL WHITE PERSON"? AND IF SO ARE ANY OF YOU "GARLIC NOSES"? I HEAR THE REV. WRIGHT REGARDS I-TALIANS AS "GARLIC NOSES". ANYBODY?

[infidel_us]

What do you think of Condi?
Posted by jesterbelle at 10:27 AM : Mar 27, 2008

I think Condi is ''dondi''...which is pretty *** close to dandy! :) I''m not attracted to her in any way, but I respect and admire her. She would be my intellectual stimulation.

Nancy, on the other hand, would be dressed up in garters and ''do me'' heels from Victoria''s Secret. We''d stay in all weekend and emerge on Monday with a new ''across the isle'' respect for each other! LOL

[mudrose-2009]

Hey RamaLamaObama wants to bail out all the irresponsible homeowners and lenders. Why he even proposes his own stimulus package: Government Takeover of the Free Markets. Just like the Rev. Wright preaches. Isn''t that nice of him? I sure hope Nancy will see to it that the party nominates him. After all, we garlic noses, need respite, being the typical white people that we are.

[truman_plan]

Pelosi has been a very poor Speaker of the House, and a polarizing figure on the floor and in committee. That is a fact jack. Approval ratings for Congress is dismal with the Speaker (House), Madame Pelosi the root cause. With an under 20% or less approval rating, Pelosi is just trying to get attention to punch up her rating. The fact is, most of the Congresspersons privately think she is a failure except for the Ted Kennedy bunch.

With the sharp turn in public opinion against Obama, Pelosi knows that her run as Speaker of the House will be concluded if Clinton or McCain gets in. She is just fighting to keep her position.

Yet bear in mind, she is a very ineffective leader in the House.

[mudrose-2009]

Nancy, on the other hand, would be dressed up in garters and ''''do me'''' heels from Victoria''''s Secret. We''''d stay in all weekend and emerge on Monday with a new ''''across the isle'''' respect for each other! LOL

Posted by Infidel_Us

Just don''t get these two in the same room together. Man you''d be ruined. No one could stand that kind of stimulation. You dog.

[truman_plan]

"Catfight! Catfight! Catfight! Good for you, Madam Speaker, kick her lil'''' *** all the way back to her kitchen stove in NY."

REsearch from the U of Wisconsin states that most female "cat fights" are initiated by men.

[nancysabet]

"We are just now learning about this man. My gut tells me there is alot more we will learn/discover. Much of it, regarding fitness to be president of the USA, may not be favorable."
True, but we knew very early on that he has accomplished very little. That by itself (not even considering his new revelation) makes him unqualify to be our president.

[terrapin78]

Yet bear in mind, she is a very ineffective leader in the House.

Posted by Truman_Plan at 10:54 AM : Mar 27, 2008

Because Impeachment is off the table.

[stn_sage]

Boo-o who-o! Wah wah! Nobody---including Nancy Pelosi---is going to prematurely shutdown Hillary ''Her Majesty'' Clinton! So-o, the Clinton campaign can keep their collective ''pants'' on! Hillary will be allowed to push her campaign to the brink and beyond, even if it results in splitting the party and the loss of the presidency!

Chelsea''s rejoinder to the question of whether her mother''s credibility had been hurt by the Lewinski scandal---was WEAK!
I think the question was very germane and she should have answered it! She responded as if she was being asked about the affair itself---she wasn''t! But when asked a straight question---like father, like mother, like daughter---you won''t get a straight answer from any of this Clinton family!! :(

[blkpresident]

Hillarygrl34,

Once again lil'' woman. Florida and Michigan have already had their chance. They blew it. I understand that a lot of Clintonians have stock in Kleenex tissue, but before you guys create another Great Lake, please stop crying. Interesting that no one in Florida or Michigan are crying, which makes me wonder where exactly what region of the country you may be from? After PA. votes all of this nonsense will be over anyway--lil'' missy will be forced to abandon her campaign and then the party can unite and unleash the Obama shuffle against OLD man McCain.

[mudrose-2009]

Can ANYONE tell me the difference between what''''s the difference on giving a speech about issues and offering solutions....ANYBODY???
Posted by melchg

Big difference. Take is cheap, actions speak louder than words. But don''t run that by Obama, to him words mean something unless and of course, when it comes from the members of his own camp. Then those typical white people just don''t know how to react.