Hillary Supporters Pushing for a Roll Call Vote
August 13th, 2008 at 02:49am Mark Noonan
The nightmare Obama doesn’t want:
A determined crowd of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s delegates - preparing to head to the Democratic Party’s national convention in Denver - have begun gathering signatures to ensure her name is placed into nomination, insisting their effort won’t take spotlight off presumed Democratic nominee Barack Obama.
Many of those involved in the campaign, which they say is a matter of respect and acknowledgement of 18 million voters who backed Clinton, argue that the nomination of the New York senator is a matter of historic and political precedent at such party conventions. And they’re chafing at reports that the campaign of the Illinois senator is resisting the efforts - and even hoping to avoid a roll-call vote.
“Since 1884, we’ve had a roll-call vote. … It’s a nominating convention, not a coronation,” said Garry Mauro, the four-term Texas land commissioner and past gubernatorial candidate who ran against George W. Bush - and who will go to his 10th Democratic national convention this month as a Clinton delegate.
With less than two weeks until Aug. 25, when Democrats open their nominating convention in Denver, the sentiment is typical of many Clinton delegates who say the nomination of the New York senator from the floor of the convention doesn’t endanger Obama’s presidential campaign - and could serve his cause.
The problem, for Obama, is that it would (a) expose the divisions between his troops and Hillary’s, (b) take time away from a pro-Obama love-fest and (c) open up the real prospect that Obama will fail to garner a nominating majority on the first ballot. Remember, in actual pledged delegates, Obama is short of the number needed for a first ballot nomination…only when you add in his superdelegates is he over the top, and they can change their minds. If by some means Obama fails to garner that first ballot majority, then he’s probably out as the Democratic nominee - this doesn’t mean that Hillary would be in, but once done for Obama, he becomes political kryptonite; the messiah who couldn’t carry out his appointed task.
The fissures in the Democratic party are very real - the dividing line between between upper clase urban liberals and blue collar Democrats. Picture in your mind a delegate from San Francisco who works on some sort of city divsersity council and a delegate who works as a union electrician in Philadelphia: how much do these two people really have in common, other than - perhaps - a loathing of President Bush? Obama is already going to bleed a lot of blue collar support over to McCain (which he hopes, then, to make up by securing the votes of the more urban and socially liberal section of the GOP), but he’d like to limit his losses on this end with an eye towards retaining Michigan and Pennsylvania and having a shot at Ohio. Have a blue collar stampede to McCain and Obama might as well start writing his concession speech.
This makess for a tricky situation, and just as a political observer it will be interesting to see how Obama works it - he has to bow to Hillary’s supporters while keeping the spotlight on himself. It’ll be fun to watch.
Entry Filed under: Campaign 2008, Democrats
23 Comments
1. New Conservative | August 13th, 2008 at 3:48 am
Way to make this entire convention about the Clintons and past instead of the future and Obama. Are the Democrats trying to lose this election because their doing a great job of it so far. McCain 08
http://thenewconservatives.blogspot.com/
2. Aitch | August 13th, 2008 at 4:28 am
She can’t win. She’s lost once already and she will lose again if her name is placed into nomination.
The Clintons themselves will definitely toe the line at the convention and beyond.
3. SEW | August 13th, 2008 at 6:12 am
It’s a nominating convention, not a coronation. Not according to the liberal fascists from Obamaland. Let the games begin.
4. Upstart | August 13th, 2008 at 7:09 am
If anything it shows the passion and the zeal of the Democratic Party to stop a Bush third term. This also proves elections are too long. Many have given up two and three years of their lives to stop the activist Scalia’s, war mongering Cheney’s and incompetent Gonzo types. Give them their due, but come August 28th there will be a united front to end the rein of the neocons
5. js | August 13th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Passion? Zeal? those drums are getting worn out. The Demoncrats have had control of both houses for how long now? No impeachment, hundreds of investigations, and you hang on to the lies that the DNC spreads for what? Glory? Certainly, the truth is not with the Democrat position. They have established themselves solidly upon specific charges against the current administration, and proven themselves to be nothing more than ambitious liars and charlatains. Give them thier due, thats right. The threat that recognizing Clinton is that it exposes the truth, which we already know, Howard Dean really doesnt want anything like that to even be implied….
6. SEW | August 13th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Hillary has a chance. All of the libs sooo excited over Barry’s intellect. Here he is in action. Dementia or normal?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omHUsRTYFAU
7. SEW | August 13th, 2008 at 8:41 am
The libs and the MSM endlessly show the 2 or 3 words W butchered over the past 7 1/2 years. The above should be a just say no ad for cocaine/drugs. Thanks, Barry
HRC, remember, the convention is a nominating convention, not a coronation.
Poor Barry. No sleep for 48 hours. Stay off the stuff. Wait for that 3 am call America. Be afraid.
Just say no.
8. neocon | August 13th, 2008 at 8:53 am
The following quote from Maureen Dowd says a lot! Dowd has legitimate liberal bona fides and when she says the honeymoon maybe over…..guess what. It’s over.
The Clintons know that a lot of Democrats are muttering that their solipsistic behavior is “disgusting.” But they’re too filled with delicious schadenfreude at the wave of buyer’s remorse that has swept the Democratic Party; many Democrats are questioning whether Obama is fighting back hard enough against McCain, and many are wondering, given his inability to open up a lead in a country fed up with Republicans, if race will be an insurmountable factor.
9. neocon | August 13th, 2008 at 9:03 am
And the party unity love fest continues:
Pro-Clinton Group Runs Anti-Obama Ad
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/clinton_supporters/2008/08/12/121289.html
10. Retired Spook | August 13th, 2008 at 9:19 am
SEW, there is such a wealth of Obama gaffes and misstatements on youtube, it’s like a library of GOP ad material. Here’s another one.
One of the most interesting days at this blog could well be the day after the Democrat Convention. If Clinton succeeds in stealing the nomination, I wouldn’t want to be a property owner in downtown Denver. Just sayin’.
11. Retired Spook | August 13th, 2008 at 9:43 am
neocon, Obama really is between a rock and a hard place. If he prevents Hillary’s name from being placed in nomination, he loses a huge percentage of her supporters. If she’s nominated and there’s a roll-call vote, IMHO, Barry’s toast — badly burnt toast. I can’t remember when I had so much fun with my clothes on. Not too much butter on the popcorn, please — I’m on a diet.
12. DM | August 13th, 2008 at 10:37 am
”I can’t remember when I had so much fun with my clothes on.” - Spook
LOL: Thanks for the laugh – great way to start the morning.
13. neocon | August 13th, 2008 at 10:44 am
“I can’t remember when I had so much fun with my clothes on.” - Spook
Best line ever posted on this blog
LMAO
Thanks Spook
14. \'08ama | August 13th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Righties:
Your obsession with Hillary Clinton is beyond unhealthy at this point. It has consumed your entire body and soul.
LET. IT. GO.
It’s over, she will not be the Democratic candidiate for president in 2008. sorry.
15. \\\'08ama | August 13th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Sue says ….
“The libs and the MSM endlessly show the 2 or 3 words W butchered over the past 7 1/2 years.”
LOL!!!
did you type that with straight fingers ?
16. SEW | August 13th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Just for you Nobama. Bambi in 60 seconds. Dementia.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omHUsRTYFAU
17. Retired Spook | August 13th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
It’s over, she will not be the Democratic candidiate for president in 2008. sorry.
No need to apologize, ‘08ama, I think most of the “Righties” here would prefer that she not be the Dem candidate. We’re just relishing the potential mischief she and her minions could do at the convention. Blood in the streets is not an impossibility.
18. '08ama | August 13th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Really Spook ?
Judging from the way this blog keeps telling us about her comeback, I have to wonder.
You want ‘blood on the streets’ (how Christian of you), Dobson wants flooding rains that destroy thousands of homes, Rush wants all out riots….
Looks like you guys are hanging your hopes on
some pretty desperate measures. However, with McCain as your candidate going up against someone of the stature of Obama, I cant say I blame you.
Sue:
Is your children learning ?
19. Eric T | August 13th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
My dad told me he liked Hillary and would have voted for her. He doesn’t really like McCain/Obama. He liked Mike Huckabee when he was running. As much as I want my Dad to see the light and stick with the GOP, I can’t count on him doing the right thing and showing up to vote, because at the last minute democrats may switch aorund and put her at the top of the ticket.
The GOP should not focus on pandering too much to them, rather. Pander to the GOP regulars.
Hillary voters need to realize the GOP is simply a better political party. Some people wanna push the blame on Bush for everything wrong under the sun. I think Bush is a great president and when you see stuff like this
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26035641/
it should make you realize that he has big shoes to fill. The left has cut him to shreads for purely political reasons. But if you take a look at alot of the things he has done, they are quite impressive. Look thru the spin at this piece
20. Retired Spook | August 13th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
You want ‘blood on the streets’ (how Christian of you)
First of all, ‘08ama, I dont’ WANT blood in the streets, and it has nothing to do with whether or not I’m Christian. First off you’ve got the group, Recreate ‘68 who have made the following promise for the convention:
I certainly wouldn’t advocate that Republians burn down Denver or riot in the streets. Republicans, as a rule, just don’t engage in such anarchistic actions. It’s you Dems who have a virtual monopoly on violence as a protest tool. And I’m one of those people who believes that, when your political adversaries engage in self-immolation, the best action is to hide the fire extinguishers and get out of the way.
Add enraged blacks to the mix if Hillary steals the nomination, and blood in the streets will be the least of Denver’s worries. If these are the people you want leading this country, then you do, indeed, have a strange set of priorities.
21. Kurt | August 14th, 2008 at 12:04 am
However, with McCain as your candidate going up against someone of the stature of Obama, I cant say I blame you.
Obama? Stature? Based on what? His days as a Cook County hack? His lack of accomplishment in the legal field? His lack of legislation passed? Why would a guy with stature need to puff his resume? Why does a guy with stature need to scrub his website every week? Is being a member of Trinity United for 20 years and praising Jeremiah Wright a stature builder? The fact is Obama has no stature.
22. cam | August 14th, 2008 at 1:18 am
Let’s have a roll call vote. Its the Democratic Party. Hillary is welcome here. We miust trust the people. Let the convention begin.
23. umbrage | August 14th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Paris Hilton For Prez
Seriously we gotta get this girl on the ticket in close race states. Organize write in campaigns via Youtube etc.
Young, naive disaffected voters who lean away from O the more they know but can’t vote for an old geezer should be encouraged to vote Paris or even Nader. Even a few thousand numbskulls could swing a state.