Hillary Camp: We're Working With Obama Campaign And DNC On Convention
The Daily News made a big splash this morning by reporting that Hillary had decided against being nominated for president at the Dem convention at the end of August.
The piece, which relies on an anonymous source, quotes a Clinton spokesperson claiming that no decision had been made, and it makes it look as if Hillary views this as her own decision, something likely to fuel the idea that she's not fully committed to helping Obama.
But according to Hillary spokesperson Kathleen Strand, in truth Hillary is actually not making this decision on her own -- she's making it in concert with both the DNC and the Obama campaign.
"While no decisions have been made at this time, they will be made collaboratively with Senator Clinton and her staff, the DNC and Senator Obama's campaign and released at the appropriate time," Strand emails me. Curiously, according to Strand, this quote was also provided to the Daily News but didn't make it into its story.
In truth, the decision isn't quite as straightforward as it looks.
It's unclear whether her pulling her name out of contention could provoke some of her more passionate delegates to create other problems. The Obama campaign, too, will have a major say over what's finally decided and will have its own considerations.
I haven't been able to determine yet what's being said in the ongoing talks over this, but either way, presuming it's true that no decision has been made, Hillary will make it in concert with Obama and the DNC. So says Camp Hillary, anyway.
Late Update: Let me clarify. Hillary could under party rules file a formal request to the convention asking to be nominated, something that could give her delegates a way to vote for her. The News story quotes an anonymous source saying she has decided against it, but also quotes a spokesperson saying that no decision has been made. The story makes it sound like Camp Hillary views this as her decision.
But the Clinton camp is arguing that she doesn't view this as her decision at all, and is making it in concert with the DNC and the Obama campaign.
While it's highly unlikely that she would file such a formal request, the choice isn't quite as straightforward as it looks. The Clinton camp is claiming that no final decision has been made to rule it out, but is simultaneously assuring us that she will essentially defer to the Obama campaign and the DNC on how exactly to handle this.
That noise you hear in the background is the sound of PUMA heads exploding...
August 1, 2008 2:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Really? Because if you're irrational enough to be a PUMA, then nothing's going to stop you.
Maybe VP Sebelius could explode the remaining PUMA heads?
http://strategy08.wordpress.com
August 1, 2008 2:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
...missed your thoughtful commentary lately, MI Voter, good to have you back!! Stick around, eh?
August 1, 2008 2:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Never mind the hearts exploding, votes leaving and true Democrats working for the other side because Obama refuses to count votes is what you hear.
August 2, 2008 7:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
PUMA Pride, on the prowl, isn't going to like this news.
August 1, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Forget the fucking convention, Hillary. Get out there and sink your teeth into McCain!
August 1, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
Hillary and McCain are good friends and drinking buddies. She is not going to campaign against him.
Besides Hillary knows she is going to need a good working relationship with President McCain. She will work with him to pass bypartisan legislation.
August 1, 2008 2:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have the most marvelous image in my head of something not unlike this but with McCain in place of the mailman and Clinton in place of the dog. Thanks for the chuckle that ensued from that image.
August 1, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Daily News linked article and this posting seem to be saying different things.
August 1, 2008 2:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
2012 : Clinton vs. McCain
August 1, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
What for? Senate Majority Leader? I hope she wins. She'd be good at it.
August 1, 2008 2:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
fogu2: great post and I hope you are feeling better today since you seem to have been constipated lately...missing your troll shits!
fogu2: complete idiot: 2008 and 2012
August 1, 2008 2:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
2008: Fogu2 is a douchebag.
August 1, 2008 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain will be serving 1 term.
Hillary will be perfectly positioned to run.
Dean/Pelosi/Obama wing of the Democratic party will be discredited after November.
It will be another McGovern defeat. Once again Democratic party is going to have to learn that they cannot win a national election with a coalition of african americans and liberal elites. They need the working class voters who cling to their guns and bibles.
August 1, 2008 2:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Mmmmm..... how about Latinos?
Of course, you never remember those unless you need your lawn cut, do you?
August 1, 2008 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
2012: They switch you from Prozac to lithium.
August 1, 2008 10:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't really see how being nominated for president at the convention is her choice...
August 1, 2008 2:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't either.
I'm sorry to say this, Greg, but the entire post rather confused me.
August 1, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
no, and I don't think her camp views it that way, either
August 1, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah - Ok, Greg.
Thanks.
August 1, 2008 2:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
ok, see update. I tried to clarify.
August 1, 2008 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now I get it - I was about to ask you about the rules, because I could tell that's there I was missing a big chunk of info.
Thanks Greg - sorry I'm dumb.
August 1, 2008 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
heh. it's a morass. I'm sorry I waded into it, honestly...
:)
August 1, 2008 2:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
The rules are wack, really. They complicate things rather unnecessarily, it seems to me But I don't know the reasoning behind them so maybe they make sense if one does know.
August 1, 2008 2:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was where I was missing...
*heavy sigh*
August 1, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
The DNC is holding a gun to her head.
Just like they did during the primaries demanding that she quit.
She is doing what Reagan did in 1976. Forced by the party to endorse him.
Like Reagan she is going to smile, pretend to support him, watch him go down to defeat in November and organize to run in 2012, saying "I told you so".
August 1, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would recommend reading the article again rationally and logically without clouding your mind with your emotions. Hillary is supporting whatever decision they make, like someone should in an election year. Namely, she is falling in line. Maybe you should follow her example.
August 1, 2008 2:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Hillary is supporting whatever decision they make,"
Hillary has a gun pointed to her head by the DNC. She is basically a hostage. What she says is basically a hostage video.
I am a free person. I don't have to "fall in line". I am free to vote for whoever I think is best for the country and freely express myself.
McCain 08!
August 1, 2008 2:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, it seems you do not care about any of the issues Hillary stood for them and would rather be against her and her issues and vote for McCain. More power to you!
August 1, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
them=then
August 1, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I would recommend reading the article again rationally and logically without clouding your mind with your emotions." That's a good idea for the rest of the gang here too...lol
August 1, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nice to see the site's designated loser is back.
Ready for more cavalry charges against machine-guns? It's hard on the horses, you know.
August 1, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sooooo despite the crappy article put out by the Daily News, Hillary is doing the right thing, be courteous and supportive, and letting the Obama campaign and DNC make the decision, which she will then support.
Good on, Hillary! Good on you, Greg, as well -correcting the bogus Daily News implications.
August 1, 2008 2:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I concur.
It seems as though she is wholeheartedly supporting him - I got one of her fund raising emails for Obama the other day. Plus, I was happy to hear they were giving her a whole day. I hope that helps soothe some of her more savage supporters. ;)
August 1, 2008 2:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
The ones who weren't Republicans all along, it might soothe. Don't hold your breath for the paid by the word Pug trolls to shut up any time soon, though.
August 1, 2008 4:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm waiting, too, to see if Bill shows up at the convention. He's been very conspicuously MIA since Hillary ended her campaign - or is it just me?
August 1, 2008 2:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I'm waiting, too, to see if Bill shows up at the convention."
Why would you want him at the convention? Your Messiah declared him a racist.
I know exactly what the Clintons are going to do. Smile, offer tepid support, avoid criticism of McCain, watch The One go down to defeat. Organize for 2012.
August 1, 2008 2:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
I bet the vote for Obama as well. They know the stakes this year, very clearly, and know that we can't afford another Republican in the Oval Office.
August 1, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
The country cannot afford another ill qualified president with a massive ego, hubris, Messianic delusions of grandeur, no accomplishments in his name.
Clintons understand this. In the privacy of the voting booth they will be voting for McCain because they trust him to be Commander in Chief.
BTW, rumor has it McCain voted for Al Gore in 2000.
August 1, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Right, tell yourself that when you vote for the candidate who's anti-healthcare, abortion, environment and withdrawal from Iraq. McCain has, since 2000, crawled right up Bush's ass and backed him on every issue.
August 1, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
The country cannot afford another ill qualified president with a massive ego, hubris, Messianic delusions of grandeur, no accomplishments in his name.
Now list McLame's accomplishments. Apart from getting taken prisoner entirely due to his own stupidity (ignoring warnings that a SAM site had locked in on his plane).
The dumb SOB hasn't even shown up for his day job in months. I wonder if he can remember where his office is.
August 1, 2008 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Funny how Obama's supporters get called cultists by scattered Clintonites willing to subject the country to four more years of GOP mistakes just because their candidate didn't win.
August 1, 2008 2:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stop spewing crap, ok? If you're going to argue, argue on factual grounds. Obama never said Clinton was a racist, and neither did anyone in his campaign.
And if you actually wanted Hillary Clinton to ever be president, which I strongly doubt, you would be urging her to work her heart out for Obama, because if he loses, Hillary Clinton is going to be deeply reviled by many in the Democratic base. Even Taylor Marsh understands this.
Since you're not arguing anything of the sort, I can only assume you're a McCain troll.
August 1, 2008 2:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Obama never said Clinton was a racist, and neither did anyone in his campaign."
Typical cultist.
Obama directed his paid staff to prepare a 4 page memo accusing the Clintons of racism and distributing it to the media.
Just like Obama hired hundreds of bloggers to post nasty comments about the Clintons all over the Internet, the most vile, misogynist, racist crap you can think of.
This man is your Messiah. A product of the corrupt Chicago Machine, willing to do anything, from using misogyny to using the race card to win an election.
August 1, 2008 3:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
Give me the quote and the link where he says Bill Clinton is a racist. Or give me the link where someone in his campaign does.
You can't do that, because they don't exist.
And where is your proof of this?
And Taylor Marsh is not cultist. The fact that you don't acknowledge what she says tells me you actually aren't particularly well-informed about this.
Just another Obama obsessed McCain supporter.
August 1, 2008 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Miri 11: Further proof you can't reason with crazy people.
August 1, 2008 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
"And where is your proof of this?"
Wow! do you read anything other than Obama press releases?
Journalists who got the 4 page smear document wrote about it during the primaries.
Obama's strategy during the primaries was to smear the Clintons as racists to win the votes of african americans and white-guilt liberals.
He is trying to do the same in the general election and using the race card against John McCain.
And who is Taylor Marsh? And why should we care what she says?
August 1, 2008 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
August 1, 2008 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
"if you do not know who Taylor Marsh is and you're claiming to be a Hillary supporter, you are nothing but a fraud."
Taylor Marsh. Big celebrity apparently and I have no idea who she is.
And I am a fraud because I have never heard of Taylor Marsh.
This is the logic of a cultist.
August 1, 2008 4:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
Taylor Marsh is an ostensibly Democratic nut case.
Of course a Republican wouldn't know who she is!
August 1, 2008 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Journalists who got the 4 page smear document wrote about it during the primaries.
Good. Then you should be able to provide us with one such journalist. LINK. It's not our job to do your homework or back up your assertions. You claim it; you document it -- or stand branded as a liar.
August 1, 2008 7:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Making wild assertions is one thing.
Backing them up is quite another.
Let's see some links or other sources. Larry Johnson doesn't count as a credible source, btw.
If you can't provide those, prepare to stand branded as a liar.
August 1, 2008 7:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Huffinton Post had a piece on the memo, along with the complete text, back on 01/12/08:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/12/obama-camps-memo-on-clin_n_81205.html
The article states it was compiled by the OB campaign staff, but that the organization said it was never sent out. So, Miri11 is half right.
One might say that the mindset necessary to compose that memo is telling, in and of itself.
August 2, 2008 8:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
"because if he loses, Hillary Clinton is going to be deeply reviled by many in the Democratic base."
Oh yes, talking points straight from Obama Cult HQ. You forgot to mention Roe v Wade.
Gerald Ford losing in 1976 did not hurt the career of Ronald Reagan. Michael Dukakis losing in 1988 did not hurt the career of Al Gore.
After the November defeat Obama will join McGovern/Mondale/Dukakis/Kerry and will have just as much influence.
August 1, 2008 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Miri11: your troll poop really stinks!
August 1, 2008 3:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would think that the formal request would have to be from her to her pledged delegates, asking them to vote for Obama... or to the convention to skip the roll call and nominate BO by acclamation. Am I missing something here?
August 1, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Barack Obama is a lot like Paris Hilton. If you give him a script, he can deliver it pretty well. But if he tries to talk without a script that has been written for him by others, he quickly reveals that he is poorly-informed if not downright ignorant. The other day he delivered another classic, by claiming that if only we would all properly inflate our tires, we could save as much gasoline as “all the oil that they’re talking about getting off drilling.” Seriously: The stunned silence with which the crowd greets this howler suggests that most Americans have a more practical understanding of energy consumption than Obama. Barack Obama is truly a stunningly stupid dimwad. While he prances around the country claiming that people will try to make us afraid of him because he doesn’t look like the guys on our currency, it is becoming glaringly apparent that there is good reason to be afraid of him and it has little to do with his tan: Properly inflating your tires can improve gas mileage by 3%. Of course, many people already keep their tires properly inflated, and many more are at least close to being properly inflated. Let’s be generous and assume that one-half of the total possible savings would be realized if we all inflated our tires properly; that’s a net gain of 1.5% fuel efficiency. Americans drive approximately 2,880 miles per year. If we average 24 mpg, we use around 120 billion gallons of gasoline in our vehicles. If, through perfect tire inflation, we improved our collective fuel efficiency by 1.5%, that would be 1.8 billion gallons. A barrel of oil produces around 20 gallons of gasoline, so the total savings available through tire inflation is approximately 90,000,000 barrels of oil annually. How does this stack up against “all the oil that they’re talking about getting off drilling?”
August 1, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's talking about off-shore drilling. The "they" he's referring to is the GOP, who are supporting off-shore drilling.
August 1, 2008 2:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
McCain ad was brilliant. Obama is the Paris Hilton, Britney Spears of American politics. Someone with no real accomplishment turned into a celebrity by media hype.
The ad shows people with no accomplishment can be turned into an overnight celebrity, with magazine covers, adoring fans, media frenzy.
Obama fits nicely into that narrative.
The ad reminds people that there is a difference between fluff and substance, celebrity and leadership.
August 1, 2008 3:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
FEED ME!!FEED ME !!FEED ME!!
August 1, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
A good case could be made that McCain is the Amy Winehouse of American politics. Obnoxious, subject to black outs and memory loss, and looking more then a bit haggard these days.
August 1, 2008 7:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
FEED ME!!FEED ME !!FEED ME!!
August 1, 2008 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Barack Obama is a lot like Paris Hilton. If you give him a script, he can deliver it pretty well.... The stunned silence with which the crowd greets this howler suggests that most Americans have a more practical understanding of energy consumption than Obama.....(etc. etc.)
Wow. Posted almost verbatim from Powerlineblog. And without attribution at that! Plagiarism and it's from a hard-right neocon site! Congratulations!
You can remove the "dem" part from your nick now.
Pwned.
August 1, 2008 7:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
The chances of Bill Clinton showing up for the Democratic Convention are at least as good as the chance that George W. Bush will show up at the Republican Convention.
Bill will get a better ovation, though.
August 1, 2008 2:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
And be seen on TV.
CBS isn't even televising the night that Bush will be at the convention.
August 1, 2008 3:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
**sprays troll-repellent**
August 1, 2008 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is tanking like a turd. McCain has now tied him and will soon have a big lead.
Hillary needs to be nominated at the convention and the Superdelagates need to change their minds and withdraw support for Obama and go with the candidate that is electable. Hillary in 2008.
August 1, 2008 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
FEED ME!!FEED ME!!FEED ME!!
August 1, 2008 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Dem" BillC is no Dem. "Dem" BillC gets his talking points straight from Powerlineblog and similar hard-right neocon sites. And doesn't even bother to attribute them. Perhaps he hopes that we'll think such *cough* pearls of wisdom *cough* spring forth from his own brow.
In any event, BillC is no Dem, just a McCain troll.
August 1, 2008 8:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm just wondering if Hillary will mention her website in her speech at the convention. You know for those "pesky" campaign debts (as Bill's email put it). I was ready to give a few dollars until he used that word. I thought well if they just consider them pesky then the Clintons live in a different world than I do because $20 million is a lot of money to me.
August 1, 2008 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
The way Obama's online supporters so determinedly insult any voter who is not in their koolaid-drinking club, you'd think it's their first campaign. In fact - I think it is, they're probably all under age 25.
August 1, 2008 9:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
FUCK Hillary Clinton. I am so glad she'll never be president. Whatever else happens, we shoved her out the door and I'm glad of it. God, I hate that woman and everything she stands for.
Just finished watching Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. What a visually stunning film.
August 1, 2008 10:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
If the following comment from Bob Herbert's 7/26 column () is true, I think that Hillary would find herself quite happy to take a piece out of McCain and very unhappy to have to work with him closely in the future.
August 2, 2008 1:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, That comment didn't work! It was a) supposed to be a reply to Miri11's comment on August 1, 2008 2:36 PM and b)NOT supposed to have the whole last part of the first sentence as the hyperlink. That's what I get for usually using WYSIWYG HTML editors and then trying to write HTML on the fly!
August 2, 2008 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have been actively searching for news that Clinton's delegates will be "allowed" to vote for her. Clinton was filmed at the end of July by justsaynodeal. She seemed to be addressing a small group of women one of whom was an official Clinton delegate. Clinton stated that she felt the "cathartic" effect of letting her delegates vote for her would dispel a certain amount of residual resentment and allow the party to unify more closely behind Obama at the end of the convention. This implies that the resistance to the vote comes from the Obama camp. Given the dynamics of recent polls, I can understand why the Obama campaign might hesitate.
August 2, 2008 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink