Huffpo: Clinton's name likely to be placed in nomination at convention

[npincus]

Someone explain how this helps unify our party behind our nominee, Obama.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/14/clinton-name-likely-to-be_n_118862.html

Although Clinton had resisted pressure from donors, allies and supporters to accept demands to allow her name placed in nomination, she and aides to Obama seemed to realize independently that doing so would be the best way to incorporate and welcome Clinton's supporters into Obama's general election campaign, both symbolically and practically.

According to several people who have spoken with her, Clinton originally believed that if her name were included in the roll call on Wednesday, August 27, she would inevitably wind up with fewer delegates than the 1896.5 she earned from the primaries. That would look bad and could demoralize her supporters.

In negotiations this summer with Obama's campaign, Clinton's team did not ask for Clinton's name to be submitted.

But within the past week, Clinton advisers informed the Obama team that many of Clinton's staunchest supporters felt strongly that something had to be done, and that Clinton had concluded that, in part for the sake of unity, their wishes ought to be respected. They heard back immediately: the Obama campaign had always been open to having her name placed in nomination alongside his.

[AtomicKitten]

1. It's just more self-serving Clinton Kabuki Theater.

[jakem]

22. that would be brilliant if they did it in Kabuki!

[AtomicKitten]

53. Mystery Science Theater 2008

[NightWatcher]

2. lets reopen that wound less than 3 months from the election- brilliant

[onehandle]

3. "the Obama campaign had always been open to having her name placed in nomination alongside his."

It's just politics. I don't get why this is such a big deal to DUers.

[tedoll78]

5. Any excuse..

Forget the real enemy.. let's fight amongst ourselves some more.

[Renew Deal]

9. Because Hillary and her supporters have insisted on treating Obama as undeserving and illegitimate

They need to accept.

I support whatever Obama wants to do with this situation.

[Arkansas Granny]

11. Hillary has endorsed Obama and has asked her supporters to do the same.

She has campaigned with him and on his behalf. Most of her supporters have switched their support to Obama. What more do they need to accept?

[Skwmom]

41. Hillary talks out of both sides of her mouth.

She was caught on tape advocating for her supporters to push the matter.

If something happens to Obama, she wants to make sure she is put at the top of the ticket. And if it doesn't, a fractured party bodes well for 2012. Maybe she'll win or force herself on the ticket.

[Skwmom]

43. self delete

[Arkansas Granny]

10. Not only is it just politics, from what I've read, it's also standard procedure.

To have Senator Clinton's name placed in nomination and to have a roll call vote is not unreasonable or unusual. It recognizes the campaign she ran, gives the state delegations a chance to be in the spotlight and before you know it, Obama's the nominee. No harm, no foul. If the Obama campaign has no problem with it I don't see why everyone is getting so worked up about it.

[onehandle]

13. Yep. DUers need some education. nt

[KittyWampus]

15. it's just politics... but benefitting whom?

[onehandle]

17. The Democratic Party.

I didn't support Hillary, but she got almost as many votes as Obama did.

Give her and her supporters recognition. It will be a Small part of the convention, then we unite behind Obama.

Both candidates have their (very small) share of nutty supporters. This isn't about them. It's about the party as a whole And submitting multiple names is a normal practice.

Hooray Obama! Hooray Hillary!

Guess which one will be standing when the balloons drop?

[jezebel]

4. Marc Ambinder is reporting the exact same thing. It is obviously Clinton sourced since he also

claims Clinton informed Obama she did not want to be the keynote.
Uh-huh.
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/

[Lucky 13]

6. Egotism, self-centeredness, power-hunger, sour-grapes, megalomania,

Whatever phrase you want to use, this is just plain ugly.

We don't need to satisfy these fringe groups. We need a unified front at the convention. We need it to be all about Obama. She has the power to provide that. But she won't. Doesn't fit with her desire to incite the PUMA nut-jobs and grab more of the spotlight.

Now, I hope there's a roll call. I hope she gets MUCH MUCH fewer than 1896.5. I hope it's embarrassing and demoralizing. I hope that it doesn't do her campaign justice. I hope it isolates these psychopaths and demonstrates what a small faction they are within the party. They asked for it. That's what they're going to get.

[Cosmocat]

24. $$$$

Now, don't get me wrong, I can definitely believe that the above character issues are at play ...

But, what I am reading here is that Hill is having a heck of a time paying down her campaign debt, and that having her name come up at the convention is something she needs to keep some of her steadfast backers with big bank accounts on the hook ...

$$$ talks ...

[Lucky 13]

54. Interesting angle, BUT...

I just don't see how doing a roll-call vote will make a difference in that regard, however. Those people are going to support her no matter what - roll-call or not. And I think the ones that are this gung-ho about her have probably already donated the max... don't you think?

[Bucky]

31. When you win over 40% of the vote for the nomination, that doesn't make you a fringe.

I never cared much for her campaign and never thought she'd be a strong nominee. But peoples' votes still count--at least in our party they do. If you have a problem with peoples' choices being represented in our convention, you have a problem with democracy.

[Lucky 13]

55. The people's choices and voices were represented when THEY VOTED.

Yes, it was close. But Obama won. Everyone had a chance to vote. Everyone was counted. Based on those VOTES, Obama is the nominee. Let's stop dwelling on the past by focusing on the candidate that did not win and throw all our support behind the guy who did. He has an even bigger, tougher fight on his hands. We need to be worried about THAT.

[zulchzulu]

7. Gee, I wonder what the speech would be like and by whom

You don't just put a name in for nomination. Last I checked, someone has to go to the podium and speak why that nominee should be nominated.

I wonder what the speech would be like.

:puke:

[SIMPLYB1980]

8. And that is why I like Clinton and Obama.

"But within the past week, Clinton advisers informed the Obama team that many of Clinton's staunchest supporters felt strongly that something had to be done, and that Clinton had concluded that, in part for the sake of unity, their wishes ought to be respected. They heard back immediately: the Obama campaign had always been open to having her name placed in nomination alongside his."

[Raineyb]

27. Well of course he has.

Obama has been bending over backwards to try to placate Clinton.

It doesn't make it a good idea and frankly, this need to pacify the over-privileged, over-indulged, over-entitled, pot banging, PUMA wing of Clinton supporters is ridiculous. These sore losers are mad because they thought that their demographic (and let's face it most of the PUMAs are white women of a certain age) were due the presidency and instead of being mad at their candidate (if they're going to be mad at anyone) for running a crappy campaign they act as though the nomination were stolen from them.

How dare they insult Obama this way!

I would bet money that if a white man had won the nomination that these PUMA morons wouldn't be behaving this way. That's all I'm saying.

And as for this nonsense about the sexism directed towards Clinton, Obama ran his campaign with utmost respect. I see no reason why anyone should expect Obama to fight Clinton's media battles for her when he had his own to run. Ridiculous!

Regards

[SIMPLYB1980]

36. Yawn.

[Raineyb]

44. Oh I see, another PUMA apologist

No need to waste my time here.

Regards

[SIMPLYB1980]

51. No actually I'm a Clinton supporter who is also a Obama supporter.

I don't give a damn about PUMA, but neither I or Clinton can do a thing about them. Any other accusations you want to throw at me. Many here know I supported Clinton in the primary and since it was decided I have either kept out of the disscussion all together, or I have said nothing but good things about Obama and Clinton. Want to know why? I'm a Democrat and that's what we need to do, but hey if you want to let your hatred run your politics them buy all means let it out, better than going on a shooting spree like some freeper.

[Lucky 13]

56. She could ATTEMPT to do something about them

but instead she is letting them run amok. All it would take is one press conference, one news release, one letter, one statement from her saying that she does not support PUMA and wishes them to cease actions on her behalf. How hard would that be?

[Raineyb]

71. Hatred for Clinton? I voted for the woman TWICE

But I damn sure hate the disrespect she's been throwing Obama's way. And if she thinks she can go back to NY and run for reelection after this abysmal behavior she may be up for another surprise. There are plenty of New Yorkers who are equally pissed at her.

As for this nomination nonsense, I see no reason to jeopardize the Democrats chances of winning the Presidency in November with what the MSM will portray as a divided convention. And that is exactly what will happen now that Clinton's name is in nomination. Whether or not you want to face it is completely up to you.

This is so typical! Only in America will the also-ran demand her name be put into nomination when she knows damn well that we've going to have enough trouble getting our candidate elected what with the mainstream media skewing rightward, and the whole race issue while claiming to support the nominee. (Obama is not making it an issue but McLame already has and it's not like this country isn't racist to begin with. So spare me the platitudes about race not mattering. It still does.) And only in this country will we have people tell the man of color to deliberately make things even more difficult for himself by placating a whiny loser. Talk about entitlement!


BTW, if it bothers you to be called a PUMA apologist then perhaps you should not make excuses for them.

Regards

[juajen]

76. Ridiculous describes this post exactly, and you would lose that bet! NT

[Alter Ego]

12. If they will cast their second ballots for Obama then I have no issue with this.

[SoCalDem]

64. And we are sure they will do this?? because??

:grr:

[Raineyb]

72. My point EXACTLY n/t

Regards

[WeDidIt]

14. If her name is placed in nomination and Obama loses

The loss is 100% CLINTON'S FAULT!

There is a single person who has control over whether or not Clinton's name gets placed into nomination. Barack Obama is not that person. that person is Hillary Clinton.

[wvbygod]

16. the blame game

Not to pick on your assertion alone...in life, love and certainly politics the concept
of blaming someone else when denial is the reality, is often an abstraction created out
of thin air and thick skull.

I doubt Obama would cater to blaming anyone other than himself and team.

[WeDidIt]

23. I don't buy your psychobabble

I'm sorry if you cannot face political reality, but Hillary Clinton's only shot at ever being president is for Obama to lose this year so she can run again in 2012.

That's why she will do anything to insure he loses.

[Arkansas Granny]

26. This is reality. Senator Clinton has endorsed Senator Obama as the Democratic nominee.

She has asked her supporters to vote for Senator Obama. She has vowed to everything he asks her to do in order to get him elected. She is keeping that promise. She has suspended her campaign and she has campaigned with Obama and on his behalf. She is trying to get Obama elected at this point, not herself.

[WeDidIt]

29. Her actions and her campaign's actions also directly resulted in

the founding of PUMA.

You can't have it both ways.

[Arkansas Granny]

37. If the primaries had gone the other way and Clinton won the nomination,

there would be similar groups in support of Obama who couldn't accept the outcome. You can't possibly think that any one person could gain the support of 100% of the Democratic party. There will always be some who feel disenfranchised and make some noise about it.

These groups claim to be supporters of Senator Clinton, but I think most are just using her name to hide behind as they work to fracture the party. She does not recognize PUMA and has nothing to do with their founding or their organization and has no control over them.

[WeDidIt]

39. I seriously doubt it

Obama would not have been pushing the anger and supporting the people who would go on to form groups.

She is responsible for PUMA and if her name goes into nomination, and Obama loses, she will ahve to accept the loss as her fault.

[JackORoses]

73. then why doesn't she just ask her delegates to vote for Obama, too?

answer: because her interests and Obama's do not coincide.

[Hope And Change]

18. And you really think that if she`s on the ballot that she will win?Give me a break...

Don`t get worked up on this one.It`s a symbolic thing...nothing unusual here...

[mkultra]

19. Its the last bow to a fallen foe

let her lose with pride and dignity. Even if she fought dirty, its no reason to lower ourselves to that level. The decent thing to do for any candidate would be to let them out with their pride intact.

But its the real end. if they chose to return to the field once they have been given exit. They should get no quarter.

[Growler]

69. how many "last bows" does Hillary get??

It seems like every few weeks for the past 4 months we are required to honor Hillary yet one more time....

[mkultra]

77. i really dont know

This is why her dragging her negative campaign out so long was bad. It takes time to get over this kind of crap.

[highplainsdem]

20. Good. She and her supporters deserve the recognition. This will help unite the party.

[Raineyb]

28. No it won't n/t

Regards

[highplainsdem]

46. Yes, it will. It will help. But the party won't be united enough for Obama to win in November

unless she's also on the ticket.

Having her name put in nomination will help. And at this point, anything that will help is important.

But Clinton got approximately as many votes in the primaries as Obama, and we need a unity ticket to win.

Placing her name in nomination is symbolic, a way of showing recognition for her historic race, and it's recognition she should have.

But if she isn't also on the ticket, it will be seen as largely empty symbolism. Either Obama accepts that approximately as many Democrats preferred her as preferred him, or he doesn't. The polls show Obama with a very narrow lead over McCain, and they show him getting less support from Democrats than McCain gets from Republicans (running behind a generic Democrat versus a generic Republican). Obama must unite the party to truly lead it, and to win the GE. If he doesn't do that, he will have let all of us down.

[Alter Ego]

65. For every vote she gets him she scares away 10-20 Indies/disaffected Republicans.

She is political poison--because with her comes Bill and all of his baggage.

CNN and Fox will obediently drag us through the shit of the Clinton years, and Obama will be forced to own every Clinton "scandal".

[Lilith Velkor]

79. OMG - Obama will be forced to own a good economy and good standing internationally?

The horror! :eyes:

Clue phone for you: people (including Indies and moderate Repubs) remember these things about the 90s, not just the pampered princes of the media freaking out about a blowjob.

[Raineyb]

74. If she's on the ticket it only exacerbates the problem

Clinton scares off independents and people who hate the DLC. (Who the hell wants to vote for Republican lite?) It's a guaranteed loss.

Regards

[Metric System]

21. Very good news and I'm very glad to read this: "the Obama campaign had always been open to having

her name placed in nomination alongside his."

Now THAT is how you achieve UNITY, folks. THANK YOU to the Obama campaign!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

25. Maybe you Clinton supporters will now be happy and stop demanding that Obama

"do this and do that" for your queen. He has been an upstanding gentleman throughout this entire process. There will be no paying off her debt. No other veiled threats. Once her name is put into nomination, let her have her time in the spotlight, then support the nominee *UNEQUIVOCALLY*!!! No more of this backroom, underhanded talk from the Clintons. Either get behind the nominee or go home!

[Metric System]

30. My queen? Ugh, some people just don't get it.

[mkultra]

48. i think it is you who doesnt get it.

The simple fact is that there are some seriously hardcore clinton supporters who wish to usurp his nomination.

I personally haven't met any in person either and frankly i feel that they are probably just trolls trying to create dissent between the original clinton supporters and the original Obama supporters.

I guess, what im saying is that this kind of push back isn't really directed at you and you shoudl be careful not to assume that it is. It is directed squarely at the crazys that call themselves PUMAs.

If anyone points this type of criticism at you, then it sounds like they are making the same type of mistake.

Its perfectly reasonable to still like Hillary and posses somewhat tepid support for Obama.

[Arkansas Granny]

32. Most of us Clinton supporters have been Obama supporters since she ended her campaign.

I can't speak for those who have decided to take another stance because, frankly, I haven't met any. Everyone I know who supported Clinton in the primaries now supports Obama. It appears that Clinton and Obama have come to an amicable agreement on this matter. I think we should all accept their decision.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

35. My post is directed at the hardcore supporters who cannot seem to stomach Obama

That's who I'm speaking of, not those who are on board.

[polmaven]

42. Yes, and may I add

that we should all RESPECT their decision as well. Some of these posts are showing very little respect for Senator Obama.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

45. I agree. If we can just move past the primaries and move forward, I can get down with that.

Many Obama supporters are just as angry because we feel that the nominee is being insulted. He won fair and square and there are *some* fervent Hillary supporters who truly believe that he didn't. Well, he did. And he did so by playing to the rules...rules that have been in existence at least since Bill Clinton ran. The By-Laws committee is stacked with Hillary Clinton supporters so I don't see where they gave her a bad deal. Again, he has been a gentleman throughout this entire process. I hope that we'll be able to move past the bitterness and finally unite in solidarity. I trust that Hillary will get on board. Not sure about Bill, though...

[polmaven]

60. If only Bill would say something like:

"I think he SHOULD be elected and I think he WILL be elected"...maybe that would help.

[mkultra]

49. im not sure i agree

if your saying that we should respect the opinions of those who choose to try and upset the nomination process and put Hillary back on top "or else", then i fail to see any call for respect.

[polmaven]

61. If you read my post,

and that to which I was replying, you will see that I am saying we should respect the decisions or those who are planning the convention, and most especially those made by Senator Obama. I respect his decisions. I don't see why so many of the posters on this thread don't as well.

[mkultra]

66. ahhh

i thought you referring to the other subject of the post which was those who have gone the "other route"


If not, then im mistaken.

[polmaven]

40. I would like for you to show us all

some posts - AFTER June 7 - from "you Clinton supporters" which support your accusations of demanding that Obama "do this and do that" for your queen.

And also, please, show us something that is from a reliable source that backs up the accusation of veiled threats and this backroom, underhanded talk from the Clintons.

You are 100% correct that Senator Obama has been an upstanding - and I will add gracious - gentleman. Too bad the HillHaters here refuse to follow his lead.

[mkultra]

52. anyone whos been paying attention

is familiar with the posts indicating that Obama MUST choose Hillary as VP or they will vote McCain.

Many of those people have been TSed or have gone to hillaryclintonforum.net.

If you havent seen these, then your not paying attention.

[polmaven]

59. If "anyone who has been paying attention"

is familiar with them, then you ought to be able to pull some up for me.

[mkultra]

67. im not sure i care to do your research

Are you asserting that no clinton supporter has made statements of demand regarding the Obama campaign and its handling of victory?

keep in mind that a majority of the people who did and would make these demands have now left this board. I specifically remember the exodus to hillaryclintonforum.net

Its was ugly. most of those folks make no demands on Obama other than that he steps down and let Hillary come through. If your trying to say that Obama supporters are wrong to assume extremism from "legacy" clinton supporters, Your both right and wrong.

[polmaven]

70. Still not seeing

"posts indicating that Obama MUST choose Hillary as VP or they will vote McCain.

If you look at my original post on this subject, you should be able to determine that I was referring to DUers making that assertion. Of course there are fruitcakes out there, mostly "operation chaos" idiots, who will say that.

The poster to whom I was responding, however, referred to "you Hillary supporters. Since he is posting on DU, I can only assume "you" Hillary supporters means DU Hillary supporters.

And, btw, since it is not I who am making the assertion, and do not believe it to be true, then I have no research to do to prove it is true. It is, I believe, up to the person making the accusation to prove it, no?

[mkultra]

75. well, i would agree

that broad accusations against all Hillary supporters in that regard is insensitive.
Frankly i couldn't say at this point whether there are any posts that meet the

1) Hillary as vp or McCain
2) on DU
3) after June 6th

criteria. Perhaps ill look. I do know that there are many Hillary supporters who claim this and have done so, perhaps not on DU.
This is the crux of by buttressing the other point. Would you disagree with this?

[mkultra]

68. heres a couple

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=334x12123

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=334x11242#11571

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6588681

[liberalpragmatist]

33. I actually don't have a problem with this

And I've been an Obama supporter through and through.

Hillary did run a historic campaign -- she came very close to being the nominee, and I think it's historically justifiable, given the number of votes and delegates she received AND given the fact that she was the first woman to run a credible campaign for the White House, I think it makes sense to record for history a delegate total and convention vote to her name.

Yes, it'll attract attention, but I think by Thursday, when Obama gives his speech, ALL attention will be on him. I really don't see this being a major, divisive moment. And I think it would be gracious of Obama to let this happen.

[book_worm]

34. I don't see why she shouldn't be nominated. In the past people like Jesse Jackson,

Gary Hart, etc have been put in nomination even though they had no chance to win. It just gave their supporters a chance to cheer.

[ErinBerin84]

38. I don't care either way at this point. Let her and her supporters have their catharsis.

I just won't feel like hearing any more of this "we need respect!" stuff if Hillary does not end up being VP, which she likely will not.

[Skwmom]

47. This has nothing to do with letting her and her supporters have their catharsis.

[elkston]

50. But is it possible for those who pledged for Obama to break for Clinton?

That's what I am worried about. That somehow they get caught up in the emotion of the whole thing and try to put her over the top.

This would create chaos.

Honestly, if Clinton had won the primary by convincing the superdelegates to come to her dside, I would have been upset for a while, but still would have voted for her.

But if she steals it at the convention. I dunno.

[1corona4u]

57. "Someone explain how this helps unify our party behind our nominee, Obama"

Don't you mean "presumptive nominee"? Just to be factual/accurate.

[npincus]

58. inaccurate, or just presumptuous?

perhaps that comes from being an arrogant, exotic, bitter elitist.

[SoCalDem]

62. Gee how "special".. Look for engaged couples to follow this trend..

Scene 1:

All the friends & family have gathered to celebrate the engagement of James & Tiffany.. They are the perfect couple..all the guests agree..

Everyone's assembled in the party room, the food should be great..there's entertainment.. Everyone's so excited.

James's parents are prepared make toasts to the happy couple, telling all assembled how much they love Tiffany, and how perfect she is for their son.... Her folks can't wait to do the same.. Friends have little notes, with all their funny and touching stories about the couple, written down...ready to tell the gathered friends & family..

(clink-clink-clink)..someone's tapped a champagne glass, to get everyone's attention...the "tell-all" portion of the evening is about to start:


BUT... before any of that happens, in walks.......(drum roll)

Sarah...(James' ex-girlfriend)...and Louis ( Tiffany's ex-boyfriend)..

and trailing behind them..THEIR parents & friends.. They all gather at the head-table, and wrest away the microphones..and ask for THEIR champagne.

Louis regails everyone in the room, with cute stories from when he and Tiffany dated...like the first time she "stayed over"..and the time, they had a "scare"...no one's laughing..

Then Sarah approaches Tiffany, and insists on trying on her engagement ring...and has her friends gather to take some pictures of HER wearing the ring.. She reminds the crowd of all the times SHE had to pay the rent on the place they shared, because James blew the money on rims for his car, or lost it in poker with his buddies.. She tells them all about how they had picked out names for THEIR children, and how she's had to start taking anti-depressants, because she's just so angry and sad..all the time.. and how, she KNOWS that James really still loves HER... her friends all hoot and holler and say "Sarrrrrrahhhh, Sarrrrrrahhhh, Sarrrrrahhhhh!"...

Scene 2:

Sarah & Louis & their friends have finally left, but the mood is somehow "different" now..

All are wondering about the wedding day now.. Will those two show up with their friends and disrupt that day as well?

[terrya]

63. It's only right to do this.

She has the second largest bloc of delegates. This is not some sinister trick to derail Obama's nomination. And it's ridiculous to think that it is.

This will honor her, her campaign and her supporters. And they'll leave Denver completely unified and enthusiastic for Obama and the general election campaign.

[specterderrida]

78. geat post.