Clinton defends role of superdelegates

[ProSense]

February 9, 2008

Clinton defends role of superdelegates

Posted: 02:43 PM ET

ORONO, Maine (CNN) – Senator Hillary Clinton took issue Saturday with the notion put forward by the Obama campaign that party superdelegates should vote the way of their states and districts.

“Superdelegates are by design supposed to exercise independent judgment, that is the way the system works,” she told reporters after a town hall in Orono, Maine. “If Sen. Obama and his campaign continue to push this position which is really contrary to what the definition of a super delegate has historically been then I look forward to receiving the support of Sen. Kennedy and Sen. Kerry.”

Obama picked up the highly publicized endorsements of both Massachusetts senators only to lose the state to Clinton in last Tuesday’s primary.

Clinton said she thought super delegates often had the unique position of having “first-hand knowledge of the candidates” and “if people want to go after delegates in places that I’ve won who are supporting somebody else, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”

There seems to be a growing consensus that if the contests play out as expected, both Clinton and Obama will essentially be tied in pledged delegates at the end of the primary season – leaving it to super delegates to decide the race.

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[WillYourVoteBCounted]

1. Them Clintons sure do loves them some back room deals

Don't they?

Nothing democratic about a group of elitist deciding who wins the sElection

[joshcryer]

3. Did you even read what she fucking said?

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. the elites can't trust the voters and democracy

thats pretty much it.

Plus, its called Back Room Deals, something someone who has been around long enough to call
in favors can use.

[joshcryer]

9. Do you think the superdelegates would go against the will of the people? They never have.

Why would they?

[liberalnurse]

20. Oh yes they do............

Daily in Congress! I know you have followed the War Funding vote! That's just one example!

[joshcryer]

21. OK.

[thunder rising]

11. I don't think there will be a problem. SD's will not subvert the voters

[joshcryer]

15. They've never done it in almost 30 years. Why would they now? It's assinine.

People just hate that she has more superdelegates so they think she's going to use them for evil means. She has no real control over them.

[joshcryer]

2. OWNED. She expects to get the most pledged delegates.

That was beautiful wording.

[tekisui]

16. I hope whomever gets the most pledged delegates wins the Nomination.

Simple as that. Then the issue of superdelegates will be moot.

[joshcryer]

19. That is the likely outcome, I don't understand the issue.

Whatever the outcome the superdelegates will represent the will of the people. And Hillary was making a subtle remark about Obama's trying to manipulate superdelegates into deciding "his" way.

[MonkeyFunk]

4. Ha!

“If Sen. Obama and his campaign continue to push this position which is really contrary to what the definition of a super delegate has historically been then I look forward to receiving the support of Sen. Kennedy and Sen. Kerry.”


Great line!

[johnnydrama]

14. so

Senator Clinton loves the system where 800 insiders are worth 8 million voters.

Gotcha.

[joshcryer]

17. They won't vote against the will of the people. She was making a strong statement.

A statement about how Obama was clearly trying to manipulate them.

[MonkeyFunk]

18. She didn't say she loved the system.

She's talking about the system that's in place, and how it works.

Do you think Kerry and Kennedy should vote for Clinton at the convention?

[johnnydrama]

34. absolutely

and i think the 11 DNC members aligned with Clinton from DC should vote for Obama, and the 5 GA super delegates aligned with Clinton should vote for Obama.

Don't forget about the 9 SD's from MD which he'll probably win.

She doesn't want to fight this fight, trust me, the numbers don't add up favorably for her, if they vote by who won their disctrict or state.

[MonkeyFunk]

35. Cool

by the current state count, Clinton would have 242 superdelegates, Obama 171.

You can't win without some big states in your column.

[liberalnurse]

26. They will flip...........it's already planned.

They crave the real power in Congress which they can achieve with Hillary. They new the ultimate outcome would be Hillary. They backed Obama to give him prestige and power presence. He will be the VP. They know that already.

[skipos]

5. She won't if they start voting more for Obama. She flip flopped on MI and FL

she will do the same here. Whatever helps her win!

[joshcryer]

13. She won't have an option but to accept their vote. WTF are you on about.

[skipos]

25. I am on about Clinton being a flip flopper.

And doing whatever it takes to win, no matter how unethical.
What about you?

[joshcryer]

28. It won't happen. What a joke.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

6. OUCH THAT ONE'S GONNA LEAVE A MARK

[Botany]

7. Clinton knows the #s are not gonna be in her favor .....

.... so she loves to have a stacked deck to play w/.

[JackORoses]

10. says one thing, does another

“Superdelegates are by design supposed to exercise independent judgment, that is the way the system works,”

vs.

Has Bill,Chelsea,etc pressuring Superdelegates behind the scenes.

[joshcryer]

12. Their independent judgement cannot be persuaded by a given individual?

That's such a joke of epic proportions I don't know what you're even trying to say.

[MonkeyFunk]

23. You think Obama's not lobbying

superdelegates? She didn't say they can't be lobbied.

God, I'm so sick of the stupid hypocrisy here.

[kelligesq]

30. None of you seem to know the history of Super Delegates - its fairly new

but was before the time of the Clintons. It's from the 1970's which is fairly new

why dont you google it and get yourself informed

so many shoot off their mouths without knowing wht they're talking about.

To be sure, it is taking the vote away from the people

but why dont you find out more about it

[SOS]

22. "super" delegates choose nominee, electoral college chooses President.

The plutocrats who own and operate the USA sure know how to ensure their position.

[joshcryer]

24. Agreed 100%. Direct democracy is the only way to go.

I can't believe how Obama is using the caucusing system to manipulate the vote.

[killbotfactory]

27. That's a good position to have if you don't like democracy

The people will only get to decide if the powers that be agree with them. Awesome.

[joshcryer]

29. She's talking about the rules of the DNC.

Rules that many people here seem to want to uphold.

[Cameron27]

31. That's right,

people shout 'the rules, the rules' only when it suits them.

[ProSense]

32. Obama's smart position:

He just got Hillary on record vigorously defending the rules.

“Superdelegates are by design supposed to exercise independent judgment, that is the way the system works"

This is exactly what Kerry and Kennedy did in supporting Obama, "exercise independent judgment."

Good one! Especially good after all the bashing!

[Iktomiwicasa]

33. By Hillary's own reasoning

she shouldn't have anything to yip about when the FL and MI delegates aren't seated :)